Mystery Nokia device leaks, new Asha incoming?

Now this is a bit of a head-scratcher. A mystery new Nokia device has leaked online, but there's no word of what it is, or when we'll see it.

It comes from the usually reliable @evleaks Twitter account. All @evleaks says on the matter is, "remember that Nokia Asha design language preview?" This is a hint that there could well be another budget smart phone winging its way here soon.

From the image we can see the handset will come in a selection of colours, just like Nokia'sLumia range. It looks like it's running the Windows Phone operating system, though it's on the lock screen, so there's no sign of the Live Tiles. Other than that, there's not much to go on. The date on the phone's screen is given as 17 August 2012, which could be when the handset was conceived.

Traditionally Nokia Asha handsets have fared pretty poorly in our reviews. The Asha 302 was the most recent one we got our hands on, but it suffered from a lack of a touchscreen and the fiddly Series 40 software. Still, not as bad as the Asha 306, which comes with no 3G and a price that's not even all that low. Let's hope Nokia can pull its socks up. Using Microsoft's Windows Phone software instead of Series 40 would be a good start.

Just recently, Nokia boss Stephen Elop said the company was focused on "taking [Windows Phone] to lower and lower prices", and that its budget Windows Phone blowers would "over time compete with Android". It's got quite a fight on its hands, considering Android's star player is theNexus 4, which manages decent specs and the latest software for not much money at all.

[Source: CNET]

Windows Phone handsets outselling iPhone in 7 countries

Windows Phone may not be challenging the likes of Android or iOS in most places, but devices running Microsoft's mobile OS are actually outselling the iPhone in some countries.

That's according to IDC, a market research company. Frank Shaw, corporate vice president of corporate communications at Microsoft, quoted the research in a blog post, and now the New York Times has followed it up and found exactly which seven countries they are.

More Windows Phone handsets were shipped than iPhones in Argentina, India, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, and a seventh area that's actually a group of smaller countries that the IDC lumps together. The numbers count handset shipments in the last quarter of 2012. 

But that's not to say Windows Phone is racking up huge sales. Three of the countries where it's outshining Apple are so small that fewer than 100,000 Windows Phone handsets sold in the quarter. Not that the numbers reflect sales -- they only show how many smart phones were imported into the countries too. IDC analyst Kevin Restivo notes that some countries have a huge grey market for smart phones, due to high government taxes, so it's tricky to pin down exact sales figures.

Windows Phone 8 is on the rise on these shores as well. According to analytics firm Kantar, WP8 grew from 6.2 per cent to 6.7 per cent market share in the UK in a month, eating into BlackBerry and Symbian.

The countries where WP8 does best tend to be strongholds for Nokia, due to the iPhone being too expensive, and the networks not offering much in the way of deals. The Lumia 620 is one of the best budget smart phones we've ever had our hands on, so it deserves to be a success. It's just a shame Windows Phone 8 is struggling against the might of Android and iOS in bigger markets.

[Source: CNET]

Tim Cook Posts Letter to Chinese Apple Customers Announcing Changes to iPhone 4/4S Warranty Policies

Over the past several weeks, state-run media and other outlets in China have criticized Apple over the company's warranty practices in the country.

The company had posted a letter to customers defending its practices as going above and beyond requirements of Chinese law, but as noted byBusiness Insider, Apple has now posted a newletter from CEO Tim Cook [Google translation] announcing changes to its warranty policy. From the Google translation:

We are aware that, due to the lack of external communication in this process and lead to the speculation that Apple arrogance, do not care or do not attach importance to consumer feedback. We express our sincere apologies for any concerns or misunderstandings this gives consumers.

In order to further improve the level of service, we are implementing the following four major adjustment:

- Improved iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S repair policy
- Provide a concise and clear on the website of the official Apple repair and warranty policy statement
- Increase the intensity of the supervision and training of Apple Authorized Service Provider
- Related issues to ensure that consumers can easily contact Apple Feedback Service

Apple's previous policy for iPhone 4 and 4S warranty repairs had frequently involved issuing customers new handsets but swapping their existing back plates onto the new hardware, with the replacement handsets carrying warranties lasting 90 days or until the expiration of the original one-year warranties from the customers' initial purchases.

The policy had received criticism from those arguing that the replacement devices essentially amount to brand-new hardware and should carry longer warranty coverage. Under Apple's revised policies announced today, the company has heeded those complaints and when it swaps out customers' devices for replacement ones, they will be entirely new devices and carry fresh one-year warranties.

Apple has also made it more clear to customers what its standard repair policies are in China, with main parts such as motherboards receiving two-year coverage while other components receive one-year coverage. In addition, Apple has increased training for authorized service providers in China in order to ensure that they are fully aware of Apple's new and continuing warranty policies. Finally, Apple has also rolled out a new feedback form to provide a simpler mechanism for Chinese customers to contact Apple about service concerns.

[Source: MacRumors]

Facebook Phone Coming on Thursday With New Android App

Backing up the Wall Street Journal’s report from last week, Android Police has allegedly received a complete system dump of Facebook’s upcoming BlinkFeed-like Android software. Basically, the social network’s new home on Android will act as your constant connection to your News Feed, always there when you unlock your device. It sounds and looks like theWSJ’s sources were spot on.

The prospect of a Facebook phone built, planned and commissioned by Mark Zuckerberg always seemed like a strange proposition, but it’s been one of those rumors that just won’t die. However, with much of Facebook’s userbase going mobile, the company has very candidly announced its intention to focus on the mobile market. An actual (probably cheap) Facebook phone will definitely appeal to the younger first-time teenage buyer, and further encourage use in the mobile space.

The file Android Police acquired doesn’t allow for much digging because they couldn’t login, but it did unveil what kind of device the ROM is designed for. HTC’s oft-leaked Myst device, which appears to be heading to AT&T, is name dropped with a 4.3-inch 720p display, a 5-megapixel camera, 1GB of RAM and a dual-core MSM8960 chip. Those specs aren’t revolutionary, but the biggest spec will likely be price; we’d expect it to fall below $100.

The Facebook Home aspect is essentially a specially designed app, and it sounds like the plan is to make it available in the Google Play store. “Imagine if the regular Facebook appmutated an extra ‘home screen’ limb,” Android Police explained. The app itself will boot as soon as your phone starts, with other Android permissions such as changing Wi-Fi, changing system settings and more. If that app exists, though, there needs to be a reason for consumers to buy the phone instead of simply downloading it on the phone of their choice.

Since Android Police couldn’t login, the site couldn’t take the actual experience itself for a spin. An actual physical mid-range Facebook device appears to be on the way, though, with a tweaked Facebook app and not an outright Android skin.

Facebook has an event planned for Thursday, April 4, so we’ll find out more information then. For a more in-depth look at the full Facebook Home and a breakdown of the file, head on over to the source.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Who Really Wants a Facebook Phone?

On April 4, Facebook will unveil its “New Home on Android.” The software is designed to put Facebook front and center on people’s Android phones, and it seems HTC will be among the first to partner with the company on this.

I haven’t said much about the prospect of a Facebook phone because… well, I can’t seem to get my brain around it. There’s an internal dialogue going on — a debate, if you will — that leaves me struggling to make sense of it all.

Let’s start with HTC. Now this is a company that needs to strengthen its position in mobile. While it got off to a great start with the HTC One, it still can’t compete with the likes of Apple or Samsung. And so it needs to get creative about its approach.

And it sees partnering with Facebook as one of the ways forward? Didn’t its previous forays with Facebooking smartphones crash and burn?

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

Sony Computer Entertainment to fuse Asian and Japanese units into one

As part of recent restructuring and cost-cutting efforts, Sony's Computer Entertainment (SCE) division will merge its Asian and Japanese operations into a single entity. The company said that it would result in a new management unit, with SCE Japan president Hiroshi Kawano taking the helm and the Asian unit's ex-chief, Hiroyuki Oda becoming his deputy. Departments like marketing and finance will also merge in an effort to save cash, as the company hopes to stanch all the recent bleeding and try to make its fiscal 2012 a throwback to the glory days.

[Source: Engadget]

HTC One is the least repairable phone ever, iFixit says

The HTC One may have scored a decent four out of five in our review, but it's fared less well in another test. A lot less well. The screwdriver-wielders over at iFixit cracked open the flagship in one of its trademark teardowns, to see what it's made of and how repairable it is. It scored the lowest of any handset iFixit has ever torn down.

On the plus side, that means it'll be very durable to knocks and drops. But good luck if you want to try mending it yourself.

The One is chiselled from a solid block of aluminium, which would explain why it's so tricky to take apart. Getting in didn't prove too troublesome for the team, using a suction cup to lift off the screen. But then the lack of hidden screws meant it had to use a metal spudger (a bit like a spatula) to free the One's innards from the "dungeon-esque aluminium case".

Separating the rear and front cases required an "immense" amount of work, according to iFixit. The handset "was not made with open-ability in mind".

Step 15 shows a closer look at the Ultrapixel camera -- that 4-megapixel doohicky that HTC claims is better in low light than higher-resolution rivals.

The site concludes it's "very, very difficult (possibly impossible?) to open the device without damaging the rear case."

Still, good news on the durability front.

The HTC One was delayed, and has only just started hitting shop shelves here in the UK. We found it to be a decent high-end Android smartie, though it's probably worth waiting for our review of the Samsung Galaxy S4 to see how it stacks up.

[Source: CNET]

British cider company ribs Apple in latest advert

This isn't the first advert to mock Apple, but what makes it different is the fact it's not made by a rival company.

It's made by Somersby Cider (owned by Carlsberg). Somersby's produce is made from apples, so it decided to take a few potshots at the Cupertino company's ads, complete with plinky-plonky music. It's more hit than miss in my eyes, but I've embedded the ad after the break so you can judge for yourself.

Here it is.

Somersby has done a pretty good job of recreating the feel of an Apple Store, with the minimalist decor, airy open spaces, and bare wooden surfaces. The staff are in green rather than blue, as a nod to Somersby's company colours. And they're excited about the launch of a new product. That product being a pint of the apple-flavoured stuff.

There are plenty of gags about the cider's new operating system (Pump), it coming in 16- and 32-pip varieties, and the pint being wireless. It also works in the standard docking station (your hand). One major difference between the two companies' products is made clear: the pint works "perfectly in direct sunlight". Ouch.

Samsung has taken aim at Apple's fanboys before, portraying them as sheep, but to my mind this is the first non-tech firm to land a hit against the Cupertino company. Just goes to show how distinctive Apple's marketing is, I suppose, that it's deserving of parody. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and all that.

A cider shop in Norfolk has been forced to change its name to avoid any confusion with the California-based tech giant. Since the Apple Store opened in Norwich, The Apple Shop (which sells local cider) has been inundated with queries concerning iPads and iPhones. Hopefully renaming it The Norfolk Cider Shop should put a stop to that.

[Source: CNET]

Vine now lets you embed your 6-second clips on Websites

Viners rejoice -- you can now embed your 6-second mini-movie masterpieces on Websites. The Twitter-owned service has just added the functionality, itannounced in a blog post.

If you want to give your movies a home on a site, you'll just have to enter some simple code. You can choose from three sizes: 320px, 480px, or 600px. Choosing the "simple" option will embed just the video, while the "postcard" one will retain the clip's original format, complete with text description and location.

Or you can embed your clip using the iOS app, which has just been updated to include the feature. Tap the ellipses in the bottom-right corner, then "Share this post", then "Embed". It might not work on all sites though, so best check before you start shouting about it too much.

Head to our US cousins' site and you'll see our very own Ken German's brief retrospective of old mobile phones. It's like a sped-up shuffle down memory lane.

Vine launched a couple of months ago, but is still only for iOS. Hopefully us Android users will get a version soon. It's been a massive hit though, with 6-second clips springing up everywhere. The new Wolverine film even had its very own trailer on the service. At least it didn't give away the whole story, like a lot of trailers.

If you fancy seeing what people are making vids of, a site called Vinepeek will give you a glimpse. It's pretty addictive viewing, though I don't want to be held responsible if anyone posts anything not safe for work. Viewer discretion is advised, as they used to say at the start ofWorld's Scariest Police Chases.

[Source: CNET]

iMessage Spam Exploit Rears Its Ugly Head

Apple’s iMessage system is being exploited by a supposed AppleScript that has the potential to flood up a user’s account and crash the service. A report by The Next Web says the denial of service lock up is being targeted at a group of small developers right now, but paints a larger potential to reach a wider userbase.

Right now, the incident seems confined to the jailbreak community (any device, jailbroken or otherwise, can be a target). The AppleScript, as demonstrated by app developer iH8sn0w, is capable of flooding a person’s iMessage account so severely that the app could crash. Or, at the very least, messages could come so frequently that it would make the experience very limited because of the amount of notifications.

“What’s happening is a simple flood: Apple doesn’t seem to limit how fast messages can be sent, so the attacker is able to send thousands of messages very quickly,” said iOS developer Grant Paul. Paul also explains that users can send complex message using unicode characters to crash the app to crash and unable to reopen.

While this issue is so far only confined to a small number of users, the potential to be used more widely is there. Right now, there’s no way to block a specific iMessage sender, so if someone knows your account info, you’re open to attack. Of course, you can disable your iMessage number and handle, but that’s not exactly the solution people will be ok with in the long run.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Google's 2013 April Fools' gags start with the shutdown of YouTube

Gotta hand it to Google -- the boys and girls in Mountain View can have some serious fun for April Fools' Day. Each year we get a handful of awesomely funny announcements and videos, including such gems as Google Translate for animals or Google Racing.

Google's getting started a day early this year. This morning it posted a video to YouTube announcing that it's received enough entries to finally pick the best video, and that YouTube will shut down at midnight tonight until 2023, at which time the winner will be announced.

Thanks for all your great entries.
YouTube finally has enough videos to begin selecting a winner.
What do you think is the #bestvideo on YouTube?

We've been thrilled with all of the diverse, creative entries we've seen so far, and we can't wait to begin the process of selecting the best video. We'll be announcing the winner in 10 years. 

The cameos are worth watching as well. Antoine Dodson as a judge? Of course. Taking a shot at unboxings? Love it. iJustine, Rafi Fine. David from "David after Dentist" fame. Awesomesauce.

[Source: AndroidCentral]

Facebook Appears Set to Debut iPhone Competitor Built on Android on April 4

Facebook today invited members of the press to an Android-related event on April 4, and TechCrunch reports that the event will likely see the debut of the long-rumored Facebook phone. According to reports, the device would be an HTC handset running a Facebook-modified version of Android. 

If true, the move would turn Facebook into an Amazon-style competitor in the smartphone market for Apple, as Amazon has heavily modified Android for its own Kindle Fire tablet devices. 

There have been persistent rumors of Facebook working on a smartphone, withBloomberg reporting in 2010 that the phone would be based on a "stripped-down" version of Android. Last year, the New York Times reported that Facebook was hiring former Apple iPhone and iPad engineers to work on a "Facebook phone." 

TechCrunch highlights one of the key reasons why Facebook would want to create a smartphone device of its own:

With deeper control of a modified operating system would come huge opportunities to collect data on its users. Facebook knows that who you SMS and call are important indicators of who your closest friends are. Its own version of Android could give it that info, which could be used to refine everything from what content you’re shown in the news feed to which friends faces are used in ads you see.

Facebook currently has two of the more popular free apps in the App Store with Facebook and Facebook Messenger. Recently, the company has updated its main Facebook app to add free VoIP calling in a number of countries.

[Source: MacRumors]