Tim Cook regularly sits down for lunch with random Apple employees and meets with the company’s investors, according to a new piece in Fortune magazine.

Cook also met with investors, something Jobs hated doing, following his promotion to CEO. The article, written by Adam Lashinsky, depicts Cook as a personable, approachable and hands-on CEO without any of Jobs’ prickly nature.

Cook has undoubtedly made changes in the way Apple operates on a day-to-day basis but Lashinsky confirms that most of Apple’s ‘unique corporate culture’ remains.

Here’s an extract from the Fortune article:

‘In general, Apple has become slightly more open and considerably more corporate. In some cases Cook is taking action that Apple sorely needed and employees badly wanted. It's almost as if he is working his way through a to-do list of long overdue repairs the previous occupant (Jobs) refused to address for no reason other than obstinacy.’

So those that doubted Cook’s staying power as Apple CEO had better rethink their position. The man is well liked, level-headed and business focussed, according to Fortune’s feature. It also claims that most Apple employees prefer Cook’s disarming personality and regularly enjoy taking lunch with him in and around Apple HQ – Jobs used to dine alone with Ives (probably in a secret tower).

The Fortune cover story includes comments from an unnamed CEO of ‘an influential tech company, who described Cook as "down to earth, noncorporate, detail-oriented, and disarming.’

‘He's casual, grounded, and easy to talk to,’ they said. ‘I forgot he's the CEO of Apple. And that was not my experience with Jobs.’

Via: Apple Insider

Even though Facebook is the proud owner of Instagram, having acquired it for $1 billion dollars, the social network has released its own camera app.

Known as Facebook Camera, the iPhone app allows you to browse and upload multiple photos at once using your smartphone, as well as use Instagram-esque functionality such as the ability to add filters and crop your photos.

Why has this happened, you might be wondering? Well, for one thing, the Instagram deal hasn't gone through yet.

More likely, though, is that Facebook Camera was being developed before the acquisition announcement. It would've been a waste to throw away all the work, basically.

Other critics have slammed the idea, saying it's confusing and merely reinforces what a wasted purchase Instagram was.

We're not so sure it's that black and white. Instagram, while incredibly popular, has no way near the same number of users as Facebook, which means there are plenty of social networkers out there who don't know what Instagram is, let alone what it can do.

And for those of you who do know what it is, you can simply give Facebook Camera a go, see if you like it and either use it as a stop-gap until Instagram on Facebook arrives. Or enjoy five of the best alternatives.

Facebook Camera is now available from the App Store.

Phones 4u is attempting to put a new smile on your face with its latest offer - almost literally, in fact.

When you buy the Nokia Lumia 900 from its flagship London store you get free teeth whitening, presumably so your choppers match the gloss white colour the Lumia 900 comes in.

It may seem like a strange offer but, according to a Nokia survey, 64 per cent of Brits would love a Hollywood smile.

The online survey, which was taken by 1,000 adults, also found out which male and female stars Brits most want to have teeth like.

From a male perspective, Tom Cruise, Will Smith and Simon Cowell came first, second and third, respectively.

For the ladies, Kate Middleton was the number one choice, with Cheryl Cole coming second and Alesha Dixon in third.

The super-tough Lumia 900 represents the top-end of Nokia's Windows Phone range. It has a 4.3-inch display with Clear Black technology, 8-megapixel camera, 1.4Ghz processor of the single core variety and a host of Nokia-exclusive apps such as Nokia Drive and Nokia Music.

You also get the latest version of Windows Phone, access to over 80,000 apps on the Windows Marketplace and that attractive unibody also seen on the Lumia 800.

As promotions go, usually a free Xbox 360 or something suffices, but if it's teeth whitening Britain wants, it's teeth whitening Britain will get - providing you buy the Lumia 900 from Phones 4u's London store on May 25, 26 or 27.

If that's not enough to tempt you, it also looks as if you get a free pair of Monster HD Stereo headphones but we could be wrong.

Facebook on Windows Phone has been updated to version 2.5, adding lots of new functionality in the process.

The update, which is available now if you already have Facebook on your Windows Phone or download the app from the Windows Marketplace, means you can now use the 'with' and 'at' feature to tag friends and locations.

You can also like comments using a tap-and-hold method, and this also works with deleting posts.

The 'Like' system seems a little odd - you get a large obtrusive blue panel when you press it, which obscures the display - but it's not that bad.

Finally, messages now display in a threaded format and support for group messaging has been added, making it a more complete app and increasingly like its desktop counterpart.

One annoying issue is that Facebook on Windows Phone still pulls in your full, un-edited feed, so any tailoring done to ignore posts from that person 'who bangs on about themselves all the time' will have no effect.

Facebook is also still a relatively slow app, although we noticed a jump in performance after the update. Don't feel like it's just Windows Phone, though - the Android and iOS versions are just as bad.

So long as you have Windows Phone Mango, the latest version of the operating system, you can go and download the Facebook app for yourself.

Nokia has announced the Lumia 610 will arrive in the UK in the first week of June.

Speaking at a Nokia event in London at the Trafalgar Hotel, the Finnish company confirmed the Lumia 610, which is aimed at the budget market, will be available from most retailers and networks.

The SIM-free price hasn't been officially announced, but Nokia representatives told us to expect a contract price of 15 British pounds over a period of 24 months.

As a lower-spec device than the current Lumia 710, the Lumia 610 is aimed at the wallet conscious buyer and emerging markets, so the specs are less impressive.

However, Windows Phone is a well-optimised beast so expect smooth navigation and punchy loading times regardless.

Keep an eye out for the Lumia 610 in the first week of June, and our forthcoming review.

It’s no secret that Apple is quietly working away on its first foray into the world of TVs. The much talked about Apple iTV set is expected to land some time in 2013. But how will it be different from say a current HD TV that’s connected to Apple TV?

Apple’s Siri Assistant will likely be included along with gesture-based controls, iTunes, AirPlay and a whole lot more. But even with all of these things in place we’re still not convinced by the idea - is Apple biting off more than it can chew here?

Attempting to take over the TV market is bold. Even more so when you consider all the trouble Sony and Samsung’s HD TV respective businesses are in. But maybe what Apple is coming to the table with isn’t a TV at all - maybe it’s much, much more?

Forrester’s James McQuivey reckons Apple’s iTV will be the world’s first non-TV TV, which, we admit sounds bonkers, but the guy certainly has a point. Check out his thoughts, of which there are many, below:

‘Here’s me putting on the record what I’ve been telling clients behind closed doors for over a year: Apple should sell the world’s first non-TV TV. Instead of selling a replacement for the TV you just bought, Apple should convince millions of Apple fans that they need a new screen in their lives. Call it the iHub, a 32-inch screen with touch, gesture, voice, and iPad control that can be hung on the wall wherever the family congregates for planning, talking, or eating - in more and more US homes, that room is the dining room or eat-in kitchen.

'By pushing developers to create apps that serve as the hub of family life - complete with shared calendars, photo and video viewers, and FaceTime for chatting with grandma - this non-TV TV could take off, ultimately positioning Apple to replace your 60-inch set once it’s ready to retire.

'If you think about it, my proposal takes advantage of everything Apple has going for it: Its base of super-engaged customers, its bevy of hungry developers, its ability to open our minds to the possibility of post-PC computing form factors, and its spectacular track record with generating elegant experiences that teach us to do things we didn’t know we needed. In fact, I want this so bad I can almost taste it.

'That’s why, if what Apple releases later in the year falls short of my admittedly high expectations and I will probably come off as less impressed than others. I’ll be comparing whatever the company eventually sells to a glorious and welcome revolution that only Apple could incite.’

Convinced? Let us know your thoughts over on Facebook.

Sega has revealed that a free version of Creative Assembly's Total War Battles: Shogun real-time-strategy title is now launching on iOS.

The strategy game casts you as leader of a Samurai clan in feudal Japan spanning 27 campaign missions, 18 side missions and 15 hours of gameplay. The free version is intended as an introduction to the full game, Sega's press release explains:

‘Prospective Shoguns can now sample the first five missions from the game, and get a taste of its quick-fire tactical action. These missions demonstrate the fundaments of base-building, recruitment and unit movement, and leads players into their first thrilling real-time battles.'

The full game and the new free version are both now available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. Sega promises that an Android version is in the works and will be available ‘soon.'

If drawing clues for people to solve has started to get boring, you might want to try singing them instead.

Sing Something, which is the work of developer Hyperbolic Magenetism, has you singing a song well enough so the person you are playing with can guess the artist and track.

Unlike in Draw Something (reviewed here, if you're not familiar), the game appears to give you an entire alphabet of letters to choose from instead of a certain number, making guessing more reliant on vocal prowess.

Successful guesses are rewarded with coins, which can be used to unlock more content or for getting an advert-free version of the game - so it definitely pays to not sound like you've just stood on a cat.

There are four popular music categories to choose from - 80s, 90s, 2000s, and 2010 to 2012 - so all but the oldest friends and relations should be catered for.

Each song comes with a video hint if you are well and truly stuck, which is especially useful if your friend isn't taking the game as seriously as you are.

Throw in the ability to challenge your friends via Facebook and you have the makings of something that could rival Draw Something for sheer addictiveness. Unless you have a headache, that is.

Sing Something is a free download so pick up your mic and head on over to the App Store to download it.

Five is apparently Google's magic number as the company may be preparing five new Nexus handsets for Android's fifth birthday on November 5 this year.

We previously reported a rumour about Google developing five Nexus devices to coincide with the launch of Android 5.0 Jelly Bean, but new rumours suggest these devices may be being created for a special occasion later in the year.

TalkAndroid.com reports that ‘reliable sources' have said Google is readying the new devices for Android's fifth birthday, which happens to be November 5. Which is also Bonfire Night, for those keeping score - perhaps they'll have a fireworks display too?

If other rumours are anything to go by Android 5.0 Jelly Bean will already be out by then as it's expected to debut at the Google I/O event in June.

As with yet more earlier rumours, this one says Google will sell the new devices direct to customers through its Google Play online store.

We don't yet know whether November 5 is going to mark the announcement of these devices or if they'll be announced before-hand only to hit stores on that particular date.

Of course, all this may be a load of nonsense as we only have the word of faceless tipsters to go by, but still, it's an interesting prospect.

Data from mobile advertising firm Millenial Media found the iPhone boasted the most ad impressions in its Q1 2012 Mobile Mix report, and by quite some margin.

The top 20 mobile phones list by ad impressions found 15.10 per cent of ad impressions came from Apple smartphones

In second place you may have expected to see something from Android, but actually the BlackBerry Curve sneaked into second place, with 4.44 per cent of ad impressions.

Taking home third place was the Motorola Droid RAZR with 4 per cent of ad impressions to its name.

From a manufacturer perspective, Apple came top with 28.32 per cent of ad impressions. Samsung came in second with 18.25 per cent and HTC in third with 11.30 per cent.

Right at the bottom of each list was Fujitsu and the BlackBerry Bold Touch, with 0.25 per cent and 0.90 per cent, respectively.

Millenial's data also looked at the spread of operating systems. Reinforcing the number of Android devices available worldwide, just under half of all ad impressions came from Google's mobile operating system. In fact, 14 out of the top 20 mobile list came from Android.

iOS managed 33 per cent, Blackberry, 14 per cent and Windows and Symbian 3 per cent and one per cent, respectively.

There are signs that the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play ‘PlayStation Phone' may not be upgrading to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS).

The official Sony Mobile Blog published a list of Sony Ericsson Xperia handsets that will have the new version of Android rolled out to them soon. The Xperia Play isn't on the list.

As Pocket Gamer points out, there are other Xperia models with very similar spec line-ups which are being upgraded, so it's possible the specifics of the Xperia Play's gamepad controller are some kind of obstacle here.

On top of this, Sony Mobile has previously rolled out a beta Android ICS ROM for Xperia Play owners to experiment with and there are some reports about games crashing whilst using it.

If ICS does cause such problems with the Xperia Play's key gaming function it's little wonder Sony has pulled the plug on it.

It's not the first time Sony has reported problems with ICS, we previously heard it would be offering the upgrades for old and new Xperia phones as an opt-in scenario and didn't want to do an active rollout due to stability concerns with the platform.

There is, of course, the possibility that some forgetful soul left the Xperia Play off the list by mistake, but for now we have to take things as they are and it looks very much like the Xperia Play is being denied the update due to stability issues.

We'll keep an eye on things and report back if the situation changes.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, the 10-inch tablet version of the company's popular Galaxy Note stylus-enabled smartphone, has popped up again online, this time sporting a quad core processor.

We'd previously seen the device debuting at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in February, where it looked very similar to the 10-inch Galaxy Tab 2 which Samsung is also working on. Back then, the tablet had a 1.4GHz dual core Exynos processor and the rest of the spec wasn't exactly earth-shattering.

By mid-April rumours were circulating that the Galaxy Note 10.1's MWC unveil was ‘testing the waters' and that Samsung wanted to gauge public and critical reception before going full steam ahead with the project.

It was then suggested that the Galaxy Note had achieved the desired level of interest, but the design would be undergoing a bit of a revamp before being launched.

Fast-forward to now and we're looking at what appears to be a re-designed Galaxy Note 10.1, with pictures cropping up on the web following a German industry show.

The images reveal it now features a storage socket for the S-Pen stylus, something its smaller cousin shipped with and which was curiously missing from the MWC demo model.

The pen itself has also been slimmed down and is now seems to be as dinky as the one found on the 5.3-inch Galaxy Note phone.

Samsung has showcased an aftermarket kit that lets you slot the stylus inside it turn it into a more substantial pen. There are also pictures of an in-car tablet holder kit.

More importantly, the Galaxy Note 10.1's processor has been upgraded to a quad core Exynos, presumably the same 4212 model found in the Galaxy S3 smartphone. The new processor should mean it has no trouble running Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.

We found the Galaxy Note smartphone a bit sluggish in places despite its dual core Exynos setup, which we think may be down to the firmware that runs the pen functionality, but the two additional cores should mean this isn't an issue any longer.

The rest of the spec remains unchanged from the earlier reveal and includes a 1280x800 pixel resolution display, 1GB of RAM and a 3-megapixel camera with 1080p video capture.

We'll bring you more news as we hear it.

The wait for the Panasonic Eluga may be longer than expected, as one mobile phone retailer has said the release date has slipped to Q3.

Clove believes the original Q2 launch windows is no longer possible.

We've approached Panasonic for confirmation.

The Eluga Power represents the top-end of the range, with the Eluga dL1 offering a less powerful experience. Underneath the hood lies a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, which is both fast and more battery efficient than some of its competitors.

It also has an 8-megapixel camera, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, IP57-certified water resistance and Panasonic's homegrown LCD technology for the 720p display.

We recently previewed the Eluga dL1 and it's not a particularly impressive device in terms of performance. However the display is relatively good and the form-factor proved quite enticing. Not a bad first attempt, based on first impressions, but certainly needs a bit of work.

With the internals of the Eluga Power, though, and from what we saw at Mobile World Congress 2012, this device could be a force to be reckoned with.

Lets just hope the delays aren't true.

BioWare’s Mass Effect series is one of the biggest names in video gaming right now, with the recently-released third instalment selling millions worldwide and gaining rave reviews.

Just as it did with the mobile edition of Dead Space, EA has created a totally unique chapter in the Mass Effect lineage with this mobile-based offering, a side-story which is set in the same universe as the home console games but features its own plot and characters.

Mass Effect Infiltrator puts you in the space boots of a gruff-voiced marine by the name of Randall Ezno. A member of Cerberus - a pro-humanity organization with a particularly shady background - Ezno learns of his employers nefarious activities and decides he wants no more of it. He eventually turns rogue and starts to take down the group from within.

He’s no Commander Shepard, but Enzo has all the usual talents and skills. He’s rather handy with a wide range of weaponry, which is handy when much of Mass Effect Infiltrator's gameplay involves leaping from cover to cover and popping the heads of enemy soldiers with your arsenal.

Pretty much any object that is above knee height can be hidden behind, and springing out from your shelter is a simple matter of tapping the enemy you wish to engage. Firing is automatic; your only concern is fine-tuning your aim. Ammo is also infinite, but your guns overheat after a certain period of time, and require a cool-down period.

The game gives you style points, which can be redeemed inbetween missions for upgrades to your abilities and equipment, and you earn more of these points for chaining together several kills in succession. Therefore, managing your weapon temperature and cooling times becomes a real challenge, as you can switch between firearms in the middle of a combination kill.

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The tried-and-tested cover-based shooting action is entertaining in itself, but when you throw special abilities into the mix, things become even more interesting. You can use ‘Biotic’ enhancements to hurl enemies in the air or freeze them in their tracks, and tech abilities - such as a cloaking device which hides your movements from the enemy - add another layer of depth to the combat.

Many industry insiders have confidently been predicted that 2012 is the year in which mobile phone graphics truly come of age, and after seeing Mass Effect Infiltrator in action, it’s almost impossible to disagree. Visually, the game is absolutely stunning. Enzo’s character model is bursting with detail, and while the locations in which you fight are quite linear and restrictive, they boast some amazing sights and vistas.

The issues which impact Mass Effect Infiltrator are common with most mobile phone games these days. Regardless of how ubiquitous they have become, the simple fact is a touch-screen controls cannot match a proper physical interface when it comes to this kind of game. The twin-stick setup works well enough, but when the action becomes tense the lack of tactile feedback is a real hindrance. It’s also sometimes hard to be precise with your aiming.

The most pressing concern relates to the haphazard cover system. Sometimes Enzo snaps to cover immediately, while on other occasions you can stand right next to a piece of shelter and your avatar won’t duck behind it for a few seconds - during which, your health will be slowly eroded by enemy fire. You can leap between cover by moving the virtual stick in a certain direction when helpful arrows appear on-screen, but this is also a little inconsistent at times.

Those incredible visuals cause another headache. Even on a modern phone like the Galaxy Nexus, Mass Effect Infiltrator has more than its fair share of jerky moments. If you own an older device, chances are, the game will run like a dog - if it even runs at all.

It’s certainly not a perfect game, by all means, and we can imagine that the steep asking price will put a lot of players off. However, in terms of entertainment value, it's a bit of a bargain. Mass Effect Ilfinitrator boasts sterling production values and intense action, and few mobile releases are on the same level in that respect.

If the controls could have been tightened up, we’d have a must-have download on our hands, but it still remains an action lover’s dream nonetheless.

Google’s Asus-built 7-inch Nexus Tablet is reportedly launching in June, according to sources inside the company’s supply chain

>> Read more

The HTC One XL will be arriving in the UK in June with Qualcomm's S4 chip onboard

>> Read more

We compare the Samsung Galaxy S3 to HTC's re-configured One XL to find out who's the real king of the jungle.

Form

HTC One XL - 134.8x69.9x8.9mm, 129g
Samsung Galaxy S3 - 136.6x70.6x8.6mm, 133g

With the Galaxy S3's shape, Samsung said it had been inspired by beach pebbles and this has manifested as a much curvier, more rounded design than its predecessor, the Galaxy S2.

The results aren't great. in fact we'd go so far as to say the Galaxy S2 actually looks more up-to-date than the Galaxy S3. The other thing we're not impressed with is the build quality.

We shared the view of many other reviewers with the Galaxy S2 that while the plastics used where not the worst they were also not the best but with the Galaxy S3 this is an area we expected Samsung to improve and it's actually gone the other way entirely.

The Galaxy S3 feels very tacky to touch with scratchy, low-quality plastics and is totally unsatisfactory as a premium model.

The One XL is virtually the antithesis of the Samsung Galaxy S3. The materials used have a very high quality feel and are well worthy of the premium price tag. Not only that, but the shape and design is more interesting too.

HTC has gone for a curvy phone but has also tapered and chiselled some surfaces which compliment the curvature very well indeed. The screen placement, seated into a contoured black panel, is very clever as it makes the display look larger than it actually is.

The HTC One XL is the clear choice here as it lives up to our expectations for a flagship phone wile representing a tremendous effort on HTC's part.

Winner - HTC One XL

Display

The Samsung Galaxy S3 has a large 4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD capacitive touchscreen with a 1280x720 pixel resolution. It uses Corning's Gorilla Glass and sports a pixel density of 306 pixels-per-inch (ppi). Visuals are very crisp and the AMOLED tech means contrast and colour reproduction are both strong.

HTC's One XL has a similarly sized 4.7-inch Super IPS LCD2 capacitive display at the same resolution as its opponent, the pixel density is slightly higher at 312ppi but the difference in clarity between the two handsets should be barely noticeable.

These devices are on a fairly even playing field in this category. It's a draw.

Winner - Draw

Storage

Samsung's Galaxy S3 has a variety of options for onboard storage, there are three variants with either 16GB, 32GB or 64GB and each comes with 1GB of RAM plus a micro SD slot which allows for cards up to 32GB.

The One XL only has one option for 16GB of internal space with 1GB of RAM and no card slot.

Samsung easily wins this round by offering two higher-tier onboard storage options and more flexibility thanks to card capability.

Winner - Samsung Galaxy S3

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Google’s Asus-built 7-inch tablet will be landing in stores from June according to leaks from the supply chain.

Expected to be officially unveiled next month at Google I/O 2012 the Nexus Tablet, which is arguably one of the worst kept secrets in technology, is said to be built by Asus – although Google-favourite Samsung has also been suggested – and feature a 7-inch display.

Google originally planned to release its entry-level 7-inch tablet PC in May, claims DigiTimes, but design and costs did not reach its expectations, and the product was delayed to July for some minor adjustments.

Google is expected to ship around 2.5 million Nexus Tabs in 2012, according to sources.

It is expected to retail the slate at a very aggressive price point, possibly even undercutting Amazon’s Kindle Fire ­– although this will depend on whether Google goes high or low on the build quality and spec.

Google’s Eric Schmidt said back in December that the company would produce ‘a tablet of the highest quality,’ which makes us think that a budget Google-brand slate isn’t all that likely.

Google could use some of its massive resources to absorb the losses it’d accrue launching a high-end tablet at a low-end price point, however. A tactic such as this, whilst being awful business practice, would definitely aid it in stealing some of Apple’s market share.

Nvidia’s Kai platform – Tegra 3 on the cheap – is strongly suspected to feature inside Google’s Nexus Tablet alongside Android Ice Cream Sandwich. The Nexus Tablet could also be the debut device for Android 5.0 (AKA Jelly Bean) – Google usually launches hardware to coincide with a big platform update.

That’s all for now. Expect more news as Google I/O 2012 approaches.

Yahoo has joined the mobile browser game with the release of Axis for iOS.

Yahoo’s Axis web browser for iPhone/iPad/iPod focuses on bookmarks sort of like Instapaper, Readability, or Read it Later. All you need to do is install a desktop client on your PC’s browser - Safari, Chrome, or Firefox - and Axis will sync everything over to your iPhone.

This isn’t the most original of ideas, granted. Mozilla’s Firefox browser has been doing it for years. But from the press images we’ve seen, Axis does look pretty good, and very intuitive (something Firefox’s attempt lacked).

Will it replace your current read-it-later application though? We’re big fans of Read it Later here at Know Your Mobile, using the service pretty much everyday on the morning commute, but having the added luxury of a built in web browser is very appealing.

Axis also allows you to share stuff via social networks and will constantly keep you updated with up-to-the-minute trends via its search feature. Like Google’s Chrome, Yahoo’s browser also features autocomplete - not one of our favourite features.

Axis is now available for download here. Know Your Mobile is currently in the process of testing the app, which is currently only available in the US - we’ll report back with our findings as soon as possible.

Check out a video demo of Axis here.

In 2011 HTC could've put pink trilby hats on every device it launched and the world wouldn't have batted an eyelid. It was the year of Samsung, and nobody could do anything about that.

The Galaxy S2 was busy being crowned the greatest Android device of the year by everyone - us included. The Galaxy Note also shifted in significant numbers too, aiding Samsung's rise to the top of the market.

2012 is distinctly different, though, mainly because the surprise of the Samsung Galaxy S3 has been and gone. We've seen the most eagerly awaited device and it wasn't quite what we were hoping for.

Perhaps it's merely a victim of over-hype, which we will take part of the blame for, much like what happened with the iPhone 4S, but that still doesn't remove the slightly sour taste in our mouths.

There's no point crying over spilt milk, however. HTC, obviously intent on regaining its smartphone crown as quickly as possible, has stopped being lazy with the design of its devices and pulled out all the stops like its 2010 all over again.

We saw a glimmer of near-perfection in the form of the HTC One X but then the HTC One S came along and trounced it in the performance stakes.

It was one of those moments when you wish you could have your cake and eat it. That exterior of the One X and its marvellous curves coupled with Qualcomm's more efficient, faster Snapdragon S4 processor found in the One S would make for an undeniable force and one that would tempt even the most die-hard Samsung fans away from what they know and love.

And then something happened: something we'd secretly been hoping for. The One XL, previously a US-only handset, would be coming to Europe.

Knowing the One XL is the HTC One X chassis with that industry-leading S4 processor, our dreams really had come true - except the drop in storage to 16GB. But that may well change during transit.

This has great rammifications because the HTC One XL is the culmination of the best in smartphone technology currently on the market.

That impressive case not only looks amazing, it feels expensive. On the flipside, the Samsung Galaxy S3 feels like a plastic toy, no matter how often Samsung chants the marketing term Hyper Glaze. Or reminds us the phone comes in blue.

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Vodafone Germany has announced it will be stocking the HTC One XL from ‘early June', according to reports, and should be available in other EU countries, including the UK around the same time or shortly after.

The new confirms what we heard from our industry sources towards the end of April.

Why's that a reason to get excited? Well the One XL is, of course, part of HTC's One range of Android Ice Cream Sandwich handsets, which includes two excellent phones, the One X and One S.

The One XL is essentially a merging of the two aforementioned handsets: it has the body shell, display and overall spec sheet of the One X but instead of the One X's quad core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, it's running the Qualcomm S4 Snapdragon ‘Krait', which is in the One S.

It's significant because, according to benchmarks, Qualcomm's S4 dual core chip is actually faster than Nvidia's Tegra 3, and the Tegra 3 was impressive enough to begin with so that should give you some indication of how rapid Qualcomm's hardware is.

So, essentially, it's the One X with the One S's performance, which sounds like a good idea to us - and as well as running quicker, it should also run cooler and not drain your battery quite so fast.

Not only that, the S4 chip has built-in 4G LTE capability. Of course, we don't actually have 4G in the UK yet but it is on the way. Folks across the pond in the USA have been enjoying the One XL with its LTE capability for a little while now but it's finally going to land over here fairly soon.

According to IntoMobile, it will go for €660 euros on the continent, over here that translates to around £529, making it a bit more expensive than the current One X which sits around the £450 mark, though, of course you'll almost certainly be able to get some kind of tariff deal with a UK carrier when it launches.

The One X and One S are currently our favourite Android handsets on the market and easily outclass Samsung's new Galaxy S3 in terms of fit and finish.

We'll have a review for you as soon as we can get our hands on one.

The Google vs Oracle legal spat is over following a jury decision that found Google not guilty of six counts of patent infringement.

The trial saw some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names take the stand to give evidence including Google CEO Larry Page, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, and Google Chairman Eric Schmidt.

Reams of evidence was presented during the three-week trial but in the end the jury felt there was insufficient evidence to support Oracle’s claim that Google illegally used patented source code to create its Android operating system.

‘However the jury did find that Android infringed Oracle copyrights by its use of the structure, sequence, and organization of 37 Java APIs,’ and according to a report on The Verge, ‘the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on whether it was covered under fair use, rendering the verdict moot for the moment.’

Both Google and Oracle have now issued statements:

Google: ‘Today's jury verdict that Android does not infringe Oracle's patents was a victory not just for Google but the entire Android ecosystem.’

Oracle: ‘Oracle presented overwhelming evidence at trial that Google knew it would fragment and damage Java. We plan to continue to defend and uphold Java's core write once run anywhere principle and ensure it is protected for the nine million Java developers and the community that depend on Java compatibility.’

One aspect of the case is still open, however, but doesn’t involve the jury any longer. According to reports, Judge Alsup has yet to rule on whether or not the SSO of Java APIs can actually be patented in the first place.

A ruling on this, which could result in fines of $150,000 a pop for Google, is said to be happening in two days time.

More news as we get it.

It has been 23 days now without my phone and I really am coming round to the idea of not using a one. I wouldn't say I'd be happy not to use my phone ever again, but it hasn't been as difficult as I'd anticipated, which will probably come as a disappointment to many of you.

Although I'm coping fine, my friends and family aren't too happy.

Last night, I met up with my sister for a drink and after some clumsy organising via Facebook last week, we only finalised plans to actually meet up yesterday morning. Usually, we'd have phoned or texted, but as I don't have a mobile, nor do I have a home phone line (who does have a phone attached to their landline nowadays?), we had to resort to social networks.

I was ready at 6PM , but as is usually the case when you need to be early, emails came in that demanded quick answers. By the time I'd finished responding, I was already late and still had to walk 15 minutes to meet at our rendezvous point. 

I arrived very late and she seemed less than impressed. 'I'm so fed up with you not having a phone, I can't wait until next week,' she moaned. This was after I admitted it wasn't so bad without a phone.

As I walked in the front door following the dinner and drinks, my boyfriend called out, 'guess who phoned me this evening?' by this point, I wasn't particularly bothered. I thought he was probably referring to be of his mates wanting to watch football at the weekend. It was in fact, my dad who had phoned his mobile after a failed attempt at contacting me on my mine.p Apparently they'd both had a moan about not being able to get in contact with me too.

Know Your Mobile's deputy editor Richard has complained it's inconvenient too - he has tried phoning me four times since the beginning of May and every time he does so, he doesn't hold back from telling me it's annoying I don't answer.

It would seem that the only person who isn't bothered about me not having a phone, is me.