Google's takeover of Motorola moved a step closer on Monday when EU regulators gave the company 'unconditional approval' to proceed with the deal.

The planned $12.5bn Googarola deal was announced in August 2011 and since then has been under scrutiny from regulatory commissions worldwide to ensure it doesn't break competition rules.

"We have approved the acquisition because upon careful examination, this transaction does not itself raise competition issues," said Joaquin Almunia, EU Competition Commissioner, in a statement.

The deal now needs approval from the United States, Taiwan and Israel before it can be rubber stamped.

No patent abuses, please

However, upon approving the transaction, the EU body says it'll be keeping an eye on Google to ensure it doesn't abuse the Motorola patents it will be acquiring in the deal.

"This merger decision should not and will not mean that we are not concerned by the possibility that, once Google is the owner of this portfolio, Google can abuse these patents, linking some patents with its Android devices. This is our worry," Alumnia told the press.

"We might be obliged to open some cases in the future. This is not enough to block the merger but we will be vigilant."

Part of Google's reasoning for splashing out on Motorola - which is plans to run as a separate company - was to protect its Android ecosystem from patent infringement lawsuits already engulfing the Apple vs Android battle.

Via: Reuters

Mozilla has revealed its plans to launch a version of its Firefox browser for the Windows 8 Metro interface.

The announcement was made as part of the company's roadmap for 2012 and says an Alpha release will be made in the second half of 2012.

The Firefox for Windows 8 Metro browser will be built using the Gecko API and will be reimagined to suit the touch sensitive controls and will also boast full-screen capabilities.

Familiar features like the Awesomebar, an app bar and navigation controls will be present, but it appears it will be pared down somewhat compared to recent versions of the desktop browser.

Connected to the Metro environment

A post on the Mozilla roadmap page says: "The feature goal here is a new Gecko based browser built for and integrated with the Metro environment.

"Firefox on Metro, like all other Metro apps will be full screen, focused on touch interactions, and connected to the rest of the Metro environment through Windows 8 contracts.

"Firefox will have to support three "snap" states -- full screen, 1/6th screen and 5/6th screen depending on how the user "docks" two full screen apps. Our UI will need to adjust to show the most relevant content for each size.

"In order to provide users with access to other content, other apps, and to Firefox from other content and apps, we'll need integration with the share contract, the search contract, the settings contract, the app to app picking contract, the print contract, the play to contract, and possibly a couple more. We'll be a source for some, a target for some, and both for some.

"We may want to offer a live tile with user-centric data like friends presence or other Firefox Home information updates."

Getting in early with a solid Windows 8 Metro app could offer Mozilla a way out of its recent slump, which has seen a rapidly declining share in market share after being overtaken by Google Chrome.

The news this morning that Sony is considering its own OS for phones and tablets, based on the Vita system it's developed for its new handheld console, will be worrying a fair few people up at Google HQ.

Not because it will be better (let's face it: Sony isn't suddenly going to come up with an ecosystem that betters the app opportunities found with Android) but the notion that Sony could move wholesale to this new platform and drop Google's OS altogether isn't as crazy as it sounds.

The main point is Android is no longer the safe bet it used to be, thanks to the reams and reams of patent violations being lodged by Apple. The most recent attack on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus is a thinly veiled assault on Google's Ice Cream Sandwich and, should Apple prevail, every company using Android 4.0 will have to skin it to within an inch of its life or stop selling the device altogether to avoid legal action.

Cost on top of cost

That's before other royalties are brought into the picture: Sony is one of the few Android making companies that hasn't yet been targeted by Microsoft as it looks to nab royalties for each Android smartphone sold. But unless Sony has some special Android IP ninja powers, you have to assume that these conversations are already happening, even if it's at an informal level.

Other manufacturers have hinted at Android exit strategies too: Samsung has partnered with Intel on the Tizen OS and HTC has long been rumoured to be looking at its own smartphone ecosystem. HTC has even been linked with buying RIM out with a view to leveraging a forthcoming operating system - drastic measures.

Sony is keen to send a holistic message about its products: that's why it bought Ericsson out, so it could wholly own the smartphone division. Therefore, an OS that runs on everything form tablets to phones to TVs may well have been part of the design brief for the new Vita platform.

Plan C

Of course, the quote stating a Vita OS on smartphones "is possible" could mean that Sony wants to simply overlay a consistent user interface on its gaming products and they'll still run Android as happily as ever. The huge bank of apps is something that's keeping manufacturers happy for now and would be a hard thing to give up.

But should the patent war swing heavily in Apple's favour, it may make it impossible to create smartphones cost-effectively on Google's platform - then we could see a swift return to the days when each manufacturer had its own OS and consumers were forced to consider how each one works before making a smartphone decision.

The HTC Endeavor (or Edge/Supreme as it has also been know) is expected to stride out on stage at MWC 2012 and wave its quad-core powered crown jewels right in our face.

Quad-core is one of the buzz words in the mobile phone industry this year and we expect to see a number of devices packing serious power over the next 11 months.

We first heard rumblings on the HTC Endeavor back in November last year under the moniker of the HTC Edge and rumours have sprouted from there.

The Endeavor is set to be the world's first quad-core phone, although there have been reports the likes of Samsung, LG and Motorola have been sniffing around.

Samsung has since announced that it will not be flaunting the Galaxy S3 at MWC but there are rumblings that LG is prepping its quad-core X3 handset which could go head-to-head with the Endeavor in Barcelona.

To make it easier for you, dear reader, here's a round up of all the gossip rumbling through the rumour mill:

HTC Endeavor processor

Ok so there are no two ways about it: the HTC Endeavor is all about its quad-core processor.

Reports suggested it will sport Nvidia's Tegra 3 processor which will house four 1.5GHz chips. That's an awful lot of power and thus we expect the Endeavor to be lightning quick.

Image credit: Pocket Now

HTC Endeavor specs

Of course no processor alone will deliver you a mind blowing mobile experience, decent specs are required to provide the complete package.

It looks like the quad-core processor will be backed up by 1GB RAM which should have no trouble in running Google's latest Android operating system Ice Cream Sandwich.

A recently leaked ROM for the Endeavour seems to confirm that it will be running Android version 4.0.3 will HTC's latest 4.0 sense interface over the top.

Image credit: Android Central

The Endeavor is also expected to pack a rear-facing 8MP camera with LED flash, front-facing 1.3MP camera for all important video calls Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0.

There have also been suggestions that it will have Dropbox integration, to help you with all your file sharing needs.

HTC Endeavor screen

With such beefy specs we expect the Endeavor to be a media machine and it looks set to pack a 4.7-inch HD screen – which has been reported in places to be "a next-generation 'optically-laminated' 720p display" - um... we reckon that translates to "super-awesome 720p display".

This coupled with the raw power of the processor should provide excellent video playback and vivid HD gaming.

HTC Endeavor release date

The Endeavor is being touted as HTC's flagship announcement at MWC 2012 in Barcelona at the end of February.

If this is the case you can expect to see the Endeavor on sale in a retailer near you in April or May as key HTC phones have appeared on the market in these months in the past.

HTC will be keen to get the Endeavor to market as quickly as possible as quad-core competition from LG, Samsung and co will be hot on its heels.

We hope to get a better idea of an availability date at HTC's press conference at MWC 2012.

HTC Endeavor price

The Endeavor is shaping up to be a big phone and thus it will carry a big price tag. Expect the handset price to easily top £500 – possibly nearing an eye-watering £600 as it commands the latest quad-core tech on the market.

Contract wise, you'll be looking upwards of £36 per month - but this is purely speculation based on other recent high-end phone releases.

HTC Endeavor competitors

HTC could launch more than one quad-core device at MWC 2012 with the Endeavor leading the way in a new range of mobile phones and tablets packing the latest chip tech.

As mentioned before, Samsung and LG are strongly tipped to be the next up to take the quad-core plunge, but there's a strong chance the iPhone 5 will have the next-gen technology as well as a smorgasbord of tablets.

TechRadar will be in attendance on Sunday evening in Barcelona to find out exactly what HTC has in store.

Today we ask and answer many questions, including: how will Samsung make the Note less attractive? How do Sony Music's execs sleep at night? How much does Macca hate music streaming? How happy is a Happy Meal? How much is an Apple share?

And just how much wood would a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?

And I will always rip you ooooff – There's nothing like exploiting the death of a celebrity for giving us the warm fuzzies, so we take our hats off to Sony Music. The label hiked up the price of Whitney Houston's greatest hits album on iTunes by over 60% after the singer's untimely death over the weekend. Classy. [Guardian]

YouTube on the tube – Google has added a snazzy new YouTube app to its Google TV platform. It's faster, easier to navigate and looks a darn sight nicer than the traditional web version. [Google TV Blog]

Pink is for panthers – The Samsung Galaxy Note is about to get pretty awful in pink. Samsung seems to have given the mega-phone a 'berry pink' makeover, to be released at some point in March. Yeah, that looks better. [Recombu]

Image credit: GSMArena

Happy meal – Die-hard Nintendo 3DS fans will want to get themselves over to Japan where McDonalds will be giving away free games for the 3D handheld. It's the only place you'll be able to get your hands on McDonald's Slime Ship Battle DX and finishing the mini-game nets you a voucher for yet more junk food. How times have changed. [Kotaku]

No kisses on the bottom – Sir Paul McCartney has decided that no one but no one can stream his music, telling Rhapsody and all other music streaming services to pull his tracks. You want them digitally? You can jolly well buy 'em. The only surprise here is that his music was ever on the streaming sites in the first place, really. [CBS]

Riddle me this - How many riggers does it take to replace the world's largest IMAX screen? Er, actually that's not a riddle, it's 31. You'll also need one year, £160,000 and 350kg of highly reflective silver paint. [ZDNet]

Simpsons sat-nav story of the day – Apparently there's a world record for the most downloaded character voice for GPS personal navigation devices in history and Homer Simpson has won it. Guinness'll give those things to anyone these days. [PR]

I'll take five – As of today, a single share of Apple stock will set you back $499 – slightly more than an iPad. The least Apple could do is lend us a fiver. Jeez. More ideas for Apple's cash mountain here. [BGR]

Educating Vita – Sony has revealed the download-only game line-up for the imminent PS Vita launch and, more importantly to some, their prices. Motorstorm RC is yours for £4.79 while Top Darts, Hustle Kings, Super Stardust: Deltra will se you back £6.49. Or, if you fancy splashing out, Escape Plan will be £9.99. [Pocket-Lint]

Foyled again – Traditional book seller Foyles has finally decided to join the ebook race by teaming up with txtr, the leading ereading solutions provider you've never heard of. No hardware to speak of, but the scheme comes with ereader apps for Android and iOS, and over 200,000 ebook titles to choose from. [Foyles]

Okay, we lied about the wood chuck. Coming up tomorrow: One more thing's Valentine's Day special. Mark your calendars.

Apple's making a bit of a song and dance about the fact that it has invited the Fair Labor Association to inspect its supplier factories after rows over worker welfare.

Last week, demonstrations took place at a number of Apple stores as people protested poor working conditions at factories like Foxconn where some Apple products, including the iPad and iPhone, are assembled.

Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, explained, "We've asked the FLA to independently assess the performance of our largest suppliers.

"The inspections now underway are unprecedented in the electronics industry, both in scale and scope, and we appreciate the FLA agreeing to take the unusual step of identifying the factories in their reports."

They've all got it infamy

A team of labour rights specialists are carrying out the inspections which began this morning at Foxconn City in Shenzhen, China.

Foxconn has achieved infamy in the tech industry over the past two years after a number of its employees committed suicide at its Shenzen factory seemingly due to working conditions.

While we all love a good gadget, it's important to remember that someone somewhere is responsible for designing, assembling and testing them and it shouldn't be a case of out of sight, out of mind - as Tim Cook says, "Workers everywhere have the right to a safe and fair work environment."

Samsung chose its European Forum in Prague to announce its first-ever Ice Cream Sandwich powered tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.

With so many iterations of the Galaxy Tab, it is easy to forget just which Tab this is the sequel to. It is in fact the successor to the first-ever tablet Samsung released, the original 7-inch Galaxy Tab.

While its specs may not have changed that much in 18 months, the chassis certainly has. While Samsung opted for a thick slab of tablet with a white back first time around, the new Galaxy Tab as a more rounded silver back. Its style is much more in keeping with the original Samsung Galaxy S smartphone.

Powering the tablet up and we impressed by the speed of the thing. Given that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 has a 1Ghz dual-core processor, it didn't blow our mind speed wise but flicking through varying menus didn't muster up any lag and flicking from different apps – we went from the Social Hub to camera and the action didn't expose any weaknesses in the Galaxy Tab 2's power.

In the hand, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 certainly feels a lot lighter than its predecessor – in the specs list Samsung has it badged at 344g. The lack of jagged edges makes it fit the hand a lot better. And while we have never been truly enamoured with the 7-inch size for a tablet, it was a decent enough device for browsing the web and flicking through Twitter and the like.

When it comes to cameras, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 has a 3MP snapper on the rear and a VGA camera on the front.

Although a conference room isn't the best place to take an image, the camera worked well with the mix of bright white and blue, the two colours which dominate Samsung's stand.

When it comes to connectivity, Samsung has significantly juiced up its AllShare service and actually made it work anywhere. Before, where it was for those in the same house – a bit like Bluetooth – this has been expanded to work anywhere, as long as you have your device linked to the service.

Depending on your tastes for Samsung software, you will be pleased to hear that there is a new hub. Called the Video hub, this is where you can get your movie content and works in the same way as the Music and the Game hub.

There's also an app recommendation engine on the tablet as well.

Other than that, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 is a decent update for those who like the 7-inch tablet size but it does lack wow factor when it comes to specs. This is purely Samsung's fault, having already released the more powerful Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus (1.2Ghz) and the Galaxy Tab 7.7 (1.4Ghz).

But, and this is depending on price which is still TBA, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 is a great sign of things to come for ICS on tablets.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 UK release date is March and will come in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB flavours and the option to upgrade memory through a microSD slot.

Samsung surprised all this week with the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 at its European Forum in Prague.

TechRadar was in attendance and has managed to be one of the first in the world to get its hands on the device.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 is a 7-inch tablet from Samsung which is set to come to the UK first and will be packing Ice Cream Sandwich, albeit with a TouchWiz makeover.

The tablet is a reboot of the company's first Samsung Galaxy Tab with improved specs but nothing here will knock your socks off.

Inside is a 1GHz dual core processor, plus a 3MP camera on the rear of the tablet – and a VGA one on the front for face calling – and when it comes to internal storage there 32GB on board, with the option to add more via the microSD card slot.

TechRadar has only had a quick look at the tablet – stay tuned for our Hands on: Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 review – but we were impressed by how zippy the thing was. Looking at the specs, this probably has more to do with Google's more refined 4.0 OS than from the tablet's own power.

The screen was bright too – specs-wise it's a decent 1280x600. But don't go expecting an AMOLED display, as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 has been given an LCD instead.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 UK release date is March with pricing to be confirmed.

While we are a little shocked that the Tab 2 was announced before MWC 2012, we have a sneaky suspicion that there will be more size variants coming soon.

This was constantly being referred to as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0), so an (8.9) and (10.1) could well be coming soon.

The HTC Endeavor has hit the web once again, with its ROM leaking spec details left, right and centre.

The artist previously known as the HTC Edge, the Endeavor is expected to launch at MWC 2012, and data in the mobile's ROM reveals that it will come toting Ice Cream Sandwich with a Sense 4.0 overlay.

As well as confirming its quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 chip, the leaked ROM also details a 720p resolution display, Dropbox integration, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.

Camera-wise, the Endeavor will offer an 8MP main camera and a 1.3MP front-facing camera.

Edgy

But enough of that, what about Sense 4.0? Well, you're in for a treat! There are screen-shots galore from the ROM Utility Update, showing off a redesigned interface, with new lockscreen options, nicer looking widgets and generally a more-polished looking experience.

Image credit: Android Central

It's the last couple of weeks for new phone rumours before they all land at MWC 2012 so expect to hear more from the HTC Endeavor and HTC Ville before the month is out.

As usual, TechRadar will be hitting MWC in force so stay tuned for our hands on HTC Endeavor review, coming soon.

Next-gen gesture systems

Someday, we will all control computers with our brain waves. You will think of a command, such as turning on the headlights in your car or closing a dialog box, and a computer will react instantly.

Until then, there is an incredibly precise way to control computer interfaces.

Using nothing more than your own hands and fingers, gesture control systems seek to remove the one impediment to more immediate, ubiquitous computing: the stylus, keyboard, and mouse.

You wave your hand, and the computer starts playing a DVD. Or, you pick up a virtual object, turn it around, and throw it across the room.

Of course, Microsoft Kinect was the first raging success in this space. Recent games like Disneyland Adventures put the gamer into a virtual world.

By raising an arm or pointing at an object, you control the interface without a controller and immerse yourself into a realistic environment. Yet, Kinect is not the only gesture system around.

Several companies are developing gesture systems that take the basic kinetic model of hand gestures and finger movements to the next level.

1. Omek Interactive Beckon

One of the most interesting gesture control systems is the Omek Interactive Beckon. Essentially a development suite for making games and interactive content, the Beckon is unique in that it works with just about any off-the-shelf 3D camera and sensor system.

Many of the gesture control interfaces around today work only with a proprietary camera system. By supporting any 3D camera, Omek is more flexible in terms of the applications you can use at home or in an office setting.

The system works by making a skeleton representation of your entire body. These mapped points of movement are precise enough that the Omek system can read multiple gestures in a row and interpret them as a series of commands, and can automatically recognize a second person. (The Kinect can also recognize a new participant, but they usually have to stand still for a second.) The development kit for Omek Interactive is also unique in that the gesture commands do not require extensive programming.

2. Primesense Reach UX

The company responsible for the tech behind the Microsoft Kinect has their own product that consists of a camera and gesture control interface. Called Reach UX, the camera and UI is intended for controlling entertainment media like TV shows and movies.

For example, a CES concept showed how you can swipe through movie titles and pick the one you want by making a pick gesture. There are two cameras, one that uses an infrared sensor for detecting light and another CMOS sensor that detects movement. The two sensors are combined to form one map of movements. The main advantage of this media gesture control, other than not having to use a remote or a controller, is that you can search through a large collection and "pick" content faster.

3. SoftKinetic

If there is any company that is poised to challenge Microsoft for gesture control interfaces, it is SoftKinetic. The reason: the system is designed for developers to create their own gesture interfaces.

The DepthSense camera works by sending out an infrared beam of light and measuring the time it takes for the beam to return. That helps determine the shape and size of the person in front of the camera and their movements.

The IISU middleware component then maps those readings into the software development kit, which programmers can use for creating applications. The middleware scans an entire body, so the end-user application can consist of a full-body avatar.

4. Oblong Industries G-Speak

No overview of gesture control systems is complete without touching on Oblong Industries, the system that most experts say started the industry. Originally developed as a prototype for the movie Minority Report, the Oblong system eventually became a real product that is now used by major corporations like Boeing to visualize their own product development.

Oblong uses sensors installed all along a ceiling and on walls in a control room. You wear a glove the read precise movements. One example: you can "reach" inside a map and zoom in and out, swipe to the side, and pan up and down.

5. Opening up Kinect itself

Of course, one of the ways to go beyond Kinect is to open it up and see what people develop for it. Microsoft recently released the Kinect for Windows development platform, a way to use the Kinect controller to make custom games for PC, interactive sales demos, and entire applications for industries like health and transportation.

The system uses the same Kinect camera that works with the Xbox 360 but the dev kit now supports near-mode sensing from as close as 40cm away, skeletal tracking which can sense the body of two people, and now works with yup to four connected cameras.

A filing for a Samsung Galaxy camera trademark has sparked rumours that Samsung is about to launch (or at least is working on) a new OS based camera.

The news comes just weeks after Polaroid revealed its Android "smart camera" at CES 2012.

At present, no other camera companies have models with operating systems installed, which gives the benefits of being able to download apps to customise the way the camera works.

It would make sense for companies such as Sony and Samsung to develop app based cameras, as both already have smartphones in the market.

Coming soon

Last week, Olympus told us that apps were "on the list" of things that the company is working on, but a spokesperson for the company revealed that the culture of secrecy meant that giving people the option to change and alter their cameras would be difficult.

Samsung's trademark application was filed under the "Cameras and camcorders", suggesting that it's not just another product under its existing Galaxy line-up of mobile phones.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 has been announced ahead of MWC 2012, with the Korean firm rebooting the chassis of its first tablet.

The new tablet features a 7-inch screen to cater for the smaller tablet lover, but more importantly is running on Ice Cream Sandwich (or Android 4.0) and may well be the first from the company to bring the next generation platform.

The rest of the technical specs are less exciting: we're looking at a 1GHz dual core processor running under the hood, with a 3MP camera on the rear.

Samsung has overlaid the Ice Cream Sandwich platform with its own TouchWiz UI too, and video calling will be supported through a VGA front-facing sensor.

Fuzzless front

The screen might not be too shabby it seems, as while it's 'only' LCD (rather than the fancy-pants Super AMOLED offerings from the Korean firm) the resolution of 1024x600 should be enough to keep users complaining of fuzzy displays.

Other key specs that don't seem to have moved things on much in a year and a half include: 1GB of RAM and the choice of up to 32GB internal memory.

Intriguingly, Samsung is referring to the device as the Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) in its press materials, so it seems likely we'll be getting larger variants of the same device in the same way as the Motorola Xoom 2 has been offered.

Thomas Richter, Samsung's director of portfolio management, told TechRadar: "Since 2010 we have been bringing the Galaxy Tab range. In 2012, we believe that people want to experience more on the go."

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 UK release date has been set for March, so expect to see our full review up any time soon.

Images of the LG Miracle have surfaced along with a possible retail name for the phone, the Fantasy E740.

The photos appeared on a Romanian trading site and were quickly removed but not before a GSM Arena tipster was able to save them.

The handset in the pictures is a working unit running Windows Phone 7.5 and clearly has "Not for Sale" on the back – suggesting this is a prototype and not the finished product.

Image Credit: GSM Arena

Windows Phone opens its arms to NFC

Specs and a render of the proposed LG Miracle were already in the wild before these images appeared on the scene.

The Miracle/Fantasy is expected to come with a 1GHz processor, 4-inch WVGA NOVA display, rear facing 5MP camera capable of capturing 720p video and a front facing VGA snapper.

NFC (near-field communication) looks set to feature in the Miracle, but isn't currently supported by version 7.5 of the Windows Phone OS.

This may well tee us up for a joint MWC 2012 launch of the LG Miracle and Microsoft confirming support for NFC on Windows Phone.

Apple has patented a 3D interface that detects and responds to the movements of your eyes to trick them into perceiving depth.

The patent – spotted by The Register – has been granted to the Cupertino outfit and deals with the use of sensors to create a false 3D effect on your device.

False 3D can be generated if the device can work out exactly what angle you are looking from, rendering an image that looks like it has depth.

It's a similar concept to the brilliant head tracking using a Wii remote that was a YouTube hit a few years ago:

Apple's patent talks about determining a 3D frame for the device "based on the received positional data" and it is the way in which this data is received that is the key difference it seems.

Tracking the eyes, dotting the 3Ds

"The techniques disclosed herein use a compass, MEMS accelerometer, GPS module, and MEMS gyrometer to infer a frame of reference for a hand-held device," says the patent.

"This can provide a true Frenet frame, i.e., X- and Y-vectors for the display, and also a Z-vector that points perpendicularly to the display. In fact, with various inertial clues from accelerometer, gyrometer, and other instruments that report their states in real time, it is possible to track the Frenet frame of the device in real time to provide a continuous 3D frame-of-reference.

"Once this continuous frame of reference is known, the position of a user's eyes may either be inferred or calculated directly by using a device's front-facing camera.

"With the position of the user's eyes and a continuous 3D frame-of-reference for the display, more realistic virtual 3D depictions of the objects on the device's display may be created and interacted with by the user."

It's certainly a fascinating idea – and one that definitely has some interesting potential in the way in which we use our devices.

Just don't expect it to feature in the iPhone 5 or iPad 3.

Rumours of MySpace's death have been greatly exaggerated – at least, that's what the company is expected to announce today with the news that it has signed up one million new users since December.

The reasons for the renewed interest stem from a new music player, which was launched in December and puts the site in competition with streaming services like Spotify and Last.fm.

MySpace's chief operating officer Chris Vanderhook also reckons the integration with Facebook and Twitter has helped.

What does it say about a social network that it relies on two other social networks to drive its growth? That it's not trying to be a social network, we'd wager.

Correct

The New York Times reports that this does seem to be the strategy, with Vanderhook adding that MySpace isn't out to compete with Facebook (something it has already failed at) but to "be the conduit for music and other forms of entertainment that can be shared through other networks".

Tim and Chris Vanderhook worked with Justin Timberlake to pick MySpace up for a song last year, paying News Corp $35 million for it just six years after Murdoch's empire bought the network for $580 million.

So it may not matter that MySpace tumbled out of the top social networks in December, given that it's no longer trying to be one.

In January, it emerged that the MySpace still garners more unique visitors a month than Google+ and Tumblr – it may not be time to crack out the bubbly, but it looks like there could be life in the old MySpace dog yet.

It's roadmap time at AMD and the big news is the promise of mobile chips that should give those snazzy new Ultrabooks powered by Intel processors a run for their money.

A little further out, AMD also hinted that ARM processor cores, currently the architecture of choice for smartphones and tablets, might find their way into its chips.

But first, Ultrabooks. A little like Intel's Centrino effort of the naughties, the Ultrabook is a simple but deceptively clever idea that has gained traction with astonishing speed. And jolly nice they are too, with their slim proportions, strong performance and excellent battery life, largely courtesy of Intel's latest Core-i-whatever mobile processors.

There's just one problem. Pricing. Intel's original pitch for Ultrabooks involved slick, super-slim computing for $1,000 or less. Just the thing to give Apple's pulchritudinous but pricey MacBook Air a beasting.

The reality for punter's wallets has been significantly less salubrious, especially in the UK. Retail stickers well above £1,000 have been common and to date only a handful have hit the shelves for under that figure.

Chip pricing to blame

Part of the problem, ironically enough, is Intel's chip pricing. AMD hasn't exactly been snapping at its heels of late. Whenever Intel's only significant competitor for PC processors falls behind, the same thing happens. Intel's prices go up and its thirst to innovate dries up.

Enter, therefore, the long awaited AMD Trinity chip. It's AMD's second performance-orientated APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) after last year's Llano model. And it looks rather promising. On the CPU side, it gets an updated version of AMD's new Bulldozer architecture, known as Piledriver.

As regular TechRadar readers will know, the Bulldozer architecture didn't deliver on the desktop. However, updated to Piledriver specification and inserted into an APU that also contains one of AMD's absolutely excellent graphics cores, now that's a different box of CPUs altogether.

We won't know for sure until we get our filthy mitts on Trinity-powered laptop PCs. But AMD recently showed off an early Trinity system developed in partnership with Compal. It's just 18mm thick and will allegedly sell for under $900.

Moreover, AMD is making some pretty startling claims for Trinity. For starters, it's said to pack double the performance per watt of the existing Llano APU along with 50 per cent better graphics performance. And Llano already has the fastest integrated graphics core of any PC chip.

But the real killer is that AMD claims Trinity will deliver all this along with better battery life than equivalent Intel mobile CPUs. What we're promised then, is a chip that goes harder and lasts longer than Intel but will also bring prices down on Ultrabooks.

Supernote, anybody?

Of course, any system powered by an AMD chip can't actually be called an Ultrabook. That's an Intel-only gig.

But if I was AMD, I'd be thinking hard for a snappy name for mouth-breathing PC shop salesmen to bandy about. Would sir prefer an Intel Ultrabook or an AMD Supernote?

Whatever, the arrival of Trinity will almost definitely be a good thing for everyone, even Ultrabook buyers. If it's any good, it'll bring down prices across the board.

But what of that tantalising prospect of an ARM-powered AMD chip? Well, AMD has been dropping bigger and better hints in recent months about its willingness to consider use ARM cores in its processors. And people have been getting excited.

In truth, there's really not much reason to do so. There's no shortage of competition and innovation in the ARM processor game. The addition of AMD to the battlefield won't make much difference. At most it'll force everyone to up their game in graphics a little. No, it's x86 why AMD can make the most impact. Fingers crossed for Trinity, folks.

Samsung is set to baptise yet another handset into its Galaxy range with the re-imagining of the Galaxy Mini, the Galaxy Mini 2.

A tipster has leaked details of the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 S6500 to GSM Arena, apparently codenamed Jena.

The refreshed mini will pack a 3.3-inch HVGA display, a faster 800MHz processor and 3GB of internal storage which are all improvements on the original and the internal memory is impressive for a budget phone.

The Galaxy Mini 2 is also reported to feature a 3MP camera and run Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) but with a small screen we reckon basic stuff like using the keyboard is going to be tricky.

Another Galaxy phone? Really!?

With shipping rumoured to start in February, we expect to see the Galaxy Mini 2 feature at MWC 2012 in Barcelona and we will see if it offers something uniquely different to Samsung's other budget devices.

Lacklustre naming regimes aside, does the Korean giant really need to plunge another device into the budget market which will see it line up in direct competition with other Samsung devices such as the Galaxy Y and Galaxy Ace? Let us know your thoughts.

Microsoft's Steven Sinofsky has defended the Windows desktop, as the company looks ahead to a vital year for the grand old Operating System.

Speaking to TechRadar last week, Sinofsky outlined one of the key new Windows changes: the transition to work on ARM chips.

Windows on ARM (WOA) is a huge departure for Microsoft – it has previously focused on Intel's x86 platform – but the transition to new chips will not see a move away from the now familiar Windows desktop.

Touchtop?

In a blog post, Sinofsky outlined just why the Windows desktop would not be sacrificed any time soon, insisting that it was a compromise too far as touchscreen devices become widespread.

"Some have suggested we might remove the desktop from WOA in an effort to be pure, to break from the past, or to be more simplistic or expeditious in our approach," he blogged.

"To us, giving up something useful that has little cost to customers was a compromise that we didn't want to see in the evolution of PCs.

"The presence of different models is part of every platform. Whether it is to support a transition to a future programming model, to support different programming models on one platform, or to support different ways of working, the presence of multiple models represents a flexible solution that provides a true no-compromise experience on any platform."

Considering the considerable interest in Windows tablets there is clearly still a desire for a desktop, and Microsoft is aware that familiar user interfaces are as much about serving up what a consumer expects as clinging on to the past.

TechRadar's hands on: Windows 8 review discusses the difficulties in balancing a traditional desktop and the touch-friendly modern Metro UI that runs over the top of it.

And even if that transition is still a little clumsy, it seems that ditching the desktop would be a step too far for many - including the team at Microsoft.

Sony is looking into ways of porting its Vita OS software onto its mobile devices according to a Japanese website.

According to the Japan based site AV Watch, soon-to-be Sony President and CEO Kazuo Hirai has hinted in a Q&A session with reporters that Sony is exploring how its Vita OS could make its way onto devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Sony's Senior Vice President Yoshio Matsumoto went on to say: "if you're asking if we've made it [the Vita OS] in a way that's expandable, so that it's possible to apply to smartphones and tablets on top of achieving the high responsiveness we need for gaming devices — it is possible"

Gaming with a side of phone calls

Sony has already brought PlayStation gaming to a mobile device with the Xperia Play allowing us to get to grips with original PS One titles.

If Sony did bring Vita gaming to mobiles and tablets we could see the premature death of the PS Vita console if the devices offered the same display quality and gaming experience. Controls may not be as ergonomic, but users may sacrifice this for mobile phone features.

Sony is looking to get its mobile division back on track in 2012 after poor results last year saw it make a loss and lose ground in the market to the likes of Apple, Samsung and RIM.

Apple is not pulling any punches with its latest patent attack on Samsung, seeking a ban on the sale of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in the US.

This latest move is being seen as a clear attack on Android as a whole, given that the Galaxy Nexus is the flagship Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) device and covers a number of features present in the Galaxy Nexus software.

Patent expert Florian Mueller describes the four patents that Apple is basing its case on as "the patent equivalent of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" because they all relate to patents Apple has recently been awarded or disputes that Apple has recently won against other manufacturers.

I-scream-about-patents Sandwich

The Californian court case sees Apple claim that the Galaxy Nexus infringes on patents including the ability to unlock a phone screen by sliding an image and voice-based search.

As well as the unlock and search patents, Apple is also making waves over data tapping, a patent that the company had success using over HTC (data tapping is when information from one app can be used to call up another - like when a phone number is included in an email and you have the option to call, text or save it in a different app), and a predictive text patent which the company was recently granted.

Although Apple and Google haven't come out shooting directly at each other, a Cold War situation is emerging where each takes pot-shots at the other via manufacturing partners.

Apple is also a bit narked at Google's BFF Motorola over a patent licensing dispute in which Moto is after 2.5 per cent royalties on every iPhone and iPad sold.