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Virgin Media outlines Galaxy S 4 pricing, starts at £31 per month with £99 down
We've seen a few UK carriers show their cards ahead of the Galaxy S 4 launch this weekend, but MVNO Virgin Media has been slightly coy with details compared to bigger peers like EE and Vodafone. Better late than never, we suppose: the provider has outlined just how much we'll have to spend to get Samsung's flagship. Customers who have Virgin broadband or TV services can pay the same £31 per month as their EE counterparts, getting a lower £99 device cost and insurance in exchange for a more limited service that includes 200 minutes, 500 texts and 500MB of data. When mobile-only customers have to pay £5 more per month, though, we'd think carefully about signing up just for the sake of the GS 4. There are better deals afoot if you're not already a loyal Virgin customer.
BlackBerry 10.1 official with HDR camera mode, expansions to Hub and notifications
Never mind that a few developers spoiled the surprise last week: BlackBerry 10.1, BB10's first major OS update, is official today. The release arrives chiefly to support the BlackBerry Q10's hardware keyboard and smaller OLED screen, but it brings a swath of extra improvements that should please Z10 owners in equal measure. An HDR camera mode, which should fill out highlights and shadows in some photos, is just the start. The Hub now supports contact suggestions, PIN-to-PIN messaging and email with attached messages; notifications are more refined as well, with per-account message notifications joining options to define sound volumes and vibrations for each contact. Dive deeper and you'll also notice more granular text selection, better calendar viewing on the Z10 and the ability to copy phone numbers into (or from) the dialer. Do be patient if you're not bent on picking up a Q10, however -- the Z10 doesn't get its update until sometime in the weeks following the release of its keyboarded cousin.
BlackBerry Q10 review
You can't please everybody all the time, and if there's a company who knows this better than the rest, it's BlackBerry. At the showy launch for BlackBerry 10, the company finally unveiled its new stable of smartphones with which it would fight the likes of Apple, Samsung, HTC, Microsoft, Nokia and Google. No simple task, that, and so BlackBerry rolled out not one, but two weapons: the all-touch Z10 and the portrait-QWERTY Q10. But there was a catch: only one would launch at a time. It was a staged attack, with the Z10 forming the initial volley. Many said this was a mistake, and that the Q10 and its familiar physical keyboard should have gone first, paving the way for the more radical, all-touch Z10. After what seems like an eternity, the $249 BlackBerry Q10 is finally ready for duty, so let's put it through its paces and see which of these fraternal twins is truly the flagship.%Gallery-186645%
BlackBerry Q10 priced at $249 on two-year contract in US
BlackBerry just confirmed to us the target pricing of its upcoming QWERTY smartphone in the US, and the quick takeaway is that keyboards don't come cheap. According to company representatives, the Q10 is intended to be sold for $249 on a two-year contract when it arrives at the "end of May," which positions it as more expensive than the Galaxy S 4, iPhone 5, One and Z10. Now, the one hiccup in this equation is that carriers may turn around and do whatever pricing shenanigans they please, but outside of special promotions, you can rightfully expect the Q10 to be one of the most expensive on-contract smartphones of the day. With so few compelling QWERTY handsets on the market, however, it seems that BlackBerry is hoping you'll value a keyboard more than your hard-earned dollar. If it the company's correct, that'll mean a lot more profit. If not, well... you know the rest.
BlackBerry Q10 coming to Canadian carriers May 1st for $199 on contract
It's usually safe to presume that BlackBerry will give the most love to its home country, and that's proving reasonable with the BlackBerry Q10. Bell, Rogers and Telus have all confirmed that they'll be carrying the QWERTY-equipped smartphone on May 1st, quite possibly putting them on the cutting edge of the Q10 launch schedule. Smaller networks like Fido, Koodo, Sasktel and Virgin Mobile are also on deck. The big three are already taking pre-orders today, but we'd brace for a rather steep price premium -- they're all asking about $199 for the Q10 on a three-year contract, which is more expensive than many of the phone's touch-only rivals. BlackBerry hasn't outlined plans for the US or other countries yet, but we're hoping they get a slightly better deal.
Sony posts its first AOSP build for the Xperia Z (video)
Sony is quickly developing a reputation as the tinkerer's phone maker of choice: it took on responsibility for maintaining AOSP on the Xperia S even when Google couldn't. Today, it's proving that commitment to open software by releasing an Android 4.2.2-based AOSP build for one of its 2013 flagships, the Xperia Z. The initial public version is rough and has to go without proprietary camera and cellular drivers, although it does support Bluetooth, GPS, SD storage, WiFi and a host of sensors. Developers and other experimenters can grab the necessary code on GitHub; the rest of us can stick to marginally safer CyanogenMod nightlies.
Galaxy S 4, future Samsung devices to use DigitalOptics tech for face tracking (updated)
When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S 4 in March, there was a near-inescapable emphasis on face detection features. What we didn't know is just whose technology was making them possible. As it happens, it's not entirely Samsung's -- DigitalOptics has stepped forward to claim some of the responsibility. The California firm recently struck a multi-year licensing deal with Samsung to supply its Face Detection and Face Tracking software, which can detect pupils for interface features (think Smart Stay or Smart Pause) and keep tabs on photo subjects. DigitalOptics hasn't provided the exact details of its involvement in the GS4, let alone a roadmap, but it's safe to presume that Samsung isn't dropping its emphasis on camera-driven software anytime soon. Update: DigitalOptics says the release wasn't clear on just what was involved in the deal: while the face detection and tracking are present, Samsung didn't pick up the pupil component. As such, you're mostly seeing DigitalOptics' influence in regular camera features and other software that doesn't involve eye tracking.
Pantech Perception official for Verizon, delivers motion-aware Android on April 25th
Unofficial details of the Pantech Perception have been around for long enough for the phone to feel old, but the truth is that it's only just getting started. The 4.8-inch, mid-tier Android smartphone is at last launching with Verizon on April 25th, and it should cost $100 on contract after subscribers cash in a $50 rebate. It won't trigger much regret among Galaxy S 4 buyers when it's carrying a more GS3-like Super AMOLED 720p screen, 16GB of storage, an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front shooter. That said, Pantech does promise an extra level of software savvy: the company's customized variant of Ice Cream Sandwich (soon to upgrade to Jelly Bean) centers on a Motion Sense suite that lets owners wave their hands to answer calls, switch tracks or navigate contacts and photo galleries. While we can't say we're bowled over by that claimed advantage, the Perception may just hit the sweet spot for those who want an alternative to HTC and Samsung for a bigger handset.
Refresh Roundup: week of April 15th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
AT&T bumps up Galaxy S 4 shipping date to April 23rd
AT&T subscribers might not have to worry that their Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular friends will tease them while they're waiting for their Galaxy S 4 to arrive. While Big Blue was originally promising an April 30th date for the headlining Android phone, the carrier has quietly moved up its shipping estimate to April 23rd, right on time for the initial wave of US releases. Yes, that's only a week's difference -- but first-kid-on-the-block bragging rights surely matter, don't they?
Samsung Galaxy S 4 for Verizon signup page goes live
Want to be sure that you don't miss the arrival date of the Galaxy S 4 on Verizon? Naturally, you could keep a keen eye on Engadget's homepage, but Big Red now has a solution of its own that could be worth a whirl. The company has just posted a signup page for Samsung's Next Big Thing, and so long as you're comfortable forking over your email address, you'll receive a notification delivered to your inbox when more details are available. By now, it's no secret that the Galaxy S 4 will arrive on Verizon in May, but if you're looking to circle a definitive date on your calendar -- and stay in the loop about any pre-order opportunities -- then by all means, click on through and hit the red 'Sign Up' button. We're pretty sure Verizon's third-party marketing partners won't complain.
Nokia Lumia 720 review
With the shared unveiling of Nokia's Lumia 720 and Lumia 520, the company's running flush of Windows Phone 8 models was complete. All WP8 handsets we've reviewed essentially fit into two distinct tiers based on shared core specs. That begs the question: why come out with two new models now when both share the same SoC, amount of RAM and screen resolution as the established Lumia 620 and HTC 8S? Obviously, there are differences in design, cameras, display tech and all the other bobs and bits that create the 720, but is it worth the significant markup over the 620, and more than double the price of a 520 or Huawei Ascend W1? Enough with all the rhetorical questions -- join us after the break as we find out exactly what the Lumia 720 has to offer.%Gallery-186194%
BBC iPlayer viewing on tablets overtakes that on phones
When we think of BBC iPlayer use on mobile devices, we most often picture someone catching up on dramas with their smartphone during the commute home. Not anymore: newly available March stats from the Beeb reveal that tablet viewing has overtaken phone viewing for the first time. The difference is slight -- tablets are only 200,000 requests ahead, at 41 million -- but it's enough to suggest that many now prefer bigger screens when they're away from a computer or TV. While the broadcaster hasn't directly explained the change in demographics, it's not hard to see a possible explanation based on viewer habits. The BBC notes that most tablet-bound iPlayer users watch TV, and most iPlayer TV time overlaps that of traditional viewing, when audiences are more likely to be at home with the larger devices at hand. If you're one to curl up on the couch to watch Panorama on an iPad or Android slate, then, you may just be part of a growing trend.
MMObility: Hailan Rising is a lesson in confusion and miscommunication
I was excited to try out Hailan Rising, a new PvP-centric MMO being published by GamersFirst. It looks sort of primitive but has an old-school appeal that I thought would suit my tastes. For a long time I also thought it was a browser-based game, perhaps because it was being built in Unity, but at this point I'm confused about pretty much everything connected with the title. To make matters worse, the forums are filled with similarly confused players who just want some answers. Many of them cannot log in, but I was able to. But then all I found was an empty server, literally. I did some research and read up on some of the information we posted on this site as recently as February of this year. I checked the forums and mailed off an inquiry to GamersFirst that as of press time has not been answered. So what is Hailan Rising and what has happened to it?
PSA: HTC One available today at AT&T and Sprint
April showers might bring May flowers, but the only precipitation we really care for around here is that of flagship handsets into stores. In that case, it's time to break out the raincoats: the HTC One is officially on sale at AT&T and Sprint as of today. Both carriers and their resellers are offering the aluminum wunderkind in its silver guise at $200 on contract for a 32GB model, with AT&T still holding the US exclusive on a $300 64GB version. Those jonesing for different hues or radios will have to wait a little while longer, however. The T-Mobile edition won't officially land until the 24th, and a black 32GB model is still "weeks" away from landing at AT&T and Sprint. Provided you're not the exception to the rule, though, you're cleared to buy what's arguably the first US-bound flagship of the year.
Massively's Darkfall launch week diary: Day three and recap
So yesterday I kinda rambled on at length about why I'm loving Darkfall Unholy Wars. I'm not really apologizing; after all, this is my launch week diary! Today, though, I figured I might tone it down a bit and just hit the highlights of my day three play experience. After that, I'll recap and give you some final thoughts on Darkfall as it stands in April 2013.
Verizon says its Galaxy S 4 is coming sometime in May
If you noticed that Verizon was silent while other US carriers provided their launch schedules for the Galaxy S 4, you're not alone -- it was the only real holdout among the big four networks. As it turns out, the company was just continuing a small tradition of being fashionably late with influential phones. Big Red now says its version of the Samsung flagship will appear sometime in May, skipping past the first wave of GS 4 releases later in April. An exact date? Pricing? Capacities? Those are coming at an unspecified point "soon," although that may not be soon enough for subscribers who have to own the latest and greatest.
Microsoft reiterates that Windows 8 could see small(er) devices soon
What's an outgoing Microsoft executive to do on his last earnings call as CFO? Utter something that'd probably get the incoming CFO fired. Kidding aside, the outfit's own Peter Klein saw fit to reiterate something we'd heard back in March -- that Windows 8 is destined for smaller devices. To date, there isn't a Windows 8-based slate on the market south of 10-inches, but as Apple, ASUS, Google and Samsung have found, people tend to like tablets that can be held with a single hand. Of course, the "coming soon" angle definitely adds a time stamp (albeit a vague one) that we didn't have before, but we're still no closer to figuring out what kinds of devices we're to expect. A diminutive tablet? A smartwatch? A phone? Earlier this week, Terry Myerson -- corporate vice president of Microsoft's Windows Phone division -- admitted that the wearables space was undoubtedly an exciting one, though he wouldn't go so far as to affirm that any of the code he oversaw was being tested on the arm. Of course, rumors have been running wild since Windows Phone's introduction that Microsoft would eventually push WP aside in favor of just using Windows on everything, so we suppose that's another (far out) possibility. Wild imaginations are advised to contribute their best guesses in comments below. (But seriously, keep it sane. Thanks.)
Archos dips into smartphones with the 35 Carbon, 50 Platinum and 53 Platinum
While Archos has long held dreams of expanding into smartphones, we've seen it run into its fair share of roadblocks along the way. Thanks in part to a sharpened corporate focus, that vision is at last becoming real with the company's first, honest-to-goodness smartphone range. The 35 Carbon, 50 Platinum and 53 Platinum all cater to the budget, carrier-independent crowd with common foundations of unlocked 7.2Mbps HSPA 3G, dual SIM slots (only one being 3G) and stock Android. We also see a rather skimpy 4GB of storage, although a microSD slot on each phone helps make up for the difference. What you're mostly paying for is performance and screen size. The 35 Carbon ships with an HVGA 3.5-inch screen, a single-core 1GHz Snapdragon S1, 512MB of RAM, VGA cameras and Ice Cream Sandwich; move up to the 50 or 53 Platinum and you'll get their respective 5- and 5.3-inch qHD screens, a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Play, 1GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front camera and Jelly Bean. No, we're not bowled over by the performance any more than you are -- but the respective contract-free prices of $100, $220 and $250 may have at least some trying Archos' first effort, even if the company's late May launch will only include Europe at first.
Galaxy S 4 Mini surfaces in Samsung web profile code
Talk of a Galaxy S 4 Mini started while many of us were still processing the impact of its full-size cousin, but there was little to go on at first beyond unverifiable imagery and top-level specs. Thankfully, Samsung itself just removed some of the doubt through a user agent profile on its own website. While the code only references a previously suspected GT-i9190 handle (the Galaxy S III Mini is the GT-i8190), a 960 x 540 screen and an ARM11-compatible processor, those details are enough to suggest the tiny Life Companion is more than just a rumor -- and, not surprisingly, less powerful than the GS 4. Dutch site TechTastic even claims to have spotted the Galaxy S 4 Mini by name when searching for the GT-i9190's profile, although Samsung may have already scrubbed any such evidence. When previous rumors had the Mini surfacing not long after its bigger counterpart, we imagine it won't be long before we know if the handset exists as more than just a string of text.
