The student population is of particular interest to Apple, and they are now offering 7,777 rupees (which equates to $144) if they trade in their old smartphone for an Apple iPhone 5.  Interestingly, this deal is also available for non-students, although they will only receive 7,000 rupees ($130), which is still an interesting deal.

The other incentive, through American Express, is also very interesting.  If you buy an Apple iPhone 5 with this credit card, you will receive a rebate of 10%.  The only stipulation is that an Indian bank must have issued the credit card.  Potentially, this means that people could use both their student discount and the American Express discount (at a maximum of 6,000 rupees or $111), making the phone really affordable.

The goal is that by selling the Apple iPhone 5 as well as other models in this manner, Apple will be able to open more stores in India soon.  Their goal is to have 200 stores in the country by 2015.  These stores will all be “exclusive stores”, meaning they will only sell Apple products.  They won’t, however, be owned by Apple, but rather by local franchises, thereby also aiding the Indian economy.

Basically, if rumors are true, then the next HTC One (which should come out within the next two weeks or so if we are to believe Geek) will not have the standard Sense UI.  However, there is still a lack of clarity on what it will look like, feel like and operate like.  Some, however, suggest it will be placed on the wing of Google, which is very much like the Galaxy S4 Google Edition.  Also, it appears that only the US will have the joy of using this new device first.

How exciting would it be to have a Sense-less HTC One?  So many people are seriously irritated with it and find it is inferior to other options out there.  If it is true, that would mean that the HTC One would actually be the most powerful device on the market yet with stock Android.

So why do we choose to believe this tidbit of gossip, besides the fact that Geek is generally a pretty reliable source?  Mainly because we know that HTC is in absolute disarray.  There have been a variety of important members of staff jumping ship and going elsewhere.  This means that absolutely anything could happen, including a HTC One without Sense.  And also, because the company continues to deny the rumors, rather than just dropping the conversation, we think that there really is something going on.  Watch this space; apparently we only have a fortnight to wait for it.

Most of the time, when you buy an S4, it is totally unlocked.  This means that if you want to put your own Android version on there, you can.  However, in the US, there are a number of carriers (Verizon and AT&T) who have customized it and use a secure boot function on the Samsung Galaxy S4 instead.  Hence, unless the kernel has the digital signature of the carrier, it can’t be booted.  The digital signature is RSA-2048, SHA1, which cannot be cracked with the technology that exists today, regardless of how state of the art it may be.  Also, you can’t create your own kernel that is able to generate the right SHA1 value.  So, it has not been possible yet to perform the pre-image attack that is needed.

However, Dan Rosenberg was clever and it seemed that he didn’t even have to go into the crypto features in order to hack his Samsung Galaxy S4.  This is because the kernel that has to be checked actually gets saved by the boot loader into an accessible memory address.  In fact, the code can even overwrite the check_sig boot loader function.  Hence, the Samsung Galaxy S4 will not perform the check that is needed and you can do whatever you want with your devise.  Hence, if you use Rosenberg’s hack, the memory of your device will be tidied up a bit (always useful) and it will then think all is well!

When the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 was first revealed, people thought that it wouldn’t be overly popular.  However, they were wrong big time.  Some would call it a “phablet” – a fabulous tablet”.  It has a 5.5 inch display, only slightly bigger than the 4.99 inch display found on the S4.  The big screen difference, however, is found in the fact that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has 720p, slightly lower than the 1080p found in the S4.  However, you need to have some seriously good eyes if you actually want to be able to see the difference.

If you have large hands, you may just find that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is absolutely perfect for you.  However, you would need to invest in a Bluetooth headset if you want to use it for a long time in a row.  The S4 is much easier to hold if you want to talk, which makes it more comfortable.  However, both devices need two hands to access all the various features and functions.

Compared to the Galaxy S3, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is way better.  Yes, the S4 is better still, but that is only in those parts where the S4 is available, which is still somewhat lacking in the US.  Because the Note 2 also offers 2GB of RAM, it is a pretty powerful device, particularly when adding the 1.6HHz Exynos quad core processor.  The S4 is slightly better because it actually has two quad core processors, but they also have the 2GB of RAM, meaning they are once again pretty similar.

There will be two versions available to the Indian market, the difference being based on the internal memory and their 3G capabilities.  The 16GB model should be compatible with 3G.  However, the larger 32GB version is likely to only work with Wi-Fi, which is a downside for some people.

What has seemed to shock the Indian market – and the global market for that matter – is that both the devices cost the same.  At present, it is believed to be retailed at around 44,990 rupees, regardless of which Sony Xperia Z tablet you choose.  This is a far more expensive price than what the device costs anywhere else, but that is apparently because it will come with some additional functions, features and specifications.  Which ones these are, however, remains to be seen.

What we do know is that the Sony Xperia Z tablet will be just like its smartphone counterpart.  It will be resistant to water and dust, which is what makes it so different and special.  The tablet has a 10.1 inch display, in full HD and the resolution is 1920 x 1200.  Naturally, the Sony Xperia Z tablet will have Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2.

Just like Apple, Sony is trying to hit the Indian market.  India has the fastest growing population in the world and it is becoming increasingly urbanized.  Will they manage with their tablet, or will Apple’s offer beat them hands down?

Yes, all of this seems a bit superfluous: you have to pre-register to pre-order, hence you have to do things twice and you still won’t actually have your BlackBerry Q10 in your hands.  However, it is the best way to guarantee that there will be one available for you when it does finally get released, and that is what it’s all about.

Unfortunately, we don’t know yet just how much AT&T will be charging you for the device.  However, T-Mobile has stated that the BlackBerry Q10 will cost $99.99 as a down payment.  Further payments will be charged to you within the price of your monthly contract, totally at $579.99.  Yes, this means you will have to enter a 24 month contract.

The BlackBerry Q10 is the second attempt of this device and we expect that this is the one that will be best received.  One of the reasons for this is the return to the QWERTY keyboard, which is precisely why people have always chosen the BlackBerry over any other type of mobile.  The design looks very much like the old Bold 9900, another reasonably popular handset in BlackBerry’s terms.

Head over to the T-Mobile or AT&T website today if you are interested in the device.  After all, putting your name down for a notification doesn’t actually force you to buy it when it becomes available.

Those fears have well and truly been put to rest.  What other device can say that it is being sold at a rate of four per second?  It is now officially the fastest selling smartphone ever.  It took 50 days for the Samsung Galaxy S3 to sell 10 million copies, and it took five whole months for the S2 to do this.  We don’t even remember the very first one!

If, for whatever reason, you’re still clinging on to your Samsung Galaxy S3, perhaps the fact that Samsung is now showing the color of money will help you change your mind.  You can now get the S4 in four brand new colors.  You will be able to get the Red Aurora and the Blue Artic, two colors on top of the two that are already available.  Wait a few months longer and you can choose from Brown Autumn and Purple Mirage as well.  If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, then what will?

We loved the Samsung Galaxy S3, we really did.  It was a fantastic phone and really showed the world what Samsung can do.  However, in the world of smartphones, it is now a relic, an ancient model that has been improved on massively.  Sure, if you aren’t eligible for an upgrade yet, by all means stick with the S3, but do change it as soon as possible because the S4 has beaten it in the popularity contest hands down.

The discount started a couple of days ago and applies to both the Apple iPhone 4S, which is 16GB, and the iPhone 4, which is just 8GB.  The offer is only available for a limited period of time and can only be taken out when shopping online.  Also, you have to get there quickly, as the offer will only last for as long as stocks last.  Nobody knows, therefore, just how long this offer will be one.

It is a hugely interesting offer, because being able to have an Apple iPhone 4S 16GB without contract would usually cost you $382.  The regular iPhone 4 at 8GB normally costs $297.  The discount therefore isn’t all that interesting on the regular 4, so we expect most people will choose the 4S instead.

In June of last year, Virgin first started selling the iPhone.  The Apple iPhone 4S was current in those days, and it cost no less than $649.  This was the same price as what the device would have cost you had you purchased it directly through Apple.  For the phone to be reduced by nearly 60% in less than a year is amazing.

It isn’t entirely clear why this offer is on. We know that Apple is doing everything they can to have a larger market share, working together with many small prepaid carriers.  One of these includes Cricket Wireless and a rumour recently surfaced suggesting Boost Mobile would be the next carrier.  However, this has not been confirmed yet.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 is still the envy of many people who are still stuck with older devices.  And it is still getting five star reviews, even if newer models are available.  A lot of people find the S3 is the perfect production that offers a unique and blissful experience.  Sure, it isn’t as perfect now that the S4 is there, but its functions and features remain top class.  Interestingly, even though the S4 is now available, the S3 remains an expensive handset, particularly if purchased separately.

It will come as music to many people’s ears, therefore, that 3 are now offering the Samsung Galaxy S3 at a significantly reduced price.  The price of both the monthly cost of the contract and the upfront cost of the device have dropped, saving you quite a bit of money overall.  So what do you get on this contract?

• 5,000 texts
• 500 minutes
• All you can eat data
• Ultrafast Ready (fastest 3G available and compatible with 4G)

The downside?  Those 500 minutes.  That isn’t much for people who make a lot of phone calls.  However, 3 is flexible.  You can always go for a slightly more expensive plan that includes 2,000 call minutes and 5,000 3 to 3 minutes, or you can purchase one of 3’s add on bundles, which gives you extra minutes as well.

3 is offering the Samsung Galaxy S3 in Pebble Blue and in Marble White.  Naturally, they also stock the Samsung Galaxy S4, which is obviously more expensive.  However, the S3 is a really good substitute and because the price has now dropped, now seems to be the right time to get it.  Naturally, other networks stock it too, but not (yet) at the fantastic 3 price.

It is believed the SM-C101 device, which is a new Samsung product, is actually the new Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom.  According to rumours, this device is going to be somewhat smaller than the standard flagship phone, but it will come with a zoom less, of 16 megapixel.

Because more and more people want the camera to be a real standout feature on their device, numerous manufacturers are now creating devices that offer fantastic camera features.  A good example is the Nokia Lumia 920, which comes with PureView technology.  Nokia has always been at the forefront of offering fantastic cameras, which is probably what has kept them in business this long.

It would make sense for the new Samsung Galaxy S4 to incorporate a fantastic optical lens.  This is the closest it will ever come to an SLR or even DSLR, meaning the mobile phone market may just take over the camera market as well.  Because Samsung makes some of the best digital cameras in the world, they are in a position to add this sort of technology to their cameras, without worrying about losing business.  It is a well-documented fact that Samsung is trying to offer a broader line up of products, so it would make sense in terms of that as well.

The Bluetooth special interest group reports that the new Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom will be released by the beginning of June.  Samsung, however, is not commenting at all on the reports.  Does that mean the rumours are true?