Two 4-inch iPhones with in-cell tech tipped for 2013 debut

Two more iPhones may drop from the Apple tree in 2013.

According to new whispers, Apple is looking to release two 4-inch iPhones to feature in-cell touch technology. One of the new phones will be targeted toward the mid-range market.

But you may want to read the report with an arched eyebrow. The rumor comes from an undisclosed source talking to DigiTimes.

A little skepticism is in order in regards to these rumors as DigiTimes is hit or miss on its predictions. But with recent talk about what's up next for Apple, we'll lend an ear to this report.

Liquid crystal ball

The rumor also mentions a third iPhone with a bigger screen at a lower cost although that kind of iPhone won't be released in 2013, according to the report.

There have been a few articles circulating about the Cupertino-based company looking into producing more budget-friendly iPhones. What's more, additional rumors suggest that Apple may go back to making iPhones out of plastic to reduce costs.

However, there is no telling whether these two speculative iPhones have anything to do with Apple's presumed price decrease or will be molded in plastic.

The big news is that the screens will stay at 4-inches diagonal and feature the in-cell tech. But before Apple can release any new iPhones, it may have to sort out some production problems.

According to the anonymous source, Apple's had difficulty producing enough in-cell touch panels to keep up with demand for the iPhone 5.

The in-cell technology fuses together the LCD and the touchscreen elements of the display into one layer. The combination of the two layers allows the phone to be much thinner, but is also harder to produce.

If the size rumor proves to be true, it will surely disappoint a few Apple fans.

Though the iPhone 5 bumped up the screen size to 4 inches when it released, 5-inch screens are seemingly becoming the norm for 2013 smartphones.

And waiting to up the iPhone display size to 5 inches until (presumably) 2014 may put the Apple smartphone a little behind the times.

Via DigiTimes

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 pops up in purported photo leak

The Samsung site SamMobile published an image on Tuesday of what appears to be the Galaxy Note 8, the 8-inch Note successor that will bridge the gap between the Galaxy Note 2 and the Galaxy Note 10.1.

The photo shows a large-looking white tablet with several specifications listed under the Spanish-language word "especificaciones."

These specs include an 8-inch 1280 x 800 display, 16GB of storage with a microSD slot, a 1.6GHz quad core processor, 2GB of RAM, 5- and 1.3-megapixel rear and front cameras, and, of course, the Note series' signature S-Pen.

However, the source of the Galaxy Note 8 photo is unclear, beyond that it came directly from Twitter.

Is this really the Galaxy Note 8?

Galaxy Note 8 launch confirmed

It was only on Monday that Samsung Mobile Communications president J.K. Shin confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy 8 would make its official debut at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in February.

That report corroborated rumors from the week before that the big/small Galaxy Note tablet would appear at the Barcelona trade show.

MWC 2013 could see the unveiling of several high profile devices, not least of which might be Samsung's Galaxy S4, according to another Tuesday report.

Too big, too small, or just right?

The Galaxy Note 8 is named for its 8-inch size, and not because it's the eighth Galaxy Note, which it isn't.

The mid-sized tablet will compete with Apple's iPad mini, Amazon's Kindle Fire HD, and Google's Nexus 7.

Tuesday's SamMobile report also claimed that the Galaxy Note 8 (previously known under the codename "Kona") would sport Andriod 4.2: Jelly Bean and a 4600mAh battery.

There's no way to know for sure whether the device in the image that was leaked on Tuesday really is the Galaxy Note 8, but either way we'll know exactly what it looks like by the end of next month.

Via SamMobile

Pumped up LG Optimus G Pro unveiled, coming this April

On Monday, reports that LG was prepping the Optimus G Pro for release during the first quarter of 2013 popped up, getting phablet fans excited.

Luckily for all of them, the LG Optimus G Pro was more formally announced by NTT Docomo on Tuesday, ending speculation as to when and where the phablet would debut.

Now set for a release in Japan this April, LG will enter an arena already filled with competition like the Sony Xperia Z, Huawei Ascend D2, and the possible Samsung Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S.

Go Pro

In addition to revealing the smartphone's existence, NTT Docomo also spilled the beans on the Optimus G Pro's specs.

The Pro will feature a 5-inch 1080p IPS display, and will be powered by a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor.

Running Android 4.1: Jelly Bean should be relatively easy then for the Optimus G Pro, especially when adding in 2GB RAM, with 32GB of internal memory.

There will be a microSD slot for expansion, as well as features like Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC capabilities.

As one of 11 phones in NTT Docomo's 2013 line-up, the Optimus G Pro will be compatible with the provider's Xi LTE network, which offers the fastest 4G speeds in Japan.

There's no word on a Western release, but perhaps next month's Mobile World Congress will provide some insights into LG's future plans for the Optimus G Pro.

Via SlashGear, NTT Docomo

Pumped up LG Optimus G Pro unveiled, coming this April

On Monday, reports that LG was prepping the Optimus G Pro for release during the first quarter of 2013 popped up, getting phablet fans excited.

Luckily for all of them, the LG Optimus G Pro was more formally announced by NTT Docomo on Tuesday, ending speculation as to when and where the phablet would debut.

Now set for a release in Japan this April, LG will enter an arena already filled with competition like the Sony Xperia Z, Huawei Ascend D2, and the possible Samsung Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S.

Go Pro

In addition to revealing the smartphone's existence, NTT Docomo also spilled the beans on the Optimus G Pro's specs.

The Pro will feature a 5-inch 1080p IPS display, and will be powered by a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor.

Running Android 4.1: Jelly Bean should be relatively easy then for the Optimus G Pro, especially when adding in 2GB RAM, with 32GB of internal memory.

There will be a microSD slot for expansion, as well as features like Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC capabilities.

As one of 11 phones in NTT Docomo's 2013 line-up, the Optimus G Pro will be compatible with the provider's Xi LTE network, which offers the fastest 4G speeds in Japan.

There's no word on a Western release, but perhaps next month's Mobile World Congress will provide some insights into LG's future plans for the Optimus G Pro.

Via SlashGear, NTT Docomo

Samsung roadmap lays out mobile plans for the first half of 2013

Samsung has let slip its 2013 mobile roadmap, outlining the company's handset lineup for the first half of the year.

It seems that TechnoBuffalo managed a sneak peek at Samsung's upcoming portfolio including the Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Pocket Plus, Galaxy Young, Galaxy Grand, and Galaxy X Cover 2.

The Galaxy Note 8.0 revelations is somewhat undercut by the spec sheet that leaked earlier this month, followed by Samsung confirming the 8-inch tablet's appearance for MWC 2013.

The roadmap confirms those leaked specs, with a 1280 x 800 TFT LCD display, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, a quad-core 1.6GHz processor, a 5-megapixel rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front camera, 4600mAh battery, and the S Pen stylus.

We also now have a launch timeline for the Galaxy Note 8.0, which should arrive in March with either 16GB or 32GB of storage in both 3G and Wi-Fi flavors.

Big in February

The roadmap reveals that February will see the launch of two of Samsung's larger handsets with the Galaxy X Cover 2 and the Galaxy Grand.

The Galaxy X Cover 2 is a 4-inch follow-up to last year's rugged Galaxy X Cover, coupling a dual 1GHz processor and Android 4.1 with a dustproof and waterproof case. It also features a 5-megapixel rear camera to bring it up with other Galaxy smartphones, along with 4GB of storage, a microSD card slot, and a 1700mAh battery.

The Galaxy Grand takes on a larger task, offering a 5-inch WVGA display with dual SIM card support. It will also pack a 1.2GHz dual-core processor with Android 4.1, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front camera, 8GB of storage, and a 2100mAh battery.

Both the Galaxy Grand and Galaxy X Cover 2 are slated for February, so we may even see them arrive before MWC 2013 in Barcelona.

Return of compact smartphones

Samsung also has a duo of smaller form factor smartphones up its sleeve with the Galaxy Pocket Plus and Galaxy Young.

The Galaxy Pocket Plus offers a 2.8-inch display and runs Android 4.1 with an 800MHz processor, 2-megapixel camera, and 4GB of storage. A single SIM model was supposed to launch this month, while a dual SIM card handset is slated for February.

Jumping ahead to April then sees a new version of Samsung's Galaxy Young handset, a 3-inch Android 4.1 smartphone for a budget with 4GB of storage and a 3-megapixel camera.

To MWC 2013 and beyond

Missing from Samsung's first half of 2013 roadmap is the anticipated Galaxy S4.

The latest rumors point to Samsung skipping MWC 2013 with its flagship smartphone, instead favoring an unveiling at its own press conference in March for an April launch.

While it means more months of waiting for new Galaxy S4 details, the roadmap outlines four new smartphones and the Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet for an expected MWC lineup. And without the S4 around, Samsung's other mobile hardware may now actually get their fair share of the spotlight.

Via TechnoBuffalo

RIM extends developer incentive, citing 'overwhelming' response

As Research in Motion fans await the unveiling of new BlackBerry 10 powered handsets next week, the company has extended a $10,000 developer incentive prize after receiving a "remarkable" number of submissions.

Research in Motion is paving the road for new BlackBerry 10 smartphones to be launched on January 30 with the announcement that developers have an extra month to submit apps for the company's Built for BlackBerry challenge.

As noted on the Inside BlackBerry Developer Blog on Monday, the original deadline of January 21 has been shifted to 8pm EST on February 8, citing the "large volume of apps" being submitted for consideration.

RIM announced via Twitter that 19,071 apps were submitted to the company's rebranded BlackBerry World during the first 36 hours, a number RIM hopes to increase to 70,000 by launch, according to Engadget.

Quantity over quality?

Research in Motion's program encourages developers to create apps for the new BlackBerry 10 platform, guaranteeing them a minimum of $10,000 in the first year for titles that generate at least $1,000 revenue during that time.

The BlackBerry maker will pay the difference between what developers earn in the first 12 months and its $10,000 cap, also waiving the usual submission fees for apps submitted during the challenge.

It remains to be seen how many of those apps will actually wind up being slick enough for BlackBerry 10 owners to use on a daily basis, but it's encouraging that RIM has developers' backs at such a crucial stage.

Via Engadget

Nokia Lumia 620 release date could be next week

The wallet-friendly Nokia Lumia 620 release date may well be set for January 31 if suppliers are to be believed.

The Lumia 620 was announced at the start of December rocking a 3.8-inch display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 5MP camera, VGA front camera, NFC technology and the Windows Phone 8 OS.

Online retailer Expansys has informed TechRadar: "We've had news from our official Nokia supplier that the Lumia 620 is expected on Thursday 31 Jan."

Not quite the final countdown

The spokesperson for the website was quick to note that the date had not been finalised and during the launch event it sounded like Europe would have to wait until at least February for the handset to land on shelves.

Apparently the black version of the Lumia 620 will be the first to hit our shores, with the white hue arriving later in February.

The Nokia Lumia 620 is priced at around £230 on Expansys and Clove, while unlocked-mobiles is currently quoting a significantly cheaper £175 for the SIM-free handset.

Microsoft Surface Pro goes on sale February 9

Microsoft's Surface ProWindows 8 tablet goes on sale only slightly later than expected, on February 9, and in the US and Canada to start with.

When Surface General Manager Panos Panay tweeted recently that he was jetting off to the factory to see Surface Pro units shipping "in the coming weeks" it didn't add much to the original promise that Surface Pro would ship around 90 days after the Windows RT version.

But now Microsoft has confirmed the early February date in addition to pricing - $899 for the 64GB version and $999 for the 128GB model.

Actual international pricing is yet to be announced, but those directly convert to £567 / AU$852 for the 64GB model and £629 / AU$945 for the 128GB edition.

The specs are the same as the Surface Pro we tried out at CES, with what Microsoft is calling a "third generation Intel Core i5 processor with Intel HD Graphics 400"; until we see an actual unit, we can't say whether Surface Pro will have the new low-power Core CPU Intel announced at CES or not.

The external graphics is more clearly identified as an HD Mini DisplayPort now; you'll need an adapter but it lets you drive VGA screens and still get an HD image on an external HD screen. And Surface for Windows 8 Pro also comes with a version of the neat Surface RT power adapter that includes a 5W USB port for charging your phone (or even another tablet).

Accessorise

Both versions of Surface Pro include the active Surface pen we tried out at CES and they work with the same Touch Cover and Type Cover keyboards as Surface RT.

As with Surface RT, the keyboard isn't included in the price though; in fact Microsoft is also introducing a $599 version of the 64GB Surface RT without the keyboard, so you can pick the keyboard colour or design you want.

That could be one of three $129.99 limited edition Touch Cover designs in red, magenta or cyan with a laser-etched design on the back.

There's also a special $69.95 "Surface Edition" of the Wedge Touch Mouse which works like a large external touchpad for Windows 8 gestures, as well as a nicely portable mouse. The special edition part is the casing, which matches the VaporMag coating on Surface RT and Surface Pro.

If it's Surface RT you're after, you'll soon be able to buy it in twice as many countries; the Windows RT tablet will be on sale in 13 more European countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland).

British connection

We asked Microsoft when Surface Pro will be available to buy in the UK.

"We are taking a phased approach to the rollout of Surface Windows 8 Pro to satisfy retailer and customer demand," a Microsoft spokesperson said. "You can expect expansion of Surface Windows 8 Pro in the coming months. We're not confirming where it will expand to right now or the exact dates, however."

Hopefully that will avoid the initial problems Microsoft had in the UK shipping Surface RT.

Mozilla unveils two fancy Firefox OS handsets for developers

It's all been a little bit quiet on the Firefox OS front recently but the HTML5-based project has perked right back up with the announcement of two handsets.

The phones go by the names Keon and Peak, with the former sporting a burnt orange chassis, single-core 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, 3.5-inch HVGA display, 3MP camera and 1,580mAh battery.

The white Peak is a slightly classier affair, with a 4.3-inch qHD IPS display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 8MP rear camera with flash, 2MP front camera, 1,800mAh battery and the same RAM and internal storage as the Keon.

Both handsets feature a microSD card slot, microUSB port, Wi-Fi and GPS and they come unlocked so you can stick in your own SIM card.

Hack me

The handsets have been manufactured by Geeksphone. Mozilla wants to bring "the power of open standards and an open community" to the world and is asking developers for a helping hand.

To this end, Mozilla is inviting budding coders to attend worldwide Firefox OS App Days which it's billing as "hack days" providing the opportunity to learn, hack and share with the new platform.

If you fancy getting your hands on a developer unit though you'll need to be prepared to shell out some cash – there are no free handsets a la RIM with its BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha devices.

Prices and the release dates for the Koen and Peak are currently unknown, but the official website for the handsets says, "The first developer preview devices specifically designed for Firefox OS are just around the corner." We lie in wait.

Sky Go Extra - exclusive first pictures

Sky Go Extra has launched, and TechRadar has already spent a little time with the service to see just how it works in the real world.

The service, which will cost Sky's subscribers an extra £5 a month, will allow people to download content to their device, and keep it there available offline for 30 days.

It's going to be a major rival to services such as Netflix and Lovefilm - which currently only offer streaming services.

We've spent a little time with SGE and we'll be bringing you a hands on with the offering later, but for now take a quick look through our gallery of the service to see what it brings.

Those with Sky Go already will notice that there is a new tab for downloads. Clicking on it will tell you to sign up for the service if you haven't already. And go to the On Demand tab to choose your content.

The selections will now have an extra button saying download

If you do not have a Sky Go Extra account the option will still be there - but if you click you will be met with:

Once you have started the download - you can check progress on the Downloads tab:

Check back with us later and we will have an in-depth look at the service, its content and how it performs.

Sky Go Extra - exclusive first pictures

Sky Go Extra has launched, and TechRadar has already spent a little time with the service to see just how it works in the real world.

The service, which will cost Sky's subscribers an extra £5 a month, will allow people to download content to their device, and keep it there available offline for 30 days.

It's going to be a major rival to services such as Netflix and Lovefilm - which currently only offer streaming services.

We've spent a little time with SGE and we'll be bringing you a hands on with the offering later, but for now take a quick look through our gallery of the service to see what it brings.

Those with Sky Go already will notice that there is a new tab for downloads. Clicking on it will tell you to sign up for the service if you haven't already. And go to the On Demand tab to choose your content.

The selections will now have an extra button saying download

If you do not have a Sky Go Extra account the option will still be there - but if you click you will be met with:

Once you have started the download - you can check progress on the Downloads tab:

Check back with us later and we will have an in-depth look at the service, its content and how it performs.