GADGETS

What good is an iPhone without apps? Odds are the first thing a new owner does is head on over to the App Store and stock their phone up with all the apps they can possibly want.

There are reports and rumours of the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy Note 3. For those who are considering an early trade in for the new device here is some food for thought: The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is still a good buy for those who plan to buy a new device. The top five featuresWh are examined below.

Nokia gets serious with Sirius as it eyes the tablet market. The mobile handset manufacturer has been expanding into production of more tech products and it seems it is now ready to take another booming sector – the tablet industry. What previously was reported as just a rumor appears to be coming true as Nokia slowly begins to unveil its plans and details for the Siriur tablet.

The media is buzzing with news and rumours about the new line of devices soon to hit the markets. The big players like Apple, Samsung, Sony and Microsoft are said to be working on a smart watch device. Some of these devices will reportedly be launched in a matter of weeks.

Jelly Bean 4.3 came out in late July 2013 minus the usual fanfare and Google is seen to give birth to its replacement, the Key Lime Pie or Android 5.0, in the same manner – hitting Android devices around the world silently.

Can you imagine the iPhone 6 encased in a unibody plastic material on its release date? This possibility is hinted in Apple’s new job listing that specifically hunts for engineers with years of expertise in plastic moulding.

4J Studios has finally released updates on the mash-up packs that go with the Minecraft Xbox 360 TU 12. Mojang also gives an update on what gamers can expect of the Minecraft 1.7, particularly the changes and additions of biomes.

There is no question that Samsung is going for the grand Galaxy Note 3 launch on Sept 4 but a new report suggests the actual release date is on Sept 27 and buyers in Taiwan are getting the freshly-minted phablet first.

Before the year caps to a close, it seems that the phablet trend will be at its peak as several players in the market are getting ready to roll out their own phablets.

Sony Worldwide President has hinted at a new feature for the PS4 in terms of remote play and buying games. Microsoft may be brewing a new program that will build a digital marketplace for selling used games. The release date for the Xbox One is still murky at best.

The market patiently waits for the next Apple release. Deprived from any new devices from the tech giant, many people are eager to see what the company’s once most valuable company can bring to the tablet. After all, it’s current biggest rival, Samsung, has been releasing nonstop. Reports say it is only a matter of time before the new iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2 comes to stores. What can we expect?

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has his own wishlist of futuristic iOS devices, which he hopes the tech giant will get around in building once the euphoria expected to surround the iPhone 6, iPhone 5C and iPhone 6 has subsided.

"Angry Birds Go" has been revealed, while "Rayman Legends" and "Lost Planet 3" are coming out, but before they do, check out the trailers to see if the gameplay and storyline are appealing to you.

The DS family welcomes a new member that will be due by October 12 for just $130 – the Nintendo 2DS! As it is called, the gadget is said to play all games under the 3DS and DS category but all in 2D version.

Apple’s Sept 10 media event is supposed to be the precursor of the rumoured Sept 20 release date for the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C but it could be tweaked into a soft launch unveiling the iPad 5 and the iPad Mini 2 with Retina, new reports said.

The Gran Turismo franchise celebrates 15 years of gaming. From the day it was launched and more than a decade later, the game continues to rack up its base of gamers. In line of this, the BMW Group Design has shared a futuristic virtual concept car for the upcoming Gran Turismo 6.

BlackBerry’s final promised device for 2013 comes as a phablet, the rumoured BlackBerry Aristo Z30. To date, some of the features have already been leaked through videos, while there are also those that showcase the OS and inside of the device.

The world is Android-dominated and this was confirmed by a new U.S. government report but in beating the iOS platform that powers the iPhone and iPad, the Google mobile operating system is also attracting the most malware attacks.

Mophie recently launched a new Mophie Juice Pack battery case for the Samsung Galaxy S4 that can offer additional power and protection to the smartphone. The name Mophie may ring a bell since there are already Juice Pack battery cases available for the HTC One and Apple iPhone 5 smartphones.

Planning an iPad Mini buy as holiday gift for the kids? Why not take a close look first on the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Kids, which could prove to be a certifiable dealbreaker due to its impressive kids-centric features.

Google pulled a giant surprise this week by pushing down the Nexus 4 price tag on Google Play, giving out $100 price off on all variants and in the process signalling the impending Q4 2013 release date of the Nexus 5.

With the release of the "Minecraft: Xbox 360" TU 12, fans have already tried out the update and found a few bugs, to which 4J Studios is currently looking into. Those who are in London can also watch out for the World of Minecraft event this Friday, August 30.

With Apple getting all set with the launching of their new iPhones by Sept 10, many are wondering the quantity of upgrades that will happen among Apple phone users.

4K Recording Support, S Pen Upgrade, and Release with the Galaxy Gear are just some of the possible features that can put the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 ahead of the iPhone 6 in the battle of this year’s devices.

Rockstar Games has announced a new trailer for "GTA 5" coming this Thursday. An expansion for "Halo: Spartan Assault" is also coming with new missions and support for the Xbox 360 controller. Ouya finally starts gearing up its games with Telltale Games’ "The Walking Dead" coming to the platform.

The 2H 2013 major touchdowns have been confirmed – Apple releases the 4-inch iPhone 5S on Sept while release date for Samsung’s second flagship of the year, the Galaxy Note 3, is likely to happen late in the month following its Sept 4 launch.

A new video leak puts the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C back covers together with the iPhone 5 to compare the sizes and feel of the devices. In terms of iOS apps, you can expect a new game, Madden 25, as well as a bunch of TV apps already out.

"Call of Duty: Black Ops 2" ends with a bang thanks to "Apocalypse" DLC. Xbox One and PS4 games have been announced to have DLCs and free content, with games including "Ryse: Son of Rome," "Dead Rising 3," "Forza Motorsport 5," and "Killzone: Shadow Fall."

Apple is delivering full entertainment package via the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 releases with upcoming applications that will transform the iOS 7 devices into a mobile portal for direct and easy access to cutting-edge music and TV experiences.