LG Confirms May 1 Event is Optimus G Pro Focused

LG recently asked us to save the date on May 1 for an event, although we weren’t entirely sure what to expect. Now we know.

The company issued invites on Monday to an event in New York City that will be entirely focused around its new LG Optimus G Pro smartphone. We imagine that LG will name U.S.carrier partners and pricing either at the event, or before it, so we’ll be sure to keep you in the loop as that news unfolds.

Right now we’re just being told that we’re going to “share in the genius” of the Optimus G Pro with the band Altlas Genius.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

4G Nexus 4 with 32GB and Key Lime Pie to launch next month?

It's rumour time, so pinch of salt at the ready. Google was previously rumoured to be launching the Nexus 5 handset at its I/O conference next month, but now come whispers it'll announce a revamped Nexus 4 instead, SidhTech reports.

On the cards: 4G for a superfast Internet connection, 32GB of storage, and the debut of theAndroid Key Lime Pie operating system.

Nexus 5 rumours have been ramping up of late. But then the Nexus 4 only launched just before Christmas, so if Google announced its successor mere months later it would annoy all those who snapped up the original (especially if they had to wait weeks for it to be in stock.) Instead, it might bring out a slightly spruced-up version of the Nexus 4 to entice new customers without leaving existing ones royally peeved. That's the thinking behind the rumour, anyway.

[Source: CNET - Click here to read the full story]

Sky Go for Android now streams to the HTC One, Galaxy S 4 and Xperia Z

Brits accustomed to catching up on their shows with Sky Go likely don't want that seamless viewing experience broken just because they bought that latest 1080p-capable Android flagship. Thankfully, they won't have to. An update to the Android app now supports the HTC One, Xperia Z and the upcoming Galaxy S 4: while none of them will stream in 1080p, the software will at last do more than take up space. Those on the "merely" 720p-native RAZR HD can also tune in with the upgrade. Swing by Google Play for the update if you're a Sky subscriber with a shiny new device.

[Source: Engadget]

Samsung 'worried' S4 build quality doesn't match HTC One

Samsung seems a little jealous of the HTC One. That's according to a source who's told SamMobile the Korean company has seen its rival's design and build quality, and is "worried" the Galaxy S4 doesn't measure up.

It's the HTC One's aluminium body that's got Samsung green with envy, not its Sense 5 user interface. Samsung even produced an all-metal Galaxy S4 which was very popular within the company, the source says, but didn't launch it to avoid any delays.

It's worth taking all this with a pinch of salt, of course. But it could indicate a design change for the Galaxy Note 3, according to the source. There's no word on which material Samsung will use, just that it "will not use the design guidelines of the Galaxy S4".

Now, specs. The source reckons the Note 3 will have a 6-inch 1,920x1,080-pixel AMOLED display, Exynos 5 Octa CPU with LTE for 4G browsing, and a 13-megapixel snapper. It'll also run the latest version of Android, which could be Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie by the time the Note 3 launches.

The Galaxy S4 will go on sale in the UK on 26 April, and demand is already off the chart. It's just a shame the version us Brits will get is completely underpowered compared to the octa-core beast released overseas, according to leaked benchmarks. Of course we can't be sure of that until we get the final review unit in our hands, so another pinch of salt is required.

[Source: CNET]

Skype 2.5 update for Windows Phone 8 sheds the preview label

Despite steadily advancing in version numbers, Skype for Windows Phone 8 has remained in a preview state for the past few months. It's time for the app to enter the big leagues with its 2.5 update. The release is the first to drop the preview tag, mostly by fixing notable bugs with both video geometry as well as crashes when signing in with a Microsoft account. Frequent chatters may like that message notifications for Messenger friends are now active by default. There is one word of warning for HTC 8X owners: they'll need the latest firmware to avoid a flaw that silences the microphone. Provided that's no obstacle, though, we'd suggest swinging by the Windows Phone Store if you're at all interested in Microsoft's official mobile VoIP suite.

[Source: Engadget]

Analyst: iPhone 5S Will Have Larger Camera, New Fingerprint Technology, Same Screen Size

Topeka analyst Brian White today issued a new research note summarizing his thoughts on the phone he calls the iPhone 5S, expected to be released this summer. Most notably, he seems to have reversed his prior assertion that the next iPhone will have multiple screen sizes, noting that at a trade show in China there was a consensus amongst his sources that the screen size will be unchanged from the iPhone 5. 

He claims the left side volume and mute buttons will be arranged differently, in line with a parts leak from yesterday, and says the rumoredfingerprint technology will be the differentiating feature for the 5S, like what Siri was to the 4S.

White also shares some additional thoughts about the rumored cheaper iPhone he expects this summer:

Strangely enough, the lower-priced iPhone is still being called the "iPhone mini"; however, the general consensus (albeit a few disagreed and expect a slightly smaller screen) was that this new device would actually have the same screen size (i.e., 4-inches) as the iPhone 5. However, the "iPhone mini" will have a curved back casing made of colored plastic and will be thicker than the iPhone 5. We also learned the pricing could be a bit higher than our recently raised expectation, reaching as high as $400.

The picture around this summer's iPhone releases should continue to come into focus as we see more hardware leaks and get closer to the expected launch.

[Source: MacRumors]

Samsung Allegedly Concerned About Current Plastic Designs

Despite Samsung’s love affair with plastic build materials, the company may finally opt to take another approach later this year. According to SamMobile, the company is reportedly “worried” about the design and quality of its current devices, especially when compared to the lovely engineering of the HTC One. To remedy this, the company is planning to “switch the build quality for its next flagship.”

Samsung has built a reputation for creating some of the most popular devices on the market. But one criticism repeatedly flung at the company is how “cheap” its handsets feel, and the design language is consistent in its cheapest smartphone on up to its most expensive tablet. The Galaxy S4 remedied this slightly, but the build still doesn’t hold a candle to the One.SamMobile’s source claims the Galaxy Note III will change that.

Samsung allegedly hoped to implement a metal design with the S4, but production issues meant the handset, in its planned configuration, couldn’t be built en masse on time. Instead, the Galaxy Note III will debut with a more premium look, though SamMobile’s source couldn’t confirm Samsung’s final material choice. The source did say, however, that the Korean company will introduce even more features, while the device itself will come with a 6-inch Full HD AMOLED display, Exynos 5 Octa CPU with LTE and 13-megapixel camera.

If Samsung manages to inject a more premium design into its next flagship handset, the company could potentially grab even more marketshare around the world. If that does happen, the Galaxy S4 may very well be the last of its kind, at least as far as build goes. We’ll have to wait and see.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Motorola Droid Bionic update to Jelly Bean coming Monday

Android 4.1.2 will be pushed to devices in phases

Droid Bionic users can expect an OTA starting Monday, changing software build numbers to 98.72.22.XT875. This is Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, and comes with some nice goodies. Google Now with its predictive search and voice commands will be included. Expandable notifications will now be accessible, letting users control music, return calls and texts, and even manage email from the notification panel. The Jelly Bean keyboard brings better dictionaries, as well as voice typing that works without a data connection.

Some Motorola-specific enhancements include better Mobile Hotspot connectivity, an updated 'Back Up Assistant Plus' and new Visual Voicemail, along with improved voice and data reception quality. The OS also gets a little lighter, with Sling and MOG apps being removed by default.

As the OTA update starts hitting devices next week, things will be quite busy in the forums. Be sure to post your findings after you give Jelly Bean a spin.

[Source: AndroidCentral]

Motorola X Phone Delayed Until August

Motorola’s upcoming lineup (what lineup?) of Android devices is apparently not up toGoogle’s standards. We’ve heard a lot about a potential X Phone, but little to show for it—and the rumors have been conflicting. While many are expecting the company, which is under the guidance of Google, to introduce a big flagship during I/O in May, one report suggests we won’t see such a device until August.

According to a source speaking with PhoneArena, the device is still very much in its early prototype phase. As in, nowhere near a final retail build. The X Phone tale has been spun in many directions over the past several months, and it’s become increasingly difficult to keep track. First we heard one single flagship was coming, and then a report suggesting a build-to-order initiative.

PhoneArena claims the X Phone is just a single device, and that we’ve already seen a renderof the prototype. The handset itself will allegedly have a 4.7-inch Full HD display and minimal bezel, but otherwise specs are unknown. I’m sure plenty of folks are eagerly anticipating a big flagship to drop, but I’d be more interested in what Google will introduce in the next iteration of Android.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Facebook Home hits Google Play today, available for select Android devices

Chat heads, a virtual carousel of full screen (Instagram) images and enough status updates to let you keep close stalkerly tabs on your nearest and dearest -- that's what Facebook's got in Home. And as of today, it's breaking free from AT&T's exclusive HTC First and heading to a choice few Android flagships in the US. Now owners of the Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II as well as the HTC One X+ can rush on over to Google Play or Facebook's site to download the free screen-stealing app / launcher. And when HTC's One and Samsung's GS 4 make their eventual way to the US market, Facebook heads will also have the privilege of setting up Home on those two flagships, just as Zuck promised. Home: it's where privacy and your free time go to die.

[Source: Engadget]

Samsung Galaxy S4 torn apart, is easy to repair

What's the first thing you'd do if you got your hands on the Samsung Galaxy S4? Tear that sucker to pieces, obviously, to find out how easy it is to repair.

TechnoBuffal has created a video showing the S4 being torn asunder, and it turns out the S4 is even easier to fix than the Samsung Galaxy S3, already a paragon of easyfixability.

To get knee-deep in the guts of the S4 all you need is a Torx screwdriver, a drop of elbow grease and a shocking disregard for the phone you've just dropped north of a monkey on.

Unscrew nine screws and the front and back of the phone come apart, giving you access to the S4's innards. The video reveals the important bits are easy to get at and simple to remove, replace and repair.

The only problem is the Gorilla Glass screen covering the 5-inch Super AMOLED 1080p display, which would be pricey to replace.

The model that's been disassembled is the quad-core version that's coming to the UK and US, giving us a good look at the 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core chip with 2GB of RAM. An alternative model boasts eight cores, with two quad-core processors on Samsung's own Exynos A5 Octa chip.

[Source: CNET]

PS3 controller set to work with new Sony Xperia phones

Using a proper controller, while perhaps making you look slightly odd on the bus, means you're not obscuring the screen with your fingers. For console-style action and racing games -- of which there are a great wealth on the Google Play Store, not to mention (ahem) emulators -- this is a huge improvement. You also get the tactile feedback of knowing you've definitely pressed a button, which is sadly lacking when you're just poking a screen.

If you want to play with your PS3 controller on any Android device, you can already do so. It's a little more complicated, and involves downloading an app, but you needn't do anything drastic like root your phone. You can read how to do it in our full guide here, which also explains how to configure games and emulators to work with the controller.

It's taken a very long time for Sony to integrate such an obvious bit of functionality into its phones. It bought out Ericsson to take full control of its smart phone business over two years ago, and its previous gaming effort the Xperia Play, one of its last with Ericsson, was half-baked and very clunky. It's not until this year's waterproof Xperia Z that we've seen a genuinely brilliant mobile from Sony alone.

[Source: CNET]