There's no shaking Google's Android and Apple's iOS from first and second place respectively at the top of the smartphone user number rankings charts, but the battle for third place is a corker. The latest stats have just come in from the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, covering Q1 2013, seeing Windows Phone overtake BlackBerry for third place.

Microsoft's mobile OS now sits at 3.2% of the smartphone market share, up from 2.0% last year, with BlackBerry dropping down to 2.9%, a considerable fall from their 6.4% share a year earlier in Q1 2012.

While that's a 133.3% growth for Windows Phone, BlackBerry's share has shrunk by 35.1%. This is despite a gigantic new hardware and software push from the Canadian company, launching new handsets like the BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10, as well as the well-considered BlackBerry 10 OS. While the Nokia and Microsoft partnership across the Lumia line-up is finally making headway it seems, leading the Windows Phone charge, it must be very worrying times over at Blackberry HQ.

"Windows Phone claiming the third spot is a first and helps validate the direction taken by Microsoft and key partner Nokia," said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.

"Given the relatively low volume generated, the Windows Phone camp will need to show further gains to solidify its status as an alterative to Android or iOS."

As expected, Google's Android OS retains the top spot with 75% of the market share (that's 79.5% year-on-year growth), with Apple's iPhone line taking a 17.3% share in second place.

For more from the report, click here.

Rumours of a budget iPhone launching this year from Apple have been given a significant boost today, with Apple's manufacturing partner Pegatron announcing that it will increase its number of workers by 40% in the second half of the year.

It has lead many analysts to believe that Pegatron (which makes many iOS devices for Apple), will be the lead manufacturing partner for a cheaper iPhone, aimed at courting customers in emerging markets such as India and China.

Adding further fuel to the fire, Pegatron's chief financial officer Charles Lin revealed that the company expect 60% of its revenue for 2013 to come during the second half of the year, with 40% of that figure made up revenue made from the manufacture of communications products. Communications products like a cheap iPhone, perhaps?

Another factor pointing to Pegatron's work on the budget iPhone is falling demand for the iPad Mini, an Apple device they manufacture. It's lead to a decrease in second quarter revenue as production has slowed, with Apple seemingly turning their attention to the next wave of devices.

Indeed, Apple CEO Tim Cook has himself teased that the company will be introducing "exciting new product categories" from the Autumn through to 2014. And though a budget iPhone wouldn't constitute a brand new product category for the company, it would be a new venture for a company that deals primarily in premium products. Morgan Stanley analysts have even stated that a budget iPhone could increase Apple's lucrative Chinese market share from 10% to 30%. And even if the cannibalisation of premium iPhone devices is a factor, the increased traffic to the iTunes and App Store could make up the difference.

It's the end of an era: Apple are finally putting the original iPhone out to pasture, rendering it "obsolete".

This means that Apple will now longer be catered for through Apple's care centres as of June 11 in European, Asian, Latin American and Canadian territories. Californian statue however states that the phone must remain serviceable in the company's home state, so vintage smartphone fans will be able to eke out a little more love for the phone from Apple in California.

First released back in 2007, the original iPhone introduced the world to iOS, then called iPhone OS, introducing us to the now-widespread concept of mobile apps, through a silky-smooth touchscreen experience.

Primitive by todays standards (there was no 3G in the original model, and had only a 2MP camera and underclocked 620MHz processor), it did however lay the foundations for what would become a revolution in mobile telephony.

Apple will be also making the iMac G5, PowerBook G4 and 2005 Mac Mini obsolete, so make sure you get any problems fixed with them soon.

A newly-leaked carrier roadmap has made its way to French tech blog Nowhere Else that suggests the iPhone 5S will be available to pre-order on June 20.

The document, intended to aid shopfloor sales assistants for Japanese telecom KDDI's "au" wireless service, states that employees should be ready for a June 20 launch ahead of July shipping dates and an in-store sales push.

A few other details are shared in the document, including "confirmation" of a 13MP camera and the inclusion of iOS 7.

Is the document legitimate? The laminated sheet is said to closely mirror the "cheat sheets" that forgetful in-store sales assistants refer to when pushing new products on customers. But considering they're often printed at point of sale from widely-circulated PDFs (usually only with a company header changing between rival stores) this wouldn't have been too difficult to fake.

The details do ring true with previous leaks concerning the iPhone 5S though - iOS 7 is pretty much a given we'd say, and many analysts are expecting a 13MP camera.

The dates too seem plausible. Apple's WWDC event is set to take place on June 10, lasting till June 14. If the iPhone 5S were to be revealed there, the June 20 pre-order date would be a sensible week after the unveiling.

However, during Apple's latest earnings call, CEO Tim Cook did point towards Q3 as being the company's month for "surprises" and innovative new products. With that in mind, either the June 20 date is wrong, or Apple have something even more exciting than a new iPhone up their sleeves for later this year.

Apple's annual WWDC event will this year take place between June 10 - 14 in San Francisco.

The yearly meet up for Mac and iOS developers is usually a showcase for software updates from the Cupertino giants, but is often also used to launch some of the company's hardware too.

For 2013, Apple promise to give developers in attendance "an in-depth look at what's next in iOS and OS X", suggesting we may get a first official look at what's coming with the iOS 7 update. It's possible the event will also see the launch of Mac's OS X Mountain Lion successor.

As for hardware, it's anyone's guess! It's still a little too early we feel for iPad or iPhone launches, with their most-recent editions landing last Autumn and still feeling fresh, though we're approaching a year since the unveiling of the first Retina MacBook Pro models.

As ever though, devout Apple fans are scouring the invite for clues as to what could be on show at WWDC 2013. The colourful invite is leading some to speculate that new iPhones will indeed launch, given previous speculation that this year's models will arrive in multiple colours, as did the most recent iPod Touch media players.

The iPhone 5S, in true iPhone "S" edition tradition, looks set to be primarily a spec-bump up from last years iPhone 5, with rumour having it that it's only defining new feature is a potential fingerprint scanner. However, that addition could turn out to prove costly for Apple, as a new report is stating that its inclusion could lead to delays for the smartphone.

Reuters are reporting that issues surrounding finding a suitable coating for the fingerprint scanner could result in shipping delays, with the publication's sources claiming that coating so far used have interfered with the responsiveness of the scanner.

Production of the iPhone 5S was slated for June, but this issue is now causing worries that mass production schedules could slip, leading to a delayed launch for the handset.

As with all Apple rumours, we'll take this one with a pinch of salt, but the addition of a fingerprint scanner could be the marquee feature that the smartphone needs. It's particularly interesting when considered in conjunction with this Boy Genius Report article, which claims Apple are looking to push hard into business markets and the world of commerce, both areas where a fingerprint scanner (and NFC connectivity) could prove useful.

Other rumours surrounding the iPhone 5S have also included the possibility of a 12MP camera being featured, as well as faster processor speeds and the arrival of iOS 7.

Reuters also continue to fuel the fire around the potential for a budget iPhone model, with there sources claiming that a 4-inch iPhone with a plastic casing without the fingerprint scanner is also set to launch.

Those cheap iPhone rumours just wont rest, with the latest snippet of info on Apple's budget blower coming today in the shape of an alleged plastic casing for the smartphone.

Spotted by case manufacturer Tactus apparently during a factory tour of a plant that provides parts to Foxconn, the shell shown is a polycarbonate build, finished in white, and not dissimilar to the back casings of the iPhone 3G and 3GS.

Where it differs is in its flatness - the 3GS and 3G had curved designs - which could effectively cut manufacturing costs due to the simplicity to produce such shapes, as well as setting the style apart from the older models in what would be set to become Apple's premium range.

Taller, wider and thicker than the iPhone 4 and 4S cases, the alleged cheap iPhone case also has a cutout for an LED flash and room for a split volume rocker.

Interestingly, Tactus also claim that the same plant is producing the cases in black, blue, red and yellow shades too, echoing rumours that the budget iPhone would offer iPod-like colour options.

So what do you think? We're still treating budget iPhone rumours with a pinch of salt, but at least this time there's a physical object to go with the rumours, regardless of whether its been faked or not. If it was real, do you like the look of it? Let us know in the comments section below.

Facebook have revealed that they are in talks with Apple to see whether their recently launched Facebook Home software could ever makes its way on to iOS devices.

Launching last week on a range of Android handsets, Facebook Home acts as an optional UI reskin, putting Facebook notifications, chat and other social interactions at the forefront of the interface, and driving all user data gathered back to Facebook in order to improve their advertising systems.

Apple have traditionally been cautious when it comes to allowing such software onto their platform; whereas Android is open, allowing for such interface overhauls, iOS is closed and does not allow for deviations from Apple's own designs. Furthermore, Apple are reluctant to share the data Facebook would be intending to mine, preferring to keep the information to furnish their own coffers.

"We've shown [Apple] what we've built and we're just in an ongoing conversation," Adam Mosseri, Facebook's director of product, told Bloomberg.

"It may or may not be Home. We could also just bring some of the design values to the iOS app. That might be how it ends up. Or we could build just the lock screen. Maybe then it's not called Home, it's called something else."

COO Sheryl Sandberg echoed Mosseri's comments:

"We are going to continue to develop for both [Android and Apple]. It is true that Android is enabling us to provide a more immersive Facebook experience than we can on other operating systems. Home is based on the openness of Android. It allows users to customise in ways that Apple does not."

Facebook Home's Chat Heads have already leaked into the iPad and iPhone Facebook apps, so it's possible that what's really likely to happen is that the iOS Facebook app eventually will share the same design ethos as Facebook Home. We'd pretty much rule out a full iOS reskinning right now.

Sick of black and white iPhones, but don't want to have to cough up cash for a garish cover? The rumoured launch of the iPhone 5S may be ready to sate your appetite for tints and shades, as Japanese publication Macotakara are now reporting that the handset will come in multiple different colours.

Citing unnamed sources, Macotakara claim that five different colour iPhone 5S models will be available at launch. And while specific shades were not mentioned, it's easy to guess at what they could be, following the iPod's lead with black, white, yellow, pink and blue finishes.

The iPhone 5S is expected to be an incremental update for the line, and is unlikely to have dramatic new features, such as the iPhone 5's elongated screen. Aside from a spec bump and traditional camera improvements, it's likely to be a very similar phone to what launched last year.

The most intriguing hardware rumour surrounding the iPhone 5S is the possible inclusion of a fingerprint reader, as backed up by a job posting spotted on Apple's website yesterday.

There's also the possibility that Apple will launch a cheaper iPhone model alongside the 5S, a rumour that has circulated for may years.

A new job posting from Apple has added further fuel to the fire of rumours suggesting that the Cupertino company could be looking to add a fingerprint scanner into the iPhone 5S and other iOS devices, as well as potentially Mac products.

The company is on the hunt for a software engineer to join a new team at the Melbourne Design Centre on Florida's Space Coast. That's the same area of Florida where you'd find AuthenTech, the fingerprint sensor specialists that Apple bought last year for $365 million (£233m).

It's the only Florida-based role on the company's website, and requires an applicant that can write "low-level code to configure and control hardware".

Though fingerprint scanners are not mentioned by name, applicants are required to have had experience in hardware and firmware interaction, the sort of interactions that activating a fingerprint scanner and having a software response would entail.

Since the buyout last year rumours of an iPhone fingerprint scanner have swirled. Apple will be looking for a new USP for the annually-updated phone, and with rumours also suggesting that Apple are looking to introduce money management and payment systems into the new iPhone, a further security measure like this would be useful.

However, Apple regularly invest in new technologies that never see the light of day in their products, or at least not in the ways analysts predict. While we may well see fingerprint sensors hitting Apple gear in the future, it may be a hardware generation away still.

Samsung Galaxy S4 or iPhone 5? Following tonight's big reveal, that's going to be the question on every budding smartphone buyer's lips for the next six months or so. The two major smartphone manufacturers have been duking it out for years now, but the latest generation of flagship handsets from both stables is the closest fight we've ever seen.

Both the Samsung Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5 have impressive feature and specs lists, but which is best for you? Based on what we've learnt tonight, we compare the key features and specs of both to help you decide which you should be splashing the cash on.

Design and Build Quality

Galaxy S4

The Samsung Galaxy S4, from an aesthetic perspective at least, looks very similar to the Galaxy S3. Available in "Black Mist" and "White Frost" colours, it measures just 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm and weighs only 130 grams overall. Still rocking a plastic polycarbonate build rather than an aluminium one (likely to keep costs down), the handset plonks a giant 5-inch 1080p display on the front, making it considerably larger than the iPhone 5 and even its S3 predecessor. Though slim enough to fit comfortably in a pocket, it's a large device that some will likely feel a little silly using for calls on a day-to-day basis, though will have advantages when browsing the web and watching video. 4G download speeds are also included, while there's also an IR blaster for controlling home cinema kit.

iPhone 5
The iPhone 5 was a considerable re-design for the iPhone line. Measuring 7.6mm thick and weighing 112 grams, it's 20% lighter than the previous iPhone 4S generation, and significantly trimmer than the S4. Available in two colours, either black or white, the rear panels are different on each. The white version has a raw aluminium back plate, while the black version has an anodised black finish on its rear. It's also the biggest iPhone to date. 4-inches diagonally, it now sits in a taller, widescreen ratio, but that's still considerable smaller than the Galaxy S4 screen. It'll still sit more comfortably in one hand though, which may swing the choice for small-handed smartphone fans. Made entirely from aluminium and glass, it has a real premium feel to it, though we're not personally sold on the whole two-tone look. The 4G download speeds of the S4 are also matched.

Winner - iPhone 5

Screen

Galaxy S4

If you like your phone screens big, but not as gigantic as the Galaxy Note 2 or other "phablets", there's quite literally a lot to love with the Galaxy S4. A massive 5-inch display sits up front, with a Retina-beating 441ppi full HD 1080p resolution. The handset uses Samsung's Super AMOLED display technology, which should also keep images and videos bright and vibrantly colourful on the handset, as well as offering wide viewing angles. It'll be a great phone for consuming media on or browsing the web with as a result, and even features screen tech that will let you use its touchscreen features whilst wearing gloves. Sturdy Gorilla Glass 3 is also used in its construction.

iPhone 5
Apple's top-notch Retina display with 326ppi features in the iPhone 5. Though it's in a 4-inch screen of the usual width, it is however taller than previous iPhones. The resolution of the display sits at 1136 x 640. Closer to a 16:9 ratio than before, the iPhone 5 is now better for viewing films on, with 44% better colour saturation, and with touch integrated into the display to reduce glare in sunlight. But despite being the biggest iPhone screen to date, it's still considerably smaller than that of the Galaxy S4. If you're looking to comfortably watch videos at length on a handset, it's arguable that the iPhone 5 screen will be too small. It will however look far more sensible when held up to your face for calling!

Winner - Galaxy S4

Processor

Galaxy S4

Samsung have opted for their 1.6GHz Exynos Octa 8-core processor in the Galaxy S4. Seeing as even quad-core chips clocked considerably lower than the beast of a processor found in the S4 normally see Android apps and software features ticking over nicely, the Galaxy S4 looks to be a real powerhouse of a phone. It's arguably even overkill - we can't think of a single Android feature that would truly be able to capitalise on such a chipset.

iPhone 5
The iPhone 5 comes equipped with an A6 processor, which is said to be 2x as fast with both CPU and GPU processing as the already-speedy dual-core A5 chip found in the iPhone 4S. Shrinking down the transistor size, it's smaller and more energy efficient too. Apps will load as much as 2x faster using the new chipset. Though it's arguably a slower processor than that found in the Galaxy S4, you'll be hard-pressed to tax it, meaning all apps and operating system functions flow without trouble.

Winner - Tie (Both processors will offer speedy, responsive user experiences)

Storage

Galaxy S4

The Samsung Galaxy S4 will come in three different sizes: 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. Each handset can also be expanded with microSD cards, up to an additional 64GB, making storage options far more flexible than with the iPhone 5. It's not yet certain whether or not the Galaxy S4 also includes the Galaxy S3's 50GB free Dropbox cloud storage promotion - it'll be a shame if it's lost this nifty feature.

iPhone 5

Though Apple's iPhone 5 doesn't offer expandable storage, they at least offer three different configurations when it comes to size. 16GB, 32GB and 64GB iPhone 5 models are all available, with pricing rising appropriately. It's a crafty tactic though, as those opting for more storage space have to pop money directly into Apple's coffers, rather than picking up cheaper expandable storage elsewhere. With the iCloud back-up feature you've got a little leeway with which to store files remotely too, though extensive cloud storage through Apple doesn't come cheaply.

Winner- Galaxy S4

Battery

Galaxy S4

The Samsung Galaxy S4 includes a 2,600mAh battery. That's over a fifth larger than the battery found in the Galaxy S3, and it's removable too, meaning you'll be able to hot-swap batteries on the go if you're running short on power. However, we'd imagine both that screen and processor churn through power at an incredible rate, so you may not see a dramatic jump in battery life despite the capacity bump.

iPhone 5

According to Apple, you'll get 225 hours of battery life on standby for the iPhone 5, with 8 hours 3G or LTE talk time, and 10 hours Wi-Fi usage. In reality however, you're going to be juggling through all these tasks (plus video or audio playback) throughout a day, meaning that you're going to need to recharge that battery long before the day is done.

Winner - Tie (We're going to withhold judgement until we see how much power the Galaxy's screen and processor eat up)

Software and Apps

Galaxy S4
The Galaxy S4 runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, the latest build of Android while we await the launch of Key Lime Pie later this year. When it comes to apps, Android has grown remarkably over the last few years, with virtually every major app present on iOS now available on Android too. Android, unlike iOS, also comes with Google Maps as the default mapping provider, the premier mapping application on the planet. Jelly Bean also offers the Google Now service, which offers at-a-glance information provided by Google's search engine based on your interests and location. Everything from bus timetables to sports scores to local restaurant reviews are covered. It's a great feature.

Android is however a far less user-friendly OS, but what it lacks in dummy-proofing, it excels with customisation options. You can make your Android device look and act pretty much however you want it to, freely adding widgets and personal touches throughout the device, and even adding custom ROMs that totally change the way Android looks and feels.

Samsung have included plenty of their own software features through their own TouchWiz UI reskin too.For instance, there's a feature called S-Translator that can translate languages automatically. You type words out in English and the Galaxy S4 then speaks them in one of nine languages, making it a valuable travel buddy. The camera system can also recognise text in foreign languages and translate it.

Smart Scroll web-page eye-tracking and Smart Pause media pausing are also included, with the front facing camera following your eye movements and angle of the handset in your hand to pan pages automatically, or pause videos if you look away from the screen. The screen's "Adapt Display" will also kick in automatically, adjusting settings such as brightness depending on the apps you're using and ambient brightness so that it is comfortable to your eyes.

The S4 also has Group Play, a shared music feature which lets users sync and play music on up to eight devices simultaneously, while video calling has been enhanced so it now works with up to three people - or you can have a video call but show an image.

S-Health is a suite of health and fitness related features. It will tell you how many calories you are burning, gauge your heart rate and sleeping patterns. You can also monitor your blood sugar levels with an add on.

The TouchWiz UI however isn't as easy on the eye as stock Android, now anywhere near as attractive as Apple's iOS.

iPhone 5

They say there's an app for everything, and with Apple's iOS App Store, that's more or less true. There are well over 700,000 apps available in Apple's store, with an app to cover almost every potential need. From fitness to finance, arts to archaeology, you name it, there's a shed load of apps for every possible niche. Gamers are served particularly well with the iPhone, with it more than a match for handhelds like the Nintendo 3DS or PS Vita these days.

The iPhone 5 also features the Siri voice control app, letting you search the web, set calendar reminders, dictate emails and much more with just your voice alone. However, it's still more useful in the US than the UK, where a giant database of details on local businesses and events integrates directly with the app. In the UK, it's far less comprehensive in terms of what it can do, meaning it is still a bit of a novelty.

The iPhone also offers FaceTime as the native video calling application, allowing users to call Mac, iPad and iPod touch owners for free, as well as other iPhone users.

As for the design of the iOS operating system itself, it's incredibly easy to use and looks beautiful. It pretty much invented the grid-based app layout that everything from the Xbox 360 to Roku entertainment players have ripped off since.

What you gain in ease of use you lose in customisation options though, and if you're a tinkerer who likes to get tweak every property and potential UI layout, it's not a patch on Android. The latest version of iOS, iOS 6 (which the iPhone 5 ships with) also drops the superb Google Maps app in favour of Apple's own Maps application. Apple's take on cartography is pretty but buggy and inaccurate, nowhere near as extensive or precise as Google's and lacking useful features such as Street View.

Winner - Tie (iOS is slick but closed, Android and TouchWiz open but more complicated)

Camera and Video Recording

Galaxy S4

The S4 sports a 13 megapixel camera, a significant spec-bump up from the 8 megapixel one found in the S3. 1080p video recording is also onboard.

Plenty of nifty shooting software features accompany the now-standard HDR, panoramic and photo filter shooting options.

For instance, It also includes a "Dual Camera" record feature, letting you shoot videos or photos from both the front and rear cameras at the same time, enabling you to be in the picture if you are taking the image. You can also add voice to an image as it can capture a few seconds of audio simultaneously.

The S4 also has a feature called "Drama Shot" that can snap 100 images in four seconds, and then make a composite of the most interesting moments captured. All these images and videos can then be stored in the "Story Album" gallery, that automatically makes a library of related shots based on date and location data.

iPhone 5

Though its megapixel count of 8 isn't any higher than the majority of top-tier smartphones, and considerably lower than that found in the Galaxy S4, the iPhone 5 sees Apple's imaging systems again impressing. A dynamic low-light mode for better night time shooting is added to the 5-element lens and f/2.4 aperture. There's also a panorama shooting mode natively built into the camera app for the first time, with a 360-degree shot resulting in a giant 28 megapixel image. The A6 chip allows for faster photo capture too, as well as a smart filter for better colour matching and reduced noise. Share Photo Streams allow you to share photos with pals, and receive messages on your snaps too.

Combine all that with clever HDR and Macro software, and you'll get excellent still image results almost every time. A super-fast shutter speed that lets you snap multiple images directly after each other sweetens the deal, as do the many superb photography apps on the App Store.

1080p video recording with anti-shake functionality and facial recognition tech will likely impress too, with the iMovie app letting you make a few simple edits on the go.

Winner - We're going for the Galaxy S4, based on the rich feature list and higher megapixel count

Price

Galaxy S4

Pricing has yet to be revealed for the Samsung Galaxy S4.

iPhone 5

iPhone 5 handsets come in three sizes, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB, with the price scaling with each. Unlocked and direct from Apple, you're looking at £529, £599 and £699 respectively for each handset. A free 16GB handset on 24 month contracts hover around the £30 a month mark.

Winner - Not sure yet. We'll update once Galaxy S4 pricing is revealed.

Verdict:

Based on what we've learnt about the Samsung Galaxy S4 tonight, it looks as though Apple's iPhone 5 may have been unseated as the smartphone king. As well as the impressive hardware tech, a slew of interesting software features make the Galaxy S4 look very attractive indeed.

Having said that, the two flagship smartphone lines are now very different indeed, and look to serve two quite different audiences. If you're after a giant, luscious display, the Galaxy S4 is certainly what you should be looking at. But if you're after a more subtly-sized smartphone made of superior materials, the iPhone is the one for you. Certainly, both operating systems are mature enough to offer excellent user experiences regardless of which you choose to side with.

It will likely be ultimately a question of pricing, one as-yet-unanswered as we await the Galaxy S4 pricing structure. It's likely to be considerably cheaper than the iPhone though, adding another string to its bow. All in from what we've gathered so far, were calling the Galaxy S4 the winner overall here.

For more Samsung Galaxy S4 launch news, click here

The long-rumoured cheap iPhone will enter production in May 2013, according to a new report from Taiwanese newspaper sources, putting it in line for a late summer/Q3 launch.

The Commercial Times (as translated by MicGadget) has spoken to sources at the Pegatron factory and is claiming that the plant will be the primary builder of the new budget phone. Pegatron already make 40% of all iPad Mini's shipped, and the cheap iPhone production deal would ring true with Apple's plans to widen its assembly teams beyond just primarily Foxconn.

As has previously been suggested, the report once again claims that the cheap iPhone will opt for a plastic build, giving it a price tag closer to the region of $350.

The Chinese market is a gigantic, lucrative one, but as the report states, Apple are currently pricing themselves out of the market. The average yearly salary in China, when converted to British Pounds, is around £2,000, and the iPhone 5 starts at around £565. Though it makes it a luxury device and highly sought after, it puts it out of the reach of the average consumer, hence the rampant sales of knock-off clones.

But while a cheap iPhone could boost Apple's market share in China, it may damage revenues elsewhere. In Europe and the US, the average wage is higher and people are currently happy to pay the extra premium for the standard iPhone devices. Unless Apple significantly hamstrung the cheaper devices (which in itself would cause them problems, with users now expecting a high standard from any product bearing the Apple logo) it's likely that those who'd normally save up the extra pennies for the premium versions would begin to opt for the cheaper ones, knocking down Apple's revenues in the process.

"Dude, where's my TriPod?"

Or indeed, my Mobi or TelePod - all names that Apple had once considered calling the iPhone.

Apple's former head of advertising, Ken Segall, revealed the once-potential smartphone names during a talk at the University of Arizona's Department of Marketing, according to 9to5Mac.

Even the iPad name had once been bandied about in relation to the iPhone, interesting as it eventually reared its head to become Apple's tablet branding.

Though we definitely prefer the iPhone name, the thinking behind the other pitched names is clear.

With the TelePod, you have the two main components that initially characterised the iPhone - its TELEphoning abilities and its iPOD functions.

The TriPod naming would also have sat well with Steve Jobs' initial iPhone unveiling speech, in which he talked up the devices' three pillars of functionality - internet connectivity, phone functions and iPod music playback.

Still they're all a lot less elegant than the iPhone moniker, so well played to whoever put their vote in there.

It's time once again for "cheap iPhone" rumours to rear their ugly heads once again.

The latest batch comes from reputable Japanese blog Macotakara (courtesy of AppleInsider) who state that Apple are building an iPhone with a polycarbonate body rather than the premium aluminium materials used in the rest of their mobile line, and aiming for a cheap $330 price tag (£220), though it's unclear whether or not this would be a subsidised price. It's claimed that the cheaper iPhone would have a feel similar to the discontinued glossy white MacBook.

What's most intriguing however is the promise of a 4.5-inch screen. Whilst the rest of the design would follow classic iPhone trends (Home button and all), this would be the biggest iPhone ever, a full half-inch bigger than even the iPhone 5.

This all however has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Though Macotakara are a well respected site, there is no mention here of any sources, reputable or not, feeding them this information. Don't take this report as gospel then.

The pricing, size and materials described however do ring true with what many believe are Apple's aims going forward this year. Looking to capture the gigantic Chinese market, a cheap iPhone would put up a good fight against Android competition. With MWC showing that the large-screen smartphone trend is continuing to grow (in both senses) in the Android community, a larger iPhone would make for a clearer competitor to the likes of the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note range.

iPhones in Brazil may soon look very, very different to the ones Apple are currently selling, as the Cupertino firm may be set to lose the trademark to a rival Brazilian manufacturer.

The Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) in Brazil has awarded the name's exclusive rights to Gradient Eletronica, who trademarked the iPhone name way back in 2000, long before the 2007 launch of the original Apple iPhone.

To make maters worse, Gradient Eletronica have begun selling an "iPhone" handset of their own, the "iPhone Neo One", pictured above. Rubbing salt into Apple's wounds, it's a dated Android smartphone, running the Gingerbread version of the OS off a 700MHz processor, with a 5MP camera and 3.7-inch 320x480 display - hardly of Retina standards.

Apple have already begun the appeal process, arguing that Gradiente Eletronica had not begun using the name until December 2012.

As a slight consolation, Apple retain the rights to use the iPhone trademark in relation to clothing and software, and across publications.

"We're open to a dialogue for anything, anytime," Eugenio Emilio Staub, chairman of Gradient parent company IGB, told Bloomberg.

"We're not radicals."

However, Staub states that Apple have not reached out to his company. But with everything weighing in Gradient Eletronica's favour, Apple may have to pull out their cheque book to get this issue fixed.

Some mobile phone games blow you away with nifty graphics. Some mobile phone games keep you gripped with a riveting story. Some mobile phone games keep you hooked by pitting you against your friends.

But some mobile phone games are more addictive than nicotine-filled, chocolate-covered crack. These games have a magical hold over us, always sitting at the back of our minds, making us hear little voices that whisper "Plaaaaaaay meeeeee...plaaaaaaay meeeeeee", every waking moment of the day. We play them every chance we get, we love them, and we just cant help ourselves.

Here are the top 10 most addictive mobile phone games, all available on both Android and iPhone. Play them at your own risk.

Apple saw US sales of their iPhone smartphone range overtake US mobile phone sales of rival Samsung for the first time ever during Q4 2012, according to new stats from Strategy Analytics.

Apple shipped 17.7 million units during the period compared to Samsung's 16.8 million shipments over the same space of time, giving Apple a 34% market share compared to Samsung's 32.3%. Incredibly, these stats also account for sales of Samsung's cheaper "feature phones", meaning Apple's relatively small premium smartphone range held out against more affordable units from Samsung.

Samsung had been US market leader since 2008.

"Apple has become the number one mobile phone vendor by volume in the United States for the first time ever," said Strategy Analytics Executive Director Neil Mawston.

"Apple's success has been driven by its popular ecosystem of iPhones and App Store, generous carrier subsidies, and extensive marketing around the new iPhone 5 model."

Rumours of a cheap iPhone model have consistently reared their heads recently, but when faced with figures like this, with the premium iPhone still outselling both Samsung's top-end models and cheaper devices, you'd have to wonder why the Cupertino company would bother. As we've suggested previously, any low-priced iPhone would cannibalise sales of the more expensive handsets. That would result in reduced profit margins, reducing Apple's total income, considering the iPhone is the company's best-selling product. A second-tier iPhone would also smudge the premium brand image.

Via: Apple Insider / Strategy Analytics

Apple have updated their mobile iOS software for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad to version 6.1, bringing a few slight improvements to the finger-friendly operating system.

iOS 6.1's headlining feature is its improved LTE capabilities, adding 36 additional iPhone carriers and 23 additional iPad carriers with superfast mobile data speeds. EE users (the only network in the UK offering 4G speeds) may find their connection a little more reliable as a result.

Elsewhere, the update brings a handful of minor security tweaks and some improvements to iTunes Match and Siri, including the ability to book cinema tickets using just your voice.

"300 million iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices on iOS 6 in just five months, it may be the most popular new version of an OS in history," said Philip Schiller, Apple's SVP of Worldwide Marketing.

"iOS 6.1 brings LTE support to more markets around the world, so even more users can enjoy ultrafast Safari browsing, Facetime video calls, iCloud services, and iTunes and App Store downloads."

iOS 6.1 is compatible with iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad (third and fourth generation), iPad mini, iPad 2 and iPod Touch (fourth and fifth generation).

Cheap iPhones, large-screened iPhone Math handsets; it seems everyone's got a tip on what's coming out of Apple's mobile department this year. The latest rumour suggests that not one but two iPhones will launch this year, and each will be incredibly thin thanks to the use of in-cell technology.

In-cell technology is a manufacturing process that fuses the LCD and touchscreen together into a single layer, allowing a handset's chassis to be much more svelte. The next iPhone therefore could drop even thinner than the iPhone 5's slinky 7.6mm thickness.

The rumours sources backup the claim that a cheaper iPhone is on the way, stating that one of the two handsets will be aimed at the mid-range market, and while stating that the screen size is likely to remain 4-inches on the diagonal, the larger rumoured 4.8 inch iPhone Math could follow in 2014.

All this must be taking with a pinch of salt though, as the rumours are coming in from the ever-faithful supply chain sources at DigiTimes disposal, who have quite the track record for hit-and-miss predictions.

But with all these rumours flying about, Apple definitely seem to be cooking up something at least a little different this year. We'll keep you posted.

Via: DigiTimes

We're fully expecting an iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 to launch this year, and we're getting used to the rumours of a cheap iPhone also being in the works at Apple's Cupertino HQ. But now there are whispers coming down the supply chain that a third handset may also be coming out of Apple's stable this year, called the iPhone Math.

According to China Times, the iPhone Math will measure 4.8 inches in size, nearly an inch bigger than the current iPhone 5, and will be positioned as an alternative to large screen "phablet" devices from Samsung, LG, HTC and Sony.

While little is known about the device (and all should be taken with a pinch of salt) the source also claims that the handset will pack in an 8MP camera, provided by Largan Precision.

While the source does not make mention of the cheap iPhone that's currently being touted, they do suggest another handset may launch late in the year ready for the holiday period, one packing a 12MP camera.

The iPhone 5S handset is said to launch alongside the iPhone Math, with manufacturing kicking off in March ahead of a June or July launch. Regular contractors Foxconn will be responsible for 90% of assembly duties.

This is the first time we've heard rumour of an iPhone Math device, but not the first time we've heard rumours of a larger screened iPhone, a rumour that came to fruition with the long-screened iPhone 5. Whereas Apple under Steve Jobs' stewardship shied away from oversized handsets, with Jobs believing a 3.5-inch phone to be the size-sweetspot, post-Jobs Apple isn't afraid to break away from their old sensei's rules. As well as the iPhone 5's change in design style, the iPad Mini likewise was a device we'd unlikely have seen during Jobs' lifetime. With the Android market increasingly leaning towards large-screen devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Google Nexus 4, Apple may have to offer an option that will follow suit in order to keep up with the changing market.