Google has finally pulled the wrapper off the newest candy bar platform update in 4.4 KitKat. There's a lot of major work in this newest update to the Android platform, much of it addressing fragmentation, memory and battery optimizations for older Android devices and a whole new immersive design and user interface. You've also got a general expansion of Android's ability to connect, whether it be to Bluetooth devices, cloud printing, secure payments or televisions. Read on for the full breakdown of the major changes to be found in Android 4.4 KitKat.

NFC and Google Wallet for everyone

Many Android owners love the NFC ability of their device, but many more don't have the option to use it with Google Wallet because their carrier controls the secure element of the NFC chip in their phone and it is the same element to which Wallet requires access in order to store sensitive data. With KitKat this has all changed. Perhaps to make things simpler and more widely available for the average user, or perhaps just to bypass the carriers who refused to bundle Google Wallet with their handsets, KitKat will feature the ability to emulate credit cards, access and transit passes, making the need for storing sensitive data unnecessary. This will work with any mobile carrier and lets applications manage your payment info.

Fragmentation cleanup

As we always knew, Android KitKat (and the major update that will follow next year) are aimed squarely at minimizing the fragmentation of the Android platform. With a billion devices in the wild, most with less than spectacular hardware and half running pre-Jelly Bean versions of Android, many OEMs simply haven't bothered to engage in the dull work of providing tweaked software updates for those older, cheaper devices.

Android KitKat is designed to bridge a lot of that gap by allowing many more handsets than normal to make the jump to the new version. This will be achieved by making the updated OS less dependent on top-notch specs, meaning carrier and manufacturer updates can be spread around further which will hopefully make the work more palatable to them. KitKat includes better tools for developers to make memory-efficient software at the same time as providing users with better hardware support through memory optimization to improve the performance of lower-end Android devices.

According to the Google Blog, they've done a lot of work in removing unneccessary background services and memory consumption of features used on a daily basis, affecting not only Google apps but others like Chrome or YouTube. This also means that older devices that run on 512 MB of RAM will have no problem getting all the new features that are coming with Android 4.4, making this new version of the operating system available to billions of smartphone users.

Wireless improvements - Bluetooth, cloud services, infrared 

As Google tries to spread further and further into your living room, support for infrared blasters for your television will now be enabled on any device running 4.4 that has an infrared port. Improved Bluetooth support also arrives in the form of Bluetooth MAP support (Message Access Profile) which, for example, will allow the usage of Bluetooth-enabled cars to exchange messages with your device. There's also Chromecast and Chrome web view suppport now, the first letting you watch online entertainement from Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus and Google Play on your HDTV. Crome web view will allow you to easily and quickly render web components using apps suited for this purpose.

Location modes and monitoring, as well as location in quick settings are all steps that Android is taking to improve these services which have become indispensible to many users. Location modes and monitoring will help you save battery life by easily making changes in the settings, so you won't have to go through GPS, Wi-Fi or mobile network settings toggles to do this easy task which up until now was a little tricky and involved too many steps. You can also check to see which apps are snooping about your location right in the settings.

Friendlier, cleaner and more immersive design

''OK Google'' lets you search for that song you were wanting to hear, get directions and other functions without needing to touch the screen. Then, if you are reading a book or a magazine, KitKat will get rid of any on-screen distractions so all you have is what you are reading or watching in immersive mode. Swiping to the edge of your screen will bring up your status bar and navigation buttons to quickly access your smartphone's main functions once again. In keeping up with their promise of reducing memory usage and optimizing this at the same time, this improves multitasking greatly allowing you to do multiple things at once without any annoying lags. 

There's also some full-screen wallpaper previews, easy home screen switching which you can adjust in your settings under Home, a refreshed look to your email app and of course, HDR+ photography 

Then of course, they've also made the lock screen just one notch better with music and movie-seeking which has you long pressing on the play or pause button to select the point in the movie you want, all in the lockscreen.

Helping you get organized: calls, contacts, messages and emoji

Android wants to help you get your contacts in order by placing those you call most often first on the list and giving you quick access to nearby places and businesses, all of which are also found in your Google apps. There's a new caller ID feature, which automatically looks to see who is calling by checking local listings on Google Maps. You've got all your messages in the Hangouts app, including your SMS and MMS messages, other convos and video calls.

there are also some new location sharing and animated GIFs as well. Awesome!, everyone loves emojis and they've got these delightful characters right in the Google Keyboard.

Features for busy people who are constantly on the go

Now with Android 4.4 you can print your files from your phone or tablet on the fly when you are connected to Google Cloud Print, HP ePrint printers or other printers as long as they have an app in the Google Play store. If that wasn't enough, you can also use apps like Quickoffice where you can open and save your files right on Google Drive, Dropbox, Box or any other of your preferred cloud services

.Android 4.4 KitKat will be coming to the Nexus 4, 7 and 10 as well as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One Google Play editions in the weeks to come.

Apple devices users have had the iOS 7.0.3 update for a little over a week and some days now, one of the main factors about this new update was iMessage fix and battery life.

Those that installed iOS 7.0.2 had major problems with iMessage, but this was ironed out when the new update released. iDevice users want improvements, the same or better battery life when a new update is released.

How is your iPhone battery life since downloading and installing iOS 7.0.3?

We wanted to look into this a little further; of course we would like our readers to let us know how their battery life is after you installed iOS 7.0.3 but we visited iMore and they have a poll that is very interesting indeed.

iMore asked the question “How’s your iOS 7.0.3 battery life?” and this is what their poll said – Great! Best Ever got 650 votes; Good Slightly Better gained 1,073 votes, Same No Difference 1,796 votes, Bad Slightly Worse 885 votes and Terrible! Worst ever! 502 votes – this poll was based on 4,906 total votes.

So, after looking at the votes above it seems battery life after installing iOS 7.0.3 is the same with no difference. Please do use the commenting area below and let us know how your battery life is after iOS 7.0.3.

BlackBerry Z30 and the need to supply

Verizon has confirmed that they will be making available the BlackBerry Z30 in November, they did not specify an exact date but at least we know its next month.

Verizon Wireless announced that the BlackBerry Z30 price would be $199.99 with a two-year contract; the Verizon Edge installment plan will also be available for $22.91 per month for 24 months.

The BlackBerry Z30 according to Verizon will be exclusive to them in the United States, but we are guessing other carriers will start coming forward and sell the Z30. Wonder if AT&T will come forward and sell the Canadian smartphone.

The BlackBerry Z30 is one of those smartphones that comes with a few mixed feelings, some say that the Z30 specs are average but the handset has a premium price.

Verizon has many Android smartphones as well as iPhones, and we know that you can now install BBM on these devices, so is there any real need for the BlackBerry Z30?

Now You Can Use The Samsung Galaxy Gear With Other Phones

The smartwatch niche is a booming one, with practically every manufacturer that matters making their own version. One of the most interesting smartwatches to come out this year is the Samsung Galaxy Gear. While Pebble and Cookoo have made it to the scene first, the Galaxy Gear certainly made waves even when all we had were rumors about its specs and features.

One of the things that took away from the appeal of the Galaxy Gear was the fact that it was only compatible with the Samsung Note 3. In effect, that meant you had to spend quite a huge sum to use the Gear – counting the cost of the phone, of course. That made it the most expensive smartwatch out there.

Good news for Samsung enthusiasts – the company seems to have come to its senses, at least to a certain degree. Last week, Samsung announced that theGalaxy Gear can now be used with other phones.

Before you get too excited, though, I feel it’s my duty to quickly bring you back to earth. Sure, the Gear is now compatible with phones aside from the ginormous Note 3, the choices are still rather limited. From the official announcement:

Galaxy Gear will be available for use with Galaxy S4, S III, and Note II through the Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) update. The update came first to Galaxy S4 devices in Germany in October. Samsung will also extend Galaxy Gear compatibility to other GALAXY devices – including Galaxy S4 mini, S4 Active, Mega 5.8, Mega 6.3, and S4 zoom – through a separate software update beginning at the end of October. Software update schedules for each device will vary by country and carrier.

 So, if you have an S4, S III, or Note II, you don’t have to buy a new phone just to use the Gear. And, if you’re not short on patience, you’ll soon be able to use the Samsung smartwatch with other Galaxy devices.

If you’re using another phone, and you want the Gear, then you’ll just have to shell out more for one of the devices above.

Finnish telecoms group Nokia scored another victory on Wednesday in its patent battle against Taiwan-based rival HTC Corporation with a British court ruling in its favor over mobile telecoms technology.

After hearing the case in the Patents Court in London, the judge decided that HTC had infringed on a European Patent held by Nokia entitled "Modulator structure for a transmitter and a mobile station", according to court documents.

The ruling comes as Nokia seeks to better exploit its trove of technology patents, which will remain with the company after the sale of its handset business to Microsoft is completed next year.

"Today's judgment is a significant development in our dispute with HTC," a Nokia spokesman said.

"Nokia will now seek an injunction against the import and sale of infringing HTC products in the UK as well as financial compensation."

A spokesman for HTC said it would appeal against the finding.

Nokia's shares closed up 4.5 percent at a high for the year of 5.59 euros, extending gains made on Tuesday when it forecast a higher operating margin for its network equipment unit Nokia Solutions and Networks (NSN), which will become its main business after the Microsoft sale.

HTC's shares closed trading earlier in the day up 2.8 percent at 145 Taiwan dollars.

The Finnish company started its legal fight against HTC in 2012, part of a global patent war among makers of mobile phones and tablet computers.

Wednesday's ruling also follows a September ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission, which found that HTC infringed on two Nokia patents in making its mobile telephones and tablets.

Nokia is one of the industry's top patent holders, along with Qualcomm and Ericsson, having invested around 45 billion euros ($62 billion) in mobile research and development over the past two decades.

The company, which has struggled to turn around its business after a late start in smartphones, announced in September that it would sell its handset business and would license its patents to Microsoft for 5.44 billion euros. The deal is due to close in the first quarter next year.

8 myths about wearables

Wearable devices are predominantly technical fascinations at the moment, but they have widespread market potential -- if misconceptions can be set straight.

What is the next big thing in tech?

The answer is -- potentially -- wearable devices.

New wearable devices, such as smartwatches, have been introduced in recent weeks, creating buzz and curiosity about how big this opportunity could be. Another new development in this market is an application that shows how a head-mounted display, such as Google Glass, could be used to improve execution of surgical procedures.

Progress is happening rapidly on several fronts, but the wearable device market seems to be generating more questions than answers. The devices remain, predominantly, technical fascinations with exciting and widespread market potential. Understanding what this market is -- and is not -- is critical for electronics and tech companies as they consider how to capitalize on this opportunity. 

Myth No. 1: Wearable devices are just another form factor for smartphones.The wearable device market encompasses much more than smartphones and smartwatches. The market ranges from clothing to glasses to sports/activity trackers to 3D-motion trackers to wearable cameras.

Combinations of these products are already being brought to market, such as a health tracker embedded in a runner's shoe, and glasses that can record and upload videos as well as do Internet searches. Another potential application is a wearable device embedded in a person's teeth that can monitor what food is consumed and the number of bites taken. Indeed, this market spans multiple industries, applications, and devices.

Myth No. 2: Consumers will quickly embrace wearable tech. Consumers will warm up to this technology gradually, not quickly. Initially, wearable devices will not be in huge demand. Changing consumer behavior will be the key to driving market momentum. That will take time.

The public needs to be educated about the value these products can deliver. Consumers need to be convinced these products bring unique and significant benefits to their lives that can't be obtained with other products such as smartphones, tablet PCs, TVs, and Consoles. Furthermore, the industry is still seeking its first big consumer use case and contending with aesthetic issues about whether consumers find the looks of the devices appealing. These two factors will lead to gradual adoption.

Myth No. 3: Wearable devices are standalone products. To win the public's imagination and establish a compelling consumer proposition, wearable providers need to think beyond the devices themselves and build around them an ecosystem of services and applications. A successful wearable business model would allow the user to connect to other devices such as a smartphone, listen to music, receive texts or access social networks. Some current wearable devices rely on tethering or Wi-Fi connections for a limited online connection.

Devices with their own dedicated service networks will carry more market legitimacy. Wearable device manufacturers who already have these services in their portfolio and can offer smooth interoperability between devices, are more likely to have a competitive edge. The services that wearable devices enable will be key disruptive forces. A pivotal market driver will be when the devices do new things in new ways.

Myth No. 4: The wearable market is new. Wearable devices have been around for much longer than the wave of product announcements that recently occurred. The term was used as early as the 1990s. Wearables such as pace makers have been used widely in health care for many years. In fact, the first computers became commercially available in 1974 when the first wristwatch with a digital display was unveiled.

scify movies like the 007 james bond films are a good examples of wearable tech abilities

Myth No. 5: The wearable market will remain a niche. The market for wearable technology is not going to be a niche but rather a broad set of products across multiple industries and applications particularly health care and wireless. Consumer electronics compan­ies, for example, view wearable technology as a growth opportunity to revitalize their operations.

Their challenge is creating a definitive consumer device that captures the public's imagination and legitimizes the technology in new ways beyond narrowly focused applications. Consumers are more likely to be drawn to the less obtrusive wearables such as watches and pedometers.

By contrast, enterprises, which tend to be less concerned with aesthetics, will be more likely to move forward with wearable displays embedded in safety glasses and other parts of the standard work environment. In the future, wearable devices may be more about collecting data, such as air quality, temperature and humidity, than about displaying it. The focus may shift to controlling other devices in the environment such as consumer applications and industry-specific enterprise equipment.

Myth No. 6: First to market is a can't-miss winning formula. Wearable device manufacturers who are first to market will not necessarily dominate. Manufacturers need to reach targeted audiences with a device that is aesthetically pleasing, stylish, practical and convenient. Initial products have had bulky designs, less-than-compelling functions, and impractical applications that don't justify their high costs.

When designing wearable devices, fashion will be a big consideration. Manufacturers should work together with fashion and design houses to produce devices that don't sacrifice fashion for functionality. Wearable devices tailored along gender lines that can be accessorized also have potential. The key will be to get the design aesthetic right rather than commercializing a generic product just to be first.

Myth No. 7: Power consumption and batteries will not be big issues. As the miniaturization of technology continues, devices become more power hungry. Chip manufacturers need to develop products featuring the right balance of low power and value-added functions that don't subtract from one another. Future innovations with higher energy densities, extended cell lives, and reduced charging time as possible. In the near future, however, commercial availability and affordability will be elusive. Manufacturers will need to compromise, doing their best to hide or streamline bulky battery components.

Myth No. 8: Wearable devices are secure. Security and privacy are, and will continue to be, major concerns with wearable devices, particularly as lawmakers have begun to consider legal implications of 24/7 video recording, personal data collection, and highly targeted ads. Future regulation will likely be complex and vary by country.

To prepare for this, wearable manufacturers should start laying security protocols on top of their products in anticipation of legal restraints and consumer concerns. These protocols will need to be flexible because these laws will change. Offering remote, software-based updates to enhance future innovations will be an important precaution for keeping products appropriately secured.

the Nokia Lumia 1020 as much as we thought they would, and because the smartphone is not making a big enough impact in China a price cut has been made.

It is shocking to learn that the Nokia Lumia 1020 price cut is already showing up online; the screenshot you can see below is courtesy of MyDrivers.com(Translated).We all know that China is the worlds largest smartphone market, but the Nokia Lumia 1020 is not making enough of an impact to keep the first released price tag. When the phone was first released in China it went on sale for a massive price of CNY5, 999, which is roughly $1000 (€715).

Only two months later the Nokia Lumia 1020 is on sale for 3,999 Yuan (Around €475), this is a massive price drop but will it persuade those in China to purchase this smartphone?

In the US you can buy the Lumia 1020 for only $99 on contract, originally it was $299, in the UK you can get your hands on the smartphone for free if you sign up to a two-year contract, tariffs vary if you want it for free. If you want the Nokia Lumia 1020 off contract then expect to pay around €600.

jonesarena  recommends that you wait a few more weeks if you fancy getting your hands on the Lumia 1020, we believe the price will drop again.

What do you think of the Nokia Lumia 1020?

It was a difficult introduction for Blackberry Messenger, but it has finally made its debut on Android and iOS for the first time. Well, first time if you don’t count the first attempt that Blackberry made to release the app. And so, we’ve jumped on board the BBM bandwagon and compared it to the Android fan favorite, WhatsApp.  Whether BBM is better or not and whether it can survive in a world littered with competitors, only time will tell but at least we can have a quick look at the messaging app in this comparison.
 And so we fall back on the question: Who would want to compete in the messenger market when you have to take on the likes of WhatsApp and Viber and their millions and millions of users? Especially with the struggling Blackberry posting loses all over the place. However, despite everything, BBM is here and supposedly here to stay. And so, here’s a quick little breakdown between the WhatsApp and BBM and how they are similar and/or different.
At first glance, BBM and WhatsApp appear to differ significantly from each other, but both messengers incorporate, at their core, the same functions and options. Whether BBM has enough in it to stand out from the pack, that’s for you to decide.

		WHATSAPP		BBM
Invite Friends		Yes eg by SMS, Facebook, Hangouts, Google+, Email, LinkedIn or Skype		Yes eg by SMS, email, NFC, PIN or QR Code Scan
Address Book auto-update		Yes		No
Registration type		By cell phone number		By E-Mail
Use on multiple devices		No		No
Chat features		Sending text messages, emoticons attachments voice messages, photos (gallery or camera), location, contacts, videos Copy complete chat history		Sending text messages, emoticons attachments voice messages, photos (gallery or camera)  Copy complete chat history Add another chat partner
Group Chats		Yes		Yes
Broadcasts		Yes		Yes
Widgets		No		Yes
Additional functions		Adjustment of layout and notifications for each chat Blocking contacts Direct call from contacts		Group management (appointments, tasks, lists, notes, photos) Blocking contacts "Pinging" of people
Price		Free for 1 year. 0.99 cents per year afterwards.		Free

Conclusion

As I’ve said above, only time will tell to see how BBM fares in the Android and iOS market. I know just from personal experience, friends who have long stood by BBM are excited that their friends on other devices will be able to chat with them at long last with their beloved “messenger” service. Will that steadfast user base be enough to bring people over to try it out?

The greatest asset of the BBM is the management of groups and that may be the core strength behind it: concentrating on the student and business crowds. As well, you don’t sign in with a phone number and “lock” a device to your account, but rather use a BlackBerry ID which is e-mailed to you.

So, what do you think so far of BBM?