Leak points to major redesign in upcoming new version of Android

Apple introduced a major reimagining of its mobile software last year when it released iOS 7, and since then the trend in mobile has been “flat.” Several companies including Samsung and HTC have flattened their user interfaces a bit since then, and they have also turned to the use of brighter colors to accent apps, just as Apple did in iOS 7. Now, it looks like Google may be planning to follow suit and offer a slightly flatter take on Android in an upcoming major redesign.

A leaked screenshot that supposedly reveals an upcoming version of Android code-named “Moonshine” shows a completely overhauled set of app icons. The icons have been flattened slightly and also redesigned to more closely match the icons Google uses on the web for its various services.

Android Police says it received the leaked screenshot of an unreleased version of Android from “a source familiar with the new designs,” but the site also hedged a bit and noted that it isn’t entirely confident that the graphics pictured in the screenshot are final.In addition to the home screen image, the site put together a graphic that shows eight of the new icons pictured alongside the corresponding current Android icons and Google’s web icons. That image can be seen below.It is unclear if this new redesign will debut in Android 4.5 or in a later version of Google’s mobile platform.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Features.

It feels like we have been waiting forever for the Galaxy S5 to launch. The release of Samsung’s new flagship smartphone actually comes less than a year after the Galaxy S4 first debuted, but to be frank, the S4 was a pretty big let down. It was a jack of all trades, master of just one: the display.
 
Samsung’s flagship smartphone for 2013 wasn’t a bad smartphone, per se, but it really wasn’t anything special. And it certainly wasn’t the envelope-pusher we were looking for from the top smartphone vendor in the world.But with the Galaxy S5, Samsung tried even harder to wow us.

In some ways, the S5 is absolutely a step in the right direction. Whereas Samsung seemingly tossed every half-baked gimmick it could think of into the Galaxy S4, the feature additions on this year’s model actually have purpose. For the most part, at least.The new camera is a big upgrade, the software is more refined and the health features provide a good first crack at an emerging space.

But there is one way the Galaxy S5 is almost exactly like its predecessor, and it just so happens to be the one area where we hoped the new S5 would be just like the S4: It has the best mobile display the world has ever seen.When the Galaxy S4 debuted in 2013, we had never seen a smartphone screen quite so stunning. In fact, it wasn’t until the Galaxy Note 3 debuted in the fall that a handset finally bested the S4′s display, and of course it was a Samsung phone that stole the crown.

Now, another new Samsung phone will wear the crown.The full HD Super AMOLED display on Samsung’s new Galaxy S5 is absolutely the best thing about this new phone. It’s just incredible.Measuring 5.1 inches diagonally, the panel actually spreads the same number of pixels across a larger canvas than the Galaxy S4 did. The result is a slight drop in pixel density from 441 ppi to 432 ppi. Of course, that difference simply cannot be perceived by the human eye.

What can be perceived, however, is the fact that the new panel on the S5 is far brighter than the one on last year’s model. The colors also seem to pop a bit more, and the contrast is somehow slightly more impressive as well.But don’t take my word for it. Display analyst Raymond Soneira took an in-depth look at the Galaxy S5 screen and found it to be 22% brighter than the Galaxy S4 display. He also called it the best smartphone display Samsung has produced to date.There’s a lot to like about Samsung’s new Galaxy S5 and there’s also plenty to dislike. Of one thing, however, there is little room for debate: The gorgeous Super AMOLED display on this new handset is absolutely the best thing about the Galaxy S5.

iPhone 6 Leak Features and Images.

Completely redesigned iPhone 6 fully detailed in huge leak from insider
While some industry watchers issue Apple research covering things that never seem to materialize — like the “iRing” and “iTV,” for example — Ming-Chi Kuo has made a name for himself using a slightly different method: his predictions are almost always correct. As such, we should all pay attention when Kuo issues new research on Apple’s plans, and on Thursday morning he sent out a massive report covering what seems to be just about everything there is to know about the upcoming iPhone 6 and iPhone phablet.

Beginning with the main flagship iPhone 6 model, Kuo reports that it will indeed feature a new 4.7-inch display panel. In an earlier note, the analyst said that the new Retina panel will sport a resolution of 1,334 x 750 pixels, which works out to a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch.
 
Kuo said that the iPhone 6 will feature a new Apple A8 processor along with 1GB of RAM. While rival Android devices move to 2GB or even 3GB of RAM in 2014, Apple is apparently content to stick with 1GB. The comparatively small amount of memory doesn’t seem to be causing any problems thus far. The analyst also says Apple’s new iPhone will feature a big design overhaul that is much thinner, and the bezel on the sides of the display will be reduced by between 10% and 20% so that the phone can still be used comfortably with one hand despite the larger screen.Interestingly, Kuo believes that Apple will add NFC chips to this year’s iPhone models.
 
The new iPhone phablet will feature a full HD 1,920 x 1,080-pixel display that measures 5.5 inches diagonally, according to Kuo. That works out to a pixel density of 401 ppi.Apple’s first phablet will seemingly sport specs that are very similar to the smaller iPhone 6 model, including the A8 processor, NFC and Touch ID. The battery will be much larger, however, with Kuo suggesting that it will be between 50% and 70% bigger than the current iPhone 5s battery.
 
Kuo also says that the power/sleep/wake button on both new iPhone models will be moved from the top of the phone to the side, so it can be reached more easily on the larger phones. Many large Android phones have the power button situated on the side as well.

The analyst claims that Apple will switch from Gorilla Glass to sapphire crystal to cover the iPhone’s displays, but possibly only on the high-end models with 64GB of memory. This is due to supply constraints, Kuo said, though ultimately Apple will supposedly move all of its iPhone models to sapphire.Part of the reason for the shift to sapphire, Kuo said, is that Touch ID may soon be embedded in iPhone display panels rather than home buttons, and sapphire is needed to ensure fingerprint reading accuracy.

According to the report, the iPhone 4s and iPhone 4 will be discontinued and the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will occupy Apple’s two lower-end price slots. In the U.S., that would make the iPhone 5c free on contract while the iPhone 5s would likely retail for $99 on contract.Kuo says that Apple’s new 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will launch late in the third quarter, and the iPhone phablet will launch late in the fourth quarter. His release timing aligns with a report from earlier this week.