Update: "This summer" availability apparently meant June 19, as now everyone, Rdio Unlimited subscribers or not, can use Vdio.

"[S]tarting today, you don't have to be an Rdio listener to buy, rent, and share your favorite moves and shows with friends," wrote the Rdio team in a blog.

Vdio is still only available in the U.S. and U.K., and expectant users can hurry to the service's website or download the iPad app.

Original story from April 3...

The Rdio streaming music service that launched in 2010 has been joined by a related pay-per-video video service known appropriately as Vdio.

Unlike Rdio, though, Vdio has more in common with iTunes' video on demand model than it does with Netflix; Vdio is pay-as-you-watch, allowing users to "rent" movies and TV shows from major studios.

Rdio, on the other hand, is a subscription-based service (like Spotify).

The new VOD service is currently available in the U.S. and U.K., but there's a catch: only paying Rdio Unlimited subscribers can access it.

Say what?

Currently Vdio is only available to customers who are already paying for Rdio subscriptions. Those subscribers get $25 of Vdio credit to promote the launch of the new service.

Anyone else is currently out of luck, though Rdio Vice President of Product Malthe Sigurdsson told GigaOM that that will change this summer.

Sigurdsson also reportedly revealed plans to expand to Canada "in the coming months."

What sets Vdio apart?

Vdio has a few unique features to differentiate itself from competing streaming video services.

Chief among those are Vdio's social features, which are closely tied to Rdio and allow users to follow their friends and see recommendations based on their tastes.

Sigurdsson stressed to GigaOM that basing the service on users' personal networks "rather than a marketing department" is a major plus.

Content from major studios and networks including Disney, Fox, Warner Bros., Universal, NBC, CBS, ABC, Comedy Central, Showtime, and the BBC can be streamed over the web and an iPad app (though unfortunately you can't purchase anything through the app itself).

Rdio is already available on a number of platforms, though, and Vdio could hypothetically expand outward to Android, Roku and other connected devices too.

Sigurdsson also teased that Vdio subscriptions could be added in the future, according to the report.

Source : techradar[dot]com

The new BlackBerry Q5 smartphone will get an early debut on Thursday, but unless you're kickin' it in the sandy paradise that is Dubai, you're going to have to wait a little longer.

The new BB10 device, which rocks a physical QWERTY keyboard, wasn't expected to land until mid-July, but will make a premature bow to celebrate grand opening of BlackBerry retail store in the UAE.

However, while while we wouldn't read too much into this as straight-up currency conversions are never too reliable, the cost of the decidedly mid-range device may turn out to be greater than some expected.

In the UAE the SIM-free phone priced at a AED$1,499 which works out at around UK£261 and USD$408, which stretches the credibility of BlackBerry's "affordable" tag.

Tight budgets

The Q5 gives those on tighter budgets their first chance to experience the BlackBerry 10 operating system, following the launch of the flagship Q10 and Z10 models.

It features a 3.1-inch 720x720 LCD touchscreen, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 5-megapixel camera and 4G LTE connectivity.

Will you be snapping up a Q5 when it launches in the west? Or have reports of a higher-than-expected price-tag put you off already? Let us know in the comments section below.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Source : mobilemag[dot]com

So what's the world's fastest smartphone? The Samsung Galaxy S4? HTC One? iPhone 5? Wrong, wrong and wrong - if you're talking about mobile data speeds the Huawei Ascend P2 is the unlikely hero stealing the crown.

The reason the Ascend P2 lays claim to the world's fastest title is due to the Cat 4 LTE innards it sports, which can provide a theoretical speed of up too 150Mbps, but you're never going to actually see that.

With 4G baked inside the handset you can expect EE will be picking up the Ascend P2 pretty quickly in the UK, although we're yet to see any network commit to Huawei's latest flagship smartphone just yet.

You can pre-order the Huawei Ascend P2 with some online retailers, with the SIM-free handsets setting you back around £339.99 (around $530, AU$560), and we reckon this will probably translate into around £25 per month on a 3G contract.

Huawei has a bit of a reputation for being a budget phone merchant and the Ascend P2 is the Chinese firm's latest attempt at changing that assumption - and let's hope it does better than the Ascend P1 which arrived in stores with nothing more than a whimper.

In terms of competition the Ascend P2 doesn't enter at the top of the smartphone tree, with the likes of the Galaxy S4, iPhone 5 and Sony Xperia Z all offering a more premium - and expensive - experience.

The Huawei Ascend P2 will find itself rubbing shoulders with the mid-high level of handsets which include the Sony Xperia SP, Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, Nokia Lumia 820 and even the Samsung Galaxy S3.

However it's also got one of its own kind to contender with too in the form of the Huawei Ascend P6 - a super-slim smartphone which may not have such a blockbuster camera, 4G connection or as large internal storage, but it does sport a far more attractive design and it's difficult to see how the Chinese firm will be able to market both successfully side by side.

On paper the Ascend P2 looks relatively good value for money with a 4.7-inch, 1280 x 720 display, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB internal memory, 13MP rear camera and front facing 1.3MP snapper.

Jelly Bean is the operating system of choice on board and along with the likes of 4G and NFC, Huawei has managed to make the Ascend P2 a compact 136 x 67 x 8.4mm, and the lightweight plastic body tips the scales at 122g.

In terms of design the Ascend P2 doesn't exactly break any new ground, but it's a relatively stylish, functional handset which sits reasonably well in the hand - although we found it offered little in the way of grip which lead us to worrying about dropping it, and sometimes actually dropping it. Whoops.

We're told though the back cover (which isn't removable by the way) on our review isn't the same as the one which will find its way onto the P2 which you'll be able to pick up from stores, so hopefully it will offer a bit more grip.

As you can't peel off the back cover there's no access to the 2420mAh battery housed inside the Ascend P2, which explains why the SIM-port is located on the right side of the handset under the easily accessible power/lock key.

The microSIM port itself is covered by a plastic flap which isn't too tricky to flip open, although popping your SIM in and out is more of a challenge and unless you have some decent length in your nails you'll need to use the little tool included in the box to manipulate the card.

An added bonus on the right hand side of the Ascend P2 is the inclusion of a dedicated shutter key towards the base of the handset, giving you instant access to the camera app as well as an easy way to snap photos.

Up top there's a headphone jack and a microUSB port, which keeps the bottom of the Huawei Ascend P2 clear for the sweeping black, glossy plastic finish.

On the left you get the customary volume rocker switch and moving round the back reveals a camera lens and single LED flash housed in a textured metal frame for a bit of added protection, plus there's a dual speaker grille near the bottom of the handset.

Available in both white and black the Huawei Ascend P2 is a solid, well built, if not slightly uninspiring handset which won't look out of place next to its competition.

Source : techradar[dot]com

LG's long overdue flexible OLED display will start churning out en masse in Q4 this year, the company has confirmed.

The all-talk-no-walk technology will finally be coming to smartphones as LG Display has confirmed that we can expect to see production start towards the end of the year, further confirming that we could see the first commercial phone using the tech appear before 2013 is over.

"LG Display has completed the development of our first flexible displays. We've already shipped samples to clients including LG Electronics," the company told Korea Times in a statement.

"LG Display will mass produce flexible displays from the fourth quarter of this year."

Is that date flexible?

LG Display said that it expects to produce 12,000 sheets of the flexible OLED every month, which will be produced at the South Korean company's display complex in Paju.

LG previously said that the bendy tech would arrive before the end of 2013, and The Korea Times reiterates that the company plans to release its first flexible smartphone later this year.

However, LG is keeping mum on the specific things like resolution and which manufacturers might be using the new displays. Time to start guessing which manufacturers will be getting on board flexible OLED ship as it begins its bendy voyage.

Source : techradar[dot]com