Sammobile is claiming to have the first image of the next Samsung Galaxy phone, receiving the photos from a reader. Is this really the Galaxy S4? (Credit: Sammobile) If true, the new phone in the company’s flagship Galaxy family would look nearly identical to last year’s model, but with a larger edge-to-edge display. Under the …

Update, 4:17 p.m. PT: Google says it’s working to remove its Maps redirect, which bumps IE mobile users to Google.com. You can read the company’s statement here. With its decision to block Windows Phone users from accessing Google Maps, Google isn’t the first browser maker to block users from accessing content with a competitive product. Microsoft has done the same …

Related stories Google may need history lesson on blocking rivals’ products What Google’s settlement with the FTC means for users EU: FTC decision on Google won’t affect our case Google says that it will no longer block Windows Phone users from accessing Google Maps and that the blockage was about ensuring a good user experience, not about intentionally interfering with …

Vodafone has turned its big red nose up at Ofcom’s plans to let you get out of your mobile contract early. Earlier today the phone regulator recommended that networks stop the practice of raising prices mid-contract, but Vodafone says it doesn’t control all the costs involved. “Ofcom first needs to understand the difference between the prices that are set by …

Podcasts are all kinds of awesome. A Prairie Home Companion, This American Life, Wiretap, The Truth — there’s a virtually endless supply of great listening to be had free of charge. Apple’s Podcasts app, on the other hand, is all kinds of suck. It’s so abysmal that I’m breaking my if-you-can’t-say-anything-nice rule to vent my hatred of it. Ever since …

Nokia is apparently considering ditching the colourful polycarbonate body of its Lumia range for an aluminium design — to make its next smart phones thinner and lighter. The report comes from “sources familiar with the matter”, talking to The Verge, who explained that Nokia is mulling the modified materials for at least one device in its 2013 lineup. The phone …

Corning has announced that its third generation Gorilla Glass will be shown off at this year’s CES ahead of it turning up in new smart phones to shake off attacks from keys like never before. The third-generation glass promises to be three times better at resisting scratches thanks to improvements made right down at the molecular level. We’ve misplaced our …

HTC will go aggressive in 2013. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal in an interview published today, HTC CEO Peter Chou said that he believes the “worst for HTC has probably passed.” But how did the “worst” even come about? Chou believes it can be directly attributed to marketing. “Our competitors were too strong and very resourceful, pouring in lots …

There’s plenty of reasons you might want to take a screenshot on your Nexus 4, be it showing off your home screen, troubleshooting an app, or demonstrating to a friend of family member how to complete a task on the device. Google has made it easy to not only take a screenshot on the Nexus 4, but to also share …

Google wants to change the way people access the Internet. And as part of that strategy, the company has been developing separate operating systems for mobile devices and personal computers. The idea is that the search and advertising giant wants to make it easier for people to connect to the Internet and eventually use Google services. Since it was introduced …

Samsung is beginning to roll out a security patch to UK Galaxy S3 phones, designed to clear up a bug in the S3’s Exynos chip that could potentially see some phones being wiped or bricked by naughty hackers. The sudden death bug, as it’s known, was found by an XDA Developers user and gives hackers access to the RAM of …

Samsung has issued a software update to address a nasty vulnerability found in a handful of smartphones that allowed attackers access to user data and left the handset vulnerable to malicious apps and bricking. The vulnerability, which was discovered last month, lies in Exynos 4, the ARM-based system-on-a-chip typically found in Samsung smartphones and tablets. An exploit bypasses the system …

Good news for anyone still using an original Samsung Galaxy Note. The big blower is about to get the same software update as the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 — namely Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, as well as the Premium Suite upgrade. That should bring a host of new features to the handset. It’s good to see Samsung still …

Samsung will, in fact, launch some Tizen-based smartphones this year, the company has confirmed. In a statement to CNET, a Samsung spokesperson said that the company plans “to unveil competitive Tizen devices within this year.” The person didn’t say how many devices would be offered, and failed to provide details on what sort of features those handsets might deliver. Those …

If the world of smart phone software wasn’t crowded and confusing enough, another contender has entered the ring. Canonical has brought its Ubuntu software to mobiles, promising a clean interface and optimisation for lower-end hardware. Sounds promising, but with zero support from manufacturers so far, Ubuntu is going to have a fight on its hands to establish its place in …