Tomorrow, Apple is expected to debut a brand new 7.9-inch tablet called the iPad mini 2, a device that will replace the original iPad mini as the companys flagship. And while many people are likely comparing it to other tablets, others might be comparing the device to phablets like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Here, we take a look at how the iPad mini 2 should stack up with Samsungs brand new phablet.

Last month, Samsung announced its brand new Galaxy Note phablet, the Galaxy Note 3, a device that combines many of the properties of a phone but also throws in a bundled S Pen stylus and a massive 5.7-inch display, one of the biggest smartphone displays on the market. Thats of course where the phablet name comes from, a combination of a phone and tablet, and a size that is intriguing to many people who are looking to combine that experience into a single device.

Samsungs Galaxy Note 3 takes the place of the Galaxy Note 2 and we found the device to be a worthy successor to Samsungs second-generation Galaxy Note, and a device that should be on the radar of smartphone shoppers in the United States. Its also a device that some people might be comparing to smaller tablets like the upcoming iPad mini 2.

Last year, Apple released an iPad mini to compete with the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD. And while those were its main competitors, we heard from plenty of people who were comparing it to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. This year, while the iPad mini 2 will be aimed at the hearts of the new Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HDX, there will be some people that weigh it against the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

For those people, and for those curious, here, we take a look at how the rumored iPad mini 2 stacks up against the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

Release Date

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 hit shelves in the United States in early October which means that it has only been available for a few weeks now. Because Samsung typically only releases one update to its Galaxy Note lineup per year, we expect the Galaxy Note 3 to be widely available through the summer of 2014. Best of all though, it means that buyers can head down to their local store and go hands-on with one should they need to before the iPad mini 2 release.

Speaking of that, the iPad mini 2 release date should land in just a few short days. Apple typically announces a device and tags it with a very specific release date that is only a few days out from the launch. In the case of the iPad mini and iPhone 5s, it was 10 days after launch, meaning, November 1st is looking very good for a release date.

The date will be confirmed at tomorrows launch and we expect it to be in the vicinity of November 1st despite rumors suggesting that an iPad mini 2 with Retina Display will come in December or in 2014. What this means is that buyers will only have a few days to prepare for its arrival. And if there is a pre-order, even less time.

Apple is likely going to have a thin supply of the iPad mini 2, something that should put even more pressure on consumers to make an early decision about the iPad mini 2, Galaxy Note 3 and more.

Design

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 design is a little different than past Galaxy-branded smartphones in that instead of a smooth polycarbonate plastic design, the Galaxy Note 3 utilizes a faux leather plastic design that gives the device a more premium look than its predecessors. Because the design is made of plastic, it affords buyers a microSD card slot for up to 64GB of expanded storage and a removable back for use with an extended battery.

Samsungs new Galaxy Note 3 also shaves off some of the size of the Galaxy Note 2, even with the larger display. The design is now only 8.3mm thin and weighs a mere 168 grams. Thats fantastic for a smartphone of this size and it makes it far more manageable when carrying it around inside of a pocket as a go-to device.

No surprise here, the iPad mini 2 is going to be larger than the Galaxy Note 3. Rumors suggest that the device will be similar in size to the current iPad mini which means that it could check in with a form factor that is around 7.5mm thin and 337 grams in weight. So, the iPad mini 2 should be thinner than the Galaxy Note 3 but it will almost certainly be heavier.

The overall size of the iPad mini 2 should be apparent as well. The original checked in at 200 x 134.7 while the Galaxy Note 3 is 151.2 x 79.2. This is obviously going to be important for those that are thinking about making calls (the iPad mini 2 can use services like Skype and FaceTime Audio) with both devices. Both can be held in one hand but its the Galaxy Note 3 that should be easier for most users.

This photo shows how much smaller the iPad 5 could be compared to the iPad 4.

As for the build quality, there is nothing to suggest that the iPad mini 2 will use anything different than the premium anodized aluminum build on the original iPad mini.

Display

In addition to the design differences, there should be some when it comes to their displays as well. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 touts a 5.7-inch 1080p display with 1920 x 1080 resolution at 386 pixels-per-inch. The display is one of the best in the business and produces high quality text, video, images, web and more.

The iPad mini 2 will have a larger display that checks in at 7.9-inches in size, same as the original iPad mini, and it should have 2048 x 1536 resolution at 324 pixels-per-inch with its larger display. Content on the iPad mini 2 should look gorgeous as well so the biggest difference here is likely going to be the screen size with the iPad mini 2 adding two extra inches with its display.

For many that will increase will make a huge difference. For others, a 5.7-inch display is going to be enough for things like gaming, checking email, or getting work done on the bus ride home.

Verizon definitely wants you to know that this phone is on its network.

(Credit:evleaks)

AT&T may have just added the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini to its lineup, but it's already eyeing Samsung's Galaxy S4 Mini, according to a well-connected industry source. AT&T isn't alone either in coveting the smaller, scaled-back version of the Galaxy S4. A series of tweets from prominent smartphone leakster @evleaks show that Verizon, and Sprint could also join the games in selling the Galaxy S4's smaller sibling.

While Sprint appears to have both the black mist and white frost variants, Verizon may only carry the former.

Big Red goes the extra mile to brand its version of the Galaxy S4 Mini. Just as they did with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Note 3, Verizon's name could adorn the home button, as well as the phone's back cover.

As for AT&T, the only color leaked thus far is a bright pink. Presumed to launch this month, it's likely in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

AT&T could have a pink Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini for October.

(Credit:evleaks)

Based on the rapid succession of the leaks, I am inclined to believe a formal announcement should be forthcoming. Samsung is likely to announce the phone's upcoming availability in the US, then leave it up to the carriers to detail their own specific pricing and timing.

The S4 Mini isn't the only Galaxy to come to carrier. Rumors also point to the Samsung Galaxy Mega coming to Sprint.

This 6.3-inch beast might not be as powerful as today's other Androids, but it could prove to be a nice balance of massive screen and lower price point. AT&T currently sells the Galaxy Mega for $149.99 with a contract.

As a refresher, the Galaxy Mega runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and features an HD Super Clear LCD display with a resolution of 1,280x720 pixels. Outfitted with a dual-core 1.7GHz processor, 1.5GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage, the giant phone also houses an 8-megapixel camera on the rear.

Stay posted; we'll update you as soon as we hear the official word!

Samsung already offers extended warranty options for its devices, but youd never know because it isnt something widely discussed. However, this weekend new reports have surfaced showing the company is planning a new take on its warranty offering. Possibly aiming to take on Applecare, Samsung could be delivering a new Protection Plus Warranty plan for devices.

The new Samsung Protection Plus plan was spotted by SamMobile headed through Trademark filings, and is a sign of the future, even if we dont know all of the details yet. Apples extended warranty plan has been a staple in the industry, and Samsung could be planning to offer something extremely similar for multiple devices. This is for more than just smartphones by the looks of it.

The trademark filings specifically mentions both electronics and appliances, so we could see this new warranty plan being a Samsung-wide option. Offering extended warranty coverage for smartphones, TVs, or even that brand new refrigerator.

Despite not wanting to place much emphasis on the U.S. market, Sony could continue its relationship with T-Mobile. According to a recent leak from @evleaks, T-Mobile is expected to announce the upcoming availability of the Sony Xperia Z1.

Introduced at IFA in early September, the Xperia Z1 can go toe-to-toe with just about any smartphone. On the surface, the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean-powered device packs a 5-inch 'triluminous' display with a 1920x1080-pixel resolution, as well as a 20.7-megapixel camera.

Under the hood, you'll find a quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. Rounding things out, the Xperia Z1 features NFC and support for Qi wireless charging. It also doesn't hurt that the phone is sexy, sleek, and waterproof.

T-Mobile currently offers the Sony Xperia Z, though it did join the carrier's roster nearly six months after its initial debut. Perhaps the successor will be faster out of the gate.

Samsung, LG, and others have been showing off flexible displays and even a prototype phone for years, but it's only now that flexible displays are going commercial.

Samsung's Galaxy Round raises a lot of questions about what a flexible display is and isn't, what the word really means, and just what kinds of benefits a bendable display would bring to a smartphone or any other gadget.

We address your burning questions below, but if you have more, drop them in the comments.

What is a flexible display anyway?
Colloquially, "display" means the thing you see when you look at your phone and navigate around. But more technically, display refers to the electronic material that sits beneath the glass or plastic cover (the part you actually touch) and is responsible for lighting up your phone.

So when Samsung (or LG, or anyone) talks about a flexible display, they're talking about the organic light-emitting diode, or OLED, layer -- located beneath the cover glass -- that's now made using flexible materials (like plastic) rather than rigid glass.

Companies like LG and Samsung have spent years demoing flexible displays that sit on their own outside of any device. These eye-catching products faithfully show off the interface you're supposed to see -- say a grid of icons -- without bending or breaking. Samsung's Galaxy Round represents the first time that a phone maker is bringing a flexible display to market.

How is the Samsung Galaxy Round different from the curved screen of the Galaxy Nexus?
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus (and Nexus S) boasted a slightly curved screen that was meant to more snugly hug your cheek. In this case, it was the glass top that contoured, not the OLED material below.

Does the Galaxy Round bend?
No. For the Galaxy Round, Samsung is using a 5.7-inch "full HD super flexible AMOLED" display, but that doesn't mean it's going to flex in your hands. The device is deeply curved, but the phone's body is rigid and will not bend when you move it.

Then why do people keep saying it's flexible?
Part of the confusion stems from the many definitions of what flexible means. Like we mentioned, the flexion can refer to just the OLED or LCD, to the glass, or even to both.

Beyond that, there are many forms that a flexible display can take. In the case of the Galaxy Round, the display is conformable, meaning it's not flat. "Contoured" is another word that's often used.

Companies making such devices bend the display at some point, say vertically in the case of the Round, but then fix the whole caboodle in place. Another type of flexibility is "bendable." Think of these sort of like credit cards. They flex a little bit, but don't completely fold in half.

Then there's a third category, foldable displays, which do just what you think. Finally, there are rollable displays, often called the holy grail of flexible displays. To picture this type, just think about a perhaps less extreme version of a scroll, or a Fruit Rollup, and you can see where the concept's going.

Why would anyone want a flexible display anyhow? What are the benefits?
As CNET has noted before, the benefits for a curved display like the Galaxy Round aren't immediately clear.

However, there are some pretty significant benefits for displays that can flex. For one, they could be more durable (especially when you drop them), largely because they might use plastic, which has some give, instead of glass. Plastic also can make the devices thinner and lighter, and it can allow for products in different shapes beyond the standard rectangular screen.

Note that this may not always be the case. Even plastic can break if you stress it enough, and glass-makers are also designing flexible glass, but more on that below.

Still, the durability issues raises the question: Why not just make a regular phone with a plastic display? We'll likely see that too, some experts say, but there are some things a flexible display can do that others can't.

Samsung's flexible Youm display shows the floppy, functioning OLED at work.

(Credit:James Martin/CNET)

Imagine being able to fold up your phone or tablet and put it in your pocket, or unroll a screen to serve as a map. These could even be incorporated into clothing or jewelry or other items where the screen needs to have some give. The future potential for flexible displays is huge if hurdles are overcome, even though we may not yet know exactly what their uses will be.

While some gadget-watchers are incredulous about the practicality of a scrollable phone, others see the benefit in trying to make them anyhow. NPD DisplaySearch analyst Paul Semenza is one of them. "I don't think anyone developing them knows the value of curvature or flexibility yet," he told CNET.

What are the hurdles to making a flexible smartphone?
It takes much more than a bendy screen to make a phone you can flex. Right now, batteries and other circuitry are unyieldingly straight. The durability of a bendable phone and its internal parts are also in question. Depending on the design, you may need to have a flexible display, cover material (like plastic or glass), arching batteries, and forgiving silicon.

Some of this is already in the works. LG announced new battery tech for three kinds of juice packs that can curve, squeeze into tight spaces, and even contort like a pretzel. Time will tell if these produce and hold enough charge to competitively power a smartphone.

Read more on what it takes to make a flexible phone.

In addition, devices can be designed so they have a sort of rigid spine that stores the components that can't be flexed, while the rest of the gadget moves freely. We know that these various flexible designs are possible based on concept devices shown by Samsung and others.

Along with making the guts flexible comes another big challenge -- manufacturing these devices and displays at high volumes. Phones that move will undoubtedly cost more than standard smartphones when they first hit the market, but after the industry nails down more efficient manufacturing, the cost to make the phones will surely drop, along with their sticker price.

Even though the Galaxy Round's display is curved, not bendable, it's undoubtedly still tough to manufacture. That's likely a reason that Samsung is only releasing it in Korea (at least for now).

Which is better, flexible OLEDs or LCDs?
When companies show off displays being curved, bent, folded, or rolled, they're typically using OLED. While it's possible to curve an LCD, it's not as easy or as effective as curving OLED, according to the experts we spoke with.

LCDs, or liquid crystal displays -- the most common type out there -- are made of two sheets of glass that sandwich a liquid crystal material that modifies the light as it goes through it. They require a backlight of light-emitting chips to sort of pump light through the display. It's possible to curve LCDs, but is difficult because the distance between the two sheets of glass have to be consistent. Forget about doing things like rolling them up.

OLED, meanwhile, doesn't need chips to create light, and it only needs one piece of glass (or even plastic or metal) to serve as the substrate. Both these factors make it a better candidate for bending. OLEDs light up the screen with carbon-based materials that are deposited onto the surface, and that surface can then be shaped. Companies typically will add a second piece of glass afterward to protect the bottom layer.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Round's screen made of glass?
We wish we could tell you for sure, but we just don't know yet. Samsung isn't sharing specific details, and none of the materials companies we reached out to would comment. There's some speculation that the company is using a plastic polymer screen, but it appears more likely that Samsung is using a thin layer of glass that has been bent into a curved shape.

So everyone will just switch to plastic, right?
Switching to a plastic display is what will allow a device to be truly flexible, but plastic comes with its own problems. It has different properties than glass, which means manufacturers have to find ways to use it without compromising the screen's crystal-clear image quality or responsiveness.

One big issue for plastic is that it's semipermeable, which could allow air and water to leak into the device. To avoid this, companies can coat the plastic and apply barrier layers, and some have experimented with glass/plastic hybrids. While there are still some hurdles to overcome, industry watchers say it's only a matter of time -- and money -- before this is no longer an issue.

"A lot of these problems can be solved with enough investment," said Sriram Peruvemba, chief marketing officer of Cambrios, a Silicon Valley company that makes technology used in flexible touch screens.

What about that bendable glass we saw at CES? When will that happen?
Not quite a year ago, CNET was the first to get its hands on Corning Willow Glass, an extremely thin, pliable glass that the Gorilla Glass-maker started developing in its R&D division. Corning described Willow glass as a material to go beneath and support the display, far away from tapping and swiping fingers.

What else is a flexible display good for?
Although we have yet to determine just how practical or even desirable a smartphone is that you can bend and twist, there are some good, practical uses for display technology that can be formed into S-curves and still respond to touch. Here's one: a wraparound touch display that covers the band of a smartwatch or other wearable. And here's another: an all-touch car dashboard that spills far beyond the confines of its usual 8-inch rectangular home.

Flexible displays -- on both the inside and out -- are going to be a hot topic in the months ahead. Whether gimmick or convenience, it's going to be fun to watch what happens next.

Whats the problem? Smart people abound. Smart people get hired. Smart people go to work to develop a new system or service. Smart people hype the roll out. The public shows up, eager to buy or try. Then boom. FAIL happens. What causes this? Sure, you can say that humans are involved and humans make mistakes, but one of the few maxims I live by is that no one ever begins a project hoping to fail. Or, in the case of business, no one ever begins a project hoping to tick off the customers they want by making it hard for the customers to give them money. So why are we growing increasingly accustomed to this kind of failure and increasingly skeptical about the success of any new sort of roll out?

Lets take three examples here that have been in the news: Apples new product launches, the Affordable Care Act, and Chicagos launch of the Ventra transit card system for public transportation.

First up, lets separate Apple from the other two by one simple factor. Apple will make its money regardless of the woes its customers have trying to order its products. There is no other phenomenon I can recall like this in business and marketing, but there you have it. Theres another factor here that differentiates Apple from the other two examples as well. No one, repeat no one, has to buy an Apple product. In the other two examples, there are, in some instances, mandates, involved.

That said, Apples product launches are notorious for disappointing users who arent willing to go to great lengths to get in on the first wave. Online ordering should theoretically take care of this, aside from supply and demand issues (if there is no product, you cant sell it- but thats another issue). But, Apples online ordering system can come to a screeching halt with just about any new product launch, or at least the ones that involve iOS devices. Is this a case of being greedy and just not ramping up enough bandwidth to handle automated purchasing? Or is it a case that the databases that run these ordering systems just cant scale up enough to handle the load? I dont purport to know the answer, and Apple is obviously comfortable enough with the way things are that there isnt a public facing move to make things smoother (like I said they will get their money in the end).

Going back to the human thing for a moment, theres also a psychology here that companies selling products depend on, or at the least hope for. When something becomes hard to get or unattainable, some want it all the more. Standing in line for tickets to an event used to have a certain romance, but that has certainly lost its luster as it transitioned into online ordering. Of course, plenty will now stand in line at an Apple Store and Im guessing well see that shortly when new iPads go up for sale.

Transitioning away from products no one has to buy, and to things that might be necessary like the Affordable Care Act and Ventra cards, lets take a look at those two fails.

The SlateBook x2: a laptop wrapped around Android. It packs an Nvidia Tegra 4 processor, 2GB of memory, and a 1,920x1,200 display.

(Credit:Hewlett-Packard)

The largest Windows PC maker has gotten the Google religion.

Hewlett-Packard's CEO and top PC executive came out swinging this week. And they both took swipes at the traditional Windows-Intel (Wintel) PC.

"Wintel-based devices are being aggressively displaced by ARM-based PCs and mobile devices running competing operating systems," CEO Meg Whitman said this week at a company event, referring to Android and Chrome OS devices.

And she took those comments a step further by referring to (apparently erstwhile) partners Microsoft and Intel as rivals. "Long-term HP partners, like Intel and Microsoft, are increasingly becoming outright competitors," she said.

Dion Weisler, executive vice president of printing and personal systems at HP, chimed in too. "Chrome and Android represent $46 billion of opportunity and it's growing at 12 percent," he said, speaking at the same event.

While HP will continue to offer a range of Windows products -- including new Windows 8.1 laptops like the HP Spectre 13 -- a lot of the new blood is coming from Android and Chrome offerings.

Below is a sample of HP's newfound commitment to products running Google OSes.

HP Chromebook 11 doesn't do Windows.

(Credit:Sarah Tew/CNET)

The Chromebook 11, announced this week, is an 11.6-inch laptop running the Chrome OS on top of a Samsung Exynos 5250 processor. It's 2.3 pounds, about 0.7-inches thick, and priced at an affordable $279.

HP Slate 8 Pro.

(Credit:Hewlett-Packard)

The 8-incher has a 1,600x1,200-pixel resolution IPS display and Nvidia's Tegra 4 processor to drive all those pixels. And it comes with 2GB of RAM.

That pixel count, by the way, beats the Samsung Galaxy Note 8's and Galaxy Tab 3's 1,280x800-pixel resolution screen. Not to mention the iPad Mini. But we'll have to wait for a full review to see if the screen holds up in other respects.

HP Chromebook 14.

(Credit:Hewlett-Packard)

The $299 Chromebook 14, announced back in February, was HP's first entry into the market.

It has an Intel Celeron processor. Only time will tell if HP opts for Intel again in the future or looks to ARM chip vendors like Samsung, Nvidia, and Qualcomm.

Other new Android products announced this week include the HP Slate Extreme and HP Slate HD.

A California man has sued Apple over the automatic downloading of the iOS 7 update onto his and his familys iOS devices. He claims that his devices are downloading the iOS 7 update automatically without his permission, and while the update doesnt install automatically, the download takes up several gigabytes of space on his devices.

The man filed a small-claims complaint against Apple CEO Tim Cook in the Superior Court of California in San Diego, asking that the iOS 7 install file be removed. We first heard about this issue last month, when several iOS 6 users reported that once they connected their devices to WiFi and a power source, iOS 7 would download the update file to users iOS devices, taking up at least a gigabyte of space.

The update file doesnt install automatically, but for those that count on precious space on their mobile devices, its not something that you want to deal with particular. However, despite all of the complaints, one man is taking matters into his own hands and will be taking Apple to court.

LG's curved smartphone, the G-Flex, get its glamor shots in.

CNET has obtained renderings of the G-Flex, which people familiar with the phone's launch plans confirmed would be launching some time next month.

There's been a lot of buzz over flexible displays and curved smartphones. CNET previously reported on the G-Flex, and the latest images only confirm LG's curved smartphone.

The G-Flex follows Samsung Electronics' own Galaxy Round, a smartphone it unveiled last week. But while the Galaxy Round is bent on its vertical access, the G-Flex is curved at its horizontal access, the thinking that it would better cup your face.

While there's been a lot of talk about flexible displays, it's important to note that neither the Galaxy Round or G-Flex will be able bend or flex. Both phones are permanently stuck in their curved positions. To find out more about curved phones and flexible screens, read this.

LG is poised to have a busy few weeks, with the Nexus 5 widely expected to launch later this month. LG was responsible for the hit Nexus 4 last year, and is working on the Nexus 5 as well.

The company has also been pushing its flagship G2 smartphone as well.

Here are more renderings of the G-Flex:

Every photo that you take with any camera comes with whats called EXIF data, which consists of the settings used for taking the photo (shutter speed, aperture, etc), as well as the date and time the photo was taken. Furthermore, if your camera has GPS built-in, it has the ability to store the location of where the photo was taken, right down to the exact coordinates.

This can be a nifty feature for some users, but most of the time, its unnecessary and it can be a huge privacy concern. iOS 7, by default, saves this location data to every photo you take with your iPhone or iPad, so when you send a photo to someone, they can see where you took the photo, right down to which side of the road it was taken on. However, its easy to disable location data from being stored in photos that you take, and well show you how.

When you send other iOS users a photo that you took on your iOS device, they can easily see where the photo was taken, as they can tap on the information above the photo and view a handy, interactive map with a thumbnail of the photo on the exact spot where it was taken (pictured above); it might not be 100% accurate, but its close enough to see where the photo was taken, give or take a few feet; its insanely accurate.

When you're away from home, even the smallest of distractions can keep you from getting to bed at your desired time. Sure, you could bring one of those sound machines on the trip, but that's just another thing to remember to pack.

White Noise Lite is a great utility app that plays relaxing sounds and can be used on your Android phone or tablet. You'll find some pretty standard sounds in the free version, like water flowing, crickets, chimes, and an oscillating fan. This app is especially useful for blocking out distracting noises at work, or when you just need a moment to relax.

Ready to try it out? Download White Noise Lite for your Android device. When opening the app, you'll see one of the sounds has already been selected, and you can hit play to hear it. If you want to choose another sound, just tap the list button along the bottom (it looks like a piece of paper with lines).

If you're using the app for sleeping, or you just want a desk clock, tap the moon icon and a digital clock will be displayed. This clock is very bright! To turn down the brightness, tap and hold on the screen and slide down.

The Lite version has 10 sounds to choose from, but if you decide to upgrade, you'll get access to 30 more. An upgrade will also let you upload as many of your own sounds as you like, listen to the app in the background while using other apps, and remove the advertisements.

What do you think? Will this replace the relaxation sound machine you normally need to get to sleep or relax? If not, share the name of your favorite app that gets the job done.

At a casual glance, 4.4 KitKat looks much like the current version of Android.

(Credit:TuttoAndroid)

The next version of Google's platform, Android 4.4 KitKat, is set to arrive any day now. After three helpings of Jelly Bean, we would hope that the Nestle-inspired build should prove to be a larger update, but so far signs point to minor enhancements.

Until recently, Google has done a great job keeping KitKat under wraps. Officially, Google has only said that its goal with KitKat is to "make an amazing Android experience available for everybody." Some posit this to mean we could see new Android-powered devices such as game consoles, smartwatches, smart TV, and laptops. Others look for a kinder, gentler platform that plays nice with older hardware.

This past weekend proved to be the biggest break in regards to what Android 4.4 looks like as well as some of its potential features. Some changes and details may include tweaks to the app launcher, notification bar, and dialer. Nothing too crazy, of course, but rather a color adjustment here or a transparency there.

When it might be announced

Other dates tossed around of late indicate that the end of October might also be in order. Should that be the case, there's still time to send out a few "save the date" e-mails and blog posts.

The software we could get

The application drawer could move away from the all-black background in favor of a transparent bar. The pervasive notification area also appears to get the same treatment; a few screenshots show the top bar as having the see-through effect. In a related note, a 9to5Google report shows the notification bar with colors that match or complement various apps. The dialer app, for instance, brings up a blue bar, while the Hangouts app has a green one. It's possible that these particular apps were designed with their own colors and that the transparency is otherwise still present.

According to Italian Android blog TuttoAndroid, the lock screen will include shortcut to the camera application. The move would make sense as most custom launchers and lock screens have moved to integrate the oft-used feature.

The Android 4.4 lock screen could include quick access to the camera.

(Credit:TuttoAndroid)

A slightly more meaty addition, TuttoAndroid site also claims the "always listening" functionality employed in the Motorola Moto X can be found in the Android 4.4 experience. Should this prove true, users can expect quick access to Google Now and searching without having to touch the phone.

An Android Police report from this weekend suggests other changes could come in the area of app folders and widgets. According to their findings, folders are no longer limited to 16 shortcuts and will simply scroll if there are more. Widget placement moves out from the app drawer and back to the more traditional long-press method on the home screen. Speaking of which, users may soon find that the stock Android 4.4 experience allows for more than five home screen panels.

The stock camera experience should see a number of adjustments as well, including options to apply filters, borders, and effects. While Google+ already allows for photo editing and manipulation, it asks that a user have already uploaded the image to the cloud. Other tweaks to the shooter could yield straightening, mirroring, and color balance. If the final product resembles the leaked images we saw, then the app itself could get a makeover. Tweaks could come in the form of streamlined UI with quicker access to flash settings, timers, and image size.

As we discovered in a recent leak, other changes may include the option to save images locally in PDF format, export images in a variety of sizes and quality, and apply built-in filters and effects.

Native printing could be built into Android and may allow for options such as paper size, number of copies, orientation, and choosing between color or black and white.

From the sound of it, Google might simply include Cloud Print at an OS level instead of relying on its standalone application. We might also see wireless display support (via Miracast) in this next version of Android.

One area where Google has struggled to gain traction, mobile payments, could be rolled into the Android 4.4 platform. Screengrabs show a "Payments" option, but it's unclear what its role could mean for people. Presumably this is simply the place where one manages their Google Wallet account. Perhaps the thought is that by including it in the standard Android experience, it gains a larger awareness. The more you know it exists, the more likely you might be to use it.

An updated app suite

To get a sense for how Android 4.4 KitKat might look in action, be sure to check out the video below. Again, the details are not all that obvious and easy to overlook. However, the experience seems to be one that is smooth and fluid. This is to be expected; Google will continue pushing for performance optimizations across the board.

You might miss it the first time around, but the messaging app is nowhere to be found in the video. As the standard app for sending and receiving SMS and MMS, it's possible that Google is transitioning to Hangouts for its communications. We have long expected to see a unified chat and messaging service from Google; this could be the sign of such an animal.

When KitKat could land

If history is an indicator, the most recent Nexus 4, Nexus 7 2013, and Nexus 10 devices, as well the previous generation Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7 2012 to pick up the release first, maybe a few weeks after the launch.

Handset makers are becoming ever more vocal over social media so look for OEMs to detail specific devices in blog posts and status updates. Realistically, if you are running 4.1 or 4.2, you might expect some Nestle love this winter.

What's missing?

Is there something in Android that you see as lacking at the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean platform level? Which features in other smartphones that you would like to see come to Android? I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below.

Over the past two or three weeks weve seen Google update every one of its major applications on Android. From YouTube, Gmail, Hangouts, Maps and more, and now the latest one is the Google Play Store. Last week we shared details regarding a brand new slightly redesigned Google Play Store, and today its officially hitting users devices.

The new Google Play Store is version 4.4.21, not to be confused with Android 4.4 KitKat the OS, and is hitting smartphones and tablet as we speak. Its been slightly redesigned with a brand new slide-out navigation system, and a few other behind the scenes tweaks. The important thing here being that the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat are expected any day now, and with this being one of the last updates by Google, we should be learning more soon.

The new Play Store was first spotted by Android Police, whos also pulled the file for download, as these updates can take up to 2 weeks at times to arrive for all users, and many would rather not wait. According to the reports the new Play Store has removed the menu-accessible buttons and pop-up to a simple slide-out navigation drawer off to the left. Just like weve seen with YouTube and countless other apps as of late.

Call it chutzpah. Call it brass. Call it big cojones. Or maybe just call it stupid. Whatever you call it, Microsofts imminent launch of its second generation of Surface devices, which begins in some locations tonight at midnight and most places tomorrow, is running smack up against Apples second big fall announcement tomorrow, presumably to talk about new iPads. Its tough to call a giant company like Microsoft an underdog, but then when something like this gets scheduled you have to think that there is some pity that should be tossed Microsofts way. Then again, who thought this was a smart idea?

To be fair, I have no idea of the timing of things as to who planned what when. Apple has certainly been known for being ultra-competitve in the way it controls PR. But even casual observers of the mobile tech calendar would have known that October would be a potentially risky month to release new products, given Apples recent history.

Surface 2

Microsoft is about to lose any and all benefit it might gain from a product launch when Apple news takes over tomorrow. Early reviews of the two new Surface devices, The Surface 2 and the Surface Pro 2, have already been published. (Check out some of them here, here, here, and here.) By and large they point out that the two new devices, along with the already released Windows 8.1 variants, do indeed offer improvements. But they also hint, suggest, and proclaim that these improvements arent enough to shift consumer thinking.

But then again, perhaps Microsoft is being a bit cagey and might be clearing the decks a bit. It almost feels like that old PR trick of releasing bad news on a late Friday afternoon, assuming that no one will pay attention over the weekend. This may be not be a Friday, but there wont be much oxygen tomorrow regardless of what Apple announces. So the chances of Microsoft launch news getting lost are pretty good. And maybe Microsoft is content with that.

This second round of Surface devices was obviously planned around the time of the original Surface release, if not before. Microsoft rolled out the red carpet for that initial release, and the devices just didnt capture the publics attention. Microsoft had to take a huge loss on the original Surface RT when it didnt sell. (See my review here.) And several heads have rolled at Microsoft after that initial release including Steve Ballmers and Steven Sinfoskys. Im sure there were other contributing factors to those departures, but this was to be Microsofts next big play. To say it failed is being kind.

And keep in mind that conventional wisdom thought wed see an 7 or 8 inch variant of the Surface this fall. That has been pushed off until after the first of the year. Meanwhile, other Windows OEMs seem to be making some head way with smaller form factors. Could Microsoft be letting others plow new ground before making its move to a smaller form factor? A dangerous bet, but then these stakes are high anyway.

Will the new Nexus always have its ears open?

(Credit:Tutto Android)

The Android-gossip consensus is that we'll see a Nexus 5 running Android 4.4 KitKat revealed on Tuesday, yet we've heard of no confirmation or official invites to any unveiling.

Whether the big debut of the next pure Google phone has been pushed back or not, there's one killer feature I expect to see in the next Nexus that hasn't been directly addressed by the multitude of leaks -- the touchless control capability we've already come to know through Motorola's Moto X and latest Droids.

Voice control assistants like Google Now and Apple's Siri didn't revolutionize our relationships with our devices and the wider digital world overnight, but Google continues to play the long game on the concept. With touchless control, Motorola and Google upped the ante in the quest for that holy grail of Silicon Valley buzzwords that means nothing to most normal humans -- frictionless user interaction.

By my estimation, it's no coincidence that Google-owned Motorola rolled out touchless control on its flagship phones in advance of the consumer release of Google Glass. Just as the original iPhone introduced iOS, established a cultural comfort level with touch-based interaction, and paved the way for the success of the iPad and a whole new way of computing, Google surely hopes touchless control will act as a societal primer for a brave new world in which we all walk around communicating and accessing data by talking to our glasses.

A no-brainer?
Given all this, it seems like a no-brainer to me that Google would include touchless control as a key feature in its next reference-design Nexus device. According to Motorola, the secret sauce behind touchless control in the Moto X is its "X8" computing system that features "two low-power cores" that are always listening for the user's voice to give the "OK, Google Now" command to activate it.

Teardowns of the Moto X reveal that the "X8" is essentially a Snapdragon-based custom system on a chip consisting of four GPU cores, a dual-core CPU, and then the two low-power cores. The Snapdragon 800 that the Nexus 5 is rumored to be based on is a different animal, but as GigaOm points out, the hardware should be natively capable of running touchless control.

That's because the Snapdragon 800 has basically incorporated the same always-listening capability that Motorola custom-built into the X8 -- Qualcomm calls it "voice activation." Right now there are three phones on the market running the Snapdragon 800 -- Samsung's Galaxy Note 3, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, and the LG G2, which is rumored to be what the LG-made Nexus 5 is based on.

The waiting game
On the Note 3, Samsung's S voice is not as impressive as Moto's touchless control; it's built to work best with Samsung's native apps rather than Google's. Sony's Xperia Z Ultra isn't sold by any U.S. carriers, and Sony's own marketing makes no mention of voice activation capabilities, while the LG G2 uses third-party software called Voice Mate for the same functions, which CNET's reviewers found to be nearly useless.

In other words, Google seems to be the only Snapdragon 800 client with an interest in pushing voice activation as a major feature. I'm banking we'll hear a lot about it at the release of the Nexus 5, but then again, I've been disappointed in the past -- I'm still a little shocked at the lack of LTE on the Nexus 4.

So now all we can do is wait. Before the October 15 date popped up, I was hearing that Nexus 5 availability was more likely to happen closer to the end of the month, which could make sense for a Halloween trick-or-treat tie-in given the introduction of Android KitKat.

On September 18th, Apple finally released its iOS 7 update, the update that it announced at WWDC 2013 and the one that replaced iOS 6 as the companys latest and greatest. September 18th was a month ago and now, its time to take a close look at how iOS 7 has fared on Apples previous iPhone, the iconic iPhone 5.

In June, Apple announced iOS 7 to the world, showing off a number of its big time features including AirDrop, its revamped core features including Notifications and Weather, and of course, its new look that is drastically different from any piece of software that Apple has ever released for the iPhone, iPad and the iPod touch.

The company attached a fall release date to the software, a sign that it would be coming alongside the new iPhone, and in mid-September, after an iPhone 5s launch, Apple pushed the iOS 7 update to owners of its iPhone 5, iPhone 4s, iPhone 4, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad mini and the fifth-generation iPod touch. The updates release was unfortunately marred by installation issues but that didnt stop millions of users from installing the new software on day one.

In the days after, we offered up our impressions and initial thoughts on the iOS 7 release, taking a look at the updates on the iPhone 5, iPhone 4s, iPad 3 and iPad mini in particular. Now a month later and just a day ahead of the iPad mini 2 and iPad 5 launch, its time to take a look at how the iOS 7 experience has been for the past month.

Since the arrival of iOS 7, weve seen not one, but two iOS 7 updates in the form of iOS 7.0.1 and iOS 7.0.2. The latter of the two arrived for all iOS 7 users just a few weeks ago. Here now, we take a look at how iOS 7.0.2 and iOS 7 as a whole have held up over the course of the past few weeks and take a look at what we expect as we move forward into 2014.

Overall Performance

Battery Life

So far, Ive had extremely good luck with iOS 7 battery life on the iPhone 5. While Ive heard some horror stories about battery drain and what not from friends, family and from iPhone users around the globe, my device hasnt experienced any of the battery drain issues that are seemingly plaguing many iPhone users after installing iOS 7.

I am still able to get a full day of use on Wi-Fi. When I am strictly using 4G LTE, the battery life is noticeably worse but I still dont have to charge the phone until I am getting into bed. This is the same type of battery life that I got when using iOS 6 and its the type of battery life that I was expecting from a brand new, overhauled mobile operating system.

In regard to the issues that others are having, perhaps I have really good luck. But I think its more likely that its the apps I use and how I use the phone that play into the fantastic battery life that I get.

Bugs

I havent encountered any major issues with iOS 7 on the iPhone 5, save for one. While iPhone 5s owners are dealing with reboots, I havent seen those. iPhone 4s owners are dealing with lag but the lag issues that I had have subsided on the iPhone. They still are present on the iPad. No, the only issue that has marred my experience is the iMessage bug.

After installing iOS 7.0.2, my iMessage began to act funny. I was no longer able to send iMessages and had to depend on texts. It was something that was extremely frustrating given how reliant I have become on Apples message service. As I found out later, this is a widespread issue and for some people, much worse than not being able to send iMessages.

Some people simply arent able to receive iMessages from other iOS users. For many, this might seem trivial, but for those that have limited texting plans, its a pretty raw deal. Fortunately, thanks to a temporary fix, Ive managed the problem but its still a problem nonetheless. Fortunately for those that have encountered it, Apple says that it will be fixing the flaw with an update.

Connectivity

Lots and lots of people are having issues with Wi-Fi in iOS 7. Weve reported on it several times and its a bug that has lingered since the introduction of iOS 6. There are some temporary fixes that owners can try but at this point, there is no clear cut fix for the issues and its not clear if Apple is going to tackle the issue down the road.

Lucky for me, my iPhone 5 hasnt experienced any connectivity issues when it comes to Wi-Fi or 4G LTE. Both connections have been stable in unknown and known Wi-Fi networks and AT&Ts 4G LTE network is as fast and reliable as it has ever been. Given the amount of people that are complaining about these issues, I feel fortunate.

What I Like About iOS 7

New Look/Apps

As many iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users know, the look of iOS 7 is different than the look of iOS 6. The UI is flatter, the icons are different and the colors are vastly changed. I liked the look of the software when I first saw it at WWDC and I liked it when I finally got hands-on with the final version of iOS 7 just a month ago. That hasnt changed.

The look and feel of iOS 7 felt a little alien at first but over time, I have come to appreciate what Apple has done. The new icons have grown on me, even the garbage disposal looking Settings icon. And its the little things like the color changes to match the background color that really make iOS 7 a piece of software to marvel at.

What I also love is the fact that many of the applications I use the most, Twitter for example, not only run beautifully but have receive massive design changes to match the operating system. Twitter looks fantastic, so does the Facebook app. Great looking applications that work, cant ask for much more.

Control Center

As I said in my initial review of iOS 7, Control Center, the little menu that can be pulled up with a swipe from the bottom of the screen, was going to be a feature I used, a lot, and that hasnt changed. I continue to depend on Control Center on a daily basis and its, maybe pathetically, the feature that I find myself using the most.

If you've been waiting to get your hands on Sony's latest mobile gear in America, today's the day.

Sony has just placed unlocked versions of its Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z Ultra Android handsets up for sale at its US retail website. The company has also added its Smartwatch 2 wearable tech gadget to its virtual store shelves.

Those in the Sony know will appreciate the Xperia Z1's suped-up 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, large 5-inch Full HD (1920x1080) resolution LCD screen, and sharp 20.7 megapixel camera sensor. The Xperia Z1 keeps the stylish and water-resistant chassis of the previous Xperia Z as well. Sony prices the unlocked GSM Xperia Z1 at $669.99.

Taking a page out of the Samsung Note 3's playbook, the Xperia Z Ultra is also a phablet of sizable power and girth. Boasting the same 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor as the Z1, the Z Ultra ups the ante by sporting a massive and larger 6.44-inch LCD screen yet matching its Full HD (1,920x1,080 pixels) resolution. The Ultra doesn't come with its own special stylus like the Note 3, but is designed to let users scribble on it with pencils and metal pens without damaging the display. Sony sets the Xperia Z Ultra's price at $649.99 (for a GSM non-LTEmodel), while the LTE-capable Ultra rings in at a higher $679.99.

Rounding out the trio of new Sony products is the Smartwatch 2. A follow up to Sony's first stab at a smartwatch, this latest gizmo brings welcome improvements such as a water resistant housing, NFC technology for fast and convenient pairing, plus longer battery life. Despite all the promised enhancements, the Smartwatch 2 will sell for $199.99, $100 less than Samsung's Galaxy Gear timepiece.

The popular HTC One smartphone is busy getting updated to the latest version of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean across the US, but those in other regions may not be so lucky. After the international version received the update first, followed by an array of US carriers over the past two weeks, it appears HTC issued a delay in the UK.

In a recent set of posts on Twitter HTC UK confirmed the update has been pushed back or delayed, and now were looking at roughly another 3-5 weeks before it starts rolling out. At that point all major US carriers will have the latest, and the UK will be the only one waiting for Android 4.3 and the newly improved Sense UI experience.

The news of this delay was posted by the official HTC UK Twitter account, in reply to HTC US President Jason Mackenzie, and at this point thats the only details available. For some unknown reason the update has been pushed back anywhere from 3-5 weeks, but a specific date wasnt released or confirmed.

Plug the little Meenova dongle into a compatible Android device and you've got microSD access.

(Credit:Meenova)

Expandable storage has long been a prominent and coveted feature in Android devices, but some of them -- the HTC One, Motorola Moto X, and Google Nexus 7, to name a few -- don't have it.

However, as I noted recently in "How to use external storage to expand unexpandable Android devices," you're not totally out of luck. Thanks to USB On the Go (OTG for short), you can connect flash drives to some smartphones and tablets, though it does require a cable.

That's not a particularly elegant solution, what with the cable hanging off the bottom of your device and a flash drive hanging off the cable. Enter Meenova, a small microSD card reader for Android devices. Born on Kickstarter, it's now available for preorder in your choice of four colors. Total price: $12.

The Meenova works with microSD cards as large as 64GB.

(Credit:Meenova)

As The Cheapskate, I consider that a really fair price for a gizmo that solves a fairly major issue with a lot of Android devices. Indeed, if you've balked at buying, say, an HTC One Mini because you were concerned it wouldn't hold all your music or movies, now you've got an easy and inexpensive fix.

The reader measures 0.8x0.9x0.3 inch, though it protrudes only 0.6 inch once plugged into your device's Micro-USB port. And it has a keychain loop and bundled snap hook so you can more easily transport it. You also get a Micro-USB-to-USB adapter so you can use the Meenova with a PC.

So, how much extra storage can you plug in? The reader works with microSDHC cards as large as 32GB and microSDXC cards up to 64GB. You can buy one of the former for around $20, the latter for around $50.

Sounds great, right? Now for the "but": the Meenova isn't compatible with all Android devices. Rather, it works with a couple dozen phones and tablets, include the latest HTC, Motorola, and Samsung Galaxy stuff and Google's Nexus tablets. See the compatibility list for a full rundown.

Assuming you have a compatible device, this is arguably the easiest and most elegant way to add a microSD slot (or even a second one in the case of something like the Galaxy S4). And for 12 bucks, how can you go wrong?

In less than 24 hours we should know everything there is to know about the new MacBook Pro release date and what we can expect from these new Apple notebooks for the 2013 holiday shopping season.

It looks like the new MacBook Pro will with a collection of upgrades including enhanced graphics, longer battery life and possibly Thunderbolt 2. While consumers may long for a MacBook Pro LTE or one with Touch ID, this year we dont expect to see this options arrive.

Weve already covered what to expect on the new MacBook Pro release date, and now we want to take a closer look at what to expect from Apple as the new MacBook Pro models come to market.

Read: 5 Reasons to Wait for the New MacBook Pro

The new MacBook Pro Retina late-2013 models should arrive soon.

The latest rumors also suggest the new MacBook Pro will come with a new FaceTime camera capable of taking video in 1080P, for enhanced clarity on FaceTime or Google Hangouts. The OS X Mavericks release date is still up in the air, which will likely play into the new MacBook pro release date.

Heres what not to expect from Apple when it comes to a new MacBook Pro release date in late 2013. While stores will just show them as a new MacBook Pro or MacBook Pro Retina, Apple will likely use the MacBook Pro Late-2013 name.

Release Date Later than October 29th

We expect that Apple will announce the new MacBook Pro models at the October 22nd event and could possibly release them immediately. The MacBook Air Mid-2013 release took place soon after the announcement this summer with in store and online availability almost immediately.

The new MacBook Pro release should come online and in store within days.

One scenario is the online new MacBook Pro release arrives when the Apple Store comes back online and the in store release arrives one or two days later. This is the approach Apple took with the MacBook Air this summer and would line up with some rumors about the release date timing as well as hope that OS X Mavericks will arrive fast.

Another possibility is that Apple will wait until after the Q4 20-13 earnings call on the 28th to announce the final details for OS X Mavericks, which could hold up the new MacBook Pro. In the past Apple used these events to share new OS X release details, but is seems substantially more likely that the company would use the stage time to announce it alongside new hardware and deliver OS X Mavericks before the earnings call.

Issues and Sellouts

At this point we dont expect sell outs and issues on the new MacBook Pro release date. This isnt to say the device will be flawless, just that Apple will likely be able to deliver enough stock to meet demand and that demand is not likely going to be high enough to bring down Apples website like some past iPhone launches have.

Google's example of the upcoming default SMS toggle.

(Credit:Google)

The underlying code that powers Android text messaging is about to get a makeover, and that could have far-reaching changes for how people text each other on Android 4.4 KitKat and beyond.

For non-developers, the changes will be practically unnoticeable. As the screenshot above indicates, soon you'll be able to choose a default SMS (Short Message Service) app through the Android operating system itself. Currently, the SMS app developer must make it an option in the app's settings.

The changes to how KitKat will handle text messaging involve altering its application programming interfaces. Google said in an Android Developers Blog post Monday that many Android SMS apps improperly used "hidden" or "private" APIs, which are a protected class of APIs for accessing core system functions such as Wi-Fi radio usage or touch-screen input values. In the case of text messaging, these APIs control how the app interacts with the mobile radio, and have been unavailable to developers until now.

Google will be making the hidden APIs available to all developers, not just those tenacious enough to hunt them down. This means that developers who have used hidden APIs on Android 4.3 and earlier will have to adjust their code to accommodate their new status.

It's not clear at this time whether text-messaging app makers who use the hidden APIs will have to offer two versions of their apps, one for KitKat and later, and another for Android 4.3 and earlier.

More importantly, though, is that the change could be part of the groundwork for the rumored "universal" messaging plans for Android, akin to iOS's iMessage. Google has said that it plans to add SMS support to Hangouts for Android, and the app already can be used for mobile phone and landline dialing. It also has some integration with Google Voice.

Hangouts has been making its way through the Google messaging world, first debuting in Google+ for video and group instant messaging, then taking over Google Chat in Gmail and on Android and iOS.

A request for comment from Google was not immediately returned. CNET will update the story when we hear back.

Last month, Apple released the iPhone 5s, its iPhone 5 successor and a device that joined the new iPhone 5c and iPhone 4s in Apples iPhone lineup. In just a few days, Google is likely going to announce its brand new Nexus-branded smartphone, the Nexus 5, a device that is going to compete for attention. Ahead of its launch, we take a look at how we expect the iPhone 5s to match up with the Nexus 5.

After months and months of rumor and speculation, Apple took the stage at its campus in Cupertino, California and announced two brand new iPhones in the mid-range plastic iPhone 5c and the premium, high-end iPhone 5s. The iPhone 5s in particular replaced the iPhone 5 as the companys flagship smartphone model and a device that will carry the company flag into battle in 2014.

Apples iPhone 5s will have to fight off an assortment of competitors this holiday season from the Galaxy Note 3 to the Lumia 1020 to the Galaxy S4 and HTC One, heroes from earlier in the year. There is also another yearly, highly anticipated device that has yet to be announced, one that should definitely compete with the iPhone 5s. That phone? Googles new Nexus.

After months and months of rumor and speculation, Google is set to take center stage, either in a physical location or online, and announce at least one brand new Nexus smartphone in the LG-made Nexus 5. The Nexus 5 will replace the discontinued Nexus 4 as the companys flagship Nexus smartphone and it, like the iPhone 5s, will be competing for attention well into 2014.

Last year, many consumers found themselves comparing the iPhone 5 to the Nexus 4 and this year, it will be more of the same, only it will be two different devices attracting their attention. With the Nexus 5 launch nearly here, its time to take a close look at how Googles new flagship should match up with the iPhone 5s, Apples leading smartphone.

Release Date

The iPhone 5s was released last month though almost immediately it encountered supply issues, supply issues that had been rumored ahead of its release, issues that Apple didnt announce at its launch event. For weeks now, the iPhone 5s has been in short supply, with Apple Stores and carriers still experiencing stock shortages across all colors.

In particular, the gold iPhone 5s is hard to find and it will likely remain that way for a few more weeks at least. Gotta Be Mobile has also learned that Verizon stores within 500 miles of San Francisco are experiencing severe stock shortages for all variants of the device. Point is, despite it being available, the iPhone 5s is still hard to find and likely will remain that way as we head into November.

Last years Nexus 4 launch was hampered by the same type of issue, only, it was way more extreme. When it arrived in November, the Nexus 5 sold out not once, but twice, before getting pushed back all the way into February for some buyers. It wasnt a launch that Google wants consumers to remember.

The Nexus 5 launch date still isnt known, but we expect it to arrive within the next few days, with a release likely coming by the middle of November, ahead of Black Friday. Google likes to release its devices no later than two weeks after a launch event and with it rumored for October, we should see a release date soon.

Given the high profile of the Nexus 5, its possible that we could see supply issues drag it down, but consumers should hope that Google learned its lesson with the Nexus 4 launch and ordered a ton of phones to keep supply in line with demand.

Design

The iPhone 5s uses the same overall design as the iPhone 5. That means that it comes with a premium industrial design made of glass and metal. Specifically, the iPhone 5s measures in at 7.6mm thin, extremely thin for a flagship smartphone, and weighs in at a mere 112 grams. This makes it an extremely compact device and one that easily fits in pockets and hands.

Apples design means that there is no expandable storage or removable back. There is, however, a fingerprint reader embedded in the home button. Touch ID allows users to open their phone up using their fingerprint, something that enhances security for its users. In addition, the iPhone 5s comes in three colors, gold, silver and gray.

To no ones surprise, the Nexus 5 should use a completely different design. Thanks to a copious amount of leaks, the LG Nexus 5 design will differ from both the Nexus 4 and the iPhone 5s in that it will likely use a black matte material that appears to resemble the Nexus 7s smooth back. Specific dimensions are unknown, but given that Google slimmed down the Nexus 7 design, we expect an extremely slim and lightweight device.

Like the iPhone 5s, the Nexus 5 wont have a microSD card slot and from the looks of things, its unlikely to have a removable back as well which means that users will be stock with the stock battery.

Display

Apple kept the 4-inch Retina Display found on the iPhone 5 and put it on board the iPhone 5s. What this means is that it boasts a display that offers 1136 x 640 resolution at 326 pixels-per-inch. While the display is aging, its not showing its age, as the display still ranks up there with the best on the market, offering fantastic looking videos, photos, web, and more.

Those who are looking for a larger display are likely going to find one with the Nexus 5. Leaks point to a near 5-inch display that rocks 1920 x 1080 resolution with 441 pixels-per-inch. In other words, its going to be on par with many of the smartphone displays that we saw arrive in 2013, displays like the Galaxy S4s and the HTC Ones.

Like the iPhone 5s display, it should produce high quality photos and video and the extra size will work out well for those that simply need more space for things like gaming and browsing the web.

Was the Nexus 5 launch shut down by the shutdown?

(Credit:FCC)

We don't yet have an official Nexus 5 smartphone, but there's all kinds of new gossip about the next pure Android phone from Google to speculate about.

Tuesday had been one of the most widely circulated potential reveal dates for the Nexus 5, but as I write this it's past noon on the West Coast and Google is still mum about any new hardware (in truth, if we were going to see something Tuesday, invites or some other event details would have gone out days ago).

Instead, a whole new crop of rumors have sprung forth in the absence of any hard news, as if compelled to fill the vacuum that apparently both nature and technology abhor.

Most interesting, but least believable in my mind, is the suggestion that Google plans to introduce not only a Nexus 5 in the coming weeks, but also a new LTE-enabled Nexus 4. According to a Romanian Android blog that I'd never heard of before, the Nexus 5 will launch at $399 for 16GB and $449 for 32GB, and an LTE Nexus 4 will start at $299 for 16GB or $349 for 32GB.

Previously, the price of the Nexus 5 was rumored to be $299. $399 might be a more likely price point, but I do have one question about releasing a Nexus 5 at the same time as a new Nexus 4: why?

Why would Google do that? The very idea seems completely counter-intuitive to the point of the whole Nexus program, which is to offer leading-edge Android reference designs that showcase Google's vision for the direction of the mobile OS. Google slashed the price of the Nexus 4 to clear out its stock and focus on the next generation of Android. Why would it bring the phone back just to fragment things and distract from that goal?

Nexus 5 shut down by the shutdown?
What fascinates me more than rumors of a Nexus 4 encore is some of the speculation over why the Nexus 5 hasn't emerged from the shadows yet. It could be that a launch closer to Halloween was always the plan -- I still think that could tie in nicely with the Android 4.4 KitKat launch -- or it could be that massive furloughs at the FCC and numerous other federal agencies could be to blame.

You might remember that we saw some FCC certification docs for what appear to be the Nexus 5 last month, but what if Google wasn't able to get everything it needed to get past the federal bureaucracy before it shut down two weeks ago?

That leads us to another rumor that's been getting fresh attention this week -- the notion that Google could launch the "Nexus Gem" smartwatch alongside the Nexus 5 and Android KitKat. Could it be that such a device is currently stuck in the same bureaucratic limbo as countless passport renewals and well... almost all of NASA?

Presumably Google wants to release the Nexus 5 within the next four weeks at the latest to make sure it's available before Black Friday and the kickoff of the holiday shopping season. If there have been delays tied to the shutdown, the company is going to need to figure out some kind of workaround, if possible. If Google and the U.S. Congress cant sort themselves out in time, I'll plan a massive Crave road trip to Tim Hornyak's house in Canada to check out the new Nexus gear.

Meanwhile, we can just continue to hope that Google has been planning to release its new schwag at the end of this month all along.

Moto X: 'When comparing the latest offerings, Google trumps Apple in engineering design and creativity,' says ABI Research.

(Credit:Motorola)

The Moto X display exhibits the best power efficiency and beats Apple's iPhone 5S, according to two recent research notes from ABI Research.

One, released Tuesday, trumpeted the display, supplementing a note released last week.

"After Google acquired Motorola, we now have the first Google-influenced phone with some very innovative engineering," Jim Mielke, VP of engineering at ABI Research, said in a phone interview.

Today's note said that the Moto X may be leading the way toward displays that don't have to constantly dim to save power.

The display found in the Moto X...has the best performance observed in a mobile display to date...[the] AMOLED display draws just 92mA [milliamps] during bright conditions and 68mA while dim. This level of performance is so significantly improved that other factors are more likely to govern battery life now. Automatic dimming and short idle periods before turning off the display will be less crucial and may even be features that fade away from all handsets soon.

By comparison, the iPhone 5s draws 80mA and 220mA (about 2.5 times as much as the Moto X) while sporting 20 percent fewer pixels than the Moto X, he said.

The power consumption on Moto X's always-on voice commands is also impressive, Mielke said.

"Features like always-on voice commands typically would draw too much current to be practical, but the Moto X accomplishes the task with 4.5mA allowing the phone to maintain over 200hrs of standby time," he said in a statement released last week.

The Moto X's engineering has bypassed Apple's in some respects, Mielke said.

"The transition in innovation and solid engineering is clear [to the Moto X and away from the iPhone]," he said in the interview, adding that the 5S' fingerprint ID access lock was first introduced a few years back by Motorola on the Atrix HD 4G.

And Apple's new A7 chip -- which has been well-received -- has its own shortcomings: it draws more power during certain operations compared with its predecessor, the A6.

"The A7 processor drew 1100mA during fixed point operations and 520mA during floating point operations. The iPhone 5 drew 485mA and 320mA for the same test," he said.

He concludes his written comments with a zinger. "The combination of solid engineering, creative features, and timely introduction of those features was Apple's trademark but it has faded in this category over the last two years."