This could be Nokia’s answer to ipod shuffle

Once again @evleaks gives us some interesting news. And this time its about Nokia. The picture (above) shows a basic audio device that, he says, is similar to Apple's entry-level music player, except that it has NFC to allow easy pairing to either a smartphone or to other speakers and headphones. There's also a micro USB charging and/or sync port, as well as some very simple controls, although we can't see if there are any buttons on the far side. As to whether this thing -- which may be called the "Guru" -- is just another Bluetooth receiver and DAC for headsets (like Nokia's existing BH-221), or whether it has local storage and other features of its own, we'll probably find out in Nokia's event.

HTC’s CEO and Chairwoman hints at future tablets and wearable devices

In interview with the Financial Times, HTC CEO Peter Chou and Chairwoman Cher Wang offered some fresh insight into the troubled smartphone maker's future plans — including hints at entries into new product categories.

For future products, the HTC CEO and Chairwoman hinted at a return to the tablet market, as well as a possible entry into the world of wearables. Chou reportedly mentions that HTC worked on a smart-watch type device with Microsoft "several years ago," but dismissed the current crop of wearables: “It has to meet a need, otherwise if it’s just a gimmick or concept, it’s not for people’s day-to-day lives. That is an opportunity for us.” Nevertheless, he describes wearables as "a critical segment for us," adding “it matches what we do today as a mobile experience overall. That is one area we are excited about.”

Wang is quoted as saying, “when the [HTC] tablet comes out it will be something nice and disruptive.” But with strong competition from many of the major consumer electronics brands, HTC, as a smaller player with fewer marketing dollars to spend, could find its tablets facing issues similar to those affecting its smartphone business.

Chou, however, shares a more optimistic view: “The market is really big. HTC is a small company. For us to stay competitive and survive is not a huge problem.” He adds that there's a good chance of the company winning a 15 percent share of the high-end market, and a five percent overall smartphone market share — a figure he describes as a “pretty good number for us.”

Sony to introduce fast wireless charging in 2014

Samsung isn't the only smartphone manufacturer looking to shake up wireless charging, as Sony is rumored to be working on technology capable of charging its Xperia handsets fast wirelessly.

Sony, together with electronics supplier Rohm Co., has developed wireless charging technology using between 10 and 15 watts and supplies twice the energy of earlier wireless chargers. The end result, it's said, is double the charging speed, meaning a smartphone can be fully charged, wirelessly, in just one hour.

Earlier this week, a separate report revealed that Samsung is also eyeing improvements for wireless charging for inclusion in next year's Galaxy S5 smartphone.

Samsung's technology would allow handsets to be charged from a distance by using magnetic resonance, even when the source charger isn't actually making contact with the device. Wow! This looks interesting.

Commercialization of the new tech is expected to begin in the second half of 2014, meaning we could see it in Sony smartphones and other devices before the end of next year.

Lenovo A10 – An Android Laptop

Lenovo recently announced the Lenovo A10, an affordable, ultra-portable, dual-mode laptop and the company’s first to run on Android 4.2 OS. Weighing less than 1 kg and measuring just 17.3 mm at its thickest point, the Lenovo A10 is an ideal companion for users on the go, providing easy access to a wide range of apps on a unique, dual-mode platform, which enhances the user experience for entertainment and Web browsing as well as productivity.

The A10 sports a 10.1-inch HD 1,366 x 768 resolution touch screen display. The screen flips back 300 degrees to transform into "stand mode," and uses the keyboard surface as a stand to prop it up. The stable hinge and “fold-back” design keeps the device steady and prevents shaking and bouncing while using the 10-point multi-touch screen. It also sports stereo speakers and a .3-megapixel camera for video chatting. It's powered by a 1.6 GHz quad-core Cortex-A9 ARM processor, with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. Lenovo says it can play video for up to 9 hours on battery power.

The company has also built file manager software into the A10, which it claims "makes it easy to locate and manage a library of documents, videos and music. The A10 also includes a full AccuType keyboard and touch pad.

With the recent explosive growth in Android-based, smart connected devices, customers are relying more on Android apps for both work and play. Lenovo’s A10 brings ultra-portability and dual-mode benefits to Android users at a reasonable price,” said Bai Peng, vice president and general manager, notebook business unit, Lenovo Business Group.

Amazon partnering with HTC to release its phones

Rumors of an Amazon smartphone have circulated for well over a year now, but a new report says that the retail giant will use HTC to help it make its upcoming devices. Three different smartphones are said to be in development.

Sources of the Financial Times claim that a range of phones are in the works, with at least one that is in advanced stages. The phone is said to be released as early as the end of this year, but launch plans have changed before and may be pushed back again until 2014.

Earlier rumors pointed to two different Amazon smartphones, one of which would use a new 3D interface. The other device is rumored to be at a very low price.

Amazon has traditionally used white label manufacturers for its Kindle devices, holding all branding to itself. The move to partnering with HTC for manufacturing is something that HTC is well-accustomed to, but it's unclear what Amazon has to gain from having the HTC logo on its devices.

Both Amazon and HTC declined to comment on the rumors to The Financial Times, but chief of marketing Ben Ho told the paper that "We have been very focused on building our own brand, but we have also been very open to co-branding and collaborating with carriers and other technology brands.”

Presumably the partnership could be mutually beneficial if Amazon targets the product correctly. Amazon could potentially leverage HTC's brand recognition and history of dealing with wireless carriers, and an Amazon-driven phone that sells extremely well would be a boon for HTC's currently struggling financial situation.

Angry Birds Go! Coming Soon

Looks like Rovio is experimenting. Its latest installment in the Angry birds series is a downhill racing game called Angry Birds Go!. The Go! is not like kart racing games of the past like Mario Kart, with side-by-side racing taking you through difficult obstacles, collecting coins and taking out opponents along the way but will be more fun to play.

Angry Birds Go! is a full 3D game - the first in Rovio's history. And even though the gameplay trailer is almost certainly running on iOS hardware, the graphics are good enough. Even the design of the environments and the karts themselves are interesting, incorporating the whimsical nature of the parent franchise. The game includes weapons, power-ups, and various environmental hazards in typical kart racer fashion.

Rovio is also telling us up front that the game will be free-to-play, with several game modes and features included from the start. But we know there will be some kind of catch here, and can expect things such as kart customizations and unlocks to be managed through in-app purchases.

Excited to play? Rovio says that the game will be hitting Android soon.

Skullcandy Smokin Buds 2

Smokin Buds 2 are Skullcandy's popular earbuds that are equipped with Supreme Sound and extra sonic kick. These in-ear headphones deliver great audio while the squishy Off Axis silicone gel ear pieces give you maximum comfort. The Smokin' Buds 2 earbuds fit perfectly into a discrete size carrying case you can stash them anywhere and go and come equipped with Mic1+ so you can control your device with one button mic & remote.

The buds are made up of moisture resistant material and will not play victim to your sweaty adventures. The Skullcandy Smokin Buds 2 earbuds are a great choice for audio clarity and on the go sound and is available in a wide range combination of colors like white-black, black-hot red, black-hot blue, black-black, blue-hot lime, hot lime-purple, plum and tortoise. So choose your color and enjoy.

HTC One Max Review

The HTC One was one of our favorite Android phones around, pairing the luxurious metal body more typically seen on the iPhone with a bigger screen and the customizability of Android. Now here comes an enlarged version of the original One or we can call it the father of HTC One – the HTC One max.

HTC has just officially announced the One Max, its latest Android smartphone with a whopping 5.9-inch 1080p display. It has a pixel density of 373 pixels per inch, undercutting its smaller sibling's 446ppi. Styled similarly to the rest of its One series with an aluminum chassis, the One Max runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and the new Sense 5.5 UI, and debuts as HTC's largest smartphone to date.

Aside from its size, the One Max brings other big changes, including a fingerprint scanner on its rear side. While it isn't as neat as the iPhone 5s's, it does the basic job of letting you log in with a swipe of your fingertip. Another thing is that the back cover is now removable, letting you expand the 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage with up to 64GB more via micro SD -- a feature that was missing on the One and on the One X before that.

The One Max sticks with a Snapdragon 600 (with 2GB of RAM) for processing, rather than the superior Snapdragon 800 used in rival devices like the Sony Xperia Z Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

The display is very bright and has excellent colors thanks to its satisfyingly deep black levels. The Max's handling of color, together with its sheer size makes it an excellent choice for those of you wanting to watch movies and play glossy games on the go.

To the left of the home screens is HTC's news aggregator Blinkfeed. If you've ever used apps like Flipboard before then it'll be quite familiar. It shows your social networks as well as select articles from chosen news sources in a cascade of icons for you to swipe through. It's attractive and very easy to see what's new.

The One Max packs in the same 4-megapixel camera found inside the standard One. 4 megapixels might not seem like very much in comparison to the 20.7-megapixel Sony Xperia Z1, but HTC reckons the individual pixels are better, allowing them to take in more light and therefore give better-looking photos.

Conclusion

If big screens and metal bodies are on your wish-list then go for the One Max, but for most of you the standard One is a better option.

HTC One Max key specifications

• 5.9-inch full-HD LCD display
• 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor
• 2GB of RAM
• Android 4.3 Jelly Bean with Sense 5.5 UI
• 16GB/ 32GB inbuilt storage variants, expandable up to 64GB via micro SD card
• Battery : 3,300 mAh
• 164.5x82.5x10.29mm
• 217 grams

Amazon kindle Paperwhite (2013)

Amazon has launched a new kindle called the kindle paperwhite. The Amazon Kindle paperwhite, is the closest you can come to reading an actual book. The new Paperwhite has a series of hardware upgrades and some new software as well.

It is the first product to feature E Ink's Pearl 2 display, which offers better contrast, along with 1GHz processor (25 percent faster than the 800MHz found in the original Paperwhite), a next-generation built-in light, and a more responsive touch-screen display (1,024x768-pixel resolution with 212 pixels per inch) that has a 19 percent tighter touch grid. It's also a hair lighter, weighing 7.3 ounces instead of 7.5 ounces.

While the two models look the same (there's an Amazon logo on the back instead of a Kindle logo), the most immediate difference you notice is that the new screen is gorgeous and whiter than before. It really is a lot more attractive and easier to read than the previous model, which looks blue and unevenly lit by comparison.

While reading you can highlight passages or even Tweet parts of it. There is also the wonderful X-ray feature which lets you see all references to a name or a term in the entire book. This is a great feature when reading long books where you want to check where this character has appeared before.

But best of all, you can read a Kindle under the sun or inside a blanket, as it is not affected by ambient light. And that is something a book can't do. It also syncs with all your other Kindle apps on phones and tablets. Also, you open to a book right where you left it on another device. 

This one is for people who do not wish to carry around stacks of bound paper in their backpacks and pockets. So if you love books. You will love the Kindle too.

The basic Wi-Fi model costs around $120 (र 10,999 in India) and the 3G version costs $190 (र 13,999).

Samsung new flip-phone leaks

Samsung is allegedly working on a new dual-screen flip phone, the SM-W2014, if a rumour is to be believed.

The alleged Samsung SM-W2014 flip phone has been spotted at Tenna (Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center which can be considered the Chinese equivalent of the US' FCC. The leaked images at the site reveal a dual-screen setup in the alleged flip phone.

The SM-W2014 features the latest Snapdragon 800 processor and an ample 2 GB of RAM to go along with its dual 3.67-inch, 800 x 480 Super AMOLED displays. There's also a 13-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front camera, 802.11 ac Wi-Fi and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Now that you've digested all that, don't get too excited about a retro fling -- like its sibling devices, the brassy-looking model is probably bound for China only. But we are guessing that at some point it may enter other Asian markets as well.

HP Chromebook 11 Review

Google’s on a mission to connect the world to the internet, by hook or by crook. (Or by balloon). Now Google has a new product category, and it's called Chromebook. No, it's not really new: it's existed for years, but a lot of people still don't really know about it.

HP has recently launched a new Chromebook. The HP Chromebook 11 is cute, compact, simple, and attractive. It looks like the little simple mini-computer it really is. It's like the iphone 5c of Chromebooks: you've seen this technology before, but now it looks cleaner, friendlier, and more colorful.

The 11.6-inch Chromebook has specs that match a tablet more than a laptop: a dual-core Exynos ARM processor, 2 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of SSD storage. Inside the box is a Micro-USB charger that's pretty compact, and can also charge up Micro-USB tablets, phones or other devices.

Crafting the Chromebook 11 out of glossy plastic on top of a magnesium alloy frame. It comes in black and white, with four accent colors on the white model — red, yellow, blue, or green stripes encircle the keyboard and color the rubber feet on the bottom. Mostly it’s black or white, though, and both make a striking first impression. The white is bright and fun; the black stealthy, ominous.

Chrome OS keeps getting better, Google Drive more robust, and Google Chromecast now offers a way to stream content wirelessly to a TV. All of these make a Chromebook a more interesting bet than even a few months ago. It's not for everyone, but the Chromebook is finally making a case for being a fun, family-friendly product in its own right.

The Chromebook 11 is a clean, colorful device, with looks that fall somewhere between any MacBook and kid-friendly PC. This year Chromebook has some improvements such that the Speakers are hidden under the keyboard; the goal is less muffled sound. Indeed, this Chromebook pumped out some impressive volume, and movies actually sounded decent. Combined with the VGA camera above the display, this might be a good ultra-portable for Google Hangouts in loud places.

So, here's the thing about Chrome OS: it's fast-booting and excellent for Web-based work, and there are a growing number of apps, both for free and for purchase in the Chrome Web Store that enable additional functions. But, these apps all feel like browser extensions, and most of Chrome OS really feels like a specialized super-browser than any sort of Mac/Windows (or even iOS/Android) killer.

On its website, Google promotes the HP Chromebook “for everyone,” but it’s not for everyone. A lot of people need to use a Windows or Mac PC because they need the software that only a full fledged laptop can run.

But for many people, the Chromebook might be all they need, at least in a portable device. If they don’t need desktop software but mostly want to surf the web, watch streaming video, do their email and use web apps, than the Chromebook might be all they need.

Google will start using your data to sell products to friends

Google recently announced an update to its terms of service that outlines how it might use your content in advertisements across its network.

Google users will soon find themselves unwittingly advertising products for the company, thanks to a massive change Google is making to its terms of service. First reported by the New York Times, the change categorizes a user's follows, comments, and +1s as "shared endorsements" for a product or service. These shared endorsements can be used to build ads across the platform, pulling in a user's profile name and photograph to help boost the ad's credibility.

In simple language for those with a Google Account, a +1 you give or review you write might be used alongside an advertisement for the business you endorsed. For example, "The +1 you gave your favorite restaurant could be included in an ad that the restaurant runs through Google”.

Google hasn't specified what these new ads will look like, but the expanded terms of service would allow much more social information to be included in the shared endorsement. The changes will be advertised on Google's homepage and in search results, so the company hopes that users will be aware of the changes before they go into place on November 11th. Google will build ads using information from adult users, so anyone under the age of 18 will be automatically opted out.

In case you don't want Google using your information, you can opt out by navigating to the shared endorsement setting, unchecking the box at the bottom, and clicking "Save". The setting will be on by default, but if you previously told Google that you did not want your +1's to appear in ads, then of course we'll continue to respect that choice as a part of this updated setting," Google said.

Google+ has never enjoyed the organic success of its competitors, and the enormous, potentially severe privacy implications of the change certainly aren't going to help. The new advertising model is similar to Facebook, which shows which of your friends have liked a business or service on its social networking site. As with Facebook, Google provides the ability to opt out of the new shared endorsement program. Users who have previously opted out of sharing their +1s with friends will also be opted out of the expanded shared endorsements, but for everyone else the new feature will be automatically enabled on November 11th.

Archos Gamepad 2 Review

Archos, the French manufacturer has officially announced the GamePad 2 — its second attempt at an Android-powered handheld gaming device. Like its predecessor, the new GamePad features a 7-inch display, but the resolution's been upped to 1280 x 800 pixels. Similarly, it's now packing a 1.6 GHz quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM, which should improve performance and multitasking capabilities.

Storage-wise, you're looking at 16 and 32 GB options with micro SD support for up to 64 GB cards. Apps to SD support is included too, allowing you to push some apps to external storage. And it's running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with the full complement of Google apps.

Archos is also touting a new version of its Game Mapping tool, which lets gamers map any area of the screen to one of the physical buttons, allowing compatibility even with games that don't natively support hardware controls. And to sweeten the deal it's throwing in full complete versions of Gameloft's Asphalt 8: Airborne and Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, fully optimized for use with gamepad controls.

The GamePad 2 is expected to go on sale at the end of this month, with prices starting at $199.99.

Samsung reveals Galaxy Round – A curved smartphone

Samsung has just released initial details on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Round. A phone with a display that is notably curved on the vertical axis. With a curve that is much more pronounced and technologically impressive than previous "curved" phones, Samsung is definitely taking things to a new level.

Samsung says that it has also developed new software experiences to take advantage of the curved design such as tilting the phone while it's sitting on a table to check notifications, battery life and the time.Throughout the interface Samsung is working to make the software feel more at home on a curved display, offering tilt-based interfaces for some apps.

Beyond that wacky curved form factor, the Galaxy Round is powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core processor paired with 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a 2800mAh battery. We're also looking at a 13MP camera and the same Android 4.3 software experience you know from other Samsung devices. The overall dimensions of the Galaxy Round come in at 151 x 79 x 7.9mm, which is nearly identical to the Galaxy Note 3.

Official Samsung Galaxy Round specs (Korean Market)

• Network: LTE 150mbps (Korean market)
• Connectivity: Wifi a/b/g/n/ac, Wifi Direct, BT 4.0 (BLE), USB 3.0, GPS+GLONASS, NFC
• Processor: MSM 8974 quad-core Krait at 2.3 GHz
• Display: 5.7-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) Super Flexible ​AMOLED, 386 ppi
• Memory: 32 GB + microSD (up to 64GB)
• RAM: 3GB
• OS: Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
• Rear Camera: 13MP AF with flash
• Front Camera: 2MP
• Camera Features: Drama Shot, Sound & Shot, Animated Photo, Eraser, Best Photo, Best Face, Beauty Face, HDR (High Dynamic Range), Panorama, Sports, Golf, Surround shot, Live effect
• Additional Features: Group Play: Share Music, Share Picture, Share Video, Share Document, Play Games; Story Album, S Translator; Samsung Smart Scroll, Samsung Smart Pause, Air Gesture, Air View; Samsung Apps, Samsung Hub, ChatON (Voice/Video Call, Share screen, 3-way calling), Samsung WatchON; S Voice™ Hands Free, S Health; Samsung Adapt Display, Samsung Adapt Sound; Auto adjust touch sensitivity (Glove friendly); Samsung Link, Screen Mirroring; Safety Assistance, Samsung KNOX
• Dimensions: 151.1 ⅹ 79.6 ⅹ 7.9mm
• Weight: 154g
• Battery: 2800mAh

      

Some specs may vary when it’s launched in other countries.

     

Apple's iPad event set for October 22

Apple has a couple more new products to announce before the year is out, and it plans to unveil them in a few week’s time. Apple will hold a special event later this month to unveil new iPads, along with the Mac Pro and OS X Mavericks.

AllThingsD seems to have some pretty solid sources within Apple's walls, as it was spot-on last month when it predicted the date of the iPhone event.

The date is the same as Nokia's Nokia World event, which takes place in Abu Dhabi and is expected to bring new Lumia phones. It's also the same day Microsoft's Surface 2 tablets go on sale.

As for what the new iPads will look like, that's unlikely to be a surprise. A series of leaks has strongly suggested the next full-sized iPads will look just like last year's Mini, with more angled edges, a portrait shaped bezel, and a thinner design. The Mini itself is expected to sport upgraded internals and come in new colors to match Apple's recently-launched iPhone 5S models. AllThingsD also suggests the minis will get a Retina Display, a feature that's said to be on the fence.

What might be a surprise is whether either of the new iPads will include Apple's Touch ID sensors, which allow users to unlock the device and make iTunes purchases with their fingerprints. That sensor replaced the home button on the iPhone 5S, and it's unclear whether Apple intended to limit the technology to its phones for the time being.

Beyond the iPad, Apple still has yet to name a price or release date for its Mac Pro or OS X Mavericks -- the two other products that are expected at the event. The Mac Pro is an all new design that was briefly previewed during Apple's developer conference in June. Mavericks, which is a follow-up to last year's OS X Mountain Lion, also debuted at WWDC and has been in beta testing to developers since then.

We haven't heard any official news of what Apple has in its bag, but we're pretty confident that it'll be a full show. Apple typically invites media to such events a week or so before, suggesting we'll all have more details early next week.

LG introducing curved and cable batteries for future products

Following up on statements that it has already begun producing 6-inch curved displays, LG is also announcing that it is ready to produce curved batteries. Building up on previous advancements in battery technology that yielded the "stepped battery" in the LG G2, the LG Chem division of the company is now making the move to produce both curved and what it calls "cable batteries."

According to LG, the company has a patent on a "Stack & Folding" technology that lets it build a battery with several steps in it, producing the end result of a curved battery for devices in that form factor. Beyond the logical step of a curved phone, LG says that the batteries could be applied to watches and glasses as well. The curved batteries have already entered mass production, and will power the next set of phones from LG.

Looking farther into the future is the cable battery, which is physically bendable and malleable. The battery takes the shape of any other electronic cable, can be tied into a knot or turned in any way and still work and is even waterproof. LG sees the cable battery being used in wearable gadgets of all kinds that require being flexible rather than rigid.

HTC One 18 Carat Gold Edition

Sure, you can get the iPhone 5S or the Samsung Galaxy S4 in gold colors, but HTC UK has one-upped them all with an HTC One made of real gold.

The Gold HTC One comes as a very limited edition — only five of them will be produced — and with a hefty price tag of £2,750 ($4,416). As for its specifications, they are the same as the regular HTC One, but its unibody casing on the front and back is plated with 18ct gold.

The device, crafted in partnership with Goldgenie founder Laban Roomes, also has a special MOBO 18 logo etched on the back.

iPhone 6 release date and rumors

Given the iPhone's history - from the 3G onwards, there's always been a half-step S model before the next numbered iPhone - so it was no surprise the 5S was first and so we're looking at 2014 for a new iPhone 6.

One thing is for sure, with potential refreshes of such super handsets as the Samsung Galaxy S4, Sony Xperia Z and HTC One, the next iPhone will have to seriously up its game.

The iPhone 6 release date will be in 2014. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek says that there will be a June 2014 release for the iPhone 6.

Interestingly, in May 2013 Stuff reported it received a photo of the till system at a Vodafone UK store (which it has since removed along with the reference to Vodafone), with '4G iPhone 6' listed.

With iOS 7 heading out of the traps now, we'd expect a November or December release date for iOS 8 in line with previous releases.

We've already seen a 128GB iPad, so why not a 128GB iPhone 6? Yes, it'll cost a fortune, but high-spending early adopters love this stuff.

According to Business Insider, of the many iPhone 6 prototypes Apple has made, one has a giant Retina+ IGZO display, a new A7 quad-core processor and a "new form factor with no home button. Gesture control is also possibly included". It will surely include Apple's new Touch ID finger print tech though?

It's also been widely reported that Apple could introduce two handset sizes as it seeks to compete with the plethora of Android devices now on the market. Patents show that Apple has been thinking about magical morphing technology that can hide sensors and even cameras. Will it make it into the iPhone 6? Probably not.

iPhone 6 processor: Not a huge surprise, this one: the next processor one will be a quad-core A8 or an evolved A7. The big sell here is more power with better efficiency, which should help battery life.

An Apple patent, uncovered by Apple Insider in May 2013, shows a system where an iPhone can remotely control other illuminating devices - extra flashes. It would work in a similar manner to that seen in professional photography studios. Interesting stuff.

One thing seems certain - Apple can't ignore the massive movement towards eye-tracking tech from other vendors, especially Samsung. It seems a shoe-in that Apple will deliver some kind of motion tech within the next iPhone, probably from uMoove.

 CP Tech reports that Apple has filed a patent for efficient wireless charging, but then again Apple has filed patents for pretty much anything imaginable. The tasty bit of this particular patent is that Apple's tech wouldn't just charge one device, but multiple ones.

And could the iPhone 6 really have 3D? It's unlikely, but the rumors keep on coming.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 - 2014 Edition

If you want your product to sound like it belongs in the future, why not name it after the future itself? Taking a page from the auto industry, Samsung named its new Galaxy Note 10.1 for the coming year, dubbing it the 2014 edition.

We first saw the Note 10.1 back in Berlin at IFA 2013, and were impressed with the thinness, the responsiveness and above all the beautiful 2560 x 1600 screen. The front of the note 10.1 shares the same capacitive and physical button placement as the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. But now the two capacitive buttons (menu and back) works with the S Pen.

What's most initially striking about Note 10.1 is what's going on behind it: the faux-leather rear. Here we have a soft, textured "leather-like" material that's meant to resemble a leather book cover. It provides a firmer grip than Samsung's usual cheap plastic, especially when your palms get a bit sweaty.  

The display is great. It's clear, crisp, and the resolution makes watching video or reading text a wonderful experience. Billed as a "Super clear LCD" the capacitive touch screen displays 16 million colors with a 2560 x 1600 resolution that gives the Note 10.1 a whopping 299 ppi density. Behind the screen is Samsung's snappy and high-powered Exynos 1.9GHz quad-core processor, plus a second 1.3GHz quad-core processor paired with 3GB of RAM. The 3GB of RAM is easy to understand, you have an extra GB to do more things faster. The Note 10.1 comes with the latest version of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. 

The Note 10.1 is equipped with an exceptional 8-megapixel camera on the rear, which snaps remarkably sharp photos in even dimly lit conditions. 

There are also some big new features built into the operating system. My Magazine is a very nicely done Flipboard clone, complete with news, personal data, social networking and local information built into the flip-card interface. Multi-window applications are there and work as designed, facial and eye tracking to keep the screen from blinking out are there, Adaptive sound, blocking mode, nearby devices — all that you saw from the previous Note devices is still around.

Air command encompasses the new S Pen features, and makes for a fine addition to the Note software. When you remove the S Pen from its holder it will automatically open, or you can just hover the S Pen over the screen and tap the button to activate it. Its menu shows a palette of Air command functions.

There are five Air Command functions:

• Pen Window, which lets you scrawl a square or rectangle door on the screen into which then magically pops a menu of seven compatible apps that, when you tap one, appears in that drawn picture-in-picture window.
• S Finder, an extensive universal (device and web) search tool, which also lets you hand-write symbols as part of your search.
• Screen write, which enables you to choose from a variety of stylus line thicknesses and colors to draw or write on any screen, then save and/or share that screen.
• Scrapbooker, which lets you circle and clip segments from any screen for saving and/or sharing.
• Action Memo, which lets you scrawl handwritten notes and can translate scrawled email addresses and Web URLs into actual usable email address and URLs.

All in all, this is the best version of TouchWiz yet. Right up front — this is a worthy upgrade from the original. It's faster, better built, and has better S Pen functionality. That's a no-brainer and if you're looking to upgrade last-years model you can buy with confidence. 

I see situations where the S Pen could be a huge time saver, and think it can boost the productivity factor of what is basically an entertainment portal. Artists, musicians, teachers, construction workers, warehouse employees — the list goes on and on of people who may find the Note features worthwhile and useful in their day-to-day life.

Full specifications

• Platform: Android 4.3 with TouchWiz
• Display: 10.1-inch Super clear LCD with 2560 x 1600 resolution, 299 ppi
• Memory: 3GB RAM; 16/32/64 GB storage; micro SD card slot
• Camera: 8MP rear with LED flash; 2.0MP front
• Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n/ac dual-band Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0; A-GPS and GLONASS
• Sensors: Accelerometer; proximity; compass
• Battery: 8220mAh Lithium Ion
• Dimensions: 243.1 x 171.4 x 7.9 mm, 535 grams

Nexus 5 Technical manual leaks

For the Nexus fans out there this is some big news. A draft of the official LG service manual for the next Nexus has been posted online. It's a 281 page document, filled with troubleshooting materials, circuit schematics and pinouts, but it does have a couple really interesting things hidden inside.

First of all, the line drawing (see above pictures) gives us the complete look at the overall device design. Picture the G2, with some minor cosmetic changes and no weird button placement. The back of the unit is also pictured, and it matches up well with some previously leaked images and looks similar to the Nexus 7 from a materials stand point.

But most important to many Nexus fans are the specs. The document gives us a peek at most of the device's specs, confirming and expanding upon recent rumors – here's a quick rundown of what it reveals.

• 4.95" 1080p display (IPS TFT for those interested)
• Snapdragon 800  quad core CPU at 2.3GHz
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB internal storage (other capacities not specified)
• 8MP OIS rear camera, 1.3MP front camera
• Wireless charging
• 2300mAh battery
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Proximity/Ambient Light, Pressure
• HDMI out via Slimport
• Micro SIM slot
• Notification LED
• NFC
• Bluetooth 3.0 (We assume this is an error – Bluetooth 4.0 appears elsewhere in the document, but according to the last page it's still a draft.)
• UMTS/GSM/CDMA/LTE compatibility

Right now, we have no reason to believe that this isn't the real deal. Remember, though, that the leaked document is a draft and could likely have some errors.

Google, Cisco & Samsung Among Potential Tech Buyers of BlackBerry

In September BlackBerry received a $4.7 billion buyout offer from Canadian holding company Fairfax Financial, but it's still pursuing possible deals with other companies. Google, SAP and Cisco are among a number of technology companies interested in buying up portions — or all — of BlackBerry’s business, according to Reuters. The company, based in Waterloo, Ontario, has asked for preliminary expressions of interest from potential strategic buyers, which also include Intel Corp and Asian companies LG and Samsung, by early next week.

It is unclear which parties will bid, if any. But the potential technology buyers have been especially interested in BlackBerry's secure server network and patent portfolio, although doubts about the assets' value remain an issue, the sources said.

Late last month, days before BlackBerry reported a $965 million quarterly loss (due mostly to a write-down on unsold Z10 devices), it signed a letter of intent to go private. Its largest shareholder, Fairfax Financial Holdings, is the prospective buyer, tabling a $4.7 billion bid for the company.

Google, Intel, Cisco, LG and SAP declined to comment. Samsung was not immediately available for comment. Potential bidders are apparently proceeding with caution, given the level of uncertainty around BlackBerry’s business and questions over the future value of its business assets.

While Google’s interest is likely to be in BlackBerry’s patent portfolio. Android has faced renewed legal attacks in recent weeks, with Nokia’s lawyers scoring a preliminary win against HTC‘s Android-powered One flagship device in the U.S. last week. Google’s 2011 acquisition of Motorola was also widely touted as a patent-focused purchase aimed at bolstering Android’s IP defences. So its due diligence for Mountain View to at least take a closer look at BlackBerry’s patents. Samsung may also be eyeing those.

BlackBerry’s patents are estimated to be worth between $2 billion and $3 billion, and its security-focused messaging system services business is likely worth $3 billion to $4.5 billion. The company also has $3.1 billion in cash and investments — however with revenues sliding and more loss-making quarters looming, that cash is going to get eaten up pretty quickly. Reuters cites Bernstein analyst Pierre Ferragu’s prediction that the company will burn through almost $2 billion over the next year and a half.

Meanwhile, BlackBerry’s long-touted plan to extend the reach of its consumer mobile messaging service, BBM, to Android and iOS – perhaps with the hope of creating another business asset it could shop around to buyers – has stalled.

BBM was initially slated to launch on the new platforms globally late last month but the rollout was halted after a leaked version of the Android .apk overloaded its servers. The company has since said it remains committed to launching BBM on Android and iOS but given no new timeframe for when this will happen. In the event, it may be that BlackBerry’s bits get broken up and sold off before BBM is able to make the leap onto other platforms.

Microsoft wants HTC's Android phones to dual-boot into Windows Phone

Microsoft is in talks with HTC to get its Windows Phone operating system loaded onto the manufacturer's Android phones as a second OS. It is mainly because the software maker struggle to gain ground in the mobile market.

Microsoft, with 3.7 percent of the market, is finding it necessary to make concessions after agreeing to acquire Nokia’s handset unit, which competes with other smartphone makers. Android dominated with 79 percent, while Apple Inc.’s iOS was No. 2 with a 13 percent share.

Additionally, one Bloomberg source claims HTC has no current plans to release any more standalone Windows Phone handsets, which might explain Microsoft's apparent desire to shoehorn its OS onto future HTC phones through a dual-booting option.

We've heard from sources that HTC has indeed been looking at the engineering cost of making an Android/Windows Phone dual-booting handset a reality. It's unclear how far the project might have progressed, however, nor whether Google might attempt to throw a wrench in the works by blocking certification of such a device. Indeed, it's hard to see how Microsoft's piggy-backing on sales of HTC Android phones would directly benefit anyone besides Microsoft. Users, for instance, would be presented with two wildly divergent software experiences — and marketing this kind of handset could present its own problems.

If the two were to co-operate on a phone that dual-boots between Android and Windows, it'd certainly be one of the most unusual smartphone software pairings we've seen in some time.