The rise of the phablet

Go back to 2010 and you'd be hard pushed to find a handset which sported a screen bigger than 4 inches. Back then the big phones of the year were the 3.5-inch iPhone 4, 3.7-inch HTC Desire and the 4-inch Samsung Galaxy S.

Today we're seeing handsets rocking screens in excess of 6-inches, while the bustling budget tablet market is churning out top quality devices in the 7-inch arena.

The line between phones and tablets is more blurred than it's ever been and the considerable amount of crossover has resulted in the coining of the rather inelegant phrase "phablet" - love it or hate it, the phrase and the devices it's attached to are here to stay.

In the beginning

Our first real taste of a phablet was back in 2011 when the Samsung Galaxy Note was launched to a muted response. People scoffed at its ridiculously large 5.3-inch display and 90s S-Pen stylus, but little did we know Samsung was onto something.

Alan Thomas from Carphone Warehouse explains: "The phablet was a slow burner. When the original Samsung Galaxy Note hit the shelves it wasn't instantly popular. The industry as a whole didn't know what to make of it.

"But, as Samsung marketed it and showed what it could do, why you use it, people found it offered something they wanted."

Samsung's Note series remains the most recognised of the phablet generation with the Korean firm adding the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Note 3 in the following years, but it has now been joined by the likes of Sony, Nokia and HTC in the race for the best supersized smartphone.

It's still not clear what defines a phablet, and Thomas told us "it's getting a bit debatable, but typically a phablet has a screen size larger than 5.3 inches and smaller than 7 inches. Tablets normally have screens of 7 inches and over and smartphone screens tend to be 5.2 inches or under.

"There is a little bit of overlap and it's largely due to how the manufacturer chooses to market their devices."

Why oh why?

There wasn't much of a calling for our smartphones to dramatically increase in size before the Galaxy Note popped its head up, so what advantages do phablets actually provide?

Thomas notes: "people have really begun to use their smartphones a lot more for the internet, and the larger screens make it more

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Sony Xperia Z2 release date, news and rumours

Sony loves a flagship smartphone and, if current rumors ring true, the Japanese firm is lining up its third in just over a year in the form of the Sony Xperia Z2.

January 2013 saw the arrival of the Xperia Z at CES in Las Vegas, which was followed in September 2013 by the Xperia Z1 at IFA in Berlin - and now we're hearing that the Xperia Z2 will arrive at MWC 2014 at the end of February.

Compare Sony's product cycle to the likes of Samsung or Apple - where we see an annual reboot of real flagships such as the Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S - and you start wondering whether the Japanese firm has gone mad, or perhaps is onto something.

We've rounded up all the latest news, leaks and rumors surrounding the Xperia Z2 to bring you a comprehensive overview of what you may be able to expect from the phone.

Sony Xperia Z2 release date and price

There were rumors suggesting the Sony Xperia Z2 would be outed at CES 2014, but instead we were given the Xperia Z1 Compact and a US variant of the Xperia Z1.

April 2014 has also been mooted as a potential Xperia Z2 release date, but this date now appears to have gone cold.

This means all eyes are now on MWC 2014, with perennial leaker @evleaks tipping the codenamed Sony Sirius handset for a show appearance.

Sony Xperia Z2 display

According to Xperia Z2 specs leaked online, the handset is in line for a stunning 5.2-inch display - up from the 5-inch screen on the Xperia Z1 - and, if true, it would mean the Z2 would match the LG G2 in terms of size.

With a rumored 506ppi, 2K screen, the Xperia Z2 will smash its rivals with its 2560 x 1440 resolution, with the G2 mustering 424ppi and the Xperia Z1 rocking 441ppi full HD solutions.

Sony Xperia Z2 power

While the 2K screen will stand out, when it comes to power things appear to be a little less exciting with reports centering around the same 2.3GHz quad-core processor which you'll find in the Xperia Z1 and Z1 Compact.

That's not to say the Xperia Z2 will be under-powered - far from it in fact - but we were hoping to see perhaps an octa-core chip inside the next Sony powerhouse. Of course that is

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Android 4.4 KitKat review

Pros

-Fast and frictionless

-New productivity options

-Project Svelte

-Improved Google Now

Cons

-Hangouts needs work

-Experience Launcher exclusive

-Hopped into bed with Nestle

                                                                            -No split-screen apps

1. Introduction 

Everyone was expecting Key Lime Pie to serve as the delicious moniker for the next version of Android. Google surprised us all by bucking tradition and releasing Android 4.4 under the name KitKat.

Version 4.0 started life as Ice Cream Sandwich, but the last three decimal additions came under the Jelly Bean banner. This new version was obviously deemed different enough to snag a new nickname, but not different enough to merit a jump to version 5.0.

That 0.1 bump hardly does it justice. Don't be fooled: this is an important step up for Android. KitKat is super-smooth, the UI is refined and elegant, there are improvements to the long-neglected calling and messaging side of the platform, a new focus on productivity, and your fortune-telling digital assistant is brought front and centre as Google Now reaches maturity.

 

General surprise in the tech world wasn't just based on the erroneous supposition that Key Lime Pie had to be next; there were also some raised eyebrows at the idea of Google entering into a tawdry cross-licensing deal with Nestle which would see a flood of Android-shaped KitKats hitting the shops offering buyers the chance to win Nexus 7 tablets or Google Play credit.

According to Google the promotion was its idea and no money changed hands. With Nestle producing 50 million Android KitKat bars it certainly looks like a sweet deal for them.

Naming conventions aside, the 4.4 update is about addressing some of the Android criticisms that simply won't go away and it does so with aplomb.

There's a real focus on the consumer here, with a smattering of useful new features, a noticeable bump in performance, and some optimization to ensure that budget hardware is not left behind.

Android 4.4 is easily the best version of the platform to date, and Google has left the ball firmly in the OEMs' court when it comes to rolling out the upgrades.

Leading the field by extending the update beyond its Nexus line to the Moto G also neatly illustrates the move to improve the Android experience on low-end, affordable hardware.

First impressions

KitKat really makes a mockery of the idea that iOS 7 is more refined than Android. This

version of the platform

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Top smartphones to look forward in 2014

With the pace of smartphone evolution moving so fast, there's always something waiting in the wings. No sooner have you spied the latest handset, but there's anticipation of something else, the next big thing.

We've rounded up the best smartphones for 2013, those we consider to be the best across all platforms, and we've regularly updated that list as the smartphone world has evolved over the last year. You can find those in our Best smartphones 2013 feature.

Here we're looking at those phones that haven't yet launched, those we know are coming, or are anticipated. Some will be rumour, some will be fact, but here we'll cut through the speculation to highlight those phones we really want to see. We'll be updating this list on a regular basis, with those device rumours we think are credible and exciting, and devices just announced but yet to hit the shelves.

HTC M8/new HTC One

We've known since July 2013 that the next HTC flagship handset is referred to internally as the HTC M8, the successor to the M7, the device that became the HTC One. With HTC saying that the "One" name is here to stay, it's safe to predict that the final commercial name will be new HTC One or HTC One (2014) or something like that. That much has been mentioned by a judge in a patent case in the UK, along with a launch date of Q1 2014.

HTC is a creature of habit, so we'd predict that the next-gen HTC One will launch in February 2014. Perhaps not at Mobile World Congress 2014, but within a few weeks of the mobile tradeshow with its own global launch event and we'd expect the shipping date to be the end of March or early April.

As for the specs, it looks like HTC will be bringing the M8 up to mark with a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset, a 5-inch 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution display and Android 4.4 KitKat with Sense 6.0. There's little to surprise in there and we suspect most of the attention will be on the metal body construction as HTC looks to repeat the luscious looks of the 2013 HTC One.

We'll be keeping a close eye on HTC and bringing you any news we hear on the next HTC handset.

Sony Xperia Z2/Sirius

Sony used CES 2014 to launch two devices, the Z1

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Top Android Tablets to buy 2014

What is the best Android tablet to buy in 2014? Could it be the latest budget Android tablet the New Nexus 7 or the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab 3? Here's our guide to the 10-inch through to 7-inch Android tablets that get the T3 seal of approval

So the iPad (fourth-generation) just doesn't do it for you, and you'd prefer to add a Google Android tablet to your current Android phone existence. Well, we may just be able to help. With the tablet-optimized Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS firmly in the past, Google's latest updates Android 4.0, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and  Jelly Bean 4.3 are now in full force. It's certainly a good time to grab a Google-powered slate, get downloading some Android tablet apps and say goodbye to your laptop or notebook.

If you have tablets on the mind, specifically Android ones, here are the best ones we've played with you can buy right now.

1. Samsung Galaxy NotePRO 12.2

Perfect for business folk, the largest of Samsung's tab line-up boasts a laptop encroaching 12.2-inch display with a resolution of 2560x1600 and the nitfty ability to use four apps at the same time. An interface re-jig, named Magazine UX pulls in a load of content in a design that doesn't look that much different from the tiles in Windows 8. As it's part of the Note series, you'll have access to the S-Pen for drawing, making notes and the like. Under the faux-leather hood is a Snapdragon 800 processor, a whopping 3GB RAM, Android 4.4 Kit Kat, while an 8-meg cam takes care of the snaps.

Price: TBA | Samsung 

2. Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4, 10.1 and 12.2

Not content with just unleashing one version of its new TabPRO, the latest slate from Samsung comes in three flavours - an iPad Mini and LG G-Pad baiting 8.3 incher, a more traditional 10.1 and an extra large 12.2-inch version. Even with these different sizes, each boast a 2560x1600 resolution, Android 4.4 and a snappy Snapdragon 800 processor, while the larger 12.2 device packs 3GB of RAM (the others still have the reasonable 2GB). A new and rather nice looking Magazine UX displays all your content in an easy to read manner, while there's an 8-meg snapper on the rear to take care of photos. It looks like Samsung has finally stepped up its game when it comes to tablets.

Price:

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Asus Zenfone 6 Hands-on

Asus Zenfone 6 review: Hands-on

What is the Asus Zenfone 6?

The Asus Zenfone 6 is the largest phone in the new Zenfone line-up. It has a 6-inch screen but is set to sell for under £250 SIM-free, if we don't get done over when the the phone comes here from the US.

We think the Zenfone 5 is the sweet spot in the new range, but this should prove one of the cheapest ways to get a 6-inch phone.

                               lastic parasite won't be included in the final version...

Asus Zenfone 6 – Design

Like any 6-inch phone, the Asus Zenfone 6 is very large. It's a real handful, which is one of the main reasons to consider another phone in the Zenfone range instead of this one.

Build is much the same as the other Zenfone mobiles. Its rear is plastic, and comes in red and gold and well as the more standard black or white. Common to many larger phones, it's slimmer than its Zenfone brothers at 9.9mm thick.

It weighs 200g, which is about the norm for a phone of this size. The Galaxy Mega 6.3 weighs 199g, for example.

The bit of Zenfone series visual flair is the area of shiny concentric circles below the screen. It's just there for the look, as the soft key virtual buttons sit just above this bit.

Asus Zenfone 6 – Screen and Specs

The key way the Zenfone keeps its price down is by using a lower-resolution screen than some of its rivals. Despite being six inches across, the phone has a 720p display, rather than a Full HD one.

Unlike the Zenfone 5, you can tell this deficiency, but it's a relatively minor issue. Texts looks a little bit softer than it would on a 1080p screen. Otherwise the IPS display provides decent image quality for a low-cost phone with good viewing angles and OK colour reproduction.

Like all the Zenfone mobiles, the Zenfone 6 uses an Intel Atom processor. It's the same one used in the Zenfone 5, a 2GHz dual-core Z2580 chip. This is a chip first seen in the Lenovo K900 back in 2013, and rarely used since, but it provides good performance for a phone this cheap. Asus claimed that it outperforms almost every Android phone out there, but such claims should be treated with a pinch of salt as Intel Atom performance versus things like

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Asus Zenfone 5 Hands-on

Asus Zenfone 5 Review: Hands-on at CES 2014

What is the Asus Zenfone 5?

The Asus Zenfone 5 is a low-cost Android phone with a large screen. It may not be all that phones like the Samsung Galaxy S4 are, but it certainly seems to get you a lot for your money.

UK prices for the Zenfone 5 haven't yet been announced, but as it's set to sell for $200 without a contract in the US, this should prove to be one of the cheapest ways to get a 5-inch screen phone.

Asus Zenfone 5 – Design

As a relative newcomer to phones, it's not surprising that Asus has kept the design of its new Zenfone mobiles pretty simple. The Zenfone 5 is a plastic phone with a single-piece plastic battery cover that comes in five different colours.

The one piece of Asus visual stamping is the texture of concentric circles that you'll see under the screen. It feels a little light and basic compared with something like the HTC One, but the Zenfone 5 should sell for around half the price of our 2013 phone of the year.

It weighs 144g and is 10.3mm thick. It's light enough, but it's not super slim. But again, superlatives are really not what the Asus Zenfone 5 is all about.

Asus Zenfone 5 – Screen and Specs

The screen too lives in a comfortable middle ground. It's five inches across and the resolution is 720p, where other high-end phones this size use 1080p displays. However, given the phone's expected price we're more than happy to live with 720p.

It's sharp and the IPS panel provides respectable image quality. Colour reproduction wasn't quite spot-on, but the phone may ship with Asus Splendid, an app that lets you fine-tune the colour temperature and saturation to your own tastes. Our demo model wasn't loaded with the final software so we can't be sure though.

The Asus Zenfone 5 is a mobile that has sprung from the strong relationship between Intel and Asus. It uses an Intel Atom processor, the dual-core 2GHz Z2580. It's a very capable processor for a budget phone like this.

Asus boasted during the launch of the phone that it could outperform virtually every mobile processor seen in an Android phone. Our experience has been Intel Atom chips are often a little poorer with tasks in which power matters – mostly gaming – due to relative

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Google: What to Expect in 2014

Google had a superb year in 2013, adding around 35% to its share price and producing some fantastic devices, but where does it go from here?

Mountain View has spent much of the last year joining up its products, so 2014 will likely see more of their rhetoric becoming a reality – perhaps not through new products but features added to their current line up.

It wants to integrate its services with more aspects of your life, so climb aboard as we make ten Google-shaped predictions for 2014:

1. Beyond KitKat

The recent release of Android 4.4, codenamed KitKat, was a relatively minor update to Android, as Google sought to perfect its mobile OS – and it was a disappointment for those who were hoping for a shiny new version of Android.

However, it's now even more likely that a fresh version of Android will land mid-2014, possibly at Google I/O. What's more, as each version of Android is codenamed with a dessert or confectionary following on alphabetically from its predecessor, it creates obvious speculation about which L-based sweet it could be.

It could be "liquorice" but we'll put our money on "Lion Bar" after the recent love-in with Nestle.

Between Android 4.1 and 4.4, the look and feel of Android hasn't altered much, so expect this to be a big part of Android 5.0, perhaps echoing iOS's colourful design after year's of Android 4.0's gloomy all-black theme.

2. Chromecast for everyone

Google's had a good year with Chromecast but expect much bigger things in 2014. Aside from the obvious global roll out, Mountain View has already said that it's looking to create an open SDK, so third party developers can create their own apps and uses for Chromecast.

The result, at least in the short term, could be app streaming from a much bigger pool of core Android apps, which means you'll be able to enjoy what you see on your phone in the comfort of your living room. What's more, Android 5.0 could see app streaming features as a key improvement.

3. Google does the robot

December's purchase of Boston Dynamics, the robot-building super-brains responsible for BigDog and the Cheetah Robot might have raised a few eye-brows, but 2013 has seen it suck up a slew of small robotics businesses.

Google insiders have called this spending spree a "moonshot' headed by Andy Rubin, the brain behind Android. However, the New

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10 Best Tech Gadgets 2013

Each year we celebrate the very best products in each category in our TrustedReviews awards. If you've not checked out this year's results, do so now.

However, this 'best of' round-up is a little different. We're going to look at the products that are important in another sense.

These gadgets mark a change, either for the market, or for the company making them. And some of them will be product remembered for years and years to come.

There are no real winners here, but if you want to know which products are the sign of things to come then you've come to the right place.

And if you think we've missed any, feel free to let us know (politely) in the comments.

Sony Alpha A7

Perhaps the most exciting photographic announcement of the year came only recently – the Sony Alpha A7 and A7R. They are the first compact system cameras to have full-frame sensors. Using such a sensor makes these cameras pretty cheap for their £1,200 starting price.  DSLRs with such sensors are normally a good deal more expensive.

They look good, feel good and produce excellent photos. To really get the most out of the camera, though, you’ll need to invest in one of the prime lenses rather than the kit lens. It’s no cheap solution to pro-quality pictures, but it is a game-changing camera that arguably heralds the beginning of the end for the DSLR.

Asus PQ321Q

Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of the Asus PQ321Q. Most people haven’t. However, it is a fairly important gadget of 2013 to note.

It was the first 4K-compatible monitor to surface, with 3,840 x 2,160 pixel native resolution. And it costs a mere three and a half grand in US dollars. Very few of you will end up buying one of these, but it’ll be a good fact to impress your geeky mates in five years when 4K monitors are the norm.

Motorola Moto G

There’s nothing technologically impressive about the Moto G as an abstracted piece of hardware. What makes it truly interesting is that Motorola has managed to make a phone of this calibre for under £100 (it has sold for as little as £89.99).

At this price there’s simply nothing that can come close to this. Look at Samsung’s line-up and you’ll need to spend three times the money to get something as good. Motorola has set

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Microsoft: What to Expect in 2014

Looking back, 2013 was a big year for Microsoft, with multiple new products – improved Surface tablets, Windows 8.1 and the launch of the Xbox One, to name but a few. Not to mention the $7.2 billion (£4.6 billion) acquisition of Nokia's mobile phone unit.

On top of that, Steve Ballmer, long-time CEO of Microsoft, announced his retirement in August and will be stepping down within the next 10 months.

But that's all in the past. Microsoft is focusing firmly on the future, aiming to bring new and innovative products to market and continuing its core 'devices and services' focus. Here's a taste of what 2014 holds for Microsoft.

Windows 8.1 and beyond

Microsoft has moved to an annual product update cycle with Windows, similar to the one Apple has for OSX and iOS. This means that new versions of the OS will be pushed out every year, similar to Windows 8.1, and the good news is that these updates are likely to be free.

This means that OS uptake will be quicker, as users don't have to pay hundreds of dollars upfront to get their hands on the new software. We could see Windows 8.2 in 2014, while Microsoft concentrates on Windows 9 in the background.

Feature-wise, not very much is known about Windows 9. Microsoft is working hard to refine the desktop experience while attempting to bring new and exciting features to the platform. It's unlikely that Redmond will introduce a radical new design so soon after Windows 8's touch-focused 'Metro' approach not only tore up the rule book, but set fire to it and chucked it out of the window.

As we go into 2014, we'll see more and more Windows 9 rumours and leaks appearing. So stay tuned to TechRadar to see what Microsoft is planning for the next version of Windows.

Windows Phone 8 and beyond

The next major update to Windows Phone is expected to be version 8.1, in keeping with Windows 8.1 on the desktop. Various leaks have suggested that Windows Phone 8.1 will be visually similar to Windows Phone 8, but will include support for higher resolution screens, all the way up to 1080p. This increase paves the way for Windows Phone to replace the much-maligned Windows RT. 

A new voice assistant, called Cortana, could also be added to Windows Phone. Rumours suggest that this could borrow technology from Xbox One's voice control

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Best Twitter Apps to download 2014

If you're looking for the best Twitter apps for iOS and Android you're in luck. We've sought out the best apps for cutting through the noise and getting the most out of this fantastic service.

So you want to stay connected, and you want the best experience. To find the best Twitter app, and there are almost as many out there as there are waffling tweeters, you’re going to need to look at your own requirements. Do you need a fire-and-forget 10 second update, or a flexible fully-featured app that you can put hours in to?

Do you want something minimal and functional or packed with features? Do you want a core Twitter experience, or something… strange? We’ve found all those things and everything in between in our roundup of the best mobile Twitter experiences. Read on!

1. UberSocial (Android, iPhone, Blackberry)

We’ve picked this one out not because it’s particularly remarkable as a whole -- although it’s pretty decent -- but because of its Ubermenu feature, a customiseable menu that lets you organise your most used features. If you’re forever fighting with your current Twitter client’s UI, this is for you.

Free / $4.99 | UberSocial

2. Twitter (all platforms)

Third party apps aren’t everything. Twitter’s own app -- following its investment in Tweetdeck, and considering its intimate knowledge of the network’s workings -- is actually one of the best apps out there, particularly in the conversation view. Before you go elsewhere, try the real thing.

Free | Twitter

3. Twidere (Android)

Many of us have multiple Twitter accounts -- let’s face it, who hasn’t started a novelty account at some point? Twidere lets you merge all of your timelines into one, and mark up specific users with colours, meaning you can get a good glance at a busy timeline even when scrolling through it at speed.

Free | Twidere

4. TweetsPie (Android)

You haven’t got time for Twitter really, have you? No. So grab TweetsPie, and you’ll only ever see the top 21 tweets from your timeline, based on their number of retweets. You can only retweet and hide users -- if you want any more interaction beyond this quick burst at a glance style, look at just about any other client. But keep this installed alongside, because the homescreen widget is actually pretty handy to have around.

Free | TweetsPie

5. Tweetcaster (Android, iOS)

Features? You want

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Apple CEO Tim Cook: ‘We have a lot to look forward to in 2014’

Apple CEO Tim Cook has teased potential new product lines for the coming year stating “we have a lot to look forward to in 2014.”

Speaking in an end of year note to employees, Cook, Apple’s replacement to co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs, teased that the company has “big plans” for 2014 and that he believes “consumers are going to love” what the Cupertino-based company has to offer over the coming 12 months.

“We have a lot to look forward to in 2014, including some big plans that we think customers are going to love,” Cook said in his letter to employees.

Looking ahead to the festive period he added: “This holiday season, tens of millions of people around the world, from all walks of life, are experiencing Apple products for the first time. Those moments of surprise and delight are magical, and they’re all made possible by your hard work.”

Although Cook has failed to reference any new product lines by name, it has been widely rumoured that Apple will launch both its first smartwatch and own-branded television set in the coming year.

While the Apple iWatch has long been mooted as an iOS powered challenger to the Samsung Galaxy Gear and Sony Smartwatch 2, an Apple iTV unit was originally tipped by Steve Jobs to change the television and home entertainment markets for good.

As well as looking ahead to what 2014 will bring, Cook reviewed Apple’s efforts over the past 12 months. He stated: “We extended

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Samsung Galaxy S5 release date, price, rumours and more

We were big fans of the Samsung Galaxy S4 when it launched in March 2013, but time doesn't stand still and the company is going to have to do some pretty special things with the Galaxy S5 if it wants to keep challenging Apple for smartphone superiority. Here we're rounding up all of the Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours as they happen, so check back regularly to get the latest information.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S5 LAUNCH DATE

Smartphone companies are rather predictable, generally launching products on a yearly timescale. With that in mind, it's pretty easy to guess when the next product will be launched. As we had the Samsung Galaxy S4 launch in March 2013, it makes a lot of sense that the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be released in March 2014.

Some rumours have suggested that Samsung may push forward the release date of the S5 to February, but we'd only be talking about a matter of weeks here, and the rough timeframe should remain the same. So, until we hear otherwise we're pencilling in an early 2014 launch for the 5th iteration of the Galaxy handset.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S5 PROCESSOR

Apple moved its entire new mobile platform to 64-bit with the launch of the iPhone 5S, iPad Air and iPad Mini, so it's time for Samsung to play catch-up. By all reports, the Samsung Galaxy S5 will ship with a 64-bit processor as well.

Samsung’s CEO of Mobile Shin Jong-Kyun has stated that the company's "next smartphones will have 64-bit processing". There were rumours that the chip would be delayed and wouldn't appear until the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 was released later in 2014, but it looks as though Samsung's back on track.

A senior ARM executive stoked these rumours futher, telling the Korea Herald that the company had finalised a deal with Samsung to provide the Galaxy S5 with a 64-bit chip. This would make it the first Android device to support 64-bit operations.

The as yet unnamed chip is expected to be known as the Exynos 6, making it the successor to the Exynos 5 found in the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition. However, previous Samsung smartphones used Qualcomm processors here in the UK compared to Exynos chips elsewhere in the world, so it's unclear if Samsung intends to use a similar strategy for the Galaxy S5.

Of course, a 64-bit processor isn't much good without a

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BlackBerry Reveals Its BlackBerry Live Developer Event Is Dead For 2014

BlackBerry isn’t hosting its own big annual conference this year, the company announced Friday (via MobileSyrup). The event has been called various things, including BlackBerry World, and BlackBerry Live once the World name became what BlackBerry called its mobile app store and things got confusing. This is the first year since 2002 that BlackBerry hasn’t held one of these big events, and it’s a sign of the change taking place at the company under new CEO John Chen.

Chen was forthright and free when discussing his plans for the company at the recent investor call and meet-and-greet with reporters following BlackBerry’s disastrous Q4 2014 results. He laid out his plans and his new division of BlackBerry’s lines of business in lots of detail. He also talked at length regarding BlackBerry’s new manufacturing partnership with Foxconn, which will essentially see it take a back seat to hardware design and creation, allowing BlackBerry to focus more exclusively on the software side of the equation.

The company said this move will allow it to focus on running a number of smaller, more targeted events throughout the year, aimed at specific audiences. BlackBerry Live was more of a general wrap, similar in many ways to Apple’s WWDC and Google’s I/O, in that while much of it is aimed at developers, it also gives the executive team a chance to trot out their plans for the year on stage and reveal them to an appreciative audience.

BlackBerry cancelling this event feels like a particular blow

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Best photo editing app to download 2014

Getting the best photo editing app can turn your phone snaps into works of art, and help you get more from your smartphone or tablet. Whether you're looking for the best apps for Android, iOS, Windows or Mac, we've scoured the web for the best free and paid for photo editing apps money out there.

Apps for photo editing are more and more powerful, whether they're for your phone, browser or PC, you now no longer have to depend on pricey software like Adobe Photoshop to touch up your snaps and make them look fantastic.

With all the apps on the market, across of load of different stores, it can often be tricky to find the one that fits your needs the most. We've made things a whole lot easier by rounding up ten of our favourite apps for making your photos all nice and shiny. From iOS exlcusives, to multi-platform stars and even ones that only require a browser - these are best photo editing app to download right now.

Oh, and one more thing, we all know Instagram and Hipstamatic are good - but everyone already knows about them, so that's why you won't find them on our list.

1. Pro Camera 7 (iOS)

A replacement for the stock iOS camera app, but one that combines a great quality snapper with a whole host of editing tech. You have much more control over your options here, from exposure altering to choosing a specific point of focus, overall you’ll end up with much better shots. There’s also rapid firing, live data and a self timer, basically every photo option you could want. After you've snapped you can apply of host of after effects, from unique filters to the ones Apple added in iOS 7. A fantastic step up from the in-built app.

69p | Pro Camera 7

2. Photo Editor by Aviary (iOS, Android, Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 )

A great multiplatform app that performs really well on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 - if you’ve recently picked up a Nokia Lumia 1520, this is a must download. With one tap you can auto-enhance your snaps, the continue to add to the effects with loads of filters and even some stickers to add that extra bit of charm. All the cropping, resizing and blur/sharpening tools are here, completing a pretty fully featured app.

Free | Aviary

3.

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Best Messaging App for iPhone

Whether you've just purchased yourself a brand spanking new iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C, or whether you're tied into a lengthy contract on the ageing iPhone 4S, chances are you are going to want to use your iPhone for more than just web browsing or taking pictures.

With Apple's App store currently populated with over one million apps, there are bound to be some real gems, as well as some duds across all categories. We've searched through and picked out what we feel are the best in order to connect with your friends and family, as well as a look to some alternatives.

Obviously, there are some in built options like the Messages app that is tied in so seamlessly with iMessage, Facetime or Apple's preinstalled email application. There are, however, a variety of apps available on the App store designed to complement or replace these.

WhatsApp (First year free, $0.99 per year thereafter)

There is no way of completely replacing the messaging app within your iPhone. Being a locked down system means that Apple has total control, so completely replacing the SMS app on the iPhone is nigh on impossible.

WhatsApp was designed to replace standard SMS apps across multiple OS', so is a very comprehensive app and comes with the same features that you would expect from any decent messaging app, with the same features being familiar to anyone that has used WhatsApp before.

Rather than using a username or password, WhatsApp works with your mobile number and uses the web rather than the mobile network, therefore meaning that there are no international messaging charges (as long as you're on Wi-Fi while abroad).

WhatsApp is very popular across multiple OS' for a reason. Its highly customisable, and very easy to use to message others on the service as it connects via your mobile number.

If you decide that WhatsApp isn't for you, why not try Samsung's ChatON? Now available across multiple OS' ChatON is a well designed, comprehensive messaging app that even features a built in translator.

Skype (Free)

Skype is possibly the most well known and popular video calling service that is available on both iOS and across both mobile and desktop OS'.

Now part of the Microsoft family, Skype provides both a comprehensive messaging and calling service that almost renders Apple's FaceTime pointless.

Being more than just a video and voice calling service, Skype fully supports

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