Following on from the release of the PlayStation 4 last Friday, the Xbox One has today finally made its eagerly anticipated launch. But as fans of the Microsoft console flock to collect the next-gen Microsoft machine, reports are emerging of issues related to the device's disc drive.
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Although the iPhone 5s has now been around for two months, those looking to grab the SIM-free GSM smartphone online in the US haven't been able to. But now, the official online Apple Store is playing ball, with shipping in the United States currently showing at 1-2 weeks from the point of sale, so realistically, you could have yours by the end of the month.
Of all the recognized companies in the smartphone game, Samsung is the most active in terms of devices released, and as well as a large inventory of mid and low-end handsets, it offers two flagships in the form of the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note ranges. It's a fair assessment to make that both series have become a little stale, with both the S4 and Note 3 seeming very similar to their respective predecessors, and this point has been underlined with sales of each falling below the company's high expectations. This places a little extra importance on next year's major releases from the South Korean outfit, and we may just have an insight into the Galaxy S5 thanks to a leaked metal frame purporting to be a legitimate component of the forthcoming device.
As with any new update to Google's Android, many users are left in no man's land, waiting anxiously for that OTA to appear so they can go ahead and take advantage of the new features. Such is the fragmented nature of the operating system, devices are promised a new update from the get-go, but often have to wait weeks or even months before they can actually begin using it. The antiquated LG Nexus 4 will soon begin to see the recently released Android 4.4 KitKat, and although many in ownership of the handset have already successfully sought ways to force an update, you can now do so by flashing the update by your phone's recovery.
NFC might have been lurking around mobile space for a while now, but the widespread use of payment systems using handsets equipped with this technology remains somewhat rare. This did, however, look set to change with the introduction of Google Wallet, but the market for digital payments remains very much behind the times, and as such, Google Wallet has yet to make the desired impression. Despite the shortcomings and lack of general interest in Google Wallet, the Big G remains defiant in its quest to reshape the way we process our transactions, and now, the physical Google Wallet Card can be pre-ordered by interested parties, with around a two week waiting period for shipping.
Microsoft's "Scroogled" campaign, a series of ads that takes on Google's products and services regarding policies and privacy, has been running for around a year now, and today, the company has taken things up a notch or two by making Scroogled memorabilia available over at the the Microsoft Store. Ranging from mugs to items of clothing bearing the Scroogled mantra, it seems that the software maker's smear campaign is far from over, and if you happen to be an advocate of the movement, now you can even have yourself a (lousy) t-shirt.
Instagram, the Facebook-owned photo-sharing social network, has long since lacked support for Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, but following the recent news that a native Instagram for Windows Phone app was on the horizon, the app has now, finally, turned up. Sure, it doesn't include video recording just yet, so those on Windows Phone are still a bit behind their iPhone and Android-wielding counterparts, but after such a long wait and exhaustive will they, won't they, it's good to see that Facebook has finally delivered.
It has been well documented that neither Samsung's Galaxy S4 nor its 'phablet' Note 3 have exactly surpassed expectations in terms of reception and sales figures, when compared to its direct rivals out in the market, of course. Many have complained that both series have become stale and in need of some rejuvenation, but as the Korean outfit prepares the S5 and Note 4 for release at some point next year, there's a little treat for those in ownership of the Galaxy Note 3. For current owners and those planning to purchase the larger-than-life handset, the company behind it is offering $50 of Play Store credit to load up on goodies, and although it does happen to be one of the priciest devices on the market, fifty bucks for apps, games, music and such is still a pretty decent offer.
With the iPad mini, and more recently, the iPad mini with Retina display now taking pride of place alongside the tactically rebranded iPad Air, Apple's tablet range is as diverse as it has ever been. But with many other companies going larger than the 9.7-inch diameter of the full-size device's screen, there have been numerous suggestions that Apple will come through with a model packing a 12.9-inch Retina panel. Apparently, manufacturers have been given the green light to go ahead and produce this very display for the so-called "iPad Pro," which will, according to reports, release during the first part of 2014.
Sony's PlayStation 4 finally released last Friday, and since, early adopters have been getting to grips with the market's first next-gen console. The Xbox One is incoming, and whilst some remain on the fence regarding which to go out and purchase, one of the key advantages the PS4 has - save being more powerful and already available - is the fact that costs $100 less than its forthcoming adversary. A teardown of the PlayStation 4 suggests, however, that Sony is making very little - if any - money on the new console, with research firm IHS estimating that it costs $381 to build.
