Microsoft looking to cut Windows RT license prices as Acer call the platform 'very immature'?

   A report from Bloomberg today is claiming that Microsoft are looking at reducing the price of Windows RT licenses to boost the appeal of the platform to OEMs. The cuts are supposedly aimed at getting companies like HP to pick up the platform instead of opting for Google's free Android offering on tablets.

   Obviously this is an issue for Microsoft at the moment because they want their RT platform to be successful, but there's very few apps and it's not a particularly compelling platform at the moment because you can't utilise Microsoft's legacy Windows 8 apps!

   Indeed, Acer's J T Wang called Windows RT platform 'very immature' and as such said that:

"We have some R&D projects, but we will be very, very cautious in deciding whether we will do the launch and mass production."

It's probably fair to say that this is how the majority of OEMs are feeling when it comes to Windows RT! We'll have to wait and see whether there is a future for the platform., we think there is, but they'll need to do something about the apps, because this is seemingly a huge factor when people choose which operating system to go with!
Via TheVerge.

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Bloomberg say HTC cancel 12" Windows RT plans, 7" version still good to go!

   Bloomberg are reporting today that HTC have scrapped plans for a 12" Windows RT tablet for later this year, wiht the lack of demand for Microsoft's Windows RT being cited as one of the the key reasons and the other being the cost of the device, which would make it too undesirable. It's interesting though that Bloomberg still believe that HTC will be making a smaller 7" Windows tablet  running RT.

   The larger of the two tablets was said to be too much of a risk as HTC are still coming to terms with their recent slide in sales and a 12 inch device would be too expensive in terms of components and the cost to customers was said to have been too high to shift the amount HTC would have needed too. Those aren't issues with the 7" tablet which is meant to be available around September or October according to the report.

   Bloomberg did say that Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors will be inside the new 7" tablet and other than that we don't really know very much at all, because this is all speculation really. We do find it quite interesting that HTC would opt to make a Windows tablet, given how popular Android tablets are comparatively. Let us know what you think on this rumour and what you'd like to see HTC produce!
Bloomberg via TheVerge.

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Microsoft confirms Windows Blue is now Windows 8.1!

   We love to reuse our graphics here at TTF, so you might recognise the one above, this time we've made a few subtle edits to it to reflect the fact that Windows Blue will know officially be known as Windows 8.1.

   The update was an appallingly badly kept secret anyway, but earlier today Microsoft's Chief Marketing Officer, Tami Reller, confirmed that the update will now be called Windows 8.1. The news came from the JP Morgan's Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, which took place earlier today.

   A couple of other things were confirmed too: the first of which is that the upgrade will be free and available from your Windows 8 home screen when it goes live and a preview of the new software will be available to you inpatient types on June the 26th when Microsoft's Build 2013 kicks off! At the moment though we don't know much more than that as Reller would only say that the update is due "later in the calendar year," and that Microsoft "know when the holidays are," so it'll be here before Christmas anyway!

   Reller did also confirm that the new update will land on both full Windows 8 and Windows RT and Reller hinted that there will be smaller tablets on the way, by saying Windows will be perfect for everything from "the smallest tablets" right through to your beastly desktop PCs!
Via Engadget.

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Nexus and Surface RT tablet rumours hot up: Spec bumps all round?

Image credit: XDA.

   It's that time of year again folks, Google I/O is drawing closer and closer by the day and Microsoft's Surface RT is now six months old so Microsoft will be well on the way to having the next version of the device prepped and perfected for the expected October launch!

   With that in mind, we've been hearing a lot of rumours lately about the possibility of HTC and even LG getting back into the tablet market, but Micrsoft having launched their Surface line of tablets last year will be keen to offer a new range of tablets again this year. According to the guys over at Computer World Nvidia's vice president of computing products, Rene Haas said that:  

"Nvidia is very invested and very committed to Windows RT, and we feel it has a bright future... We feel this [platform] is where things are going."

   Haas also confirmed that Nvidia's Tegra 4 processor will power 'multiple' new tablet computers which run Windows RT, but he was not very forthcoming about who would be making the devices or when they would come to market. That does mean that Windows RT isn't dead and hopefully Microsoft can add something more to the operating system to make it a bit more compelling in it's next version!

   A device which doesn't need to prove how 'compelling' it is, is the Asus Nexus 7. A device which has been very popular since its launch because of a combination of great specs and low pricepoint. Rumours have been swirling around that the tablet will be refreshed and according to the guys over at AndroidAuthority this is what the spec sheet will look like on the new device.

   Obviously this is just a rumour for the moment, but we would love to see a device like that be announced at Google I/O next week. There's a little bit of debate about whether it's possible that Asus will choose to use a Snapdragon 800 processor or even a Tegra 4, but that would delay the tablet and probably make it quite expensive!

What do you think? Do you want a Windows RT device if Microsoft do the work or are you a Nexus fan right to the metal core? Let us know in the comments below!

Via AndroidAuthority and ComputerWorld.

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Toshiba exec explains the Windows 8 teething problems, looks forward to the new range of devices!

   As it stands there aren't too many people out there who love Windows 8. We wouldn't say we love it, but once you're over the initial learning curve then things aren't too dissimilar to Windows 7 and when that Start button is back, assuming it is, then Windows 8 will be a well rounded and logical operating system again.

   That, however, doesn't detract from the fact that it wasn't well received from people and that sales have been somewhat limited. Indeed, Acer have been very vocal about their criticism of the Windows 8 and RT Operating Systems from Microsoft, but today it's time for Toshiba to step forward and offer their opinions.

   The comments today are from Toshiba's Mark Whittard who's the director of the company's Australian arm. In an interview with The Australian Whittard explained how it was difficult simultaneously marketing Windows 8 and Windows RT and he believes it confused some customers, he said:

"I think one of the challenges is, there was a lot of confusion with Windows 8, my personal view is that they (Microsoft) confused the market with a couple of different flavors."

   Whittard also mentioned how customers weren't expecting to have to shell out for apps on Windows RT because they were expecting that platform to support the same apps as full Windows 8. On top of that cost Whittard explains that people were used to Windows 7 computers having prices between $399 and $599, but when Windows 8 landed devices were going on sale at $699 for entry level hardware and that put consumers off, especially as Windows 7 laptop priced plunged as companies looked to clear their Windows 7-powered inventory.

   The same price complain was lodged against touch-based devices which Toshiba considered the premium to have been a bit excessive on. The Australian quotes Whittard as saying that the RRP on devices was not $100, but it was more like $400, which led customers to say: 'Hang on a sec, that's starting to get unpalatable, that price differential, and I'm not sure about this Windows 8 thing.'

   Despite these criticisms, Whittard believes have been mostly eliminated now and Toshiba will have a new range of Windows 8 devices this year with both touch, like the Kirabook pictured above, and non-touch displays!
Via CNet.

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Dell say Windows RT isn't 'where they'd like'!

Dell XPS 10 running Windows RT.

   Company's seem to have been pretty outspoken in their criticism for Windows RT. You might remember Samsung cancelled their release of the Ativ Tab in America and even Microsoft have said that Windows RT is something which will get better with time!

   With that in mind it's not too much of a surprise that the latest company to come out and say they're not totally impressed with Windows RT is Dell. They guys might be in the middle of a takeover bid, but that doesn't meant they've taken their eyes off the market and the company's Neil Hand had this to say to in an interview with CNet:

“Demand is not where I would like it to be at this point in time. The amount of market information about it is not good enough, and the market sentiment is still pretty negative."

   He also added that the app support for the platform hasn't been quite as strong as it needed to be, a complaint which could be lodged against fully fledged Windows 8 too!

   What do you think? We're interested to hear your thoughts on Windows 8 and Windows RT because we've currently got the Asus Vivotab Smart in for review, so keep your eyes out for that and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below!
Via Slashgear.

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Microsoft rumoured to have a 7-inch Windows 8 tablet in the works!

    Microsoft and their Windows 8 platform haven't exactly set the world on fire with their adoption rates since the platform was launched last year. Instead we've seen a huge decline in PC shipments which were down 13.9% compared to the time last year! It's reported because of the gains made by smartphone and tablet sales that Microsoft is rumoured to be working on a 7" Surface tablet.

    According to the Wall Street Journal "people familiar with the company's plans" have said that Microsoft have reconsidered and a 7-inch tablet is now part of their plans because the Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD and the iPad mini at 7.9 inches have been so wildly popular.

   What we're intrigued to see is whether or not Microsoft put Windows RT, Windows 8 or even Windows Phone on the 7" device, because the dividing line is becoming increasingly thin. Perhaps Windows Blue is for this exact purpose! What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
WSJ Via PocketLint.

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In Other News: 05/04/2013

• BlackBerry's new qwerty-equipped Q10 is now up for pre-order and Phones4U is seemingly the most compelling place to order it from in the UK! If you get in quick (among the first 300 people) you'll get a totally free 64GB PlayBook thrown in! The phone is available for £36 a month on a contract or alternatively you can get one for £549.95 SIM-free! To get the deals check here!
  Via Engadget.

• Firefox have updated their browser's beta streams for Android and desktop users. Android users will son have open-source fonts to choose from to replace the default options and there's also some HTML5 compatibility tweaks. Desktop beta users will get more "do not track" options as well as the choice to re-open tab thumbnails that've previously been closed.
  Via Engadget.

• HMV have been bought out by Hilco in a £50 million deal. That deal will mean that 66 stores will go as will 930 jobs. There will however be 2,500 jobs saved and a tonne of stores kept open as part of the deal. There's also said to be a renewed emphasis on 'enhanced music and visual range' and electricals will not be sold by the company any more! To see which stores will be saved and which will be closed then check here!
  Via HotUKDeals and TechRadar.

• Nokia have released their app Nokia Music for both Windows 8 and Windows RT devices! The app is essentially a full-sized version of the app for phones, but everything's correct and present so head over to the Windows Store here to get it!
  Via TheVerge. 

• Nokia Lumia 720 is now available in the UK for £22 per month on contract or £300 on pay as you go! You can get the phone from O2 here!
  Via Engadget.

• Google has confirmed that their forked version of Webkit called Blink, will soon be powering their Chrome browser. The guys are working fast and the new engine should be availabe in Chrome 28 in about 10 weeks time!
  Via AndroidBeat.

• It turns out HTC's new Facebook powered smartphone, the HTC First, will run stock Android beneath that Home launcher. The phone is looking to be around $450 sim-free so it's not quite cheap enough to be a viable stock alternative to the LG Nexus 4. Facebook also confirmed that their launcher will eventually have ads, but they won't be tailored to users, they will just be like they are on the current Facebook app.
  Via Clove and Slashgear.

• Some of HP's execs are on the way out! Check out the Tweet below for more details.

HP Chairman Ray Lane resigns, Ralph Whitworth to be interim chairman
— Reuters Tech (@ReutersTech) April 4, 2013

• LG's Optimus 4X HD is currently getting an update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean!
  Via UnwiredView. 

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Windows RT will get better with time according to Exec!

   Windows RT hasn't quite been a runaway success since it was launched in the latter past of 2012! There's the Surface RT tablets which have done alright, possibly? (We tend to judge success on how many we see around and we haven't seen any!). But there's been a fair few issues too; one such is example is Samsung basically pulling the ATIV tab for sale because there simply wasn't enough demand!

   So in a recent interview with CNet Microsoft's Corporate Vice President of the Windows Planning, Hardware & PC Ecosystem team, Michael Angiulo, outlined what exactly it was which made Windows RT importance to the future of Microsoft! He started off by explaining how Microsoft wouldn't have invested so heavily if they didn't think their work was worthwhile and that this is a strategy which will get stronger over time. The strength is supposedly going to be seen through power performance, standby time and fanless form factors! There were other key points picked up in CNet's interview and you can see some of them below! Don't forget to check out the source link for much more!


On the viability of ARM chips versus Intel?

"If you look forward a year or two and you look at the performance output of ARM chips, those are some really capable chips. I think it has a very bright future."

When discussing Windows RT's future it was said:

"People are talking about legacy desktop software not running, but they don't think about the customer benefit of only running modern apps. The only apps that you install from the Windows store are the kind, that as a customer, you can manage your rights to.
Let's say you drop that PC in a pool. Well, you get a new one and then you just redownload [the apps]. That's the kind of model people are used to with a phone or tablet today. I can maintain all the apps in the [Microsoft] store and reset with a single switch.
So, on Windows RT, the user experience stays consistent over time. That's a big benefit. And as the number of apps grow in the store, that value promise only gets stronger."

Windows RT will also be useful for 3G/4G tablets.

"And on the ARM side, there is a propensity for a much higher percentage of PCs that are going to ship with mobile broadband [3G/4G], precisely because ARM PCs have even longer battery life [than Intel PCs] on connected standby [when a device is in standby mode but still connected to e-mail, social networking sites, and the Internet in general]."

Via CNet.

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28/12/2012: Motorola to create a Razr M HD? More Galaxy S4 rumours and BB10 features leak! The HTC HD2 refuses to die and much more!

Motorola to unleash a Razr M HD?

   Earlier this year Motorola's super thin Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx got HD buddies, an according to one of PhoneArena's anonymous sources the Razr M will soon have a HD brother too! It would seem fitting that the Razr M's refresh would maintain a mid-range price and so the suggested spec sheet does seem to fit in with that.

   Apparently the device will launch with Android 4.1, which will be updatable to Android 4.2 at some point after launch and on the spec front there will supposedly be a dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus processor running the show on a 720p 4.5" screen, at that resolution the screen will have a Retina display matching 326ppi. To round the device off there will also supposedly be 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage which is MicroSD expandable and a 3300MaH battery, although there was no mention of any camera specifications. 

   Would you be interested in a device like this? If it could come in at a reasonable price point it could prove to be a very popular device, especially with the very good battery size! If you would like to see the full spec sheet given to PhoneArena then hit up the source link below!

Via PhoneArena.

More Galaxy S4 rumours arrive suggesting an April launch date!

   Hot on the heels of the best render of the Galaxy S4, which we published yesterday and that is embedded above, we got wind today that there is another set of juicy rumours from Korea regarding Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S4. 

   Today's rumours suggest that the device will be launching in April, which is to be expected given Samsung had to delay the launch of the S3 because of the discolouration of their blue cases last year. But, that's the mundane part of this rumour. The juicy bit is that the rumours suggest that the Galaxy S4 will come with an S-Pen and a 5" 1080p AMOLED display. The S-Pen rumour is the intriguing part because it suggests that this could be a merger of the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy S series. We find this hard to believe because the separation of sizes in the different ranges gives users exactly what they want depending on their preferences and a 'happy medium' might be enough to discourage both camps.

   Other than that it's expected that there will be Android Jelly Bean on board which will be powered by a quad-core Exynos 5440 chip which will be made using a 28nm process which uses high-K metal gate technology. There's mumblings of a using ARM's big.LITTLE process, but because that's very much still in it's infancy we don't think that one is very likely either. Just to conclude the rumours there is also mean to be a 13-megapixel rear auto-focus camera and the body of the phone is expected to be 9.2mm thick to house that S-Pen!

   We think the screen size and quality are quite likely as is the camera spec, but other than that we find it hard to believe Samsung would merge the Note and S series and we're not convinced the S-Pen is ready for the big time either! What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Via PhoneArena.

In other news:

• There's been some controversy on YouTube view numbers on music videos being cut today. At the moment there's some ambiguity whether the drop in numbers is down to Google cutting the figures because they were artificially inflated by record labels or because songs have been transferred between accounts. We'll let you know what's going on when everything becomes clearer in the next few days!
  Via TheVerge.

• There's also suggestions that Instagram lost a quarter of their users after last weeks Terms of Service scandal. We're not sure exactly whether this is true or whether data has been affected by the Christmas holidays, but again The Verge have offered some insight on the matter.

• Sony has announced that they are discontinuing the Playstation 2 in Japan, but don't worry Sony isn't going to cut off your PS3 yet, as they pledged they would support it through to 2015. The PS3 launched in Japan in November of 2006 so that would mean the device would have been supported for nine years, which given Sony's record with updates for their Android devices looks positively stellar!
  Via Slashgear.

• According to Reuters China has unveiled tighter Internet controls which now make it legal to delete posts or pages "which are deemed to contain "illegal" information and requiring service providers to hand over such information to the authorities for punishment." Given China's reputation for the 'Great Firewall of China' it's not surprising that the country is cracking down on this and the use of VPN's to bypass their extensive censorship programme!
  Reuters via Slashgear.

• Sprint is currently offering you a $100 off a new tablet from them if you take a phone contract. You can redeem your voucher on an iPad Mini, standard iPad, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 or a Motorola Xoom! You can check out the full details here!
  Via IntoMobile.

• RIM's upcoming BB10 features seem to be leaking left, right and centre at the moment. We've heard about Blackberry Remember which will act as a task app, BBM video for face to face video calls and  that would go very nicely with BBM Voice which is already out in the wild! Are you excited for BB10? We certainly can't wait to see what Canada's finest come up with!
  Via IntoMobile.

• Fijitsu CEO, Masami Yamamoto, confirmed that the company would be bringing the Raku-Raku Smartphone, an easy to use device targeted at the older population, to the U.S. and Europe in the near future. Although at the moment there's no word on how much it'll cost, but the device is available in Japan at the moment with a 4-inch 800x480 display, 1.4GHz Snapdragon S2 processor and a modified version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
  Via PhoneDog.

• It turns out that RIM's undisclosed first payment to Nokia came in at a whopping $65 million or 50 million Euros! We're not currently sure what the ongoing payments will be but analysts expect it to be somewhere between $2 and $5!
  Via AllThingsD.

• Apple has received a slap on the wrists from China which ran to the tune of $165,000 because they allegedly published books from Chinese authors without their copyright permissions! We're not sure of the details of this case because it was in China and it is all rather hush-hush, but if there's any more details we will let you know!
  Via Slashgear.

And finally, it seems HTC's eternal HD2 now has the ability to run Windows RT! A post on Twitter from CotullaCode shows the software up and running! The image and tweet are embedded below for your viewing pleasure!

myself shocked :O twitter.com/CotullaCode/st…
— Ctll (@CotullaCode) December 27, 2012

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10/10/2012

Galaxy S3 Mini details leaked?!

   The immanent release of the new Samsung 'Galaxy S3 mini' has had people excited about the possibilities of the Galaxy S3's power and a more manageable 4" form factor. But, the guys over at MobileGeeks may have got some information which could scupper your purchasing plans!   

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02/10/2012

HTC announce the One X+.

   After a couple of leaks earlier in the week made this one of HTC's worst kept secrets in a while, the company has officially confirmed their brand spanking new One X+. 

   The comparisons to the Sensation XE have been acknowledged by HTC themselves, but it's a great attention-grabbing colour scheme and it certainly looks great to our eyes!

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29/08/2012

Galaxy Note II arrives, with the ATIV S, before IFA!

   They guys over at PocketLint appear to have scored quite a scoop today! If they're right the image above is the upcoming Galaxy Note II, which is slated for release at IFA next week.

   The guys believe there will be two colour variants of the phone; blue and white, much like Samsung's Galaxy S3. On the front there will be a 5.5-inch 1280×720 resolution display which will be a massive HD Super AMOLED panel.

   The rest of the specs are equally impressive; with a 1.6GHz quad-core Exynos CPU, 2GB of RAM, 8 and 1.9 megapixel cameras, and a huge 3,100mAh battery. This beast of a battery will not make the device thicker than its predecessor, but it'll make it slightly heavier.

   The body will be a mere 9.4mm thick a marginal thinning compared to the original which was 9.65mm. All of this will make it a whopping 2 grams heavier(!) than the first Note, and we expect to see 16, 32, and 64GB iterations.

Samsung Ativ S!

   As for you guys across the pond we have no news on what the specs will be for you yet and or if there will US availability!

Samsung ATIV S.

As well as the Note II here is the Samsung ATIV S, the company's first Windows Phone 8 device!

   It has a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, an 8-megapixel rear camera paired with a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. The internals are crammed into a 8.7mm thick profile and the rest of the specs include 1GB of RAM,16GB or 32GB models, both of which come with a microSD slot for more storage and the whole device is powered by a 2300mAh battery. The body is made with brushed aluminum(!!!), the screen lies behind Gorilla Glass, and Samsung opted for a physical Windows button instead of a capacitive one — a decision that matches its latest Android devices.

Samsung Galaxy Camera!

   Perhaps we should have seen this one coming, after all Samsung has brought us the Galaxy Beam! Another quirky mix of Android and attachment has occurred today and this time Samsung has added a 16MP shooter!

   There's actually a great spec sheet on this thing; things are kicked off by a 4.8-inch 1280 x 720 touchscreen running at 308ppi, along with the voice control that’s part of Android. There’s also the same sort of in-device intelligence that we’ve seen on the Galaxy S III – in fact it runs on a 1.4GHz quadcore processor as well!

   Amazingly Samsung has managed to put out Jelly Bean with this thing although we aren't holding out for many updates in the future! And yep this thing is aimed at socialites and the 3G/4G connections and onboard editing and social sharing features should be a hit! And if you need to know exact details about this cameras' prowess then you'll have a 21x optical zoom on that 16-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS which itself is paired with a 23mm wide-angle lens! 

Samsung ATIV Tab 10.1.

   So what does every good Android manufacturer need? Some Windows powered 'balance' that's what! This is Samsung's attempt to make sure all consumer bases are covered with a Windows RT powered version of their popular tablets.

   This is essentially the Galaxy Note 10.1's Windows cousin, but with the slightly less powerful processor and a slightly worse screen, which would indicate that this is more for mid-range consumers (we hope!). Just for reference the screen is a 10.1-inch 1366 x 768 display, and the quad-core Exynos chip has been swapped for a Snapdragon 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. The camera on the rear will be 5 megapixels and the front one will be 1.9MP shooter.

   Other than that the details are still light and until we hear more soon we won't know if the 10.1 will come with anything more than the HDMI, USB, super skinny and lightweight features we've already been promised!

Sony unleashes devices before IFA.

   Sony has an almost completely new line-up of devices this time around and a brand new tablet! We could explain to you the merits of each device but Sony themselves have done it best;

"Xperia™ T

• 4.6” HD Reality Display powered by the Mobile BRAVIA® Engine for razor sharp clarity.

• 13MP fast capture camera that goes from sleep mode to snap in just over a second

• Full 1080p HD video recording capabilities and a 720p HD front camera for the highest quality content

• Easy connectivity with ‘One-touch’ function enabled by NFC

• Latest generation 1.5GHz dual core processor for improved battery life, fast performance and ultra sharp graphics

• Android version 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Will be upgraded to Android version 4.1 (Jelly Bean) following launch. Detailed timing to follow.

• MHL connectivity for viewing content on a big screen without the need for a charger

• Use Xperia TV Dock with MHL to HDMI converter and charging connector to enjoy photos and videos on an HDMI enabled TV

Xperia™ V

• 4.3” HD Reality Display powered by the Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 for razor sharp clarity

• 13 MP fast capture camera with full HD video recording.

• Latest generation 1.5GHz dual core processor for improved battery life, fast performance and ultra sharp graphics

• LTE for the fastest data download speeds (in markets where technology is available)

• Easy connectivity with One-touch ‘One-touch’ enabled by NFC

• Clear audio+ for the highest level of sound quality

• Highest levels of dust and water resistance in a smartphone (IP55/57+) ensure protection from the effects of immersion up to 1m for 30 minutes

• MHL connectivity for viewing content on a big screen without the need for a charger 

Xperia™ J 

• 9.2mm slim stylish design

• Large 4.0” FWVGA Display

• Social media updates with illumination

• 5MP AF camera and a front facing 'chat camera' 

Xperia™  Tablet S 

• Slim new aluminium body and splash-proof design

• 9.4” HD display with OptiContrast™ Panel with low-friction coating

• NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor and Android 4.0.3 operating system

• Android version 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

• Various experiences with original applications and Sony’s network services

• Optimized accessories (sold separately) to enhance experiences in every scene

   The Xperia T and Xperia Tablet S are both great looking devices and are worthy flagships for the foreseeable future! It's worth saying that the company has Playstation Certified all of these devices and they have promised Jelly Bean updates for the Xperia T and V, although we would expect the Xperia Tablet S to get one too!

   In case you can't wait to get your hands on them the Xperia T and the tablet will be available from September and the rest will be coming your way through the latter part of the year!

HTC rumoured tablet!

The image below is reportedly an upcoming tablet from HTC. We have no details on it and we have no idea if it's real or not. But, if it is real HTC might have to brace themselves for lawsuits as it looks painfully like a tablet version of Apple's desktop iMac computers.

In other news:

• It's been reported today that Microsoft will unleash Windows Phone 8 a day after Windows 8 goes on sale, the date to mark in your calenders is October 29th!

• Google is reportedly looking to sell Motorola's set-top box department as the company doesn't see it as an essential revenue stream anymore.

• Samsung has promised Jelly Bean updates for both the Galaxy S3 and the Note 10.1 will take place in the 'very near future'. Stay tuned for the updates.

• Verizon's version of the Galaxy Nexus can now run Jelly Bean, but only if you're prepared to go down the AOSP route at the moment!!!!

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17/08/2012

Amazon recruits 5,000 UK corner shops for new delivery option!

   For once it's not mobile phone or tablet news that gets the big story here on TTF. This time it's Amazon and a rather big announcement for our UK readers. Most of us here in the UK shop on Amazon for cheap books if your a student, birthday and christmas presents if you're a parent or maybe you shop there because you need something to splash the cash on.

   Either way you probably get the item delivered to your house, but then you're not always in are you and the lovely postman puts this little red slip through your post box saying you weren't in (shocker) and that you have to go to your local depot at obscure times to collect your parcel. 

   Well, Amazon has heard the problem and has enlisted the help of local shops for a new scheme called CollectPlus. At the moment the scheme is in the trial phase, but it's widely expected to pass with flying colours. Essentially at the check out you will pick CollectPlus, choose your shop to deliver to and a couple of days later you can pop in on your lunch break and get your parcel. Perfect!

   Obviously this scheme has those people who work 9-5 firmly in mind because everyone knows the hassle of trying to collect undelivered parcels when you work! This will let you collect them at lunch or, if your shop is open late into the evening, the chance to pick it up after work!!!

   And if it turns out you don't like your item simply take it back to the shop and CollectPlus will return it! It's such a great idea it's hard to believe no ones thought of it before! This is definitely something useful for UK residents and hopefully we'll see it very soon!

Lenovo announces the LePhone K860 with a well ticket spec sheet!

   The image above is a picture of the upcoming Lenovo phone K860 "Music Phone" LePhone. On the surface this thing is looking like a not so little beast!

   On board there's a quad-core 1.4GHz Exynos 4412 chip, Mali-400MP GPU, 5-inch (1,280 x 720) display, 1GB of RAM and all of this inside a 9.6mm-thick chassis which makes this one pretty little device. On top of these there's an 8-megapixel snapper with support for 100 frames continuous shooting and 1080p video recording, in addition to the 2-megapixel camera around the front.

   Just in case you were worried all of those would kill your battery you need not because Lenovo will supply you with a 2,250 mAh cell to help keep you going. This will all be running on Android 4.0.4 too!

   Unfortunately we don't currently have any word on price or availability, but in the meantime Samsung might have something coming to take your mind off of this one!

In other news:

• The guys over at XDA have once again done what HTC deemed impossible, by creating a version of ICS (Android 4.0.4 to be precise) for the Desire HD. This is a ROM built off the official ROM for the Incredible S. Head over to XDA if you need some Sense 3.6 in your life!

• Acer has managed to push themselves into the positions as the world's third biggest computer manufacturer! And with such an honour comes a very small little profit; $14.5million to be exact. Not much but a lot better than most!

• If you're as hyped about Black Ops 2 as we are here at TTF then you'll be needing some BO2 customised Turtle Beaches for all your sound whoring. If that's the case and you feel an upgrade is required then head over to Engadget to get the round up on the incoming releases!

• And just in case we needed any more confirmation that Windows RT tablets would be a cheaper option, Lenovo's , David Schmoock, Senior VP of Lenovo's North American division, said to Bloomberg that full-on Windows 8 tablets would set you back between $600 and $700, whereas ARM-based Windows RT slates would sell for $200 to $300 less. "RT will play in consumer and retail at very aggressive price points," he said.

• Twitter has begun locking down their API by giving unofficial Twitter apps 100,000 unique user tokens and for any app that exceeds that will require special permission from Twitter themselves. Twitter obviously wants to push you to use their official app the same way you use Facebook's own app. This one might not be for the best though.

• Sony has explicitly denied that there will be any price cuts on their PS Vita console inside 2012, sorry guys no cheap christmas presents here!

• Google Play giftcards are on the way! If you're a US reader your local Target or other similar store might have a box of them ready to go! Look out for more news as it happens!

• Sony have started pushing Android 4.0 to Xperia P owners, if you've got an Xperia U or another NXT series device hold tight there's more of that sandwich coming soon.

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16/08/2012

Lenovo remain indifferent to Microsoft's Surface tablets. Pledge to compete!

   Acer have today been made to look like a complaining little brother by Lenovo. The latter finally commented on Microsoft's Surface tablets and they don't seem to be too bothered at all. 

   The company's CEO, Yang Yuanqing, voiced his opinions on the company’s latest earnings calls, saying, “Although we don't like Microsoft providing hardware, for us, it just adds one more competitor." And we're inclined to agree with Lenovo here and it should spur companies on to up their game instead of complaining about it!

   The only thing to mention is that if Microsoft's RT Surface tablets do come in at $199 like the rumours suggested yesterday, then that may slightly peeve all OEM's not just Acer, but it might not even come to that, only time will tell!

RIM sets their screen resolutions for BB10 handsets and it's finally good news!

    Recently RIM CEO, Thorsten Heins, has had a bit of a hard time; he's in charge of a company whose handsets are starting to look outdated and lacking ideas. But, the promised land of BB10 pledges to change all of that. Last week Heins stated the company is in the polishing stages of the BB10 creation and that the devices are completed. Since then we've had word that the company is getting ready to take two “nearly complete” prototype devices to carriers in an attempt to persuade them to carry one or both devices at launch.

   Now Tim Neil has taken to the company’s developer blog to inform folks that upcoming full-touch devices will have Galaxy S3 matching screen with 1,280 x 720p displays, while QWERTY phones will be rocking with 720 x 720 screens.

   So if you're a developer and you want the chance to crack business phones get to work on them resolutions!

 Via IntoMobile!

In other news:

•  Sony have released their latest eReader; it's elegantly called the PRS-T2 eReader and when it's available it'll set you back $129.99.

• If you happen to be a lucky resident of China then you will soon be able to purchase the new Xiaomi Phone 2. This wouldn't normally make the news but the device has a quad-core Krait, a 4.3″ 720p IPS, and Jelly Bean! And the price? About $314!!!! Insane! Shame they're not heading west anytime soon.

• Samsung's monster phone, the Galaxy Note, has been a huge success for the company. It turns out they managed to ship 10million of them since the phone's release!

• Kaspersky Labs has reported a tripling  of Android malware in Q2 2012 alone!

• Nokia and Microsoft have scheduled a Windows Phone event for September 5th, new Windows Phone incoming!

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14/08/2012

Microsoft Surface just became the hottest tablet around?

   When Microsoft announced their own brand 'Surface' tablets the whole tech community stood back and said 'finally, we might have something competitive from Microsoft here'. But, it wasn't long before there were grumblings as suggested retail prices put the tablets in the ridiculously overpriced bracket which was previously only inhabited by Apple. Noone is prepared to pay the price of an Ultrabook for a much less capable tablet.

   Today everything above may have changed. The reason, we believe, is the Nexus 7. Google and Asus' new $199 tablet may just have pushed Microsoft to make their pricing similarly competitive in a bid to get Windows 8 powered tablets into your hands! The rumoured price for the RT versions of Surface tablets is $199. 

   That price point would be great, people would buy it. But, it's hard to say for sure whether this rumour is legitimate or not. Obviously it makes sense but this is Microsoft we're talking about here and given the reception from OEM's to Surface tablets already, it's hard to see this one coming to fruition.

    Then there are other things to consider; Microsoft is using an expensive metal chassis on the tablet, it'll have that smart looking keyboard add-on and this is where things start to go against the $200 price rumour.

   If Microsoft does release their tablets on October 26th for $200 then we'll be first in line to buy one, but something is stopping us getting our hopes up!

In other news:

• Toshiba has announced today that they won't be shipping any tablets with Windows RT on board. Instead the company will be focusing on the fully-fledged version of Windows 8, which is probably a smart move!

• Without Windows 8 being released some memos have suggested the next update for Windows 8 will be codenamed 'Blue'. At the moment we're not sure whether this is a whole new OS upgrade or just a service pack, either way it'll be landing in October 2013, exactly a year after Windows 8 is released!

• RealPlayer for Android has been released from it's Beta and is quite probably the best media player on the Play Store right now.

• Samsung's Galaxy S3 has now been slated for a Jelly Bean update on the 29th of August. Apparently the update is ready to go and Samsung is just holding out for the Galaxy Note 2 to be released before issuing this update! We'll see if GSMArena's source got this one right, fingers crossed!

• Apple vs Samsung: The International versions of the Galaxy S, S II, and Ace have been axed from the case after the Judge decided that because these devices are not on sale in the USA that they are not relevant. Did you hear that sigh of relief from South Korea?

• There's been quite a few news stories around the web today that Apple has been laying off staff who have been with the company for less than 6 months. In many cases employees had just completed training before facing the axe. Ohh and if you were promised a promotion (and pay upgrade) both of these may well have been cancelled. We're not sure how widespread this is and whether there's something strange going on here but this is confirmed in the UK Apple Stores and we're not sure if similar things are going on elsewhere and similarly we don't know why? 

• According to Gartner worldwide phone shipments have decreased 2.3% in Q2 2012 compared to the same period from 2011. Apparently the huge anticipation from the upcoming iPhone may have something to do with it, but maybe that double-dip recession may have  something to do with it too?

• RIM has confirmed they are ready to talk to all comers about licensing BB10. Whether they'll have any takers remains to be seen.

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10/07/2012

Samsung's Exynos 5 Dual processor gets detailed!

   This is the new processor from Samsung and you want this in your next device!!! The new chipset features a pair of Cortex-A15 cores for insane mobile power. The SoC is built on 32nm production techniques and this particular version rocks two 1.7GHz cores and has support for screen resolutions up to 2560 x 1600 WQXGA. 

   The screen resolution limit itself is quite interesting because there have been endless rumours that Samsung is preparing an 11.8-inch tablet with that specific resolution! The processor will be capable of 1080p 60fps hardware deceleration and 3D graphics. Don't worry about support either there's; USB 3.0, SATA3, OpenGL ES 2.0 and OpenCL support, plus the ability to beam your content to wireless displays. 

   And best of all Samsung has managed to reduce power consumption. They've got energy usage down 30-percent when compared to 45nm chips. Included in that are specific power-saving routines for those energy-hungry displays in your latest gadget.

   Unfortunately we haven't got any news what devices will be featuring this processor but it'll probably be next years range of phones and tablets!

In other news:

• Acer has today reiterated their commitment to Windows 8 tablets but has pleaded that Microsoft make sure their Surface tablets have a higher price point so that Acer can target the lower price ranges. Essentially Acer knows how much people expect to pay for tablets and it doesn't want Microsoft to steal their traditional market!

• Microsoft has had a bit of a naming crisis since 'Metro' was found to be taken by other companies. Instead of 'Windows 8 design' the software giant has told employees to call Windows 8's look 'modern UI design'. Perhaps that one won't stick!

• HTC has just got around to updating their flagship smartphone the HTC One X to a newer version of Android.  The OTA update will be a version of Android 4.0.4 and will land on the international version of the HTC One X starting today. The update includes several new features and overall tweaks to the operating system. One key change is a large change to Sense; the remapping of the multitasking key.

• Lenovo has reportedly signed a deal with Nvidia to make some Windows tablets with Nvidia Tegra 3 processors inside. Unsurprisingly the OS will be the RT version of Windows 8 but the big news is that the tablets will be in the same form as Asus' Transformer range!

• There have been rumours today that RIM are a potential takeover target for IBM. We can definitely see some sense if this was to happen, both business minded companies and both still have a place. We'll let you know as soon as we hear any more!

• Benchmarks have emerged of a new Sony phone codenamed LT25 “Tsubasa”, with sources speaking to the Xperia Blog suggesting that the smartphone will find a home on numerous carriers throughout the world. There's set to be both LTE and HSPA+ models of the phone available, with specs said to include a 720p screen, a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and LTE connectivity but that's all the details we've got at the moment.

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29/06/2012

Microsoft Surface really did put off OEM's?

   There have been reports today that, in spite of the positive reactions of the press, Microsoft's surface really did put off their other OEM partners from continuing with their Windows 8 tablet plans.

   One company this has had a significant effect on, is reported, to be HP. Given the obvious failings of the Hewlett Packard's Touchpad last year, it's quite understandable that they are cautious when it comes to tablets. Microsoft themselves supposedly commented that, “If Microsoft had seen compelling enough plans from [PC makers],” Moor Insights & Strategy’s Patrick Moor said, after talks with Windows RT OEMs, ”they wouldn’t have needed to do this". This clearly demonstrates the failings of the plans from HP and their competitors.

   The story here focuses particularly on Windows RT because the reported $90 pricetag on that version of Windows 8 is off-putting for potential partners, this is something Microsoft themselves are exempt from because the Surface tablets are made in-house. This is said to be pushing other OEM's into the hands of the OpenSource (and free) Android Operating System.Although no other specific names are mentioned, sources apparently claim that “just about every OEM out there is scrapping one or more [Windows RT] designs, with most renewing Android efforts with every resource at their disposal."

Chrome for iOS already a top app!

   Less than two days after the app launched onto iOS, Chrome for iPad and iPhone is already a hit! The reality is that the app is just a skin on top of Safari in iOS because of Apple's restrictions, but that doesn't stop it being awesome!

   So far there have been well over 4,000 reviews of the app and 80% of posts have given the app the full 5 star rating, with the app currently averaging 4.5stars!

   If you didn't hear the app was available then head to your app store and hit download on Chrome! It's free!

In other news:

• Google admits MacBook Chrome crash bug, but blames faults in Apple's kernel for being partly to blame as well, they've informed Apple of the issue!
• Matias Duarte, Android's headhoncho for the User Interface, has suggested ailing RIM could turn towards Android. He said that the company could make some great Android hardware and we have to agree! Although, there's rumours Microsoft could repeat the 'Nokia process' on them!
• Google has claimed the creation of the Nexus 7 is proof that they won't automatically give Motorola priority over the rest of their OEM partners!
• Twitter for Windows Phone has now received Push notifications!
• A Google Nexus 10 is reportedly in the works!
• Adobe has reported they will pull support for Flash in Android in Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) so no more flash!
• RIM reports dire Q1 2012 results; there's a $518m loss and BlackBerry 10 has been delayed until Q1 2013!

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19/06/2012

Microsoft's big rumours were tablets!!!

   Late last night in Los Angeles, in the United States of America, something amazing happened... The rumours came true!!! Microsoft announced their new tablet range called Surface. 

   Yesterday we heard two new tablets coming; one was a 9.6mm tablet running on an Nvidia chip which powers Windows RT. The second one runs full Windows 8 Pro and the show is driven by a 22nm chip from Intel. This second one is slightly chunkier too at 13mm. The two tablets share 10.6" screens but the RT version runs at 1366 x 768 whereas the one on the other tablet will be a full HD screen.

   One particularly interesting feature is that keyboard you can see above is actually magnetic and comes in two varieties; one with tactile keys(!!!) and one that is just touch receptive but lacks feedback.

   All in all these are great tablets and if they can come in at a reasonable price Microsoft could have a pair of winners here, because these are very good looking tablets, but we will have to wait until fall to hear the full costing.

In other news:

• Samsung's Galaxy S3 has had it's hardware hacked to allow wireless charging. Yes Samsung has promised an official solution but that won't be hitting until September. We strongly recommend you hold tight until the official version lands instead of risking your beautiful new phone!
• LG has indicated it will be taking a back seat in the tablet market and they will instead be focusing on mobile phones.
• Apple has announced it has an extra 2 years exclusivity with Liquidmetal. This will take the deal until February 2014!
• The Nokia 808 Pureview is up for pre-order in the USA at a cost of $699.

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