ASUS PadFone Infinity A86 Benchmarks Leak

ASUS may soon add the PadFone Infinity A86 to its line up, which is supposedly the successor to ASUS' recently-launched PadFone Infinity smartphone-tablet hybrid. According to leaked GFX benchmark tests, the ASUS PadFone Infinity A86 will come with a full High-Definition (full HD) screen with pixel dimensions of 1080x1920, although there are no mentions of the display size. It is expected to run Android 4.2.2 out of the box. Considering that the current PadFone packs in a 5" IPS touchscreen, a large display is surely on the cards.

According to a tweet by EVLeaks, this device will be powered by a Snapdragon 800 SoC (presumably quad-core), will have a noise-cancelling mic built-in, along with a microSD card slot. Other details such as the camera resolution and RAM are yet to be known, but the earlier device did boast of a 13 MP camera and 2 GB of RAM.

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Best Buy lops half off iPhone 5 in trade-in deal

Apple iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S owners can get their hands on a new iPhone for a pretty sweet price.

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Best Buy on Thursday announced that currentiPhone 4 or iPhone 4S owners who trade in a working handset between Friday and Monday will receive at least 50 percent off the purchase of an iPhone 5 16GB or 32GB smartphone. The deal is available only with a two-year activation.

Best Buy's deal comes with a guaranteed $100 credit on the iPhone 5 16GB model. The 32GB option will receive a minimum $150 trade-in credit. That means trade-in customers can get the 16GB option for at most $99.99, while 32GB buyers can get their hands on the device for $149.99, at most.

The timing on Best Buy's announcement is likely not coincidental. Apple is expected to announce a new iPhone on September 10. The retailer might be trying to convince consumers to buy an iPhone and deplete its stock before the new iPhone launches.

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Nokia 515 Will Look To Revive Premium Feature Phones Segmenthones

Nokia has announced a new feature phone, the Nokia 515, with a classic design and premium feel. Amidst the hustle of high-end Lumia and Asha smartphones, the Finnish manufacturer seems to have realised the need for good feature phones. And as if dual-SIM Asha smartphones were not enough, the company claims that this model is suitable for use "as a companion to your smartphone".

The classic design of the phone uses an anodised, sandblasted aluminium body with a new hardened polycarbonate resin for the keypad. The phone has a 2.4" display with a pixel dimensions of 320 x 240 and is protected by Gorilla Glass 2. The Nokia 515's memory can be expanded by up to 32 GB via a microSD card, which is necessary considering the paltry internal storage of just 256 MB. The 5 mp rear snapper comes with an LED flash and a few features such as 100-degrees Panorama shot and voice-guided self-portrait. Connectivity features include 3.5G HSDPA and Bluetooth 3.0. The device is expected to have a 38 days standby time and a talk time of up to 10.4 hours.

Nokia 515 will be available in two version: single-SIM and Easy Swap Dual-SIM, with colour choice of either Black or White. The phone is expected to start shipping from the third quarter of 2013 with a price tag of about EUR 115 (approx Rs 10,000). The India price is not know yet, but if it is anything close to its European pricing, it will have a tough time moving numbers here. Unless of course, if it looks absolutely stunning. Some key specification of the Nokia 515 are as follows:

• 2.4" QVGA LCD display with Gorilla Glass 2
• 3.5G HSDPA - GSM 850/900/1800/1900 WCDMA 900/2100
• 256 MB internal memory with expandable memory up to 32 GB
• 5 MP camera with LED flash
• Measures 4.4" x 1.8" x 0.4" and weighs 101.1 grams
• microUSB, Bluetooth 3.0, 3.5mm jack, Micro SIM

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Skype Celebrates 10 Years Of Shrinking The World

Bangalore: Skype has shrunk the world in profound ways that few could have foreseen in 2003. It diluted the miles that separated people from their families, friends and business acquaintances with voice and video calls and instant messaging over the Internet.

The service, which was launched in late August 2003 by two Scandinavian technology entrepreneurs, Niklas Zennstroem of Sweden and Janus Friis of Denmark is celebrating 10 years of shrinking the world with easy ways of communication.

Through Skype the phone calls may be placed to recipients on the traditional telephone networks. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free of charge, while calls to landline telephones and mobile phones are charged via a debit-based user account system. Skype has also become popular for its additional features, including file transfer, and videoconferencing. Unlike most other VoIP services, Skype is a hybrid peer-to-peer and client–server system. It makes use of background processing on computers running Skype software, and this is reflected in Skype's original proposed name of Sky Peer-to-Peer.

At present a total of 300 million users make two billion minutes of online video calls a day, according to AFP. The brand name has been turned into a verb - a rare distinction shared by the likes Twitter, Google and Xerox.

On 10 May 2011, Microsoft Corporation acquired Skype Communications for US$8.5 billion. The company was incorporated as a division of Microsoft, and Microsoft acquired all of the company's technologies with the purchase. This was completed on 13 October 2011.

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Google loses Android VP to Chinese firm

For the second time in less than a year, Android has suffered a major executive loss.

Android's vice president of product management, Hugo Barra, has left Google for Chinese firm Xiaomi. His resignation was first reported by All Things D.

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Barra was an increasingly public face for Android, demonstrating new Android devices such as the July debut of the second Nexus 7 tablet throughout his five years at the company.

A Google spokesperson said that Barra would be missed at the company.

Android co-founder Andy Rubin relinquished leadership of the division in March to longtime Googler and Chrome honcho Sundar Pichai, although Rubin has stayed on at Google. Pichai congratulated Barra on his new job in a Google+ post, while Barra himself wrote that he would be joining the Xioami team in China"in a few weeks" as the vice president of Xioami's global operations.

His new employer is known for its enthusiastic embrace of Android, its charismatic chief executive who has been compared to Steve Jobs, and its skyrocketing value. The company has leapt from being valued to $4 billion at the end of last year to $10 billion earlier this month.

According to All Things D, Barra's resignation is rumored to have occurred before he ended a relationship with a Google employee who is reportedly now dating the company's co-founder, Sergey Brin.

While Xiaomi did not respond to a request for comment before publishing this story, the company did send out a tweet Wednesday evening.

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Galaxy Gear smart watch coming next week, Samsung says

A loose-lipped Samsung executive has confirmed not only that Samsung will be launching a smart watch, but that it will be unveiled on 4 September at the IFA trade show in Berlin.

Speaking to the Korea Times (via Android Beat), executive vice president of Samsung Mobile Lee Young-Hee confirmed that the Galaxy Gear watch will arrive next week and will be based on Android. Young-Hee also stated that it won't use a flexible display, putting an end to rumours about bendy screens wrapping around your wrist.

Further information about the watch wasn't discussed so we still don't know whether we'll be seeing a regular version of Android on board. Given the small size of the screen, it's likely that it will be a heavily customised version of the software, designed to run specific apps that link it to an Android smart phone. Actual screen size and processor remain unknown, although previous leaks hint that it'll be able to make calls and surf the web.

With a 4 September launch, Samsung is evidently hoping to get off to an early lead with its wearable tech, ahead of Apple's own much-rumoured smart watch, that's yet to see the light of day.

Young-Hee also confirmed that the Galaxy Note 3 will be given a 4 September launch. Firm specs of the new enormo-phone are still unknown, but it's expected to have a gigantic Full HD screen, a stylus for writing, 4G connectivity and potentially an octa-core processor here in the UK.

We'll be swarming all over the IFA show in Berlin next week so make sure to keep it CNET for all the latest news from the show floor. While you're waiting, let me know your thoughts on Samsung's watch on our Facebook page and whether you're more excited to see what Apple does with its own watch.

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BBM on Samsung Galaxy phones 'soon', ads promise

BlackBerry Messenger is edging ever closer to Android phones, with the massively popular mobile IM service advertised in Africa as coming soon to Samsung Galaxy phones.

Readers of BlackBerry blog CrackBerry reported seeing TV ads in a few different African countries during last night's deeply tedious Man Utd v Chelsea match. The ad briefly appeared on Samsung Ghana's YouTube account before being taken down.

Samsung Ghana's Facebook page is currently teasing users with the status, "Another messenger is coming on Samsung phones sooner than you think… what is it?"

Earlier this month Samsung Africa revealed BBM would become part of the Samsung Messenger Hub, but didn't announce a date. The app will be free from Google Play and Samsung's own app store.

It's not yet clear when BBM will come to Android phones here in the UK, or if Samsung will get behind it in the same way. BlackBerrys are still hugely popular in Africa, and reassuring users they'll still be able to message their mates if they swap to a Samsung is a really persuasive bit of marketing.

Here in the UK, teenagers have already ditched BlackBerrys in their droves, picking up cheap Android phones and migrating their messaging to similar services such as WhatsApp, or the chat function of Facebook. Nevertheless, recent figures from analyst Acision reckon it's still the most popular IM service in the UK. More than 60 million people use it every month worldwide.

BlackBerry announced BBM would be coming to Android and iPhone back in May. A few weeks ago it confirmed it was being tested out in the real world among BlackBerry employees and their friends and families.

Are you gagging for BBM on your Galaxy? Or have you and your chums moved onto another system entirely? Let me know where you're chatting down in the comments, or hit up our chattyFacebook page.

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Gold iPhone 5S and plastic 5C casings compared in video

In case you aren't sick of seeing the new iPhones turning up in leaked photos already, a video comparing the 'champagne gold' iPhone 5S casing against the plastic-bodied, 'budget' iPhone 5C has surfaced.

The video, courtesy of AppAdvice, and embedded below for your viewing pleasure, gives us a tour over the bodies of what are strongly rumoured to be Apple's forthcoming new phones. AppAdvice doesn't name its sources, so I can't say for sure that they're the real deal, but they tie in exactly with numerous other leaks, so I'd put at least some money on it that they're legit.

Other than the vulgar gold colour, there's little on the metal 5S's body that differentiates it from the existing iPhone 5. The buttons remain the same, as do the speakers along the bottom and 3.5mm headphone jack. The flash unit next to the camera lens looks slightly elongated though, perhaps hinting that a more powerful Xenon flash will be on board.

The plastic iPhone 5C has a few more differences though, including longer volume buttons and smaller speakers. It's only shown off in its blue colour, however, previous leaked photos suggest that it'll be available in a rainbow of garish hues, much like Nokia's Lumia phones. Although no prices have been confirmed, the iPhone 5C is set to be a more 'affordable' iPhone, hence using plastic, rather than the more costly metal for its body.

No internal specs are shown or discussed in the video so processors or screen resolutions are still unknown. Apple is expected to be holding a launch event for both phones on 10 September, so keep your eyes peeled nearer the time for all the latest news.

In the meantime, let me know what you think of a gold or a colourful, plastic iPhone in the comments below or over on our Facebook page.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 set for 4K camera, due next week

Samsung's next slab of hotness is set to capture 4K Ultra HD video -- the Galaxy Note 3 will have a 4K camera, according to industry insidersquoted by the Korea Economic Daily.

Due to be unveiled next week, the Note 3 is the heavily rumoured but so far unannounced sequel to the enormous, powerful and generally not to be messed with Galaxy Note 2. A superphone for power users, it's perhaps logical (in a mutually assured destruction kind of way) that it's bumping up its video capturing abilities to Ultra HD.

It's not the first phone we've heard of capturing the ridiculously high-res footage. Sony's rumoured Xperia i1 is likely to do the same, if a leaked system dump is to be believed.  

4K Ultra HD is the consumer standard for the next step up from 1080p, aka Full HD. It means video with a resolution of 3,840x2,160 pixels, which is double the number of vertical lines as 1080p. It's double the horizontal resolution too, so it's four times the number of flashing dots. The term 4K comes from the horizontal resolution being nearly 4,000 pixels (it's more in some formats with different aspect ratios).

It's not a huge resolution for a still image. Maths fans among you will have worked out that 3,840x2,160 pixels equals 8.3 megapixels -- a pretty middling resolution for a smart phone these days. The Note 3 will have to have a camera at least that sharp to capture Ultra HD, which shouldn't be a problem, as it's rumoured to pack a 13-megapixel sensor.

The difficulty is in including enough storage to record 24 or more frames that large every second. Depending on the compression and file formats used, you could be eating up tens of gigabytes every minute, meaning you'd have to carry around fistfuls of microSD cards.

Also, you'll need a 4K Ultra HD TV to watch your high-res opus and inflict it on your friends.That'll set you back about £4,000, appropriately enough.

Other leaked specs for the Note 3, pictured above in a leak, include a mighty Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor -- or possibly Samsung's own eight-core Exynos beast, depending on where in the world you live -- and a whopping 3GB of RAM.

We'll almost certainly see it for the first time at Samsung's next Unpacked event on 4 September in Berlin. CNET will be there in numbers, delivering high-speed, top-notch coverage with live blogs, photos and hands-on videos up the ying-yang.

Are you excited about recording 4K on your phone? Or does it seem a little over the top for a mobile movie? Let me know in the comments, or on our high-resolution Facebook page.

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New videos offer partial look at what appears to be an iPhone 5S and 5C

With about two weeks to go before Apple's expected September 10 iPhone unveiling in San Francisco there is a outpouring of pictures and videos purported to be the forthcoming devices, or at least parts of them. CNET is keeping track of the various rumors, images and specs for Apple's new flagship phone, the 5S, and the lower-cost 5C.

On Monday, a few new videos surfaced of what could be the back enclosure of the iPhone 5S and 5C, including a champagne/gold version of the 5S. Of course, greater interest is focused on what will be inside the enclosure, underneath the glass-- most likely new chips, a fingerprint scanner and improved camera.

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Rumor: iPhone 5s seems to be 31 percent fast than its predecessor

A new rumor suggests that Apple’s upcoming iPhone will feature a 64-bit A7 chips that is 31 percent faster than its predecessor.

As the alleged launch date draws closer, more and more rumors hit the blogosphere about the upcoming iPhone lineup, pointing towards the possible specifications of the device. Recently, Clayton Morris tweeted that Apple’s upcoming 64-bit A7 chips is running almost 31 percent faster than the A6 chip that is found in iPhone 5. It’s not really confirmed right now if the 64-bit processor is the differentiating factor. Analysts have predicted in the past about the 64-bit A7 chip, based on ARMv8 architecture with improved efficiency – almost 20 percent – compared to earlier A6 chips.

Clayton also tweeted that the iPhone 5S will feature a separate motion tracking chip that could be an interesting camera upgrade. The upcoming iPhone 5S is expected to feature major camera changes and may feature a 12-13 megapixel camera. Rumors suggest that the device will feature a 12 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash and aperture that could capture better images in low-light conditions.

A number of rumors suggest that the upcoming iPhone 5S would feature the similar design as its predecessor with major hardware improvements.  The iPhone 5S will also include fingerprint scanning technology under the home button. Currently, there is no confirmed news about how the scanner will be used.

If the rumors are correct, Apple will unveil the iPhone 5S along with the low-cost iPhone 5C at a press event on September 10 with expected delivery date of 20 September for most markets.

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Pre-release Android 4.3 firmware leaks for HTC One, available as custom ROM

HTC hasn’t exactly been known for delivering software updates on a timely fashion, but a leaked Android 4.3 firmware for the HTC One – complete with all the Sense 5 customization – suggests that the company may be looking to make amends for its past missteps.

The firmware has been released as a custom ROM by popular HTC developer LlabTooFer, who will release the original untouched firmware on August 28 at 10 a.m. GMT. The “Maximus HD 12″ ROM is based on the unreleased firmware version 3.09.401.1, and there are a few noticeable changes according to user reports.

Launcher performance and animations seem to have improved, users can now use their own music for video highlights, Sense will sync picture changes to the beat of the track, a few sound tweaks have been added to settings, and a new animation plays out when the phone is charging when off. Inherent Android 4.3 features are included as well, such as OpenGL 3.0 support and always-on Wi-Fi location scanning, and we’ll probably see more stuff in the final update.

HTC had said it intends to update U.S. versions of the HTC One to Android 4.3 directly, and it’s possible the Taiwanese manufacturer might beat its Korean rival when it comes to putting its flagship on the latest version of the OS, though we’ll have to wait until the day the update officially rolls out before declaring the winner.

Go ahead and hit the source link to give the pre-release Android 4.3 ROM a try. You’ll need an unlocked bootloader, root access, and a custom recovery to be able to install it, though remember to take the necessary precautions to avoid losing data and turning that phone into an expensive paperweight.

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Samsung Ativ Q reportedly cancelled due to patent infringement

According to Naver, a Korean publication, sources familiar with Samsung’s plans say the company ran into patent-related issues that may result in the Ativ Q being cancelled. The alleged patent infringed by Samsung relates to running dual operating systems on one device. This might explain the reason why we haven’t seen the Ativ Q from Samsung anywhere in the market. According to the same source familiar with the matter, Samsung is trying its best to beat the odds but the chances of coming out successful are slim.

Samsung Ativ Q is a tablet based PC that is capable of running dual-OS, without the need of rebooting if you want to switch from one operating system to another. Furthermore, it was revealed that Samsung Ativ Q will be powered by Intel Haswell processor, 13.3 inch display with a mind-boggling 3200 x 1800 pixels resolution, 4GB RAM, 256GB SSD storage and a number of other goodies.

Obviously, this is just a rumor and may be inaccurate. There is no official word from Samsung regarding the launch of Ativ Q and we will take this news with desired amount of salt. However, the fact that the tablet is nowhere to be found on Samsung’s website does suggest otherwise.

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iPhone 5C units apparently pictured during quality testing after assembly

It has been rumored for the past couple of weeks that Apple’s manufacturing partners in China have received instructions to begin mass producing the iPhone 5C. Apple’s low cost iPhone is expected to be in strong supply after launch, it is even expected to outsell the iPhone 5S in September quarter. Analysts predict that Apple may sell over 8 million iPhone 5C units within two weeks of launch, such claims are usually made after supply channel checks. Up till now there have been no reports of Apple facing any issues with iPhone 5C mass production, though there have been such reports about the iPhone 5S.

In this particular picture, which has been discovered on Sina Weibo, we can see many purported iPhone 5C units plugged in and undergoing testing. By the looks of it, this entire batch contains only white iPhone 5C units, whereas the device is rumored to be offered in as many as five color options. It is said that these tests are related to general usage and the device’s on-board capacity.

There exists this possibility that the units we see in this picture might be knock-offs. China’s market is flooded with clones of all sorts of smartphones, given how iPhone 5C is expected to be a hit in China, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if clones started to appear in the market prior to the actual release.

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Moto X Developer Edition coming soon with 32GB storage

The Moto X Developer Edition probably won’t be customizable, but it will come with the words “Developer Edition” engraved on the back. The bootloader will be unlockable, and Motorola warns that unlocking the bootloader “voids all warranties and may cause serious harm to your device,” though that’s not something that will deter anyone buying the developer edition in the first place.

For the uninitiated, the developer edition model of the Moto X will be the same as the standard variant, but will allow you to tinker and hack it to your heart’s content. The specs will remain the same, including a custom eight-core Motorola X8 SoC, 2GB of RAM, a 10-megapixel rear camera with ClearPixel technology, Wi-Fi, HSPA+, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and LTE connectivity, a 2,200mAh battery, and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, with features such as always-on Google Now access and Active Notifications.

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LG G Pad to pack Snapdragon 600 heat after all, could become available in September

That was quickly “upgraded” to a spanking new Snapdragon 800, but the newest word around the Android block is we can only hope for a 600 chip to be found inside the G Pad. The Snapdragon 600, as you’re probably aware by now, is ever so slightly zippier than the S4 Pro, but a little power hungry and clearly more modest than the 800 in terms of raw speed.

It all sounds like the beginning of the end for the G Pad (already?), but what if I told you it’s not so bad? Chances are the slate would have been much too expensive for the masses if it was to pack Snapdragon 800 power, so maybe the 600 chip is actually the perfect compromise.

The even better news is we could be seeing the 8.3-incher up on store shelves as soon as next month, quickly succeeding the very likely IFA unveiling. And to top it all off, rumor has it Verizon is interested in scoring a 4G LTE-enabled version of the tab (though it’s improbable that will see daylight in September as well).

All in all, LG might be on to something here, what with tipsters suggesting the tab could sport a WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200 pix res) screen, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and 2 GB of RAM, though the biggest concern remains pricing. Should the G Pad cost less than 300 bucks to have a better chance of survival than the Optimus Pad? $250? $200? Even less? Sound off below.

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BBM for iPhone and Android user guides surface online

What kind of app needs its own instruction manual? The new BBM app apparently, as user guides for the upcoming iOS and Android versions of the chatting service have appeared online.

The lengthy guides appeared as part of a BlackBerry site that was put live early, Polish-language site BBNews reports. You can view the iOS guide here, and the Android versionhere [PDF links].

While there's still no fixed date for the long-awaited multi-platform app to go live, the guides will let you read up on how the new software works, if you simply can't wait.

Basics -- including what individual icons mean and how to sign in -- are covered, as are tips on viewing someone's BBM profile and setting the app to save your chat history. Crucially, the guide tells you which emoticons you can use.

Hopefully the new app, which will be free to download, will be self-explanatory enough that you don't actually need to leaf through a guide before diving in. The multi-platform service will let BlackBerry, Android and iPhone owners chat to each other on a single platform. BlackBerry hasn't mentioned anything about a Windows Phone app.

The long-awaited app is in testing now and will take on rival IM apps like WhatsApp and Viber, which are now reckoned to be more popular than texting. Make sure you read our comparison that lists the main features of each app, so you can figure out which one's best for you.

Earlier this summer UK network T-Mobile claimed on Twitter that the app would be released on 27 June, but BlackBerry quickly backtracked on that date. More than 100,000 peopledownloaded a fake version of the app before it was pulled from Google's app store.

It's no secret that BlackBerry is going through tough times, with the company recently confirming that it's reviewing 'strategic alternatives', that could result in the Canadian corporation being sold -- if it can find a buyer.

Is there any hope for BlackBerry? Are you eagerly awaiting BBM for iPhone and Android? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.

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New Nexus 7 touchscreen issues fixed with update

Phew! It was touch and go there for a minute. Google has rushed out a fix for the problems that were plaguing its snazzy new Nexus 7, just in time for its UK launch.

Many owners of the new model of the 7-inch Android slate reported experiencing phantom finger touches, where the tablet records a touch input that never happened. Users on this Google product forum complained that the ghostly taps only occured after installing the JSS15J software update.

"There's a new system update that's started rolling out for your Nexus 7s," writes Google community manager Paul Wilcox. "This update does address the touchscreen issues discussed in this thread. If you're one of the people experiencing touchscreen issues, please let us know how it's going after you've received and installed the update."

Interestingly, several commenters reported the problems worsened after using the tablet on carpet, hinting the problem may have been a build-up of static. It's possible Google tweaked something in the device's battery management to alleviate the problem, because most users who installed the new JSS15Q update report fewer screen shenanigans.

Having been available in the US for a few weeks, the new Nexus 7 is due out in the UK on 28 August. It's not even available for pre-order on Google's Play Store, so we'll be keeping a weather eye on the shop for when it goes live. Google famously had a terrible time meeting demand for its top-notch Nexus 4 phone late last year, so fingers crossed we don't see the same problems for its new tablet.

The new Nexus 7 impressed me muchly in the quick hands-on I had last week. It's incredibly thin, and ditches the old Nexus 7's rubbery back, making it feel super-sleek. The screen has had a major upgrade, to Full HD 1080p, and looks stunning. Another new addition, the 5-megapixel rear camera, wasn't so impressive, but it's hardly the most important feature in a tablet.

It'll be a little more expensive than the older Nexus, starting here in the UK at £199 rather than £159, but £239 for the 32GB model is still a cracking bargain. A 32GB iPad mini will set you back £349, by comparison.

If you're reading this from the US, has the update worked for you? Brits, are you psyched for the new Nexus 7? Leave a phantom comment below, or over on our touchy-feely Facebook page.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will come in pink, insider hints

With less than a fortnight before Samsung takes the covers off its latest kit at the IFA tech show in Berlin, a cheeky insider has suggested that the Galaxy Note 3 will be available in a pink hue, alongside the more usual black and white variants.

Speaking to SamMobile, the insider source didn't elaborate on whether the colourful variant will be available globally. SamMobile rightly points out that a pink Galaxy S4 is available in Taiwan only, so it's possible Samsung won't be offering the pink Note too widely either. The source also wasn't able to elaborate on any other potential colours like the S4's blue, red or, er, brown hues.

What we do know about the phone though is that, like the Galaxy S4, it will have both quad and octa-core processors inside, depending on the region. Previous rumours have suggested that the UK will see the 8-core version -- welcome news to those of you disappointed that we only got the quad-core Galaxy S4. New leaks from ETNews (via PocketNow), however, suggests that 70 per cent of Note 3's shipped globally will be quad-core and there's no word on who's getting what.

Other expected specs include a beefy 3,450mAh battery, a huge Full HD display and 4G connectivity. As one of the Note family, it will undoubtedly be packing a stylus for hand-written notes, doodles and gestures.

The Galaxy Note 3 is all but certain to be revealed at the tech show in IFA starting on 4 September. We'll be there to bring you the latest news as it breaks from the show floor so make sure to keep it CNET. In the meantime, let me know your thoughts on the Note 3 in the comments below or over on our Facebook page.

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With Frontback, there are two sides to every iPhone photo

Depending on who you talk to, Frontback, an iPhone app for snapping a pic from both your front and back cameras, is either the next novel idea in mobile photography or something too basic, too obvious to make it as a standalone app.

Launched one month ago, the Frontback app is exactly as it sounds. The application, which has been downloaded around 200,000 times, walks you through a three-step process where you take a pic with your back-facing camera, then one with your front-facing camera, and then save or share the composite image with friends or followers.

Simple though it may sound, Frontback has a few key early-adopter fans like Twitter inventor Jack Dorsey and his parents, former TechCrunch reporter and current Google Ventures partner M.G. Siegler, and YouTube star Justine Ezarik, better known by her Internet handle iJustine. The application also counts as adviser Instagram's former lead designer Tim Van Damme.

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Apple buys transit-app maker Embark

Apple has picked up another mapping company, its third this year.

The tech giant recently snapped up Embark, a company with myriad localized transit apps for cities like New York, San Francisco, and London, reports Jessica Lessin.

Apple confirmed the deal, saying it "buys smaller technology companies from time to time," but would not go into detail about the future of the service. Embark CEO David Hodge declined to comment.

Embark was one of several location app makers who got a big boost following Apple's rollout of its own mapping software in iOS 6. Within the first week of that software launching, Embark said it saw the biggest spike in downloads and activity since the service launched.

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According to Lessin, Apple plans to build Embark's technology into its own software, presumably to replace the public transit features in Apple Maps. As it stands, the app directs users to try their route in any third-party transit apps that may be installed, as well as directing them toward such apps in the App Store.

The purchase is Apple's latest in a series. In just the past month, it's been revealed that Apple has purchased location-based-data company Locationary, as well as local-navigation company Hopstop, which provides a service similar to Embark's. In addition, Apple has picked up Oakland-based Passif Semiconductor (a deal that was also reported by Lessin), along with video guide and recommendation service Matcha.TV.

Earlier this year, Apple CEO Tim Cook noted that Apple has been buying a company every month or two. "We are always looking, and if anything, we will do more of that in the future," Cook said at the All Things Digital Conference in May.

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