Samsung reveals the design story highlights for the Galaxy S III

Samsung was very keen to let us know that its latest flagship phone was designed for humans. Now, the latest in the revealing series from the firm gives a little more insight into how the team went about that. For example, product designer Hangil Song explains how the rounded edges were inspired by pebbles in a stream, while sound engineer Joongsam Yun describes how they wanted to make the phone sound like a stroll in the forest. So, next time you're barging your way down Mainstreet with four ounces of synthetic material blaring out Carly Rae Jepsen, remember, you're doing it wrong.

[Source: Engadget]

Plusnet pushes its UK-fibre-optic broadband to 76Mb/s

Stereotype-embracing ISP Plusnet has added a new tier of fibre-optic broadband, offering speeds up to 76Mb/s. The revamped Extra Fibre package now offers upload speeds of up to 19.5 Mb/s, with a 250GB monthly usage allowance, matching those offered by parent company BT. Of course, those of us who can't even get ADSL2 will just have to watch on, with jealousy in our eyes.

[Source: Engadget]

TV Guide Mobile relaunches for iOS with a new look, links to streaming video and social networks

We've already seen many companion apps on mobile, but now TV Guide is diving in wholeheartedly with the next generation of its app for iOS devices. While the previous versions of TV Guide Mobile on iOS and Android let users create watchlists and get reminders, version 3.0 for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch is completely redesigned to make TV watching simpler with filtering for HD-only and favorite channels, links to streaming videos from sources like Hulu Plus, HBO Go, Crackle and iTunes -- Netflix and Amazon are not on the list, although additional video sources are promised in the coming weeks. Like any good companion app in 2012 it also brings social networking features with check-ins and Twitter / Facebook integration and a trending social hot list based on what other users search for.

The downside compared to many of the apps from cable providers like Comcast or Time Warner, hardware manufacturers like TiVo or even other third parties like Dijit is the inability to use it to directly change the channel, but perhaps that's in the next version. There's more details in the press release after the break, and screens in the gallery below, if you're willing to give another contender a shot at assisting your TV watching habits, the free app is available in iTunes at the source link.

[Source: Engadget]

VMware intros Fusion 5 virtualization software with support for Win 8, integration with Mountain Lion

With Mountain Lion newly available and Windows 8 on the verge of shipping, now was a pretty good time for VMware to update its Fusion virtualization software, dont'cha think? The company just announced Fusion 5 with 70-plus new features, including support for Win 8 and tight integration with OS X 10.8. For instance, you can now view Windows programs in Mountain Lion's Launchpad, while VMware software updates pop up in the Notification Center. Fusion also supports AirPlay for the first time, and you can also run either Mountain Lion or Mountain Lion Server as a virtual machine. The company also added support for Retina Display MacBook Pros, so that everything looks crisp on that 2,880 x 1,880 screen. Also of note: Fusion now supports USB 3.0, and Linux users get some love in the form of Open GL 2.1 graphics support.

The standard version of Fusion 5 is available now for $49.99, but people who bought Fusion 4 since the release of Mountain Lion can upgrade for free. There's also a professional version ($100 for one license), which includes all the above features, and also lets IT departments lock down settings for employees' virtual machines.

[Source: Engdaget]

LG phone with quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro arriving this fall

Qualcomm is announcing a partnership with LG to deliver a new quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro-based phone this fall, launching first in Korea in September. While LG hasn’t officially announced anything, this is almost certainly the rumored Optimus G; a device said to have 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel camera, and a 4.7-inch 720p IPS LCD display. Interestingly, LG is said to be leveraging its own subsidiaries to build a quad-core phone exactly to company chairman Koo Bon-Moo's specficiations; a phone with the same early fall release window. Judging by what we've seen from the company's recent Optimus 4X HD, our interest is definitely piqued.

AnandTech confirms that LG's as-yet-unnamed device will contain Qualcomm’s benchmark-crushing APQ8064 quad-core SoC including the Adreno 320 GPU, combined with an MDM9615 baseband chip, pointing out that this is the same combination going into Xiamoi’s China-only Mi2 smartphone. If Xiamoi sticks to its October release window, odds are good that LG's new device will be the world's first phone with the APQ8064.

[Source: The Verge]

Panasonic Lumix G5 out in Japan on September 16th with new 45-150mm telephoto lens

Panasonic announced the Lumix G5 Micro Four Thirds camera over a month ago, but since then we haven't heard anything about when it'll actually be released. Well, we have a slightly better idea today — in Japan, at least, it's coming out on September 16th. On that date you'll be able to pick it up in body-only form or as part of a kit; one includes Panasonic's tiny 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 pancake power zoom, the other includes a standard 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom and a new 45-150mm f4.0-5.6 telephoto zoom. That lens will also be available by itself on the same date for ¥37,275 (about $475). No word yet on a Western date for either camera or lens, but why not check out our hands-on impressions of the G5 while you wait?

[Source: The Verge]

HTC says it's not cutting Beats Audio from its devices

This is pretty cut and dry, folks. HTC tells Android Central that a rumor going 'round today about it cutting Beats Audio out of its smartphones simply isn't true. Here's the full line from HTC:

"HTC remains strongly committed to Beats Audio and including their innovation in our devices. Any rumor of HTC no longer integrating Beats Audio into our devices is categorically false."

You may now feel free to plug in your headphones.

[Source: Android Central]

Chrome for iOS Now Lets You Share Pages on Facebook and Twitter

Google has announced its first update to Google Chrome for iOS, adding the ability to share pages from the browser directly on your favorite social network, including Facebook and Twitter.

Google Chrome for iOS was announced and launched at the company’s annual developer’s conference in June.

The mobile browser offers a number of features already available in its desktop version, including synched tabs; if you’re checking out a website on your iPhone, you can open it on your desktop computer, and vice versa. Users can also share saved passwords between devices, bookmarks and search history.

Wednesday’s update allows you to share webpages via email, Google+, Facebook and Twitter. It also offers a number of other bug fixes, and stability and security improvements.

The updated version of Chrome for iOS is now available in the App Store.

[Source: Mashable]

Facebook for Android updated to include faster photo uploads, easier event creation

A new Facebook for Android update is now rolling out and for those of you who like to share photos and events, this is one you'll want to ensure you get installed. The noted changes include easier event creation along with a faster photo upload flow and the capability of adding emoji and photos into messages.

That new flow they mention pertains to the fact you can upload multiple photos within messages as well as directly to your photo area on Facebook. Overall, a simple upgrade but a huge one if you share a lot of images or tend to create a lot of events.

[Source: Android Central]

AgileTortoise updates Drafts, introduces iPad version

AgileTortoise's popular Drafts app receives a welcome update today as it enters version 2.0 for iPhone. Drafts for iPad is also available.

Adding sync features through Simperium, an iCloud alternative, Drafts will be able to move data across platforms and pick up from where users last left off. This cloud feature joins existing Dropbox and Evernote support.

The app offers simple note-taking in a streamlined interface with a wealth of sharing features. You can send by e-mail, text message, post to Facebook, tweet, etc.

I gave the iPad version a quick spin and found it cleanly designed and simple to use. It offered several standout features. For example, the built-in Markdown support allows you to build formatted email with familiar text shortcuts. I was also impressed by the integrated gestures and excellent font-selection features. (That's a big help for my aging eyes.)

According to the press release, version 2.0 enhancements include:

• Refined user interface with updated graphics and new custom font choices.
• Lightning fast sync between devices.
• Full screen reading by swiping down on toolbar.
• Link mode enables tapping on phone numbers, addresses and web links captured in Drafts.
• More output actions, including "Append to Dropbox".
• Ability to configure the delay before a new draft is created when returning to Drafts from another app.
• Action sounds.
• Integration with additional apps, such as Appigo Todo, Writing Kit and Threadnote.

The iPhone version is $1.99 (free upgrades for existing owners). The iPad version is $2.99.

[Source: TUAW]

Sound Forge Pro apparently coming to the Mac

A series of teaser videos have revealed that Sony's popular audio editing and production app, Sound Forge Pro, is finally making its way over to the Mac. There's unfortunately no details on a release date or any other release information, but a site called FinallyOnTheMac.com has been teasing a big Mac release very soon, and it's now been revealed that the release in question is Sound Forge Pro.

The site says that the app will be "Reforged, Reinvented, and Refined", but again, what exactly that means is still anyone's guess. At any rate, this is likely good news for audio producers and engineers who've been tied to Sound Forge and would rather use Apple's hardware in their studios. There are more videos set to arrive on the site soon, so we'll know more when those are revealed for sure.

[Source: TUAW]

BT is 'highly likely' to write off OnLive investment

HTC wrote off its entire $40 million investment in troubled cloud gaming company OnLive after the company spontaneously dissolved and reformed this weekend, and it now looks like fellow investor BT may do the same. The British telecommunications company, which purchased a 2.6 percent stake in the company in early 2010 and early exclusive access to the UK version of the service, told TechRadar that a write-off was "highly likely." Here's the full statement:

"We cannot comment on speculation about the future of OnLive, but we are keeping a close eye on developments. Questions should be directed to the company in question. BT customers who are customers of OnLive will continue to be able to access the service.

In any event, the 2.6 per cent shareholding in OnLive does not represent a significant investment for BT as a whole. We consider it highly likely that we'll have to write off our investment."

According to OnLive, the original company named OnLive is no more, as the company restructured itself using an alternative to bankruptcy called Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors (ABC) which apparently only transfers the company's assets to a new party. Under an ABC, the assignee of a company's assets is responsible for maximizing the value to creditors, but it seems like HTC and BT won't be getting much value for their buck here.

[Source: The Verge]