By now everybody should be familiar with the famous leaked “budget iPhone” back panels that have made and are continuing to make the rounds around the World Wide Web.
Some of you could also be aware of the fact that these are not actually official coversdesigned by Apple. Nope, these are just unofficial products manufactured by various Chinese companies. Why only some of you are aware of this (aside from our regular readers)? Because, from all the major online publications out there, only GSM Arena (by our knowledge) had the guts to actually call these things what they are: fake, cheap knock-offs. We guess that publishing leaks from shady sources is more appealing than admitting a screw-up. Anyway, back to the matter at hand.
In the first part of our investigation we were mentioning that the Chinese manufacturer we spoke with was referring to these colorful, plastic back panels as iPhone 5S parts. No mention of a plastic, cheap, affordable, budget iPhone, or iPhone Light / Lite for that matter.
If at first we didn’t know what to make of it, we now think there is a possibility that what we saw are actually alternative/unofficial iPhone 5S back panels. Why is that? Well, because we asked for dimensions, and this is the response we got:
Some of you might remember when the guys at Aple Insider have published some leaked iPhone Lite / Light and iPhone 5S schematics. Here they are:
As you can see, the dimensions of the plastic shells are very close to what the above schematics are claiming to be iPhone 5S’ dimensions.
The Mail We Received: 5.8 cm / 58 mm – 12.3 cm / 123 mm Apple Insider published blueprints: 58.57 mm – 123.83 mm
This, along with the fact that the manufacturer called these “iPhone 5S back covers” make us think that what we’ve been seeing during the last couple of weeks are actually unofficial iPhone 5S back covers. What do you think?
Oh, and remember the leaked “budget iPhone buttons” that look like LEGOs? Unoffcial as well:
When BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins first dropped the news thatBlackBerry Messenger would be making its way to Android and iOS, he said it would be released this summer. But, after that announcement, there was no word from BlackBerry on the app except to deny a rumor that the app would be released on June 27th. Now, it seems that BBM may not arrive until September.
The news comes from Sunil Lalvani, managing director of BlackBerry India, who said on the subject:
The service is coming to Android this summer. But summer as per North America, where it remains till September.
Lalvani did say that the app would be released before the end of September, so it would be really cutting it close in terms of being released in "summer". Summer ends on September 21st, and it seems that BlackBerry is going to push that deadline to the limit on this.
You may also notice that Lalvani did not mention anything about the iOS app, but it is assumed that the iOS version will land at the same time as the Android app. Or, at least so far we haven't heard anything to the contrary.
Last month, we passed along some information about the next-generationGoogle Nexus 7 tablet. On Wednesday, some of that information was confirmed by a leaked screenshot that revealed alleged pricing information for the slate. According to the leak, the 16GB model will bepriced at $229 while the 32GB variant will cost you $269. The information matches up with the earlier leak which had the retail price of the revamped model starting as low as $229.
And as you can see, the screenshot also shows that this particular retailer has "0" units on hand which means the product has yet to ship. As far as specs are concerned, recent information suggests that we could be looking at a 1080 x 1920 resolution screen, a 5MP camera and quite possibly Android 4.3 running the show. We also just might see the Tegra 3 that currently runs the Google Nexus 7, get replaced by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor.
The only thing we need is a launch date, and if the ASUS produced tablet is starting to get listed on retailer's inventory screens, it would seem plausible to expect the next-gen Google Nexus 7 to be introduced soon.
Leaked inventory screen confirms $229 starting price for the next-gen Google Nexus 7
If you've followed the Apple rumor mill even peripherally, there are a few rumors that are persistent. We've been hearing for the past two iPhone cycles that there would be NFC in an iPhone. Before Apple added LTE, that rumor held for a couple cycles as well. The rumors of Apple using an unbreakable LiquidMetal casing began with the iPhone 5, but it looks like it may be real for the 5S and the next-gen iPad.
The rumor started with the iPhone 5, but never had much traction, because the technology couldn't really provide anything more than smaller components made of LiquidMetal. This time around, things are looking different. It started with a patent filing that was approved yesterday for "bulk amorphous alloy sheet forming processes". In plain English, it is a process which would allow the manufacture of sheets of metallic glass of variable thickness between 0.1mm and 25mm and in widths of up to three meters, which could be used in "any electronic device known the art".
The patent was granted to Crucible Intellectual Property, which is a shell company formed with the licensing deal between Apple and LiquidMetal Technology. The Boy Genius himself is predicting separately (he never mentions the patent filing in his prediction) that the iPhone 5S will use LiquidMetal, because back in May he handled the SIM card tray of an iPhone 5S, and claims it felt like LiquidMetal.
Of course, the technology to be able to make LiquidMetal components has existed for years, going back to the original Vertu devices in 2004. The question is whether the patent filing shows that the technology has evolved enough to build entire iPhone and iPad cases out of the material. Clearly, the patent shows that Apple and LiquidMetal Technology have a manufacturing method in theory, but unfortunately, patents don't always go beyond the theoretical and into a real world building scenario.
Given that the iPhone 5S is planned to launch in September, it is likely that Apple has already begun the mass production of the devices, since we are in the 2-3 month window before launch when manufacturing would ramp up. But, it is still unclear if this new production method was ready soon enough to scale for the demands of millions of iOS devices that would be hitting the market just a few months from now. It certainly doesn't help the rumor (or BGR's prediction) that aluminum cases were leaked straight from the Foxconn line earlier.
We can certainly believe that some internal components of the next-gen iOS devices will be made with LiquidMetal, because even a small piece will be enough to allow Apple's marketing machine to run with the claims. But, we haven't seen anything yet that would support the idea that the entire casing for the next iPhone or iPad will be made of the material.
According to a leak by famed Twitter leaker @evleaks, there are a slew of new devices coming from Nokia, HTC, and Amazon. At this point, the leaker did not post any images of the devices; instead, code names were listed. We’re now seeing the names for Nokia Rivendale, HTC Z4, and an Amazon GLP70. Details, specs, and other information were also not available. Moreover, these devices are likely to be released under different consumer names and the names listed are code names.
Nokia Rivendale
Hot after the announcement of the flagship 41-megapixel PureView Lumia 1020 smartphone we’re hearing of the Nokia Rivendale. Though information isn’t available for this device, Nokia has been recently rumored to be working on a larger screen phablet of some sort to compete against popular models like Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2 and the forthcoming and also rumored Galaxy Note 3. With Microsoft’s GDR3 software update to Windows Phone 8, rumored to be coming early next year, new hardware capabilities will be possible for the phablet category, including quad-core CPUs and full 1080p HD displays. Will Rivendale be the first phablet from Nokia? Or will it be the rumored, but now shelved, tablet running either Windows 8 or Windows RT?
HTC Z4
It’s unclear what the Z4 will be. The current HTC One family has the “M” codename, with the HTC One bearing the M6 code name while the rumored HTC One Mini is rumored to have the HTC M4 code name. It’s unclear if HTC will be jumping to the Z letter for next year’s reboot, or if the company is working on a new product or product line all together.
Amazon GLP70
After having long been rumored to enter the Android smartphone space with its own skinned UI that debuted on the Kindle Fire tablet, could the GLP70 be that mobile calling device?
The Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy S4 Active are among some of the hottest phones on the market today with some minor differences separating the two devices. Readers have been asking us which device to get if they’re interested in a powerful Samsung Android smartphone, and hopefully we can guide you to making a better decision when it’s time to upgrade.
1. The Network
The network should be an important factor when making an upgrade decision. The Galaxy S4 is available on all the major national networks in the U.S. while the waterproof Active variant is an AT&T exclusive. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though, as AT&T had made tremendous progress in improving its image since the iPhone debuted in 2007. Gone are the days of dropped calls and sluggish data speeds, the Rethink Possible network is noted for having the best in class network performance–call performance, text delivery, and data speeds–in many major markets, and where LTE isn’t available, AT&T’s 4G HSPA+ network is still sufficient for many tasks, including streaming videos.
Users who travel or live in more remote areas and want 4G LTE connectivity may want to look at Verizon Wireless, which has the most robust LTE footprint of any carrier at this time. Verizon’s speeds are a bit slower than LTE. And if you’re looking at value, Sprint and T-Mobile are the last remaining carriers to offer unlimited data packages. Again, with all three of these carriers, you won’t have the Active as an option.
2. The Phone
On paper, the Galaxy S4, which we’ll refer to as the GS4 here on out, and the Galaxy S4 Active–we’ll call this simply as the Active–appear very similar. Both devices sport a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage. What that means to the user is fast, fluid performance and no hiccups when you’re trying to multitask. 16 GB of storage plus a micro SD card slot means you can add to the phone and it will grow with your storage needs in the future if you purchase an optional expandable memory card. Both phones also have a 5-inch display that has the same 1080p full HD resolution as your big screen TV in your living room, equating to an insanely sharp display.
Design
There are some nuanced differences, however. The Active is slightly taller, wider, and thicker than the GS4 to accommodate the watersealing to make it waterproof. There’s also a small flap over the micro USB port, which needs to be covered when you’re around water. In theory, it sounds like a minor difference, but in reality it’s something that you’ll have to deal with every day and can amount to a minor nuisance as you’ll have to remove the rubber flap every time you charge the phone, and then replace the flap when you unplug the phone from the charger.
Battery Life
In terms of battery life, I find that the GS4 fared slightly better than the Active despite both devices sharing the same battery. A big reason for that is that the GS4 uses an AMOLED display, which is a bit more energy efficient than the LCD panel on the Active.
Display
And speaking of screens, though both displays bear the same size and resolution, the HD Super AMOLED panel on the GS4 looks better, in my opinion, when compared with the LCD on the Active. The Active’s screen is no slouch, but when placed against the GS4′s display, colors looked a bit more washed out and the viewing angles weren’t quite as good as the AMOLED-based panel.
Lastly, another big hardware difference is that the Active has a slimmed down 8-megapixel camera, likely the same kind as was available on the Galaxy S3, while the Galaxy S4 has an improved 13-megapixel sensor. In day shots, you’d likely not notice much difference, but the Galaxy S4 does retain more details thanks to the higher megapixel count.
3. Lifestyle
Where the Active shines is its ability to go in water. As its name implies, it can withstand water, spills, and sweat from your active lifestyle. Coupled with the S Health app (also on the GS4), the Active can accompany you equally well to business meetings or on your next jog. It will feel right at home on a kayaking adventure as it will on the sandy beaches in the summer.
Users should choose the Active if they want to have a smartphone with them whenever, wherever–at the pool, beach, or in the ocean on a snorkel adventure. Not only that, but conservative users who would normally select the GS4 should also seriously take a look at the Active as the phone can withstand spills–it’s safe against water, coffee, juices, soda, or even the mayo that’s dripping from your sandwich at lunch.
The one downside with the Active is the color. Conservative business users who normally go for the GS4 have more conservative hues of black or white to choose from whereas the bright, summer teal blue on the Active may not make the phone feel at home in the boardroom. Regardless, this is a minor quibble as its a personal preference.
4. Camera
As smartphones have become a ubiquitous part of our lives, consumers are relying more on their mobile as an always-ready camera. From selfies to vacation photos to preserving your child’s fast growing years, the camera on a smartphone allows us to document, archive, and share our life’s history.
Other than the megapixel difference between the GS4 and the Active, the main difference with both phones is that you can take the Active everywhere with you, even in wet and humid conditions. You can continue to Instagram photos at the pool, share pictures to Facebook while paddleboarding in the ocean, or record a video of your surfing adventure. And for active Active users, the value here is that you have your phone with you too, in case of an emergency, so you can call for help or look up first aid procedures online if you have to, thanks to the phone’s built-in 4G capabilities.
As I’ve noted in my review of the Active, all this sounds great on paper, but in reality the camera performance was mixed. If the display is wet, unlocking the screen and trying to use the touchscreen with water droplets on the 1080p display is next to impossible. This means that you’ll likely miss capturing a great moment in the water if you’re fumbling to unlock the device and then launch the camera app. Here, a dedicated waterproof or rugged point-and-shoot camera would be better, but then you don’t have access to data or the phone portion that the Active offers. There are certain quirks with the Active, but if you’re willing to make the tradeoffs, the device is an excellent one.
Galaxy S4 Active camera sample
If you’re an e-reader and read in the bath tub, the Active may be a better bet since if you accidentally drop the phone in your foamy bath, the Active can survive the dunk. It’s more a great everyday phone for buttery fingers that may be more prone to dropping things than it is a phone geared for adventure-seeking types in the wet outdoors.
5. Accessories
When choosing the Galaxy S4 Active, you should also know that popular Samsung-made accessories for the GS4 won’t be compatible. You won’t be able to use wireless charging, nor will you be able to use the Active with the new S View Flip Cover. These are just some of the concessions you’ll have to make, but at the end of the day, your phone is less likely to die because you accidentally dropped it in the sink.
Recommendations
In the end, if you’re a true power user who spend most of your time on dry land, the Galaxy S4 offers the best-in-class specs. If you’re a parent with a young child, or are prone to slippery fingers, the Galaxy S4 Active is the better option. With high-end specs from the Galaxy S4 and a slightly weaker camera, the Active is a superb phone that will handle spills and dunks gracefully. And if you maintain an Active lifestyle, the Active may sound appealing, but you really should test out how the device handles in wet conditions first as unlocking the screen and camera focusing capabilities while the device is wet can be challenging.
Xbox One launch title Forza Motorsport 5 is playable offline like many other upcoming Xbox One games, but the game won’t work without a one-time Internet connection to download a day one patch.
In an interview with IGN Dan Greenawalt, studio head at Forza developer Turn 10 Studios said that gamers will have to connect go online at least once in order to play the new game. That’s because the studio’s development time won’t let them put everything on the disc. Gamers will have to download some of the game content as day one DLC before they can play.
The day one downloadable content will include Forza 5′s Drivatars as well as several tracks and cars. Without that content, the game won’t function at all.
While gamers will have to download Drivatars when they boot up the game, the feature is all but useless without an Internet connection. Drivatars will use the cloud to create driver profiles of gamers, letting players race against AI that makes decision their friends would make on the racetrack. Without a connection, however, gamers will just have to race against the default AI opponents.
Many games on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 currently have day one DLC or title updates that players can or should download as soon as they launch the game, but those updates aren’t always required to play offline. Forza 5 is unique in that it’s a game that gamers can play offline that requires a one-time connection.
Forza 5 will likely play best when gamers have a constant Internet connection, if only so they can use the game’s Drivatar features. With Microsoft focusing a lot on the “infinite power of the cloud” with the Xbox One, it’s likely not alone in that. While Microsoft won’t require a connection for theXbox One, many games will likely require or at least expect a constant connection.
Some next-generation games like Titanfall and The Division simply won’t work without an Internet connection. Gamers without constant connections may have to double-check every game they buy next generation, as even some mostly single-player games may require constant Internet connections.
iPhone Amber Alerts automatically push important alerts about missing children directly to iPhones causing phones to emit a loud noise and display a small alert on-screen.
Now that AT&T offers iPhone Amber Alerts most U.S. carriers are on board with the important emergency alerts. These alerts arrive on the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 as well as on many Android devices.
This is an important tool for helping identify and track down missing children, but the alerts don’t always include all the information users need to be of help to officials.
A sample iPhone Amber Alert.
If you receive an iPhone Amber Alert, there will be a small amount of information such as a child’s description or the description of a car and a license plate, but not much else. The Amber Alert on iPhone is limited to a certain number of characters like a text message. The alerts show up on the lock screen and Notification Center with a hazard triangle next to it to indicate this is an emergency alert.
There is no charge for Amber Alerts on the iPhone when delivered through this method. This Emergency alert method also covers weather related emergencies, though it does not cover things like a Thunderstorm warning.
Users will see an Amber Alert on the iPhone based on their location, which means if an Amber Alert is issued in New York City while you are traveling there, you will see an alert, even if your billing zip code is in Ohio. Emergency alerts work the same way.
If you get an iPhone Amber Alert, the best place to go for more information is AmberAlert.gov andMissingKids.com. Both of these websites will deliver new information about the Amber alert to your iPhone.
The free iPhone Amber Alert app offers more information.
There is also a free Amber Alert iPhone app that offers more information about missing children. The app allows users to report a sighting directly from the app. This IPhone Amber Alert app has not been updated in several years, but appears to function.
If you did not get an Amber Alert on the iPhone, but a coworker did, you should make sure that Government Alerts are set to on. Grab the iPhone to get started. Go to Settings -> Notification Center -> Scroll down to Government Alerts and make sure Amber Alerts is marked on.
If this doesn’t solve the problem it is possible your carrier does not support the built-in iPhone Amber Alerts yet.
Google has begun sending out invites for an Android set to take place in San Francisco on July 24th and while the company is mum on exactly what will be announced, it’s very likely that we’ll see both Android 4.3 and a newNexus 7 2 take the stage and finally reveal themselves to the world.
Since Google I/O 2013 came and went, rumors of a Nexus 7 2 and an Android 4.3 update have swirled. The Nexus 7 2 is widely believed to be an Asus-built tablet that will be coming with better specs and a higher price tag than the original Nexus 7. As for Android 4.3, it’s thought to be a Jelly Bean update with only a few differences from Android 4.2.
The Nexus 7 2 could launch on July 24th with Android 4.3.
And while rumors have raged, Google has refused to announce anything, instead, letting the rumors do the talking. Things appear to be coming to a head though as the company has sent out media invites to an event in San Francisco, inviting media to join Android head Sundar Pichai for breakfast that morning. The invite doesn’t specify exactly what will be on tap but given the rumors, it’s likely that we’ll see Android 4.3 and a new Nexus 7 tablet introduced that morning.
The event is invite-only though there will be a live stream where consumers can follow along. Consumers will be able to tune in through Google-owned YouTube to follow the action.
What Google is going to be announcing is open for debate but Android 4.3 and the Nexus 7 2 are elephants in the room. We’ve seen Android 4.3 Jelly Bean leak out for Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S4 Google Edition owners to try and we’ve seen information in regards to the Nexus 7 2 emerge on a near daily basis with the device seemingly passing through a number of certifications on its way to shelves. So while Google doesn’t want to say what it will be announcing, and yes at this point it could be anything, consumers can bet on new software and a new tablet.
Android 4.3 is said to be Jelly Bean update.
Android 4.3 is expected to feature some small upgrades from Android 4.2 including Bluetooth LE (Light Energy), font changes and some tweaks to the camera application.
The Nexus 7 2 is said to be a full-fledged update to the Nexus 7 line and feature a 1980 x 1200 display, quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 5MP camera, Android 4.3 and a price tag that starts at $230.
We gave Deus Ex: The Fall a test and found it potentially gives hours of fun, excellent game play and control. However, it suffers one horrible flaw: it crashes without warning at the worst possible times on some iPads.
SQUARE ENIX gives players a futuristic first person shooter set in 2027. Humanity’s divided between ordinary humans and super humans, augmented with bionic arms, powerful senses and weapons integrated into their limbs. Augs take Neuropozyne to support their augmentations, but supplies have started to run low. Ben Saxon, the game’s hero, needs to find out what’s happening to the supply.
The story line of Deaus Ex: The Fall ($6.99) comes with lots of twists, making it fun and unpredictable. Early in the game tutorials help advance the player. FPS newbies might get lost, but experienced gamers will find it easy to pick up quickly.
Deus Ex: The Fall Game Control and Design
The controls in Deus Ex: The Fall work great on the iPad. Some players found the original PC game somewhat complex, but the iPad version makes it easier than the original without being too simple. The game makes use of the iPad touch user interface as well as any first person shooter we’ve played. Choose either virtual FPS analog sticks or the default split screen mode, where the left half of the screen maneuvers the player through the world while the right side fires at the enemy. Players can also tap to move or aim, which makes perfect sense on the iPad. We like that the game lets players choose between the two methods.
Deus Ex: The Fall gives plenty of game control options
Visually, Deus Ex: The Fall outperforms many iOS first person shooters. We get plenty of realistic detail, like warehouse boxes with shipping labels, and a nice textured environment.
Even on the iPad mini we enjoyed fluid game play. There’s plenty of action and and interesting cut scenes, for those who like them. People who hate cut scenes will find these annoying.
Should Gamers Buy Deus Ex: The Fall?
While Deus Ex: The Fall comes close to iPad first person shooter perfection, there’s a horrible problem that makes it annoying on the iPad mini. Without warning, the game will just crash. We nearly finished one long and difficult level. The last bad guy lay bleeding on the floor but, within seconds of reaching a check point, the game died. This bug on the iPad mini keeps Deus Ex: The Fall off our list of the best iPad games ever. The game ran fine on an iPad 3rd gen. We hope they patch the bug for iPad mini users. Also, jailbreakers can’t shoot in the game, according to the app store reviews.
Fans of the Deus Ex games should get Deus Ex: The Fall, but only on the iPad 3rd gen or iPad with Retina 4h gen. iPhone 4S and 5 gamers will enjoy Deus Ex: The Fall as well.
There are some nuanced differences, however. The Active is slightly taller, wider, and thicker than the GS4 to accommodate the watersealing to make it waterproof. There’s also a small flap over the micro USB port, which needs to be covered when you’re around water. In theory, it sounds like a minor difference, but in reality it’s something that you’ll have to deal with every day and can amount to a minor nuisance as you’ll have to remove the rubber flap every time you charge the phone, and then replace the flap when you unplug the phone from the charger.
As smartphones have become a ubiquitous part of our lives, consumers are relying more on their mobile as an always-ready camera. From selfies to vacation photos to preserving your child’s fast growing years, the camera on a smartphone allows us to document, archive, and share our life’s history.
