Gadgets Uk: April 2013

Tuesday 30 April 2013

Lenovo 'doesn't see PCs going away anytime soon' - BBC News

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Apple faces pressure over iPhone 5 hopes - Telegraph.co.uk

Colin Gillis, a technology analyst at BGC Partners, said that if Apple is to meet such expectations, it will have to sacrifice the profit it makes on each phone. "As the smart phone market passes the 50pc penetration in developed markets such as the US, the next stage of smart phone growth could be more focused on mid-to-lower priced offerings," said Mr Gillis.

Asus' to launch Padfone 2 on Oct 16 - Bloomberg UTV

New Ford Figo to be launched today; five more new cars to be unveiled this week

The auto industry, which has been under pressure for sometime now, is eyeing the festive season with hope of the much-needed boost! Accordingly, car makers have has set 'a series of new launches' to attract consumers in the weeks ahead.

Microsoft Xbox TV to compete with Apple - Telegraph.co.uk

The set-top box work is part of a broader effort by Microsoft to distribute its Xbox Live services across a number of devices.

Speculation that a phone with Xbox Live services is next in the pipeline has also been rumoured, and details of a 7-inch Xbox Surface tablet that will be used for gaming were leaked in June.

More than 57.8 million Xbox consoles have been bought since their original launch in 2001.

China goes wild for Apple iPhone 5 - The Independent

The Army of Angels: War wounds aren't necessarily physical

My name is Stephen Valentine and I was born in November 1969. At the age of 18, I decided to enlist ...

Lenovo Downplays RIM Acquisition Reports, Says It's Looking At M&A ... - TechCrunch

Lenovo Group Limited, an investment holding company, engages manufacture and distribution of IT products and services. It offers laptops, desktops, workstations, servers, batteries and power, docks and port replicators, carrying cases, software, monitors, touch-screen devices, and printers. The company also provides accessories and upgrades, such as audio and video, cables and adapters, carrying cases, keyboards and mice, memory, projectors, security, storage, and wireless and networking products. In addition, it involves in the property holding and property management, procurement agency,...

Apple 'to launch iPhone Math in June' - Telegraph.co.uk

"This includes the production pipeline, the Retina display, the unibody design, to provide the best product to the market."

Apple is due to deliver its Q1 results later this week, a fact that is perhaps behind the flurry of rumours that have surrounded the company recently. Last week, it was reported that Apple had cut orders for iPhone 5 components amid declining demand and that orders for iPad parts were down as demand for the iPad mini increased.

Microsoft Holds More Than Meets the Eye - Wall Street Journal

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Inside HP's Missed Chance To Avoid a Disastrous Deal - Wall Street Journal

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Asustek in Talks to Offer Windows 8 Phones - Wall Street Journal

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Monday 29 April 2013

Google Nexus 7 'best selling Android tablet ever' - Telegraph.co.uk

The news also sets up the prospect of more affordable tablets reaching the market soon, and of Amazon's new £159 Kindle Fire HD also establishing itself quickly thanks to its low price. Graham Stapleton, Chief Commercial Officer at Carphone Warehouse, said "It's impressive that this product is our biggest selling Android tablet, and it will be really interesting to see if other manufacturers will follow suit with smaller tablets over the coming months to spice up the Christmas period."

HP steps up action over Autonomy - Telegraph.co.uk

Autonomy, which specialises in searching "unstructured data" such as voicemails, texts and video, has been accused by HP of using serious accounting improprieties to wilfully misrepresent the business and inflate the price of the 2011 deal. HP made the allegations in filings to the Serious Fraud Office and America's Securities and Exchange Commission last month, as it wrote off $8.8bn, including more than $5bn on the value of Autonomy.

HTC doesn't pay Apple $8 per Android phone it sells - Telegraph.co.uk

"I think that these estimates are baseless and very, very wrong. It is a outrageous number, but I'm not going to comment anything on a specific number. I believe we have a very, very happy settlement and a good ending," said Chou at a product launch in Tokyo.

Apple sued the Taiwanese handset maker in 2010, its first major legal salvo against a manufacturer using Google's Android operating system. Since the suit, a patent war has engulfed competitors including Samsung and Google's Motorola Mobility.

Sony Xperia Z: hands on - Telegraph.co.uk

It's one that in the brief time I've spent with the Xperia Z, Sony seems more than ready to take on. Its 5" screen is as good if not better than any currently on the market elsewhere, its camera is a 13MP beast that takes superb images in low light and normal conditions. But with its big display and its rectangular shape, the Xperia Z feels like a particularly big device. If you're used to the Apple iPhone, even in its latest incarnation, the difference is stark.

Sunday 28 April 2013

Santa ditches Google for Microsoft - Telegraph.co.uk

The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had staff check the radar for Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called the hotline were given updates on his location as he made his journey.

Geekwire commented: "This is a score for Microsoft, as nearly 25 million people are expected to follow Santa this year. Last Christmas, the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center in Colorado Springs received more than 102,000 calls, 7,721 e-mails and reached nearly 20 million people in more than 220 countries around the world."

Samsung Galaxy S IV 'image leaked online' - Telegraph.co.uk

While the Galaxy S IV was rumoured to make an appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show next week, at least behind closed doors, Samsung last week confirmed that the new Galaxy S VI would not launch before May, dampening hopes for any glimpses of the phone next week or at February's Mobile World Congress.

Samsung has a history of updating its Galaxy S line of phones between late April and early May as it moves away from consumer trade shows and towards their own hosted events for product launches.

Samsung Galaxy S III to top mobile Christmas list - Telegraph.co.uk

The LG Nexus 4 and HTC One X+ complete the list in fifth and ninth place, adding further clout to Google's Android operating system and its dominance in the European marketplace.

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, said: "The affordable price point has kept the Samsung Galaxy S3 at the top of the tree, but whether it will be at the top of the Christmas tree remains to be seen, as price drops for both the 4S and 5 have seen the iPhone quickly gaining ground".

Microsoft looks to Europe after 'troubling' FTC Google verdict - Telegraph.co.uk

It added, however, that although the FTC had closed its investigation, other regulators would follow a different course. "The good news is that other antitrust agencies, within the United States and overseas, are still examining Google's conduct. In Europe Vice President Almunia has made clear that he will close his investigation of Google only with a formal, binding order that addresses search bias and other issues. We remain hopeful that these agencies will stick to their established procedures, ensure transparency, and obtain the additional relief needed to address the serious competition law concerns that remain."

HP Hires Former Amazon Kindle Exec Mike Nash - All Things Digital

And here's yet another new hire at Hewlett-Packard. The tech giant has recently hired a former Amazon executive to join the consumer portion of its PC business. As first reported by GeekWire, and since confirmed by a company spokesman, Mike Nash, a former vice president at Amazon's Kindle business unit, joined HP within the last month. He reports to Ron Coughlin, senior vice president of consumer PCs. Nash would be another of several recent executive departures at Amazon.

Links 10 Feb: Microsoft's Surface Pro Sells Out: But How Many Did They Release? - Forbes

I'm a Fellow at the Adam Smith Institute in London, a writer here and there on this and that and strangely, one of the global experts on the metal scandium, one of the rare earths. An odd thing to be but someone does have to be such and in this flavour of our universe I am. I have written for The Times, Daily Telegraph, Express, Independent, City AM, Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer and online for the ASI, IEA, Social Affairs Unit, Spectator, The Guardian, The Register and Techcentralstation. I've also ghosted pieces for several UK politicians in many of the UK papers, including the Daily Sport.

CES 2013: Nvidia unveils handheld Android console - Telegraph.co.uk

Project Shield can stream any games made available through its connection with a local PC, including access to the Steam gaming service's library of over 1,800 games.

Mr Huang described Project Shield as: "The culmination of five years of work."

Nvidia did not reveal an exact price or release date for the device, saying it would be available sometime in the second quarter this year.

The chip maker's decision to move into complete consumer devices surprised observers, particularly as the most recent leading handheld consoles, Nintendo's 3DS and Sony's PS Vita, have struggled in the face of competition from smartphones and tablets.

Microsoft and Google's Motorola: What Price A Patent? - Forbes

Android bug ignores December dates - Washington Post (blog)

A fix or two has been offered up for the bug.

For one, the bug doesn't affect the calendar itself, so users are able to add meetings, dinners, parties, etc., to their schedules through that channel. Users on forums have also noted that switching the language on affected devices to Chinese or Japanese, setting the date and then switching it back fixes the problem, too.

Google is, of course, also working on a fix. So if you think you can hold off adding December birthdays and anniversaries to your address book for a little longer, the company should provide a solution soon.

Amazon mocks iPad Mini in advert highlighting Apple tablet's shortcomings - Telegraph.co.uk

The comparison is preceded by a large quote from gadget blog Gizmodo.

It reads: "…your [Apple's] 7.9-inch tablet has far fewer pixels than the competing 7-inch tablets! You're cramming a worse screen in there, charging more, and accusing others of compromise? Ballsy."

Clicking on the iPad mini description also takes the visitor to the Kindle Fire HD product page rather than to Apple's product.

Last week, in a subtler piece of marketing, Amazon told tech blog AllThingsD that the Kindle Fire HD enjoyed a record day of sales the day after the iPad Mini's launch.

Microsoft attacks Google over Gmail privacy - Telegraph.co.uk

According to Microsoft, 70 per cent of people don't know that some email services scan the text of their messages to deliver advertising. The company says that, according to its own survey, 88 per cent of people disapprove of the practice.

Nevertheless, some industry observers have argued that Microsoft omits certain facts. For example, Microsoft claims there is no way to opt out of targeted advertising in Gmail, which is not strictly true.

Danny Sullivan, a search engine and online marketing expert, wrote on his blog: "Is the campaign fair? I'd say mostly no, but there are some things that Google could do to improve things."

Saturday 27 April 2013

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery now out on Android - Joystiq

If you missed your chance to grab the Android version of Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP during its surprise spotlight in the Humble Android Bundle 4, now's your time to pounce. The Android version is the full game, unchanged from its iOS and Steam siblings.

Sword & Sworcery on Android requires devices running OS 2.3 and higher, and is available as a $1.99 download on the Google Play store right now. It's a great game and, in the humble opinion of this editor, one of 2011's best.

China Criticizes Android's Dominance - Wall Street Journal

BY PAUL MOZUR

BEIJING—A Chinese government research institute hit out at Google Inc.'s Android smartphone operating system, arguing that China is too reliant on the platform and accusing the search giant of using its dominance to discriminate against local companies.

The criticism highlights continuing tension between Google and the Chinese government three years after the Mountain View, Calif., company said it wouldn't comply with Chinese Internet restrictions and pulled its servers out of mainland China.

It also highlights Android's strong presence in China, where the operating system powers about four out of five mobile devices, including gadgets made by Chinese companies vying to ...

Samsung Sparks Anxiety at Google - Wall Street Journal

BY AMIR EFRATI

Samsung Electronics Co. and Google Inc. together have stemmed Apple Inc.'s dominance in smartphones, but there is new tension in their partnership.

Google executives worry that Samsung has become so big—the South Korean company sells about 40% of the gadgets that use Google's Android software—that it could flex its muscle to renegotiate their arrangement and eat into Google's lucrative mobile-ad business, people familiar with the matter said.

Now, as top executives from the world's mobile industry gather in Barcelona, Google is meeting with other companies in hopes that their Android devices can keep Samsung's leverage in check by providing legitimate ...

iOS 6 Untethered jailbreak iphone 5/4s/3gs ios 5.1.1 and Unlock iphone 4/4s ... - AboutMyArea

Ask Rick: do iPhone and iPad use GPS? - Telegraph.co.uk

The network connection is also used to update map information and provide extra detail, though clearly you are not too worried about finding the nearest McDonalds or Post Office bobbing around on the North Sea. As a matter of interest iPhones and iPads send details of your location to Apple. This is used to maintain a crowd-sourced database of phone masts and Wi-Fi hotspots, which is supposed to help refine the initial location fix. Apple is keen to make it clear that this information is encrypted and anonymous, though a bug discovered in 2011, now fixed, revealed that an unencrypted file on iPhones stored a year's worth of time-stamped location data. This data is still retained, but now only for 7 days.

Nick Stahl Loses Dignity, Wins Free iPad! - PerezHilton.com

It's true!!!

Kim Kardashian's publicist has confirmed that the reality star is pregnant with Kanye West's lovechild!

This will be the first baby for both!

It should be noted that Kim is still legally married to Kris Humphries. Oopsie!

No wedding for Kimye any time soon!

They've got more important things to plan. A baby!

Congrats to the happy couple!!!

[Image via AP Images.]

Microsoft Says Dell Financing To Support PC Ecosystem - Forbes

After a long career at Barron's, I joined Forbes as San Francisco bureau chief in December 2010. I've been writing about technology and investing for more than 25 years. With the Tech Trade, I've picked up where I left off when I was writing the Tech Trader Daily blog at Barrons.com. When I'm not working, you can find me riding my road bike around the Bay Area hills, managing my fantasy baseball team, rooting for my beloved Phillies and Eagles and hanging out in the Valley with my family. You can follow me on Facebook, on Twitter (@savitz), and on Google+.

Windows 8 is in the house - CNET

If the holiday season delivered a new Windows 8 device into your life, I'm sure you're eager to get to know your new toy. Navigating and mastering Windows 8 will take a lot of your time, but you also should think about adding apps to your machine. For now, the Windows Store won't be as robust as you may like but there are enough apps to cover the basics of entertainment, gaming, productivity, and communication. So whether you have a new Surface or a Windows 8 laptop, check out the following titles. Not every title here may pique your interest, but they can get you started.

December 23, 2012 6:00 AM PST

| Caption by: Kent German

How would you change Nokia's Lumia 610? - Engadget

A step too far? Perhaps. By iterating its Windows Phone range so much, it's difficult to see why one low-end Lumia is better than the other. The principal nitpick of Nokia's Lumia 610, is that its dwarfed by the similarly-priced yet better-specced 710. But does it do the job as an ultra-budget handset? Well, this is your opportunity to tell us, you never know, maybe some of the folks from Finland are reading what you say, too.

Samsung to launch Android-powered fridge - Telegraph.co.uk

Mr Owens said that Samsung would concentrate on developing its premium appliance range in the UK, and that consumers increasingly associated the brand with connected appliances because of the "halo effect" from the company's phones and TVs.

He described the category as "a major growth area" for Samsung. Consumers in the UK currently replace appliances because they are broken in two thirds of cases, but only replace them every ten years, or every 15 if they are built-in. Rival manufacturers including LG are also focusing on similar products, but have not announced UK availability.

Samsung also announced in Monaco that its S9 ultra high definition television would retail in Europe for 40,000 euros (£35,000).

Friday 26 April 2013

HTC J Butterfly the basis for “hero” Windows Phone 8 phone? - T3

Windows 8 to get midnight launch - Telegraph.co.uk

"This is a major new development in computing technology and we are expecting really strong sales of Windows 8 products in the run-up to Christmas and beyond," said Currys and PC World spokesman Ben Lovett.

Microsoft has backed the event with a high-profile advertising campaign showcasing Windows 8's radically redesigned interface, which abandons the iconic "Start" button first introduced in Windows 95.

Some users have reportedly found the change difficult to get used to, and Microsoft's cofounder Paul Allen has predicted it will cause "confusion" to begin with.

Windows 7, its more conservative predecessor, was released in 2009 and generally well-received, coming after Windowes Vista, which was widely viewed as slow and riven with bugs

Apple to 'start new iPhone production for summer launch' - Telegraph.co.uk

The next major iOS release will be the first overseen by Sir Jonathan Ive, Apple's British design chief, who is expected to bring the minimalist style he has developed in hardware to the firm's software for the first time. Sir Jonathan, known as Jony, was put in charge of software design in October after the man in charge of iOS, Scott Forstall, was forced out following the Apple Maps embarrassment.

As well as new flagship hardware and software, this year Apple could also reveal a long-rumoured cheaper version of the iPhone.

The Wall Street Journal reported the handset, primarily tailored for the Chinese market, will feature a four-inch screen as in the iPhone 4S. Apple has been working on coloured casings but its plans remain unclear, it said.

Apple's 2005 iPhone prototype the size of an iPad - Telegraph.co.uk

"Seems large now," the source said, "but at the time it was really impressive seeing basically a version of OS X running on it."

He continued: "From the looks of the logic board photos, Apple had a decent idea in 2005 of where the iPhone would end up, even if the final product became much more integrated.

The ARM chip looks like a variant of the Samsung S3C2410, according to which Ars Technica writer Andrew Cunningham, who said it is "a distant relative of the chip the first iPhone ended up using, just older and slower."

He added: "This chip is also an ARM9 chip, while the original iPhone eventually ended up using an ARM11 chip, but obviously Apple intended to use Samsung-manufactured ARM chips even this far back.".

Microsoft is switching off its Windows Live Messenger service on 15 March 2013. - BBC News

13 January 2013 Last updated at 11:31

Microsoft is switching off its Windows Live Messenger service on 15 March 2013.

On that date Messenger log-ins will no longer work and users must turn to Skype.

In an email sent to all Messenger users, Microsoft encouraged them to update to Skype and get used to the service before the switch-off.

Microsoft bought Skype in October 2011 and says the new service will offer more, including video chat and games.

The Windows Live Messenger was known as MSN Messenger when it first launched in 1999.

It allows people to send instant messages and is thought to be used by about 300 million people every month.

Microsoft Surface on sale at John Lewis - Telegraph.co.uk

A report by analysts Detwiler Fenton said that Microsoft was "killing the product" with its distribution strategy.

Earlier this week Microsoft said it would increase availability to other retailers in North America, with similar moves to follow in other countries.

The only Surface model available now - officially called Surface with Windows RT - runs a version of Windows created to work on the low-power chips designed by ARM Holdings, which dominate smartphones and tablets but are incompatible with old Windows applications.

A new tablet, called Surface with Windows 8 Pro, will be released next year and will be compatible with all Microsoft's Windows and Office applications

Craig Mundie to retire from Microsoft - NDTV

Microsoft announced on Monday that company veteran Craig Mundie has stepped down from his post as chief of research and will retire in the year 2014.

Mundie, who was one of two executives who assumed responsibilities left behind by Bill Gates when the Microsoft co-founder retired in 2008, will now serve as an advisor to chief executive Steve Ballmer.

"In this role, he works on key strategic projects within the company, as well as with government and business leaders around the world on technology policy, regulation and standards," Microsoft said on its website.

Mundie began his career in 1970 and joined Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft in 1992, according to his biography on the corporate website.

When Gates retired, Mundie was entrusted to oversee Microsoft research and "long-term technology strategy," according to his online bio.

Apple iPad 4th generation review - Telegraph.co.uk

There is no choice between this or the third generation iPad. While Apple typically lowers the price of the previous generation and keeps it in the product line, the fourth generation is a straight replacement for the third. The cheaper 9.7-inch iPad remains the iPad 2.

The short time between upgrades - the third generation iPad was announced in March - suggests that this is the iPad that Apple would have released earlier this year if it could have done so. Those who bought the third generation might feel a little aggrieved to have slipped from the cutting edge quite so soon.

Anyone buying an iPad for the first time, or upgrading from an iPad 1 or iPad 2, will get their hands on a stunning device with a glorious display and the best range of tablet apps available.

Leaked BlackBerry images show iPhone influence - Telegraph.co.uk

Since then the companies fortunes have declined and it has seen rivals such as Apple and Samsung come to dominate, particularly in the US. Thorsten Heins, RIM's chief executive, is hoping that BB10 will be enough to turn the struggling brand around.

Industry analysts IDC said that BlackBerry had regained a place in the top five smartphone vendors in the third quarter of 2012 but only because rivals were losing their share at a faster rate. RIM's share of the market still declined year-on-year, despite its place in fifth on the list, behind Samsung and Apple.

Prizefight: Apple iPad 4th generation vs. Google Nexus 10 | Prizefight - CNET - CNET (blog)

Apple's fourth-generation iPad takes on Google's Nexus 10 in another battle between two mortal enemies. The full-size tablet market isn't going anywhere anytime soon, so which one is your top pick?

Apple's latest iPad brings exactly the same design, with the new Lightning port and the power of the iTunes and App Store ecosystem. The Google Nexus 10 brings one of the most feature-packed 10-inch tablets on the market, a screen that bests the iPad's Retina Display, and solid support from the Google Play store.

Which tablet are you picking as your Prizefight champion? Cast your vote!

iPhone owner loyalty declines for first time - Telegraph.co.uk

Taryn Tulay, an analyst at Strategy Analytics, explained that "it is the shift in the number of those who are unsure whether they will remain with the same brand for their next phone that Apple should be concerned about."

By contrast, Apple's share of the market grew from 13.8 per cent this time last year to 14.9 per cent.

Although brand loyalty for Apple may have declined, they are still thought to be ahead of their rivals.

A study by GfK last year found that 60 per cent of consumers who use smartphones running Google's Android said they would stick with phones using the same software.

Only 48 per cent of people using Research In Motion's devices said they would stay loyal to their Blackberrys, the study showed.

Microsoft urged to open up over privacy of Skype data - Telegraph.co.uk

Among the details the campaign groups want Microsoft to provide are:

Details of how many requests for data each country's government has made and the percentage that the firm complies with.

Information about exactly what information Microsoft keeps itself.

The firm's own analysis about the current ability of third-parties to intercept conversations.

The policy its staff has for dealing with disclosure requests.

Microsoft, which took control of Skype in a $8.4bn deal in May 2011, released a statement.

"We are reviewing the letter," it said.

"Microsoft has an ongoing commitment to collaborate with advocates, industry partners and 2,112 governments worldwide to develop solutions and promote effective public policies that help protect people's online safety and privacy."

Thursday 25 April 2013

Sony to sell new Xperia tablet in Japan: Nikkei - Yahoo! News (blog)

(Reuters) - Sony Corp's Sony Mobile Communications Inc said it will sell the new version of its Xperia tablet in Japan this spring, the Nikkei reported, citing Kyodo News.

The Xperia Tablet Z, whose price has not been announced, has a 10.1-inch display, is 6.9 mm thin and weighs 495 grams, according to the company's website.

Rival Google Inc's Nexus 10 tablet is 8.9 mm thick, while Apple Inc's iPad mini measures 7.9 mm.

Sony halted sales of Xperia in October, a month after launch, after discovering gaps between the screen and the case that made some of the machines susceptible to water damage.

The Nikkei reported on Sunday that Japanese smartphone makers seem to be regaining some market share they lost to companies like Apple and Samsung Electronics Co.

(Reporting by Krithika Krishnamurthy in Bangalore; Editing by Joyjeet Das)

Sony debuts 10-inch Xperia Z tablet - NDTV

Tags: Android, Android 4.1, Android tablet, full HD, Jelly Bean, LTE, NFC, Sony, Sony Android tablet, Sony tablets, Sony Xperia Z tablet, Xperia S tablet, Xperia Z tablet, Xperia Z tablet specifications

Thief hits Microsoft — but nicks rival Apple iPads - The Sun

A THIEF targeted a major Microsoft complex over Christmas – but made off instead with iPads made by rival tech giant Apple.

The burglar broke into the research facility – understood to contain Xboxes, Windows Phones and Surface tablets made by Bill Gates's firm – and swiped almost £2,000 worth of Apple gear.

Two iPad 2s, two iPad 3s and one iPad 4 disappeared during the raid near San Francisco, California between December 19 and December 26.

Local Police Sgt. Sean Thompson said there was no sign of a forced entry and a suspect is yet to be found.

The Apple products, with a total price tag of around $3,000 (£1,870), were swiped from three offices in Microsoft Building 5.

Microsoft's Mountain View campus, which was closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, is a research facility where new products are tested for security flaws.

Microsoft strategy 'killing' Surface - Telegraph.co.uk

There are currently just 31 Microsoft stores and 34 smaller popup stores for Christmas in the US serving a potential market of 350 million people. By contrast, Apple has opened 250 stores dedicated to selling its products and related accessories in the country, with a further 35 in the UK.

Microsoft has operated a "guerilla marketing" strategy in the UK in the last week, with Surfaces being promoted in Picturehouse cinemas and coffee shops rather than traditional venues such as department stores.

The Surface was launched worldwide in late October.

Microsoft refused to comment on the report itself, but a spokesman told the Telegraph: "We'll listen to our customers, learn from them, adjust and adapt the strategy, and open additional stores as it make sense.

"While we are exploring many areas for future retail locations, we have no additional new store locations to share at this time."

Microsoft strategy 'killing' Surface sales - Telegraph.co.uk

The Surface was launched worldwide in late October.

"While we are exploring many areas for future retail locations, we have no additional new store locations to share at this time."

Sprint Subscribers Generate Highest Percent of Samsung Galaxy S III Traffic in ... - Forbes

I was a buy-side technology analyst at Atlantic Trust (Invesco's high net worth group) for seven years and one of two analysts that determined the technology holdings for a firm with $15 billion under management. My primary focus was hardware, software, services and Internet companies. Before joining Atlantic Trust I was the Internet Security Software analyst for Smith Barney. I authored the most comprehensive industry report "Internet Security Software: The Ultimate Internet Infrastructure" and an innovative analysis of deferred revenue "Breaking the Code on Deferred Revenue". My first entree to the financial community was at Salomon Brothers following the Enterprise Server Hardware companies such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems. Prior to becoming an equity analyst I spent sixteen years at IBM in a variety of sales and manufacturing positions. I have a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Economics from the University of Sussex, England.

Informal Tweet Survey Indicates iPad by Far the Favorite Tablet - Forbes

Microsoft introduces Surface Pro tablet at ultrabook price - Telegraph.co.uk

Commentators have expressed doubts as to whether Microsoft can convince customers to pay as much for a tablet, albeit a powerful one, as they would for an ultrabook.

"The end result is a product that does a big chunk of what a tablet can do and a big chunk of what a PC can do, but it's not a perfect replacement for either," wrote Peter Bright of Ars Technica.

"If Surface Pro is held up against conventional tablets, the result will be catastrophic, but the comparisons with Ultrabooks aren't clear-cut either."

Microsoft is yet to release sales figures for the Surface RT, its attempt to respond to the iPad in the consumer market. UBS this week halved its estimate for the quarter to one million.

Apple sells tens of millions of iPads each quarter.

Windows 8 a 'giant sadness' says gaming boss - Telegraph.co.uk

The Steam Box will run on Linux but Newell says it will be possible to install Windows on it. "We're not going to make it hard," he said.

Newell said the company was not planning to release a motion controller for the Steam Box but was interested in the possibilties of controllers that utilise biometric data.

He said: "Biometrics on the other hand is essentially adding more communication bandwidth between the game and the person playing it, especially in ways the player isn't necessarily conscious of. Biometrics gives us more visibility."

Newell added: "Also, gaze tracking. We think gaze tracking is going to turn out to be super important."

Valve has not yet revealed a release date for the Steam Box or how much it would cost but Ben Krasnow, an engineer at Valve, said the company had no plans to announce anything this year.

Google Nexus 10 takes on Apple iPad and iTunes - Telegraph.co.uk

The Nexus 10 will retail for £319 for the 16GB version and £389 for the 32GB version; the smaller Nexus 7 tablet has also been updated to include 3G connectivity on the 32GB version for £239. The Nexus 4 phone will retail for £239 for an 8GB version or £279 for a 16GB version. Apple's iPhone 5 starts at £499.

The Nexus 4 will feature an 8MP camera and a quadcore processor, while the Nexus 10 will a dual core central processing unit and a quadcore graphics processor to cope with the 2560 x 1600px resolution. Google claims its A15 CPU makes web browsing four times as fast as previous models.

Google Play Music will launch in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain on November 13, and stream music at up to 320kbps. It will also allow new bands to sign up and allow users to send tracks as a gift for single plays to their contacts on the Google+ social network.

Wednesday 24 April 2013

MacBook Pro 13-inch Retina Display - images leaked - T3

The shots show a corner of the super-slim device, as well as the 8GB of RAM that the laptop will pack under the hood. In terms of connectivity, the new MacBook Pro will rock two Thunderbolt slots, HDMI, two USB ports and an SD reader.

The screen, at 2560x1600, along with that slimline frame, means the price is set to be hefty, with US sites claiming it could be much $1,699, $500 more than the current 13-inch MacBook Pro. Expect that to be around the £1,500 here in Blighty.

We'll be bringing you all the news of this and the iPad Mini live from Apple's press event on 23 October. Tune into our live blog for all the latest.

Via Slashgear

Microsoft Windows Phone 8 Apollo Plus update due next year - Telegraph.co.uk

Microsoft repeatedly stresses that Windows Phone 8 integrates seamlessly with its new Windows 8 operating system and that it allowed users to easily access the things that were most important to them, such as contact details and information about family members.

It has so far struggled, however, to attract major corporate adoption, in part because of the lack of VPN support.

Joe Belfiore, Microsoft's head of Windows Phone said the new devices were "a phone made for you – the most personal smartphone operating system you can get; the perfect companion for your Windows PC and your Xbox." He said that each Windows Phone could become "a unique reflection of who you are, like a fingerprint".

Microsoft also includes a 'Kids Corner' feature that provides a walled garden for parents to select which apps, games and settings that children can use when they ask to play with an adult's phone.

Google 'tests new iPhone maps app' - Telegraph.co.uk

If Google's new Google Maps app is approved, it will mean iPhone owners have a wide choice of alternatives to Apple's built-in app. Nokia, for instance, this week announced its well-regard mapping service, rebranded Here, will be available as an iOS app in a few weeks, and Apple has created a new section in the App Store dedicated to alternatives.

When problems with Apple's Maps app emerged, some iPhone users continued using Google Maps via their web browser. It was recently claimed that Google executives were "not optimistic" their new native iOS Google Maps app would be approved, but Apple will be under strong pressure to allow it into the App Store, and leaks about its near-complete development will add to the load.

Apple is meanwhile also regularly updating its Maps app with more accurate data.

Microsoft's Profit Falls 3.7% as Windows 8 Gets Off to a Slow Start - Wall Street Journal

Article Excerpt

Microsoft's Profit Falls 3.7% as Windows 8 Gets Off to a Slow Start

BY SHIRA OVIDE

Microsoft Corp. bet late last year on a new operating system to help it adjust to an era of smartphones and tablets. But the software company's latest results show that the adjustment is off to a slow start.

The Redmond, Wash., software maker on Thursday posted a 3.7% decline in net income to $6.38 billion, or 76 cents a share, for its fiscal second quarter, down from $6.62 billion, or 78 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 2.7% to $21.5 billion from $20.9 billion a year earlier.

The results underlined how Microsoft's new operating system, Windows 8, hasn't ...

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Samsung Galaxy S III sales top 40m - Telegraph.co.uk

Last week, Samsung said it expected to report record profits of around 8.8 trillion won (£5.2bn) for the last quarter of 2012, an increase of 89 per cent on the previous year.

The company's mobile division has driven earnings growth in recent quarters and that is likely to continue with more than 60 million of Samsung's various smartphone models shipped in the last quarter, according to analyst's estimates.

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S IV soon, possibly as early as next month. The device is expected to feature a higher resolution screen and a more powerful processor.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week, Samsung showed off the prototype for a flexible smartphone.

iTheater Turns Your iPhone Into a Personal Cinema - Mashable

While the iPhone 5's retina display offers sharper images, its screen remains a mere 4 inches in size. For cinephiles who think bigger is better, one Michigan-based designer has developed a way to turn your iPhone into a personal movie theater.

The iTheater, developed by Mike Enayah, is a hands-free holder connected to headphones that is "fully adjustable for size and optimal vision distance."

Users simply insert their iPhone 5 into the slot, and then enjoy a close-up view of whatever's on screen. Although the iTheater isn't the most fashionable smartphone accessory around, its portability may be a strong selling point. Check out the video, above, for more.

Would you wear the iTheater? Tell us in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Behance, Mike Enayah

Live from Expand: Lenovo ThinkPad: From Research to Design (video) - Engadget

Lenovo's ThinkPad line is now 20 years old, and we're taking sometime to chat with Lenovo execs to discuss what's made the brand so popular among business-minded folks. In addition, we'll also take a look at how the outfit has kept the line relevant, and nab an exclusive glimpse of the outfit's future plans.

For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.

New Microsoft Xbox 'will require Kinect' - Telegraph.co.uk

Edge, a leading video games magazine, reported that the new console would include a Blu-ray drive and that games would be played from disc. However, the magazine said, "it is believed that games purchased on disc will ship with activation codes, and will have no value beyond the initial user".

Edge also reported that the Xbox 720 will ship with an advanced version of Microsoft's groundbreaking Kinect motion controller and an AMD eight-core x64 1.6GHz CPU.

The latest rumours about the next Xbox have emerged as Sony prepares for an event in New York next week, at which it is widely expected to announce the PlayStation 4.

Microsoft is meanwhile expected to unveil its new hardware at the E3 video games show in June after Lawrence Hryb, the director of programming for Xbox Live, posted a timer on his blog counting down to the event.

Minimalist Case Leaves Your iPhone 5 Nearly Naked - Mashable

It's the iPhone-case equivalent of Jennifer Lopez's infamous green Versace dress at the 2000 Grammy Awards: barely there.

The Radius is a minimalist covering that highlights the iPhone 5's design: "precise, simple and beautiful," according to its creators.

Designed to look like an "X," the case's frame is made entirely out of lightweight aluminum, and comes in either slate or silver. Its four "modules," which attach to the iPhone's four corners, are available in polished aluminum, red, cyan and slate.

The Radius' Kickstarter campaign ended Saturday, and raised around $56,000 — more than double its original funding goal of $25,000.

Would you use this case for your iPhone 5? Tell us in the comments below.

Image courtesy of RADIUS

Apple reportedly to launch 5th generation iPad in March 2013 - NDTV

Apple may launch a fifth generation tablet next March, in keeping with its yearly Spring releases of previous models, a media report said Tuesday.

According to an inside source of the tech blog Macotakara, the new iPad will look like the iPad Mini in design and the dimensions of a slightly smaller iPad 2, the Daily Mail reported.

There are currently three models of iPad: The first iPad, the iPad 2 and the iPad Retina display - all measuring the same.

Apple released a faster version of the iPad Retina (also known to many as the iPad 3) this March and some people refer to this as the iPad 4.

Following hot on the heels of the iPad 4 launch was the introduction of the Mini measuring a sleek 7.87 inch in height, 5.3 inch in width and 0.28 inch in depth.

The new model, according to Macotakara, would feature the Retina display with the same resolution as the third and fourth generation iPads, the Mail added.

Boot up: China goes mobile, Lenovo attacks, Sinofksy spotted, and more - The Guardian (blog)

Lenovo says its smartphone business is unprofitable, without disclosing the loss. But its market share in China, where the company sells most of its phones, soared to 15% in the third quarter from 1.7% a year earlier. That placed Lenovo second only to Samsung, with 16.7%, and well ahead of Apple, with 6.9%, according to Gartner. The research firm predicts that Lenovo will become the No. 1 smartphone vendor in China this year.
Lenovo Chief Executive Yang Yuanqing said recently that the company hasn't been able to generate a profit in smartphones in part because of its investment in marketing and sales. He expects the business to become profitable in China in two to three quarters, he said...
Still, some analysts are skeptical about whether Lenovo can be successful world-wide.
"The strategy of initially seeking a large market share in terms of volume, and then trying to increase margins later, rarely works," said Nicolas Baratte, CLSA's head of technology research for the Asian-Pacific region. Price competition keeps margins thin, he said.

Galaxy Nexus Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update starts rolling out - Moneycontrol.com

With Android 4.2 recently announced, several owners of older Google flagship handsets are curious to know when their handsets will be updated to the latest flavour of Jelly Bean. This information may come as good news for those, as Google is now serving Android 4.2 Jelly Bean to a range of its older devices, including the Galaxy Nexus and the Nexus 7.If you own a Galaxy Nexus, you should receive a notification for the update on your handset. In case you haven't, head over to Settings>About Phone> System Updates to get the latest version of Android.However, all Galaxy Nexus devices are being updated to Android 4.2 yet. There are three versions of the Galaxy Nexus smartphone: the Galaxy Nexus Takju, which is sold through the Google Play Store; an international version called the Galaxy Nexus Yakju; and the Galaxy Nexus Yakjuxx, which is sold by Samsung.

Click here for full story

Tuesday 23 April 2013

Microsoft Surface: inside the new tablet - Telegraph.co.uk

The picture-by-picture guide to the innards of Microsoft's tablet also shows off the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, the Samsung NAND Flash and the 720p camera.

iFixit comments: "The exclusion of a 1080p rear-facing camera either means cost was a big concern, or that Microsoft's designers don't expect you to use the Surface as your main camera."

Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's chief executive, told CNBC that the Surface "is the product that I see customers wanting". He added: "You can go through the products from all those guys … and none of them has a product that you can really use. Not Apple. Not Google. Not Amazon. Nobody has a product that lets you work and play that can be your tablet and your PC. Not at any price point."

Will A $99 Android Tablet Be Enough To Make You Ditch Your iPad? - Business Insider

Acer has plans to sell a $99 Android tablet next year, according to the WSJ.

The 7-inch tablet will be relatively underpowered compared to top-tier devices out today, but the company's intention is to snap up market share away from Apple and other Android tablet makers.

If Acer's tablet launches, it'll be the first big-name brand to sell a $99 Android tablet.

Acer also wants to make a cheap Windows 8 tablet next year, but there's no estimate on price. Most Windows 8 tablet today start at ~$499.

Read more about it on WSJ >

How would you change Sony's Xperia Ion? - Engadget

While Sony undergoes its transformation under Kaz Hirai, there's a suspicion that many of its divisions have just been treading water. Take the Xperia Ion, for instance. The company's AT&T LTE flagship shipped in June, yet still carried the dead weight of Gingerbread as the albatross around its neck. Sony's engineering prowess produced sleek hardware, a cracking display, good camera and it was priced at $99 -- but was that a draw with a two-year-old operating system and 2011-era internals? Probably not. But if you were in the minority who bought one of these, what do you think? If you were sure Sony's engineering gurus were reading your every word, what would you tell them to do differently next time?

Penguins Allowed To Enjoy “Obsolete iPad” - Gizmodo

Penguins Allowed To Enjoy "Obsolete iPad" Penguins are pretty great looking, but they offer more than just swagger. They can play iPad games and have a good time doing it. Or, you know, not really grasp what's going on.

The Aquarium of the Pacific let their penguins take a crack at a cat game this week because if you combine mobile gaming and penguins "you have the recipe for a fun time . . . and a pretty neat video." The point is that if something looks like it's moving these penguins will be damned if they don't peck at it. And in conclusion, that mouse looks a heck of a lot like a sperm. [Reddit]

iPad Mini 'to cannibalise full-size iPad sales' - Telegraph.co.uk

At the moment, anyone wanting a smaller, cheaper tablet is likely to go for Google's Nexus 7, released in July, or Amazon's Kindle Fire HD, which comes to Britain next week. The iPad Mini gives Apple the opportunity to target those customers.

Earlier this week Apple sent out invites to an October 23rd event in San Jose, California. Titled "We've got a little more to show you", the invites give no hint as to what the company is set to announce. Rumours about a smaller iPad, however, have been doing the rounds for some time.

Alongside the iPad Mini, reports have suggested that Apple might unveil a 13-inch version of its 'Retina' MacBook Pro. The laptop with a very high resolution display is currently available on in 15-inch screen size.

Improvements to Apple's iMac and Mac Mini computers are also expected but it is not known whether they will be shown off at next week's event or released separately.

How would you change the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display? - Engadget

Many will bristle at the implication, but as the MacBook Air inspired the Ultrabook, mainstream laptops will likely seek to ape the Retina Display MacBook Pro, sorry, MacBook Pro with Retina Display. The clunky name aside, it seems that the next generation of devices will ditch disc drives and Ethernet ports in favor of pixel-dense displays and reduced weight. But did Jonathan Ive's trash can get too full? If you've been using one, do you still ache for those phantom limbs, or is it peaceful on that side of the river? Folks, for the last time this year, we're inviting you to share your thoughts and feelings on how you'd change the MacBook Pro with Retina Display, and from all of us, have a Happy New Year.

Karbonn launches 8-inch Android tablet for Rs 7025 - IBNLive

New Delhi: Karbonn has now launched a new tablet Velox Tab 8. As the name suggests, the tablet has an 8-inch screen with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. The tablet is currently available on Saholic.com at Rs 7,025.

The Karbonn Velox Tab 8 runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system, and is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual core processor. It has 1 GB RAM.

The tablet sports a 3 megapixel main camera and a front VGA camera. It has 1.5 GB built-in storage, which can be expanded up to 32 GB using a microSD card. It is engineered with a 4500 mAH battery.

The Karbonn Velox Tab 8 runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system, and is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual core processor.

Karbonn launches 8-inch Android tablet for Rs 7,025

Its connectivity options include Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G (via dongle), HDMI and USB interface.

Microsoft censured by Brussels over browser concerns - Telegraph.co.uk

He said: "If a user decides to set a rival browser as a default browser, there should not be an unnecessary warning in Windows or confirmations by the user and the Internet Explorer icon should also be unpinned from the Start screen."

The dispute dates back three years, when Microsoft agreed with Brussels that it would show Windows users a screen when the software was installed on their computers, which let them choose their desired browser.

However, when it launched a Windows 7 update in February 2011, the choice screen was no longer displayed as a result of what Microsoft said was a "technical error".

A Microsoft spokesman said of the latest issue: "Although this was the result of a technical error, we take responsibility for what happened, and we have taken steps to strengthen our internal procedures to help ensure something like this cannot happen again. We sincerely apologise for this mistake and will continue to co-operate fully with the Commission."

The company now has four weeks to respond to the Commission's objections.

HTC One Ultrapixel camera seen in action? - Pocket-lint.com

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Microsoft wins latest round in Motorola patent case - DAWN.com

Microsoft Event – Reuters Photo

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 7, 2013 - A federal judge on Thursday tossed out more than a dozen patent infringement claims filed against Microsoft by Google-owned Motorola Mobility.

US District Court Judge James Robart, in Microsoft's home state of Washington, sided with the software colossus, dismissing 13 claims of infringement on a trio of Motorola patents involving digital video encoding and decoding, according to court records.

The Motorola patents were evidently not specific enough regarding the computer code involved, according to the documents.

The decision significantly narrowed the case.

If the remaining claims survive a similar legal challenge, Microsoft would likely be entitled to pay a reasonable rate to license what is considered a "standards-essential" technology, according to intellectual property specialist Florian Mueller, of FossPatents.com.

Bug affects some Windows Phones - Washington Post (blog)

Those experiencing problems have seen the reboots range from multiple times per day to one every few days. The phones aren't warm, which indicates they aren't overheating, and people have had some success uninstalling some of the apps that come with the phones. Others have decided to wait for updates.

Not all users are experiencing problems. I, personally haven't experienced the bugs with tests of the Nokia 920 or the 8X. Both phones have operated normally and have had enough battery to get through a normal day's use.

Microsoft launched its first line of new Windows Phones on Nov. 9 and more models — the Nokia Lumia 822, 820, and 810 Samsung ATIV S and HTC 8S — are on their way. The new operating system is an important one for Microsoft, which is trying to compete with Apple and Google in the smartphone software market.

The company has had trouble gaining a significant chunk of the market with its previous smartphone system, Windows Phone 7, but is making a big advertising push to get users to catch on to its newest offering.

Apple iPad market share falls as tablet market booms - Telegraph.co.uk

"New product launches from the category's top vendors, as well as new entrant Microsoft, led to a surge in consumer interest and very robust shipments totals during the holiday season," said Tom Mainelli, research director at IDC.

"The record-breaking quarter stands in stark contrast to the PC market, which saw shipments decline during the quarter for the first time in more than five years."

Overall the tablet market grew 75.3 per cent compared with the same quarter last year, driven by falling prices and a wider range of devices, IDC said.

As the tablet market grew, the PC market declined in the fourth quarter of 2012, with sales down 6.4 per cent compared with the same quarter in 2011.

This was the first time in five years that PC shipments had fallen.

"Tablets have dramatically changed the device landscape for PCs, not so much by 'cannibalizing' PC sales, but by causing PC users to shift consumption to tablets rather than replacing older PCs," said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst at Gartner.

Monday 22 April 2013

Nokia Lumia 920 with Windows Phone 8 Review - HardwareHeaven.com

Around a year ago Nokia made a bold move, launching the Lumia 800 running Windows Phone 7.5, their first high end handset on a non-Symbian OS in a long time. This signalled a new direction for the company and since then they have released numerous other Lumia phones at price points for different consumer groups.

In our review we saw that the Lumia 800 was a great handset in terms of build quality and design with the Windows Phone OS really impressing. It offered a completely different user experience to Android and iOS and other than a lack of apps in comparison to those other operating systems it was hard not to love the experience.

Now a year on from the Lumia 800 launch Nokia have released the Lumia 920 with a bump in specifications and size. It also includes the latest mobile OS from Microsoft, Windows Phone 8... so does it have enough to compete in a market which has moved on significantly in the last 12 months?

Microsoft seeks to reinvent itself with Windows 8 - Telegraph.co.uk

While it is Apple that has shaped this new landscape, however, many analysts feel the iPad- maker is now taking on the role more usually associated with Microsoft: it has become the giant player, dominating but, if its two most recent launches are anything to go by, now struggling to innovate at the pace it once mustered. The iPhone 5 has been lauded as an excellent iPhone, and the iPad Mini is a well regarded tablet. But neither of these two devices has surprised users or critics with unexpected features. Samsung does that instead.

Windows 8, however, has garnered praise for being a system that is, in promise at least, designed with far more flair than is usually associated with Microsoft. The Surface tablet has been praised for exceptional design and caused more excitement than any other product this year. And on Monday Microsoft will finally unveil the phones that complement it. So thereâ€™s an outside chance that Microsoft, now in many ways the underdog, may yet take on Apple at its own game. The standards on both sides have never been higher, and the competition can only benefit consumers.

Super Hexagon out on Android, temporarily $1 - Joystiq

Terry Cavanagh's concentric chiptune masterpiece Super Hexagon is now available on most Android devices running Froyo or newer, provided said device has access to Google Play and runs hardware on par with (or better than) an iPhone 3GS.

Sadly, the port's issues with the Nexus 7 have yet to be resolved, and therefore the game won't run on Google's flagship tablet. "We're going keep an eye on the situation with the Nexus 7," Cavanagh said on his official blog. "If it ever improves, you can be sure we'll make it available on that device too."

To celebrate its release, the game is on sale for $0.99, though how long this promotional pricing will last remains a mystery. Seeing as Super Hexagon was our fifth favorite game of 2012, you should probably jump on that offer while it stands.

Apple blames rumour mill for slow iPad sales - Telegraph.co.uk

On Tuesday, those rumours were confirmed when Apple announced the iPad mini at an event in San Jose, California. The company also unveiled a new, fourth generation iPad.

At the San Jose event Tim Cook revealed that Apple has now sold a total of 100 million iPads. That number tipped off some analysts that iPad sales for this quarter were likely to be lower than expected, leading some to revise their earnings expectations.

Apple TV, which the company has long described as a "hobby", sold 5.3 million over the last 12 months. Cook said the device, which delivers TV programmes, film rentals and other content, was now "a beloved hobby". Apple has integrated the set-top box with its other products so that owners of iOS devices or Apple Macs can stream content directly to a television.

Sales of the iPod, the product range that has brought Apple devices to many new users over the past 10 years, continue to decline. Apple sold 5.2 million iPods in the last quarter, a decline of 19 per cent on the same period a year earlier.

Intel releases Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 dev code, adds dual-boot option for ... - Engadget

Intel's in the tricky position of playing Android iteration catch-up -- but it's getting better at it. Releases are now appearing every six months, with the latest release of Android (4.2.2) now Intel-optimized -- at least at a pre-alpha stage. The company's Open Source Technology Center devs have been working on the Android Open-Source Project to ensure it works well on Intel-powered devices, whether that's PCs for debugging and testing or those still-rare Intel smartphones. Now powered by the Linux 3.8 kernel, there's a new interactive installer, plus the new ability to dual-boot on a Windows 8 system. So it's all good news for developers, but it should drip down to more immediate updates on the likes of Motorola's RAZR i and any future Android hardware Intel's planning to power.

iPhone Ranks 1st In Smartphone Reliability - Technorati

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iPhone Ranks 1st In Smartphone Reliability
Technorati
A recent study showed that Apple's iPhone is the most reliable smartphone compared to the likes of Samsung, Nokia and Motorola handsets, according to a Mashable report. The original report came from FixYa. Here are some excerpts to that FixYa report: ...

and more »

Microsoft to invest $2 billion in Dell buyout - Reuters UK

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Microsoft in talks to invest up to $3 billion in Dell: CNBC - Reuters UK

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Apple cuts LCD panel orders for iPhone 5 on weak demand: Nikkei - Reuters UK

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Lenovo Group's parent plans China IPO as early as 2014: report - Reuters UK

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Hands-on with the AT&T Nokia Lumia 820 - ZDNet

Summary: While much of the focus for enthusiasts is on the Lumia 920, the Lumia 820 is actually a solid device priced at just $49.99. The removable battery and microSD card slot are welcome additions too.

Topics: Mobility, Nokia, Reviews, Smartphones, AT&T

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

iPhone 5 most searched for story of 2012 in US - Telegraph.co.uk

The public's fascination with the latest smartphones, tablets and games consoles remained unchanged in 2012, with products from Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Samsung topping the list of consumer electronics searched for on Bing.

And three of the top five app searches were music players, including Swedish music streaming service Spotify and US radio favourite Pandora.

Reality star Kim Kardashian was the most searched for person of 2012 on Bing, while controversial on-and-off R&B stars Chris Brown & Rihanna were the most searched for couple.

Bing accounts for 16 per cent of web searches in the US, according to recent figures from ComScore.

Bing does not provide figures for the volume of searches with the lists. Across all categories, the top 10 most searched items of the year on Bing were:

iPhone 5
2012 Elections
2012 Olympics
Hurricane Sandy
Honey Boo Boo Reality Show
Gangnam Style Dance
KONY 2012
Academy Awards
Kindle Fire HD
Facebook IPO

Sunday 21 April 2013

Microsoft under pressure as Windows 8 fails to spur PC sales - Telegraph.co.uk

But Gartner said the new operating system did not have a significant impact on PC shipments in the quarter, in part because the first Windows 8 devices lacked the excitement of the touch interface found in tablets.

Industry figures are increasingly speaking out about their disappointment over Windows 8. Last week the chief executive of Valve, a leading video games firm that is developing its own console, described the operating system as a "giant sadness".

"It just hurts everybody in the PC business," said Gabe Newell.

Hewlett-Packard regained the top spot from China's Lenovo Group in the quarter, Gartner said, thanks to its strength in the consumer market, which is a stronger driver than corporate sales in the holiday season. However, the Silicon Valley company's shipments did not grow compared to a year ago.

Despite losing the top spot, Lenovo recorded the strongest growth of the top manufacturers, with a 8.2 percent rise in shipments on a year ago.

Dell was in third place, although its sales fell 21 percent year-on-year, while Acer, down 11 percent, was in fourth position.

Six things every new iPad (or iPhone) owner should do immediately - ZDNet (blog)

Summary: So you got a new iPad (or iPhone) as a holiday gift huh? Here's some things that you should do right now to keep your new gadget safe.

Topics: Apple, iPhone, iPad

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

Samsung draws iPad mini into patent battle - Telegraph.co.uk

Samsung has argued it is "almost certain" that the HTC deal covers some of the same patents involved in its own litigation with Apple. It seeks to show Apple is willing to license its technology if the price is right.

The court ordered Apple to produce a full copy of the settlement agreement "without delay", though it will only be revealed to Samsungâ€™s legal team.

It has been speculated that HTC has agreed to pay Apple a royalty of up to $8 on each smartphone it sells. The firmâ€™s chief executive firmly denied that figure, however.

"I think that these estimates are baseless and very, very wrong,â€ he said. â€œIt is a outrageous number, but I'm not going to comment anything on a specific number.â€

â€œI believe we have a very, very happy settlement and a good ending.â€

The settlement of Apple and HTC ended their worldwide litigation and brought to a close one of the first major flare-ups in the global smartphone patent wars.

Apple first sued HTC in 2010, setting in motion a legal conflagration that has since circled the globe and engulfed the biggest names in mobile technology.

Tuesday 30 April 2013

Monday 29 April 2013

Sunday 28 April 2013

Saturday 27 April 2013

BY PAUL MOZUR

BY AMIR EFRATI

Friday 26 April 2013

..a couple more steps..

Thursday 25 April 2013

A THIEF targeted a major Microsoft complex over Christmas – but made off instead with iPads made by rival tech giant Apple.

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Article Excerpt

BY SHIRA OVIDE

Tuesday 23 April 2013

Monday 22 April 2013

Sunday 21 April 2013