HTC UK is teasing the announcement of a silver something that can fit in your pocket.
Yes, we know most phones can fit in your pocket, but the line "We have a 'little' bit of news tomorrow" that accompanies the photo you see above is a not-so-hard-to-read hint that we're likely in for the HTC One Mini.
The corner peeking coyly out is reminiscent of the phone from whence the Mini takes its name. Other leaks have indicated we're in for a black model too, but today's twit pic shows only a silver back.
Spec wise, the HTC One Mini is expected to house a 4.3-inch display with 720p, Android 4.2.2 and a Qualcomm-branded 1.4GHz Snapgragon processor, among other parts, of course.
The good news? We need only wait until tomorrow to see what HTC has in store.
Apple upped the iPhone screen to 4 inches with the iPhone 5, and now it may enlarge it once again with the iPhone 5S.
A report from Taiwanese newspaper Commercial Times (via Bloomberg) this week claimed that the iPhone 5S will feature a display stretching...wait for it...4.3 inches.
It's not an earth shattering growth spurt, but that change has reportedly caused delays that could see the phone's launch pushed back to the end of the year.
This latest claim contradicts previous reports that the iPhone 5S will maintain the iPhone 5's 4-inch display and debut in September or October.
Cheap iPhone strikes again
While we're eagerly awaiting more news of the next iPhone, whispers of Apple's rumored cheap iPhone continue to whir through the interwebs.
Today BGR published photos of what it claimed show the chassis of a light green budget iPhone next to the iPhone 5.
The two devices appear to be of a similar size, though the cheaper, plastic iPhone shell looks slightly thicker.
The site claims that the cheap iPhone will launch alongside the iPhone 5S this fall, an assertion we've heard before.
But if the iPhone 5S really is delayed until the end of 2013, where does that leave the budget iPhone? Will Apple delay that too or will they launch the cheap version in the fall, giving it some breathing room before unleashing the 5S?
We're clearly facing an existential crisis over this, so please Apple, could you hurry up?
The next iOS is almost here - check out TechRadar's iOS 7 hub for all the latest on new system
Even though Google Glass is technically running on Google Android, it can’t actually run native Android apps in any sort of way that is reasonably functional. GlassBridge aims to fix that by effectively acting as a bridge between the native Android experience and what you get with Google Glass.
The native Android apps (and bookmarks) can be placed inside of the Timeline UI of Glass using GlassBridge, but to be fair, GlassBridge is still “pretty hacky at the moment,” according to the review by Geek.com’s Russell Holly. The good news is that you don’t have to root Glass in order to use it. That being said, you will need to find the APK file of the Android app you’d like to sideload.
What’s more, since Glass only runs on a 640×480 display, some apps are going to look (and work) better than others under this kind of interface. You do get the equvalent of “tab” and “shift-tab” functions to navigate your way through the app, though. And yes, compatibility will continue to be an issue, but if you’re a dev with some Glass, GlassBridge is an interesting way to bridge that great divide between the Android smartphone/tablet and the Google Glass eyewear.
While T-Mobile is working hard to rid the world of contracts, U.S. Cellular is doing the exact opposite: bringing them back!
For those that aren’t aware, the regional carrier previously offered an amazing rewards system and a program called “one and done”. With this program, you simply had to sign a contract once and only once.
After that? You could still get subsidized phones using reward points, etc.As a U.S. Cellular subscriber, I will tell you that personally it was one of the reasons why I used their cellular service over any other carrier available in my area. So I surely am not the only customer that is very disappointed by this news.
So when does the One and Done deal go away? July 27th, so if you have the means to grab a new phone before, I’d do it if I were you. After that, your next subsidized phone will require you to sign on the dotted line once more. Besides bringing back 2-year contracts U.S. Cellular also plans to change its 15-Day Excellence Guarantee policy. Right now, if you don’t like a phone, you can return it in 15 days and get another one. Going forward, you’ll still be able to return it and get a new one, but you’ll have to pay a $35 restocking fee.
Here’s the official statement from US Cellular:
At U.S. Cellular, we are continually evaluating the entire experience we offer to our customers. Beginning later this month, all customers will be required to sign a 2-year contract when purchasing a subsidized device. In addition, a restocking fee of $35 will be introduced as an update to the 15-Day Excellence Guarantee policy and will be charged when a customer returns a device during the 15-day time period. These changes will allow us to invest in improving our customer experience and offering new products andservices to our customers.
To be fair, these policies aren’t much different from what we already get with AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. Of course, that’s kind of the point. Part of U.S. Cellular’s magic was that it WASN’T like the other carriers when it came to re-signing contracts.Any other US Cellular customers out there? What do you think of this news? Will you still stick to U.S. Cellular or will the change lead you to start shopping around for a new carrier?
The leaks are picking up as we edge closer to the expected launch of the iPhone 5S, and some new leaked production shots, along with some juicy info, might start to give us a clearer idea of what's behind the veil.
While it doesn't look like there's a lot new happening on the outside of the phone, information provided alongside the pictures claims that the iPhone will have an NFC chip, a fingerprint reader, and a 4-inch 1136x640 Sharp IGZO display.
A 12-megapixel camera was also touted, alongside that dual LED flash that we clocked a little while ago. The new display should not only provide a sharper quality image but also be a lot less intense on the battery.
We wouldn't take any of this as gospel, of course, but nothing here is beyond what we're already been hearing about the phone.
"Pssht, we're over it. What about iPhone 6?"
And while we're on the subject, Apple might be looking to use Liquidmetal on future iPhones and iPads - or perhaps even an iWatch.
A patent awarded to Crucible Intellectual Property, the company that represents Apple's licensing deal with Liquidmetal Technologies, describes a new production approach that could see the material used to produce sheets up to 3 meters wide and between 0.1mm and 25mm thick.
Right now, the material has only been used in the SIM-ejector tool as its use for anything bigger has been restricted by production-based issues.
The iPhone 5S is rumoured to begin the production process this month, with an expectation that we might see it around the September/October time so long as no spanners get thrown in the works.
We have been hearing quite a lot about upcoming Motorola Droid devices for Verizon recently. So it’s safe to think that the “the next generation of one of its most popular family of devices” Big Red is going to introduce at a press event on July 23rd will be the new range of Droid handsets.
The new Droid family will most probably include the Motorola Droid Ultra, Motorola Droid Maxx, and Motorola Droid Mini, seen in the image which comes to us via @evleaks.
As for what the devices are coming with, both the Droid Ultra and Maxx are expected to come with a Full HD display, a quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, and 2GB of RAM. According to a recent leak, the Maxx will feature 48 hours of battery life. And all the three devices will have Kevlar on the back and bottom as you can see in the picture.
So are you excited about the 23rd of July? In case that date seems familiar, it is when the AT&T Nokia Lumia 1020 starts shipping and when Apple will be coming out with their Q3 earnings call.
So, which Droid handset are you interested in? Or are you going for a customized device?
While HTC is yet to formally announce their One Max, which will probably go against the Galaxy Note 3, and the One Mini, the latter has been spotted in China’s TENAA database.
The metallic One Mini has received certification in China, under the model name “601e”. It’s a single-SIM handset (unlike the Chinese dual-SIM HTC One) with WCDMA. Looking at this filing and remembering HTC’s teaser about something small but packing a big punch, the One Mini should be available around the world sometime in the near future.
The upcoming device should be available with a 4.3″ display with a resolution of 1280 x 720, 1 GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a 1.4 GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 4MP UltraPixel camera, and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Sense. The device is also said to have no IR blaster and probably no SD card slot as well. The handset’s LED flash seems to have been relocated to above the camera, when compared to the One.
So what do you think of the HTC One Mini based on what we currently know? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
In a week where we're celebrating the great and good of British technology, warning shots have been fired by the boss of EE who fears consumers risk being confused about 4G.
At the end of June Vodafone and EE came to blows over the former's decision to brand McLaren F1 cars with "Ultrafast 4G" livery at the British Grand Prix - and TechRadar has spoken to Olaf Swantee, EE CEO about the whole shebang.
"It think it was very bad that Vodafone did that. Why would you put on a car that 4G has arrived? It's the British GP, they have 4G in some other places. It's really confusing customers if you do that," he said.
Who does that?
"I would not do that. I would not say today we have this, but it's only actually there in six months or a year from now. I would not do that."
It's not just Vodafone who Swantee has a bone to pick with, as Three has also stepped into the EE boss' firing line.
"I think Vodafone's ad is confusing, it's frankly not the truth. It's confusing the customers, similar to the Three advertising. Have you seen the Three advertising? 3.9, blah blah blah, 3.9 it's close to 4G. What is that?"
There's a deeper ethical issue at play here and it's something that Swantee doesn't believe some of its rivals are considering.
Very, very, very unclear
"We have an obligation now to be authentic. You can't be in the UK market nowadays and be like 'don't worry it's like this, it's like that' - you probably could 10 years ago, but not today.
"Nowadays I think brands have to be authentic at what they do, what they have, what they have to offer, what does it mean?
"I think Vodafone and Three have that obligation as well and I think they are, with their advertising, very, very, very unclear and they are not authentic and real to what they really have."
EE is obviously defending its position as the only carrier to offer 4G in the UK at the moment and it's eager to build up its superfast reputation as much as it can before its rivals launch their own LTE services in the coming months.
One thing we miss here at TechRadar are flip phones. You know, the ones where you could angrily end a call by snapping your handset closed, or answer it with a quick flick of the wrist - it was pure, unadulterated satisfaction.
Sadly the clamshell design has faded into the ether thanks to the uprising of candy bar touchscreen devices, but the folks over at Samsung may be about to revive the flipper in the form of the Galaxy Folder.
According to reports the Galaxy Folder will run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and will feature two 480 x 800 displays, dual-core processor, 8MP camera, 4G connectivity and that famous numerical keypad.
Sometimes an idea comes along that's just so brilliant you wonder why no one did it before you. And then there's wee-powered phones.
Yes, scientists at Bristol Robotics Laboratory in the UK have found a way to harness the power of the yellow stuff by passing it through microbial fuel cells that absorb its energy, which can then be used to juice your smartphone.
And it that wasn't enough to get you excited, urine luck - the team also wants to build a smart toilet that will recycle your pee and use it to power other household items. Because one great idea always inspires another.
Just a week or so after the Android version landed, Google Maps for iOS 2.0 has hit the App Store which means you can now enjoy tablet-friendly maps on your iPad and iPad mini.
As well as playing nice with the larger tablet screens, the update brings more exploratory options like, er, Explore - which should make finding local restaurants, shops and so on easier to find.
It also brings in more Zagat rating integration and deals from Google Offers, if those kind of things float your boat.
Map attack
Indoor maps are also included in the update, so you can check out stations and shopping malls before you leave the house. What you won't get with the iOS edition is Google's offline mapping feature.
Although optimised to work well with iPad, Google Maps for iOS 2.0 is also designed for iPhone, so you won't need to resort back to Apple Maps, don't worry.
The app is available as a free download from the App Store now.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is an unusual beast. In some ways it seems like a great idea, smartphone cameras have always paled in comparison to their compact counterparts, so why not stick a compact quality snapper on a phone, rather than forcing photo fans to lug both around?
Of course on the other hand sticking a massive lens on the back of a smartphone isn't the most ergonomic of design decisions.
Samsung have also muddied the waters a little as the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom has very little in common with the Samsung Galaxy S4 and rather more in common with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, albeit it with a camera stuck to the back.
Likewise that camera isn't a high end compact- it certainly can't compete with something like the Fuji X20 for example, but because the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is both a phone and a camera it commands a premium price tag of roughly £440 (around $660, AU$720) SIM free, despite not being a premium example of either.
That said it's far from bad. Its 1.5GHz dual-core processor ensures that it's reasonably snappy, though some way short of the 1.9GHz quad-core Galaxy S4 and a little worse off than the 1.7GHz dual-core Galaxy S4 Mini. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom also has 1.5GB of RAM- which is a match for the S4 Mini.
There's a disappointingly small 8GB of built in storage, but there's also a micro SD card slot, so you can boost that by up to 64GB more if you invest in a card.
At first sight the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is a rather off-putting device as it looks more camera than phone. It's hard to imagine using it to text or browse the net, let alone putting it up to your ear to use for calls. But in reality it's not actually too bad.
Yes you might get a few stares when you start talking into what looks for all the world like a camera, but it's not uncomfortable to hold either in landscape or portrait as your fingers can comfortably wrap around the camera lens and the protruding edge at the other side, so it's no more awkward to use than any other phone.
Carrying it around in your pocket is slightly more of a problem, as thanks to the camera lens on the back it's pretty bulky, coming in at 125.5 x 63.5 x 15.4mm.
The length and width aren't much greater than the similarly specced Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, but the Mini is only 8.9mm thick. If you've got big pockets it's not a problem, but skinny jeans might be a no-go.
Similarly the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is quite weighty at 208g (around 7oz). That's nearly double the weight of the Galaxy S4 Mini and quite a bit more than even the monstrous Samsung Galaxy Note 2 - which comes in at 183g.
It's a noticeable weight too and not totally balanced as the side of the phone with the camera lens is disproportionately heavy, though not by much as the other side holds the battery. It's not uncomfortable and nor is it heavy enough to weigh you down, but it is more than we've come to expect smartphones to weigh.
Aside from the fact that the Galaxy S4 Zoom doesn't look much like a phone it's a reasonably good looking device. The back of the phone is mostly glossy white plastic, with a large metallic 16 megapixel camera lens at one side featuring 10x optical zoom and optical image stabilisation. It can also shoot 1080p video at 30fps.
There's a protruding edge at the other side adorned with Samsung's logo and jutting out as it does gives you something to grip, making it easy to get a firm hold of the handset. Between the lens and the edge there's the Xenon flash, while at the far side of the lens there's a speaker.
One issue with having the raised lens and grip on the back is that the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is slightly unstable when screen up on a surface.
It's not going to go anywhere but it does sit at an angle and will rock up and down if you try and use it. On the plus side that sloped angle does give you a better view of the screen than if it were totally horizontal.
The front of the phone looks an awful lot like the front of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini. It has a 4.3 inch 540 x 960 Super AMOLED display with a pixel density of 256 pixels per inch, which is identical to the display on the S4 Mini. Unfortunately it's also not all that impressive, coming in at a sub full-HD resolution.
The screen is encircled by a white border. Above the screen there's a Samsung logo, while above that you'll find the earpiece alongside a proximity and light sensor and the 1.9MP front facing camera.
Below the screen there's a home button as well as a soft touch, light up button at either side of it- menu to the left and back to the right, but these can only be seen or used when the screen is on.
The top of the handset (when held in portrait) has a 3.5mm headphone port at the right, a tiny microphone near the middle and an infrared port to the left.
There's also a metallic rim that runs around the edge of the handset, making each edge half metallic and half glossy white plastic. It's a nice contrast and gives the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom a premium look.
The bottom edge has a micro USB port in the centre - used for charging the phone or connecting it to a computer. It also has another little microphone to the right.
You can also peel away a cover on the bottom edge to reveal the 2330mAh battery, which is removable, and the micro SIM card slot. It's a neat and discreet location for both of those things, as it negates the need to remove the whole back cover while still making the battery accessible. The cover is easy to open too, but feels securely locked in place when closed.
The left edge of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom features a little plastic cover at the bottom edge, which can be opened to reveal a microSD card slot with support for cards of up to 64GB. That's something which is much needed given the paltry 8GB of built in storage.
The right edge of the handset features a dedicated camera button at the bottom. Having a dedicated camera button is no surprise given how much of a focus the camera is on this handset but it's still much appreciated given that most Android handsets don't have one.
It's in the optimal position too, as it's where you'd expect to find one on a camera and doesn't get in the way of either the screen or the lens when in use.
There's a volume rocker near the middle and a power button- which also sleeps and wakes the handset, near the top. These buttons are all done up in the same silvery metallic style as the rim that runs around the phone, leaving them looking high quality.
All in all it's a well built, solid handset that isn't as awkward or uncomfortable to use as we'd expected. We'd go so far as to say that it actually looks pretty good - though we'd still take a conventional smartphone design over it from an aesthetic perspective.
By smartphone standards the camera is in a whole other league, but it still can't match up to most decent compacts and the other specs aren't much to write home about either, leaving the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom slightly compromised for a device with a £440 (around $660, AU$720) price tag.
While we're eagerly awaiting more news of the next iPhone, whispers of Apple's rumored 
