You've probably never heard of GT Advanced Technologies, but in future Apple devices, the firm could end up playing a major role.

The company, which provides crystal grow equipment and materials for consumer electronics, among other industries, announced today that it's signed a multi-year supply agreement with Apple to provide sapphire materials.

Sapphire has figured prominently in recent Apple products - the iPhone 5S' Touch ID fingerprint reader features a cut sapphire crystal cover and the iPhone 5 was the first to feature a sapphire crystal lens.

However, word on the street is Apple could use the resilient material in future touchscreens. It's first go at the tech has been rumored for the iPhone 6, presumed to release in 2014. Apple would certainly extend the hard yet crystal clear sapphire coating to its other product lines, including the next iPad.

Sapphire sharp

As part of the deal, GT will own and operate the equipment needed to produce sapphire at a new Apple plant in Arizona. The company is fast-tracking development of next-gen, large capacity furnaces "to deliver low cost, high volume manufacturing of sapphire materials."

Apple would have access to loads of this stuff on the cheap, ideal for mass production of millions of handsets, tablets and more.

The GT Advanced Technologies and Apple deal is still young, and with the iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPad Air and iPad mini 2 with Retina display newly announced, we're a ways away from seeing scratch-resistant sapphire make it to next-gen Apple products.

Perhaps something prone to daily nicks and bruises may get a sapphire front first? Say, something like the iWatch?

• Get the low down on the iPad Air with our full hands on review.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Let's face it: Moto Maker is what sets the Moto X apart from all the other phones out there. OK maybe not entirely, but the customization options are an undeniable draw.

Previously only available on AT&T, a memo has surfaced online stating the Moto Maker feature will arrive on Sprint starting November 11.

Though the memo is questionable, Sprint's recent Moto X price cut indicates it might be priming the device for the holidays and hopefully other carriers won't be too far behind.

There's only a week left to find out if Sprint customers can give their Moto X a make-over, and honestly, it's about time Motorola spreads the love.

More blips!

These blips are customized for a quick, fun read.

• 'Moto G' makes Motorola site appearance before being pulled
• Moto X price slashed to $99.99 in three places
• Google's mystery barge is a pop-up chamber of secrets

Via Android Central

Source : techradar[dot]com

EE has switched on the UK's first LTE Advanced mobile network, a little over a year since it launched 4G in Britain - offering theoretical speeds of up to 300Mbps.

That's a considerably more than the 30Mbps top speed touted on its current 4G network and also easily eclipses the 60Mbps top speed offered by EE's double speed 4G, which is now available in 20 towns and cities.

It's worth taking note of those "theoretical speeds" though, as average usage is likely to come way below the quoted maximums. That said, it will still be darn quick.

Here's the catch

If those quoted speeds have got your heart racing then sit down and take a few deep breaths: it's not all good news. The LTE Advanced network has only be deployed in the Tech City area of East London and will be rolled out to the rest of the capital throughout 2014.

You won't be able to take advantage of these super speeds just yet either, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there are currently no handsets available in the UK which support this next-generation service.

Secondly, EE will be hand picking specific business partners to trial the service, predominantly through a mobile broadband offering rather than a mobile phone solution.

So when you can expect to be able to take advantage of LTE Advanced? Well EE reckons the first handsets will arrive in the UK in the middle of 2014, which is when it expects to be able to offer the service commercially.

In the meantime we're stuck with boring old 4G. Hmph.

• Confused? Here's everything you need to know on 4G and LTE

Source : techradar[dot]com

Shares in troubled smartphone maker BlackBerry have plunged to their lowest in a decade after the Canadian company failed to find a buyer.

BlackBerry's shares fell 17% on Monday evening to $6.43 on the Nasdaq after the company scrapped a $3 billion rescue bid from Fairfax Financial Holdings (FFH), its largest individual shareholder. It will instead receive $1 billion investment from FFH and a group consisting of "Other Institutional Investors".

The investment, which has a seven-year term, is a loan that can be converted into BlackBerry common stock at $10 per share down the line. It means that the investor group could potentially own around 16% of the company.

According to a report by news agency Reuters, BlackBerry had been in talks with several companies including Cisco, Google, SAP, Lenovo, Samsung and Intel about selling parts or all of its units.

BlackBerry has also announced a change in leadership, with CEO Thorsten Heins leaving the company. John S Chen, who is taking over as executive chairman and will act as interim CEO, was formerly at the helm of software and services company Sybase, which was acquired by applications giant SAP in May 2010 for $5.8 billion.

Public affair

Remaining public could dent BlackBerry's chances of a turnaround, according to analysts. Ovum Chief Telecoms analyst Jan Dawson said: "Fairfax's investment will buy the company some time, which it badly needs, but the company needs a new strategy more than ever.

"If Fairfax had taken the company private, it could have kept that strategy to itself. But with BlackBerry remaining a public company, Chen and Fairfax Chairman and CEO Prem Watsa need to start communicating that new strategy very soon to inspire confidence in a turnaround.

The smartphone maker was name Canada's most valuable company in 2008 with a market value of $83 billion and peaked in 2011, shipping 51.5 million handsets. That fell to 32.5 million in 2012 and is expected to drop to 23 million in 2013.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Microsoft's Windows Phone mobile operating system was the only of the 'big three' to experience growth in its UK market share during the last few months, a report published on Monday has claimed.

While still largely dominant over the chasing pack Apple's iOS (27 per cent) and Google's Android software (58.4 per cent) both experienced slight dips in their respective shares during Q3 of 2013, Kantar reports.

Windows Phone on the other hand boosted its share to 11.4 per cent, which is nearly three times higher than the 4.2 per cent it enjoyed this time last year.

The jump can be almost entirely attributed to improved sales of the rapidly expanding and improving Nokia Lumia range, as other manufacturers' interest in the platform has diminished rapidly.

Bigger than iPhone

That's not where the good news ends for Microsoft though. If the figures are accurate, it can now claim to be more popular than the iPhone in Italy.

Windows Phone enjoys a 13.7 per cent share of the Italian market compared with 10.2 per cent for iOS. Overall, across the entire region, Kandar reports around a 10 per cent share for Windows Phone.

The analysts expect Apple to bounce back strongly in the fourth quarter thanks to the launch of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C in September, so Microsoft's is likely to give back a bit of ground.

Overall, the news is good for Microsoft as it continues its slow, but steady, progress. However, while offering up a "huzzah!" for Windows Phone, spare a thought for poor old BlackBerry. Its UK share is down to 3.1 per cent.

• BlackBerry isn't ready to disappear just yet, according to the company's new CEO. BlackBerry phones are here to stay, says John Chen.

Source : techradar[dot]com

There are more twists and turns to the BlackBerry saga than a 99-cent romance novel, but one thing you can expect to stick around is the company's handset business.

Speaking with Reuters, interim CEO John Chen said there are no plans to shutter the loss-making smartphone side of BlackBerry's racket.

He added that BlackBerry has resources to pull a 180.

"I know we have enough ingredients to build a long-term sustainable business," he told Reuters. "I have done this before and seen the same movie before."

Phone it in

Chen, who is replacing Thorsten Heins, didn't elaborate on what kind of phones BlackBerry would keep making. The company said in September it is ditching consumer handsets and instead focusing on enterprise and "prosumer-centric targeted devices."

It also said it would cut its phone portfolio from six to four.

Flush with $1 billion (about £62m, AU$1.05b) in fresh investor funding, BlackBerry could use some of that money to rebuild its smartphones business. One place it won't find its way is to certain executive salaries, as Chen plans to shake up BlackBerry's upper ranks by bringing in new members and promoting others from within.

Chen said he expects a turnaround to take at least six quarters. We wish him luck, but the old CEO promised a turnaround too, and now he's out of a job.

• There's another face on the tech scene you should get to know - the Steam Machine prototype.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Things aren't looking any better for BlackBerry right now, with its hopes of finding a buyer having somewhat failed.

It's been sniffing around for over two months now in the hope of finding someone to snag the company, with investment firm FairFax Financial proposing a takeover deal.

But today BlackBerry announced that the full takeover will not take place, and that instead it had received a $1 Billion investment from Fairfax and "Other Institutional Investors".

Added to this is the news that Chief executive officer Thorsten Heins will be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer and John S Chen will become Interim CEO.

Dark times

Heins took the top spot last year but he's certainly had a rough ride, with the recent BlackBerry lineup not taking off as hoped.

Today is also bad news for anyone hoping that Lenovo or another big name would step in and offer a hand of rescue to the company.

But John S Chen has a good track record, having turned around the fortunes of enterprise services firm Sybase. Let's hope he can work some magic here too.

There's no word on whether Alicia Key's role as creative director will remain.

Find out if BlackBerry 10 wins our vote.

Source : techradar[dot]com

The HTC One was only the third phone ever get our 5-star rated TechRadar review, and it looks as though the Taiwanese firm is set on trying to keep it at the top after revealing more on its Android 4.4 plans.

HTC has confirmed to TechRadar that the Android KitKat update will begin rolling out to HTC One devices in Europe, the Middle East and Africa towards the end of January 2014.

"Across EMEA, HTC will work with local carriers to begin the roll-out of Android 4.4 with Sense 5.5 for the HTC One from end of January," a spokesperson told us.

No Sense 6.0?

Sense 5.5 brings an improved version of HTC's BlinkFeed, with the ability to turn it off. Other features include updated HTC Zoe, and the ability to make animated GIFs.

It seems that that Sense 6.0 may be being saved for the rumoured HTC M8, also known as the HTC One Two.

HTC also confirmed that the Google Play edition of its HTC One is set to get Android 4.4 KitKat at the end of November.

We know that the HTC One Max and HTC One Mini are in line for the same updates, although HTC is yet to reveal when we can expect these.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Google's Android 4.4 KitKat update doesn't bring a completely re-imagined operating system to the fore - instead if brings various tweaks and upgrades, one of which is the transparent notification and menu bars.

It's hardly a scintillating new feature, but it allows your wallpaper to take full advantage of all of your smartphone's screen real estate, and to be fair it does look quite nice.

Before you fall in love with the effect too much, be warned: it's rather power hungry. According to the folks over at XDA the new translucent feature is killing last year's Nexus 10 tablet.

Digging around in the Android 4.4.1 code, one user, JosephRaphael, claims to have found a line which allows the transparent bars to be disabled on the tablet.

Poor performance

He also revealed developer comments in the code which state "Translucent status & navigation bars perform poorly on this device."

The Nexus 10 isn't exactly poorly equipped with a 1.7GHz dual-core processor and 2GB of RAM and if it's struggling at this spec level it could mean trouble for a vast number of smartphones.

While quad-core processors are now the norm in high end handsets, many mid and low end devices still pack dual, and in some cases even single, core chips - which could spell disaster for KitKat's fancy translucent feature.

Of course, if the ability to disable this particular effect solves the performance issue then there's little to worry about - but it does make you wonder what other enhancements hidden within Android 4.4 could see lesser powered devices grind to a halt. Fingers crossed Google's got it all covered.

• Everything you need to know about Android 4.4 KitKat

Source : techradar[dot]com

If you hadn't heard Android 4.4 KitKat is out in the wild on the Google Nexus 5, where have you been?

The update doesn't mean that all devices can have a break, with Android KitKat making the cut on some handsets, but not others.

With the release of every update, no matter what OS, there are always devices that won't be supported. As the new kid on the block, Android 4.4 KitKat is what we are all clamouring for, right?

Hopefully we will see the latest Android update land on a much wider range of devices, with KitKat supporting devices with as little as 512MB RAM.

This will mean we should see it on new budget devices, and we can hold a little hope that older budget handsets will get a refresh - although it's unlikely manufacturers will revisit their older, cheaper smartphones.

We have been in contact with various manufacturers, and we will continue to update this article as news trickles in, so keep your eyes peeled.

Here's our guide to whether or not you're going to get the update to Google's latest iteration of Android, and when those updates should land.

Google Nexus

Android is Google's mobile OS, so the Android 4.4 KitKat update was always bound to land on certain Nexus devices. Unfortunately, the word 'certain' is key.

It seems that Google is only supporting the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (both editions) and Nexus 10, with the updates landing "in the coming weeks".

The certain devices getting the KitKat update also include the Play editions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, but not the Samsung-made Galaxy Nexus.

Reasons touted are that it doesn't fit in Google's 18-month update window, and that Texas Instruments no longer make mobile chips, so is unable to provide support.

Samsung

As flagship devices, we're expecting to see news at some point saying the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update is happening.

Currently, Samsung devices are already receiving updates. Many devices including the Galaxy S4 and S3 are gaining updates to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, meaning they gain Galaxy Gear support too.

Samsung has a wide variety of handsets out at the moment, covering all shapes, sizes and ends of the market - and there's hope smartphones towards the bottom end will be treated to 4.4.

As the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, S4 Active and S4 Zoom didn't gain 4.3 Jelly Bean updates, Samsung might have been holding out for KitKat. Hopefully we'll find out soon.

HTC

The big question when it comes to HTC devices is likely to be 'Will the HTC One get Android 4.4 KitKat?'

Being a five star phone, we would expect to see the latest Android iteration land on the HTC One, although HTC promised that Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is on its way, expected in the Sense 5.5 overlay that we saw on the HTC One Max.

We'll also soon see if any of HTC's other devices, such as the HTC One Mini, and its older devices, such as the HTC One X and One X+, will get KitKat.

Sony

Sony has yet to announce which of its Xperia devices are set to get future updates, although we would be hopeful, if not a little expectant, that the Xperia Z and Xperia Z1 Android 4.4 KitKat updates are to be announced soon.

Sony aren't going to keep the world waiting. We should find out in the next few days, as the official Sony Xperia News Twitter account said on November 1 to watch out for news.

"re. #Android @KitKat, we're excited – next week our news on: 4.3, 4.4; products & more... #SonyXperia" Sony tweeted.

We'll be keeping an eye on the Sony Blog, and will let you know as soon as we hear anything.

LG

Good news, the LG G2 Android 4.4 KitKat update is real. Given that LG built the past two Nexus devices, we were a little hopeful.

LG has reiterated that the Nexus 4 is expected to receive its update in the next few weeks, whilst also confirming the LG G2 will get Android 4.4 KitKat, saying "the date for the G2 update is yet to be confirmed".

Other LG devices, including the LG G Pad 8.3 and its Optimus range could also be set of a refresh, with Android 4.4 KitKat supporting devices with RAM as low as 512MB.

Motorola

Google acquired Motorola not so long ago, if you count 18 months as not so long. Since then, the only major release that we have to speak of is the US-only Moto X.

Being both the parent company to the hardware and software components, we would at least hope to see a Moto X Android 4.4 KitKat update.

On a new devices front, we might see the Moto G, an expected budget device. Could this roll up with Android KitKat?

Huawei

When it comes to devices, Huawei may be famed for its budget offerings. This sometimes means that software updates can be a little hard to come by.

The Huawei Ascend P2 and Ascend P6 both have a lot to shout about, though, so we might well see Huawei Android 4.4 KitKat with the Emotion UI landing on both devices.

As for other devices, we've mentioned once or twice that there is support for lower end devices, so we may see support for more devices.

ZTE

Alongside Huawei, its Chinese compatriot ZTE is another firm that is famed for lower end devices.

Both the cheaper quad-core ZTE Blade V, now on the market toting 1GB RAM, as well as the 512MB RAM ZTE Blade 3, are both technically supported by KitKat.

Although ZTE currently has no word on planned updates, we could see an Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade land on these devices.

Acer

Acer isn't necessarily a brand that many will associate with Google's mobile OS, however it does have a few devices out there running Android software.

With tablets such as the Iconia A1, and Liquid branded smartphones like the Acer Liquid S1, we might well see some Android 4.4 KitKat update love being shared to the Taiwanese firm's devices.

As with every other manufacturer, we have contacted Acer to find out more.

Source : techradar[dot]com

There's good news for Samsung Galaxy S4 owners in the UK as the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update begins to roll out on the handset.

The Android 4.3 rollout began in early October, but it is only now making its way to British shores.

Our in-office Galaxy S4 has received the update, which includes a boost from version 4.2 to 4.3 of Jelly Bean plus support for Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch.

If the update hasn't appeared on your S4 just yet, don't panic, as these rollouts do tend to take a few days to reach every handset.

That said, our Galaxy S4 didn't actually notify us of the update, but heading to Settings > More > About Device > Software Update saw the Android 4.3 upgrade waiting for us.

Gearing up

You'll need to be connected to Wi-Fi to download this hefty over-the-air update (it's almost 700MB in size), but other than that it's a straightforward procedure.

One of the major inclusions in the update isn't actually a Google offering though. It's support for the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch.

Up until this update the Galaxy Note 3 was the only smartphone capable of playing nicely with the smartwatch, but now punters have two phones to choose from - with support for further handsets on the way.

There are numerous improvements, upgrades and additional features arriving with Android 4.3 including a boost to colour reproduction, better RAM management, a new internet browser and various UI updates.

• What's changed in Android 4.3?

Source : techradar[dot]com

The HTC One successor, whatever it might be called, will be the first handset running HTC Sense 6, the next phase of the UI that will run on top of Android.

The info comes from our old faithful bean-spiller evleaks, who wrote on Twitter with his typical brevity: "HTC M8 will be the first Sense 6.0 handset."

As revelations go, this isn't high up on the mind-blow-ometer, but the fact we're hearing talk about the HTC M8 right now suggests the phone is well on its way - set for a MWC 2014 reveal perhaps? All eyes on February, then.

Word of the next HTC flagship began swirling back in July, while the most recent version of Sense is 5, which lets users finally turn off BlinkFeed.

Guess you could say it… makes Sense to us

As a name, HTC M8 will be just a codename in the same way the M7 was for the One. A lot of people are referring to the phone as the HTC One Two at the moment although that one also seems unnecessarily complicated.

Perhaps HTC will go simply with the HTC Two, or give it an entirely new, non-number-based name. Place your bets now.

As for what Sense 6 might actually look, that one remains a total mystery, but there's every chance we could be in line for a total overhaul.

• Is the HTC One for you? Or perhaps the HTC One Max? Or maybe even the HTC One Mini. Gosh, if only someone had compared all three for you.

Source : techradar[dot]com

iPads and smartphones have apparently been banned from confidential governmental discussions in the UK because of fears they could be turned into bugs by Johnny Foreigner without their owners being any the wiser.

That's the official line, anyway. Definitely nothing to do with easily-distracted ministers and their tendency to take selfies during top level meetings.

More blips!

More distracting than Candy Crush Saga, here's the rest of the TechRadar blip line-up:

• Google's mystery barge is a pop-up chamber of secrets
• Dell promises there is no cat wee in its laptops
• Cop tickets driver for wearing Google Glass, cue the legal debate

Source : techradar[dot]com

The rumours of a Samsung Tizen smartphone have been flying around for some time, but things have just taken a step up in the form of a video showing the new operating system in action.

The open source Linux-based OS has popped up running on the Samsung Z9005 RedWood, a phone similar to the Galaxy S3 in specs, which has teased itself before.

But now we're treated to a 9 minute video from Sammobile which walks us through a live test of Tizen version 2.2, showing off the various menu layouts and the Camera interface.

Eye of the Tizen

Although it's an alternative to Android, Tizen doesn't appear to be a whole lot different to the TouchWiz UI right now.

Plus, some of the Galaxy features such as "Smart stay", which dims the brightness when you're not looking at your phone, appear on the Tizen OS too.

Samsung hopes Tizen will one day be powering everything from phones to TVs to cars. While the Z9005 seems to be just a developer handset right now, this could be a sign that Tizen isn't far away from consumer hands.

• Looking for something a bit beefier? Check out our Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review. Sorted.

Source : techradar[dot]com