Development

The iPhone 5 will not only offer a major refresh but expand its appeal around the world, according to one analyst.

The sixth-generation iPhone is expected to sport three big improvements, says analyst Shaw Wu. Picking up intel from suppliers, Wu sees a new form factor, a slightly larger screen, and 4G LTE support built into Apple's next flagship phone. These features should help the upcoming iPhone outscore the iPhone 4 and 4S at picking up new customers and enticing existing ones to upgrade.

Other reports and various rumors have pointed to a redesigned body, a 4-inch screen, and … Read more

Sharp today announced that it has partnered with design firm Frog to create a new user experience for the next wave of Aquos smartphones. Expected to arrive this summer, the Feel UX promises to have a highly customizable interface that integrates features like a personalized lock screen and widgets with real-time weather. … Read more

A faux iPhone 5 commercial apparently created by a 17-year-old from Oklahoma with some serious video production chops sets a pretty high bar for the much-anticipated next-generation smartphone.

This short video from Dakota Adney, who lists his location as a small town near Tulsa, imagines a new iPhone with iOS 6, a quad-core A5 chip, a see-through Retina Display, and a virtual projected keyboard to provide much-needed relief for the fat-thumbed.… Read more

Buyers waiting for the next iPhone could be greeted with a larger screen, higher aspect ratio, and better quality camera, at least if KGI analyst Mingchi Kuo is on the money.

In a new research report detailed by AppleInsider, Kuo said he believes the iPhone 5's screen will measure 4.08 inches, offer a resolution of 1,136 x 640 pixels, and boost the aspect ratio to 16:9.

Typically relying on intel from Apple supply chain sources, the analyst added that Apple nixed the idea of a screen larger than 4.3 inches. Such phones can be tough … Read more

When Raymond Soneira compares smartphone displays, he doesn't just stare at side-by-side screens, using his highly trained eye to detect differences in color temperature and contrast. He does that, make no mistake, but he also uses a suite of scientific tests that measure factors like brightness, color gamut, and reflection.

Soneira is the president, CEO, and founder of DisplayMate Technologies, a gold standard toolkit among manufacturers and display reviewers, CNET included. Holding a doctorate in theoretical physics, Soneira has spent 23 years fine-tuning the algorithms that analyze visual data on screens of all sizes, from smartphones to TVs. Mathematical models are a specialty of his; in past positions, Soneira has developed intricate tests for both AT&T Bell Labs and CBS (CNET's parent company), among others.

This mountain of experience and expertise is why I'm paying attention when Soneira tells me quite plainly over the phone, "Just about every single spec on displays is exaggerated."

And by "exaggerated," he suggests skewed, misleading, and sometimes utterly useless. Why? Because while a screen's resolution and other specs can indicate a certain level of performance, there are many more factors involved in determining a display's actual level of performance. … Read more

Another analyst is eyeing a September or October debut for the next iPhone.

Picking up on the same launch time frame as the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5 would likely be here before or by October, according to RBC analyst Amit Daryanani. Releasing an investor report today, Daryanani added that the new iPhone should come with the latest 4G/LTE technology and offer a redesign over last year's model.

"Since the launch of the original iPhone, Apple has updated the product annually (eg. iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4S) and has redesigned the phone every ~2 years (eg. iPhone … Read more

Google today announced a new feature for Android applications offered through the Google Play store. Available immediately for Android developers, in-app subscriptions will allow users to pay for monthly or annual subscriptions directly inside of apps. And as detailed by Google, the feature is set to auto-renew by default with transactions managed by the Google Play store.

In addition to adding a new level of convenience, the move opens the door to added revenue streams and even new types of content through Google Play. Looking forward, today's announcement could entice magazines and news journals to offer subscriptions to consumers … Read more

Interest in Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S III is so far out of this world it's forcing me to pull out all my most revolting puns.

The flagship Android phone has already smashed preorder records in the U.K., and is causing global pangs of jealousy today with word that it's apparently gone on sale early in Dubai.

If you just can't wait any longer, or your personal jet is in the shop and you can't make the trip to the UAE right away, there's still a way to get your hands on the Galaxy S III experience. Kind of. … Read more

Hillcrest Labs isn't a household name, but if you have a Roku 2 streaming player (and really, you should) the company has entered your home.

Based in Rockville, Md., Hillcrest developed the motion-sensing technology used in Roku's remote. So when you're flipping through menus or playing Angry Birds, Hillcrest is behind how it all works. Its first product in the motion space was the Loop controller, which it showed at CES 2007. After that, the company went on to license its technology to Sony and LG, develop the Kylo browser, and sue Nintendo over the Wii controller.

For the next year, however, Hillcrest is thinking smaller. And by that I mean right down to the mobile level. Two weeks ago at CTIA in New Orleans, SVP Chad Lucien explained how the company is working to integrate motion control technology into cell phones and tablets. … Read more