It's time for a roundup of all things mobile in our weekly phone news video. Here's what I say in the video above if you don't want to watch it -- although it's excellent, you really should.
Let's start off with the infuriating news that 4G is going to take longer to arrive in the UK than we hoped. Industry regulator Ofcom has said today that companies will now not be able to bid to run 4G services until next year, after previously saying the process would happen this year.
That puts the prospect of faster Internet on our phones back well into next year, and probably 2014 for most people. Don't blame me, I'm just the messenger.
In more positive news, the latest version of Android -- Jelly Bean -- is starting to appear on the phone Google released back in 2010, the Nexus S. Announcing the roll out on everyone's favourite social network, Google Plus, Google said the update will start appearing for customers using certain networks such as O2 and Vodafone, with others to follow. Cue hundreds of Google Plus comments from frustrated users saying 'what about meeeeee', 'when can I get it', and so on.
There will be a different connector on the next iPhone, with 19 pins rather than the 30 pins on the current generation, according to Reuters, who claim to be quoting sources "familiar with the matter". That makes it smaller, which will make room for the headphone port to move to the bottom.
Trouble is, that makes every iPod or iPhone accessory sold in the last few years obsolete, requiring you to use an adapter to make them work. Why Apple doesn't just go for micro-USB like every other manufacturer is beyond me.
In other Apple news, a British judged caused no end of tittering in the CNET offices this week when he ruled that Apple must take out newspaper adverts apologising to Samsung for claiming that it copied the iPad. We even had a go at creating our own version of the advert, with tongue firmly in cheek of course.
Incidentally, this is the same judge that ruled Samsung "isn't as cool as Apple", so there are plenty of egos being pricked as a result of all the bizarre legal shenanigans going on between the two companies.
Finally, CNET reader Will Powell has emailed us with details of an automated translation system he built using a phone, two Raspberry Pi computers and some 3D specs. He has demoed the setup in a video showing his sister talking to him in Spanish with the English translation appearing on the screen in his specs.
The results are impressive for a DIY project -- although you're not likely to be carting all these different bits of kit on your next holiday to the Costa Brava. If you're interested in building this yourself, full instructions are available on Will's blog.
Hit play on the video above for all the news in full, and scribble in the comments below or over on our Facebook page to let us know which scraps of phone news have caught your attention this week.
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Comments 8
Add your comment
anonymous 24 July, 2012 17:28
"Why Apple doesn't just go for micro-USB like every other manufacturer"?
Because micro-USB is what the little people use, not the super-stylish Apple elite!
:-P
anonymous 24 July, 2012 22:32
To be fair micro usb is a pain. Because of its small size and shape it's much harder to put it on. For example, I can put on my apple connector on my phone blindfolded, unlike the micro usb. And so what if its standard, I would only use my apple phone charger to charge my phone anyway. Apple is so popular anyway that it pretty much defines "the standard".
schilltastic41 25 July, 2012 01:40
I wished Apple just used their normal connector that they have been using for previous iPhone generations.
anonymous 25 July, 2012 08:45
err, micro-usb was chosen by all manufactures of phones as the standard port for charging to allow greater compatibility and less hassle for consumers. But Apple likes to be different. Remember when Sony Ericsson had a similar port to the iPhone, but it was thicker? and rubbery? Personally, Apple are douche-bags for pushing this crap, and soon the glitz and glammer of their UI will fade with their hardware, because people are demanding more from their phones as they learn more about the possibilities.
anonymous 25 July, 2012 09:38
I wouldn't say so that Apple is currently dominating phone world, from all iv seen Samsung is currently selling more then apple. Also Apple is asking way too much for their phones which always have same features and only the design of the phone changed and nothing else, it seems like they are running out of ideas.
anonymous 25 July, 2012 10:17
If apple go with micro usb (in order to comply with the law) they will lose money on selling the adaptor to convert it to micro USB (in order to comply with the law). Same as if the phones didn't shatter every time you dropped it on a cloud, they wouldn't make as much from phone covers.
The reality is, the Reality Distortion Field is gone and people are waking up. Apple have been copying rivals since 2009 and now theyre even u turning from their assertion that 3.5" is the perfect screen size. They're finally putting g on nfc and 4g and all these things the rest of us have had for two years.
billfred 25 July, 2012 11:51
@anonymous 25 July, 2012 10:17
I'm sorry, which law are they breaking....?
They did sign the manufacturers agreement to use micro-usb and have now flown in the face of that for years.
anonymous 27 July, 2012 10:24
Post is very interesting,I really like your blog & the way you wriiten it ..
Thanks for sharing this creative ideas.
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