Facebook Home just became home to more than just Facebook
Facebook Home is the Android overlay that puts the social network front and center, but today it opened up its doors to four other social networks.
One of Facebook Home's selling points is that users can swipe around on the lock screen to see photos from their Facebook news feeds, and now photos from Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Flickr can be viewed there as well.
"Today you can view more of the content you care about on your lock screen," Facebook Engineering Manager Tom Alison wrote on Facebook's brief announcement message.
"When you wake up your phone, swipe through photos and posts from Flickr, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram, in addition to Facebook," he continued.
Caring is sharing
According to the announcement Facebook Home users need only connect their Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, or Flickr accounts with Home to begin seeing photos from those services on their lock screens.
Users can change what content appears on the lock screen in the settings menu.
"Connecting apps to Home is just one more way to see the content that you care most about the moment you wake up your phone," Facebook Product Designer Francis Luu said in a video explaining the new features.
Alison added that the feature will begin testing within the Facebook for Android beta program as well.
The long road ahead
This addition to Facebook Home was promised last month, when Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg revealed that Instagram and other services would soon be added to the Home lock screen.
Zuckerberg also admitted that users have not been quick to embrace Facebook Home, but he believes that will change "over time."
That sentiment has been repeated by others at Facebook, including Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, who said last May that Facebook Home's journey to success "will be a long road."
Want more out of Android than Facebook and Pinterest photos? Read TechRadar's review of the new Nexus 7 to find out what a real Android tablet is made of.
Amazon's Kindle Fire tablets appear to be only the first volley in its hardware wars, with a set-top box and two different smartphones said to be under development.
TechCrunch reported Wednesday that Amazon is developing not one, but two different smartphones, including a high-end model featuring a 3D user interface and packed with multiple cameras for facial tracking.
The rumored project, codenamed "Smith," reportedly uses four cameras - one at each corner of the handset - to track the user's head and eyes in order to give the illusion that the screen is actually in three dimensions.
In theory, the feature could provide a more accurate version of the parallax effect used with Apple's latest iOS 7, which is controlled by internal sensors of the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad running the operating system.
Spreading like wildfire
It's unclear how Amazon plans to absorb the manufacturing cost of three additional cameras (counting a fifth rear-facing camera for photos and video), but the report suggests real-world image recognition as one such possibility, which would make it easier to purchase products from the e-tailer.
Fire OS is a forked version of Google's Android that currently powers Amazon's Kindle Fire tablets and has been rumored to also run a branded set-top box capable of streaming music, movies and TV show content into living rooms.
Amazon's future hardware is a closely-guarded secret within the company's Lab126 facility in Cupertino, where several projects named after letters of the alphabet are said to "shipped around internally inside a locked metal case" with only the displays visible.
Get an eyeful of the iPhone 5S with our full review of Apple's latest!
Arrrghh! Kevin Spacey in high definition. Our eyes!
Netflix has added HD support for iPhone, iPad and iPod media-munchers running iOS 7.
The welcome version 5.0, launched today, also now includes support for AirPlay streaming straight to an Apple TV via Wi-Fi.
Simply pick a title to watch and start playing, and if there's an Apple TV device connected to the Wi-Fi you'll be greeted with an AirPlay icon. Press it and you're away.
Beam us up
Once you're beaming content over you can use your iOS device as a remote control, but you'll still be able to use other apps on your device while Airplay is in motion.
We're nearly ready to bring you our in-depth Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch review - in the meantime, enjoy our extended hands on photography.
We've been waiting for ages for smartwatches to come to the fore, and it seems that time might finally be upon us with the debut of the Galaxy Gear.
We're not saying this is the first to ever appear – the Pebble and the rather nifty Sony Smartwatch 2 have already made some significant strides – but when a name like Samsung gets involved people will sit up and take notice.
So, what's the Gear all about? As you may have guessed by the name, it looks like it was dreamt up in a boardroom of South Korean executives, it's meant to be a blend of technology and fashion.
With six different colours to choose from, it certainly has aspirations in the latter category.
The whole thing feels well made the second you pick it up – it had better do, as the price of £299 / $299 (around AUS$325) means it's going to be pricier than a lot of mid-range smartphones out there.
The mix of stainless steel and rubber doesn't make you feel like you're buying a premium watch though – it's more a sports option that's been through a refining process. It doesn't feel cheap, but we're willing to bet it's going to be tough to convince a number of consumers to shell out for this new device.
It's not going to be a lot of use in the short term, unless you want to fork out for a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 or the new Note 10.1 as well, as these are the only devices that the little beast works with for now.
However, with Android 4.3 coming our way soon for the Samsung Galaxy S4 and S3 the Galaxy Gear will play nice with these as well, extending the pool of compatibility.
That said, there's a lot of exciting technology packed in that show that Samsung is at least trying to push the boat out. For instance, there's a real security boon with an auto-locking feature that will shut the lockscreen on your phone or tablet should you move more than 1.5m from your device while wearing the smartwatch.
And we really like Smart Relay, which lets you preview you emails on your Galaxy Gear before whipping out your connected smartphone, with the whole message popping up before your very eyes.
Samsung has clearly put a lot of thought into its new smartwatch, designing in a microphone and speaker that allows you to speak to whoever is calling you on the phone by raising your wrist next to your head.
However, that thought didn't extend to the possibility that anyone doing this would look like they were talking on a pretend phone… it's not immediately obvious that you're talking on a smartwatch.
Samsung claims that this looks more normal than speaking to a Bluetooth headset, but we'd have to disagree there.
But what about how the smartwatch could actually integrate into your day to day life? After all, it's something that's got a built-in pedometer, a music player, a 1.9MP camera (called a Memographer, for some reason) and reams of apps from the outset that mean you will severely cut down on having to pull your phone out of your pocket.
Been outbid on eBay? Got an important meeting coming up? Need to dial a number? The functionality is all there on your wrist, and the touch-sensitive screen (a Super AMOLED option with a 320 x 320 resolution) seems able to handle the above with aplomb.
But the first problem our test unit encountered was that, well, without a smartphone attached it's pretty useless. The S Health app still fired up, which shows that this can still function as a fitness companion, but other than that it's a device that's devoid of its own identity.
The camera isn't too bad – while getting a shot nicely framed is always going to be difficult given the angle you're shooting from, the result could definitely be worse.
Opening up the camera isn't too hard either, with a swift swipe from the top bezel launching it and a tap on the screen starting and finishing the process of taking a photo or video.
The display is nicely visible as well - we can see users liking the stark contrast of the AMOLED technology that displays your chosen timepiece. The downside is that the battery will only last 25 hours – fine if you're using a smartphone, not as much fun when you've got to charge your watch every day.
Samsung needs to make something that more resembles a watch here in more than just style to be taken seriously as a real wristpiece – and that's before we've got onto the real issue.
You see, for all the above, the 800MHz processor just cannot keep up with the prods and pokes we wanted it to. Just swiping left and right to get through the categories resulted in the Gear melting down and freezing, and the display ended up splitting in two, showing two different apps.
This could very well be an issue with early software - and anecdotal evidence suggests it performs a lot better when it's connected to a phone (which ours couldn't be) - but at nearly £300, this device needs to be perfect before it hits the shelves on September 25.
Early verdict
Samsung has got some things really right on the Galaxy Gear: the styling is great and the interface is nifty. We like the way the camera works (although we're not sure you'd want it, even for the likes of Vine or Instagram) and the idea of Smart Relay appeals to our geekier nature.
But we were a little shocked at how laggy and slow the interface was on the watch – it instantly felt like every other sub-par smartwatch we'd encountered in the past.
Samsung could still turn this one around, but there needs to be a big step forward to make the Galaxy Gear worth anywhere near the money that's likely to be asked.
Apparently there's something big brewing over in Taiwan as news of the super-sized handset going by the moniker HTC One Max continues to grow on the web.
After the success of the HTC One the Taiwanese firm is probably feeling pretty bullish about its chances going forward and it's no surprise that rumours have begun to crop up suggesting it's looking at the phablet device codenamed T6.
Pricing is equally as unknown for now, but Chinese site ePrice has said it expects the One Max to sport a similar price tag to the Galaxy Note 3 - so you'd better get saving.
HTC One Max display
The main attraction on the HTC One Max will be its display which is apparently shaping up to be a mammoth 5.9-inch, full HD affair.
This would top the 5.7-inch, 1080p display found on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, but it will still look small when held next to the ridiculously proportioned Sony Xperia Z Ultra and its 6.3-inch screen.
Original reports suggested HTC would only give the One Max a modest screen bump, upping if from 4.7- to 5-inches from the HTC One - although those rumours seem to have been laid to rest now.
There's an outside chance the One Max could turn up with KitKat, but it seems unlikely as Google is tipped to announce the latest Android update just a few days before HTC makes its rumoured announcement.
HTC One Max processor
As well having a huge display the HTC One Max is expected to pack some serious power under its metal chassis, with reports of a 2.3GHz quad-core processor getting our attention.
Apparently the One Max will use the same Snapdragon 800 chip you'll find in the Galaxy Note 3 and Xperia Z Ultra, plus there will be 2GB of RAM to back it up.
HTC One Max design
Usually with key phone launches a whole platter of images claiming to depict the handset in question are leaked online, although when it comes to the
The first glimpse we got of the HTC One Max was in the form of a blueprint, which from the rear appears to be identical to the handset it's based on.
On the front only minor cosmetic changes show up, with additional width to accommodate the larger display and a shift of the sensors at the top of the device from the left to right.
An image which appeared on Chinese site ePrice claimed to show the HTC One Max lined up next to the One and the One Mini - and on the rear of the One Max there seems to be what looks like a fingerprint scanner.
Credit: ePrice
News on a potential fingerprint scanner - possibly aiming to tackle Touch ID on the iPhone 5S - grew when more images apparently showing the rear of the HTC One Max had spaces for the rumoured digit reader.
This particular model is a supposed dual-SIM variant of the One Max which will likely land in Asian markets.
Credit: ePrice
So we can be pretty such that if the HTC One Max does exist it will simply look like a stretched HTC One, but the fingerprint conundrum just won't go away. Yet another leaked image made its way onto the web, complete with that black square on the back of the device.
Credit: mobileleaks.nl
We have apparently seen the complete package if the following image is to be believed. Apparently that's the HTC One Max on the left alongside the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 2.
Credit: Weibo
Roubnding off the HTC One Max image leak buffet is this treat from Chinese site Tenaa, and yes once again the much talked about fingerprint scanner also appears to be present here. Is HTC really going for it?
Credit: Tenaa
HTC One Max specs
Apparently the One Max will also feature 16GB of internal storage, 2.1MP front camera, UltraPixel rear camera 4G connectivity and a sizable 3300mAh battery.
Leaked screenshots claiming to be taken from the One Max reveal that it could offer HDR video recording and various camera modes such as "beauty mode", blemish correction tools and panorama.
Even though HTC and Beats Audio have parted company after a few years of teaming up, it looks like the One Max will still sport Dr Dre's audio technology - possibly the last HTC smartphone to do so.
Now those are some pretty tasty specs and it will certainly give the competition a run for its money - but we're going to have to wait and see if they are accurate.
Phone of the year is one of the most sought after awards at the T3 Awards each year, and with TechRadar in charge of handing over the trophy, we thought we'd run through which of 2013's handsets are in the running.
Ford SYNC presents the T3 Awards 2013 and the lineup of phones is a veritable who's who in the current hierarchy, with Apple and Samsung's rivalry propped up by the brilliance of HTC, the fascinating world of Nokia and the backdrop of Sony's long-awaited resurgence and BlackBerry's sad decline.
But at its heart, the award is all about the actual handsets. So we asked TechRadar's phone guru Gareth Beavis, mobiles staff writer John McCann, as well as some guest comments from the rest of the team their thoughts on the six shortlist contenders.
T3 judge and TechRadar's Editor-in-chief UK Patrick Goss: "It's become almost too easy to criticise Apple's iPhones as innovation slows and debacles like Apple maps add a faint patina of tarnish to the brand's reputation, but this was (and still is) a gorgeous phone. Light, fully featured and just a little bit taller - the arrival of iOS 7 recently has made it even better."
TechRadar staff writer Hugh Langley: "The iPhone 5 is an obvious contender for 2013's best phone. It was a smart evolution for the series and the bigger screen was more than welcome. While it made iOS 6 feel a little dated at first, iOS 7 has turned the iPhone 5 into what feels like a completely new handset that's more intuitive than ever. Most importantly, it's an absolute joy to use."
TechRadar phones editor UK Gareth Beavis: "The HTC One is a phone that defies all expectations through a clever camera, amazing sound quality as well as the best-designed smartphone out there. Add to that industry leading specs and cool content discovery and there's no surprise when you learn the HTC One is already our phone of the year, and competing in the T3 Awards for their accolade."
Patrick Goss: This is a beautiful phone and it's not a coincidence that it sits proudly at the top of our 20 best phones on the planet list. Wonderful construction, sweet, sweet Android and, eventually, an improvement to the early battery life woes proved to the world that it wasn't just Apple and Samsung who could wow us with flagship phones.
TechRadar UK phones writer John McCann: "Windows Phone is still finding its feet in the mobile market, but Nokia's Lumia 925 is the best smartphone currently on the market running WP8. It's metal chassis gives it a solid, premium look and feel, plus the camera on the back is great for low-light snaps. We're still not sold on the Windows OS yet though - both iOS and Android offer more."
Patrick Goss: "I'm coming to the conclusion that it's time to stop patronising Nokia and Windows Phone for being an okay third option and start beating them with a big stick labelled 'make a wonderful phone already'. I'm just not that big of a fan of the Lumia 925 and I think it doesn't compare that well with some of the big hitters on this list."
John McCann: "The BlackBerry Z10 is the most significant smartphone to come out of the Canadian firm for years - the flagship for the new BB10 operating system the Z10 offers a completely new experience for all users. While it may not be the first phone you think of, the impressive messaging capabilities make this handset a contender."
Hugh Langley: "Did the BlackBerry Z10 deliver the goods as the first BB10 handset? With that 4.2-inch HD display, stylish design and 8MP camera, it would be tough to say no. But as great as it was, it's hard to argue it offered anything special. Which is why it wasn't the phone to save BlackBerry."
Gareth Beavis: "The Samsung Galaxy S4 takes power to the next level, with a supreme screen, strong camera and solid design. The South Korean firm should be applauded for its bravery too... The reams of innovative new features in board may not all be useful, but at least it's working out what the next big thing will be in smartphones."
TechRadar UK deputy editor Marc Chacksfield: "The Samsung Galaxy S4 is a no-brainer for me. Superior AMOLED screen, sizzling processor, expandable memory, a tie-up with Dropbox and touchless gestures are just a few reasons why it became my phone of choice this year. I do wish Samsung would move away from plastic, though - the chassis is the only thing that lets this superb smartphone down."
John McCann: "Supremely powerful and outstandingly specced the Sony Xperia Z1 is, on paper at least, a solid gold winner (It's not gold though, it's black). There are a few niggles with the interface and excessive levels of bloatware, but if you're in the market for a super slim smartphone with 20MP camera and waterproof credentials, look no further."
Gareth Beavis: "The Sony Xperia Z1 is another great step away from the troubled Sony Ericsson venture - and now imbued with all the great tech the Japanese firm has to offer, the Z1 packs an impossible amount of tech into one thin frame. Be it compact camera-level snapping, TV-spec visuals and a simplified UI there's a load of reasons to see this as another moment in Sony's smartphone revolution."
Having reported on LG's rumoured flexible Z phone just hours ago, we've received some new info nuggets that change everything.
Well, not absolutely everything. But according to sources speaking to Cnet, LG's new phone will likely be going with the name "G Flex", meaning the Z moniker may have just been an internal codename.
The phone will feature a 6-inch display and the same sources claim that November will be the month in which LG makes the big curvy reveal, although plans are said to not be finalised just yet.
Remember, remember, flexible November
The flex-factor doesn't mean the phone will actually be bendable though - just that it will arrive in a fixed contorted form.
Cnet says the phone will be "dramatic enough to comfortably fit around your face but not so angular that it looks weird" and has obtained a sketch of the handset showing off that not-overly-dramatic curvature.
Google has already launched a new version of the Nexus 7 so surely it's only a matter of time before its bigger brother, the Nexus 10, gets a reboot too.
Last year's Nexus 10 was made by Samsung, but if the latest information posted by @evleaks is to be believed (and it's usually a reliable source), then Asus appears to have stolen this one from the Korean firm.
The picture posted on the Twitter account seems to be a product listing for the new Nexus 10 tablet, but above confirming a 10-inch screen and Wi-Fi connectivity it offers us precious little information.
Have a KitKat
While no Nexus 10 release date was offered in this post there are rumours suggesting Google is planning an event on October 14 where we could possibly see the Nexus 5 smartphone launched alongside the larger tablet.
We already know that Google's next instalment of Android is dubbed KitKat, and this shiny new software is expected to appear at the same event, so we could be in for a real treat.
The executive Vertu brand is never going to appeal to a wide audience, but it's looking to garner some new customers with the launch of its latest smartphone, the Constellation.
We saw the audaciously valued Vertu Ti launch earlier this year with prices starting at £6,700 (around $10,600/AU$10,300) and in comparison the Vertu Constellation is a steal at just £4,000 (around $6,500/AU$7,000).
The majority of Vertu's customers at the moment are male, so it's hoping that the Constellation - with a less garish appearance and a choice of coloured leather included "Raspberry", "Cappuccino" and "Mocha" (or pink, light brown and brown) - will appeal more to the female market.
How does Vertu go around justifying that price then? Well the specs certainly don't live up to the price tag with a rather average 4.3-inch 720p display, 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB internal storage and 13MP rear camera.
Justify this
You also get a 1.3MP front snapper, NFC and a non-removable 1800mAh battery placing this Android 4.2.2 toting handset firmly in the middle market.
It's the handmade casing and the added services provided by Vertu where it attempts to justify the price point of its smartphones, with the Constellation clad in grade 5 titanium and wrapped in calf leather, while the Vertu shortkey on the side of the handset is made from a ruby.
Press the ruby on the left side of the Constellation and the phone will launch Vertu's own services application providing you with two options - Life and Certainty.
The former provides users access to some of the most exclusive clubs and events around the world as well as offering a high-class, Groupon style deals area, while Certainty provides various levels of protection from encrypting calls and messages to securing your documents and device.
If you're feeling flush the Vertu Constellation goes on sale this month, but if you want the best phone on the market, or simply value for money, we'd recommend getting pretty much anything else.
