Google refreshed its YouTube Android app today with update v5.0.21, enabling in-app multitasking, playlist searches and expanded Chromecast support.
Multitasking is particularly helpful. It allows users to minimize videos by flicking the screen in a downward motion, putting the still playing YouTube video in the bottom right corner.
With the video out of the way, users can reach all of the menus within the app without having to close what they're watching.
Previously, search menu partially covered up the running video and closed what was playing as soon as you selected the search term.
Returning the video to its normal full-screen state is just as simple. It requires making the opposite gesture - flicking the video up - from the bottom right corner. Sliding the video to the left closes it.
Playlist searches
In-app multitasking is incredibly slick in the new YouTube Android update, and what you can do in the app is now more accessible.
Public playlists can be searched as an option next to sifting through videos and channels.
Accessing your own playlists, history, favorites, uploads and watch later queue is also easier thanks to a slideout menu common among other apps like Google+ and Facebook.
Finally, thumbs up, thumbs down and the flag buttons are below all videos instead of hidden within an annoying downward arrow. Channel owners seeking more thumbs up and users looking to rate videos should appreciate this.
Google Chromecast Now
Google hasn't beefed up its very limited Chromecast app support just yet, but the company is improving the way YouTube on Android interacts with the media streaming device.
When extending the YouTube app to Chromecast, selecting a new video will bring about a floating menu with options to play it immediately or add the video to the TV queue.
This Google Now-like card user interface also contains relevant information about the video including a photo, the channel name, how many views it has so far, likes and dislikes, and the description.
When can you download update v5.0.21?
Google hasn't pushed its latest YouTube app update out to all Android devices, but the APK has made its round for those who can't wait thanks to Android Police.
Even though it isn't fully available in the Google Play store just yet, we can confirm that it works on the new Nexus 7 flawlessly, taking full advantage of the tablet's 7-inch screen and 2.3 million pixels.
We asked Google when we can expect an iOS update with similar functions and we will update this story when we hear back.
Those smartphone-on-a-watch rumors are thought to be phony, as the unconfirmed smartwatch from Samsung only "works with phones," according to a new report today.
That would make the Samsung Galaxy Gear a companion gadget used in conjunction with existing an smartphone and not able to make calls on its own, according to The Verge.
Instead, Bluetooth and NFC could enable this Samsung smartwatch make the wrist-to-handset connection.
Pebble and Sony's forthcoming Smartwatch 2 work much the same way, as they too lack an independent SIM card and cellular radio.
IFA had a Samsung Galaxy Gear
The Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch is expected to debut within the next couple of months, with speculation pointing to IFA 2013 in a few weeks.
Right before this German technology conference begins, Samsung is holding an 'Unpacked' event on Sept. 4, asking invitees to "take note," according to T3.
But the company could also debut its smartwatch just in case it fears that Apple will pull a "one more thing" announcement of the iWatch a few days later on Sept. 10.
Every inch of the smartphone market
Samsung's smartwatch may not make calls by itself, but that's okay. The company has plenty of smartphones, including four previously unknown devices that appear in a shipping manifest dug up by a blog dedicated to the manufacturer, SamMobile.
Samsung is literally flooding every inch of the smartphone market, with the list pointing to 4-inch, 4.5-inch, 5-inch, and 5.2-inch devices under the respective model numbers SM-G730A, SM-G3815, SM-G9105, and SM-G7102.
The 4-inch version will have a WVGA (800 x 480) resolution, and the 4.5-inch model will sport a qHD (540 x 960) resolution, according to the blog.
If all of these devices end up being surprise announcements at IFA 2013, Samsung's press conference may need to eschew "one more thing" in favor of "five more things."
Had dreams of inscribing a special message on your Moto X?
You'll have to put those on hold, at least if you were planning on ordering the new handset at launch. According to Computerworld and PCWorld's JR Raphael, custom engraving won't be available for the spanking new device when it starts rolling later this week.
Raphael posted the news on his Google+ profile, explaining that printing quality during beta testing wasn't up to par, causing Motorola to hold off until it could work out the kinks. A spokesperson said the option would be available soon, he wrote.
We've asked Motorola for confirmation of Raphael's report, and we'll update with more information as it becomes available.
More blips!
Here's one message you won't have issues deciphering: Read more blips!
The better-late-than-never Verizon HTC One is releasing this month with Android 4.2.2, making many owners of the phone's premium Developer Edition upset that they're stuck with Android 4.1.2.
"How is it possible that the Verizon One will launch with 4.2.2 when us Dev Edition buyers are still stuck on 4.1!? Frustrating!" tweeted one of those irritated owners, Joshua Wein.
Turns out, HTC President Jason Mackenzie was listening and actually responded with some good news for Wein and all HTC One Google Edition owners. It'll have stock Android 4.3: Jelly Bean soon.
"We definitely care and want you to have great experience. [4.]2.2 is minor update so decided to go straight to 4.3," tweeted Mackenzie.
Giving extra reason for skipping Android 4.2.2, he added "because 4.3 is so close. And 2.2 offered limited customer benefit."
HTC One 4.3 update release date
HTC One Google Developer Edition owners are missing out on features like Photosphere, Daydream screensavers, Swype-like gesture typing, and multiple user profiles.
However, these features will soon be joined by the benefits of Android 4.3 including Bluetooth low energy support, restricted profiles, and autocomplete on dialpad.
The wait won't be too long, either.
"Our plan/target (since certification is necessary) is that all US skus will be updated before September end," announced Mackenzie on Twitter.
"Our target is before Sept end. I am pushing this one and hope it can be earlier. But sometimes unknowns can arise."
Paying a premium for the HTC One Google Edition smartphone does have its perks... eventually.
Read our review of the Nexus 7 tablet, which launched Android 4.3
There's been plenty of talk about a Nokia Windows Phone phablet in recent months, but things just got a little more serious thanks to some reportedly leaked specs that surfaced on Monday.
According to The Verge, the Finnish manufacturer plans to launch the 6-inch handset, currently codenamed 'Bandit' later this year, in an already release-heavy 2013 for the company.
The report claims the device will have a full HD 1080p display, which will enable an extra column of Windows Phone live tiles on the home screen.
On top of that, Nokia may look to include a 20-megapixel camera (which a Lumia 925-like 'hump' on the rear) and a Qualcomm quad-core processor.
1080p wave
According to the report, it'll be the first of a wave of 1080p Windows Phone devices, with Microsoft currently making adjustments to the OS to facilitate the changing of the guard.
The Verge claimed the 'Bandit' will feature a polycarbonate body and will retain a thin and light build.
Apple's golden child may get a little brother (credit: AllThingsD)
If it feels like you've been hearing about the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C so much recently that it feels like the devices are already available, you're not the only one.
The good news is, with Apple's supposed Sept. 10 unveiling event just a few weeks away, it sounds like both phones will become a reality.
According to the Wall Street Journal, sources have revealed the Cupertino company has tasked its supplier, Hon Hai Precision, with delivering two different iPhones next month.
It's a bit of a change in the way Apple's done things in the past, but with the battle between iOS and Android, and Apple, Samsung, Sony, HTC and Google all vying for a cut of that smartphone userbase, a change just might do Apple good.
Two is better than one
Apple has traditionally stuck with just the one model of iPhone per year since the device launched, while competitors have recently opted to double-, triple-, or even quadruple-down with mobile phones.
The same could be said for HTC and Sony, which have each delivered standard versions of flagship phones (HTC One, Xperia Z) and variants designed to capture more of the market (HTC One Mini, Xperia L).
Apple's rumored plans have been poorly guarded, with both the flagship iPhone 5S and budget-friendly iPhone 5C making waves for months.
While other manufacturers have seemingly been pumping out phone after phone after phone, Apple has been content to stick with its annual releases, though that slow pace has drawn some concerned looks from Apple's board.
Still, while Samsung is reportedly readying its Galaxy Gear smartwatch for a September debut, Apple's focus on phones rather than hybrid devices may actually give the company a bit of a focused edge.
Gilded age
Of course, adding a second iPhone to the slate isn't the only way Apple is believed to be dramatically adjusting its smartphone strategy.
AllThingsD is reporting the golden iPhone 5S is going to make its grand debut during Apple's September event, which will give the device a new color scheme for the first time since white was added to the mix with the iPhone 3G.
There is plenty of support for this fabled device, including how the design will actually look, and that the golden hue will resemble a champagne color more than the mineral.
The side and rear of the iPhone 5S will sport a golden frame, while the front will remain the now standard white, with the top and bottom edges of the rear also featuring white highlights.
According to the site's report, gold is being added for multiple reasons, with its ease in anodizing and the recent uptick in gold jewelery sales in China among the leading factors.
Even if adding a new color scheme and a budget model aren't terribly innovative decisions, Apple is banking on these small differences to help boost slowing smartphone sales.
That beach looks good enough to eat (credit: RBMen)
It's been a long and leaky road for the Sony 'Honami,' rumored to be the Xperia i1, but it could finally arrive in the coming weeks.
Mark your calendars - according to Bloomberg Sony's next Xperia flagship will launch at an event on Sept. 4, just before IFA 2013 kicks off in Berlin.
The site says the Xperia Honami will feature tech borrowed from both Sony televisions and Sony cameras, including Bravia TV picture enhancement chips and sensors from Cyber-shots.
Meanwhile, some photos allegedly taken with the Honami appeared online over the weekend at RBMen (via Xperia blog), providing a hint of what that camera can do.
A beach shot at sunset shows off some impressively deep blacks and vibrant hues, while photos of some friends apparently at dinner look more like your standard camera phone shots.
The photos reportedly appeared on Picasa, the Google photo app that revealed they were taken with the Sony C6903, Honami's rumored model number.
But they weren't even shot with the device's full 20 megapixels - these were apparently taken with the Honami's camera set at just 8 megapixels.
With all the leaks, it may feel like there's nothing left to learn about the next Sony Xperia phone, but we'll keep an eye out for announcements in the coming weeks anyway. That's our job, after all.
A new Xperia on the horizon (credit: Gadget Helpline)
The most recent flagship handset to come out of the Japanese firm was the Sony Xperia Z at the beginning of this year and while it's only be around for eight months it's apparently time for a new model, the Xperia i1.
We're hearing the Sony Xperia i1 is lined up for a special launch at IFA 2013 in Berlin, and there's been a whole host of rumours, leaks and speculation surrounding the smartphone.
Originally touted under the codename Sony Honami, the chatter on the internet now surrounds the rather peculiar i1 moniker - a name we're not particularly impressed with.
We've cast an eye over all the various reports on the web surrounding the Honami/Xperia i1 and pulled the best bits together below to give you an overview of the handset.
Sony Xperia i1 release date and price
Initially the Sony Xperia i1 release date was pegged for July, but that has been and gone, so all eyes are now firmly on IFA 2013.
Apparently the Honami will make its way to market in at least one country before the year is out - with South Korea supposedly in line for some Xperia i1 loving.
The Xperia i1 release date now appears to be pretty much set for September 4, the date of Sony's press conference at IFA 2013 in Berlin, after a teaser was leaked online.
The leaked event teaser (credit: Xperia-Digi-Wo)
In terms of price the trail is pretty cold, but considering the Xperia i1 is set to be the next flagship device from Sony we'd expect it to carry a lavish price tag putting it up against the Galaxy S4, HTC One and Lumia 925.
Sony Xpeira i1 display
Early reports pointed towards the Xperia i1 sporting a 5-inch, full HD display, very much like the screen found on the Xperia Z.
The 5-inch display has been reported in a number of other leaks as well, adding more fuel to fire and in the screen department at least it doesn't appear that Sony is going to advance anything. We just hope it doesn't suffer from the same washed-out appearance of its predecessor - but given the Sony Xperia Z Ultra packed Triluminous technology to improve it's appearance, fingers crossed the same will happen here.
Sony Xperia i1 camera
With no big surprises in screen spec the major upgrade the Xperia i1 looks to be getting is in the camera department.
The Xperia Z currently sports a pretty decent 13.1MP snapper, but the Xperia i1 is rumoured to go one better and pack a meaty 20MP Cyber-shot camera on its rear.
It's not just photos which may well turn out to be huge on the i1, with leaked slides from a Sony presentation hinting at a 4K (4000 x 2000) video recording capability - something which may find its way onto the Xperia i1.
If this turns out to be true than the Honami would be the first smartphone to capture film in the 4K format - although the full HD screen wouldn't be able to do your recordings justice.
Various screenshots claiming to be from the Xperia i1 camera app have also made their way online and apparently reveal updated camera software.
Credit: Xperia Blog
Some clever folks over at XDA Developers reckon they've managed to port the camera app from the Honami handset to over Xperia smartphones, bringing a raft of new features with it.
Credit: Xperia Blog
New features, which have been confirmed in a second report, include AR-effect (an augmented reality mode), info-eye for visual search and Timeshift Burst which allows users to choose the best photo out of a series of shots - so very similar to mode found on BlackBerry 10.
Another feature which could worm its way onto the Xperia i1 is Social Live, giving you the ability to live stream video to Facebook. This sounds like a pretty massive gimmick, but if Sony can pull it off it will be a very interesting feature.
Either way it will be an improvement on the 1.5GHz quad-core chip in the Xperia Z, and it would also make the Xperia i1 more powerful than the Galaxy S4 and HTC One.
2GB looks pretty much nailed on to be accompanying the quad-core processor in the Xperia i1, while an Adreno 330 GPU should give the handset enough grunt for the more graphically intense games.
Internal storage is a little disappointing with a number of leaks stating 16GB, although what's actually available will be less as the operating system will take up a fair whack.
At least there's some comfort in reports pointing towards a microSD slot, which makes the internal storage less of an issue.
Sony Xperia i1 operating system, battery and more
Rather surprisingly very little has been said about the operating system which will adorn the Xperia i1, but perhaps that's because it's obviously going to be sporting a recent incarnation of Android.
While Android 4.3 is the latest version of Google's platform on the market it's currently limited to Nexus devices, so the sensible money would be on the Sony Xperia i1 arriving with Android 4.2.2 on board.
Sony is reportedly stuffing a decent battery into the Xperia i1, with two reports pointing towards a 3000mAh power pack. Hopefully that will see it last a whole day with decent usage.
Connectivity wise you can apparently expect to see Wi-Fi and Bluetooth line up alongside 4G and NFC, but it doesn't look like the Xperia i1 will share the same dust and water resistance as the Xperia Z. This seems unlikely given the 'rugged' tag is one Sony is keen to push, so we'd expect this to be perfectly happy when accidentally dropped in your washing up.
For the audiophiles among you there's good news as the Xperia i1 is touted as having a Walkman audio chip stuffed inside it to enhance your tunes, although it's still worth investing in a decent set of headphones.
Sony Xperia i1 looks
There have been a number of photo leaks claiming to show off the Xperia i1 in all its glory, and if they are accurate it will look pretty similar to the Xperia Z.
At first glance it's not really possible to tell the two handsets apart, with the device in the images below keeping to that strong Sony design which has been implemented on the Z and Z Ultra.
Images showing the side of the Xperia i1 appear to reveal a metal band running around the side of the handset, and shows a dedicated shutter key alongside the oversized power/lock button and volume rocker.
Credit: JustAMP
The rear of the Xperia i1 in this photo seems to have a matt, plastic finish which looks a little cheap, so we're hoping this is just an early prototype and not the finished design.
The one thing we know for sure is that iPhone 5S will come with iOS 7
Some new holes cut into a leaked shell supposedly intended for the iPhone 5S suggest that the handset will feature a fingerprint scanner.
French site Nowhereelse.fr has some photos of what its sources tell it is the iPhone 5S shell, and it features a separate cut-out near the home button casing on the bottom of the handset.
The fingerprint scanner rumour is nothing new. We've heard word from various sources over the past few months - in fact, ever since Apple bought mobile security firm Authentec for a huge chunk of cash back in July last year, there has been talk of the iPhone 5S being the first iPhone to feature one.
Fingerprint scanners seem set to be the next big smartphone buzz-feature, as mobile payments see security becoming more and more important on our mobile devices.
Today's photos also have bigger holes on the top of the handset on the rear panel, which suggest that Apple may be planning a camera sensor upgrade and dual LED flash.
Too legit to quit
Whether the casings are legit or not is hard to tell, but Nowhereelse.fr doesn't have a bad track record when it comes to component leaks.
Either way, we'll find out the truth on September 10 when Apple is apparently set to unveil its new iPhone to the world.
HTC could be about to lose a whole chunk of street cred as reports emerge that hip young headphone-maker Beats wants to sever ties with the smartphone maker.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Beats Electronics' (of Dr. Dre fame) is considering buying out HTC's 25% stake in the firm as it looks to expand its options in the market.
Beats Audio technology has proudly sat inside HTC's handsets ever since the Sensation XE, bringing improved audio performance - especially in the bass department - via headphones and then the internal speaker on later devices.
People "familiar with the matter" told the WSJ that Beats Electronics is looking to replace the Taiwanese firm with a new investor who can provide money for future growth, which would see HTC lose its tie-ins with the audio firm.
Windows drift
It's not the first time the Beats/HTC relationship has hit the rocks: last summer, Beats bought 25% of its shares back from HTC, prompting rumours that HTC would drop Beats integration from its phones, chatter that the company branded "categorically false".
There's more bad news for HTC: Digitimes claims that the firm may drift away from Windows Phone 8 as its share of the already-fairly-small Windows Phone market has dipped.
HTC has apparently seen its global Windows Phone market share drop below 5%, with Samsung taking second place after Nokia, and thus is mulling the decision to focus more on its Android outfit.
Handsets such as the HTC 8X and 8S failed to make much of a splash in the market, while the Android based HTC One has received a strong reception and managed to put the manufacturer back on the mobile map.
We have spoken to HTC regarding both reports, but a spokesperson for the company told us "HTC doesn't comment on rumour or speculation" - so no real shock there.
It looks like Samsung's idea of creating "mini" versions of top phones is rubbing off on others with HTC launching the One Mini and new reports suggesting Sony is planning a similar onslaught with the Honami Mini.
Over recent months there's been a lot of talk surrounding the Sony Xperia i1, previously known as the Sony Honami, so it was only a matter of time before the rumour mill kicked into action on a pint sized version.
Information on the Honami Mini popped up on the Esato forum, with the details posted by "randomuser" apparently revealing a 4.3-inch 720p display, 2.2GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, microSD slot, 20.7MP camera and 2400mAh battery.
If these reports are true - and we can't verify that - then Sony could well be planning the mini version we've been waiting for. The power of a top end smartphone in a smaller, pocket friendly design.
It would smash the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and One Mini, which both suffered a major downgrade in features from their bigger brothers.
Identity crisis
There appears to be some confusion over the name of the cut down mobile though, with the forum member noting it currently sports the codename Ray 3.
This reminds us of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray, but apparently there's no relation between the two - though there's still the issue of the Honami name which appears to be a codename in itself. Could it finally arrive as the Xperia i1 Mini?
The Sony Xperia i1 is expected to break cover at IFA 2013, but if you're hoping to get a look at the Honami Mini you may be out of luck, as randomuser claims it will arrive "only by December or January next year."
