August, 2013

• 6 August

  Alleged LG G2 press shot leak upstages smartphone’s debut

  

  A little more than 12 hours before LG is expected to take the wraps off its G2, the first press image of the company’s next flagship smartphone has allegedly leaked out. A purported marketing image of the smartphone, which incidentally displays the time and date of Wednesday’s big reveal, was obtained and tweeted by evleaks …

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• 6 August

  First Key Lime Pie builds begin popping up?

  

  The first signs of a new Key Lime Pie build of Android have surfaced, albeit in a somewhat unconventional manner. Related stories: Google Nexus 7 (2013) review Android 4.3 Jelly Bean review Android Key Lime Pie: Most wanted features (video) A user in the Chromium bug tracker (Chromium is Chrome’s open source backbone) recently reported running tests on a variety …

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• 6 August

  FreedomPop mobile hotspot now supports Sprint’s 4G LTE

  

  FreedomPop’s mobile hotspot service has finally jumped to 4G LTE. FreedomPop hops onto Sprint’s cellular network to provide its users with mobile Internet access. Until now, its service only supported Sprint’s WiMax network. But the new $149 Freedom Spot MiFi 5580 hotspot kicks in support for the carrier’s 4G LTE network. The new mobile hotspot provides average speeds of 6 …

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• 6 August

  BBM officially heading to Samsung Galaxy phones

  

  It seems like it was ages ago when BlackBerry dropped the news that BBM would find a home on Android handsets. Apparently the wait is about to end, at least for owners of Samsung Galaxy phones. A new report from the folks at N4BB claims that Samsung has officially committed to the messaging app. Specifically, BBM addicts will be able …

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• 6 August

  Samsung to improve water damage cover for Galaxy S4 Active

  

  Samsung is set to change the warranty for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, a waterproof phone that surprisingly isn’t covered for water damage. “We are working to improve the warranty condition of the GALAXY S4 Active for customers”, Samsung told me today. “We will update once it is finalized.” The warranty for the S4 Active currently doesn’t cover damage from …

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• 6 August

  Apple replacing knock

  

  If you’re taking your life in your hands by using a knock-off charger to power up your iPhone, Apple is offering to swap it for a proper one. Following a spate of dangerous incidents involving chargers and batteries built by third-party manufacturers to work with the iPhone and other smart phones, Apple is launching the USB Power Adaptor Takeback Programme. …

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• 6 August

  Why the Ubuntu Edge is a success, even if it never exists

  

  The Ubuntu Edge, the highly ambitious convergence device that offers both an Android smartphone and Linux desktop experience, may very well fail to meet its record crowdfunding goal of $32 million. But Mark Shuttleworth, founder of the Ubuntu operating system, is not too worried. In many ways, the project has already succeeded by illustrating support on all sides for the …

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• 6 August

  Nokia Lumia 1020 gets first UK price, a hefty £550

  

  Incoming! Nokia’s formidable new photo-blower is pointed at the UK and the Finnish phone-flinger is about to pull the trigger. Due here in September, the Lumia 1020 is set to cost £550. The high-end price tag has been applied by independent gadget dealership Unlocked Mobiles, which has the 41-megapixel camera phone up for pre-order. Expect other online phone-floggers to match …

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• 6 August

  Nokia takes aim at iPhone 5 camera in new Lumia ad

  

  Quick, get the protective wrap onto the sofa — Nokia has got its claws out, and is scratching away at Apple’s iPhone. Specifically, the Finnish firm’s latest advertising opus takes aim at the iPhone 5‘s camera. “Every day, more photos are taken on the iPhone than on any other phone,” the ad (possibly unwisely) begins, before wading into the fray …

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• 6 August

  Google wins patent on predetermined unlocking patterns

  

  Google has won a patent on a new way to unlock a device and access applications. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday awarded Google a patent on “Alternative Unlocking Patterns.” The technology describes a method by which users would create several different unlocking patterns that would pertain to a particular action. Upon completing that pattern input, the device …

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