News - 66 - What Mobile

Sony announce plans to update to Android 4.3

Sony has announced that several of its handsets will soon begin running the recently released Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system. The company confirmed on its blog that the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia SP and Xperia Z Ultra will all be running Android 4.3 in the near future but […]

Sony releases Android 4.3 AOSP ROM for Xperia Tablet Z

Sony has gone and done the unbelievable, and released an Android Open Source Project ROM for the Xperia Tablet Z, meaning you can get Android 4.3 right away. Whilst Sony has warned customers that the update isn’t suitable for day to day use just yet, if you’re really eager to try out the latest and […]

‘On hold’ patent from Apple personalises call waiting

Apple has been awarded a patent for technology that would allow mobile users to share personal content like photos, books and status updates with people they place on hold. Mashable reported yesterday that the technology would allow users to personalise what information they would share with callers they place on hold. The caller would be […]

Apple developer site coming back online

A week after the Apple developer site was taken down after an apparently being hacked the website has begun to resume some areas of functionality.

LG G2 battery revealed in leaked images

Images of the upcoming LG G2 have been leaked online, revealing the battery power we can expect to see as well as an insight into design of the device. GSM Arena released the images which show the upcoming handset sporting a removal Li-Lon 260mAh battery, proving that LG’s new handset should have plenty of juice. […]

Tile secures $2.6m in funding from Selfstarter campaign

Tile, a startup company that’s solving the problem of lost property with bluetooth and app technology, has raised $2.6 million on the website Selfstarter.

Android 4.3 revealed by Google

Google have revealed the much-rumoured new version of the Android 4.3 Jellybean operating system at a press event.

New Nexus 7 officially announced, everything upgraded (updated)

It might not be the worst kept secret this year, but the new Nexus 7 has been unveiled, bringing an even more portable and comfortable device over the original model. The bezel has had a few mm taken off it, despite the same sized screen, which makes the device a lot less wide, making it […]

Live Stream: Google Android Event

Google’s holding a breakfast press conference with its Android team, and it’s looking incredibly likely that we’re going to see some new Nexus devices come out of the wood work. If you want to see what Android 4.3 has up its sleeves, then this is likely to be the day where you’ll hear about it. […]

App Store is EA’s biggest revenue source

It’s quite clear that mobile gaming is important to EA, after all there are a plethora of games on the App Store developed by the company. However, did you know that the App Store is actually the games developer’s biggest source of revenue, eclipsing the traditional brick and mortar store? According to the company’s COO […]

Skype reports growth after Royal Baby birth

We never promised that we wouldn’t cover the Royal Baby — after all everyone else seems to be, so it’s only fitting that we can report that Skype received a major boost thanks to the royal birth. In fact, 55 percent more people were calling each other over Skype than in the same period last […]

Blackberry A10 leaked in hands-on video

Not a day goes by without some sort of leak happening, and today it’s the turn of the Z10’s infamous successor, the Blackberry A10. The leak comes courtesy of Vietnamese site Tinhte, who has been the source of various leaks in the past. According to the video posted on the site, the A10 will feature […]

Ubuntu Edge price drop after funding slow down

Canonical always had an uphill battle when it came to raising the $32 million it needs to make the Ubuntu Edge smartphone, and it seems that after the 24 hour boom — sales have slowed, prompting a price drop. The first 5,000 devices have already been sold for the limited time offer of $600, but […]

EE rolls out 4G in 10 more towns

EE has rolled out 4G connectivity to 10 more towns including Maidstone, and Welwyn Garden City. It has also switched on double speed 4G in many of its existing locations. Altrincham, Bedford, Camberley, Crawley, Farnborough, Maidstone, Rochdale, Tonbridge and Welwyn Garden City have all been hooked up to the 4G network, bringing coverage to 60% […]

Sony Xperia U now available in the UK

If you want an Android phone on the cheap, then today you have yet another option — the Sony Xperia U, as it has finally gone on sale in the UK courtesy of Expansys. Costing just £124.99, the Xperia U features a 3.5-inch WVGA display, with a resolution of 480×854. As expected from a budget […]

Apple’s Q3 financial report reveals decline in China

Apple’s Q3 quarter financial reports reveal that their market share has fallen in the Greater China market, including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Google Nexus 7 2 hands-on video leaks

Whilst it has not been officially announced yet, the Google Nexus 7 2 has already made its way into the hands of the guys over at Android Police, who have posted their very own unboxing video. It wasn’t just the device’s exterior we got the chance to look at though, with the device being put […]

Honami pics leaked online reveal design features

Images of what a tipster has claimed is the upcoming Honami handset have been leaked online via Gadget Helpline, revealing the design of the handset.

Concept: Could this be the future of Windows Phone?

There’s no denying that Windows Phone fans are dedicated, but there’s also no denying that Microsoft needs to update the OS desperately, to bring it in line with other ecosystems. One such way it could do this has been revealed in a concept video created by Christian Del Rosario. The video shows some cool new […]

Consumers love copycat devices, says UK study

A study on consumer habits from the University of Warwick and Glasgow Caledonian University London in the UK has suggested that companies like Apple and Samsung might be making a mistake by trying to set themselves apart from the rest of the market.

HTC One Mini to be offered by EE

EE have confirmed that they will be stocking the HTC One Mini ahead of the handset’s launch in August, according to Mobile News.

Lumia 625 to be stocked by UK operator EE

The Nokia Lumia 625 will be available through the UK operator EE later this year, along with their Orange and T-Mobile brands, Mobile News has reported.

Nexus 7, the upcoming tablet device, runs Android 4.3

The Nexus 7 tablet has been shown to be running what is believed to be Android 4.3 in press images leaked by Android Police.

Xperia Z Ultra coming to Taiwan this month?

We haven’t heard anything about release dates for the Xperia Z Ultra here in the UK, but according to Sony Mobile Communications Taiwan, the device could be set to land in Taiwan by the end of this month. That’s according to Sony Mobile Communications Taiwan, who says that it will be coming to Chungwa Telecom, […]

BOINC lets Android users help scientific research

Researchers at UC Berkeley in the USA have created an app that allows Android smartphone users to lend their support to scientific research.

Hopstop app vanishes on Windows Phone after Apple deal

Hopstop, the transit navigation app that was recently acquired by Apple, has disappeared from the Windows Phone Marketplace. Though there has been no official comment form Apple or Microsoft its disappearance is likely related to Apple’s efforts to improve their own mas service after the infamous launch of Apple Maps in 2012 when hundreds of […]

Ubuntu Edge’s crowd funding reaches 10% of goal

If you think that the Pebble received a lot of funding through Kickstarter, just wait until you hear how much Canonical, the makers of Ubuntu, has managed to raise in less than 24 hours for its Ubuntu Edge smartphone. Canonical yesterday released an Indie GoGo project in order to get people interested in the Ubuntu […]

Line instant messenger passes 200m downloads

The Japanese Line instant messenger app has achieved 200 million registered users worldwide roughly two years after its original launch.

Apple website hack delays iOS 7 beta release

A Turkish security researcher has claimed responsibility for hacking Apple’s developer site, which has been down since July 18th, stating he did so to uncover weaknesses in their security. Ibrahim Balic told The Guardian that he had exposed the bug and reported them to Apple and while he was aware that it was possible to […]

Nokia unveils Lumia 625, most affordable 4G Lumia

We speculated yesterday that Nokia was prepared to bring a phablet to market, and it seems that we were right — with the announcement of the Lumia 625, which features a 4.7-inch WVGA display. Whilst this was expected, we can’t help but feel a little disappointed about the low resolution screen, but it does have […]

Sim card hack could put 750 million devices at risk

German security researcher Karsten Nohl has uncovered a security flaw that could allow cybercriminals to remotely access a mobile device, Forbes reported today. The sim card hack could grant criminals control over the victim’s phone to send premium rate messages, collect information on their location, re-direct or record their calls and potentially make fraudulent payments. […]

Canonical’s Ubuntu Edge could be first Ubuntu phone

Canonical has scheduled a “groundbreaking” event for later today, but it seems that the cat is out of the bag a little earlier than it hoped, with the Ubuntu Edge making its rounds after Google+ user Cassidy James leaked press images. Whilst not much is known about the Ubuntu Edge, it is an incredibly good […]

Canon could be testing a 75MP+ DSLR camera

Move on over Nokia, 41MP isn’t quite big enough to cut it in the camera game, with Canon reportedly testing a DSLR with a whopping 75MP+ resolution sensor. According to our friends over at Photography Bay, the camera will have a similar build to the EOS-1 D X, but will feature a rear LCD screen […]

Nokia teases ‘BIG’ announcement, Lumia phablet?

Could we be on the verge of hearing about a Lumia phablet or are we just going to receive another Asha device? Your guess is as good as ours, but we’ll find out tomorrow as Nokia is teasing something ‘BIG’ for 9am UK time. The company took to its Nokia Conversations blog to tease the […]

Google Glass display producers receive cash injection

Google have bought a 6.3% share in Himax Display inc – the company responsible for producing the display on Google Glass.

Twitter founder says a Premium Facebook is worth $12bn

Twitter founder Biz Stone has claimed that if Facebook were to offer a paid subscription service the social media behemoth could make an additional $12 billion a year.

Facebook For Every Phone reaches 100million users

Facebook announced yesterday that their feature phone app ‘Facebook For Every Phone’ has received 100 million downloads, mostly in emerging Asian markets.

Nokia Glance Screen not coming to all Lumia phones

It turns out Nokia Glance Screen isn’t coming to all Windows Phone 8 smartphones from the Finnish phone manufacturer after all, as those budget conscious users will be left out, with both the 520 and 521 not receiving Glance Screen in the Amber update. CEO Stephen Elop recently touted the strength of the Lumia 520’s […]

Samsung Galaxy S3 to run Android 4.3.0

An anonymous tip off has shown a Samsung Galaxy S3 running Android 3.0 – the upcoming version of the operating system.

Spotify helps curb piracy, a new report claims

A study into the impact of music streaming website Spotify on rates of music piracy has been released, revealing that the service curbs illegal downloads.

Moto X technical specs revealed in online leak

A set of alleged specifications for the Moto X have been released online revealing the handset will feature a 4.7″ screen and 16Gb of internal memory.

Android-based NVIDIA Shield on sale July 31, not in UK

If there’s one thing at CES this year that took everyone by surprise it was the NVIDIA Shield, which is the first handheld games console from the company. Powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor (of course), the games console is powered by Android and is more controller with an attached screen than a carbon […]

Apple confirms Dev Center security breach

Apple’s developer center has been down almost three days with Apple staying silent on the cause, although an email we received last night confirmed that the downtime was caused by a security breach last Thursday. Whilst the company promises that all data was encrypted and shouldn’t be accessible to the hackers, it also went on […]

Microsoft’s profits down, $900Mn write-off of Surface RT

We all acknowledged that Microsoft were taking a huge risk with its new strategy, with Windows 8 launching with some very lukewarm reviews, but it seems the risk hasn’t paid off as Microsoft’s profits have missed estimates. This was mainly due to a huge loss in its hardware division where the company was forced to […]

Huawei hits back over spying allegations

Huawei has hit back at the US and UK governments over allegations of corporate espionage by issuing them with an ultimatum to ‘put up or shut up’.

iPhone electrocutes man in China

The Beijing Evening News has released a story claiming that a 30 year old man has been in a coma for 10 days after being electrocuted by his iPhone.

Android App pays you to put ads on your lock-screen

A new Android app from a New York based start-up will give users the chance to earn money by allowing adverts to be displayed on their phone’s lock screen.

iPhone 5s images leaked on Twitter

Apple developer Sonny Dickson has released images of what he claims is the iPhone 5S via his Twitter account ahead of the rumoured September release date.

Motorola reports losses of $342m for Q2 of 2013

Motorola, the wholly owned Google subsidiary, reported a loss of $342 million for the second quarter of 2013, a loss $100 million greater than last year.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 specs revealed online

Leaked specs for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 have been released by Sim Only Radar revealing the device will sport a 13 megapixel camera and a 5.7 inch screen.

Apps that exploit Android security flaw spotted in Play Store

A security flaw in Android’s code that potentially put millions of devices at risk has been revealed to have been harmlessly exploited by at least two apps which were freely available in the Google Play store.

Nexus 7 2 retail price revealed

The retail price for the upcoming Nexus 7 2 tablet has been revealed via a leaked image from the price database of US retailer OfficeMax.

Huawei Ascend Mate hits the UK exclusively through Vodafone

UK operator Vodafone announced today that they will be exclusively supplying the tablet/smartphone hybrid Huawei Ascend Mate in the UK.

HTC One Mini unveiled, release date and pricing unknown

After numerous leaks and rumours it’s finally official, the HTC One is getting a slightly smaller sibling in the way of the HTC One Mini. Recently there’s been a lot of devices which seemingly claim to be ‘mini’, whilst not actually living up to that name — well it’s okay because HTC has decided to […]

QR codes used to hack Google Glass

Security firm Lookout Mobile exposed a weakness in Google Glass headsets, using QR codes picked up in photos to crash or even hijack the device.

Sony’s South Korea CEO confirms the Xperia i1

Xperia i1 ‘Honami’ device is confirmed by Sony’s South Korea CEO, though specifications have yet to be revealed.

Alleged Lumia 625 leaks reveal a 4.7inch screen

A Chinese certification website has released specifications for the rumoured Nokia Lumia 625 revealing a 4.7 inch screen and a 5 megapixel camera.

Smartphone camera remote to be released this autumn

A Hong Kong based start-up is set to release a smartphone camera remote financed with Kickstarter funding.

Alleged specs for Sony Xperia ‘Honami’ leaked

A Taiwanese website has leaked what they claim are specifications for the upcoming Sony Xperia ‘Honami’ smartphone.

iPhone 5S sourcing problems could limit early shipments

Industry insiders have claimed that issues with sourcing components for the iPhone 5S could leads to demand outstripping supply.

LG launches campaign to promote the Optimus G2

LG launched their “To me, you are perfect” campaign yesterday to promote the release of the Optimus G2 handset in August.

HTC One red skin launches at Phones 4U

UK phone retailer Phones 4U is offering an exclusive version of the HTC One in a new scarlet skin.

Recycled phones worth 4x more on average than in 2009

Price comparison website CompareMyMobile claims the average value of a recycled phone has increased fourfold since 2009.

Groundbreaking Lytro camera to hit the UK market

The Lytro camera that takes living pictures – interactive images which allow users to change the focus after they have been taken – will hit the UK market this month.

Moto X features revealed in online video

A video released by the Canadian operator Rogers has revealed some the features of the Moto X.

‘Angry Birds Star Wars 2’ trailer hits the web

A trailer for Angry Birds Star Wars 2 reveals new characters, locations and a feature which allows players to choose their line of birds.

Microsoft xWatch in testing?

Move over iWatch, Microsoft could also be planning on bringing its own smartwatch to the game with sources telling The Verge that the company’s Surface team is now prototyping a smartwatch of its very own. Microsoft throwing its hat into the wearable tech wars is no surprise, after all it’s a war that’s been hotting […]

UK border force comes under fire for data seizing policy

The NSA, GCHQ and the French authorities all came under fire thanks to their controversial snooping programs, but if you think that’s where it ends then we’ve got a surprise in store for you. The UK border force has come under fire after a report from the Telegraph revealed that under anti-terrorism laws the agency […]

Leaked video of the Blackberry ‘Aristo’ surfaces

A vietnamese accessories retailer has released video footage of the Blackberry ‘Aristo’.

Nokia could reclaim the Finnish phone market

After Samsung beat Nokia to first place in total number of phones sold in the Finnish smartphone market, Nokia could soon reclaim the top spot — according to a survey by YLE News. The survey asked 1000 finnish people which phone they will buy next, with the majority of those responding that they are planning […]

Reports from China that a woman has been killed answering her iPhone

Reports are emerging from China that 23 year old Ma Ai Lun died when she answered her iPhone 5 while it was charging.

Apple ‘aggressively hiring’ fresh talent for the rumoured ‘iWatch’

A recruiting spree by Apple may be linked to iWatch development.

Facebook Home comes to Blackberry in BB10 update

Facebook Home will soon be able to run on Blackberry devices as the BB10.2 update will include the ability to run Android 4.2.2 apps.

UK artist Tia Crystal releases limited edition handpainted iPhone covers

Miami-based artist Tia Crystal has released a limited edition range of iPhone, iPod and Kindle cases.

Apple vows to appeal guilty ruling over ebook price fixing

Apple vow to appeal a guilty ruling in the E-book price fixing case.

Research In Motion comes to a halt – Blackberry drops the RIM brand

The Research In Motion brand has been dropped in favour of Blackberry as the official name for the Canadian communications giant.

Roam free…not quite. Teenager receives a £3,800 bill after using her mobile on holiday

Orange have defended their roaming policies after a family received a ÃÂ£3,800 phone bill following a holiday to New York.

First-Look: Hands-on with the Lumia 1020

Nokia’s Lumia 1020 is official, and it’s a beast — although not in the way you would expect, as it’s rather slim and lightweight, especially when compared to the device that preceded it, the 808 PureView. The 1020 is the first Lumia device with true PureView technology with its whopping 41-megapixel sensor, although we can […]

Exclusive version of the Lumia 1020 to hit certain EU markets but Nokia are keeping quiet on which ones

Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has revealed that a deal with Telefonica means that certain European markets will receive an exclusive tweaked version of the new Lumia 1020.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 arrives

The Nokia Lumia 1020 was released today in New York to much fanfare and UK retailers are already taking pre-orders.

Not quite the ‘phone sex’ you had in mind? Almost one in ten Americans admits to using their smartphone while they’re between the sheets, according to a new online survey

Online payments startup Jumio have released a study into the habits of American smartphone users showing just how addicted to our mobiles we’ve become.

Live Blog: Nokia ZOOM Reinvented in NYC

We’re live from New York covering the unveiling of the latest Nokia smartphone — if we were betting people, then you can guarantee it’s the new 41-megapixel Lumia 1020.

More speculation on the rumoured iPhone light design. If only all budget phones could look this pretty.

New renders speculating on the design of a possible budget iPhone light have been released by designer Martin Hajek.

Watch this space! Samsung file a trademark hinting at a possible name for their upcoming smartwatch

A trademark filing by Samsung hints that their much anticipated smartwatch has will be the Samsung Gear.

Google reacts to complaints over their new maps app by restoring an ‘offline maps’ function

Google release an update for their new Android maps app to address customer concerns over lack of offline functionality.

Egnyte CEO sceptical over Dropbox ambitions to ‘replace the hard drive’

On Tuesday morning in San Francisco, Dropbox’s founder and CEO Drew Houston firmly asserted “Sync is the new save. We’re never going back,” and with growth of 75 million new users in the less than a year it might seem possible that Dropbox has the capacity to completely change the way we store information. Over […]

Skype patch issues with new app just a week after a high-profile relaunch

Skype have released a patch for their new Android service repairing early bugs and giving users greater control.

Dropbox test a new service to sync app information

Dropbox’s new Datastore API service will allow users to sync a whole new range of information between all their devices in a move that could challenge Apple’s iCloud.

Swirl offers shoppers discounts in exchange for letting themselves be spied on

US developer Swirl offers shoppers with smartphones specific discounts if they are willing to reveal their shopping habits to retailers.

Colours revealed for the Lumia 1020 and details of the Nokia Pro Camera features released

A full colour render of the Nokia Lumia 1020 from Windows Phone Central has revealed new colour options available.

Indian government and Blackberry agree to covert surveillance deal

Blackberry has signed an agreement with the Indian government granting them access to Blackberry user’s private information.

Two-thirds of App Store apps go undownloaded

Figures released from Adeven have revealed that over two-thirds of apps available in Apple’s app store are hardly ever consumed by customers – if at all!

Ebay research on the Apple App Store reveals many apps struggling to launch

eBay have released research figures on the App store to commemorate the first 5 years of the online e-commerce service.

Set wake-up commands to activate features in S Voice

When the S Voice app is open but not in use, it rests in idle mode and can be woken up with the phrase “Hi Galaxy”. You can change this code and also add four new wake-up commands to instantly activate different features. [alert type=alert-blue ]1[/alert]Open the S Voice app and go to Menu > […]

Welcome to the new What Mobile

You may have noticed something new about What Mobile today, and you don’t necessarily have to be eagle eyed to notice it — because we’ve had a much-needed lick of paint, bringing us well into the 21st Century. The new-look site has all you could possibly want, from a brand new reviews system, to photo […]

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active available now in the UK

The Samsung Galaxy S4’s more rugged sibling has finally landed in the UK, but you can currently only get it on contract with TalkMobile and Vodafone.

Vodafone prepares to launch the Huawei Ascend Mate

Vodafone announce their plans to stock the Huawei Ascend Mate

Android says they have fixed OS security back-door

Google says they have fixed an issue with Android OS which left as many as 900 million mobile users at risk.

Glasgow designer launches solar powered headphones

A Scottish designer has unveiled a set of solar powered headphones capable of charging a mobile battery.

iOS 7 Beta 3 is released for download

iOS 7 beta 3 has been released for download as Apple still aims for a September 18th release date for their latest operating system.