Video: Hands on of Windows Phone 8.1 Cortana in Action

Windows Phone 8.1 is coming to devices later this year and promises to be the biggest update to any Microsoft based mobile platform since it jumped from Windows Phone 6.5 to Windows Phone 7. One of the key changes to this update will be a personal assistant simply known as "Cortana". Over at Unleash the Phones, they have somehow managed to get demo of this new feature in action. You can check out the video below:

There' no definite proof that Cortana will try to predict the information you want before you ask for it like Google Now; however, as you can see in the video, it does collect information on your likes during the set up process. I am very curious to know what it will do with that information after it collects it. According to a report earlier this week from The Verge, Cortana will offer some of those Google Now suggestions for appointments and flights, so maybe that's why it asks the set-up questions. While this video's information is limited, at least we got a peak into the new feature and that will have to be good enough for now.

OneDrive cloud connection makes its way to BlackBerry 10

Funny thing about this cloud service trend; it's designed to let us upload and access data anywhere, but not all cloud storage providers make their services easily available on all mobile platforms. Microsoft's OneDrive has previously been supported only on Android, iPhone, and Windows Phone, but with today's release of Connect to Microsoft OneDrive, BlackBerry 10 users can store their cloud apps as reliably as people on other platforms.

Connect to Microsoft OneDrive is built by BlackBerry rather than Microsoft, so it's not a client in the traditional sense as seen on other platforms. Much like the Dropbox connection BlackBerry baked into BB10, it's designed to offer an integrated function that can be used to browse through files or upload content to OneDrive. Users can upload, open, or edit documents through the connection and have changes automatically saved to cloud. Photos and videos taken on a BlackBerry 10 device are automatically uploaded so they can be accessed on a desktop or stored as a backup.

The downside to this approach is that you might not get as equal an experience compared to what companies are able to create when they handle the app process. The upside is that it's a better alternative than nothing for people who use OneDrive, and as we've seen with Dropbox, you're not missing out on that much by using an app built by BlackBerry. The core functions of cloud uploading and downloading are still present, and you're able to get a free 7GB of storage when signing up.

Download OneDrive for BlackBerrry

Samsung ends practice of juicing its benchmark stats with Android 4.4 update

When the Android 4.4 update arrives on popular phones like the Samsung Galaxy S 4 and Galaxy Note 3, people will be pleased about the small improvements behind the scenes and the new UI features available in the update. One feature that won't get as much attention outside of a few obsessive tech users is that Samsung has finally stopped rigging its phones to turn in higher than normal benchmark scores.

You may recall that Samsung was found to send the phone into unrealistic states in order to make its benchmark scores go higher. The company would set all of the cores in the device at their maximum speeds only when it detected that a benchmark app was open, which gave the device high scores that could never be replicated in normal conditions, and gave a false sense that Samsung products were significantly more powerful than rivals.

Ars Technica has compared both the Galaxy S 4 and Note 3 under Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and Android 4.4 KitKat. After running tests on both devices to see how they performed pre-and-post-KitKat, the site found that Samsung no longer boosts its benchmarks scores. Though people often put too much stock in benchmarks, it's good to know that Samsung is being more honest in its handling for the people who do care about such things. Charts and a full breakdown are available at the link below.

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FreedomPop Privacy Phone pits specs vs. security

What matters most to you: a great phone with solid specs and so-so security, or an outdated phone that's likely to be more secure than anything else on the market? That's the question posted by FreedomPop's new Privacy Phone that takes a familiar Android device and then packs it with VPN, encryption, and other settings designed to keep the government, hackers, and prying eyes off of your data and activity. But is this extra layer of privacy worth it?

While the theory of Privacy Phone seems very intriguing, I'm less enthused about the hardware used to deliver it. FreedomPop built the "Snowden Phone" (that's actually what they call it unofficially) by refurbishing an old Samsung Galaxy S II. The folks at the VoIP service provider took a three year old phone and then tacked on added protection like VPN for anonymous Internet browsing, encryption for messages and phone calls, and the ability to pay with Bitcoin to have extra privacy. Again, sounds great, but is that good enough to have a phone with:

- 1.2 GHz dual-core processor (Exynos C210)

- 16GB internal storage

- 8-megapixel camera

- 1,800 mAh battery

- Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n

- 128-bit encryption

The Privacy Phone costs $189 and comes with three months of unlimited VoIP calling and 500 MB data. After three months have passed, the phone costs $10 per month, or whatever the equivalent of $10 in Bitcoin is each month.

Are These Really Leaked Pictures of the New Samsung Galaxy S5?

Samsung is set to unveil the new Samsung Galaxy S5 very shortly at their Unpacked event however according to "reliable sources" these photos are the actual device itself.  Specs on this device include a 16mp rear camera, finger print sensor, water proofing, 2800 mah battery and dimpled back.  Check out more photos below.

We will find out soon enough if these leaks are true and what the rest of the specs will look like.  I am actually hoping that Samsung will finally bring an Octo-Core processor to US shores.  Whatever Samsung has for us you know it will sell and there will be a ton of cool new features on it.  Can't wait...

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Nokia Dives into Android, Introduces the Nokia X Family at MWC

All the rumors about Nokia going "Green" (aka Android) were true and not only for one device but for a whole family of devices.  Nokia introduced three "Nokia X" devices at Mobile World Congress the Nokia X, Nokia X+ and the Nokia XL.  While none of these devices will ever be confused with a Galaxy device were never meant to be and look like they are going to replace the Asha line of devices.

These devices all run a heavily forked version of Android that is similar to the Asha OS and is preload with Nokia and Microsoft goodies like  One Drive, Here Maps, Skype, Nokia Music, etc...   Specs for all are below:

Wondering what this new OS looks like Nokia was kind enough to give a demo will introducing the new devices.

All of these devices are ultra affordable with the most expensive Nokia XL going for 150USD at time of launch.  Anyone else interested in these devices besides me?

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Samsung Galaxy S5 introduces 4K camera, water resistance, and fingerprint sensor

No more rumors; the Samsung Galaxy S5 is now official. Samsung has announced its new smartphone and it doesn't have many of the specs that appeared during the many leaks of recent months, but it does have some impressive specifications. The phone has a 2.5 GHz quad-core processor, a 5.1-inch 1080p HD display, and a 16-megapixel camera capable of recording 4K Ultra HD video. It offers a lot more, as well. Full specs of the device are below.

However, before we get to the specs, let's take a moment to note that the Galaxy S5 also has an all new user interface. The latest version of Touchwiz built atop Android 4.4.2 KitKat has flatter icons and surfaces, taking on a smoother appearance. We'll have more hands-on photos later today, but for now, take a look at the specs.

Network	LTE Cat.4 (150/50Mbps)
Display	5.1” FHD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080)
AP	2.5GHz Quad core application processor
OS	Android 4.4.2 (Kitkat)
Camera	16MP (rear), 2.1MP (front)
Video	UHD@30fps, HDR, video stabilization Video Codec : H.263, H.264(AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, Sorenson Spark, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8 Video Format: MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM
Audio	Audio Codec : MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/ AAC+/ eAAC+, WMA, Vorbis, FLAC Audio Format: MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA
Camera Features	HDR (Rich tone), Selective Focus, Virtual Tour Shot, Shot&More
Additional Features	IP67 Dust and water Resistant
	Ultra Power Saving Mode
	Download Booster
	S Health 3.0
	Quick Connect
	Private Mode
	Kids Mode
Google Mobile Services	Chrome, Drive, Photos, Gmail, Google, Google+, Google Settings, Hangouts, Maps, Play Books, Play Games, Play Newsstand, Play Movie & TV, Play Music, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube
Connectivity	WiFi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac HT80, MIMO(2x2) Bluetooth®: 4.0 BLE / ANT+ USB: USB 3.0 NFC IR Remote
Sensor	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, Hall, RGB ambient light, Gesture(IR), Finger Scanner, Heart rate sensor
Memory	RAM: 2GB Internal Memory: 16/32GB  microSD slot upto 64GB
Dimension	142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1mm, 145g
Battery	2800mAh Standby time: 390 hrs / Talk time: 21 hrs

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs. Galaxy S4 vs. Galaxy Note 3 hands-on: hardware tour and fingerprint demo

If the Samsung Galaxy S4 sits at one end of the spectrum and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 sits at the other, the Samsung Galaxy S5 would rest comfortably in the middle. When you look at the three devices, you can see the transition from one to the next. The Galaxy Note 3 was informed by the mistakes and forward movements of the Galaxy S4, so is the same true of the Galaxy S5? Here's a hands-on video showing it off.

You might also wonder about other aspects of the device. For a closer a look at the software and a hardware-specific look at the S5, including the heart rate sensor, watch the video below. Then watch the fingerprint demonstration below.

HTC will take your questions now: Reddit AMA scheduled today at 1:30 PM PST

If you have ever wanted to ask a question of the people who make HTC smartphones, today's your chance. HTC is hosting a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) session at reddit.com/r/Android, allowing inquisitive users to find out more about the company. However, they probably won't answer the questions that matter most to you.

AMA is sometimes a misnomer when it comes to companies because they cannot answer the questions people really want to know. When is the new HTC One coming out? What kind of specs will it have? Why can't the Roadrunner and the Coyote be friends? Companies can't talk about unannounced products and they won't confirm or deny any specifics as a result. You can also expect a lot of PR-sanctioned answers about things like updates or problems you have with a device. It's ask me anything, not answer anything.

Still, you might learn something interesting about back stories of some phones, or perhaps an upcoming feature. The session will start at 1:30pm PST, which is 4:30pm ET / 9:30pm GMT. Visit The Android subreddit at that time to see the link.

Samsung Galaxy Gear on sale at Best Buy for $149.99

The Samsung Galaxy Gear temporarily costs half as much as it normally does. BestBuy.com has a 50 percent off sale for the Android-powered smart watch that lowers the price to $149.99 with free shipping included. This does not appear to be in connection with recent reports of a permanent price drop for the Gear. A price drop to make the Gear more appealing is rumored to be on the way; however, Best Buy has it listed as part of its Daily Deals, so if this interests you, make the purchase now rather than later.