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  1. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Nokia/NokiaX/Nokiax-5-470-75.jpgThis week's launch of Nokia's new X handsets has generated more headlines than you'd expect for a family of fairly low-end devices. That's because the Windows Phone-supporting, soon-to-be-part-of-Microsoft phone firm has embraced Android. Here's what you need to know: tech first, and then what it means for Nokia, Windows Phone and Microsoft. Which Nokia phones are running Android?So far we've seen three. The four-inch Nokia X and X+, and the Nokia XL – which is a five-incher. What does the X represent?It's the cross between Android apps, Microsoft services and Nokia hardware, apparently. What's the pitch?Nokia design for cheap-Android money. How much will they cost?The Nokia X is €89, the X+ €99 and the XL €109. Are they any good?They're not going to delight specs fiends - you're looking at 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragons with 512MB of RAM (768MB on the X+ and XL), and you can forget about PureView cameras or wireless charging - but that's not who they're aimed at. They're perfectly decent phones with rock-bottom prices and nice design. Where will they be sold?For now, the X range will be sold in Asia, South America and Eastern Europe. There are no current plans to bring it to Western Europe, North America, Australia, Korea or Japan. Is Nokia using the same Android as Samsung?No. There are actually two Androids: the one we're all familiar with that comes with Google Maps and various other Google services, and the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which doesn't. AOSP is available to anybody who wants it, and they can do what they like with it - but if they want to include key Google services such as Google Maps or Chrome, they need to pay for a Google Mobile Services (GMS) license. Nokia is using the AOSP version of Android. Has Nokia paid for a GMS license?No. Instead of Google services, the X phones will use Nokia and Microsoft services such as Skype, Here Maps, Bing, OneDrive and so on. Which version of Android is Nokia using?Nokia's fork is based on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. The skin is based on FastLane, the interface already used in Nokia's Asha devices. It looks rather like Windows Phone, which is entirely deliberate. Jelly Bean? That's quite old, isn't it?It is: it's been out since late 2012. The more recent KitKat, Android 4.4, has been specifically optimized for low-end hardware and would run better: we found the phones were "a little jittery". The use of a comparatively old Android suggests that Nokia has been working on this for a while. Do the phones use Google Play?No. Nokia has its own app store. Will it be a crap app store?Nokia says no: it promises hundreds of thousands of apps. Will there be lots of third party apps to choose from?Nokia says developers will find it simple to port their apps to its flavor of Android. It's produced three APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for maps, app notifications and payments to replace the Google services its version of Android lacks. Can I get apps from elsewhere?Yes. In addition to the Nokia store you'll be able to download apps from third-party app stores, and you'll be able to sideload apps too - although of course, as with any sideloading it's important to make sure you're getting your apps from trustworthy sites. Has Nokia basically 'done an Amazon' here?Yes, it's the same thing Amazon did with the Kindle Fire. It's an interesting move, because a forked Android is essentially yet another mobile OS for customers to consider. Has Nokia dumped Windows Phone?No. The official line is that the low-cost Android devices will introduce "the next billion" users to Nokia kit and Microsoft services. The reality is that Windows Phone is getting stuffed in the low end market by increasingly impressive and affordable Android devices, and that's still an important sector for Nokia. By making low-cost Android devices, Nokia believes, it can get new phone buyers to develop a Nokia habit. How does Microsoft feel about it?That's a very good question. Windows Phone vice president Joe Belfiore was asked specifically about it at MWC, and after an awkward pause he said that as far as Microsoft was concerned, "some things [Nokia does] we're excited about, some things we're less excited about." If this were Old Microsoft, we'd expect Nokia's Android adventure to end as soon as the ink was dry on the contract making Nokia a Microsoft subsidiary. Now that Microsoft's under new management, we're not so sure. These phones might not be shipping Microsoft operating systems, but they will be connecting to Microsoft services such as email, messaging and search. If they prove to be a hit, killing the range might not be the best move for Microsoft to make. That's a very big if, however, and the X range could end up as not just the first Nokia phones to run Android, but the last too. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/377a6aae/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531039189/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6aae/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531039189/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6aae/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531039189/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6aae/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531039189/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6aae/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531039189/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6aae/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/dvFMmiaPDMM
  2. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Android/AndroidPhones-470-75.jpgA free version of McAfee's Mobile Security app for Android has hit Google's Play store. Announced at MWC 2014, the move to offer McAfee Mobile Security for free is part of an intiative by its parent company, Intel, to "integrate security more deeply into the consumer experience." The plans to offer free mobile protection were unveiled by Intel CEO Brian Krzanich at CES 2014. McAfee's Mobile Security for iOS is already available for free, but it's Android that particularly needs protection from online nasties. According to a report by NQ Mobile, Android malware accounted for 95% of all smartphone infections in 2012. AV-BestMcAfee Mobile Security received a 100% detection score and was given a top ranking in recent independent testing by AV-Test. It features anti-theft, anti-virus, app protection, Web protection, call and SMS filtering functionality. A new Wi-Fi Security feature alerts users to any risky or non-protected networks to which they may be connecting. Additionally, a CaptureCam feature will take a picture of whoever is holding the device in the event of it being stolen and will send it to the owner, and an SOS feature can log the last location of the device before battery life expires if it is misplaced or stolen. Check out the TechRadar Pro Mobile World Congress 2014 live coveragehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3777e657/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531030124/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3777e657/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531030124/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3777e657/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531030124/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3777e657/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531030124/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3777e657/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531030124/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3777e657/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/UtM2B-z-qKM
  3. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Android/KitKat/KitKat%20plain-470-75.jpgA leaked memo suggests that Google may be about to make a very smart move that could bring some order to the chaos of the Android operating system. The memo was reportedly sent out to several of the Android world's leading 'original equipment manufacturers' (OEMs) - in other words the people who actually make the smartphones and tablets that run versions of Google's mobile OS. In it, according to Mobile Bloom, Google gently suggested that unless new Android devices were released with the most current version of the OS then it might withhold access to certain key Google services like Maps or the Play store, collectively known as Google Mobile Services or GMS. Approval windowUnder Google's new regime, each major Android OS release would have a GMS 'approval window' that closes roughly nine months after the next OS release. If a vendor tries to launch a new device with an older version of Android after its approval window has closed then Google will simply bar that device from using Play, Maps, Gmail and all the other GMS goodies. The reason for this rule change is fragmentation. Google's most recent figures show that around 60% of Android devices are running some flavour of Jelly Bean while the latest release, KitKat, is on under 2% of systems. Perhaps more worryingly, Honeycomb (Android 2.3.x) is still on 20% of devices and there are untold numbers running versions older than 2.2 as that's the point where Google's census cuts off. By way of contrast, Apple recently crowed that in the magical land of iOS more than 80% of devices are now running the latest version of the OS, iOS 7. One of Android's strengths is that it is easily modifiable to run on different hardware and that OEMs can build cheap, low-end phones and tablets as well as premium devices. The downside to this freedom is that there has been nothing to stop vendors cooking up their own custom builds of Android and then dragging their feet over updates. Until now. CrackdowntimeThere are arguments against this kind of crackdown, however. A deep re-skinning of the Android OS is one of the few tools at the OEM's disposal that can help carve out a real brand identity for a new device. The basic template for the generic smartphone is well established and without the ability to 'add value' in software, the argument goes, then the new phone will be a generic slab with only the number and placement of hardware buttons and quality of its camera to tell it apart from all the other glass oblongs. The reason that existing smartphones can take a long time to receive OS updates - often many months after the official release from Google hits the current flagship Nexus handset - is that OEMs feel the need to make their mark on the new code, adding interface tweaks and changes to core OS functions to make their devices more distinct and support their value-added services. The counter-argument is that I can count on one hand the number of OEM 'enhancements' to the basic Android OS that have actually made it better for the people who use the phones day-in, day-out and still have enough fingers left to do a decent multi-touch gesture. The recent Android releases have solved most of the interface niggles that resulted in heavy-handed skin jobs like HTC Sense and while a complete look 'n' feel change may help boost the brand it does little to make the phone or tablet any simpler or more pleasant to use. The F wordOS fragmentation might seem like the kind of problem that is only obsessed over by phone nerds and people already in the industry - after all, many consumers don't see their phone as an 'Android' device at all but rather a Samsung or a Sony or whatever. It does give the Android OS a disadvantage however and a good case could be made that it is the stability and uniformity of iOS that attracts developers. More developers means better apps, means happier users. Android has done remarkably well considering it has to support a huge range of hardware and the wide spread of OS versions has still, somehow, given rise to a healthy app ecosystem that is finally starting to reach parity with iOS. Imagine how much more could be done if OEMs could be persuaded to add their personal touch in other ways - through better hardware, bundled services, better launchers, bespoke apps - if all this exists outside the main OS it can be kept up to date and bug-free without having to match pace with the rest of the OS. If Google can use its muscle to get all new Android devices on the same page it must be good for developers and, ultimately, better for you. More Fighting Talk: Let's get lairy about techhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3767dcb4/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530961224/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3767dcb4/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530961224/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3767dcb4/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530961224/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3767dcb4/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530961224/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3767dcb4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530961224/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3767dcb4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/hIGP_ChJ3ME
  4. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Android/KitKat/Android_KitKat-470-75.jpgAndroid device manufacturers could soon be banned from launching their handsets on older versions of the operating system, Google has decreed in a purported leaked internal memo. The memo, obtained by MobileBurn, expresses that all new handsets must run Android 4.4 KitKat if they want access to the Google Play Store and other Google Mobile Services like Gmail and YouTube. "Starting February 2014, Google will no longer approve GMS distribution on new Android products that ship older platform releases," the memo states. "Each platform release will have a 'GMS approval window' that typically closes nine months after the next Android platform release is publicly available." Ever-present fragmentationThe reported move comes as the company looks to solve the ever-present problem of Android fragmentation, which has left the vast majority of users perennially stuck on older versions. KitKat was designed especially to befit lower-end smartphones as well as those packing the latest and greatest spec sheets, but uptake remains slow. According to stats released by Google earlier this month, KitKat has only made it onto 1.8 per cent of devices since its launch in November 2013, struggling to graduate beyond Google's own devcies. Enforcing KitKat - and ensuing versions - is a must on new devices would certainly assist in the process as smartphone users grow tired of companies launching phones on older versions, promising updates that take eons to arrive. Well, the Moto G has Android 4.4. Is it the best smartphone bargain ever?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/373460e1/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557892807/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/373460e1/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557892807/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/373460e1/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557892807/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/373460e1/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557892807/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/373460e1/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/187557892807/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/373460e1/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/tcatK4g5hxA
  5. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/Android%20apps%20iOS%20should%20have/KitKat_landscape-470-75.jpgWe know. We know. You went for iOS because of its superior ease of use, because of its it-just-works reputation and lack of device fragmentation, because of the iOS-exclusive apps and because the hardware's pretty tasty. And that's great, but let's be honest: Apple's "It's Apple's way or the highway" approach sometimes means that the things that delight users of other platforms don't always make it onto iOS. Why can't we change our keyboards, count our Bitcoins or install from our iMacs? These are the Android apps and app features we'd love to see on our Apple devices. What about you? 1. Swypehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/Android%20apps%20iOS%20should%20have/swype_tasker_blockchain-420-90.jpg Don't like Apple's on-screen keyboard? Tough: you can't change it, and that means you're excluded from the many joys of Swype. Swype's scribbly-input is close to magic, and once you've got the hang of it it's incredibly fast. Things are improving in iOS input land - the excellent SwiftKey is now available on iOS as a stand-alone app - but we'd love to be able to swap out the default keyboard altogether. 2. TaskerTasker could well be the poster child for Android apps: it's a little intimidating at first, but the things it can do are incredible. It takes the same "If This, Then That" approach as the IFTTT web service, but it applies it to your device - so you might say "if I plug in the headphones start playing music", or "if it's 3pm on Friday I'll be in a meeting so silence the ringer and text anyone who calls to say I'll get back to them afterwards". It's like the Automator app you'll find in OS X, and like Automator it's really a programming language masquerading as an app. 3. BitcoinThis month Apple upset a whole bunch of Bitcoin miners by booting Bitcoin apps such as Blockchain from the App Store. The move demonstrates a strength and a weakness of Apple's app curation: on the one hand Apple's policing does remove malware, rip-offs and the very worst apps, but on the other it can mean Apple deciding to block legitimate apps that it doesn't approve of. 4. NFChttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/Android%20apps%20iOS%20should%20have/locale_golauncher_cover-420-90.jpg Apple's ongoing dismissal of NFC in favour of its own alternatives (AirDrop and iBeacons) means that NFC apps on iOS aren't looking very likely, and that means iOS users are missing out on fun tag-related tomfoolery such as automatically switching to car mode when getting in the car, sharing contact information or triggering Tasker scripts. 5. LocaleLocale goes way beyond Apple's "remind me to get milk when I'm near Tesco" location awareness and its Do Not Disturb mode. Locale can turn off battery-hogging features when the battery is low or remind you to find a charger, it can change display settings - including wallpaper - according to where you are, and you can use it to create profiles that disable the ringer or turn off Bluetooth or anything else you fancy. 6. Go Launcher EXAs the outcry over iOS 7 demonstrated, not everybody agrees with Apple's design choices - and on Android, they can make their devices look and work however they want. There are stacks of Android customisation applications to choose from, including Go Launcher EX, although fans of irony may enjoy the news that Google briefly pulled one of them, Themer, because it made Android look too much like iOS. 7. Coverhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/Android%20apps%20iOS%20should%20have/flash_timely_applock-420-90.jpg The Lock Screen is another bit of iOS many people would like to customise, and once again on Android there are all kinds of apps that Apple owners can only envy. One of the most interesting is Cover, which learns the apps you use in particular places and customises the Lock Screen accordingly - so it displays your entertainment apps at home, your working apps at work and your travel apps when you're on the move. 8. FlashYeah, we know, over Apple's dead body - and even Adobe's lost interest in making Flash for mobile devices. But there are times that Flash is still useful, such as when you're trying to read a restaurant's menu (why are they always in Flash? Why?) or play a Flash game. 9. TimelyTimely is an alarm clock, but it's not just a pretty clock face. If you're a little too handy with the snooze button you can get it to set you challenges before it'll switch off the alarm, and cloud sync means you can share settings and alarms across all of your devices. It's a superb little app. 10. App Lock (Smart App Protector)The Play Store reviews suggest that it's a little buggy on some devices, but the idea behind App Lock is excellent: it offers locking not just of key phone features but individual applications (with individual passwords, if you want to keep things complicated), and if someone gets the login wrong it'll take a photo that you can use to identify and/or shame the culprit. The gesture lock is a particularly nice touch. Other App Lock apps go even further, with geofencing that works out where you are and enables or disables phone features and apps accordingly. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/372869d8/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530574967/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/372869d8/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530574967/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/372869d8/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530574967/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/372869d8/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530574967/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/372869d8/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530574967/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/372869d8/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/QUxmjFyWK80
  6. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/ios7_main-470-75.jpgWe know. We know. You went for Android because it offered superior customisation, because it didn't patronise you, because it delivered more bang for your buck. And that's great, but let's be honest: sometimes you'll see an iOS app and the word WANT flashes through your brain in 50-foot letters of fire. These are the iOS apps we'd really like to see on Android. Is there anything great we haven't included, or do you use excellent alternatives? We'd love to know your thoughts. iA Writerhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/writer_fantastical_tweetbot-420-90.jpg The iOS App Store is packed with writing apps, and one of the most popular is the simple and superb iA Writer: it's designed to help you concentrate on what you're writing and nothing else, and as a result it's deliberately stripped down so that you can't procrastinate by messing around with fonts or formatting. You can sync via iCloud or Dropbox, and on iPads there's a nifty focus mode that only displays three lines at a time. FantasticalAndroid isn't short of calendar apps either, but - wait for it - Fantastical is different. It looks good and its natural language input means you can enter things such as "London Grammar 7pm tuesday calendar gigs" or "todo buy dog food at 5pm". It's good with repeating events too. Tweetbot 3http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/paper_iftt_fuelband-420-90.jpg Tweetbot is the Twitter power user's app of choice: it's fast, friendly and it boasts lots of features for taming the Twitter firehose. There are mute filters that enable you to block users without unfollowing them - brilliant for sporting, news or entertainment events you don't give a toss about - and support for multiple services including Instapaper and Pocket, and it's as happy handing multiple accounts and lists as it is running a single account while you swear at Question Time. Facebook PaperAndroid users aren't the only ones excluded from the Facebook Paper party: for now it's US-only too, although both international and Android versions are incoming. Paper may well be the future of Facebook: it delivers a much more beautiful version of your News Feed with an emphasis on video and photography. IFTTTAmazingly, the excellent If This Then That trigger-action service hasn't made its way to Android yet: the best you can hope for is third-party apps such as LIFTTT. The app is coming, but in the meantime Android users can only drool over the iOS app's ability to automate services such as Facebook, Gmail and Twitter, and devices such as Belkin's WeMo switches and Philips' Hue bulbs. Nike+ Fuelbandhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/mailbox_reeder_clear-420-90.jpg This is an odd one: you'd think a firm with the global reach and deep pockets of Nike would ensure its Fuelband fitness kit worked as well with Android as it does with iOS. Nope. Nike says that the problem is reliability: it can't guarantee that any Fuelband app would work consistently well across several hundred handsets. "We have nothing against Android," Nike VP Stefan Olander told The Next Web in late 2013. "We just want to make sure that when we do it, it works well." Mailbox Email can be pretty horrendous sometimes, but Mailbox makes it much more pleasant: it's designed to clear your inbox quickly, archiving stuff you don't need to bother with and scheduling stuff you do. It's currently iOS-only with support for just Gmail and iCloud email, but its recent purchase by cross-platform sharing kings Dropbox suggests a brighter future. Reeder 2Silvio Rizzi's RSS reader is an absolute joy for news fiends: Reeder connects to the major RSS and sharing services (Feedbin, Feedly, Feed Wrangler, Fever and Readability plus the usual Send To services), it's lovely to look at and it's very fast. Where apps such as Flipboard try to make the news look pretty, Reeder concentrates on delivering the information you need as quickly as possible. Clearhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/nosycrow-420-90.jpg When the developer's called Realmac Software the likelihood of an Android version is pretty remote - and the lack of an official Android version might explain why there's an almost identically named Android app with an almost identical interface and an almost identical icon in the Play store; no, we're not linking to it. It's a shame the real one hasn't made it across, though. Clear's clever, intuitive interface couldn't be simpler, and that makes it a very fast and useful way to record anything you need to remember: notes, to-do lists, shopping lists… Nosy Crow appshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/infinityblade-420-90.jpg Nosy Crow's interactive picture books have won shelves full of awards, and with good reason: they're absolutely delightful apps for younger children. The firm did dip its toes into the Android market back in 2012 with some releases for the Barnes & Noble Nook, but since then it appears to have retreated again and its latest apps are iOS-only. Shame. Infinity Blade 3http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/iwork-420-90.jpg Android gamers can usually count on the big names releasing games for their platform - *cough* Flappy Bird! *cough* - but Epic's famous hack-and-slash epics remain iOS-exclusive. While Epic Citadel delivers the same world, exploring streets isn't quite as entertaining as getting all stabby. iWorkhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/garageband-420-90.jpg No, we're not being funny. Apple's iWork suite is great, and while both Google and Microsoft offer perfectly good mobile office suites in the form of Office 365 and Google Docs they aren't as nice as Apple's apps. Keynote in particular is fantastic. GaragebandApple's iLife apps - iMovie, iPhoto - are pretty good, but Garageband is stunning: it's a really useful music creation app, and its synchronisation with the desktop version (whose files can in turn be read by the pro music app Logic Pro) means it's a great mobile tool for dabblers and professional musicians alike. Check out the 90 best iPhone apps in the world right nowhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37220519/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530611144/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37220519/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530611144/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37220519/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530611144/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37220519/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530611144/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37220519/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530611144/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37220519/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/SULYFTp2m8A
  7. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/Microsoft/Surface2/surface2review/prod_surf2d_Print-470-75.jpgMicrosoft may have a solution in the works for its Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 app deficit, but some inside the company reportedly aren't on board yet. It's simple: Microsoft's desktop, tablet and smartphone operating systems lack the bustling app ecosystem of a platform like, say, Android - so why not enable Android apps to run on Windows and Windows Phone devices? That's exactly what the company is considering, according to The Verge, which supposedly spoke with "sources familiar with Microsoft's plans." But these sources report that Microsoft executives are torn, with some of the mindset that the long-term risks might outweigh the benefits. Besides, as The Verge points out, this has been tried before - by BlackBerry - and it didn't work then. Why would it now? Forking Android overOf course, Microsoft is not BlackBerry. That much is obvious. And if Microsoft is really letting Nokia, which it bought in 2013, go ahead with the Finnish phone maker's "Normandy" Android device, then the Windows company is clearly not totally repulsed by the idea of using Android for its own means. Of course, the most recent report suggests that the Nokia Android phone will ship without many of the Google apps and services typically found on Android devices - including the Google Play store itself - in favor of Nokia- and Microsoft-built alternatives. But The Verge's sources say Microsoft doesn't want to deal with the hassle of creating its own "fork" of Android, and that simply enabling Android apps to run on Windows might be an easier solution in the short term. To that end the site suggests Microsoft might work with BlueStacks, a company that for years has been enable Android apps to run on Windows devices. Whatever happens, it seems Microsoft is at least considering taking drastic measures to solve its app deficit, which may be a sign of just how desperate things have become for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. Here's what TechRadar thought of Microsoft's latest OS update, Windows 8.1http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3707e759/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530567931/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3707e759/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530567931/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3707e759/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530567931/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3707e759/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530567931/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3707e759/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530567931/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3707e759/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/pIH-SoF4K44
  8. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Motorola/Moto%20X/Review/moto-x-review-2-470-75.jpgThe Moto X is about to get a deliciously sweet boost. T-Mobile variants of the Motorola handset will get an Android 4.4 upgrade starting today. The jump from Android Jelly Bean to KitKat isn't mind blowing, but still remains exciting since many bugs will be squashed. Other changes are also include support for printing documents and photos, improved battery life - an issue which a few people had after the 4.4 upgrade - and fixed email syncing delays. To begin the download process, keep an eye out for a notification that should appear soon; however, you can also manually install it by going to your system updates which can be found in your phone settings. Check out the Moto G - the little budget brother of the Moto X is just as brilliant.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/36fc6cfa/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557677443/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fc6cfa/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557677443/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fc6cfa/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557677443/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fc6cfa/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557677443/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fc6cfa/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/187557677443/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fc6cfa/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/OX1dttWjKSQ
  9. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Geeksphone/Geeksphone_Revolution-470-75.jpgDespite its early promise, most smartphone-savvy consumers would agree it's a little too soon to throw all eggs in the Firefox OS basket just yet. So when Geeksphone announced its new Revolution handset would run Android and dual-boot Mozilla's fledgling OS, the perfect solution presented itself for those wishing to make friends with the new kid. Now the company has revealed the Revolution will go on sale in Europe on February 20 for the fairly reasonable price of €289 (around £240, $395), with a €20 (around £16.50, $27) discount for pre-order customers. For their outlay, buyers will receive a device with a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Atom processor, an impressive 4.7-inch qHD, 2560 x 1440 display, 1GB RAM and 4GB of built-in storage. There's also an 8-megapixel camera, and a 2000mAh battery, but there's no 4G connectivity to speak of, and no word of a launch outside of Europe just yet. A little bit foxyGeeksphone doesn't specify which version of Android is on board, but judging by screenshots, it looks to be some flavour of Jelly Bean. Android will be the default boot OS, but the company promises Firefox OS or any other community sourced operation system can be installed on the device. Geeksphone is a small Spanish manufacturer that has so far focused on cheap Firefox OS handsets. It also has a new device called the 'Blackphone,' coming at Mobile World Congress. Does the Revolution provide the opportunity to sample Firefox OS without sacrificing your dependency on Android? Let us know whether this is up your alley in the comments section below. Meet the manufacturer that promises to lock out government snoops. Could Geeksphone's 'Blackphone' be the safest handset on the block?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/36fb1d47/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557674756/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fb1d47/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557674756/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fb1d47/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557674756/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fb1d47/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557674756/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fb1d47/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/187557674756/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fb1d47/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/rMfHhcrPFiw
  10. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Nokia/Nokia-Android/NokiaAndroid-LEAK-01-470-75.jpgThe Nokia "Normandy," the long-rumored Nokia Android phone, will be officially announced at MWC 2014, says a new report. The Nokia Normandy will also be released in February, The Wall Street Journal reports. But apparently the Normandy will be specially tailored so that some Google features won't be promoted as heavily as they might be on a traditional Android phone - you know, one not made by a company now owned by Microsoft. That means no Google Play store, and the Normandy will instead feature a selection of apps created by Nokia and Microsoft, like Here maps and Mix Radio, plus a Nokia app store full of Android apps, the site's sources said. Let's be practicalNokia has long been focused on Windows Phone, but its work on an Android handset has been rumored for months. The Normandy's debut at MWC has even been touched on before. However, ever since Microsoft picked up the Finnish phone maker for $7.4 billion (about £4.4 billion, AU$7.9 billion) in 2013, the Nokia Android phone's fate has presumably been up in the air. Considering it was never officially announced to begin with, it seemed Microsoft could put its foot down at any time and cancel it altogether. But the WSJ report says Nokia's engineers were working on the Android phone long before Microsoft began conducting due diligence leading up to the purchase, and the Windows company will reportedly let it continue all the way to retail. The reason for that? Pragmatism, apparently. If the phone is debuting in a matter of weeks, then the legwork was likely completed months ago, and Microsoft would likely rather make some money off of it - even if it does run Android - then scrap it entirely and throw away all of Nokia's hard work. Speaking of Android, here's everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S5http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/36f01550/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530468222/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36f01550/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530468222/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36f01550/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530468222/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36f01550/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530468222/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36f01550/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530468222/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36f01550/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/XFTczZs_8T4
  11. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Android/Android%20KitKat-470-75.jpgSamsung device owners learned long ago that holding one's breath while awaiting an Android would almost certainly result in their permanent demise. However a lifeline, in the form of Android 4.4 KitKat, may be on the way for those rocking gadgets like the Galaxy S3, Galaxy S3 Mini, Galaxy Note 8.0 Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Mega. Those handsets, as well as the Galaxy S4 Zoom, Galaxy Tab 7.0, Galaxy S4 Active are on a list of ten Samsung devices in line for KitKat, according to a purported update roadmap, obtained by Phandroid. The remaining two devices, the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 have already started to receive Android 4.4 roll-outs in the odd territory here and there.. But when?Although the site claimed to have procured details on which legacy devices will eventually receive the latest version of the operating system, there was no word on when and where that might happen. So although that's good news for S3 and S4 Active owners, it's not really time to party just yet. As you were, Samsung fans, as you were. KitKat is now on 2 per cent of all Android phones. Yeah, about that....http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/36d7ef38/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557536487/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36d7ef38/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557536487/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36d7ef38/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557536487/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36d7ef38/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557536487/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36d7ef38/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/187557536487/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36d7ef38/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/1EWHAeVfIog
  12. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/people/Steve_Wozniak_Steve_Jobs-470-75.jpgApple co-founder Steve Wozniak has suggested a novel way for the company to combat the march of the Android army... start building Android phones! Speaking to Wired, the flamboyant computing whiz Wozniak said there's nothing keeping Apple from making Android phones that would out-style options from best-selling manufacturers like Samsung. "There's nothing that would keep Apple out of the Android market as a secondary phone market," he said. "We could compete very well. People like the precious looks of stylings and manufacturing that we do in our product compared to the other Android offerings. We could play in two arenas at the same time." Being Steve WozniakNaturally, there's no chance of that ever happening unless things take a serious turn for the worst at Cupertino, or Eric Schmidt totally Tim Cook. It's also unlikely the brazen statement will bother too many folks at Infinite Loop. Wozniak, whose only real involvement with Apple these days is collecting his dividends cheques, is known for his occasional jaunts to the other side of the tracks when it comes to towing the company line. In the past, he's urged Apple to bring iTunes to Android, criticised the new range of iPads, asserted that the iPhone had fallen behind the competition and called Windows Phone 'more beautiful' than iOS. Beyond his latest wind up, Woz was super positive about the company's recent times, refusing to criticise the company's decision for the slow bleed of new iPhone features, amid Samsung's desire to cram their handsets with everything but the kitchen sink. "If you have something really good, don't change it; don't screw it up. You pick up a Samsung phone and say smile and it takes a picture, but how much innovation is that? That's just throwing in a lot of features, he said. Woz loves a wind-up. Here are six of the best we pulled together way back in 2009.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/36ccc8e7/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530319477/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36ccc8e7/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530319477/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36ccc8e7/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530319477/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36ccc8e7/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530319477/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36ccc8e7/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530319477/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36ccc8e7/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/IuJvArSXUfY
  13. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Archos/Archos_Titanium_series-470-75.jpgFrench mobile manufacturer Archos plans to throw its beret in to the Windows Phone arena. CEO Loic Poirier said the company will launch a handset on Microsoft's gradually improving platform, joining its budget offerings on Android. Nokia is currently earning a whopping 90 per cent of Windows Phone sales, with big hitters like LG, Samsung and HTC focusing all of their attentions on the Android operating system. That means a potential opportunity for manufacturers a little lower on the totem pole, like Archos, outside of the densely populated Android market. New breed rising"We will launch a Windows Phone handset when the time is right," he told TrustedReviews before explaining its primary focus would remain with Android. "Before anything else we are focussed on Google," he added. Other manufacturers like Alcatel and ZTE are also planning to jump in on Windows Phone. Could we be seeing a new breed of handset makers rising on Windows Phone? Have you checked out Archos' latest range of budget Android tablets?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/36a16024/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530066362/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36a16024/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530066362/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36a16024/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530066362/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36a16024/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530066362/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36a16024/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530066362/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36a16024/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/9_j-cM5bVc0
  14. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Chrome/chrome_apps_mobile-470-75.jpgGoogle has revealed that Chrome Apps will soon appear in the iOS App Store and Android Google Play marketplace, masquerading as native smartphone apps. The initiative to get Chrome Apps on mobile platforms began today, with a developer preview based on Apache Cordova. Chromium engineer Andrew Grieve described Cordova in a blog post as an open-source development framework for building mobile apps using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. The toolchain Google has introduced takes Chrome Apps and repackages them as native smartphone apps for iOS and Android, making it easy for Chrome App developers to re-release their apps on those platforms. For developers' eyes onlyIn 2013 Google introduced a "new breed" of Chrome Apps that look and act like native applications and work offline across every desktop operating system. Now it's applying the same principles to mobile platforms. For Chrome App developers looking to get in on the mobile action, Google has provided a convenient developer workflow. Google has also converted many core Chrome Apps APIs, including sign-in, storage, push messages, alarms, and more, to run on mobile devices. Other APIs, like notifications and payments, are currently Android only, but will likely come to iOS at some point as well. Cordova features its own set of mobile APIs as well. Google said it expects to continue to improve this toolchain as the developer preview gets going and it receives feedback from devs. In the meantime, smartphone users can watch out soon for Chrome Apps to begin arriving in their respective app stores. Don't miss TechRadar's updated Google Glass review - how does Google's wearable stand up to weeks of continuous use?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3677c44b/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186529928754/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3677c44b/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186529928754/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3677c44b/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186529928754/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3677c44b/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186529928754/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3677c44b/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186529928754/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3677c44b/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/hF9cabBQXNc
  15. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Chrome/chrome_mobile_data_compression-470-75.jpgGoogle has announced a new feature for the Chrome app on iOS and Android that it says can cut data usage from web browsing by up to half. The "data compression and bandwidth management" feature will compress mobile browsing data in real time as you browse, Google Software Engineer and "Data Squasher Extraordinaire" Matt Welsh wrote in a Google blog post. Welsh wrote that a fifth of U.S. adults do the bulk of their web browsing on mobile devices. He added that Google will be rolling the feature out to iOS and Android in updates arriving "over the next few days." Plus translationWhen the feature does arrive, you can enable it in the settings menu under "bandwidth management" and then "reduce data usage." From here you can also track how much data you're saving every month with the feature (hence the charts above). In addition to compressing web data on the fly, the feature will also enable mobile Chrome's safe browsing mode, which reportedly "helps protect you from malicious webpages." Welsh also discussed another new feature coming to Chrome on iOS "in the coming days:" Google Translate. The feature will work exactly as it does in the desktop and Android versions of Chrome: when the browser detects a page is in another language, it will ask you whether you want to translate it with the tap of a button. The next update to Chrome for Android will also allow users to save website bookmarks from within the browser itself with a tap of the toolbar menu. The latest Chrome browser update tracks noisy tabs and acts more like Chrome OShttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35f4b93b/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528914165/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35f4b93b/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528914165/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35f4b93b/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528914165/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35f4b93b/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528914165/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35f4b93b/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186528914165/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35f4b93b/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/zs1iWllVoPY
  16. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/BlackBerry/P9982/HandsOn/P9982-HandsOn-29-470-75.JPGBlackBerry has reportedly begun approaching Android app and game developers about getting their native Android apps directly into the BlackBerry World app marketplace. Apparently the next BlackBerry firmware update will support native Android apk files directly, and porting them over will require very little work from developers, according to Good e-Reader. The digital publishing news site reports that it spoke with at least four Android app developers at CES 2014 who confirmed that BlackBerry had approached them about publishing their apps directly to BlackBerry 10. According to the site, these developers need do nothing more than make BlackBerry World profiles and submit icons, screenshots and app descriptions for their existing Android apps to appear in the BlackBerry 10 app ecosystem. A whole new worldBlackBerry 10 users will reportedly be able to download these apps directly to their devices, just as if they were normal BB10 apps. These devices are said to include the BlackBerry Q5, Q10, Z10 and Z30. BlackBerry stands to benefit enormously from its app ecosystem being inundated with Android apps, and if it really is that easy for Android developers to expand to BlackBerry World then that could very well happen. Good e-Reader claims this feature will become available in the BlackBerry 10.3 update, but users in a CrackBerry forum thread discussing the article claim that it will actually be in BlackBerry 10.2.1. In either case, it seems the feature could arrive soon. We've asked BlackBerry to provide a statement and clarify when BlackBerry devices will support native Android apps, and we'll update here when possible. Android vs BlackBerry: which is the best smartphone for your business?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35e7fa3f/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528817754/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35e7fa3f/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528817754/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35e7fa3f/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528817754/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35e7fa3f/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528817754/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35e7fa3f/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186528817754/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35e7fa3f/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/SEX_ZeJtPAA
  17. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Beats_Music-470-75.jpgBeats Music, the new streaming service from the popular headphone manufacturer, will open for business on January 21 in the United States, it was announced this weekend. The platform, which aims to provide custom album and playlist recommendations to subscribers every day, will be available for Android, iOS and on the web immediately upon launch with Sonos support. There'll be a free trial period for sign-ups, but after that there'll be no ad-funded free-listening option a la Spotify, but a single monthly subscriptions fee $9.99 (around £6, AU$11). That'll allow users to stream on multiple devices and also save playlists for offline listening. There's also a family plan exclusive to mobile network AT&T while will bring access to 5 users on up to ten devices for a one-off payment of $14.99 a month. (around £9, AU$16) All 'Right Now'The new service, spearheaded by Beats boss Jimmy Iovine and NIN frontman Trent Reznor, will aim to attract users with its new approach to music selection. One of the key elements is the Right Now mood music option. It will allow users to fill in the blanks of a sentence like "I'm cold and feel like cuddling with my wife to hair metal" in order to spawn an instant playlist fulfilling the criteria. Subscribers will also get a handful of 'Just For You' albums and playlists recommended to them each day, depending on their previous listening habits, the time of day and current activity. There's still no word of a launch outside of the United States at present. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35cdf914/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528681656/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35cdf914/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528681656/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35cdf914/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528681656/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35cdf914/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528681656/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35cdf914/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186528681656/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35cdf914/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/y5_2UWaUGes
  18. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/ZTE/Grand%20S/Press/GrandS-Press-01-470-75.jpgZTE has announced a new version of the innovative Car Mode application for its range of Android devices, allowing users to use voice commands to unlock the device, search for directions and control music. With in-car connectivity a big theme at this week's CES show, ZTE has boosted the Nuance-powered app with voice biometrics technology meaning devices can easily be unlocked while focusing on the road. The improved driving companion app will now recognise each user's voiceprint and will unlock to general or child mode, without the need to insert passwords and pin numbers while driving. Also new to the Car Mode app is the ability to use voice commands for navigation. Drivers will be able to ask for directions to addresses or points of interest or local amenities, with the results loading in Google Maps and presented with voice-powered turn-by-turn navigation. Barge inThe new functionality doesn't end there. There's also a music barge in mode, which allows users to ask the device to Play, Pause, Stop, Play Next Song or Play Previous song. ZTE's announcement comes after Google announced an Open Auto Alliance aimed at having Android-based connectivity built into new vehicles as standard. Among Google's parters are Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai, and chip manufacturer Nvidia, as it seeks to provide a safe, driving-optimised was to integrate our favourite smartphone features into the car. Of ZTE's latest bid to do the same Zeng Xuezhong, executive VP of mobile devices, said:."Voice biometrics, natural language navigation and music barge-in are breakthroughs in handset-based telematics, giving people the connectivity they expect as part of a mobile lifestyle, while minimizing dangerous in-car distractions. "Nuance's advanced voice technology provides us with diversified and innovative speech capabilities for our mobile devices, giving users truly intelligent, safe and great mobile experiences." A ZTE smartwatch is coming in 2014... but it'll only work with ZTE phoneshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35ac0cfc/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528433246/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35ac0cfc/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528433246/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35ac0cfc/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528433246/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35ac0cfc/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186528433246/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35ac0cfc/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186528433246/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35ac0cfc/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/wqFIXLmgO90
  19. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/car%20tech/Audi_A6_dashboard-470-75.jpgGoogle and high-end German auto manufacturer Audi are preparing to announce they're working together to produce a new generation of Android-based in-car systems. The partnership, set to be officially confirmed at the CES expo in early January, involves the creation of dedicated, built-in hardware, running on Google's mobile operating system. According to the Wall Street Journal's report, the units will give drivers access to some of the same navigation, entertainment and information tools that they enjoy on their smartphones and tablets. The article says Google and Audi will be joined in the venture by chip manufacturer Nvidia with the parties using CES to announce a timetable for Android-based systems to arrive in cars within 4 to 5 years. iOS vs Android pt. 5,526The news comes as Apple prepares for its own march on in-car connectivity. Earlier this year it announced its own iOS in the Car initiative, which will allow iPhones and iPads to play nice with compatible vehicles. A recent iOS 7.1 beta provided evidence that iOS in the Car will be integrated within the update, which will land at a time yet to be determined. It seems that Apple and Google have found yet another ripe territory to battle over. Who'll come out on top this time? Would you rather have Apple Maps or Google Maps built into your motor? In depth: What does iOS in the Car mean for in-car multimedia?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/355846ad/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842501183/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846ad/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842501183/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846ad/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842501183/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846ad/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842501183/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846ad/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842501183/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846ad/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/6i0QpCfVOmo
  20. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Android/android_htc_update_anatomy-470-75.jpgAndroid fragmentation is one of the operating system's main problems, but HTC has launched a new page that aims to explain the process of getting a new update out to handsets. The site demystifies the Android update process by outlining the steps an OS update has to go through before it reaches various devices. It also shows the Android 4.4: KitKat upgrade status for various editions of the HTC One (some are up to date, while carrier versions are still waiting), as well as the latest software version for other HTC devices. Plus it features a lengthy and detailed infographic with the 12 steps an update takes between leaving Google and reaching your device. An effort at transparency"HTC is focused on providing timely software updates for both HTC Sense innovation and major Google Android releases," the site reads. "In an effort to bring transparency to this process, we will be marking the steps of preparation and our progress, by device and carrier." It describes the numerous steps an Android update takes before reaching handsets, including evaluation, development, integration, certification, and push to customer. In addition the process is different for unlocked devices, carrier-specific devices, and Google Play editions. It begins with Google releasing the platform development kit to the phone maker (in this case HTC), which happens even before the new OS version is publicly announced. Plenty happens in between that and an update finally reaching users' phones and tablets. Head to HTC.com to check out the full infographic (click the icon after "to see a diagram of the full process" at the top of the page). Android 4.4 KitKat: when can I get it?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/353b7c7a/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842299261/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353b7c7a/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842299261/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353b7c7a/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842299261/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353b7c7a/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842299261/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353b7c7a/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842299261/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353b7c7a/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/TXQpMuLUUKU
  21. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Nokia/Nokia_Normandy_colours_leak-470-75.jpgFirst it was on, then it was off, now we just don't know. The rumoured Nokia smartphone running Android has reportedly appeared online again, with its launch status still anyone's guess. The handset - codenamed Normandy - was may have become the first Nokia handset to adopt Google's operating system, word would have it, but Microsoft's purchase of Nokia appeared to kill the prospects. Regardless of whether it's coming or not, it hasn't stopped that prolific Twitter leak artist @evleaks from giving the world another look at what the handset might look like, if it ever graced us with its presence. The purported press render is much like previous leaks, only this time it appears in a range of colours including lime green, while, yellow, red, blue and black. What might have beenJust last week reports claimed the handset had been shelved, largely due to Microsoft's recently announced stewardship of its big Windows Phone manufacturing partner. According to the report from Chinese blog CTech, the team experimenting with Android is now working on wireless charging tech instead; suggesting that might just be that. With a launch now somewhat of a long shot, the Nokia Normandy might just end up being one of those tech 'what might have been' stories. If Nokia had embraced Android three years ago then, most observers would say, it wouldn't have had to sell out to Microsoft in the first place, but sadly we'll never know. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35275d0d/sc/21/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842140312/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35275d0d/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842140312/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35275d0d/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842140312/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35275d0d/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842140312/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35275d0d/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842140312/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35275d0d/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/020i52Hd7i8
  22. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Sony/XperiaZ/HandsOn/XperiaZ-HandsOn-01-470-75.JPGWhile there's little sign of any action on the Android KitKat front, some Sony Xperia handset owners can at least comfort themselves with a little 4.3 Jelly Bean over the festive season. On Monday, the Japanese giant rolled out the second newest version of Android for the Sony Xperia Z, Xperia ZR, Xperia ZL and the Xperia Tablet Z. However, it's not just some sweet Jelly Beans sitting within this update, set to hit unlocked handsets before those tethered to networks, Sony is also bundling in some of its own goodies. The Smart Social Camera suite of apps, which arrived on the Xperia Z1, is also included along with improved Battery Stamina and Walkman apps. Let us know if you can grab it... More blips!You don't need to wait for an OTA update for these rapid fire blips... 'Go Away Cameron' Chrome extension nullifies PM's porn blockadeStar Wars' social (imperial) march continues, gives Tumblr a Force infusionMotorola cries 'Timber!,' launches wood-backed Moto Xhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35261dc6/sc/21/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842118639/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc6/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842118639/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc6/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842118639/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc6/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842118639/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc6/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842118639/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc6/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/QPnXKisCkSU
  23. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Apps/AllCast_Android_app-470-75.jpgA powerful app which allows Android device owners to stream photos and videos to a host of connected devices is now available on the Google Play store. A full version of the AllCast app has landed within Google's download portal, following a brief period in beta, bringing streaming power to compatible devices like the Apple TV and Roku set-top boxes. The app, which plays nice with devices on the same Wi-Fi network will also beam content to the Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles, as well as Samsung and Panasonic Smart TVs. At the moment the app streams photos and videos, stored both locally and in the cloud, but creator ClockworkMod's Koushik Dutta has promised support for music will be coming soon. CastableAs for Google's own streaming device, the Chromecast dongle, well AllCast doesn't support it yet and won't until Google relaxes the rules in the new year. Most Chromecast compatible apps are landing as the weeks go by, but it is thought Google is preparing to facilitate compatibility with all Android apps, with hundreds of developers expressing interest in embracing the platform. "Our broader goal is for Google Cast to be established as a standard," Google VP of Product Management Mario Queiroz said recently. "There will be an expectation from consumers that any and every app will be 'castable.'" In the meantime, you can see what AllCast is all about in the video below. " width="420">YouTube : Apple TV vs Chromecast: Which is better?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35251cf5/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842095414/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35251cf5/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842095414/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35251cf5/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842095414/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35251cf5/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842095414/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35251cf5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842095414/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35251cf5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/WgCQp7WEhPs
  24. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/CyanogenMod/CyanogenMod%20Oppa%20N1/CyanogenMod%20Oppa%20N1-470-75.jpgIn a Christmas Eve miracle, Cyanogen has announced it will ship the first Google-approved phone running a third-party version of Android. The Oppo N1 claims to be the world's first Google compatibility test suite-certified CyanogenMod handset, and it plans to launch on December 24. The plucky smartphone comes running a rooted version of Android 4.2 called CyanogenMod 10.2. Google gave the third-party phone its blessing to access the Play Store and take its apps out for a date. This means users will be able to download apps from the Store directly instead of having to sneak around and sideload the software. Cyanogen, Cyanogen's parent company, said getting its version of the Oppo N1 through the certification process was an arduous task, but that's really not surprising. Previously, Google pulled Cyanogen's unofficial Android installer app after being on the Play Store for just 15 days. Dare to rootOther then the hacked software, the Oppo N1 is equipped with some fairly decent internals including a 1.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, Adreno 320 GPU and 2GB of RAM. The device is also fairly hefty with a 5.9-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution screen and a large 3,610 mAh battery. One of the phone's more unique characteristics is its rotating 13MP camera, which can be flipped around as the device's back and front-facing snapper. Storage-wise the Oppo N1 will come in 16GB and 32GB varieties. Oppo also seems to have made its handset ready to take on the mobile world circuit with GSM as well as WCDMA antennas that cover a wide range of cellular frequencies. Cyanogen announced the CM-equipped handset will be available starting on December 24. There isn't any word of availability outside the US or how much it will cost, but a standard 16GB Oppo N1 model without the special software floats around the $599 (or £366/about AU$671) price range. For T-Mobile's next Uncarrier magic trick, it could make termination fees disappear.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3510b289/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841987029/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3510b289/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841987029/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3510b289/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841987029/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3510b289/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841987029/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3510b289/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841987029/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3510b289/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/kPewnKu2tTs
  25. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/google/Google%20IO%202012/GOOGLE%20PRESS%20IMAGES/Jelly%20Bean%20Illustration-470-75.jpgA malicious botnet has been uncovered by security researchers. The software sends copies of users' SMS' to email addresses believed to be registered in Korea and China. Named MicroSMS, it infects Android devices by pretending to be a settings app called 'Google Vx'. Once in place it then asks for administrative rights and, if granted them, steals the contents of SMS messages and sends them to a third party. In a blog post, security firm FireEye wrote: "Some SMS-stealing malware sends the contents of users SMS messages by forwarding the messages over SMS to phone number under the attacker's control. Others send the stolen messages to a CnC server over TCP connections. The malicious app, by contrast, sends the stolen SMS messages to the attacker's email address of an SMTP connection." All apps compromisedThe post went on to say that MicroSMS is one the largest mobile botnets that leverages modern technology and infrastructure. The discovery, it claims, highlights the importance of mobile protection and the quickly changing landscape of security threats. The company claims that many of the email addresses which receive the SMS messages are being accessed from mainland China and Korea. FireEye is working with law enforcement agencies to get the email; accounts shut down and says there is no evidence yet of new accounts springing up in their place. It was revealed earlier this year that all of the top 100 paid Android apps and 56 per cent of top 100 paid iOS apps available as 'cracked' versions had been compromised. The widespread use of cracked apps represents a real danger for both individuals and companies, given the explosion of smartphone and tablet use in the workplace and home, says mobile security firm Arxan. Malware looking to drain bank accounts of 'tens of millions' of PC ownershttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3503b7de/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841888908/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7de/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841888908/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7de/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841888908/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7de/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841888908/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7de/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841888908/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7de/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/vkWsmkzeo8o
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