Next Apple iPhone will reportedly feature a 12MP camera

The anticipated next iPhone, although itself still not fully emigrated from rumorland, is expected to feature an improved camera sensor compared to the one found on the current Apple flagship. The iPhone 5 features an 8MP camera sensor with an f/2.4 aperture, hybrid IR filter, and backside illumination. A source working for Wonderful Saigon Electrics, the manufacturer that makes Apple's camera modules, alleges that the next iPhone (which is referred to as iPhone 5S) will come with an updated 12MP camera, complete with improved shooting under low-light conditions and HDR support.

Apple is under increased pressure as of late with recent Android flagships like the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 expected to quickly steal marketshare from its iOS platform. The Cupertino giant needs to produce a device that will really raise some eyebrows, and an updated camera sensor may be one of the ingredients it needs.

iOS 7 behind schedule but will have significantly updated UI

It seems the upcoming iOS 7 update is running behind schedule, according to the Daring Fireball. Engineers are now reportedly being pulled from the OS X 10.9 update to work on Apple's mobile operating system.

While that may seem like a bummer, there is good news as well. It seems that iOS 7 will be a major overhaul in terms of UI design over the previous versions of the operating system. The heavily skeuomorphic UI elements, such as leather trim, linen backgrounds and torn paper edges are reportedly being trashed, hopefully in favor of a cleaner, simpler UI. Engineers who are field testing the OS are carrying special devices with polarizing filters on the screen that limits the visibility so as to not give the new UI away. They normally wouldn't go this far if it wasn't significantly different. Ever since Scott Forstall left Apple and handed over the reigns of iOS to Sir Jonathan Ive, it has been speculated as to what direction the future versions of iOS will take under the command of their new master. While Forstall clearly favored a more flamboyant approach to design, Ive has a much more simpler and minimalistic style, as can be seen from Apple's hardware. As such, it is no surprise that iOS will also be taking a similar route in terms of design under Ive. Other than getting rid of the gaudy UI elements that had few fans, the new update will also give iOS a much needed UI refresh, which has clearly started looking long in the tooth. We can now say we are genuinely looking forward to seeing what Apple has to showcase this year. Hopefully, they won't take too long.

HTC One hits multiple UK stores and carriers

The HTC One Android flagship is finally available in UK stores after its launch got delayed. It’s available from multiple retailers and e-tailers and on several carriers.

Carphone Warehouse offers perhaps the biggest choice of carriers – EE, Vodafone, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Three, Talkmobile. If you want the phone for free, plans start at £33 on a 24 month contract.

Dial-a-Phone offers the One on contract with Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile, with monthly taxes starting at £28 with an 18-month contract.

Phones4U also offers HTC One on contract with Vodafone and Orange, but also EE. Contracts for EE start at £41.

Three UK also carries the phone on contract - £34 / month for 24 months – or on a pre-paid plan for £480 (that’s cheaper than the earlier pricing of £510). Three will ship the HTC One on Tuesday, April 2.

Clove UK will be shipping the Silver HTC One on April 3 and on the Black one on the 10th (that’s for those who pre-ordered). The SIM-free price is set at £510, and if you offer now your unit will be shipped in late April.

Amazon UK expects to ship both color versions on April 12 on a £524 price. Vodafone’s own site says the HTC One is in high demand and units will be available in three to four weeks.

(Via @gsmarena)

Sony rolls out the Jelly Bean update for the Xperia TX

Sony announced its Jelly Bean upgrade schedule last December and everything so far has arrived on time. The Xperia T and Xperia V already got their Jelly Bean treatment in February and as promised, now is the Xperia TX turn. We wonder what took so long, since the Xperia T and TX are basically the same phone, but still we are happy to see Sony's kept its promise. The Xperia TX update is available as of today, but the rollout is gradual so some of you will have to wait a few more days to get it. The update version number is 9.1.B.0.411 and brings the usual Jelly Bean features, including Google Now, Project Butter, improved notifications, etc., along with Sony's own changes. Now we really hope to bring the same news to the Xperia S owners soon.

(via @gsmarena)

Final Fantasy V arrives on iOS, is unlikely to be the last

A touch iteration of the once SNES-bound Final Fantasy V has now appeared on the iTunes App Store, with a softer graphical lick, some new job classes (Gladiator, Cannoneer, Oracle and Necromancer) and an obligatory extra boss to test your leveling-up skills against. The price of four new costumes for your meteor-riding protagonists? Just shy of $16. Saving the world was never going to be cheap easy.
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China to get first official taste of Surface Pro outside of North America

Microsoft's Surface Pro will mark its first venture outside the cozy confines of the Americas by heading to China on April 2nd, according to its Weibo site. That could also mean that lovers of the convertible tablet in Australia, parts of Europe and elsewhere might also be able to grab one soon -- as Redmond indicated earlier that it would roll out in those countries around the same time. There's no word yet on pricing or where to get one, but Microsoft recently launched its flagship Chinese store on Tmall, so that would be a good place for shoppers there to start -- assuming they're interested.

Experia A (SO-04E) and Xperia UL (SOL22) to Arrive in Japan in Summer

Japanese mobile phone maker Sony Mobile is reportedly gearing up for the launch of two new Android-based smartphones in its homeland market, both spotted online before under the codenames of Dogo and Gaga.

The first of them is the Xperia A (SO-04E) Dogo, which was spotted online recently en route to NTT DOCOMO, and which is now said to be certain for a summer launch. furthermore, the smartphone is rumored to pack a 4.6-inch touchscreen display at launch, though it’s yet uncertain whether it will be a 720p or a 1080p one, XperiaBlog notes. the specifications list of this smartphone would also include a Snapdragon 600 processor, paired with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory. additionally, the phone is said to pack a dustproof and waterproof design as the Xperia Z does, and to be powered by a 2300 mAh battery. The features list of Xperia A (SO-04E) would also include support for mobile wallet, One Seg and infrared. although no official confirmation on the matter has emerged until now, the smartphone is expected to arrive on shelves in other countries around the world as well, supposedly with another set of features inside. the second new smartphone from Sony is said to be prepared for launch at KDDI in Japan as Xperia UL (SOL22), and to pack a similar design as Xperia Z. this would include the 5-inch 1080p display, a Snapdragon 600 CPU and 2GB RAM, 32GB of internal memory, and the same battery and features as Xperia A. these two smartphones are expected to be accompanied on the market by the long rumored 6.4-inch phablet from Sony that supposedly features the codename of Togari and is capable of a full HD resolution. the smartphone is expected to arrive on shelves at NTT DOCOMO, provided, however, that Sony actually decides to launch it, since it’s still undecided on this, it seems.