Hasta La Gadget!

It wasn’t too long ago that Instagram more or less confirmed that they were a no-show for Windows Phone devices at least for now, and this is despite evidence that Instagram have registered themselves as developers on the Windows Phone […]

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If you have been playing video games for a while, you might recall that almost two decades ago, video games came in multiple diskettes, and before it was in the 5 and ¼ inch floppy disks, before it moved into […]

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HTC has begun pushing out Android 4.2.2 for the HTC One in the UK, bringing the company’s flagship up to date with the latest version of Google’s OS. The update had initially been spotted elsewhere in Europe earlier this month, with HTC promising a progressive roll-out to other markets; now, the company confirmed this morning, it’s the UK’s turn.

As well as the core Android changes in the new version, there are several tweaks and fixes exclusive to HTC. On Google’s side, there’s support for Photosphere panoramic images as well as Daydream screensavers, together with lockscreen widgets or the option to put news or weather headlines there instead.

However, it’s the HTC changes that are probably most welcome. The annoying menu button, which took up a full slice across the display, has been addressed, remapping the Home button so that a long-press pulls up the context menu. Since that would regularly start Google Now, that’s been changed to swiping up from Home, as on Google’s own Nexus 4.

The “Power Saving” option has been removed from the pull-down notifications bar, too, clearing up more room for notifications themselves, and there are now quick-toggles for things like WiFi and Bluetooth. It’s also possible to show the battery level as a percentage in the status bar.

Over in the camera are where some of the biggest changes are made, however. There are six new themes for the Zoe highlight reels, complete with new music, effects, and transitions, while the Zoe file format has been changed so as to address user complaints of a frustrating number of near-identical files.

The update itself measures in at 416.46MB, so it’s best to head to a WiFi connection to grab it. You’ll need a preliminary 1.47MB update to pave the way, however. You can trigger a firmware check for the new software by headed to the Settings and choosing “Software Updates” from the “About” menu.

HTC One Android 4.2.2 update hits UK today is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Apple is said to be using Samsung to build the A9 mobile chips for the iPhone and iPad in 2015, another sign that the firm’s attempts to extricate itself from its rival’s production expertise are struggling. Although Apple had switched to TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) for its A-series chip production starting in 2014, according to The Korea Economic Daily it’s Samsung’s expertise in 14nm manufacturing that has won back Apple’s business.

According to the Korean site, Samsung and Apple inked an agreement on July 14, specifically for the Apple A9 chipset expected to be in 2015′s iPhone. The chip will use 14nm “FinFET” technology, it’s said; if Apple’s “S” nomenclature pattern continues, by that point we’ll likely be seeing the iPhone 6S, though the Korean report suggests it will be the iPhone 7.

Apple and Samsung have had a tumultuous relationship over the past few years, spending as much time in the courtroom attempting to extract huge damages payments and have their rival’s devices banned from sale, as they have negotiating components. Samsung has always been a significant supplier for Apple – as well as processors, it supplies flash memory and other components – but since the legal escalations Apple has attempted to broaden its supply chain and avoid giving quite so much money to its Korean foe.

Chipsets had been a bottleneck, despite the ongoing efforts of TSMC, but news of a deal over the upcoming Apple A8 had been seen as a sign that Samsung was being pushed out of its privileged position.

Instead, Samsung’s work on 14nm manufacturing has paid dividends, offering something TSMC reportedly cannot. 14nm chips are expected to offer performance improvements as well as a reduction in power consumption, with a central silicon “fin” running the length of the transistor.

The first devices to use the A9 processors aren’t expected to show up for some time yet, and their specifications haven’t been confirmed. The current iPhone 5 runs Apple’s A6 chip, though the upcoming refreshed version – expected to be the iPhone 5S – is likely to use the newer version, the A6X. That’s currently used in the fourth-gen full-sized iPad, though could be modified for the lower-power requirements of the new iPhone.

VIA MacRumors

Apple’s iPhone 6S could have a Samsung A9 heart (sorry TSMC) is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

HTC’s next variants on the HTC One could begin launching within the next two weeks, leaks suggest, with the HTC One Mini due imminently and a larger model shortly after. The HTC One Mini – expected to have a 4.3-inch display, versus the One’s 4.7-inch panel – will be launched before July is out, MobileGeeks sources in Taiwan claim, while the HTC One Max is supposedly due before the end of Q3 2013.

The One Mini is tipped to be HTC’s attempt to distill down what makes the original One special, into a more affordable and compact device. While leaked images indicate it will share the same aluminum unibody styling of the One, the specifications are generally more humble: the 4.3-inch LCD display runs at 720p, for instance, rather than 1080p, and there’s a mere Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.4GHz dualcore at the helm.

RAM, too, is believed to have been halved versus the original One, and there’s 16GB of internal memory though no expectation of a microSD card slot. Leaks earlier this month indicated a launch by the end of Q3 was on the cards, in silver and black, but these new rumors suggest HTC is working hard to get the One Mini out even more promptly, likely motivated by the company’s appalling Q2 financial results.

Far more interesting, though, from a tech-lover’s-perspective is the HTC One Max, the company’s first attempt at the “phablet” segment. Believed to pack a 6-inch, 1080p Super LCD 3 display and Qualcomm’s 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 chipset, the Max would enlarge the One experience for those who might ordinarily opt for Samsung’s Galaxy Note series.

The One Max is expected to have 2GB of RAM and a choice of either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, along with a 3,200 mAh battery: a fair step up from the 2,300 mAh in the original One. According to MobileGeeks’ source, HTC intends to launch the phablet in early September, which should put it up against Samsung’s Galaxy Note III.

It’s a direct challenge to Samsung we’ve seen HTC attempt before. What remains to be proved is whether HTC can muster its supply-chain to actually deliver it: the HTC One, for instance, was meant to have launched in around 80 countries before the Galaxy S 4 was announced, but production issues – particularly around the UltraPixel camera, which is expected to be carried over to these new One variations – meant many locations only got the phone after Samsung had revealed its attention-consuming flagship.

HTC One Mini tipped for July; One Max phablet readies direct Note III attack is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.