Google Nexus 5: Release date, price, specs, news and rumours

Google’s Nexus devices have become the best way to experience Android as it is intended. Launched last year, the Nexus 4 was a huge success for Google.

Now, one year later stocks are running low and rumours are growing that the company is about to launch a new, slightly larger replacement: the Nexus 5. Here’s what we know… Google Nexus 5 specs Most of what we know about the Nexus 5’s specs comes thanks to its filing at the US Federal Communications Commission. According to those documents, the Google Nexus 5 will come with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, Bluetooth 4.0, wireless charging and dual-band Wi-Fi. Previous rumours had suggested that Google may opt for the slightly older and less powerful Snapdragon 600 chipset to keep prices down. Google Nexus 5 looks When rumours of a new, five-inch Nexus smartphone began emerging, they hinted it would be based upon the recently unveiled LG G2. Since then, we’ve had two glimpses of the phone. The first happened during the launch of Android KitKat. An unnamed Google employee was seen using an unannounced Nexus device to film the unveiling of the new KitKat statue. Google later pulled the video, but not before several stills were captured. Then in the middle of October, a Google engineer left a prototype Nexus 5 in a bar. The person who found the smartphone took several pictures of the device, as well as a video. It shows a device with a five-inch screen, horizontal Nexus branding – partial obscured by an ID label – and the boot screen for Android KitKat 4.4. Google Nexus 5 Android version Rumours have speculated that Google will use the Nexus 5 to debut its next version of Android, KitKat 4.4. The best evidence we have to date that the Nexus 5 will be is the video of the device left in a bar in September. That video all but confirms the device will come with Android KitKat. Whether or not it will be the device it debuts with is another question. That said, Google is likely to want to debut the new operating system with a flagship device – and the Nexus 5 fits the bill. Google Nexus 5 release date There is currently no official word on when the Nexus 5 will be unveiled, never mind launched. What we do know that Google launched the Nexus 4 in October 2012. Add to that recent hints that Google is running low on Nexus 4 stock with no plans to order more and it is no stretch of the imagination see an October launch for the Nexus 5. In addition, rumours have begun to emerge suggesting that Google is planning an event in October. While it’s currently unclear what it is for, its timing suggests that it is for the unveiling of the Nexus 5. As for when you’ll be able to get your hands on a Nexus 5? Well that we don’t know. Don’t expect it to be any later than the end of November though.

BlackBerry Z30 flagship unveiled with 5-inch display and BB 10.2 OS

BlackBerry Ltd launched its new Z30 flagship smartphone on Wednesday, as it battles to win back market share despite uncertainty around its future.

Once a pioneer in the smartphone arena, BlackBerry said last month it was weighing options that could include an outright sale, in the face of lacklustre sales for its new devices that run on the BlackBerry 10 operating system .

The long-rumored BlackBerry Z30 device, which is first being unveiled at an event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will be BlackBerry's new top-of-the-line device, taking the crown from the smaller BlackBerry Z10 that was launched early this year.

The new touchscreen device, which boasts a five-inch display and a 1.7 gigahertz processor, will compete against the likes of Apple Inc's new iPhone 5s and Samsung Electronics Co's Galaxy S4 , along with a slew of other devices that are powered by Google Inc's Android platform.

The company faces an uphill battle in generating interest in the new phone, however, given the lack of clarity around its future.

While the company has long aspired to make its BlackBerry 10 operating system the No. 3 smartphone platform in the market, the latest industry data indicates that Microsoft Corp's Windows Phone platform is in fact more likely to clinch that spot as its devices continue to gain ground.

Although the new line of BlackBerry devices has been well received by reviewers, analysts say the company lacks the financial heft to vie against industry giants like Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft, which boast massive marketing and R&D budgets.

Some analysts contend that Microsoft's move earlier this month to acquire Nokia's phone business and license its patents for 5.44 billion euros, poses another hurdle for BlackBerry, as the software giant is likely to redouble its catch-up efforts in the mobile device business.

But Waterloo, Ontario-based BlackBerry, which is set to report its fiscal second-quarter results next week, appears to be sticking with its product roadmap for now, even as it reviews its alternatives.

The company, which touts the Z30 as its "biggest, fastest and most advanced smartphone" to date, said the device will begin to hit store shelves in the UK and parts of the Middle East as early as next week.

The smartphone will go on sale with select carriers and retailers in other regions over the remainder of the year, said the company, adding specific pricing and availability will be announced by its partners at the time of their respective launches.

Google Nexus 5 pictured at a bar

Images of what is believed to be a Google Nexus 5 have been published online.

Taken at a bar, the images show a device with a five-inch screen, horizontal Nexus branding – partial obscured by an ID label – and the boot screen for Android KitKat 4.4. It is unclear if the device was left in the bar, or whether someone saw an opportunity to take some pictures of the unannounced device. The situation is reminiscent of when an Apple employee left an iPhone 4 prototype in a bar in 2010. It is also the second time we’ve seen the handset thanks to Google employees. The phone’s discovery comes as Google confirms that it has sold out of Nexus 4 handsets. The handset is Google’s flagship Nexus device. It has seen a number of price cuts for both the 8GB and 16GB models over the last couple of months. Dwindling stocks have added fire to the rumour that Google is planning to replace the Nexus 4 with a new, slightly larger Nexus handset. “We are out of inventory,” Google Play states. “Please check back soon.” The Google Nexus 4 was originally launched in October 2012. It is unclear if Google intends to restock it. However, with rumours circulating that Google will unveil a successor for the Nexus 4 in the coming weeks, it seems unlikely. Rumours currently point to the Nexus 5 being the handset that will replace the now sold out device. Whether or not it will be able to compete with the recent crop of smartphones nominated for a T3 Gadget Awards, sponsored by Ford SYNC, remains to be seen. Details about the Nexus 5 have increased in recent weeks. The first hard evidence emerged at the launch of Android KitKat. A Google employee was pictured using an unknown Nexus smartphone to film the launch event. That was followed by documents from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Those filings detailed a new Nexus handset being developed by Google. According to reports, Google is expected to unveil the Nexus 5 at an event on October 14th.

GTA V review: New Grand Theft Auto triples the intensity

I had such a fun weekend.

After seeing a movie, I went down to the beach to ride the roller coaster on the pier and go jet skiing in the ocean. Afterward, I got a haircut and bought a new suit, and then I returned home to unwind with some fresh juice and a yoga session in my backyard. Later, I met up with one of my friends for drinks at a downtown watering hole.

I live in Los Angeles, but I didn't do any of that stuff there. Nah, it all happened over the past 48 hours while visiting Los Santos, the virtual seaside metropolis cunningly depicted in "Grand Theft Auto V" (Rockstar Games, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $59.99). Oh, did I mention I also committed dozens of felonies?

For the most part, it's illegal business as usual in the latest edition of "Grand Theft Auto." There are vehicles to swipe, schemes to plan and banks to rob. Unlike previous installments in the wildly successful - and violent - M-rated series, "GTA V" centers not just on one but three criminal protagonists: former partners Michael and Trevor, and their new protege, Franklin.

Nearly a decade after their last heist went terribly wrong, middle-aged Michael is living comfortably bored in witness protection in a ritzy Los Santos mansion, while the unhinged Trevor is dealing meth and smuggling guns on the outskirts of town in Blaine County. Meanwhile, Franklin is hustling on the streets as a repo man for an unsavory car dealership owner.

The three men and their double- and triple-crossing ventures are ingeniously interwoven in both the narrative and gameplay of "GTA V," which allows players to almost seamlessly switch among Michael, Trevor and Franklin throughout the proceedings. With the tap of a few buttons, "GTA V" briskly sweeps across Los Santos from one anti-hero to another.

During missions involving all three dudes, the flip-flopping is key to avoid getting wasted by the Los Santo Police. For instance, one particularly high-pressured holdup of an armored car involves swapping between Michael and Franklin blasting at waves of cops on the ground, and Trevor picking them off with a sniper rifle from a rooftop.

It's not so much a gimmick as it is a flawless innovation on the established "GTA" formula.

Besides the usual felonious shenanigans, there are leisurely diversions spread across Los Santos, including customizing rides, investing in the stock market, racing jet skis, watching TV, surfing spoof sites online, playing tennis and patronizing strip clubs.

With an obsessive attention to detail, the city of Los Santos - last visited in 2004's "GTA: San Andreas" - and its outlying areas feel more alive than any virtual world I've ever visited. Rockstar Games has masterfully crafted a stunning make-believe take on modern Southern California that rivals the dragon-infested realm from "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim."

However, this Los Santos is not a perfect clone of L.A.

The urban areas don't feel quite dense enough when compared with Liberty City from 2008's "GTA IV." And the rendition of Beverly Hills is basically across the street from downtown. Also, a few tired L.A. cliches - plastic surgery, seeking fame - are referenced so frequently the game almost veers into goofy "Saint's Row" territory.

Fortunately, any shortcomings with "GTA V" feel about as important as a random stranger crossing the street in Los Santos. Rockstar Games has created such a fascinating place for Michael, Trevor and Franklin to explore and wreak havoc, I think you'll want to visit for more than a weekend. I know I do. Four stars out of four.

Motorola Droid 5 details leak

More details about the rumoured Motorola Droid 5 have leaked.

The leak includes new pictures of the rumoured handset. They were published by Phone Arena. Last month, the first images of the phone emerged, showing Motorola handset with a physical keyboard. According to the latest leak, the Motorola Droid 5 will come with a 4.3-inch screen with a resolution of 720 by 1280. It is also said to come with a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus processor and Adreno 255 GPU. The rumoured 1GB of RAM hints that Motorola sees the next Droid phone as mid-to-low tier handset. It is said to come with 16GB of storage, with a microSD slot. Despite its mid-range specifications, it is rumoured that the Droid 5 will come with wireless charging and and NFC support. One thing that won’t be carried over from the Droid 4 though is the splash-proofing. Unlike its predecessor, the Droid 5 will be neither dust, nor water resistant according to the leak. There is no word on when Motorola may be considering to launch the handset. However, the images appear to suggest that it is in a late stage of development. As such, it is likely to land on shelves before the end of the year.

Apple could launch 4.5 to 5-inch display iPhones, analyst reports

According to a prediction by KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple are likely to extend the iPhone 5's screen to a 4.5-inch, or even 5-inch display

Following reports earlier this week that Apple have been testing out larger displays on the iPhone 5, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that 4.5-inch to 5-inch displays are possible but anything above that is unlikely. The Wall Street Journal first reported that testing was being carried out on screens ranging from 4.8-inch to 6-inch so Kuo's predictions lie close to the initial reports. According to AppleInsider, who obtained the note from Kuo, the reason displays will not be bigger than 5-inches is due to Apple's "unwavering principle of one hand use," but Kuo thinks Apple will extend the iPhon 5's in-cell touchscreen technology in next year's lineup. Apple previously increased the screen size from the iPhone 4 to iPhone 5 by lenghtening the screen rather than increasing the phone's width. The rumours come just days before the rumoured launch of the Apple iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C on September 10th. According to leaked specs, the iPhone 5S and 5C will adhere to the current 4-inch display seen on the iPhone 5. As well as making predicitions on screen size, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also predicted that the iPhone 5c will retail between £230 and £320 SIM free. It has also been confirmed that Apple's September 10th event will see the release of iOS 7.