To say that Google brought their ‘A’ game to this year’s Google I/O conference wouldn’t do it justice.

The company unleashed a dizzying array of revamped products including a Google Maps application that finally introduces the dynamic routing algorithms we’d seen in other navigation applications, and tools that will allow users to get their hands on the latest and greatest applications more quickly. 

Read: Nexus 7 2, Nexus 5, Android 4.3 Update MIA

Here are 5 things Microsoft should take note of as the company prepares to discuss the future of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 at Build in June.

Assess and Address

The company has yet to address the fact that it’s Surface family of tablets doesn’t yet include a popular 7-inch tablet.

Sure, Google didn’t dazzle us with a new Android or updated Nexus hardware, but they hardly needed to. At this stage in the game, it’s really about taking stock of where your platform is in relation to what everyone else in the market is doing. To that end Google also delivered.

Want a music subscription service? The company noticed that’s where the music industry was headed and added one.

Be Likeable

Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer routinely has issues with connecting directly to users.

While it strayed away from Google’s core message a times. The I/O Keynote was all about communicating features –no matter how complicated they were, in a way humans could understand without sounding like marketing spiel. Sure, that didn’t always happen –especially during it’s the presentation for the company’s updated pictures initiative. But it at least tried.

For the last three years, we’ve had to put up with presentations from Microsoft that revolved around “delighting” users. Let the work you’re doing speak for itself and get outta the way. Also, when’s the last time you heard someone outside of marketing mention delighting users?

Ship Immediately

With the exception of Google Maps, nearly every feature Google announced yesterday is immediately in the hands of users as of today. That’s an amazing feat for any software company. Better yet, the company didn’t have to telegraph the arrival of the new products months in advance. The moment Google announced those products were available immediately, users flocked to those respective sites, building hype.

Microsoft seems to believe the only way it can successfully build hype is to tell users that something is on the way a month ahead of time to generate news stories. Sure, users will read that, and then they’ll move on with the rest of their lives and forget all about new trinkets.

Old Features Are Just As Important as New Ones

Microsoft will finally restore the Radio option it removed from Windows Phone during last November.

Somewhere around the debut of Google Play Music All Access, I noticed that while Google may be just as awful at naming music subscriptions as Microsoft, the company is incredibly good at establishing a solid base with the first release of a product to build off of.

In that same respect Microsoft seems to meander a bit with the first release. Typically, they’ll focus their efforts around one feature that they feel changes the game and then add what I suspect they believe to be minor features over time. Unfortunately for them, those features don’t turn out to be minor bullet points for anyone else. Meanwhile the company is addressing the lack of FM radio, playback as if it was invented yesterday.

Read: Microsoft Details GDR2 Update for Windows Phone 8

There Are More than Just Your Platforms

Xbox Music is still only available on Microsoft’s platforms.

Because Google lives on the web it understands that any successful product that makes use of the internet must be available in a web browser. On the opposite spectrum is Microsoft. As it was born of software stored on the personal computer the company routinely makes its products inaccessible using a web browser.

As the company moves to be a software and services company, it needs to be placing more emphasis on making services, like Xbox Music for example, available to users online. I shudder to think of the number of people who would have subscribed to a service like Netflix if it was only available through a software client on the PC.

If Microsoft hopes to reclaim its place in the mobile device landscape, or even maintain a respectable third in smartphones, it’ll need to get back to the basics, it’ll need to take a long proverbial look in the mirror and legitimately ask why it constantly finds itself on the wrong side of consumer market share numbers.

5 Things Microsoft Can Learn from Google I/O is a post by Travis Pope from Gotta Be Mobile.

Samsung’s updated TecTiles 2 tags are now available for users to purchase from the company’s online store.

It’s these updated TecTiles that will allow owners of the Samsung Galaxy S4 to make use of the near-field-communications chip in their devices.

Users can order the TecTiles 2 tags immediately for $14.99. According to the site, orders processed below $49.99 will ship the next day for just an additional $3.95.These packs include five individual tags.

This past April Samsung confirmed reports from AnandTech that it had replaced the internal NFC controller that it used in the Samsung Galaxy S3 with one that was standards compliant and could be used in conjunction with a wider range of other devices. Unfortunately that meant that users of the Samsung Galaxy S4 would need to purchase these new TecTiles 2 NFC tags and replace all the TecTiles they’d purchased previously.

According to Samsung, users would still be able to “fully utilize” these new TecTiles 2 tags with all exiting Android devices, so while Galaxy S4 users are being forced to buy new tags, they won’t need to worry about the possibility of these new tags not working with their older devices as well.

Read: Galaxy S4 Users Will Need New TecTiles NFC Tags

Together with Samsung’s TecTiles application for Android, users are able to make NFC tags that automatically changes the device’s settings once they’re come in contact with each. For example, a user could have an NFC tag waiting by their front door that could turn off their device’s wireless data or adjust their ringer.

NFC can also be used to share things like contact information, and web page URLs from device to device.

Read: Samsung TecTiles NFC Tags Review

In GottaBeMobile’s review of the original TecTiles, we found their ability to modify settings, launch applications and send automated messages to be fairly useful. The original TecTiles also cost users $15 for five tags –the exact amount Samsung charges for TecTiles 2.

NFC compatibility is found in nearly every flagship smartphone with the exception of Apple’s iPhone 5. Rumors have indicated that NFC functionality might be included in an upcoming refresh of the iPhone 5 this summer, called the iPhone 5S.

Samsung TecTiles 2 NFC Tags Arrive with Galaxy S4 Support is a post by Travis Pope from Gotta Be Mobile.

Today Fitbit announced that all of its recent devices will now supports the Samsung Galaxy S4, making it the third Android phone that works with Fitbit activity trackers.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 joins the Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2 on the admittedly short list of Android devices that Fitbit supports. As Fitbit explains in its blog, its devices didn’t work with the Galaxy S4 when the phone first launched because the company had to make sure it had all of the software needed to support the fitness trackers.

Read: Fitbit Flex Review

Fitbit is one of only a few companies who make fitness trackers that can sync to Android devices. Jawbone recently added Android support to the Up. Nike, however, said it has no plans for an Android FuelBand app. That won’t stop users from wishing for a FuelBand 2 with Android support, however.

Fitbit devices can work with the Samsung Galaxy S4 because the phone supports Bluetooth 4.0. Most other Android smartphones lack support for Bluetooth 4.0, which means Fitbit can’t connect to them. The next version of Android, however, will have Bluetooth Smart, which will include Bluetooth 4.0 support.

With Bluetooth Smart support Fitbit should have no problem supporting Android smartphones that run Android 4.3 or whatever Google calls the next version . In the meantime, Fitbit says it’s working with phone manufacturers and Google to make its devices work with even more Android smartphones.

On the Android front Fitbit doesn’t have to compete with Nike, but it will have to compete with Android. Samsung introduced the new S Health app with the Galaxy S4 which helps users track their activity and fitness. The app will work with a range of devices including a Fitbit Flex-like tracker, a scale like the Fitbit Aria and a heart monitor. Samsung’s accessories aren’t available yet, but they should come sometime this summer.

Samsung Galaxy S4 & FitBit Connect for Fitness Tracking Fun is a post by Shawn Ingram from Gotta Be Mobile.

Google announced a collection of new apps and services at Google I/O and while there is no new version of Android yet, Google is pushing mobile services and apps further, a pre-emptive strike on iOS 7 which we expect late this year.

While some of the Google announcements are still a work in progress, the company is pushing forward and raising the bar in several areas.

Even without Android 4.3, there are plenty of new Google services that now beat Apple’s offering. Unlike new Android versions, Google is pushing the new features directly to apps, This means most Android users can already enjoy them, a move that is much more like Apple’s iOS rollouts.

Here are four areas Apple needs to step up the game in iOS 7 to keep pace with Android.

After Google I/O 2013 Apple needs to step it up in several areas when it comes to iOS 7.

Google+ Photos: Auto Awesome

Google+ frees smartphone photos from the smartphone screen and pushes them to the web with a host of improvements.

In iOS 6, PhotoStream sends iPhone photos to the cloud so users can share them with others and can view them on all their Apple devices, but the new Google+ photos features go much further.

Android users can now use Instant Upload to swiftly upload all their smartphone photos to the cloud, which is where the real magic happens. Google can recognize the scene, tagging photos as concerts, recognizing landmarks and more. But again, this is just the start.

With Google+ Photos the service can automatically fix photos with “Auto Awesome” a new feature that detects the photo scene and adjust corrections.

Once the photos are enhanced, the service also solves the issue of which photos to share, something that is a blessing for anyone who has ever taken 1,000 photos on vacation. Google+ Photos finds the best photos in the bunch, weeds out duplicates and creates a Highlights album to make sharing the best photos you take easier.

Compared to PhotoStream, which only keeps the 1,000 most recent photos on devices and doesn’t do anything to make the photos look better or organize them automatically, Google+ Photos is way ahead. 

Google Beats iRadio to the Punch

Apple is widely rumored to be launching iRadio this summer, an Apple music subscription service which would offer full access to the iTunes catalog for On demand streaming, and likely personalized playlists a la Pandora.

Google beat Apple to the punch with the Google Play Music All Access announcement this week, which lets new users access a vast library of tracks for $7.99 a month the service will jump to $9.99 a month at the end of June, but it’s price right to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.

While the actual implementation isn’t something that Apple will need to compete with heavily, Google’s ability to bring all the labels on board faster than Apple is impressive. The app is fluid and works great complete with lock screen, home screen and notification drawer.

While iRadio and Google Play Music All Access may not compete on devices directly, the overall performance, selection and usefulness plays a role in the attractiveness of Android and iOS.

iMessage and FaceTime Updates Needed

Apple took an early lead with FaceTime and iMessage, but the company only offers the service for iOS users and limits FaceTime to a single caller.

Google Hangouts is now on the iPhone and Android at the same time, making it possible to carry on a chat or a video call with any Google user.

Google Hangouts also make it possible to quickly video call multiple people, so a family or work hangout isn’t restricted to one-on-one like it is in FaceTime.

Apple originally promised FaceTime was an open standard, one that could bring it to other devices, but it remains tied to Apple products. iMessage never arrived with the same promise, but as BlackBerry and Google bring their services to the iPhone Apple’s closed off approach becomes a weakness. Google Hangouts SMS support is on the way according to recent leaks, adding more to the service.

In iOS 7, Apple needs to finally step up and connect these services to other devices and enable multi-user video chat on FaceTime.

Google Now Bests Siri

Google Now isn’t as easy to access on every Android device as Siri is on the iPhone, but it is quick to deliver the information you need when you need it.

This week, Google announced Reminders for Google Now, a new service that lets users set time and location based reminders. Unlike Siri, Google Now can set reminders for addresses and points of interest that aren’t in your contacts.

In addition to all of this, Google combines information from your searches and emails to deliver information when you need it including hotel details, flight information, directions to locations and much more.

Google Now brings information you need to your fingertips, when you need it.

Siri delivers a lot of voice control features, but cannot predict what a user will need to know based on their habits. Without a widely used search engine and email service this could be tough for Apple to match, though the company is in talks to partner more with Yahoo and iMessage is a service full of information and with Siri and iMessage searches the service could get smarter.

Read: iOS 7 Concept Video

Apple is reportedly working on a new look and user experience for iOS 7, which many users will appreciate, but the company could take a lesson from Google I/O 2013 and deliver a collection of small user experience tweaks and new services to the mix to stay competitive with Android. Apple is hosting WWDC 2013 on June 10th, which includes a keynote where Tim Cook and other company officials will likely introduce iOS 7 and new Apple services.

iOS 7: Where Apple Needs to Catch Up to Google is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

With just a few weeks before its rumored release, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini seemed like a done deal. It was going to be coming to shelves with some lesser specifications including a qHD display and it would be heading to AT&T at some point in the future. Well, those rumors have taken a bit of a twist today thanks to a new discovery.

Over the past few weeks, rumors of a Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini have sprouted up on a regular basis. And with the device heavily rumored to be coming in the next few weeks, we’ve started to see the device itself emerge from the shadows, offering interested parties a look at the still unofficial counterpart to the larger, higher-end Samsung Galaxy S4.

Read: Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Heading to AT&T?

This could be the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini.

The device has been said to be coming with a 4.3-inch qHD display, that means less than HD resolution, a dual-core Exynos processor, 8MP camera, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and some of the software featured on the Samsung Galaxy S4. The device was also though to be the Samsung Serrano, the SGH-I257, which had been mentioned to be a member of Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Project J. That device had been rumored to be coming to AT&T.

However, new information in the form of a user string agent, seems to point to the Serrano being a different device than the one that is thought to be the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini.

The Galaxy S4 Mini may not be the Serrano after all.

The new user string agent, discovered by TechTastic, points to the Serrano as having a 720p display and not a qHD display. This seems to rule out the Serrano as the Galaxy S4 Mini and rule out, at least for now, a Galaxy S4 Mini launch on AT&T.

This new twist makes things extremely confusing and leaves some lingering questions:

• What is the Samsung Serrano? It was rumored to be a part of Project J, so if it’s not the Galaxy S4 Mini, what is it?
• Will the Galaxy S4 Mini hit AT&T?
• Will the Galaxy S4 Mini actually have a 720p display?
• Were either of this user agent strings spoofed?

So while we though all of the questions about the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini were answered, this latest development has left us with quite a few more that may not be answered for quite awhile.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Rumors Take a Twist is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

While HTC stated publicly that it doesn’t have an HTC One Nexus in the works to battle the new Samsung Galaxy S4 Nexus, a noted HTC leakster claims that one is still possible with a summer release mentioned as a possibility.

Earlier this week, at Google I/O, Google announced a new Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition, also called the Samsung Galaxy S4 Nexus, that will be coming to the Google Play Store on June 26th for $650. This device is going to be an unlocked version of the Galaxy S4 that comes with vanilla Android software, an unlocked bootloader, and quick updates, but also come with the Galaxy S4 design.

Read: Samsung Galaxy S4 Nexus vs. Nexus 4.

Could we see an HTC One Nexus?

Almost immediately, consumers started to wonder whether or not we’d ever see an HTC One Nexus device, primarily because the HTC One features a sleeker, all metal design. HTC denied the existence of an HTC One Nexus right out of the gates with a company official stating that it didn’t have one in the works. Of course, that’s the company’s official line and even if it did have one in the works, it probably would not say.

Cue @LLabTooFeR, a noted HTC developer and leakster who claims that an HTC One Nexus, without Sense 5, is possible this summer. He states that the information is unofficial, which means it likely doesn’t come from HTC itself and which also means that the rumor is a bit flimsier than it would otherwise be.

HTC One without Sense 5 on board? Easily…

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) May 17, 2013

We should note that he has a good track record when it comes to unofficial information about HTC’s plans so it’s entirely possible that Google and HTC have something cooked up. He also specifically mentions the HTC One Google Edition name so we know that an HTC One equivalent to the Galaxy S4 Nexus is what he is referring to.

It means that this summer we will see HTC One Google Edition or something like that…

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) May 17, 2013

Again, this is by no means confirmation of an HTC One Nexus. In fact, at this point, it seems unlikely. However, we have heard that some products skipped Google I/O including Android 4.3 and a white Nexus 4, so at this point, anything is possible.

HTC One Nexus Rumors Flare Up is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

Microsoft may have a new UI in store for the next Xbox that will keep the same basic look of the Xbox 360 with a few notable changes.

According to The Verge the next Xbox will have smaller Live Tiles than the ones currently on the Xbox 360. Microsoft introduced smaller Live Tiles with WIndows Phone 8, and will likely bring them to Windows 8.1, so bringing them to the next Xbox makes sense.

Sources also tell The Verge the new Xbox dashboard will have lighter or darker themes, which honestly doesn’t say much about what it may look like. There’s no word on if the dashboard (which pops up when users press the Xbox button) will have an entirely new look on the next Xbox, or just a new color palette.

Microsoft reportedly plans to make it possible for next Xbox owners to interact with Xbox 360 owners through messaging, beacons and achievements. Microsoft will likely let users bring their current Xbox Live account to the new console so they don’t lose contact with friends.

Some of those accounts may have already gone through the transition from the first Xbox to the Xbox 360.

The addition of smaller Live Tiles to the next Xbox UI would mean Microsoft can put more content on the screen at once. It’s not clear if users will get the chance to rearrange those elements or not. The Live Tiles of the Xbox 360 are immovable, with the same design on every screen.

Users don’t have any options to change the UI of the Xbox 360 aside from the ability to add games or apps to the “My Pins” tile.

Other recent rumors for the next Xbox include a move to real money over the Microsoft Points virtual currency, new TV features like the ability to control a set-top DVR and new “flatter” controllers. Microsoft will unveil the console at a special event at it Redmond campus next Tuesday, May 21. At its E3 press conference the company will show what games will come at launch.

New Xbox May Be Influenced by Microsoft’s Phone Designs is a post by Shawn Ingram from Gotta Be Mobile.

While there is expectation that all retailers set to carry the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 will start carrying it on its new May 23rd release date, information has been hard to come by as some retailers remain slow to confirm. Today though, consumers can strike another one off the list as Best Buy has confirmed to Gotta Be Mobile that it will be offering the Verizon Galaxy S4 on May 23rd.

Earlier this year, Verizon announced the Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung’s latest and greatest smartphone and one that comes with all of the perks of a 2013 smartphone including 1080p display, 13MP camera, and powerful software in the form of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and Nature UX. However, the Verizon Galaxy S4 launch hasn’t been a walk in the park.

Read: Samsung Galaxy S4: 5 More Things to Know.

The Verizon Galaxy S4 hits Best Buy, May 23rd.

The carrier refused to announce a release date until after the other carriers made their announcements and even when it did, the release date was further off in the distance. The Verizon Galaxy S4 release date was first confirmed as May 30th. That’s the day that Verizon and the retailers that will be offering it, a list that includes Best Buy, Staples, Walmart and RadioShack, confirmed.

However, for unknown reasons, Verizon bumped the release date up to May 23rd, a full week earlier than was expected. Of course, not everyone pre-ordered through Verizon and not everyone plans to buy through Verizon. Others pre-ordered through those other four retailers that are offering it and also through premium Verizon retailers. And yet, information from those retailers has been relatively minimal.

Recently, we heard from Staples who confirmed that its release date would be shifted to May 23rd, in line with Verizon’s. However, RadioShack, Walmart and Best Buy remained silent. That is, until today, when Best Buy joined Staples and confirmed to us that it would be releasing the device on May 23rd.

This should not come as a surprise but it’s certainly good news for those that either pre-ordered through Best Buy or were thinking about buying it there.

When it arrives, the Verizon Galaxy S4 will be the last major carrier to release a Galaxy S4, following in the footsteps of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular, all of which released the Galaxy S4 several weeks ago.

Verizon Galaxy S4 Release Date at Best Buy Confirmed is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

The HTC One is now widely available on AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile in the United States. However, there have been rumors that another carrier Verizon, the nation’s largest 4G LTE service provider, may be getting the device at some point in the future. For weeks now the rumors have been building and most recently, they point to a release in the near future.

In February, HTC announced the new HTC One, a powerful smartphone that comes with a number of high-end features including an all-metal design, 4.7-inch 1080p display, quad-core processor, Ultrapixel camera that can take some superb low light shots, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and the new Sense 5 user interface.

Read: Verizon HTC One Launch Rumors Keep Swirling.

It’s a device that is capable of taking on the best of the best, including the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S4, its chief rivals in the United States. Also helping matters is the fact that HTC decided to stray away from a limited release this year and instead, make the device available on a number of carriers here in the U.S.

AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile are proud carriers of the HTC One and have been for many weeks now. However, rumors have persisted about another HTC One model, one for the nation’s largest 4G LTE carrier, Verizon Wireless.

Over the past few months, rumors of a Verizon HTC One have swirled and twisted many times over. The companies have refused to confirm the device, leaving consumers with a number of differing rumors and theories. In recent days though, things have picked up steam and right now we have some more leads on a potential Verizon HTC One.

With a possible launch just a few days away, we now want to take a look at the five most important things that consumers should know about this rumored, elusive Verizon HTC One.

It Could Be the Same HTC One

The Verizon HTC One could resemble the HTC One.

There have been rumors and theories as to what the HTC One may or may not be. One side has it being the same device, possibly identical, to the other HTC One models that were released in April. That means metal design, large 1080p display, lack of wireless charging and so on.

Another school of thought zeroed in on the possibility that Verizon’s HTC One could possibly be the HTC Butterfly 2, a rumored 5-inch smartphone and the successor to the HTC Butterfly, a device that arrived as the Droid DNA on Verizon back in November. That theory pegged the HTC One as the Droid DNA 2, a device that could potentially differ from the other models.

However, thanks to recent developments, it’s looking like the Verizon HTC One may just be the HTC One, albeit a few weeks late. The HTC Butterfly 2 isn’t thought to be coming out until the third quarter and given the lack of leaks, this appears likely. We’ve also heard from one noted HTC insider, @LLabTooFeR, who suggested that it would be the same device as the others.

Both remain possibilities but if Verizon does announce something soon, it’s likely going to be the same HTC One model that we’ve seen on shelves already. Not such a bad thing, but a potential disappointment for those that were hoping for something different.

Signs Point to May 22nd Launch

At this point, there are signs that do indeed point to a launch in the near future. The first, @LlabTooFeR, a reliable HTC insider stating that a Verizon launch is close. This claim lines up with a previous report from AllThingsD that suggested that the device would be coming out around one to two months after the other models.

Coincidentally, or not, Verizon has a May 22nd launch event planned for CTIA Las Vegas. And with the Nokia Lumia 928 out of the way, and VoLTE not planned for later this year, the May 22nd date is looking especially good for a HTC One arrival. Verizon could use the stage to promote both the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4, a device that is set to arrive a day later.

Verizon will announce something on May 22nd.

Furthermore, Verizon is hosting a deal on the Droid DNA where it’s offering it for free until May 21st, the day before CTIA. The Droid DNA is thought to be the device getting replaced by an HTC One so it could be that Verizon is clearing out stock in preparation for another high-end HTC model.

Lastly, a recent report from Focus Taiwan suggests that HTC is ramping up production for its HTC One starting now. Is this in anticipation of the Verizon HTC One’s arrival? Could be.

Nothing is Set in Stone Though

The Verizon HTC One release date is up in the air, more so than the launch date.

Of course, there are holes in the argument for May 22nd, holes that unfortunately leave the launch date of the Verizon HTC One up in the air.

First, @LlabTooFeR, while reliable, isn’t HTC or Verizon. And while he said that an arrival on May 22nd is possible, he hasn’t confirmed it which means that it’s still a bit flimsy.

Second, it’s entirely possible that Verizon has something else up it sleeve for CTIA. Thus far, we’ve seen no leaks that show May 22nd as the HTC One launch date and even worse, we haven’t seen a Verizon HTC One branded device leak out, something that typically happens when we’re close to an arrival.

And third, it’s possible that the Droid DNA sale is simply that, a sale, for one of its big name smartphones. Remember, Verizon hasn’t launched a significant phone in 2013 and without an HTC One or Galaxy S4 on shelves, it needed to do something to attract consumers. A deal on one of its best smartphones is exactly that.

Release Date Still a Total Mystery

While there are hints and signs regarding a Verizon HTC One launch date, there are still no signs in regards to its release date. Strange, considering how close we are to May 22nd.

Verizon can be predictable when it comes to release dates as it’s typically slower than other carriers. A good example is the Samsung Galaxy S4 which will arrive nearly a month after the other models. However with the HTC One, it’s virtually impossible to say as the phone is still unannounced and it doesn’t have any leaks hinting at a specific date.

It’s possible that it could arrive on May 22nd, with a release date far off in the distance. But it’s also possible that we could see Verizon announce the phone and quickly get it out, considering how late it is to the device already.

Stiff Competition

The Verizon HTC One release still isn’t set in stone.

Speaking of the wait, consumers should know that any Verizon HTC One model that comes out in the next few weeks is going to be facing some serious competition. For one, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is now widely available on a number of carriers, as is the HTC One. The iPhone 5 is still a solid option and the Nexus 4 appears set to get a white version with Android 4.3 in a few weeks, something that will keep it fresh.

Better yet, Google recently announced a new Samsung Galaxy S4 Nexus that comes with all of the features of a Nexus smartphone – vanilla Android, quick updates and an unlocked bootloader – a device that will be coming to Google Play in late June.

Indeed, the Verizon HTC One is going to be a great phone, if it exists, but it’s going to be facing more opposition than it would have faced had it been released back in April.

Something to keep in mind for those planning to go out shopping soon.

Verizon HTC One: 5 Things to Know is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

Corning’s newest type of glass, the second-generation Lotus XT Glass, will make it easier for smartphone manufacturers to produce better displays.

The new Lotus XT Glass is Corning’s follow-up to the original Lotus, a glass made for high-quality displays, but wasn’t easy to work with. The new glass will work with the high temperatures manufacturers work with for modern devices, making it possible to produce “faster, thinner, brighter, and higher resolution” displays.

Lotus XT Glass should also make it possible to create slimmer and more efficient phones. As displays are typically the biggest power draw on smartphones, the new glass should result in better battery life for smartphones.

With Lotus XT Glass Corning focused on letting manufacturers push display technology forward as opposed to making it as durable as possible like Gorilla Glass. Gorilla Glass 3 is Corning’s other top-of-the-line glass for mobile devices, made with durability in mind.

It takes a lot to break Gorilla Glass 3, which is why the glass and its predecessors are found in many smartphone displays, and even a few notebooks. The glass shouldn’t break after a drop or two, and doesn’t scratch easily.

Lotus XT Glass may have some durability features, but Corning’s big push doesn’t focus on that aspect. It’s hard to imagine the company producing a display that will scratch easily, however.

Without any devices using it yet, its hard to say how good Lotus XT Glass looks on a smartphone or tablet display. But those should come sometime in the near future. The glass should result in displays that look even better than those on the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4 or iPhone 5.

While many smartphone manufacturers are upfront about the glass they use in their smartphones, Apple is typically silent about the glass it uses on its devices. It’s believed the company uses Gorilla Glass on the iPhone, but with its focus on sharper, better quality displays, Apple may use Lotus XT Glass in future iPhones, iPads or MacBooks.

Corning Lotus XT Glass May Lead To Even Better Smartphone Displays is a post by Shawn Ingram from Gotta Be Mobile.

With a HTC Butterfly Sense 5 update and others likely on the way, owners of older HTC devices are likely wondering what’s going to be on board the software when it arrives. And while that’s not entirely clear, one insider believes that all Sense 5 updates will be coming with both HTC BlinkFeed and HTC Zoe on board when they arrive.

When HTC first announced the HTC One, it also confirmed Sense 5 updates for a number of older devices including the global variants of the HTC Butterfly, HTC One X, HTC One X+ and the HTC One S. Since then, official information has been hard to come by, with the HTC Butterfly the only device that has seen a full on Sense 5 update leak ahead of its release date which HTC has seemingly confirmed for May.

HTC Zoe and BlinkFeed will apparently hit all devices getting Sense 5.

Despite the confirmation, HTC Butterfly and owners of HTC’s other devices likely still have questions, especially since HTC said that there was a chance that not all Sense 5 features would arrive for all devices. Complicating things was the fact that HTC Zoe was evidently absent from the leaked Butterfly Sense 5.1 Android 4.2 update.

According to @LLabTooFeR though, a noted HTC insider, all Sense 5 update will be coming with BlinkFeed and Zoe on board. These remarks come in response to a question about the features with the HTC One X+ Sense 5 update and come just a few days after he claimed that the HTC One X Sense 5 update would bring both Zoe and BlinkFeed.

@marvepro For all sense 5 devices.

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) May 17, 2013

By no means is the final confirmation of these features coming aboard future Sense 5 updates, but it’s a sign that there is a strong possibility that they will. HTC did say that some Sense 5 features would not come aboard the software updates, but it’s possible that it may have been referring to other features, including HTC BoomSound and Sense TV, both of which require specific hardware.

The first Sense 5 update is looking like it will be for the HTC Butterfly. HTC has said that it plans to roll the software out by the end of the month but thus far has not committed to a specific date.

HTC Sense 5 Updates All Said to Feature BlinkFeed & Zoe is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

The HTC One is still toiling away on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean but that may not last for much longer as a notorious insider has pegged the HTC One Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update as potentially heading out in two to three weeks time.

When the HTC One arrived back in April, it arrived with not only Sense 5 on board but also Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, an older version of Google’s Android software that is one step below the current software, Android 4.2. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has been out since July of last year, Android 4.2 since November, so it’s no surprise that HTC One owners have been waiting, many impatiently, for the update to arrive.

The HTC One Android 4.2 update could come soon.

Thus far, HTC hasn’t given any hints as to when the update might be rolling out but thanks to a notorious HTC insider, we do have some unofficial information that points to a release as potentially taking place in the not-so-distant future.

According to HTC leakster and developer @LlabTooFeR, a person who is plugged in when it comes to HTC software updates, the HTC One Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update could come as soon as two to three weeks from now.

Of course, it may even be sooner than that. With the HTC Butterfly Sense 5 update thought to be coming in May, possibly with Android 4.2 on board, we could very well see the HTC One Android 4.2 update roll out in May as well.

@gidiyorsunpro 2-3 weeks I think.

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) May 17, 2013

At the very least, it’s looking like HTC is getting closer to rolling out the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update to the HTC One and HTC One owners are closer to replacing Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with the latest software.

Android 4.2 isn’t a massive upgrade over Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, it comes with some new features including lock screen widgets, stock gesture-enhanced keyboard, Quick Settings option and more, but it’s not going to be the type of massive upgrade that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is and was.

The HTC One figures to be one of the first, if not the first, HTC device to get Android 4.2 though as we’ve heard, other devices like the HTC One X, Droid DNA, HTC EVO 4G LTE and more should be getting the update to Android 4.2 as well.

HTC One Android 4.2 Update Release Pegged at 2-3 Weeks is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

Members of Google’s security team believe that the company’s biggest security challenges still revolve around users themselves.

That’s according to statements made by two of Google’s security experts and documented by CNET at Google I/O this past week. Eran Feigenbaum, the director of security for Google Apps, believes that users can help Google protect their accounts by enabling two-step authentication for their accounts.

“You should turn on two-step verification, make sure [the browser] is up to date, and make sure your password recovery options are set.”

Two-step authentication requires users to add a smartphone number and an additional email account as a way for the company to verify that it’s really them trying to access their account instead of a user who might have malicious intent. Google is able to do this by using these accounts to send a one-time verification code when someone attempts to log into an account that hasn’t yet been used by that account on Google’s services.

Read: Google Adds More Security for Mobile Google Apps Users

Google’s head of Chrome security, Parisa Tabriz, also offered some words of wisdom to those using the company’s Chrome web browser, saying, “In Chrome you can set up multiple profiles and go incognito” to protect their identities and information.

Using Chrome’s incognito mode allows users to effectively cover their tracks when browsing websites by not allowing cookies, small bits of information websites leave on a user’s computer, to remain on the computer after the mode is closed. Additionally, information or cookies that were created outside of incognito mode are inaccessible to when incognito mode is turned on.

In addition to highlighting security features that are already available, Feigenbaum says that the company is also working on other approaches that could include hardware that would identify users. These hardware features could include an Android device that use biometrics to authenticate the users identify like finger print readers. In fact, future versions of Apple’s iOS devices are rumored to include a fingerprint scanner as a way to deter theft and keep iPhone user’s data private.

Read: iPhone 5S Fingerprint Reader Production Details Rumored

Tabris and Feigenbaum also discussed the increasingly large issue of basing systems around passwords, with Feigenbaum noting that security conscious users have to create evermore complicated passwords. Because of this, many make use of password managers that store the user’s credentials on that device’s memory, making those accounts vulnerable should that device be compromised.

As smartphones become more ingrained in user’s daily lives, coming up with new ways to protect them is where users may see the next wave of innovations in smartphones. Chatter about enhanced smartphone security has recently picked up ahead of Apple’s expected iPhone 5S launch.

Google: Users are Still Tech’s Largest Security Flaw is a post by Travis Pope from Gotta Be Mobile.

Earlier this week at Google I/O Google announced the new Play Music All Access streaming service, while Apple is still in negotiations with publishers. A report from The Verge says that’s because of their different approaches to music services.

While Google’s new service uses a familiar streaming model, Apple has a different approach to its rumored iRadio service, which is partially responsible for the long wait for the service.

Previous rumors said Apple was having trouble striking a deal with Sony/ATV, the largest music publisher in the world. Sources talking to The Verge say Apple is also still trying to make a deal with the fourth largest music publisher, BMG Rights Management.

Apple’s iRadio service will use a streaming method more similar to Pandora with some on-demand features that Pandora doesn’t allow. To create such a service, Apple and the music publishers have to agree new deals with different terms than Spotify and Rdio. It seems the companies involved are having trouble reaching the terms of the deals.

Google’s new music service, by comparison, uses the same model as Spotify, Rdio and Xbox Music. It lets users add music to their library then stream as much music as the want from Google’s catalog of music. Because Google’s service is so similar to existing services it was easy for Google to sign deals with major music publishers, they just agreed to terms similar to Spotify and other services.

Assuming Apple and the music publishers can reach a deal for the new music streaming service, iRadio may come to iTunes and iOS devices sometime later this year, possibly as part of iOS 7. Previous rumors said it would launch earlier this year, but the lack of publisher deals made that impossible.

Like other music services, Apple’s iRadio will likely use have ads for free users, though it will presumably have a paid subscription service as well.

Apple Still Waiting On Two Music Publishers For iRadio is a post by Shawn Ingram from Gotta Be Mobile.

The mythical Nokia Lumia EOS smartphone that’s been rumored with a 41-megapixel PureView camera sensor similar to that of the Nokia 808 has been spotted in the wild. According to a report on WMPU, one of the publication’s readers has spotted the device out in the opened and the details were confirmed by another source.

No images of the devices were leaked or captured, but if the report is accurate, we now know a little bit more about the Lumia EOS.

According to the source, the device will not be using the new metal construction that’s employed on the new Lumia 925 flagship. Instead, Nokia will use a polycarbonate construction.

The device is made of polycarbonate, and is about as thick as the Nokia Lumia 920 in the middle, but is highly tapered at both ends, giving the impression of a much slimmer device.

The lens housing is round in shape and does not protrude much. The flash is Xenon, and the flash and lens are both smaller than the Nokia 808 Pureview. Next to the flash is a small red LED which may be a focus assist light.

If this information is accurate, it looks like Nokia has made considerable strides with the device. The thickness of the Nokia 808 was because the sensor is so big that it required that area, forcing Nokia to add a camera hump on the back.

The red LED auto-focus assist light seems rather odd as Nokia has moved to a white LED auto-focus assist light on both the Lumia 928 and the Nokia 808, both phones have Xenon flash capabilities as well. The smaller Xenon flash may be a bit of a disappointment. Though the flash on the Nokia 808 PureView is bright and powerful, the smaller Xenon flash on the Lumia 928 appears more muted and isn’t quite as good at illuminating a scene as that on the 808.

The lens also has an automatic cover that opens when the camera app is started.

The number of megapixels were not marked on the prototype, with “XX megapixels” only being written on the lens housing.

There is a new camera app called “Nokia Pro Camera”with a completely new interface. There is also manual focus available through the app. The regular photo app is also available.

Given that Nokia is disguising the megapixel count on the camera, it’s unclear if this will be a 41-megapixel device. Nokia has since used a smaller 8.7-megapixel sensor on its most recent PureView flagships, but added optical image stabilization. Personally, I think that even an incremental upgrade, like a 20-megapixel sensor but with a larger sensor footprint like that on the Nokia 808, along with OIS capabilities would be a huge win for consumers looking for a more modern smartphone OS like Windows Phone and powerful camera features.

The winning prize of the Nokia 808′s PureView camera technology is not the sheer number of pixels it packs, but that the overall sensor size is larger too. In fact, the camera sensor is larger than most point-and-shoot camera sensors, which are already larger than many smartphone sensors. This allows more light to be captured and also allows for better control of the camera for professionals. Add a new camera UI and we could have a camera designed more for enthusiasts but flexible enough for consumers to benefit from.

Overall, the size of the phone is described to be similar to that of the Lumia 920, but the phone itself is said to be much lighter.

The screen size and resolution is same as 920, and appears to be AMOLED. The speaker holes are at the bottom as the handset.

The handset was much lighter than the Nokia Lumia 920.

Additionally, it looks like wireless charging won’t be built-in, but may be added via a cover like that on the Lumia 925.

Nokia is rumored to introduce this device in the late summer period, perhaps in July or August. If true, this means the phone may be compared to the next iPhone 5S when that device launches from Apple.

We’re still not sure how accurate any of the information is as despite the growing number of leaks and rumors surrounding the much hyped device, Nokia still has not made any official announcements. The device was originally rumored to be announced at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, but that never came to fruition.

Rumored Nokia Lumia EOS Spotted in the Wild is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.

The HTC Butterfly Sense 5 update, which was confirmed several months ago for arrival by HTC, is planned for arrival in May, though no specific release date is known at this point.

Shortly after HTC announced the HTC One, the company confirmed that its Sense 5 update would become available to older devices in its arsenal including the HTC One X, One S, HTC One X+ and the HTC Butterfly. The company said that at least some of the features would arrive for the global versions of the devices in the future.

Read: HTC One X Sense 5 Update Said to Bring Zoe, BlinkFeed.

Don’t expect the Droid DNA Sense 5 update to roll out in May.

Until now, HTC hadn’t released any concrete details on the upcoming Sense 5 updates. Recently though, in remarks made to Focus Taiwan, the company confirmed that it plans to roll out Sense 5 for the HTC Butterfly by the end of May.

HTC did not outline a specific release date for the software and it did not say which variant or variants would be getting it first, only that it was slated to roll out sometime this month. It’s unclear exactly what will arrive on board with the software, but rumors have insisted that the device could get Android 4.2 Jelly Bean at the same time as its Sense 5 update. HTC has yet to confirm that.

The Sense 5 update itself is a bit of a mystery but it’s expected to be bringing HTC BlinkFeed at the very least. We saw the feature leak out in a piece of Sense 5.1 firmware that emerge a short time ago. Missing however was the powerful photography feature in Sense 5, HTC Zoe. It’s unclear if the Butterfly will get that feature or not.

Those who own the HTC Butterfly in the United States, namely Droid DNA owners, should not expect a Sense 5 roll out in May. Verizon typically takes its time with updates and that means that a roll out isn’t likely to happen for several weeks, if not months, after the initial arrival of the HTC Butterfly’s Sense 5 update.

Other Sense 5 updates remain elusive though we have heard that the HTC One X may be getting its upgrade this summer.

HTC Butterfly Sense 5 Update Planned for May is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

Windows Phone 8 users finally have a way to view and upload photos to Instagram via the new Itsdagram app.

Itsdagram is a $1.49 Windows Phone 8 app that brings almost all of the features of Instagram to Windows Phone, including filters, the timeline, comments and, of course, the ability to upload photos. WP Central reports that a free ad-supported version of the app is coming later this week for those who don’t want to pay for the app.

Itsdagram follows the Modern UI of Windows Phone 8 to make an app that looks distinctly made for the platform. Using the app should feel familiar to those who used the iPhone or Android app before. Users just have to double tap photos to like them, and the list and grid views for photos are essentially the same, just with a different UI around them.

The app does let users see what photos they were tagged in, but it doesn’t let users tag their friends in photos they take.

The filters of Itsdagram are different than the filters in the Instagram app, however. Some users may prefer the Itsdagram filters, or at least not mind them, but the photos will look different than ones uploaded with filters from the Instagram app.

Itsdagram promises that it will regularly release new filters without updating the app, so sometimes users may try to upload a photo and find a new filter they didn’t have before.

For now Itsdagram only supports Windows Phone 8, but the developer promises that it will support Windows Phone 7.5 and 7.8 sometime in the near future.

There is still no official Instagram app for Windows Phone (though Nokia hinted it may come soon), so Itsdagram is the best option for those users who want to use the photo sharing service. It’s not clear if Instagram will ever pull the app’s ability to upload photos to the service, but for now the app seems to work well.

Itsdagram: Finally A Working Instagram App For Windows Phone 8 is a post by Shawn Ingram from Gotta Be Mobile.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 launch is looking good for IFA 2013 and September as a Samsung official seemingly confirmed that timing in recent comments, timing that goes along with all of the launch rumors that have emerged thus far.

All along, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has been rumored for an arrival either at, or shortly before the IFA trade show in Berlin, Germany, set to kick off in the beginning of September. The past two Galaxy Note devices, the Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 2, both arrived at IFA and arrived around the same time, just ahead of the holidays.

Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Rumors Point to Plastic Design.

The Galaxy Note 3 could come at IFA 2013 in September.

The Galaxy Note 3 is likely going to emerge at the Episode 2 Unpacked event that Samsung has planned for this year and it now appears that that event may in fact take place at IFA in September with a Samsung official evidently confirming that timing to Korean publication Korea Times.

Furthermore, it appears that the company may have settled on a 5.9-inch AMOLED display for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, different than the 6-inch display that we heard about just a short time ago. Whatever the case may be, it’s clear that Samsung is likely going to be delivering a Galaxy Note 3 in the 5.99-6-inch range. Keep in mind we heard that the Galaxy S4 would be 4.99-inches but wound up being 5-inches.

All of this aligns with previous rumors in regards to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. IFA has always been thought to be its launch pad with September being its launch month. What this means for the Galaxy Note 3 release date is unclear but Samsung typically releases devices several weeks after announcing them, meaning we likely won’t see the Galaxy Note 3 release until October.

As for the display, it’s looking very likely that Samsung will increase the size of the Galaxy Note 3′s display from 5.5-inches, the size of the Galaxy Note 2′s screen.

Other rumored enhancements include a Exynos 5 Octa processor, 13MP camera, and a design that is more in line with the Samsung Galaxy S4′s design. What that means for the Galaxy Note 3 is unclear but it could be that it uses similar build materials while also introducing a slimmer and lighter form factor for the Galaxy Note line.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Launch Looks Good for September is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

Google’s Android Team is still moving to address the operating system’s fragmentation issues, according to engineers who work on the operating system.

That’s according to reports from CNET, who sat in during one of the company’s Fireside Chats during Google I/O 2013.

According to David Burke, engineering director for the Android operating system, the company is “working internally to streamline the development process and make the software more layered.” That the company is continuing to address widespread fragmentation of Android will come as good news to both users and those involved in creating and marketing devices running Android.

A break down of each active Android device by operating system.

By introducing more software layering, hardware makers might be able to introduce changes to Android more quickly and speed up the time it takes to ship updated versions of Android to devices already in the market.

Early reports had indicated that Google would be debuting a new version of Android at Google I/O this past week however but it never materialized, possibly because of this new layering development approach Burke speaks of, and possibly because the company is also looking to focus on shipping update services and applications without shipping an entire update.

Typically, entire Android updates have to pass through the hands of Google, hardware manufacturers and each individual carrier. Because of that extended chain of custody some devices have to wait a year before they are updated.

For example Android 2.3 “Gingerbread” is still the largest Android operating system version being used on Android devices, even a full two years after it was first introduced.

Read: Android 4.3 Could Roll Out in Coming Months

On the other hand, application updates can be pushed to every Android device they could possibly support within a relatively short amount of time. Application updates also don’t cost wireless carriers any funding for testing as well.

It’s believed that Google could launch Android 4.3 within the next six months. Not much is known about the features that could be included in the next version of Android. However, support for Bluetooth Smart is believed to be coming in the update. With it, Android would be able to communicate with accessories like fitness monitors and medical devices.

Google Engineers Addressing Android Fragmentation is a post by Travis Pope from Gotta Be Mobile.

Earlier this week NVIDIA announced that pre-orders for the NVIDIA Shield would start on May 20, but the company instead decided to start taking pre-orders for the Android portable console today.

The NVIDIA Shield is now available for pre-order for $349.99 from NVIDIA, GameStop, NewEgg and Canada Computer. NVIDIA’s store doesn’t commit to a shipping date, but GameStop and NewEgg both list the NVIDIA Shield release date as June 4. NVIDIA only says the device will ship by the end of June.

Those who pre-order the NVIDIA Shield will receive two free Android games for their new device: Sonic 4 Episode II THD and Expendable: Rearmed. The two games should show off the power of the new Tegra 4 processor the console uses. Both games are available for other Android devices, but should look better with exclusive graphics effects on Tegra devices.

NVIDIA also offers a number of accessories for the Shield console. The company offers a carrying case for $39.99 that has a small pouch for a USB cable and has a hole on the back so users can charge their Shield while it’s in the case. NVIDIA also offers custom lids in carbon fiber and glossy black for $19.99 a piece.

NVIDIA Shield features a 5-inch 720p “retinal” display, though NVIDIA designed the device so gamers can play Android games with the built-in gamepad instead of the touchscreen. The device runs stock Android Jelly Bean and can access the Google Play Store as well as TegraZone, which offers games designed for Tegra-powered devices.

The Android portable console also lets gamers stream games from their PC to the device, assuming they have a supported video card. The feature is only available in beta form at release, however. It will only support a select number of games on Steam and has a list of recommended routers. Sometime after release a patch will come out to enable more games and routers, but there’s no timetable given for the patch.

NVIDIA Shield Now Available For Pre-order For $350, Ships June 4 is a post by Shawn Ingram from Gotta Be Mobile.