http://bgr.com Mobile and tech news, reviews, opinions and insights Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:02:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://0.gravatar.com/blavatar/616256b50efddd8ae9b0c7f1f339a9f5?s=96&d=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.png http://bgr.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/Subscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with PlusmoSubscribe with The Free DictionarySubscribe with Bitty BrowserSubscribe with Live.comSubscribe with Excite MIXSubscribe with WebwagSubscribe with Podcast ReadySubscribe with WikioSubscribe with Daily Rotation http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/z4ap3BOifpI/ http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/microsoft-xbox-one-drm-reversal/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:48:24 +0000 Brad Reed http://bgr.com/?p=718901 ]]> Microsoft has caved to the hordes of angry gamers who have been loudly complaining about its policies for used games and connectivity requirements for its upcoming Xbox One console. Microsoft has updated its Xbox One page to announce changes in its Digital Rights Management (DRM) policies. Users will no longer have to connect to the Internet every 24 hours to play games and restrictions on used games have been significantly eased. Now users will be required to connect to the web just once while setting up their Xbox and won't be required to check in every 24 hours to play disc-based games. Microsoft also says that gamers can "trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today" and that "there will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360."]]> http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/microsoft-xbox-one-drm-reversal/feed/ 0 microsoft-xbox-one bwreed http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/microsoft-xbox-one-drm-reversal/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/AuvMq93eO-Y/ http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/microsoft-nokia-merger-negotiations/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:37:53 +0000 Brad Reed http://bgr.com/?p=718838 ]]> Nokia's devotion to Windows Phone is starting to make sense. Unnamed sources tell The Wall Street Journal that Microsoft and Nokia were until recently in "advanced" discussions about a possible merger, although talks between the two companies have apparently broken down. Microsoft reportedly walked away from the deal "because of the price and Nokia's own strategic predicament, where it ranks as a trailing player to Apple and Samsung." This is somewhat ironic since Nokia is far and away the top Windows Phone OEM and a merger with Microsoft would be one sure-fire way to give it more resources to help it compete against the mobile industry's major players. Microsoft declined to comment on the Journal's report.]]> http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/microsoft-nokia-merger-negotiations/feed/ 0 elop_ballmer1-e1349265859685 bwreed http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/microsoft-nokia-merger-negotiations/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/vi6Aw7wFjeA/ http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/china-smartphone-market-share-q1-2013-idc/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:00:37 +0000 Zach Epstein http://bgr.com/?p=713383 ]]> The world's top smartphone vendor by sales volume is also the top vendor in China, the biggest smartphone market on the planet. Recently published data from market research firm IDC suggests that Samsung accounted for 19% of all smartphones shipped in China during the first quarter this year. Meanwhile, Apple's smartphone market share of 9% was good for the No.5 spot in the country, though it managed impressive growth as shipments of the company's iPhone 4 grew 211% year-over-year. The data aligns with an earlier report from rival firm Strategy Analytics. Overall, IDC says Q1 smartphone shipments in China reached 78 million units, up 117% from the same quarter in 2012.]]> http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/china-smartphone-market-share-q1-2013-idc/feed/ 0 samsung-galaxy-s-iii-review Zach http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/china-smartphone-market-share-q1-2013-idc/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/41sbQNmv5Gs/ http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/nintendo-mobile-gaming-analysis/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:25:41 +0000 Tero Kuittinen http://bgr.com/?p=718503 ]]> New Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata is not exactly a breath of new air. As a matter of fact, he sounds eerily like Nokia executives circa 2007, swimming deep in a river called Da Nile. Iwata does not think smartphones and tablets have any impact on the video game market. Iwata does not see Nintendo producing any games for such devices. Iwata thinks Nintendo can go on running its business like it's 1999.

Continue reading...]]> http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/nintendo-mobile-gaming-analysis/feed/ 0 nintendo-wii-gamepad-13 terokuittinen http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/nintendo-mobile-gaming-analysis/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/xnSb-11AHLs/ http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/ipad-mini-2-no-retina-display/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:50:12 +0000 Zach Epstein http://bgr.com/?p=717480 ]]> Despite numerous reports suggesting Apple's second-generation iPad mini will ship later this year with a Retina display, one industry watcher believes the Retina-equipped version of Apple's latest tablet won't launch until sometime in 2014. According to NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim, Apple's next iPad mini will use the same display as the current model, though it will feature an upgraded processor and a slimmer design. The analyst also says Apple will launch a new Retina iPad mini in early 2014, though his claims are riddled with holes.

Continue reading...]]> http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/ipad-mini-2-no-retina-display/feed/ 0 ipad-mini-90 Zach http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/ipad-mini-2-no-retina-display/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/qL3O_gDLCQA/ http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/blackberry-10-device-shipments/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:15:56 +0000 Brad Reed http://bgr.com/?p=718344 ]]> BlackBerry 10 devices may not be selling like iPhones or Samsung Galaxy phones, but BlackBerry nonetheless has to be pleased that it's beaten many analysts' expectations for device shipments so far. The Financial Post points us to new research from RBC analyst Mark Sue, who now projects that BlackBerry will ship 14 million BlackBerry 10 devices this year, up from his earlier projection of 11 million units. Sue also sees BlackBerry 10 performing above expectations in early 2014 and he now believes that BlackBerry will ship 3.5 million BlackBerry 10 devices in the first quarter of 2014, up from his earlier projection of 2.75 million units. Sue recently said that BlackBerry 10 sales are strongest so far in Canada, the United Kingdom and the Middle East even as sales in the United States have remained middling.]]> http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/blackberry-10-device-shipments/feed/ 0 blackberry-sign-bgr-231 bwreed http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/blackberry-10-device-shipments/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/wHm7W5EV9G0/ http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/steam-game-lending-rumor/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:50:53 +0000 Dan Graziano http://bgr.com/?p=717974 ]]> Critics have blasted Microsoft over its used game policy for its Xbox One gaming console. Games are locked to a user's personal Xbox Live account and require a persistent Internet connection for verification. The company also gave developers the freedom to prevent games from being shared with friends or even sold at certain retailers. In the wake of Microsoft's bad press, gaming giant Steam appears to be preparing its own lending feature for its popular gaming marketplace.

Continue reading...]]> http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/steam-game-lending-rumor/feed/ 0 steam Billie G http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/steam-game-lending-rumor/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/CHMplmCvGqw/ http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/smartphone-display-shootout-full-hd/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:05:15 +0000 Zach Epstein http://bgr.com/?p=717630 ]]> While Sony's smartphone business has been struggling for some time now, it is a company known for building HDTVs and mobile devices with stunning displays that are among the best on the market. HTC is struggling as well, but its smartphone hardware is always among the best in the world and that includes its stunning HD displays. With that in mind, it's quite surprising that up-and-comer Huawei trounced flagship smartphone models from both major brands in DisplayMate's latest full HD smartphone display shootout, which was published this week. The site says Huawei's Ascend D2 "delivers superior picture quality with accurate colors and images" compared to the HTC One and Sony Xperia Z, but that's just a small part of the story. The full exhaustive shootout can be read on DisplayMate's site, which is linked below.]]> http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/smartphone-display-shootout-full-hd/feed/ 0 Huawei-Ascend-D2 Zach http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/smartphone-display-shootout-full-hd/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/6rgsigx8xZA/ http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/lg-flexible-smartphone-release-date/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:30:41 +0000 Dan Graziano http://bgr.com/?p=717701 ]]> LG is still on pace to be the first manufacturer to mass produce flexible and unbreakable displays for mobile devices. The company confirmed in a statement to the Korea Times that it has completed development of its flexible displays and is scheduled to begin mass production in the fourth quarter. LG is looking to get a jump on the competition and plans to release a smartphone with a flexible screen later this year. Samsung is also developing unbreakable and bendable displays, however the company's first consumer devices that utilize them aren't expected to arrive until the second half of 2014. LG estimates that it will produce 12,000 sheets of OLED flexible displays per month when production begins later this year.]]> http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/lg-flexible-smartphone-release-date/feed/ 0 LG Flexible Display Billie G http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/lg-flexible-smartphone-release-date/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/k-qxa2YBlT0/ http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/google-reader-alternatives-best-rss-readers/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:55:09 +0000 Zach Epstein http://bgr.com/?p=713914 ]]> Google has shown that it most certainly isn't afraid to pull the plug on services that aren't making money. More than one out of every three Google products ends up being shuttered, and the company's popular Google Reader RSS reader will be added to the list of dearly departed Google services in less than two weeks. Now that we have all had some time to get the panic and despair out of our systems, the rebuilding process can begin. There are plenty of options out there when it comes to finding a solid service to replace Google Reader, and it can get overwhelming. As such, we've narrowed it down to our five favorites and here they are in no particular order:

Continue reading...]]> http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/google-reader-alternatives-best-rss-readers/feed/ 0 feedly-rss-android Zach http://bgr.com/2013/06/19/google-reader-alternatives-best-rss-readers/