When Apple first introduced the front-facing camera on the iPhone, it attempted to do so as elegantly as possible, but one patent hints at a future hardware revision which could hide the camera from view entirely. First noticed by AppleInsider, a patent published on Thursday for an “Electronic Device With Camera Flash Structures” seems to indicate that Apple might place the FaceTime camera inside the speaker port at the top of the phone and add a camera flash.
Read more here: Boy Genius Report
Although AT&T is still probably T-Mobile’s favorite target, the scrappy “Uncarrier” also can’t resist taking shots at rival Sprint, particularly after Sprint unleashed its widely panned “Framily” ad campaign onto the world. And on Thursday, T-Mobile found a brand-new way to beat up its dilapidated rival: By crowing that it now boasted more prepaid wireless subscribers than its former would-be merger partner.
Read more here: Boy Genius Report
Android fans who want to get a further glimpse at Google’s new Android L release can now do so, but only if they own a Nexus 5 or a Nexus 7. Droid Life points out that the latest Google Fit preview SDK contains some added images of the latest Android L developer preview that should give you an even better idea of how Google is working to refine its next major software release.
Read more here: Boy Genius Report
Popcorn Time users who get their Netflix-style pirated movie fix on Android devices will be extremely happy to hear that the “company” has come up with a brand new version of its Android app that brings some awesome features to the table.
Read more here: Boy Genius Report
After appearing in a variety of leaks, Samsung’s smartphone that could potentially lure 4.7-inch iPhone 6 buyers away has been spotted in FCC documentation, which means the handset is one step closer to launch. According to the FCC documents discovered by Phone Arena, the Galaxy Alpha is significantly smaller than the Galaxy S5, measuring 133 millimeters by 67 millimeters, compared to the Galaxy S5’s 142 millimeters by 72.2 millimeters.
Read more here: Boy Genius Report
We’ve all had plenty of time to adjust to the virtual keyboards on our smartphones and tablets, but many of us still miss the tactile response of physical keys. Microsoft researcher Hong Tan knows that we are multisensory beings — we want more than just the illusion of touch, we want to actually feel the click of the keys when we press on our screens — which is why she is working to bring haptic feedback to our mobile devices.
Read more here: Boy Genius Report
The BlackBerry Passport, which BlackBerry says has consumers “clamoring,” is now available for pre-registration. This isn’t the same as being available for pre-order, mind you — it’s just a signup to make sure you get all of the latest information on the device, presumably including when you’ll actually be able to place your order for it.
Read more here: Boy Genius Report
Apple is well known for its gorgeous hardware designs but that doesn’t mean the company is incapable of throwing up a hideous clunker every now and then. Business Insider has stumbled upon a clothing line that Apple started in 1986 that is terrible enough to make Mr. T’s rope belt look fashionable.
Read more here: Boy Genius Report
Microsoft already confirmed that the Start menu will not be returning to Windows 8.1 via a special “Update 2,” thus suggesting that Windows 9 will actually bring back the Start menu – after all, Microsoft did confirm at Build that it listened to Windows users and committed to resurrecting the Start menu. However, Windows 9 will have several other major features and new user interface elements compared to Windows 8.1, various publications have learned.
Read more here: Boy Genius Report
A new piece of dangerous malware has apparently been discovered, RT.com reports, and it’s running on more than half a million Android devices from the U.S., Europe and Russia. The malicious program, which has been discovered by Russian security firm Group-IB, gives attackers complete control of those devices once it’s installed.
Read more here: Boy Genius Report