Samsung Got A Bigger Tablet Boost For Christmas Than Apple, According To Onswipe

Touchscreen publishing company Onswipe has good news for Samsung. As Onswipe’s Chief Marketing Officer Jason Baptiste put it in an email, “Samsung clearly won Christmas when it comes to tablets.”

Specifically, the company looked at visitors to Onswipe-optimized sites for the period of Dec. 26-29 in comparison to Dec. 19-22, as a way to measure the growth that different tablet platforms saw over Christmas. The results? Samsung’s Galaxy tablets grew 50.4 percent, Nexus 7 tablets grew 33.8 percent, iPads grew 20.4 percent, and Kindle Fires grew 19.5 percent.

Now, the fact that Onswipe focused on percentage growth is an important caveat here. After all, Samsung was presumably starting from (much) less, so it didn’t need to sell as many tablets to see significant growth.

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NSA spyware gives agency full access to the iPhone -- report

The US National Security Agency can reportedly sniff out every last bit of data from your iPhone, according to leaked NSA documents published by German magazine Der Spiegel.

Known as DROPOUTJEEP, the spyware is said to be one of the tools employed by the NSA's ANT (Advanced or Access Network Technology) division to gain backdoor access to various electronic devices. On Sunday, leaked documents obtained by Der Spiegel showed how thesetools have reportedly been used to infiltrate computers, hard drives, routers, and other devices from tech companies such as Cisco, Dell, Western Digital, Seagate, Maxtor, and Samsung.

Those same documents reveal how DROPOUTJEEP can infiltrate virtually all areas of the iPhone, including voice mail, contact lists, instant messages, and cell tower location. The tool's abilities are revealed in the following description from one of the apparently leaked NSA documents published by Der Spiegel.

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Leaked Documents Show NSA Could Tap iPhones, Apple Denies Involvement

Newly leaked documents from the National Security Agency highlight Dropout Jeep, a piece of software that could target one of the country's most popular devices -- the iPhone.

According to documents published by the German news website Spiegel Online and dated Oct. 1, 2008, Dropout Jeep would give the NSA the ability to retrieve contact information, read through text messages, listen to voicemails and even turn on the iPhone camera and microphone.

The document goes on to say that while Drop Jeep was currently limited to installation through "close access methods," the NSA would research ways to install the program remotely in future versions.

Security researcher Jacob Appelbaum presented the documents at the 30th Chaos Communication Congress in Hamburg, Germany. In addition to talking about Drop Jeep, he mentioned other leaked documents that highlighted other NSA spyware, and said that every attempt to implant such spyware on iOS devices would always succeed.

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Nokia wins an injunction against all HTC devices in Germany

Another one of Nokia’s lawsuits against HTC in Germany ended favorably for the Finnish manufacturer. Nokia won a patent injunction against all Android devices of the Taiwanese manufacturer, including the trio of HTC One devices.

HTC was found to infringe patent number EP1148681. It is related to a method for transferring resource information which allows users to directly connect two HTC devices over Bluetooth or NFC. The patent is deemed not standard-essential, thus meaning that Nokia doesn’t have any FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) obligations.

According to the ruling, Nokia can enforce the injunction on a provisional basis, and recall all infringing HTC devices from the market. In order to do so, the Finnish company must post a bond of €400 million.

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The NSA Reportedly Has Total Access To The Apple iPhone

As with most good stories, revelations of the NSA spy program will almost certainly keep getting worse before anything gets better.

Yesterday we reported on claims—based on leaked NSA documents—that the spy agency was rerouting laptops ordered online to install spyware and malicious hardware on the machines.

Laptops are just one device the agency is targeting, however.

Der Spiegel reported on the NSA’s access to smartphones and, in particular, the iPhone back in September. Today, these reports expand to the NSA’s apparent ability to access just about all your iPhone data through a program called DROPOUTJEEP, according to security researcher Jacob Applebaum.

During a speech at the 30th Chaos Communication Congress in Germany, Applebaum revealed some startling information about the program.

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Purported prototype of Apple's first-gen iPhone sells for $1500 on eBay

A device that one collector says is an "engineering prototype" of Apple's first-generation iPhone has sold on auction site eBay for $1,500, one of a handful of similar preproduction iPhones to surface in recent years.

The "very rare original iPhone engineering prototype", listed by Australia-based eBay userapplefancollector is shown running an early version of Apple's iOS designed to test the phone's hardware functions. The same operating system, which features tests for the iPhone's radios, touch sensors, display and batter, among others, has been spotted on similar devices in the past. 

In addition to the special software, each radio's signal bands are etched into the device's rear housing. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and each of the original iPhone's four supported GSM bands are accounted for. 

Alongside the signal bands, the handset is etched with a label denoting it as "Ver 1.1.1." It is unknown whether that version number refers to the test operating system or to the hardware itself. The first-generation iPhone shipped with iPhone OS 1.0, known by the internal Apple codename "Alpine."In addition to the special software, each radio's signal bands are etched into the device's rear housing. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and each of the original iPhone's four supported GSM bands are accounted for. 

Alongside the signal bands, the handset is etched with a label denoting it as "Ver 1.1.1." It is unknown whether that version number refers to the test operating system or to the hardware itself. The first-generation iPhone shipped with iPhone OS 1.0, known by the internal Apple codename "Alpine."
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Nokia Lumia 1520 sells out in India, all color options out of stock

Earlier this month, Nokia's flagship Windows Phone 8 handset, the Nokia Lumia 1520, made its way to Indian shores for INR46,999. All the color options, including red, yellow, white and black, were available with an attractive 17 percent discount, almost INR9,450, according to Nokia's official website. Well, we would like to congratulate you if you managed to grab the handset while it was still available. Nokia lists Lumia 1520 out of stock at the time of writing for all color options.

It's quite surprising to see Nokia Lumia 1520 sell out in India, not because it's rocks a gigantic 6-inch display which may not suit everyone. But, because it's priced at INR46,990 which is almost equal to $760 and is a hefty sum. Is it because the demand is too high, or Nokia didn't ship enough units considering that it's one of the biggest smartphone markets in the world? Think as you may. 

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Nokia 106 feature phone launched in India at Rs. 1,399

Nokia has launched its new feature phone in India, the Nokia 106 at Rs. 1,399. The new affordable phone from Nokia is now available via the company's online store and is available in three colour variants Black, Red and White. The online site notes that the phone will be delivered in five working days.

Nokia announced the 106 in August this year alongside the Nokia 107 for the Chinese market. The Nokia 106 is available as a single SIM device, with support for a mini-SIM, instead of a regular size.

The Nokia 106 features 1.8-inch QVGA display with 128x160 pixels resolution and sports a pixel density of 114ppi. The device can store up to 500 contacts and also includes 32-polyphonic ringtones. The Nokia 106 comes with an 800mAh battery that the company claims can deliver up to around 10 hours of talk time and 840 hours of standby time, which is around 35 days.

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HTC design exec, others facing charges for allegedly leaking company secrets

Six HTC employees accused of leaking company secrets and arrested last August are now facing formal charges in Taiwan. Prosecutors say the group, led by former HTC Vice President of Design Thomas Chien, planned to use the insider information to start a new company.

In addition, the six along with three employees of unnamed suppliers are being charged for their role in accepting bribes and creating fictitious expense reports. If found guilty, each upheld charge could equate to 10 years in prison.

While the problem is that of the courts and no longer HTC’s, the bad karma around HTC continues to mount. Despite the release of the HTC One, a device that is sure to find its place on many an end-of-year list, the Taiwanese smartphone maker can’t seem to turn around its dismal fortunes. Even worse, HTC can’t seem to maneuver the crowded market to reclaim some of the stake it once held with consumers and investors alike.

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Apple asks US court to ban Samsung phones, tablets

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple has asked a federal judge to bar US sales of Samsung smartphones and tablet computers in the blockbuster patent case involving the two electronics giants.

In a court filing in California, Apple said the smartphones and tablets were found to have violated patents in a jury trial held last year.

Apple renewed its bid for a permanent injunction on sales of a number of Samsung products after an appeals court decision last month cleared the way for a new hearing on the matter.

In the latest filing dated Thursday, Apple's attorneys wrote that the court "previously concluded that Samsung's sale of infringing products has irreparably harmed Apple."

The document added that the appeals court decision "makes clear that the record evidence... collectively demonstrates a sufficient 'causal nexus' between Samsung's infringement and the irreparable harm to Apple."

Apple added that "money damages are not an adequate remedy for Samsung's infringement of these patents."

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Top 5 Best Selling Samsung Smartphones To Buy in India Right Now

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 Often recognized as a cult handset maker with back-to-back hit devices, Samsung has managed to win over Indian consumers. There was a time when Samsung wasn't a big shot handset manufacturer with very little presence in tier 2 and 3 cities, but now the South Korean giant has an upper hand in the retail segment.

 From teenagers to corporate to senior citizens, everyone loves Samsung made handsets. If you look at the range offered by Samsung, you'll find a smartphone as little as Rs. 5,000 with Dual SIM features, while the upper range continues to advance with passing time. Recently, Samsung launched Galaxy Trend in India at Rs.8,090.

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iPhone 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 3: Should You Get Samsung Or Wait For Apple?

The Galaxy Note 3 is only a few months old and this will continue to compete with the iPhone 5s for months. It will remain in the shelves even after the release of the next generation iPhone in 2014. Here is an early look to the iPhone 6 vs. the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to see how the latter will stack up against the much anticipated iPhone 6.

Release Date

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has been out in the market for a couple of months. It is expected to remain available for many more months to come. It is likely to be replaced by the Galaxy Note 4 during the fall, according to Got To Be Mobile. Samsung is known to have a Berlin-based IFA trade show to launch its devices and there is no reason to believe otherwise at the time being.

When the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 arrives, the Galaxy Note 3 will probably have a price drop and it will be a budget option already. As such, the Galaxy Note 3 will be a viable competitor to any iPhone that Apple will release next year.

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iPhone 5C vs. 5S Comparison: Best Buy Slashes Color to $0, Flagship to $125 on Contract (Video)

Best Buy has slashed prices on-contract for the new Apple smartphones, the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, to $125 and $0, respectively.

The deals, which are available in both the U.S. and Canada, are for the 16GB versions of the smartphones. Contracts options include AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.

For customers looking for a bit more storage capacity, Best Buy is also offering the 32GB and 64GB models of the 5S for $225 and $325, respectively. The 5C also comes in a 32GB variant for just $80. These deals are only available in the U.S., however. These sales can be picked up in-store and online.

The flagship 5S was recently named Digital Spy's 2013 Phone of the Year, dominating competitor Samsung's Galaxy S4 in a survey based on nearly 23,000 votes.

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LG G3 rumored to launch with fingerprint scanner, companion smart watch

The holidays are a time of celebrating, of family, and of rumors sprouting out of nowhere. Yes, it’s the time for the rumors to start flowing. The latest rumors focus on LG instead of Samsung, specifically on the next generation flagship.

The LG G3 is rumored to feature a fingerprint scanner, but not the kind you press your finger onto. Sadly, it’s the kind you have to swipe, much like the HTC One max. It’s an inelegant fingerprint scanning solution and we hope it will be changed before release. The iPhone 5S, while it didn’t make the fingerprint scanner useful, has a great implementation of it. But maybe LG will figure out something innovative to make it actually useful.

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LG G3 rumored to carry Quad-HD display, octa-core chipset

Good things come in multiples of four, or that must be LG’s line of thinking based on the latest spec rumors for the LG G3. The G3, which naturally would be the followup to the recently launched G2, could feature a major upgrade in hardware compared to LG’s current flagship (and nearly every other smartphone on the market).

According to ZDNet’s Korean branch, LG is building a handset that will feature a QHD display and octa-core processor. The chipset is said to be under development in-house under the LG Odin name. The phone might also feature a 16MP camera.

The QHD display, which is of an unknown size, is not to be confused with previous qHD displays. Note the capitalization. The upper-case Q stands for ‘quad’ and features a resolution of 2560 x 1440.

The LG G3 is expected to launch sometime in 2014, but exact details haven’t been pinned down. No word on if LG will continue to locate the volume rocker and power button on the back of the phone.

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LG G3 smartphone, G Arch smartwatch, and G Health fitness band rumored for MWC 2014

An anonymous source speaking to the Korea Herald has revealed a little about LG’s wearable technology plans, along with some news on the LG G3 smartphone. Apparently, the LG G3 – an unofficial name for the G2’s successor – will feature a fingerprint scanner, and the firm will introduce both a smartwatch and a fitness tracker alongside it.

The fingerprint scanner won’t be the only headline feature on the G3 either, if the report is accurate. The new phone could be the firm’s first to use its Quad HD resolution screen, which provides a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution, and run Android 4.4 KitKat as standard. This all sounds reasonable, but it’s also said the G3 will be powered by a 2.2GHz octa-core processor.

This isn’t quite so likely. At the moment, there are only two octa-core processors worth mentioning, Samsung’s Exynos 5 Octa, and MediaTek’s MT6592 true octa core chip. We can’t see LG deciding to put arch-rival Samsung’s processor in its flagship phone, or the budget MediaTek option either. The LG G2 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800, making the Snapdragon 805 a more logical choice for the sequel.

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Apple asks US court to ban Samsung

Apple has asked a federal judge to bar US sales of Samsung smartphones and tablet computers in the blockbuster patent case involving the two electronics giants.

In a court filing in California, Apple said the smartphones and tablets were found to have violated patents in a jury trial held last year.

Apple renewed its bid for a permanent injunction on sales of a number of Samsung products after an appeals court decision last month cleared the way for a new hearing on the matter.

In the latest filing dated Thursday, Apple's attorneys wrote that the court "previously concluded that Samsung's sale of infringing products has irreparably harmed Apple."

The document added that the appeals court decision "makes clear that the record evidence... collectively demonstrates a sufficient 'causal nexus' between Samsung's infringement and the irreparable harm to Apple."

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Samsung shows the future through a ‘Display Centric World’

Tech companies have created videos of what the future may be like in the past, but it seems that some of those once-wild ideas are becoming reality. We’ve already seen slight advancements in curved displays with a goal to produce flexible and bendable versions, and wearable technology is, of course, becoming more common.

Samsung Display has uploaded a short video that shows how displays will be a massive part of our day in the future at home, work, play and school. Exterior and interior wall displays, foldable and bendable displays, and unbreakable versions for elevators and cars, and smartphones, tablets and watches. The video is titled a “Display Centric World” and the future does look exciting… and costly.

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Apple Inc renews request for U.S. sales ban on older Samsung products

Apple Inc. is again seeking to ban sales in the U.S. of Samsung Electronics Co. products that were at issue in the companies’ first patent trial in California and are now no longer on the market.

The iPhone-maker yesterday asked U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, to bar sales of more than 20 smartphones and tablets, such as the Galaxy S 4G and Galaxy Tab 10.1, that a jury last year found to infringe Apple’s patents. While Koh rejected Apple’s bid for a sales ban on the infringing Samsung devices after the 2012 verdict, a federal appeals court on Nov. 18 cleared the way for the iPhone maker to pursue an injunction targeting some of its rival’s products.

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Update Your Sony Xperia Z with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

Owners of Sony Xperia Z can now update their devices to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. According to KYMI, users can now enjoy the features of Android 4.3 should they install the firmware. Xperia Z owners need to fulfill several requirements and follow specific instructions to make sure everything goes smoothly. 

Sony has begun rolling out the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update to its newer set of devices including the Xperia Z1 flagship and the Xperia Z ultra phablet. According to experts, with the news of Sony rolling out the update to its flagship devices, it should be just a matter of time before Xperia Z users can upgrade their devices. 

Updating the Xperia Z smartphone to Android 4.3 is easy. The process requires a number of steps that users must stick to. The update should be ready for the device OTA. Once users have access to such, they can begin the process. It is advised to check notifications from time to time.

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How To Jailbreak Your IOS 7 iPhone Or iPad

If you’ve never tried to jailbreak your iPhone or iPad, then there’s a whole world of tweaks and add-ons that await you. Despite misinformed accounts, jailbreaking will not void your warranty and it’s simple to uninstall a jailbreak too – you just restore your device in iTunes. You can also access iTunes, the App Store and all your apps and backups like normal.

So what exactly is jailbreaking? In short, it’s not far short of hacking into your Apple AAPL -0.66% product’s software and opening it up for customization. You can change the way it looks and feels, choose from a host of custom apps that aren’t available in Apple’s official App store and a whole bunch of other things – you’ll get customization not far short of an Android device.

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Alleged 3D model of HTC M8 (HTC One 2) pictured

No, HTC hasn’t begun selling bars of soap in the shape of their Android handsets, what you’re looking at before you is an alleged wax sculpture of the upcoming HTC M8, better known as the HTC Onesequel (or HTC Two, or HTC One 2 — whatever you wanna call it).

According to the poster of the original image (which has since been removed from the Chinese blogging site Sina Weibo), this wax sculpture was based on a 1:1 3D model of the M8, more than likely used by Chinese accessory manufacturers. How this person was able to secure images of, or make a wax model is anyone’s guess, so for now, we’ll take it with a grain of salt.

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HTC executive indicted for leaking upcoming smartphone interface

Several HTC employees, including a senior executive, have been indicted in Taiwan for leaking company secrets, falsifying expenses, and taking kickbacks, reports The Wall Street Journal. Thomas Chien, HTC's vice president of product design, is alleged to have leaked upcoming smartphone interface designs to a partner who he planned to start a new business with. Along with five other HTC employees, Chien has reportedly also been charged for collectively receiving around 33.57 million New Taiwan dollars (US$1.12 million) by falsifying expenses and receiving kickbacks from suppliers. Three employees from unidentified suppliers of HTC have also been indicted.

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Not-So-Hard Knox: Hole Found in Samsung Security Software

An Israeli graduate student has uncovered a serious flaw in Samsung's Android-hardening Knox security software, but neither he nor the South Korean electronics giant is saying exactly what the flaw is.

"This weakness has to be addressed immediately before it falls into the wrong hands," said Mordechai Guri, the Ph.D. candidate at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba in southern Israel who found the flaw, in a university press release issued Tuesday (Dec. 24). "We are also contacting Samsung in order to provide them with the full technical details of the breach so it can be fixed immediately."

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Jailbreak Only: How To Enable iOS 7 Hidden Springboard Settings On iPhone 5s

Recently, a new jailbreak tweak was released that allows users to enable iOS 7′s hidden Springboard settings. Unfortunately, this method is not compatible with any A7 devices until Mobile Substrate is updated in the near future. The good news is, there’s another method available now that doesn’t require Mobile Substrate.

The tutorial was originally posted on Reddit by Michael Carroll and the full instructions can be found here, but I wouldn’t recommend attempting this unless you absolutely know what you’re doing. The process involves manually editing files on an iPhone 5s, and for the average user, this isn’t going to be easy.

Below you’ll find a video overview of the entire process. While we were successful in completing the tutorial, you should definitely backup your device before getting started. In the event that the device gets stuck in a boot loop or anything, you always have the ability to put it into DFU mode and restore it via iTunes.

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Apple iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c Release Date Imminent: China Mobile Makes Pre-Orders For New Devices Available On Christmas Day

Santa came for many in China as iPhone preorders launched on the Christmas Day. China Mobile started accepting pre-registration for both the iPhone 5s and 5c via its website and through a customer service hotline Dec. 25. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced its partnership with China Mobile, the largest cell carrier in the world, on Sunday, stating the iPhone will be available to subscribers Jan. 17. Price points, however, have yet to be disclosed.

Stock prices rose about three percent after the announcement, jumping from $550 to $565, where it lingers (at time of writing).  Analysts speculate this price will rise in 2014 as China Mobile’s subscriber-base officially adopts the iPhone. The Chinese carrier currently provides service to over 763 million customers, nearly two thirds of the entire country.

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HTC One dual-SIM, One mini reportedly receive price cuts in India

HTC seems to have slashed the prices of its two premium smartphones, the HTC One dual-SIM and HTC One mini.

According to Ezyby.com, an online retailer, the HTC One dual-SIM is now available at Rs. 42,990 compared to it Rs. 53,590 launch price, while the HTC One mini is now available at Rs. 29,990, down from its previous price tag of Rs. 36,790.

The news was revealed via Ezyby.com's tweet that said, "Price drop on HTC One Dual and One mini new price 42990 and 29990". It is not clear whether the price cut is a part of a limited period holiday offering from the Taiwanese maker or not.

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iPad mini 2 vs Nexus 7 vs Xolo Play Tegra Note

The 7-inch tablet category in the Indian market is seeing some good action with the likes of Google, Asus, Xolo and Apple offering their latest flagship tablets. While the Xolo Play Tegra Note and Nexus 7(2013) have their own strengths, the iPad mini with Retina(iPad mini 2) takes the experience delivered by the acclaimed 7.9 inch tablet to another level. We try to solve your dilemma by pitting the three against each other and pick out a winner.

Build and design Both Nexus 7 (2013) and Xolo Play Tegra Note are 7-inch tablets while the iPad mini with Retina display has a 7.9 inch display. You would expect iPad mini 2 to be considerably larger, however, it's just a little more wider than the other two tablets. The thinner bezels make the iPad mini 2 and Nexus 7 more attractive looking. The Nexus 7 is the lightest of the three weighing 290 gram, while the iPad mini 2 is the heaviest at 331 gram. The Xolo Play Tegra Note weighs 320 gram.

In terms of build quality, the iPad mini 2 stands out with its aluminium chasis and premium finish, just like last year's iPad mini. The Nexus 7 (2013), with its soft rubberized plastic back feels nice to hold, while the Xolo Play Tegra Note's partial dimpled textured back gives the illusion of a rugged, gaming focused device, but the rest of the surface looks very plasticky. The Tegra Note's front panel features front speakers above and below the display panel, which makes the screen appear smaller.

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LG G3 specifications leaked, include Quad-HD display and octa-core chipset

LG has reportedly started working on its next flagship smartphone, rumoured to be called LG G3, which will see a major upgrade in specifications.

ZDNet Korea in a report has claimed that the South Korean manufacturer has started the development of its next flagship smartphone, which will see the light of day in the second half of 2014. The report cites some industry sources and reveals that the alleged LG G3 will sport a 1440x2560 pixels QHD (Quad HD) display, however no word on screen size, yet.

Further, the report claims that the alleged LG G3 will pack an octa-core chipset, believed to be codenamed LG Odin, which is being developed by the company itself. In addition, the rumoured LG G3 is expected to pack a 16-megapixel rear camera.

It's worth pointing out that Samsung is also said to equip a QHD display on its upcoming flagship smartphone (thought to be called the Galaxy S5) and for the camera sensor, Samsung is likely to use a 16-megapixel camera module.

LG can be expected to launch the successor to the LG G2 in 2014, in a bid to overcome 'disappointing' G2 sales.

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LG HomeChat service for smart home appliances to be showcased at CES 2014

LG is all set to launch a new service called HomeChat, which will allow customers to control and monitor home appliances via smartphones.

LG has announced that it will showcase smart home appliances that will be featuring the HomeChat service at CES, scheduled in January 2014. LG reveals that the HomeChat service will allow customers to communicate, control, and monitor LG's home appliances, and that it can even can be used for sharing content. Notably, the upcoming LG smart home appliances will be able to communicate via instant messaging app, Line.

Further, LG announces that the HomeChat service will be initially available in English and Korean languages, while support for more languages will be introduced in 2014. As of now, LG has not revealed any details of the upcoming smart home appliances.

The South Korean giant claims that the HomeChat service has been designed to work with mobile messenger, Line which is available on all major smartphone platforms: Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Phone, and Nokia Asha as well as desktops and laptops running Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.

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Could these three trademarks suggest Samsung is bringing new devices to CES?

It’s been recently discovered that Samsung has trademarked three new names in relation to, well, all things personal electronics. Filed on December 17th, the three trademark filings don’t give us any solid information as to what they could be, but it’s fun to imagine what we might be seeing at some point in the near or distant future. Here are the three names if you’re curious:

• Showplace
• Infinitude
• Panagon

Believe me when I say you’re not alone in thinking that these sound nothing like names Samsung would use for devices. They could be code names for all we know, but it’s a bit odd for a company to trademark three throwaway names.

Could these be new tablets? Phones? AIO desktop computers? A competitor to Google Glass? Some cool accessory? The world may never know, but we’re hoping the Korean company is coming to CES with more than just their dreams and ambitions. We know it can’t be the next flagship phone, aka the Samsung Galaxy S5 — that particular device is headed straight for Mobile World Congress.

Samsung’s also rumored to be coming to town with a couple of Android tablets, including a new Samsung Galaxy Note Pro that might have a massive 12.2 inch display. Of course, any guess is a stab in the dark at this point, so we’ll just have to stay tuned to see if any of these names mean anything at all.

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Taiwan Fines Apple for iPhone Price-Plan Meddling

TAIPEI— Apple Inc. AAPL -0.42% has been fined 20 million New Taiwan dollars (US$670,000) and ordered to stop interfering with mobile service providers and handset distributors' pricing, Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission said on Wednesday.

Apple can appeal but may face a fine up to NT$50 million if it doesn't comply, the commission said.

It found the Cupertino-based company violated article 18 of Taiwan's Fair Trade Act by telling Taiwan's three main service providers how much to sell iPhones for. Apple also asked Chunghwa Telecom Co. CHT +1.37% , Far Eastone Telecommunication Co. andTaiwan Mobile Co. 3045.TW +0.52% to adjust rates.

The U.S. computer company has no right to meddle in companies' iPhone pricing plans after selling them distribution rights, the commission said.

The three carriers can distribute or resell iPhones at their complete discretion after paying Apple for those rights, the commission added.

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