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Latest by Andy Boxall

HTC drops Quietly Brilliant tagline, plans to go on the attack instead

HTC is moving forward with its Marketing 2.0 strategy, and has decided to drop its Quietly Brilliant tagline in favor of a new, bolder approach. We've yet to see it in action, but its cheeky crashing of Samsung's Galaxy S4 party could be a hint of what's to come.

Insiders say Jony Ive’s new version of iOS shuns skeuomorphism, embraces flat design

Anonymous insiders have revealed Apple's design guru Jony Ive is making some changes to iOS, and although they're described as conservative, they could edge away from skeuomorphism and towards a flatter design.

BlackBerry World now home to 100,000 apps, as it edges closer to rival Microsoft

There are now more than 100,000 apps available inside the BlackBerry World application store, up from 70,000 at the end of January, showing the new operating system is doing well at attracting development.

Samsung’s wireless Game Pad controller goes up for pre-order, is much too expensive

Samsung's wireless Game Pad controller for the Galaxy S4 and other big-screen Samsung smartphones has been given a pre-order price of $113, which sounds quite expensive for the Xbox controller-like gadget.

HP working on new holographic 3D display technology for smartphones and tablets

HP has revealed it's working on a new type of 3D screen suitable for use on small devices such as smartphones and tablets, which will be viewed without glasses and provide an almost holographic image.

UK Galaxy S4 to use 1.9GHz quad-core processor, and not eight-core Exynos 5 Octa

Samsung has confirmed the UK version of the Galaxy S4 smartphone will use the same 1.9GHz quad-core chip as the U.S. model, and not the highly-anticipated eight-core Exynos 5 Octa processor.

ZTE wants you to know its phones are not a security risk, partners with Intrepidus to prove it

In what looks like an effort to calm fears over its phones being a threat to national security, ZTE has partnered with U.S. based mobile security firm Intrepidus, where its hardware will be subjected to a variety of tests designed to prove they're safe.
Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3

Buy smart: The Galaxy S3 is still cutting edge (and about to be cheap!)

The Samsung Galaxy S4 may be the hot new smartphone ready to hit the shops, but shrewd buyers could pick themselves up a bargain Galaxy S3 with hardly any compromise in specs or software, thanks to Samsung's release and update schedules.

Processor firm ST-Ericsson to split after failure to find buyer, future of NovaThor platform unclear

ST-Ericsson has announced it will be splitting up, with part owner Ericsson taking over the modem business, and STMicroelectronics concentrating on processors for the automotive industry. The fate of NovaThor isn't clear.

Sony launches 4G LTE Xperia SP and funky Xperia L Android phones

Sony has announced a pair of mid-range smartphones to compliment its flagship Android phone, the Xperia Z. The Xperia SP shares a similar design with the Xperia Z, while the Xperia L offers similar features at a more affordable price.

Confusion at BlackBerry over the future of the PlayBook tablet

While BlackBerry continues to work on getting its BlackBerry 10-based Z10 ad Q10 smartphones out into the world, it could also be about to resurrect the PlayBook tablet, or not, as the case may be.

Samsung pledges to launch a top-spec Tizen phone by end of September this year (Updated)

While everyone's attention may be on the new Galaxy S4 right now, this could all change by the end of the summer, as a Samsung representative has said its Tizen operating system will make its debut around this time, and it'll be on range-topping hardware.

Windows Phone 7.8 update hit by problems, forcing its release to be halted (Update: It’s coming!)

There's bad news for owners of Nokia's Windows Phone 7 hardware, as Microsoft's Windows Phone 7.8 update has been halted, potentially due to a bug which stops Live Tiles from updating.

Selected Galaxy S4 software features may come to Galaxy S3 and Note 2 in the future

If you own a Galaxy S3 or a Galaxy Note 2, and looked on enviously at the new software features paraded in front of you during the launch of the Galaxy S4, don't despair, as a future software update may bring some of them to your phone.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Launch

Samsung’s Galaxy S4 is slimmer, lighter, stronger, and headed for shelves in April

After weeks of build-up, Samsung has revealed its hugely anticipated flagship Android phone, the Galaxy S4 at a packed event in Times Square, New York. Here's what you need to know about one of the year's biggest new releases.

ST-Ericsson introduces NovaThor L8580 chip, with eQuad technology (Update: it’s not quad-core)

ST-Ericsson has announced the NovaThor L8580, a quad-core processor which uses a new method of conserving energy, which the company has named eQuad.

Who just ordered one million BlackBerry 10 phones?

A single company has placed an order for one million BlackBerry 10 phones directly with BlackBerry, marking the largest, single order the company has ever seen. While it has revealed the amount, it has kept quiet about who placed the order, so who are the likely candidates?

Google’s Andy Rubin steps aside to let Sundar Pichai take over Android (Updated)

Google CEO Larry Page has announced that Andy Rubin, who is currently in charge of Android, will hand the position over to the VP of Chome, Sundar Pichai. Rubin will stay with the company, but in an as yet undefined role.

BlackBerry 10 coming to Verizon on March 28, matches AT&T’s $200 price tag

Verizon has announced it will open the books on pre-orders for the BlackBerry Z10 on March 14, ready for its release on March 28. Like rival AT&T, Verizon will charge $200 for the new phone, provided a new two-year contract is signed at the same time.

Motorola launches Razr D1 and Razr D3, hints at wider international release in the future

Motorola has announced a pair of new Android smartphones, the Razr D1 and Razr D3. Before you get too excited thinking they're connected to the rumored X Phone, they're almost certainly leftovers from before Google became heavily involved with the firm's hardware.
samsung sets its hype machine to 11

Apple who? Samsung cranks its hype machine to 11 for the Galaxy S4

Samsung has been accused of "borrowing" more than a few ideas from Apple, but by taking Apple's special event strategy and giving it some of that unsubtle Samsung magic, it could be on its way to becoming this year's biggest name in smartphones.

Microsoft linked to little-known phone manufacturer Phicomm, possible Windows Phone deal brewing

A little-known Chinese Android phone manufacturer named Phicomm has been linked with Microsoft, and is said to be negotiating a deal to license Windows Phone 8.

Is this the Samsung Galaxy S4 hiding in the shadows?

Samsung has tweeted a teaser image of the Galaxy S4, just a few days before it's officially unveiled at a New York launch event. The picture gives us the hint the phone's design may not drastically alter from the look of the outgoing Galaxy S3.
OVERBLOWN OVERHYPED AND TOTALLY USELESS THE PLAGUE OF NEW PHONE FEATURES

Overhyped, underthought, and totally useless: The plague of new phone ‘features’

Smartphone manufacturers are increasingly using specially created applications to try and persuade us to buy the latest model. Why then, are they almost all completely forgotten as soon as the phone is in our hands?

Dell’s Latitude 10 Windows 8 tablet leaks, would you choose it over an ultrabook?

Information regarding a Dell tablet running Windows 8 has been leaked, giving us an idea of what to expect when the new OS arrives at the end of the year.

Samsung Galaxy S4 to be launched in Times Square, New York on March 14

Samsung has invited the world to see the new Galaxy S4 flagship smartphone revealed at a potentially enormous event to be held in Times Square, New York City on March 14.

The time has come: AT&T will launch the BlackBerry Z10 on March 22 for $200

AT&T has announced it'll start pre-orders for the BlackBerry Z10 on March 12, with general release following on March 22. The phone will connect to AT&T's 4G LTE network and cost $199 with a two-year contract.

Samsung Galaxy S4 gets leaked again, but this time it could be in disguise

A phone with the model number GT-i9502, which is associated with the Samsung Galaxy S4, has been leaked along with more details on the possible specification of Samsung's soon-to-be-official flagship phone. However, Samsung has previously disguised its new phones before release.

Samsung teases Galaxy S4, likens it to the introduction of color television (Updated)

The first of what appears to be a series of teaser videos for the Samsung Galaxy S4 has been released, however instead of following its peers and choosing a celebrity to advertise it, Samsung has gone in another direction entirely.

Nokia admits risk of Microsoft building a Windows Phone 8-powered Surface Phone

In a new filing with the SEC, Nokia has added a section commenting on the potential impact of Microsoft releasing a Windows Phone 8-powered mobile phone. The so-called Surface Phone has been rumored for a while, but there has been no official confirmation of its existence.

Windows Phone VP says “Android is a confusing mess and the iPhone is boring”

Microsoft's VP of Windows Phone has given his frank opinion on smartphone market leaders Android and iOS, calling one a confusing mess and the other boring. The trouble is, the public doesn't seem to agree.

News Corp pushes its way into the classroom with educational Amplify tablet

News Corp and its educational business Amplify has announced the Amplify Tablet, an Android slate designed expressly for use in schools, ready to challenge the iPad's growing user base in the educational system.

Happy first birthday Google Play, and thanks for the gifts

It has been one year since Google changed the name of the Android Market to Google Play, and to celebrate its birthday, Android users will find a variety of free gifts and special promotions inside the store all this week.

LG confirms Snapdragon 600 processor and U.S. release for 5.5-inch, 1080p Optimus G Pro

LG has provided more details on its 5.5-inch, 1080p Optimus G Pro smartphone/tablet hybrid, including the first appearance of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 600 processor, plus a North American release later in the year.

LG announces the big screen, Full HD Optimus G Pro, but so far only for Japan

LG has announced the Optimus G Pro, a new smartphone with a 5-inch, 1080p resolution screen which will launch in Japan this April. Could an international release follow at Mobile World Congress?

LG Optimus G Pro with a 5.5-inch screen announced, MWC appearance looks certain

LG has launched a second Optimus G Pro smartphone/tablet hybrid, this time increasing the size of the screen to 5.5-inches. We're expecting the phone to put in an appearance at Mobile World Congress, where we should learn more about where it'll go on sale.

ZTE adds Intel to its friend list, reveals plans to launch Clover Trail+ smartphone

ZTE has partnered up with Intel and revealed plans to release at least one new smartphone using the company's Atom Z2580 processor, also known as the Clover Trail+. The news comes soon after Nvidia revealed ZTE is working on the first Tegra 4 powered smartphone.

Sony rethinks mobile strategy, sees cheap phones and possibly, Firefox OS as its savior

Sony wants to become the third biggest phone manufacturer on the planet, and one of the strategies it thinks will make this possible is to sell more phones in emerging markets, something it may turn to Mozilla's Firefox OS to help achieve.