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."