After weeks of sitting on a terribly guarded secret, HTC has finally introduced the world to a gold variant of its popular One handset. A number of companies have quite clearly taken note of the excitement surrounding the launch of the gold iPhone 5s eight weeks ago and have decided that if you can't beat them then you might as well join them. Or emulate them depending on your personal view of the situation. Apple watched as worldwide inventory of the gold iPhone 5s was immediately depleted upon launch, with HTC hoping that they can also generate the same levels of excitement about their gold option.
It's fair to say that when Apple first showed iOS 7 to the world that it polarized opinion. Now, a couple of months following its official release alongside the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, iOS 7 is still a software release that has people arguing about its worth. It seems that some of the people that really like the new iOS 7 aesthetic also happen to be the owners of not an iPhone, but an Android phone. If you are in this camp then you have a problem in that you're obviously not going to be installing iOS 7 any time soon.
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.
Samsung's extremely popular Galaxy S4 smartphone has been slightly relegated to the back of our minds in recent times. There's no denying that the South Korean company produced yet another premium piece of kit when the S4 was launched, however, subsequent iPhone 5s and Nexus 5 releases have not only overshadowed Samsung's flagship device but also made it look somewhat dated. With rumors already starting to circulate regarding next year's Galaxy S5 release, it was only a matter of time until something like this gorgeous next-generation Galaxy concept materialized.
Android users around the globe rejoiced when Google announced that an additional array of smartphones would be benefiting from the KitKat update in the "coming weeks". Google took their usual stance of not going into any great detail regarding when specific hardware would be able to get the upgrade but it seems that weeks will actually be more like months for HTC One owners. Not exactly the longest wait that Android owners have had to endure, but still not exactly ideal for those itching to experience Android at its finest.
Apple's iOS Newsstand app has been around since iOS 5, and ever since, there has been much rumor and speculation pertaining Google's alternative effort. During the past couple of weeks, reports have increased considerably, with a general feeling that a release would be imminent. Today, the time has come for the app to make its official debut over at the Play Store, and naturally, it also signals the demise of the now obsolete Play Magazines and Currents apps. Details, as ever, can be found after the break.
LG's decision to design, manufacture and release a smartphone with a curved display may seem like nothing more than a gimmick to some consumers. But LG themselves will understand that the existence of a curved display on the G Flex is initially nothing more than a novelty, but while it doesn't bring any real substance to the device the same can't be said for the self-healing properties of the rear case. One of our biggest fears of smartphone ownership is scratching it almost instantly. Thankfully, it seems as though LG has eradicated that issue with the G Flex, which as the video shows, can even recover from a malicious knife gash.
Back when Google announced its new Nexus 5 smartphone, the company promised that fans of the device would be able to pick up two rather important accessories sooner rather than later. Both of those accessories can now be ordered from the Google Play Store, meaning those wanting to pick up either a wireless charging station or one of Google's bumper cases can now spend to their heart's content.
Google Glass goes through good and bad spells. Sometimes Google's wearable technology is front and center, very much in the limelight and showing us all where computers of tomorrow may take us. Other times, Glass feels like something of an afterthought, or perhaps Google's hobby rather than something that it truly believes will be the future of how we receive information when on the move. Today is very much the former, with Google offering developers a sneak peek at its Glass software development kit, called the Glass Development Kit, or GDK.
If there's one thing people like to do, it's compare sales metrics for smartphones. Potentially one of the best ways to ascertain just how well a device is selling when compared with its peers, average selling prices show just how willing buyers are to pay substantial amounts of money in order to get their fingers on the latest and greatest technology from their manufacturer of choice.
