Friday, August 30, 2013

HTC One In Blue Coming To Sprint On September 10th

HTC One in blue coming to Sprint on September 10th - HTC One in blue coming to Sprint on September 10th
Sprint will be offering the Taiwan based manufacturer's Android flagship model in silver, black, red and soon in blue. The nation's third largest carrier is currently asking $99.99 for the handset with a signed two-year contract. 

Not a bad price for the phone that currently has the highest pixel density (468ppi) in the industry, you should be able to pick up a blue HTC One from Sprint on September 10th.


Source: PhoneArena

Google Has Acquired Smartwatch Maker WIMM Labs

Google has acquired a new company, smartwatch maker WIMM Labs, a move that further proves Google’s increased interest in wearable smart devices.

This isn't the first time we hear that Google may be working on its own smartwatch in addition to Google Glass, also a wearable device we have told you as much before this year’s Google I/O, and we have shown you new Motorola patent applications for such a device although the company is yet to unveil an actual product.

As for WIMM, the company said in summer 2012 it has entered “into an exclusive confidential relationship” for its technology, which prevented it to sell any more WIMM One Android-based smartwatches to interested buyers. At the time, it was believed that Apple purchased the company.

According to the publication, some WIMM employees now work at Google with the Android team and Google has confirmed the acquisition.

While WIMM products weren't necessarily popular must-have devices, they certainly attracted Google’s attention, and we can safely assume the Search giant will put that smartwatch technology to good use in its own smartwatch models and even in Google Glass.

What may have caught Google’s attention is WIMM’s own developer program, which allowed developers to create so called “micro apps” or “applications that were meant to provide more than just notifications for your smartphone, but actually work independently from the device in your pocket and provide additional functionality.”




Thursday, August 29, 2013

Vodafone Confirms Talks To Sell Verizon Stakes


Vodafone today confirmed reports that it is in talks with Verizon Communications to sell its 45% stake of Verizon Wireless. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon Communications and Vodafone. The companies held talks earlier this year, but no deal was reached. The two firms rekindled their discussions in July due to changes in the financial markets that make the deal more attractive to both companies. Verizon is working with banks to raise about $60 billion to help with the buyout. The total cost of the deal is said to between $100 and $130 billion. Vodafone said that it would use any funds raised by the sale to help with other acquisitions and to pay down debt.


Source: Reuters

Samsung’s ‘Galaxy Gear’ Smartwatch Companion App Leaked

Screen Shot 2013-08-29 at 5.15.06 PM
Samsung’s Lee Young-hee confirmed that the device would make its first official appearance at the company’s event scheduled for Sept. 4 in Berlin. Today, Evleaks points us to the screenshots above showing what appears to be the device’s companion app that will likely be available for all Android devices, although there is still the possibility it will only support Samsung’s own Android devices.

The screenshots above confirm the device will pair with Bluetooth, and there is also a section within the app to manage “Samsung Apps.” Another feature called “Find my watch” sounds a lot like a feature for locating a missing Galaxy Gear and Samsung also references wireless charging: “turn on NFC in Settings and bring the mobile device and charger together, back to back.


Source: @evleaks 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Verizon Wireless And Vodafone Discuss $100 Billion Plus Buyout

Vodafone owns a 45% stake in Verizon Wireless. This is a fact that rankles Verizon constantly. Verizon has tried a number of times to work out a deal to buy out Vodafone, but it hasn't been able to make the deal yet. According to the Wall Street Journal, Verizon and Vodafone have started up talks again to try to arrange a buyout.

The talks between the two sides had said to have fallen off recently, but apparently have gotten very serious. The report says that Verizon is looking to buy out Vodafone for "well over $100 billion"; word has it that the talks have gotten serious enough that Verizon has even been talking to multiple banks about the loans for around $50 billion it would need in order to complete the deal.

Earlier this year, the two sides were quite far apart with Verizon said to be pushing for a deal closer to $100 billion, while Vodafone was asking for something around $130 billion.


Source: WSJ

Android VP Hugo Barra Reportedly Resigns From Google


According to a new report from AllThingsD, citing “sources in position to know”, one of Google’s top Android executives is leaving the company. The report states that Hugo Barra, who was the vice president of product management for Android, will soon be departing the company to join Chinese phone maker Xiaomi. Xiaomi produces its own high-end Android-based devices, though with a heavy custom skin on top. Barra originally joined Google in 2008 as a group product manager, having previously worked for speech firm Nuance, and has moved up the totem pole since then.

This news comes on the heels of Andy Rubin, the creator Android, stepping down from his position earlier this year. Given that Android is Google’s top product right now, Barra’s decision, especially when coupled with Rubin’s departure, will undoubtedly cause some tension within the company. Barra often appeared on stage at Google events, most recently at the second-generation Nexus 7 unveil.


Source: AllThingsD

T-Mobile Sues AT&T's Aio Wireless


T-Mobile has used the color magenta to represent its brand for over a decade, and it's been far from shy about defending the hue from others. Now the carrier has filed its latest color-protecting complaint against AT&T, alleging in a suit on Friday that its competitor's new subsidiary, Aio Wireless, is using its own trademarked color to confuse consumers. "Out of all of the colors in the universe," T-Mobile's complaint reads, "Aio chose magenta."

The complaint draws connections between the launch of Aio, which relies on off-contract plans, and T-Mobile's own switch to off-contract plans, which occurred just months before. "AT&T set up Aio to compete directly with T-Mobile," the complaint reads. It argues that Aio's use of the color magenta "is likely to dilute T-Mobile’s famous magenta color trademark, and to create initial interest confusion." T-Mobile has been using magenta since 2002, but its parent company, Deutsche Telekom, has been using it as far back as the 1990s.
Aio Wireless does use a bright shade of purple, but it's far darker than T-Mobile's hot pink, which it calls magenta. "T-Mobile needs an art lesson," an Aio spokesperson tellsThe Verge. "Aio doesn't do magenta." T-Mobile includes several images in the complaint to illustrate the confusion it's hoping to prove. Among those are both its own and Aio's coverage maps, which display varying shades of purple across the United States.
T-Mobile has previously requested that entities which aren't wireless carriers cease using the color too, including Engadget Mobile back in 2008. Our own Nilay Patel, then writing for Engadget, notes that for such a lawsuit to succeed, T-Mobile would generally have to prove that its own color of magenta was in use, that it was being used in conjunction with a telecommunications product, and that its use could confuse or was intended to deceive consumers.

Google Updates Official Google Keyboard Application

Google is sending out an update to the official Google Keyboard application, full of a few new bugfixes and added little features for tablet users. Listed in the changelog is “tuned keyboard layouts” when using some languages, as well as long-press numbers along the top row of tablet layouts.
What’s New:
  • Added long-press numbers to the top row of tablet layouts.
  • Tuned keyboard layouts for some languages.
  • Bugfixes and stability improvements.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Nexus 4 Price Drops, Now $199 And $249

Screen Shot 2013-08-27 at 5.25.10 PM

Google just dropped the price of the Nexus 4 by $100 for both 8GB and 16GB models. So yes, you can get a brand new off-contract phone for either $199 or $249, respectively.


Source: Google Play Store Nexus 4 (8GB), Nexus 4 (16GB)

Google Brings Chromecast App To iOS Devices


Google today published a version of its Chromecast application for Apple's iOS devices, including the iPhone and iPad. The Chromecast app for iOS allows users to set up their Chromecast to work with their Wi-Fi network, as well as manage their Chromecast settings (password, device name, etc.) Chromecast for iOS is free to download from the iTunes App Store and supports most iPhones and all iPads. Chromecast is already available to Android devices. Chromecast is an HDMI dongle that allows people to push online video content to their HDTV.


Source: iTunes




FCC Puts The Breaks On AT&T's Alltel Buy Out

The Federal Communications Commission today stopped the unofficial 180-day shot clock on its review of AT&T's proposed purchased of Atlantic Tele-Network's Alltel assets. The deal, first proposed earlier this year, would give AT&T wireless spectrum licenses in the 700, 850, and 1900MHz bands, network assets, retail stores, and 585,000 subscribers. 

According to the FCC, AT&T has not adequately explained how it will transition the Alltel customers from Alltel's service to its own. Without that information, the FCC cannot complete its review. The FCC says the review was on Day 175 out of 180. Verizon Wireless was forced to divest some of Alltel's assets when it purchased the company in 2008. Atlantic Tele-Network picked up some of the assets and continued to run them under the Alltel name. AT&T agreed to pay Atlantic Tele-Network $780 million for the spectrum licenses, assets, and customers. 

AT&T's Jim Ciccone, EVP of External and Legislative Affairs, said in a statement posted to ATYT's web site, "AT&T is ready, willing and able to make significant network investments in these rural territories to bring HSPA+ and LTE services to Allied’s customers, an investment that will not occur but for this transaction. AT&T has actively worked to address FCC concerns and will continue to work with the Commission until all issues are resolved."


Source: AT&T

BlackBerry Considers Breaking BBM Off Into New Company, BBM Inc.

BlackBerry is seemingly on the verge of finally releasing BlackBerry Messenger for the iPhone and Android devices. According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, however, the company may have even bigger plans for BBM. The Journal on Tuesday reported that BlackBerry is considering spinning its BlackBerry Messenger division off into a separate company called “BBM Inc.” that would operate as a BlackBerry subsidiary with more independence than it currently has. The company is also once again considering expanding BBM beyond BlackBerry, iOS and Android devices to desktop computers, according to the report. ”We have announced our plans to offer this trusted mobile messaging service to iPhone and Android users sometime this summer,” a BlackBerry spokeswoman said in response to the report. “We have made no further announcements.” Breaking BBM off into a new company is one of many different ideas being tossed around as BlackBerry looks to recover from its current downturn.


Source: The Wall Street Journal

Samsung Exec Confirms September 4th Unveiling Of Galaxy Gear, Galaxy Note III

Samsung has confirmed plans to unveil its next-generation Galaxy Note III phablet and the brand new Galaxy Gear smartwatch on September 4th. Speaking with Korea Times, Samsung marketing boss Lee Young-hee confirmed numerous earlier reports stating that both new devices would debut at Samsung’s IFA press conference next week. Interestingly, however, Lee referred to the smartwatch as a “concept device,” suggesting that it might not be ready for launch.
“We will be introducing a new wearable concept device called Galaxy Gear at our own event in Berlin on Sept. 4,” Lee told Korea Times. “The Gear won’t have a flexible display. The new device will enhance and enrich the current smart mobile experience in many ways. It will lead a new trend in smart mobile communications. We are confident that the Gear will add meaningful momentum to the mobile industry.”
Earlier reports stated that the Galaxy Gear will become available sometime in October, so this could simply be a matter of things getting lost in translation.
As for the Galaxy Note III, the device is expected to launch soon after being unveiled and will likely feature a 5.7-inch display, a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 processor or an eight-core Exynos 5 Octa chipset depending on region, 3GB of RAM and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Sprint To Launch BlackBerry Q10 On August 30th

Sprint will be launching the BlackBerry Q10 on August 30th, priced at $199.99 with a signed two year contract. What makes this interesting is that Sprint never had added the all touch BlackBerry Z10 to its roster earlier this year, thus making the Q10 its first BlackBerry 10 handset. And this also makes the BlackBerry Q10 the first 4G LTE enabled BlackBerry ever offered to Sprint customers.

Back in March, Sprint spokesman Mark Elliot was asked why Sprint wasn't planning on offering the Z10, and he said "We aren’t saying there’s anything different about our customers. We think our customers will be happy with the QWERTY keyboard and touch screen on the Q10." This doesn't mean that Sprint customers won't have an all-touch BlackBerry 10 model to choose from this year. Back in June, Sprint confirmed that it was going to be offering its customers the 5 inch, all-touch BlackBerry Aristo. This model, now known as the Z30, will be the most powerful BlackBerry ever with a dual-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro Plus CPU, an Adreno 305 GPU and 2GB of RAM. The BlackBerry Aristo is expected to launch in November.

"Our customers have anxiously awaited the arrival of the BlackBerry Q10 smartphone. Its best-in-class physical keyboard, productivity features, enhanced security capabilities and apps make it easy to be productive at work and connected to friends and family after hours." David Owens, Vice President of Product Development, Sprint


Source: Pocket-Lint

Moto X Officially Arrives On Verizon August 29th

verizon moto xVerizon announced via Twitter this afternoon that the Moto X will officially arrive online, August 29, for $199 on-contract. Yes, that would be this Thursday. The device will then arrive in stores over the coming weeks. We’ve reported this as the current target date a handful of times now, so we’re glad to finally have it set in stone.
As most of you already know, the Moto X will be available in both black and white models, with MotoMaker customization coming further down the road. AT&T currently has the off-contract or full retail price set at $579 for the 16GB version. AT&T currently has an exclusive deal on the 32GB version as far as we know.

Source: @VZWnews

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer To Retire Within 12 Months


Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer plans to retire some time in the next 12 months, said the company. Microsoft's board has formed a special committee to begin a search for a successor to Ballmer, who has led the company since January 2000. Once a successor is chosen, Ballmer will step down. "There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time," said Ballmer. "We have embarked on a new strategy with a new organization and we have an amazing Senior Leadership Team. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our company’s transformation to a devices and services company. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction." Microsoft's business has changed radically during Ballmer's tenure, as computing has moved away from traditional desktop and laptops to more mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones.


Source: Microsoft

Beats Considering Buying Back HTC’s Share


According to the Wall St. Journal, Dr. Dre’s Beats may be considering buying back HTC’s share of the business.

The maker of the popular Beats by Dr. Dre headphones is looking to buy out its Asian partner and bring in a new investor that can provide it with fresh funds for growth, people familiar with the matter said.

The moves come as the founders of Beats Electronics LLC music mogul Jimmy Iovine and American hip-hop producer and artist Andre Young, better known as Dr. Dre are broadening the company’s business from headphones to include speakers, audio systems in cars and consumer electronics and a soon to be launched online streaming music service.

It isn't mentioned in the article but with the much larger Beats partner HP now making Android tablets and possibly phones, there might be some conflict in Beats branding land.  HTC is obviously having some issues financially so maybe the smaller guy is getting edged out and is more willing to take the money and run.

Meet The Moto X Developer Edition

motox devoloper edtiion
Punit Soni (Motorola’s VP of Product Management) told us that we were “days” away from the arrival of Developer Editions and other carrier models of the Moto X. Yesterday, Motorola updated their Moto X “ways to buy” page, showing off the new Developer Edition, which will sport a black front panel coupled with a white woven rear back plate. The render of the phone also shows the words “DEVELOPER EDITION” engraved on the bottom. 
The page mentions that the dev edition will “have a look all its own,” meaning the two-tone color scheme is something different than what you’ll find in carrier models. Now, once MotoMaker is fully opened up or should you buy a Moto X card from AT&T, you could essentially build a similar looking device.
The listing also confirms 32GB of storage and an unlockable bootloader. No price is listed just yet, but since the AT&T 32GB model runs $629, I’d be surprised if it was lower.

Source: Motorola

Sunday, August 18, 2013

HTC One Developer Edition Will Jump Straight To Android 4.3

The HTC One Developer Edition that's the developer-friendly, 64-gigabyte model sold directly by HTC  will skip Android 4.2.2 and go directly to Android 4.3, according Jason Mackenzie, president of global sales at HTC. Mackenzie was responding to questions on Twitter when he dropped the word.
The reason, Mackenzie said, is that Android 4.2.2 " is a minor update, so we decided to go straight to 4.3."
Some non U.S. versions of the HTC One have been updated to Android 4.2.2, which in addition to the core Android improvements brought new features to BlinkFeed and Video Highlights.
The next question is whether the U.S. carrier branded versions of the HTC One which launched earlier this year with Android 4.1.2 will go the same route and update directly to the newest version of Android,which was released just last month.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Samsung ATIV Neo S Hits Sprint August 16

Sprint today announced that the Samsung ATIV Neo S smartphone will be available for purchase beginning Friday, August 16. The Neo S, which runs Windows Phone 8, will cost $149.99 after $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year contract. The Neo S has a 4.8-inch 720p HD display, a 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor with 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and support for microSD cards up to 64GB. It supports Sprint's LTE 4G network and worldwide GSM/HSPA networks for roaming. The device also includes GPS, NFC, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. The Neo S has an 8-megapixel main camera and 2-megapixel user-facing camera. The Samsung ATIV Neo S has a removable 2,000mAh battery. It will be sold via all Sprint channels, including retail, online, and via telephone.



Source: Sprint

Windows 8.1 said To Launch On October 18th

Microsoft continues to finalize its Windows 8.1 update, but the company revealed today that it plans to make it available on October 18th. The free update will be listed in the Windows Store for existing Windows 8 users at 7AM ET on October 17th, with boxed copies, new hardware, and a full retail release on October 18th. The final copy of Windows 8, known as Release to Manufacturing (RTM), is expected to be made available to PC makers and partners in the coming weeks. Sources familiar with Microsoft's plans previously revealed that Microsoft plans to update and patch Windows 8.1 in the weeks leading up to the October release.

Galaxy Gear Smartwatch Reportedly Confirmed For Samsung Unpacked Event In September

On September 4, Samsung is set to take the stage in Berlin and unveil the Galaxy Note 3. While that is pretty much 100% confirmed, there have been talks and even patent filings concerning a Samsung smartwatch, which was first referred to as Samsung Gear. According to SamMobile, they have learned from sources that Galaxy Gear (model number SM-V700) is real, and will be launching alongside the Note 3 on September 4 at the Unpacked event. 


Source: SamMobile

Monday, August 12, 2013

BlackBerry To Explore Selling Off The Company


BlackBerry is looking to try something new. The company on Monday announced that it’s forming a committee to explore “strategic alternatives” that “could include, among others, possible joint ventures, strategic partnerships or alliances, a sale of the company or other possible transactions.” BlackBerry is emphasizing that “there can be no assurance that this exploration process will result in any transaction” and that it “does not currently intend to disclose further developments with respect to this process, unless and until its Board of Directors approves a specific transaction or otherwise concludes the review of strategic alternatives.” Given that we’ve heard reports about BlackBerry going private over the past few days, it’s not surprising that the company trying to explore as many new strategies as it can to keep itself afloat. BlackBerry shares were up more than 6% on the news.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Apple Reportedly Unveiling The Next iPhone On Sept. 10th


Apple will debut its latest iPhone lineup during a special event on September 10th, just a month from today. The report doesn’t specify as to which models will be announced at the event, but if rumors are to be believed, we may see the highly anticipated iPhone 5S as well as a new, low-cost iPhone 5C.

There’s been much speculation as to when exactly Apple will unveil its latest lineup as the company has been unusually quiet about new products over the last year. Many are also wondering whether or not Apple will break its traditional iPhone lineup (introducing a new iPhone and shuffling older models down to lower price points) or if it will in fact produce a cheaper, plastic iPhone to cater to demands for Apple to enter new, lower-cost markets.
We’re excited to see what the company has in store for this event as well as what they've been planning for new product categories. While the report doesn't postulate the appearance of an entirely new product category, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has expressed a deep interest in both wearable technologies, given credibility to the rumored iWatch, as well as the television.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Nexus 7 2013 Factory Images And Binaries Now Live

Screen Shot 2013-08-09 at 3.18.17 PM

The factory images for the new Nexus 7 2013 “razor” are now live. The binaries too. We’re looking at Android 4.3, build JSS15J.
Be sure to download the factory images and store them in a safe place, you never know when you might need to flash your device back to stock.

Google Reportedly Chooses ASUS To Make Next Generation Nexus 10


According to a new report, Google will be dropping Samsung and picking ASUS to manufacture the next-gen Nexus 10. The site has correctly reported on a few product releases in the past, but today’s report goes against what we heard earlier straight from Google’s own Sundar Pichai. 

Following the launch of the new Nexus 7, Google’s head of Chrome and Android told The Wall Street Journal’s Amir Efrati that a new 10 inch Nexus 10 tablet would be arriving in the near future. He also told Efrati that the device would indeed be once again be manufactured by Samsung. It’s possible he was misquoted, and multiple companies often submit designs for upcoming Nexus devices before Google ultimately decides on a manufacturer.

While Samsung made the original Nexus 10, it might make sense for Google to stick with ASUS the maker of the new Nexus 7 if the next generation Nexus 10 is to follow the design aesthetics of the new Nexus 7.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Android Device Manager Is Now Live


Have you ever lost your phone in between the couch cushions or forgot it in a restaurant? Or maybe searching for your phone before you rush out the door is part of your morning routine? Let the new Android Device Manager help you out! It's one of a few simple features you can use to keep your device and the data you store inside safe and secure.

Locate and ring your misplaced device 
If you ended up dropping your phone between those couch cushions, Android Device Manager lets you quickly ring your phone at maximum volume so you can find it, even if it's been silenced. And in the event that your phone or tablet is out of earshot (say, at that restaurant you left it at last night), you can locate it on a map in real time.

Protecting your personal information and data
While losing your phone can be stressful, Android Device Manager can help you keep your data from ending up in the wrong hands. If your phone can’t be recovered, or has been stolen, you can quickly and securely erase all of the data on your device.

Availability and getting started 
This service is now available on devices running Android 2.2 or above; to use it, you also will need to be signed into your Google Account. There will also be an Android app to allow you to easily find and manage your devices. To activate Android device Manager simply go to menu>settings>security>device administrators> and check the box behind Android Device Manager to activate.

Google has also announced as of today the availability of Android Device Manager website you can access it at www.android.com/devicemanager.

LG G2 Officially Announced


LG says that the G2 is designed for humans and that LG put long research into developing it so that it would be best for humans. That was part of what went into the design choices that they made such as the rear power button and volume rocker. They also found that a 5.2-inch display size was the largest size that an average human could comfortably hold. That’s also enhanced with the ultra-thin bezels that LG has incorporated. The G2 is also optimized for next-gen LTE-Advanced networks by using the Snapdragon 800.

The G2 boasts some of the most powerful specs that we've seen to date. It also has some interesting little features and tweaks around it. Let’s take a look at the specs list:


  • 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor
  • 2GB RAM
  • 5.2-inch 1080p IPS display with dedicated graphic RAM
  • 16GB/32GB storage
  • 13-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization
  • 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera
  • 3,000mAh battery
  • Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
  • 24 bit/192kHz Hi-Fi playback
  • 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9mm
  • Black and white color options


LG has also included some new features in its UI:


  • Answer Me — Automatically answers the call after lowering the ringtone when the phone is raised to one’s ear.
  • Plug & Pop — Recommends options or related features to choose from when the earphone or USB cable is detected.
  • Text Link — Allows information embedded in text messages to be selected and easily saved in a memo or calendar and searched on a map or the internet.
  • QuickRemote — Not only can LG G2 be used to remotely control popular home entertainment devices, it can also learn from conventional remotes and be customized to operate multiple devices with flexible layouts and keys.
  • Slide Aside — Enables easier multitasking by simply “sliding” open apps off to the side using a three-finger swipe.
  • Guest Mode — Protects owner’s privacy by displaying only pre-selected apps when guests access the phone with a secondary unlock pattern.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Meet the HTC Fetch, A Bluetooth-Enabled Tag

htc fetch

The HTC Fetch, a little Bluetooth-enabled tag that just went up for preorder on the site of UK-based retailer Clove.

So, how does this gizmo work? The gizmo, which looks just like a key fob that you can put it your wallet, or attach to your bag or keys, connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Whenever the tag, along with the item to which it’s attached, goes beyond 15 meters from your phone, the tag emits a loud alert, that should, in theory, tell you that you were about to lose your stuff.

If you happen to be in a loud environment or if you don’t hear the alarm for some other reason, you can consult the last GPS location of the Fetch on Google Maps. The gizmo takes these coordinates from the smartphone, meaning that it doesn't contain a GPS module itself, and that you have to use the GPS on your phone for this function to work.

If you simply misplaced your keys around the house, you can use a smartphone app to activate the alarm manually, which sounds like a brilliant functionality that many people would love.

The Fetch also features a button with which you can activate the camera shutter on your phone, turning it into a simple remote control. For power, the small device uses a CR2032 battery, that is said to be enough for six months of operation.

The HTC Fetch BL A100 device can be pre-ordered now from Clove for the rather reasonable price of £30 ($38). Not all details are known yet, but we’ll sure bring them to you as soon as we have them.