Apple's got a plan to get personal. One of Cupertino's latest patents suggests it's looking to deliver content based on users' moods.

The patent, titled, "Inferring user mood based on user and group characteristic data", outlines a mood scanner that will determine your emotion and respond accordingly.

The aim is to deliver content "that is selected, at least in part, based on the inferred mood," with the patent specifically referencing advertising in several places.

Can I borrow a feeling?

The system would track what you're doing on your phone, looking at "recently consumed content" in order to target adverts that you're more likely to tap on.

In between NSA surveillance scares and fears of potential data intrusion from the Internet of Things, Apple's latest idea probably isn't best timed.

However, the patent was filed on January 23 so don't expect to see anything come to fruition any time soon. But Apple clearly has its eye on the next stage of personalising data and technology.

• The iPhone 5S doesn't care what mood you're in, but is it a decent handset?

Source : techradar[dot]com

Has a New Caledonian certification site just ruined HTC's forthcoming surprise? Unlikely, but at least we'll probably get a mini version.

There has been plenty of confusion over what HTC will call the sequel to the One – and the New Caledonia Office of Posts and Telecommunications website has posted something that has the web convinced it will be a fairly obvious name.

The site is listing the 'HTC One 2' and 'HTC One 2 Dual Sim' among all the other HTC phones ever made, prompting belief that this outlet has been privy to important information about the new phone.

• HTC One 2 / M8 - everything you'd want to know, and then some

While it seems certain that a dual SIM version will appear to accommodate demand in other territories, the name is likely nothing more than a placeholder, as such things can change right up until the last minute with flagships such as this – and as we recently heard, March is looking good for the first time we'll actually see it.

Mini marvel

In terms of matching last year's efforts, HTC is going to give the One 2 a little brother, according to noted tipster @evleaks.

The info is sparse, stating only that "0P6B:HTC M8::0P8B:M8 mini", but the M8 moniker (the internal code for the HTC One 2 device) combined with the item number shows that Evleaks reckons he knows that a mini version is forthcoming.

Even if this is true, there's little chance that we'll see the HTC One 2 Mini for a few months yet, as the Taiwanese firm won't want to launch both at the same time when it can get increased coverage by staggering the launches.

The rumours of a new HTC device are reaching a nice boiling point at the moment though, which means we're surely only weeks away from getting our first look at what could be one of 2014's phones of the year.

From Twitter, PhoneArena

Source : techradar[dot]com

Apple is placing greater emphasis than ever on battery technology to enable it's mobile devices to be charged via solar, inductive and motion-powered means, reports have claimed.

The New York Times claims the Cupertino-based company is working hard on building a 'smarter' battery for it's iOS devices and perhaps even the long awaited iWatch smartwatch.

Multiple ex-Apple executives told the paper that solar, in particular, continues to be a major focus for Apple engineers.

In terms of the iWatch, solar, inductive and motion charging would allow users to wear the device for longer periods without needing to charge so often.

Going inductive

The company is particularly concerned with inductive charging for the iWatch, which we've seen in the Google Nexus 4 and Nokia Lumia 920 in recent times.

Those handsets charge the device by placing the devices on a wireless plate, but Apple is working on tech that would allow the charging to take place wirelessly via electromagnetic fields.

The iWatch is expected to arrive at some point this year. Will Apple introduce some new battery tech? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

• The solution may be on the way, but are battery woes scuppering Apple's iWatch plans?

Source : techradar[dot]com

The rumoured red edition of the Google Nexus 5 appears to be a step closer to reality following the leak of an official-looking press render.

Following multiple blurry-cam and unboxing leaks over the last couple of weeks, that man @evleaks appears to have gotten hold of the best look yet.

The images shows the device with a red rear casing and earpiece, but the faceplate itself retains its black bezel.

The Red Nexus 5 has been tipped to launch on February 4, following the leak of an internal document from U.S. network Sprint.

Strong

The Nexus 5, crafted by LG and and also available in black and white, has been a big success for Google, continuing its growing hardware momentum.

It was Google's best-selling device of the last quarter with the company citing "very strong" sales in last week's earnings call.

It has proved an attractive option for smartphone because of its agreeable price-point compared to handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One.

Nexus 5 has also proved popular among Android enthusiasts who value the raw version of the software and the immediate updates when Google refreshes the operating system.

• What else is on Google's agenda in 2014? Here's what do expect...

Source : techradar[dot]com

French mobile manufacturer Archos plans to throw its beret in to the Windows Phone arena.

CEO Loic Poirier said the company will launch a handset on Microsoft's gradually improving platform, joining its budget offerings on Android.

Nokia is currently earning a whopping 90 per cent of Windows Phone sales, with big hitters like LG, Samsung and HTC focusing all of their attentions on the Android operating system.

That means a potential opportunity for manufacturers a little lower on the totem pole, like Archos, outside of the densely populated Android market.

New breed rising

"We will launch a Windows Phone handset when the time is right," he told TrustedReviews before explaining its primary focus would remain with Android.

"Before anything else we are focussed on Google," he added.

Other manufacturers like Alcatel and ZTE are also planning to jump in on Windows Phone. Could we be seeing a new breed of handset makers rising on Windows Phone?

• Have you checked out Archos' latest range of budget Android tablets?

Source : techradar[dot]com