Twitter for Windows Phone gets a substantial update

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Microsoft, Software,

Twitter has finally (finally!) released a substantial update to Twitter for Windows Phone. The new version brings the design of the app in line with what you'd find in the iOS and Android variants, with the Home, Connect, Discover, and Me tabs included in the app. Additionally, Twitter for Windows Phone includes Live Tile support, so you can pin specific Twitter accounts, lists, and searches right to your Start Screen. You can grab the update right now.

Read More | Twitter

Samsung confirms Galaxy S IV event for March 14 in NYC

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,

Looks like the rumors of a Samsung Galaxy S IV March 14th announcement have come to fruition. Samsung has released an image inviting press to an event in New York City on March 14th that features the text "Ready 4 The Show: Come and Meet the Next Galaxy" which is pretty much a dead giveaway. However, if you're still suspicious, how about this quote from JK Shin, Samsung's mobile division chief:

"We introduced the Galaxy S III in London last year, and this time we changed the venue (to New York)... as we were bombarded with requests from U.S. mobile carriers to unveil the Galaxy S IV in the country."

We've also got the tweet from Samsung Mobile's Twitter account that backs all of this up.

Click to continue reading Samsung confirms Galaxy S IV event for March 14 in NYC

Mophie Juice Pack Air for iPhone 5 now available for $99.95

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds,

Hot on the heels of the Juice Pack Helium, Mophie has announced the Juice Pack Air for iPhone 5, its second battery case that works with the Lightning-equipped Apple smartphone. The Juice Pack Air packs in 1700 mAh of power, enough to double the battery life of your iPhone 5. As with other Mophie Juice Pack cases, you get charging pass-through, the ability to switch charging on and off on demand, and enhanced sound by redirecting the audio towards you. The Juice Pack Air for iPhone 5 also ups the ante by upgrading the charge output from 0.5A to 1.0A, which means you get a faster charge. As for colors, you can choose between monochromatic soft touch black, glossy white, or metallic red - a Product (RED) device. Check out the video after the jump.

Click to continue reading Mophie Juice Pack Air for iPhone 5 now available for $99.95

Read More | Juice Pack Air for iPhone 5

Vertical videos are bad. Stop it.

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cameras, Smartphones, Videos,

We're sure you've witnessed it in the past. You may have even done it yourself. Even worse, you may still do it. Vertical Video Syndrome, or VVS. Shooting videos on your smartphone vertically used to be a common annoyance that has, thankfully, been on the decline as people realize just how absolutely ridiculous the end result looks when trying to view the content on anything other than the smartphone itself. There are still some stragglers out there though, and if you know any, point them to the video that we've embedded after the break. It should drive the point home. Please, rotate your smartphone.

Click to continue reading Vertical videos are bad. Stop it.

Apple iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S are the two best-selling smartphones in the world

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News, Handhelds,

Strategy Analytics already reported that the iPhone 5 was the best-selling smartphone in the US, but now it's saying that Apple extends its dominance worldwide as well. As such, the iPhone 5 sold an estimated 27.4 million units during the fourth quarter of 2012, as compared to Samsung's Galaxy S III selling 15.4 million units. What's more, the iPhone 4S also outsold the S3 with 17.4 million units moved. This gives Apple the two most popular smartphones on the market, with a little over a 20 percent share in the global market.

We reported earlier on how Samsung will be announcing its Galaxy S IV in March, so the tides may change very soon. Until Apple releases the iPhone 5S, that is.

Apple releases iOS 6.1.2, fixes Exchange calendar sync bug

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

iOS 6.1 introduced an odd Exchange calendar syncing bug, and today Apple released iOS 6.1.2 to fix it. The issue resulted in heightened network usage that would significantly reduce the battery life of affected devices. If you use an Exchange account with your iPhone, you'll wanna grab this over-the-air update now. No word yet on if iOS 6.1.2 also fixes the lock screen bypass bug that was discovered last week as well, but we'll check on that as soon as we're updated.

HTC One: 4.7-inch, 1080p, UltraPixel camera, LTE launching in March

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds,

HTC has announced it's newest flagship smartphone--the HTC One. What makes the HTC One stand out among the rest? It's got a great design aesthetic and the specs to match. The One packs a 4.7-inch LCD display (bonded to the Gorilla Glass 2 enclosure) with 1080p resolution. That's an impressive 468ppi.

The HTC One also boasts an impressive camera that ditches the megapixel game in order to focus on vastly-improved low-light capabilities instead. The result is a 4-megapixel rear camera that HTC's marketing department has renamed UltraPixels, which each capturing 300% more light than a typical 8-megapixel shooter. It's a bold move, and it's in line with what Nokia's Lumia 920 PureView camera is all about. The One also has optical image stabilization (OIS) for both the rear and front cameras. Speaking of the front camera, it's also an ultra-wide angle camera, similar to what HTC packed into the Windows Phone 8X.

Click to continue reading HTC One: 4.7-inch, 1080p, UltraPixel camera, LTE launching in March

Samsung Galaxy S IV to be revealed on March 14

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds, Rumors,

Word on the street is that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S IV on March 14th. The Galaxy S line is Samsung's flagship, and is going to be a big deal as the next flagship device from one of the two companies that are dominating the mobile phone hardware landscape. The Galaxy S IV will not only go head-to-head with the iPhone 5, but also the upcoming HTC One as well. Rumored Galaxy S IV specs include:

• 4.99" Super AMOLED 1080p display
• Exynos 5 Octa chipset with 8-core processor
• 8-core Mali-T678 GPU
• 2 GB RAM
• 13-megapixel rear camera with 1080p video recording
• 2-megapixel front-facing camera

Of course, we'll have all the news as it happens in just under a month. In the meantime, peep the purported leak of the design of the device up top.

Read More | The Verge

How strong is Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3? [Video]

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, CES, CES 2013,

We were able to check in with Corning to get a look at Gorilla Glass 3, the upcoming product that should be hitting the next generation of major smartphones later this year. If you use a smartphone or tablet, you probably want glass that is super-strong and holds up to in-pocket scratches, and shocks like being dropped. No one wants a cracked screen, right? That's where Gorilla Glass 3 comes in. It's tougher in every area when compared to last year's Gorilla Glass 2, which means it can withstand more impact, is harder to scratch, and is just a better product all around. Check out our video demo after the jump to get a look at its impressive performance, and expect this to hit the iPhone 5S and major Android smartphones later this year.

Click to continue reading How strong is Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3? [Video]

The Nike+ FuelBand app not coming to Android anytime soon, dedicated to iOS

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Smartphones, Wearables, Google, Software,

The Nike+ FuelBand is one of the most popular fitness gadgets out there (although the verdict is still out on if fitness gadgets actually improve our health,) but there's been a complaint from Android users since it's release regarding the lack of an app for Android-powered smartphones. Despite waiting patiently for about a year, it turns out, a FuelBand app isn't even on the radar for Nike.

@mkoyerp Right now, we're focused on iOS and web. We're not working on an Android App.

— Nike Support (@NikeSupport) February 10, 2013

To deliver the best experience for all Nike+ FuelBand users, we are focusing on the FuelBand experience across iOS and nikeplus.com, where you can sync your activity, set new goals, and connect with friends. At this time, we are not working on an Android version of the mobile app.

In other words, the company is committed to having the FuelBand work perfectly within the iOS ecosystem, and doesn't have time right now to worry about the fragmented Android mess. Of course, the FuelBand doesn't require a smartphone at all, so Android users (and anyone else) can use it, they just need to sync over USB to their computer rather than over Bluetooth like you can do with an iPhone.

Read More | Giz