Windows Phone 8 devices are having reboot issues, the FBI nabs iPad Mini thieves, Mars may be safe for humans, Apple patents the page turn, the Wii U hits shelves across America, and Google accidentally kills Christmas.
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The Google Nexus 4 is the latest smartphone to star in a drop test, falling hard from at least five feet on pavement.
The phone was dropped twice and managed to survive the first one with minor scratches. As for the second one…
Well, here’s the video itself, I won’t spoil the ending.
So it looks like the front glass on the Google Nexus 4 is tougher than the rear one. And it’s good that the phone looked fully functional even after its second hard fall.
In an attempt to use the power of celebrity endorsements to promote the Windows Phone, Microsoft has rolled out new ads featuring prominent women.
Taking an aggressive approach with the promotion of the Windows Phone platform, Microsoft has launched two new advertisements starring actress Jessica Alba and No Doubt musician Gwen Stefani. Airing during primetime television tonight on commercial breaks within ABC’s Modern Family and NBC’s The Voice as well as late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live, the two advertisements highlight different ways that the Windows Phone platform has changed their daily life. The 33-second spot with Jessica Alba features the Nokia Lumia 920 and is co-branded with AT&T. However, the 32-second Gwen Stefani advertisement features the 8X by HTC and splashes the Verizon Wireless logo on the screen.
After Kid’s Corner is launched, it’s impossible for a child to access text messages, emails or other important areas of the phone without a password. In addition, parents can populate the Kids Corner with approved applications such as entertaining games, learning programs or other fun apps for young children. Kids can also listen to approved music through the Kids Corner interface as well as personalize the background.
Alternatively, Microsoft is trying to highlight the usefulness of the Windows Phone platform for busy working women during the Gwen Stefani ad. Since early adopters of smartphones tend to be both men and women these days, Microsoft is clearly going after the female demographic for the opening round of Windows Phone ads. Ads featuring male celebrities are in the works though. According to Ad Age, two more advertisements will follow later in November featuring Saturday Night Live alum Andy Samberg as well as Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.
Research in Motion has added an interesting new feature to BlackBerry Messenger named BBM Voice, which lets you call fellow BBM users for free provided your phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network. It's a great idea, provided your friends also use BlackBerry phones.
Research in Motion knows it needs to win back the general public’s support, and it also knows that one way to do so is by coming up with a feature that will save someone money. BlackBerry Messenger was that feature several years ago, as it made use of the BlackBerry network plan you had to pay for anyway, and provided “free” text message conversation with fellow BlackBerry owners.
Now though, a high percentage of the dedicated BlackBerry owner’s friends use iPhones and Androids, rendering BBM a relic from better days past. Now RIM has come up with BBM Voice, which it claims is “for the times when you want to hear a friend’s laughter instead of reading LOL.”
That’s right, BBM has become Skype, as it now offers the chance to call your BBM friends through version 7 of the software, using only a Wi-Fi connection. There are no geographical borders and no time limits, and as it doesn’t count towards your monthly bill, no extra charges either.
RIM makes no mention of whether BBM Voice will break free from a Wi-Fi connection and use a 3G/4G data connection in the future. It’s hardly a surprise, as networks — particularly in the U.S. — are rarely enamored by features that lose them money.
BlackBerry Messenger will show who in your contact list is available to call using BBM Voice, and a split screen display lets you send text messages or files at the same time, plus the service is compatible with Bluetooth headsets too; setting it up perfectly as a way to work collaboratively while away from the office. Those not using a BlackBerry for business will appreciate the chance to avoid massive international roaming bills too.
So, free messages and free calls, all through a single app. Sounds great, right? It is, but — and here’s the problem — to take advantage of BBM Voice, your friends and colleagues all have to have BlackBerry phones too, and as we’ve established already, they’re now using iPhones and Androids.
BBM Voice is a beta program at the moment, but you can bet it will have been perfected by the time BlackBerry 10 arrives after January 30 next year, as being able to say “free calls and messages with BlackBerry 10” should help people take notice of the new OS. All RIM needs is for those people to convince their friends/family/acquaintances/dog it’s a good idea too.
Verizon could be planning to introduce a free Windows Phone 8 device to its line-up of smartphones, potentially made by Samsung, as it continues to put its weight behind Microsoft's new operating system.
Verizon never really took to Windows Phone 7 and last year offered just one phone with Microsoft’s operating system onboard. This has changed with the introduction of Windows Phone 8 though, as the carrier has already announcing two devices — the exclusive Nokia Lumia 822 and the HTC 8X — and according to a new report, a third is on the way.
Rather than add another high-end Windows Phone, Verizon may be looking in the opposite direction, and could introduce a free Windows Phone 8 device soon. This comes from Verizon’s marketing officer Tami Erwin, who spoke to TheVerge.com this week, saying “there will be a $99 and a $199 option, and ultimately before the end of the year we will have a device that comes in at the free price point.
We already know the Lumia 822 is the $99 option, and the HTC 8X costs $199, so what device will Verizon choose as its entry-level handset? The Samsung Ativ Odyssey is the obvious choice, as it has already been partially confirmed for the network after making an appearance during the Windows Phone 8 launch event.
The Odyssey is rumored to be a re-branded Samsung Ativ S, but as this is far from a basic phone, it’s unlikely to be made available for free. So, either the spec will be completely different, or another phone will take its place.
There could also have been a change of plan at Samsung. Back before Windows Phone 8 was fully revealed, there were two Samsung Windows Phone 8 devices rumored — the Odyssey and the Marco. The names of which became known as part of the documents released during the Apple/Samsung legal battle taking place at the time.
The specs put the Odyssey with a 4.65-inch screen and an 8-megapixel camera, and the Marco with a more modest 4-inch screen and a 5-megapixel camera, although both featured Qualcomm’s 1.5GHz dual-core processor. A tweet from @evleaks, the account responsible for the leaked Odyssey image, states the phone may be the Marco after all.
If so, this puts the phone in the same category as the HTC 8S. As HTC’s second Windows Phone has yet to appear on any US or UK networks, it’s difficult to compare prices, but the SIM-free cost is half that of the 8X.
There’s also a chance Verizon may chose Huawei’s Windows Phone 8 device, which has yet to be announced but will almost certainly be cheap when it does eventually surface. Although Verizon hasn’t really worked with Huawei yet, the Chinese manufacturer indicated a deal with Verizon was “happening” during an interview in October.
A free Windows Phone 8 device could be quite a big deal, not only for Verizon, but for Microsoft too. At the moment, neither AT&T and T-Mobile list a free WP8 device, and Microsoft needs a cheap option if it’s to effectively combat Android.
Earlier this year, Verizon’s CFO Fran Shammo said the network viewed Windows Phone 8 as a “differentiator,” and planned to help the OS become a “strong” third software competitor to iOS and Android. Offering its customers a free phone (with a contract, of course) would certainly be an important step in that direction.
Microsoft’s latest mobile OS is getting ready for prime time and the ailing HTC is marketing its Windows Phone 8X as the “signature” Windows Phone 8 handset. We already reviewed the 8X, now it’s time to see how long it lasts in our battery test.
The HTC 8X has an 1800mAh Li-Ion battery and a Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8960 chipset – virtually the same specs as AT&T’s One X, expect for the smaller screen (4.3″ vs. 4.7″).
During the call test, the screen is off, so it’s not a factor and the HTC Windows Phone 8X actually manages to beat the One X (which is sold as One XL outside the US). It also beats the Tegra 3-based One X, the Samsung Galaxy S III and the iPhone 5. Good start for the 8X.
Next up is web browsing and with a time of 6 hours, the Windows Phone 8-powered 8X manages to beat its Android cousin. The screen size makes a big difference here, though. The HTC Windows Phone 8X is the top half of the table, but lags the best in the category by a pretty wide margin.
In our third test, video playback, the HTC Windows Phone 8X matched the score of the One X for AT&T. On the other hand the droid has a 0.4″ bigger screen, so the WP8 handset was expected to do better.
The HTC Windows Phone 8X is showing slightly above average performance so far, but the truth is it has a serious issue – standby power usage. We re-ran the test and the result came out the same – if you leave the 8X in the drawer with 3G and Wi-Fi on, the battery will drain completely in 59 hours.
We calculated an endurance rating of 31 hours – that is the time you go from 100% battery charge to 0% if you do an hour each of talking, browsing and watching videos every day. You can read more about how we do battery tests here.
Basically, the HTC 8X won’t last very long whether you use it or not. It will loose a good 12% while you’re sleeping, so you best remember to switch Wi-Fi off before going to bed.
If you want to have free applications and games available on the iPhone 4, then it is necessary to jailbreak the phone. This is basically software that is downloaded on the phone. With this the game and application availability will open up exponentially. For everyone who is not into technical aspects of the phone, here is a step-by-step guide to jailbreak the phone for ultimate application usage.
The first and foremost step to take is to open the internet on the IPhone and go to the search box. In this search box there are many key phrases that can be put in, but for the best results type in, “Jailbreak IPhone 4.2.1.”
Once this is done, hit the search bar and it will be possible to look at all the top softwares to jailbreak the IPhone 4. There are plenty of softwares available that can be bought. During this step it is important to research the software, look at the cost, examine the user reviews, and look at the warranty options to find the best option. If wanting to save money there are free options for softwares available.
Now that the choice is made about the software, it needs to be purchased, downloaded, and installed. These are followed normally by prompts on the phone.
After the software is downloaded, the IPhone 4 needs to be hooked up to the computer, whether it be a desktop or laptop. Once it is hooked up, it is necessary for the device to be recognized by ITunes. In case this doesn’t work the first time, keep trying. For the program to work, this step is mandatory. If the phone is already synced to ITunes, it would be a good idea to sync it again just to make sure everything is the way it was before.
Once the phone is synced, open the software that was purchased and click on the button that says “Jailbreak.” The program should start right away. During this process it is best to have the computer working on this task solely. If not, there may be chances the computer will crash.
After the software has finished running, a message should appear that says the restore is completed. Once this message is shown, it is highly recommended that you restart the phone. Once this is done, an additional icon should be on the screen.
By following this process, any IPhone 4 user will successfully Jailbreak their phone. Once the software is installed in the phone, there will be more applications and games at disposal to enjoy.
Tags: iPhone 4, iPhone Jailbreaking, iPhone4, Jailbreaking iPhoneMotorola has announced a special Developer Edition of its Atrix HD Android phone. Designed for those who want to customize their Atrix HD, it comes with the option of unlocking the bootloader, allowing the installation of custom software.
Motorola is sure to please developers and those amongst us who like to customize our Android phones with its latest device, the Atrix HD. “Hold on,” you’re probably thinking, “that’s already been announced once.” Indeed it has, but this time it’s a special Developer Edition.
What makes the phone special is its unlockable bootloader, which in English, means once Motorola has provided a unique code to unlock the handset, owners are free to install their own custom versions of Android, run test versions of apps, and generally customize the phone to their heart’s content.
This isn’t the first time Motorola has offered such a phone either, with both the Razr, Razr M and the Razr HD all receiving Developer Editions in the past. Being given the keys to the Android kingdom isn’t without its price though, as once you’ve started fiddling with the bootloader, you can say goodbye to your warranty. Our advice is, be sure you know what you’re doing before you start.
Motorola’s Atrix HD was announced in July this year, and we gave it an impressive 8/10 in our review, highlighting in particular the excellent $100 price tag with AT&T. For that you get a 4.5-inch touchscreen with a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution, a 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor and an 8-megapixel camera. A relatively untouched version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is installed as standard, but there’s no word on when 4.1 Jelly Bean will arrive.
Don’t expect to pick up the Developer Edition as cheaply as AT&T’s deal though, as it’s not available on contract. It won’t be priced as low as the new Nexus 4 either — a phone that’s also easily unlocked.
Motorola hasn’t provided a release date or a price for the Atrix HD Developer Edition, and suggests those interested should register for updates on its website.
The biggest representatives of every operating system go head-to-head-.to head. The iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3, and HTC Windows Phone 8X square off in a Spec Showdown. Which phone best meets your needs? Take a look at our comparison and make your call.
Since Apple makes its own products, it’s latest product is the default market leader for iOS. For Android and Windows Phone handsets, however, the field is wide open. The market defines the front runners with their wallets, and there’s the media darlings that manage to snag the hearts of reviewers. The Samsung Galaxy S3 has become Android’s model phone, in part because of an aggressive and enjoyable ad campaign, and because it’s just a darn good handset. With Windows Phone 8 just becoming available, we can’t be certain what the mobile operating system’s chief representative will be. What we can say with confidence, though, is that HTC’s Windows Phone 8X can make quite a case for itself. How do these three heavyweights of the handset world stack up against one another? Take a look at the stat sheet and draw your own conclusions.
Read our full reviews for the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3, and HTC Windows Phone 8X for our extended take on each option.
| iPhone 5 | Galaxy S3 | Windows Phone 8X | |
| Size | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 (mm) | 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 (mm) | 132.3 x 66.2 x 10.1 (mm) |
| Weight | 112g | 133g | 130g |
| Screen | 4.0-inch LCD | 4.8-inch Super AMOLED | 4.3-inch Super LCD 2 |
| Resolution | 1136×640 pixels | 1280×720 pixels | 1280×720 pixels |
| OS | iOS 6.0.1 | Android 4.0 with TouchWiz UI | Windows Phone 8 |
| Storage | 16/32/64GB | 16/32GB | 16GB |
| SD Card Slot | No | Yes | No |
| Processor | Dual-core A6X | Dual-core Snapdragon S4 (US) | Dual-core Snapdragon S4 |
| RAM | 1GB | 2GB | 1GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ |
| Camera | Front 1.2MP, Rear 8MP | Front 1.9MP, Rear 8MP | Front 2MP, Rear 8MP |
| Bluetooth | Yes, version 4.0 | Yes, version 4.0 | Yes, version 3.1 |
| Battery | 1440mAh | 2100mAh | 1800mAh |
| Charger | Lightning connector | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Marketplace | Apple App Store | Google Play Store | Windows Phone Store |
| Price | $200+ | $200+ | $100+ |
| Availability | AT&T, Sprint, Verizon | AT&T, Sprint, T-Mob, Verizon | AT&T, T-Mob, Verizon |
What it means: You can sit and compare the processing power and pixel-per-inch count on each device and come to a conclusion about which phone is most technically sound. That said, the biggest and most glaring difference between these three handsets is in one category: the operating system. Apple’s iOS is streamlined and smooth, like everything Apple; Google’s Android OS is in a seemingly constant state of upgrade, but rarely are the changes met with complaints; Windows Phone 8 brings the complete implementation of Live Tiles, and we’ve already started to see that Microsoft may be on to something. The deciding factor may come down to your other devices and computer. If you own a Mac, sticking with the Apple theme may be best for the purposes of continuity. PC users that sprung for Windows 8 should consider snagging the Windows Phone 8X to get the full functionality of the OS. Android devices can work with Mac, Windows, or even Linux, and the NFC features like S Beam make the Galaxy S3 appealing if your friends of co-workers also own the device. Luckily, if you are making your choice from this group, it’s hard to pick wrong.
(Specs by Jeffrey Van Camp)
Get the most out of your iPhone battery by following these steps, which should see you return the phone to it's charger less often.
It’s one of those first-world problems that we’re all trying to solve: How to make the battery on our iPhone last just that little while longer. Thanks to Apple’s wisdom, we can’t pull the battery and replace it with a fully charged one, so we have to examine our usage and the phone’s activities to extend the amount of time between charges.
Battery life can be increased just by familiarizing yourself with the Settings menu and toggling a few switches, some of which are fairly obvious, while others not so. Let’s get started: Open the Settings menu, and pay close attention.
Intermediate levelBy managing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Push, and the brightness of your iPhone’s screen, you’re well on your way to a longer lasting battery. But if you want more, then you’ll want to try these suggestions, although the effect won’t be as great as those described above.
So, you’ve done all that you can, but the charger still beckons. Then it’s time to get serious. If you want your battery to last, really last; then sacrifices need to be made.
Finally, if you want the best from your battery; look after it. Regular charging patterns are good for phone batteries, and continually having it at 10-percent and only charging it halfway will shorten its lifespan, and provide poor performance. Modern Li-ion batteries may not have the same issues as older Ni-cad cells, but that doesn’t mean they don’t respond to proper treatment.
Facebook takes aim at Craigslist, Halo 4 reviews arrive, the U.S. government launches a stolen phone database, Kim Dotcom reveals more details about his new cloud storage service, and Walmart teams up with streaming video company Boxee.
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The Wireless Association (CTIA) has announced the US database for stolen phones is now up and running. In case a phone gets in there it won’t be allowed to connect to any of the US networks.
The participating carriers in the database are AT&T, Cellcom, Nex-Tech Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless. They already deployed their IMEI databases of stolen phones and the merge should be completed within a year.
Part of the merged database is already live and when a phone pops in there – it will never get service from any of those networks. In the efforts of drying the stolen phones market this database will soon join the GSMA Global IMEI database and its blacklist. That way no phone stolen stateside will work overseas and vice versa.
This surely won’t stop the phone thefts, but will make things a lot tougher for the thieves and hopefully most of them will drop this “business” eventually.
AT&T and T-Mobile are working together on a joint database that could help reduce mobile phone thefts. It does so by blocking the stolen phone itself, not just the SIM card, and is part of a larger, unified, national database planned for this time next year.
The plan to build a unified database containing the details of all phones reported stolen in the US took a step forward this week, as the first of its kind, managed jointly by AT&T and T-Mobile, went live.
Announced back in April this year, the Federal Communications Commission brokered a deal between the all four of the US’s major network providers, and set a deadline for October 31 to get the database up and running.
It works like this: When a phone is reported stolen, its IMEI number — unique to every phone, and not tied to the easily removed SIM card — is logged and blocked, stopping it from ever being re-connected.
As networks already block the SIM card when a phone is reported stolen, avoiding unwanted charges on the customers bill, blocking the IMEI renders the phone useless too.
This should make the theft of mobile phones less attractive to criminals, as savvy buyers should be asking for, then checking the IMEI with their carrier to make sure it’s genuine and can be re-used.
AT&T and T-Mobile have created a joint database, as they’re both GSM networks and stolen phones could be connected to either one, while Verizon and Sprint are working on their own shared database. Both currently use internal lists of stolen phones.
By this time next year, all four databases will be pooled together, and smaller carriers will also have joined the scheme. Then, it will be merged with the GSMA’s international database to help prevent stolen phones being shipped in or out of the country.
Similar schemes are already in operation all over the world, and many have been for at least a decade, with countries such as the UK and Australia even providing websites where IMEI numbers can easily be checked by members of the public.
According to one mobile security firm, speaking to the Huffington Post, it’s estimated that mobile phone thefts will cost the American consumer $30 billion this year alone, making the database scheme highly desirable.
Samsung has announced a new accessory for the Galaxy Note II called the Smart Dock. This allows you to plug your phone into the dock and then use it as a makeshift desktop PC or media center.
The Smart Dock uses the microUSB port to interface with your Galaxy Note II. On the back is an HDMI port that will output 1080p video stream to a monitor or a TV. There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack for outputting stereo sound. The microUSB port on the back lets you connect the dock to a charger or a computer.
Along the sides are three USB 2.0 ports that allow you to connect external storage devices such as flash drives as well as a keyboard and a mouse.
It will be interesting to see what the interface will look like once you connect the dock to a display and whether the HDMI can output multichannel sound but we’ll have to wait till this thing ships to find out.
The Smart Dock is only compatible with the Galaxy Note II at the moment and will set you back by $99.99.
The HTC Windows Phone 8X has hit our office and we are rushing to bring you a short hands-on of the smarphone, complete with some live photos and a hands-on video.
It’s HTC’s flagship Windows Phone device and comes with the latest version of the Microsoft mobile platform, WP8, a Beats Audio amplifier inside, two wide-angle cameras on board, a gorgeous screen and a dual-core Krait processor.
Things are running as smooth as butter on the software side, which is in keeping with Windows Phone’s reputation since day one.
Windows Phone 8 brings an array of new features and the Windows Phone 8X takes full advantage of them all.
There’s improved SkyDrive integration, resizeable live tiles, new Xbox Live features like Music, DivX/XviD video support and others.
The design of the HTC Windows Phone 8X is very comfortable for one handed operation. The smartphone has tapered edges and looks pretty slim at first, but you quickly realize that thickness builds up towards the center of the device.
However we’re not big fans of the bezels around the screen, especially above and below it. The Windows Phone 8X is virtually the same size as a One X, despite offering a far smaller 4.3″ display (vs 4.7″).
We take the Windows Phone 8S by HTC a test ride. Though it runs on lower-end specs, this T-Mobile phone appears to still pack a punch.
Though its often most fun to write about the fanciest and most expensive smartphones on the market, not everyone can afford them Luckily, there are a growing class of 2nd tier phones that still manage to provide a competitive experience. During my time with the Windows Phone 8S by HTC, it appears to be just such a device. The 8S has 4GB of internal storage, 512MB of RAM, and a 5-megapixel rear camera, but its 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor is no slouch. I’m also a fan of its 4-inch 800 x 480 pixel screen. The resolution isn’t high and the RAM isn’t plentiful, but the phone appears to run Windows Phone 8 quite responsively. Overall, it should have a slight edge over many Windows Phone 7.5 devices on the market today. And hey, it comes in a number of pretty colors. T-Mobile will be carrying the 8S in the coming weeks.
Today is a pretty important day for Microsoft, as the company is launching the latest iteration of its Windows Phone mobile platform.
And to make sure that everybody understands and learns all about the new features Windows Phone 8 packs, Microsoft’s Corporate VP of Windows Phone, Joe Belifore stands in front of the camera for a lengthy 18-minute video showcase of the OS.
Dubbing it the “most personal smartphone around”, Mr. Belifore uses an HTC Windows Phone 8X and a Nokia Lumia 920 to demo nearly all the feature Microsoft’s mobile OS offers. He also doesn’t miss the opportunity to poke iOS and Android for the lack of live tiles and the ability to feed you with new information.
So, get some popcorn and watch the video below. Scroll after 1:00 for the iOS and Android commentary.
Have some popcorn left? Thirsty for even more in-depth review of Windows Phone 8? No problem, just check out our extensive review of Microsoft’s new mobile platform.
Verizon has welcomed Windows Phone back into the family with the announcement of the Nokia Lumia 822, an exclusive Windows Phone 8 device set to be released soon.
Verizon has announced the Nokia Lumia 822, a Windows Phone 8 handset exclusive to the network. The news comes a few hours ahead of Microsoft’s big Windows Phone 8 event, which will be held in San Francisco, where the last pieces of information regarding the new OS will be shared.
In the meantime, lets look at the Lumia 822. The screen measures 4.3-inches and hides behind a sheet of protective Gorilla Glass, and although no resolution is mentioned in the press release, it’s likely to be the same as the GSM Lumia 820, which stands at 480 x 800 pixels.
An 8-megapixel camera sits on the rear of the curvy device, complete with Carl Zeiss lens and 1080p video recording, while a 1.2-megapixel video call lens can be found above the screen around the front.
Nokia makes a point to emphasize all the applications it bundles with its Lumia phones, including Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive, City Lens and the recently launched Nokia Music. This music streaming service has been out in Europe for a while, and is particularly interesting due to there being no subscription charge and no streamed advertising either.
Other features include NFC, Bluetooth and a choice of black, white or an online exclusive grey color scheme, plus the chance to swap the rear cover for one that enables wireless charging.
The Lumia 822 will connect to Verizon’s 4G LTE network, but aside from all this there is a lack of information on the device’s finer technical points. That won’t stop us hazarding a guess though, as the 822 will probably share the same dual-core, 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory as the Lumia 820.
All this is identical to the Lumia 810 too, which is exclusive to T-Mobile USA, while the Lumia 820 can only be found with AT&T. As they share the same spec sheet, the 810, 822 and 820 should really be considered network-exclusive designs, as the differences are all cosmetic.
The Lumia 822 is the first Windows Phone to hit Verizon since last year, when it carried the affordable Lumia 710, and confirms rumors dating back to August of the network’s plans to once again carry handsets running Microsoft’s mobile operating system. Verizon and Nokia have so far committed only to the Lumia 822’s “upcoming availability,” so we’d expect to hear more following Microsoft’s final big reveal later today.
Following in the footsteps of Apple, one of its biggest competitors, a Google employee left a Nexus 4 prototype at a bar in San Francisco. Refusing a free phone, the man who found it decided to leak details of the device to media outlets.
Turns out Apple isn’t the only one who knows how to lose a smartphone in a bar because it looks like someone at Google did the same thing. To refresh your memory, a man named Brian Hogan found an iPhone 4 prototype in a bar left behind by an Apple engineer. Hogan ended up selling it to Gizmodo for $5,000 and consequently ended up in a lot of trouble. This story ends a little differently.
The bar this time around was the 500 Club in San Francisco. It happened on a Tuesday of last month. Jamin Barton, a bartender nicknamed “Sudsy”, found the phone while closing. At first, he didn’t think anything of it.
“We find about 20 a week,” Barton told Wired. ”Most people come back for them in 15 minutes.”
But this particular phone didn’t seem like the others. Nobody came to pick it up and Barton noticed quite a few peculiar features like a lack of SIM card and a “not for sale” sticker accompanying a Google logo on the rear panel. Once he showed it to fellow 500 Club employee, Dave, it was confirmed to be the upcoming Nexus 4.
The Nexus 4 is the smartphone Google was planning to unveil in New York on October 29, but that event has since been cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy. And, we might add, every detail about the Nexus 4 has already been leaked, including photos of the device. It will be manufactured by LG and have a 4.7 inch display, a quad-core processor, and ship with Android 4.2. If it was meant to be a secret then Google clearly dropped the ball.
Dave took over from there, offering to call Google HQ and explain what had happened. And much like Apple, Google blew the whole thing out of proportion. Brian Katz, Google’s global investigations and intelligence manager, was sent to the 500 Club almost immediately. Dave assured Google that Barton would hand over the phone as long as whoever picked it up confirmed their affiliation with Google.
Long story short, after some drama involving a riot and the local police station, Dave handed the phone over to Katz. In exchange, Katz offered Barton a free phone if he would agree to keep the incident under wraps and not discuss it with the pubic until after the official announcement. Obviously, Barton refused the offer and was paid a freelance fee by Wired for providing photos published alongside the article. Looks like isn’t the only one that’s lost control of its secrets.
The Sony Xperia TL will be available on AT&T from November 2 for $100 on a two-year contract. The new phone will be featured in the new Bond movie Skyfall and comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera.
We covered the announcement of the Sony Xperia TL on AT&T and now we can bring you the details on the release date and price. AT&T has just revealed that the “James Bond” smartphone which features in the new Bond movie Skyfall can be snapped up for $100 on a two-year contract.
The big selling point, beyond owning a Bond product placement, is the 13-megapixel camera which is super-fast – capable of going from standby to capturing a shot in 1.5 seconds flat. There’s also HD video recording and a snazzy 4.6-inch HD Bravia-branded “Reality Display” to enjoy your footage on.
Throw in “One-touch connectivity” powered by NFC, which allows you to share content across multiple devices (provided they are NFC-enabled, of course). There’s also 4G LTE connectivity, HDMI, DLNA support, and a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, which adds up to a fairly decent looking Android phone. Pity it’s shipping with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich); you’d expect Bond to demand the latest version of Android, although Q promises an Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) update shortly.
As part of the 007 tie-in you’ll find an assortment of preloaded content including ringtones, behind the scenes footage, wallpapers, and more. Check out the video for a closer look.
