Best Android Apps of 2012

Apple has already reeled off its best apps of 2012, and now Google has donned its retrospective specs and done the same for Android.

While Apple's chart is based on raw download numbers, Google has just opted for what it reckons are the best of its platform in the last 12 months. Some apps are brand new this year, some have just been updated. "From excellent tools to objects of beauty, each of these applications represents the best of Google play," it says on the App Focus page. So let's take a look and see what's impressed the people behind Android this year.

5 new GTA 5 screenshots out!!

Rockstar has wished us all happy holidays the only way it knows how: by giving us a fresh batch of Grand Theft Auto 5 screenshots to salivate over.

The screens were posted on the Rockstar site under the headline "Happy Holidays -- Enjoy". So it's not giving us much to go on. But still, who needs explanations when you've got sharks, planes, Rottweilers and more? Click through for the full gallery.

Sony Yuga, Just like the rest of the smartphones

The Sony Yuga seemed like a huge leap forward when we first got wind of it, just a few weeks ago. A 5-inch 1080p screen? Fantastic. But now it seems like more of the same.

Russian site Mobile Review has given the Yuga -- which will almost certainly be called something different when it's properly announced -- a thorough hands-on. It confirms the Yuga has a 5-inch Full HD (1,080x1,920-pixel) screen, a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and a 12-megapixel camera.

Future Phones Will Smell To Check If You are sick!!

In just a few years, your phone will have one, two, three, four, five, senses working overtime. That's according to IBM, which reckons phones will soon see what you can't, taste what you like, smell when you're ill, hear what babies are saying and let you stroke someone's skin through your screen.

In its annual round of 5 in 5 predictions -- five things that could happen in the next five years -- IBM highlights the potential of hardware that would share your senses of sight, taste, smell,hearing, and touch.

Yota Phone with Second Screen at the back

The YotaPhone certainly has gotta lotta bottle. It's a prototype Android phone that solves the modern curse of rubbish battery life with a novel new two-faced design.

The YotaPhone boasts not one but two 4.3-inch screens -- one on the front and one on the back. The twist is that the traditional full-colour high-definition touchscreen is complemented by a low-powered ebook-reader-style black and white E Ink display on the other.

New Photos for Blackberry 10L series

The best photos yet have emerged showing off the first BlackBerry L-series phone -- and it looks a lot like the iPhone 5.

The snaps come from Vietnam, where leakmeisters Tinh te have got their hands on the new phone.

UK Government to rewrite web monitoring bill

David Cameron has been forced to go back to the drawing board on the government's draft Communications Data Bill after a committee of MPs and lords strongly criticised the proposed law's snooping powers.

The draft bill would force ISPs and phone networks to create "potentially limitless" records of digital communications -- who contacted whom and when, rather than the contents of those messages -- and enable the police and security services to look through these records whenever they suspected criminal or terrorist activity.

iPhone 5S to come in different colors

Colour us interested: the next iPhone could finally sport a coloured casing. Could a colourful iPhone 5S join the likes of the Nokia Lumia 920 in brightening up the mobile phone world?

Business Insider reports an industry watcher's predictions that the next generation of iPhone will be available in six or even eight colours. If true, it'll be the first time the iPhone shows off any colour other than black and white.

Apple and Samsung Arch Rival: HTC M7!!

HTC is going for its guns in the shootout with the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3. Reports say a new flagship phone called the HTC M7 will come out all guns blazing in 2013.

The magnificent seven is still unconfirmed, but rumours have begin to circulate that HTC intends to take the fight to the iPhone, S3 and other rivals. Industry rag Focus Taiwan reports that HTC has briefed suppliers of casings and semiconductors to prepare components for 4 to 5 million M7 phones.

Samsung Galaxy S4 With unbreakable screen

Unbreakable blower! The Samsung Galaxy S4 will have an indestructible screen when it arrives in the new year, according to new reports.

The follow-up to the smash hit Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy S2 is expected in Spring, and could sport a screen made of plastic substrate that will fight off cracks and scratches even if dropped.

HTC 8S Remarkable Price!!

If you're looking for a cheaper way to hook up with Windows Phone 8 and its cheery live-tile lifestyle than Nokia's pricey Lumias, HTC is here to help. The HTC 8S -- or Windows Phone 8S by HTC to give its full perfume-inspired name -- is out now for £180 (plus top-up) on pay as you go from Three, and on pre-order from Expansys at £240 SIM-free.

That's at least £150 less than the most comparable Nokia, the £360 Lumia 820. We haven't reviewed the 8S yet, so I can't say exactly how they stack up, but let's have a look at what you get on paper.

iTunes download out Now

The new version of iTunes is finally here, following delays that saw Apple missing its original October deadline for the spangly new software.

The delay, the Wall Street Journal reports, was down to "engineering issues". Apple said at the end of October that it "wanted to take a little extra time to get it right". Never mind though, because now the much-needed iTunes revamp is available to download.

Microsoft PRO priced debuts at $899

Microsoft has pronounced a price for its professional high-end tablet. The Microsoft Surface Pro will start at £560 when it arrives in the new year.

That's the US price, though -- UK prices have not been announced. American tablet fans will have to pay $899 (£560) for the 64GB version or $999 (£622) for the 128GB model -- and the Touch Cover keyboard costs an extra hundred bucks on top.

Tablets Threaten To Oversale Laptops

More tablet displays shipped last month than those of laptops, hinting that the likes of the Nexus 7 and the iPad could be about to outsell the classic portable PC.

David Hsieh of NPD DisplaySearch described it as "a milestone for the global industry", noting that display shipments reflect demand and hence sales. "It can be seen that tablet PCs are threatening to overtake notebooks."

Gangnam Style Most Watched Video On Youtube

It was already the most liked video on YouTube, but Psy's Gangnam Style has become the site's most viewed clip of all time, The Verge reports.

The insane Korean pop video has a whopping 814,358,247 views. Even if you're a bit sick of it by now, the good news is it's toppled Justin Bieber's Baby from the top spot. The baby-faced Canadian pop moppet's video has 804,542,697 views at time of writing.

Apple To Make Cheap iPhone by 2014

Will Apple soon start making a cheap iPhone? That's what one analyst reckons, and the reasons do seem to add up.

Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster -- not of those ones, sadly -- thinks that at some point in the next two years, Apple will make a special version of the iPhone that'll cost just $200 (£125), Business Insider reports. He says the budget blower will be aimed at emerging markets such as India and China.

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and Windows 8 Face Problems

There's few things more annoying than your expensive new gadget playing up when you've only just got it -- but it seems the latest devices running Android and Windows Phone are having all sorts of problems.

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean has been described as "one of the most bug-ridden releases since Honeycomb", while Windows Phone 8 blowers are reportedly switching themselves off with no warning.

Android Police lists the bugs that have turned up in Jelly Bean, from flickering auto-brightness and battery problems to glitchy lockscreen widgets and broken Bluetooth -- not to mention the small matter of December disappearing entirely from some Jelly Bean calendar apps.

Both Jelly Bean and Windows Phone 8 are also prone to random reboots, according to complaints on user forums.

Windows Phone 8 launched less than a month ago with a selection of phones, including the Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC 8X. But now owners are taking to customer forums to complain that the Lumia 920 and 8X randomly switch themselves off and back on and again without so much as a by your leave.

Nokia blames the problem on apps, and recommends closing apps by existing using the back button. 

Earlier this year I lamented that too many new gadgets are arriving half-finished and afflicted with some gremlins or other, and it seems there's no change in that pattern. Since I moaned about the Samsung Galaxy Nexus's volume problem or the Nokia Lumia 800's refusal to charge, we've been subjected to Apple's naff Maps app, the iPhone 5's purple haze and silver scratches, and the HTC One X struggling with battery bugs.

On the plus side, the fact that the random reboot problem afflicts both the 8X and 920 shows it's probably a software problem rather than hardware, meaning both Windows Phone 8 and Android 4.2 should be fixed by a judicious update. 

Have you experienced any problems with Android Windows Phone? Let me know in the comments or on our Facebook page.

sony challenges iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S3

Sony admits it's failed to challenge the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S3 yet, but promises a flagship follow-up to the Sony Xperia T that will rival the best of the smart phone best.

"We will create in the near future a flagship Sony model that can compete with Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy S3," said one of Sony's mobile phone bosses.

Blackberry to kill Laptops soon

BlackBerry 10 is a portable brain that plugs into any computer -- so you won't need a laptop. That's according to eternally optimistic BlackBerry boss Thorsten Heins, who reckons the humble laptop will be obsolete in three years.

Super Blinged Camaro ZL1 Camaro

To paraphrase Rene Magritte, this is not a car. Yes, it is a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 convertible, and it has an engine which can turn those 30-inch Forgiato gold saucers into forward motion. But the transformation by a Tampa tuning shop into what it calls the King ZL1 has placed the Camaro into the kind of debate heard around avant-garde galleries: Is it a piece of art, or a piece of garbage?

HTC One V and Desire C will never get Jelly Bean

Many of the phones HTC has released in the last year and a half will not be updated to Android Jelly Bean, the company has confirmed in the FAQ section of its website. Among the casualties are the HTC One V and the HTC Desire C, both of which are fairly recent offerings from the Taiwanese manufacturer.

iPhone and iPad get Nokia maps app

Now Here this: swooping in after the disaster of Apple Maps, Nokia is bringing a maps app to the iPad and iPhone. 'Here' is an iOS app and website that you can edit, which helps you find your way even if you don't own a Nokia.

Samsung 85-inch Ultra High Definition TV Out in New Year

Samsung will unveil an 85-inch Ultra High Definition TV in the new year. It's not the first 85-inch UHDTV, but it has bagged one of the technology world's most prestigious innovation awards.

The Samsung gigantotelly makes its debut at CES, the technology bunfight that takes over Las Vegas every January. It's already won the Best Innovation award for the show, so we can't wait to check it out.

HTC Deluxe Leaks Out

HTC could be cooking up a 5-inch smart phone , if new leaks are to be believed.

A render of the so-called HTC Deluxe was posted to Twitter by mobile tipster evleaks, and is apparently a "global edition" of the phone. It's always worth taking rumours like this with a pinch of salt, though there are other 5-inch HTC mobiles out there that make this leak a bit more credible.

Android 4.2 On Nexus 7 Has Broken Bluetooth

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean looks to have a fatal flaw, if reports from irate Android fans are to be believed. It seems the spangly new software struggles to cope with Bluetooth, and stutters during music playback.

That's bad news if you have a portable Bluetooth speaker or use the wireless tech in the car while driving. One person writes in Google's coding forum, "When I stream music from my Nexus 7 to my Bluetooth speaker system it is stuttering every few seconds -- unusable."

BlackBerry L Leaks: Same Size As iPhone 5

The next generation of BlackBerry is coming in the new year, and already the new phone is squaring up to the iPhone 5.

Codenamed the BlackBerry London, or L-series, the new phone will be one of the first to show off BlackBerry 10, the long-delayed and much-anticipated update to the BlackBerry operating system.

Peugeot Onyx scooter

Looks like it’s driven straight out of Mega-City One…
The Peugeot Onyx scooter may look like Judge Dredd’s weekend motor, but this futuristic black and copper three-wheeler is actually all about saving the environment with its hybrid powertrain.

How much oomph does it produce?

Lexus LF-LC Blue Concept Car

What’s the Lexus LF-LC Blue Concept about?
The Lexus LF-LC Blue Concept is a high-performance sports coupe that was revealed at the Australian International Motor Show. It has looks to make you drool but milage to make you stroke, your now moist chin, in appreciative thought.

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Out In 2013

Built in Italy, just arrived from the future; here’s the all-new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster which boasts relentless force, a fearless look and a timeless powerhouse. Designed to represent a whole new level of performance, while setting new benchmarks in the super sports car segments, the Aventador LP 700-4 is notably the first variant of Lamborghini’s flagship sports car, and it comes featured with removable roof panels, lighter wheels and a new exclusive color-shade of blue dubbed as Azurro. Boasting an entirely new technology package, unique and powerful functional design language, outstanding lightweight engineering, innovative carbon-fiber monocoque, and phenomenal handling precision, this $445,300 eternally different and unmistakably Lamborghini will set to go on sale in summer 2013.

Toshiba's latest Ultra book: The satelitte u840w

So far laptops based on Intel’s ultrabook specifications – such as the Acer Aspire S3 – have staunchly stuck to the Macbook Air-style design language of brushed-aluminium slimness. Toshiba, though, have created a laptop that succeeds in ultrabook certification but looks nothing like Apple’s iconic laptop. Designed specifically for watching movies, it features an ultra-wide display and decent speakers. But does it also perform as a day-to-day laptop?

Five Reasons You Will Love Windows 8

Touchy feely

Ever pressed your old-fashioned monitor in the hope it responds? Sadly, unless you have magical fingertips, you’ll need Windows 8 (and touch-enabled hardware) to turn your computer experience into one comprised swipes and presses that feel incredibly intuitive. Who says you need a start button?

Early Preview of 2014 Cars

It's never too early to see what's under the hood for the world's car makers. Because of the peculiarities of the industry, some 2014 models have already been shown at auto shows like Paris and Frankfurt, or pictures have been released in advance of other shows like Los Angeles (in November) and Detroit (January).

Manufacturers like to keep new models under wraps until the very last minute, lest they steal sales from outgoing models, but sometimes complex logistics or simply corporate flag-waving take precedence over sales tactics.

For those who can't wait for the official start of the 2014 model year on October 1, 2013, here is a peek at some of the all-new cars and crossovers that will be emerging from design studios and engineering centers.

Delta six Controller Gets redesigned

Most video game controllers sporting a firearm form factor are a far cry from realistic -- bright colors,odd shapes and obvious thumbsticks leave many accessories looking more like toys than weapons. Not David Kotkin's Delta Six. This gun-shaped controller's first prototype looked so much like a real rifle, Kotkin said, it had to be redesigned. An orange tip, whitewashed body and a few less authentic looking components don't make the Delta Six look any less believable as a digital soldier's modern musket, but itdoes make it less likely to be mistaken for the real McCoy.

Windows Boss Leaves Microsoft

Microsoft has ditched the man in charge of Windows, less than a month after Windows 8 launched. Steven Sinofsky, president of Windows and Windows Live, is about to have a lot of time on his hands to practise his golf swing.

Saying goodbye to Sinofsky, Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer highlighted the big strides the company has made lately, including new Microsoft Office, Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, the Surface tablet, and Halo 4.

Samsung Ativ Odyssey could be next 4G Windows Phone

This is the first look at the next Samsung Windows Phone. Boasting 4G in the US, the Ativ Odyssey looks set to be a more pocket-friendly phone than the one it's already unveiled.

The first Windows 8 Phone from Samsung is the Ativ S, a giant 4.8-inch beast of a phone. Judging by this picture, shown off by Evleaks, the Ativ Odyssey is much smaller.

Skype For Windows Phone 8 Out

Prepare your best gormless phone face and rehearse those bad accents -- Skype is finally available on the Windows Phone 8 app store.

Out now and free to download, the new version shares many characteristics with its Windows 8 desktop counterpart. The clean, minimal design of Windows 8 apps is in full effect, with the People, Favourites and Recent sections arranged in columns for you to swipe through.

Apple and HTC Settle Patent Issues

This is more like it. Apple and HTC have kissed and made up, and put behind them all the lawsuits they've been slapping each other with.

Not only that, they've announced a deal that will let them license patents off each other for the next 10 years, so we shouldn't see any more court cases between them for a while. Way to go, guys. Now how about Apple and Samsung try something similar?

Get Jelly Bean On Your Samsung Galaxy S3

If you've munched your way through Gingerbread, Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich and you're still craving the next sugary Android fix -- and can't wait for the software update to be dished out to your Samsung Galaxy S3 -- then read on.

Sony Xperia T

Sony is doing its level best to work through the alphabet with its Xperia range of Android phones, following the recent Xperia S,Xperia J and Xperia U. The Xperia T is the latest addition to this growing stable, with a 4.6-inch HD screen, NFC capability, dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor and a camera with 13 (count 'em) megapixels.

It's such an alluring box of tricks that even James Bond has signed up. So is the Xperia T about to sneak up on Sony's flagship Xperia S around the back of the casino and neutralise it? That's the kind of top-secret intel I'll divulge in this review.

Google Now A Mobile First Company.

Google will focus more on mobile than on its desktop services next year. That's according to three executives who gave a talk at the recent 2012 Open Mobile Summit in San Francisco, Business Insider reports.

A note to investors from Morgan Stanley describes the Google execs -- Rikard Steiber, global marketing director for mobile and social advertising, Francisco Varela, YouTube's global director of platform partnerships, and Rich Miner, general partner at Google Ventures -- taking the stage to give some pretty interesting stats to back up their mobile plans.

Microsoft Wants To Spy On You and Charge You More!

Big Ballmer is watching you. Microsoft is working on a way of spying on you through your TV, in a bid to charge you for every person watching.

Microsoft has been awarded a patent for the "content presentation system and method allowing content providers to regulate the presentation of content on a per-user-view basis". The system uses cameras to make sure you've paid for the right number of viewers, and if you haven't the system takes "remedial action".

Windows Messenger Hacked In Favor of Skype

Microsoft is giving its popular Windows Live Messenger service the chop, in an effort to herd the chatting online masses onto Skype instead.

"We will retire Messenger in all countries worldwide in the first quarter of 2013," confirms Tony Bates, the president of Microsoft's Skype division, on Skype's blog.

That means fans of Microsoft's enduring IM client have until the end of March next year to enjoy the free software, at which point Ballmer and pals will be hitting the kill switch.

Xbox Surface: A 7-inch 720p Gaming Tablet?

Following the reviews that greeted its full-size Suface RT tablet, Microsoft is now reportedly leading a 7-inch gaming tablet into its gadget stable.

"Multiple sources familiar with plans" have seemingly confirmed Microsoft's plans to the Verge, which claims a final version of the mythical device is being cooked up as we speak.

Apple Boasts It's Slates are Hot Sales!

Apple flogged 3 million of its newest iPads -- the iPad with retina display and its Mini-Me, the iPad mini -- last weekend. The Californian company boasts this is a record for its tablets, doubling the 1.5 million Wi-Fi only iPad 3s it shifted after its first three days on sale in March.

That's pretty darn quick -- Asus last week revealed it has also shipped out 3 million of its superbly cheap Nexus 7 tablets, but the iPad mini's closest competitor went on sale back in July, well over 120 days ago. Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 -- a little smaller, but not by much -- hit the 3 million mark in just over a month.

iPad Downloads 5 Times More Apps Than All Android Tablets

People with iPads download five times as many apps as all Android tablets combined, another stark reminder of how much Apple dominates the tablet market. But can the Google Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD change that?

The figures on app downloads come from ABI Research's Mobile Application Markets Research Service, which tots up numbers of app downloads and the money made from them.

Android: 5 Years On!!

Android is five years old today -- happy birthday Android, have a cake! But how did our favourite green robot get started on his journey to mobile industry domination?

Five years ago, on 5 November 2007, the newly formed Open Handset Alliance unveiled Android -- an open-source operating system for mobile phones.

iPad Mini Sold Out!

The iPad mini only went on sale Friday morning, but it's already sold out in some Apple Stores around the world, 9to5Mac reports.

The flagship Apple Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City has run out of iPad minis, according to Topeka Capital's Brian White, who released a note to clients on the subject. Apple Stores in the UK, Singapore, Canada, and all over America are also out of stock, according to White.

Android OS in 3 out of 4 Smart Phones

Three quarters of all smart phones sold in the last three months use Google's Android software, says a study by research firm IDC, Reuters reports.

It shows the gap is widening between Android and Apple's iOS.

Twitter Makes Instagram Filters for It's Apps

It looks like Twitter is going to bring retro photo filters to its mobile apps. That's according to a report in The New York Times, anyway.

Twitter hasn't confirmed or denied anything yet, but the Times says the microblogging service will let you share "altered images" and bypass Instagram. Instagram is owned by Facebook now, after all, so it's hardly surprising if Twitter doesn't want to send any business the way of its rival.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Hits 30 Million In Sales

Samsung's Galaxy S3 has hit another milestone: 30 million sales worldwide, The Verge reports.

Samsung Poland made the announcement via its Twitter and Facebook pages. This comes just two months after the Korean giant announced the S3 had sold 20 million units in its first 100 days, less than six months since the phone went on sale. Not bad going at all.