The Samsung Galaxy S5 is somewhere in the pipeline - that we're sure of - and may have just popped up over on Antutu's database to flaunt some of its new specs.

The device is listed at the SM-G900F which is the same model number we saw a few days ago in another possible S5 benchmark spot.

Like last time, the mystery phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor in the MSM8974AC variant, along with 32GB of internal storage. But this device has just 3GB of RAM which disagrees with previous 4GB rumours.

Also disappointing, if true, is the 1920 x 1080 screen resolution which doesn't hit the QHD level we were hoping for. Although as G4Games points out, this could just be a prototype that's locked to 1080p for testing purposes.

However we're pleased to see that the 16MP camera has appeared again, remaining consistent with rumours, and according to these details we'll be getting a 2MP front-facing snapper too.

Disappointing?

Don't take any of this as read – it could turn out that this mysterious G900F is a different Samsung device entirely. Nonetheless, Antutu is sure that we're looking at the international version of the S5 in some shape or form.

Evleaks has been pitching in on the S5 rumours too, tweeting that the S5 is undergoing testing at AT&T HQ right now.

"AT&T is testing a version of that high-res Samsung handset (SM-G900A), giving some support to the theory that it's an int'l flagship (GS5?)"

That model number is slightly different, mind, and could well be the carrier version of the S5.

• That Samsung Galaxy S5 - what's it all about anyway?

Source : techradar[dot]com

For many people purchasing a smartphone, having a decent camera is still one of the biggest draws. It seems forever ago that cameras were first introduced on mobile phones, with 13 years being about 6 life times in the tech world.

Today's camera phones are modern wonders, just look at the massive sensors that adorn phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, or even the half-phone-half-camera Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom for that matter.

Some manufacturers are taking a different tack, with HTC looking at creating larger pixels to let in more light. Its proprietary UltraPixel technology means that the flagship HTC One, and its brothers the One Mini and One Max creates some stunning low light imagery.

It is then probably no surprise that the Play Store has found itself populated with numerous camera apps, designed to replace the stock camera app with something either more fun or more intuitive. Here's our guide to what we feel are the best camera apps on the Play Store right now.

Paper Camera

One of the fun things about having a third party camera app is filters. There are so many filters around that choosing the right app for each purpose might prove a little difficult.

An app that we can recommend is Paper Camera, as we love the varying sketch style filters that it provides. These are provided in real time, meaning that you can see what the image is going to look like before you snap it.

There are 14 filters to choose from, with these also being able to be transferred over to video recording. You can also use Paper Camera to edit existing images, and share them to varying social accounts.

If you've decided that this isn't the app for you, but you would still like to use the sketchy effects, why not try Pencil Camera (or variants). These apps also provide real time filters, and cover a range of devices with both free and paid for versions available.

Instagram

Instagram is a photo app that is likely to appear on most modern smartphone users wish lists. The photo sharing site got so popular that it soon got bought out by Facebook.

The biggest feature that Instagram brings is its variety of filters, allowing users to take some strange looking pictures of their dinner, or their cat. These can then be instantly shared to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr and Foursquare.

The app also allows you to manage your Instagram account, viewing photos from those that you follow, and make comments. There isn't a whole to say about the Instagram app really, as its popularity means that most of it has already been said.

If you're unsure whether Instagram is for you, you could always try InstaLomo HD for Instagram. It too provides different filters, with sharing also heavily built in.

Camera ZOOM FX

On the face of things, Camera ZOOM FX is well designed, with there being no real surprises in layout as it follows the same layout as stock cameras that we have encountered.

Photo editing is also included, as with nigh on every camera app that we have seen these days, but it comes with a decent range of features.

If you're into downloading add-ons, there are over 90 that can be added to Camera ZOOM FX, including Frames, Props, Composites and more Composites.

Morphing photos is also supported, meaning that you can distort images. There is even a clever sound activated shutter a la LG devices, meaning you can set the app to take a photo with a clap or shout.

Photo distortion is rather popular, so for those that aren't impressed with Camera ZOOM FX and want a more specific app, Photo Warp will cater to your every warp need.

Cymera

We could easily focus on the filters that come in Cymera, but if we did that with every single photo app, we would be here all day. The more interesting features that Cymera offers are found deeper into the app.

Editing existing, or taking and editing photos is easy, and there are a lot of options available. The more interesting ones allow you to overlay decorations to make photos more fun, or free draw on images.

Facial detection is also built in, meaning that you can edit the faces of subjects after taking a photo. They can become slimmer, have bigger eyes and bigger smiles, and Cymera will also intelligently place varying hair styles or make up, should you desire.

If you're choosing the Cymera app because of these facial features, it might be worth checking out BeautyPlus, an app that bills itself as the ultimate self-portrait camera. It provides real time filters and removes facial blemishes to aid the less photoshop inclined.

Camera HDR Studio

HDR shooting is something that is built into many different stock cameras these days, but chances are that you might want to grab yourself a more dedicated app if HDR photography is something that you are going to be doing on a large scale.

This is where the likes of Camera HDR Studio comes in, with its ability to take HDR photographs even without HDR capabilities. It supports a whole variety of HDR modes, meaning you can take standard HDR photos, artistic or even cartoon like photos.

In total, there are 9 HDR modes, 50 colour effects, 12 artistic effects etc. Camera HDR Studio also allows you to shoot up to 30 photos per second depending on your device's speed. Lower specced devices come with support up to 10 photos per second.

If HDR is your thing, but Camera HDR Studio isn't, why not check out (confusingly-named) HDR Camera. It doesn't come with photo filters, providing a more steam-lined app in the process. HDR Camera also comes with a paid version, packing in more features.

Flickr

Flickr is a photo app and photo site that has been around for a while, now under the stewardship of Yahoo. It is one of the biggest and best known photo sharing apps, being used around the globe.

Coming with a terabyte of storage, it is popular amongst intensive photographers as a way of storing photos to the cloud, as well as providing a level of photo manipulation that includes 16 different filters.

Like Instagram, the Flickr app also allows you take to take control of your Flickr account, meaning that you can connect with friends and access their photo streams.

For those that want a little more control over their images, Flickr also allows you total privacy control meaning no Insta-ads.

If you're using Flickr for photo storage, why not consider using Dropbox. Whilst not a photography app in the regular form, it does come with the ability to instantly upload your photos from your camera, via only Wi-Fi or can coerce your data plan to do the same thing too.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Rumours about the HTC One Two have been flying thick and fast, but two of those rumours have recently been given a little more credence.

We've heard before that the HTC One Two will likely come with Android 4.4 KitKat alongside version 6 of the Sense UI, but now the insider @LlabTooFeR has tweeted something approaching a confirmation, stating that 'at the moment they are testing the device on 4.4.2 and next version of Sense.'

Not just any tipster

When @LlabTooFeR says something about HTC it's worth paying attention, as he / she /they've got a proven track record. For example back in May they let slip about the HTC One's impending update to Android 4.2.

Not that it should be surprising that the HTC One Two is coming with both the latest version of Android and a new version of Sense, but then the HTC One launched one Android version behind, so it's nice to get some reassurance.

It's not known what will actually be included in Sense 6. A wider range of news sources for BlinkFeed would be a good start, and a more intuitive menu system wouldn't go amiss either.

• Can't wait for the HTC One Two? Check out the HTC One Max.

Source : techradar[dot]com

The mobile phone has gone from a novelty device to untether us from the wall to the one thing we take everywhere and expect to keep up with the demands of our unpredictable lives.

As the cost has escalated, so has our desire to keep them safe, leading to reams of cases and hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on insuring our treasured possessions.

In recent years manufacturers have made progress in making these phones more "life proof" by using tougher materials, stronger glass, and some manufacturers - such as Sony - have even made some of their newer smartphones fully waterproof.

There's a new round of companies too, aiming to make almost every device waterproof without having suffer any compromises in design or weight to achieve it. What does this all mean? We'll we've dived into the deep end to find.

Best waterproof smartphones

Whether you've been unfortunate to drop your phone in the bath, drink or even down the toilet (we kid you not), you'll have felt the pain of attempting to resurrect your phone from a potential watery grave.

If you haven't, then it's probably only a matter of time before you do according to the statistics, so here's our picks from the current crop of smartphones on the market to help you guard your device from the dangers of liquid.

Sony Xperia Z1 & Xperia Z

This article couldn't pass by without a nod to the Sony Xperia Z1, a smartphone built with the clumsy, or perhaps adventurous, types in mind. Unlike many other waterpoof phones it has all the features of a flagship Android handset, but with the addition of IP 58 rating.

• Read: Sony Xperia Z1 review

This rating represents the Z1's abilities to withstand dust and water, allowing submersion in up to one and a half metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

The Z1 superseded the Xperia Z, which was not as refined in the design department, with a covered headphone slot and only packing an IP rating of 57, meaning it's less water resistant than the Xperia Z1 (but also cheaper).

• Read: Sony Xperia Z review

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active

The Galaxy S4 is a phone we've been impressed with for months now, but as is Samsung's way, it was determined not to leave a portion of the market uncovered after Sony played the waterproof trump card with the Xperia Z.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is its answer, and despite being somewhat of an afterthought by the Korean giants, it is a fantastic handset in its own right.

It too can shoot pictures underwater, and on the surface looks tougher than the original S4, but isn't all that much bigger. Samsung gained an IP67 rating for the S4 Active which means that it should protect better from dust, but has the same waterproofing rating as the Sony Xperia Z - so that's 30 minutes of submersion at 1 metre.

• Read: Samsung Galaxy S4 Active review

And the others

There's a raft of other phones that claim to be able to withstand the wet, with the first smartphone to market being the Motorola Defy. Unfortunately it didn't make much of a splash and it's waterproofing credentials were rather over-hyped.

• Read: Motorola Defy review

Then there are handsets such as the JCB SiteMaster 2. It's not a smartphone, doesn't have a touchscreen or any other fancy features, but what it can do is survive most that life could throw at it.

It can withstand a full tonne of pressure, be dropped from the height of 2 metres repeatedly without damage, and as you can guess, is fully waterproof to the same IP67 rating as the Samsung and Sony phones.

I've got a non-waterproof phone

If you've already got a good smartphone, or you're set on buying a particular model that doesn't come with any waterproofing credentials then worry not: you can still save it from Neptune's clutches.

While you can pick up cheaper sprays to cover the exterior of a phone in a waterproof coating, these are usually temporary solutions. The following two companies are offering services that aim to waterproof the device for an almost indefinite period of time - so can you make your HTC One waterproof, and if so, is it really that easy to?

Liquipel

This Californian based outfit works with nanocoatings and use a proprietary tech that allows virtually any device, not just smartphones, to be covered in a super-hydrophobic layer of particles on both the outside and the inside of the device.

The process involves a vacuum to suck all the air from inside and outside the device, which is then replaced with a gas that binds to the device's surfaces and circuits, creating a gap that repels any liquid that might come in to contact with it.

The process takes around 30 minutes from start to finish, and will set you back around $60 (£37) for a smartphone or $75 (£46) for a tablet. Liquipel a US based company, though there are plans to make the service available worldwide very soon.

WaterFi

WaterFi is another US company offering solutions on a variety of devices. Unlike Liquipel it doesn't waterproof using nanotechnologies, but instead offers a patented process to help a selection of gadgets resist the wet.

It relies on a rubbery insulator that is injected into the device along with an extra layer of protection that protects from corrosion or chemicals.

WaterFi's Communications manager, Gabe Hagstrom, believes waterproofing can be liberating for a gadget lover: "The cost of our waterproofing doesn't just save the customer from paying for a repair or replacement," he told Techradar.

"It actually frees the customer to use the device in ways and places they never thought possible.

"They take their iPod swimming and surfing, the Kindle to the beach and wash it off in the ocean if it gets sandy, and take the Nike FuelBand scuba diving."

Their initial offering of a waterproof iPod Shuffle ($140 / £86) and Nike Fuelband ($220 / £136) is a perfect swimmer's solution, but it's now expanded its range to Amazon Kindles and the Jawbone Up.

It can also coat your pre-existing Shuffle, Kindle, Fuelband or Jawbone for a lower price and although there's no smartphone solution as of yet, according to Hagstrom it's something its considering with new handsets such as the Nexus 5.

"Looking forward to [waterproofing] phones we see devices that are unlocked and affordable without a contract, like the newest Nexus phone, which we would then look to waterproof and offer brand new on our website to save all the hassle of sending in a phone that's in use and going a few days off the grid."

Both Liquipel and Waterfi offer viable after-purchase solutions, and with options starting at £37 to waterproof your existing phone they are a very tempting way of keeping your beloved device protected should you have a fluid mishap.

You could very easily spend this kind of money on a waterproof case, but this would of course add extra weight and bulk to the handset and detract from the design too. Of course with these products there's no major protection gained against drops or smashes, but at least puddles, baths and toilets wouldn't seem quite so scary.

And remember: while there are companies out there that claim to be able to resurrect water-damaged phones, but due to the fiddly nature of having to totally disassemble the device and potentially replace batteries or screens, the cost of this is considerably higher, with most services starting at around £65 and topping out at well over £200.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Both Apple and Samsung look to be beavering away on solar powered smartphones in a bid to stand out from the competition.

That's according to a report from ZDNet Korea, which claims that while Samsung is currently focused on displays, it is 'deeply considering' shifting its focus to developing solar power technology for its smartphones.

Samsung isn't alone in its sun-powered plans either, as the report also states that Apple has recently applied for additional solar charging patents - there's not much more to go on than 'solar panels for iPhones', but that's a pretty big clue.

That would make sense as battery life is the biggest stumbling block still faced by handsets and given Samsung and Apple's current popularity in the phone world they're ideally positioned to make solar power popular.

Second time lucky

Solar powered smartphones aren't a new idea though. Apple filed a patent for just such a technology back in early 2011 and Samsung even released a phone with solar panels on it back in 2009, but so far the technology hasn't really caught on.

It's unlikely that either company is close to bringing the technology to market, but with two of the biggest smartphone companies in the world looking into it solar power could be a common feature of handsets a few years from now, and could really step up battery life, especially when left on standby.

• Right now you can't charge your phone with the sun, so you might want to check out these battery saving tips.

Source : techradar[dot]com