Back in October, Lenovo signed up Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher as a product engineer. And this year the company will launch its first range of tablets designed by Kutcher, Lenovo has said.

Lenovo’s chief marketing officer David Roman told Re/code about the company’s plans. He insists it’s not a publicity stunt, but that Kutcher will actually have a hand in the devices’ user experience. “I know on one level it sounds corny, but it is real,” Roman said. “He not only sees himself as an engineer, but he is an engineer. If he sees a problem, he wants to solve it.” Well if that’s his bag, I’ve got a dodgy wireless router he can have a look at.

It sounds like it’ll be a world away from the usual celebrity partnerships that tech companies enter into. I’m thinking of BlackBerry and Alicia Keys, and Polaroid and Lady Gaga.

But then Kutcher does have better tech credentials than most other slebs. He studied biochemical engineering at the University of Iowa — though he dropped out — and has also invested in tech services including Foursquare, Airbnb, and Uber. Last year, he played Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in the movie Jobs.

Let’s just forget about Dude, Where’s My Car?

When Lenovo signed Kutcher up, he said: “This partnership with Lenovo brings together my love of technology and design that makes your life better. I can’t wait to dig in and help Lenovo develop future mobile computing products.”

Lenovo is currently buying Motorola from Google, so we could see Kutcher-designed Motorola goods before the year is out. He won’t have a hand in Project Ara — the modular mobile project — as Google has held onto the division responsible for it.

What would you like to see him do? Or should celebrities leave tech well alone? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.

Update: The development agreement Lenovo has with Ashton Kutcher is for tablets only, and not for smartphones. This story has been corrected to reflect that.

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A new Roku device is coming to the UK. The Roku Streaming Stick is about the size of a USB stick, and plugs straight into your HDMI port on your telly. The version that was previously released in the US only worked with a Roku Ready TV, of which there were only a handful. They were also made by mostly lesser-known companies. But for us Brits, Roku has opened it up and made it compatible with any telly with an HDMI port. Jolly good.

Then all you need is a Wi-Fi connection, and you can start streaming all your games and movies to your gogglebox.

You can use the Wi-Fi remote to navigate the menu, or you can use your Android or iOS device, once you’ve downloaded the Roku app. Soon you’ll be able to stream direct from your computer to your telly too, using the Streaming Stick.

The Streaming Stick gives you access to more than 750 channels in the form of apps, including TV shows, films, news, sport, social networking, games, and more. These include Sky News, Facebook, 4oD, Ted Talks, YouTube, Angry Birds, and our very own CNET channel. You can watch in 1080p HD resolution.

The Roku Streaming Stick is available to pre-order now from Amazon, Currys, and Roku’s own site. It’ll go on sale in late April, and will cost £49.99, which is a bit pricier than its direct rivals. Sky’s Now TV Box — which is basically a rebadged Roku set-top box — costs just a tenner. And Google’s Chromecast is just $35 (£21), though it isn’t available on these shores yet.

What do you think of the Roku Streaming Stick? Would you buy one? What does it have over the competition? Let me know in the comments, or stream your thoughts over to our Facebook page.

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Update: A 12-minute hands-on video of the new HTC One has leaked, I’ve embedded it in the story.

HTC has released the second teaser trailer for the new HTC One, and it promises the handset will be “even more metal” than its predecessor. Looks like those leaked pictures showing it with an all-metal body were on the money then.

In other news, HTC Watch — the mobile company’s film and TV service — is to close this month in the UK. HTC revealed the fact in an email to customers, though it didn’t give any explanation. I’ve contacted it for more info and will update this story if I hear back.

HTC Watch has already started closing in other countries like Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway, and the US, so a UK closure doesn’t come as a huge surprise. According to the email, the service will close its doors on 31 March.

If you’ve bought any films or TV shows from the service, you’ll have to download them to your device before then, or you’ll lose them forever.

Update: A spokesperson for HTC told me, “From 31st March 2014, HTC can confirm that it will no longer support the HTC Watch video-on-demand service. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to HTC Watch subscribers and would encourage any customers affected by the change to contact their local HTC support centre. Our focus continues to be on offering the best possible mobile experience to customers everywhere and our strength lies in empowering people to discover and access the right content for them from the wealth of services out there.”

Here’s the second trailer for the new HTC One. 

And the leaked hands-on video.

The handset launches on 25 March. We’ve seen leaked images, specs, and even a price, though until it’s official, I’d take it all with a pinch of salt. The original HTC One had an entirely metal body, and from the pictures, so does the new HTC One. We’ll have to wait and see exactly how HTC has made it more metal.

According to one retailer, the new HTC One will have a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip, front- and rear-facing 5-megapixel cameras, NFC, and HTC’s BoomSound speakers. (The previous trailer hinted at these speakers too.) The 5-inch display will have a resolution of 1,920×1,080 pixels, and it’ll run Android KitKat.

But as I say, until we hear from HTC, pinch of salt.

What would you like to see from the new HTC One? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.

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The HTC One got the upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat in the UK last week, but now HTC has put the rollout on hold. It appears there are some gremlins in the system, though HTC wouldn’t say exactly what the issue is. It tweeted: “We’re aware that some users are having issues with the 4.4 update. As a result, all updates have been temporarily suspended.”

HTC didn’t elaborate much in an official statement either. It told Android Central: “We are aware that a limited number of HTC users are experiencing difficulties with the KitKat update. As a result, all FOTA updates have been temporarily suspended. HTC is committed to providing customers with the best possible mobile experience and we are working hard to resolve the issue quickly.”

I’ve contacted HTC for more information and will update this story if I hear back.

On HTC’s software updates page, the HTC One is listed as being in the “integration” stage of getting KitKat, before it’s pushed out to customers. This is the same for all four networks listed, and for the unlocked HTC One.

These problems are quite common when manufacturers skin Android with their own user interfaces. The quickest way to get the latest software update is by having a handset with pure Android, such as the Nexus 4 or Nexus 5. KitKat has been out for four months now, so it’s not even all that new.

HTC will unveil the new HTC One on 25 March, though almost everything about it has already leaked. We’ve seen images, specs, a hands-on video, and even a tentative price. Are there no surprises in the world of tech anymore?

Did you manage to get KitKat on your HTC One? Did you have any issues? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.

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Well that didn’t take long. Nokia only launched its line of Android-powered phones at Mobile World Congress this week, and someone has already rooted one of them. The Nokia X runs a forked version of Android, so you can’t gets apps from Google Play, or use the Google Now personal assistant. Until now, that is.

Someone with the username Kashamalaga has got these Google services working on their Nokia X, and has posted a handy How To guide to boot. So if you were one of the lucky few to get an X at MWC, or you’re just curious to see how it works, click through, and check out the video I’ve embedded to go with it.

For starters, you’ll need to root your device. Kashamalaga recommends using the Gandalf exploit in the Framaroot app. (That’s not a sentence I thought I’d write today.) Next you need the Root Explorer app.

Extract and copy all your apks, change the permissions, then reboot. Then you extract and install every apk in the relevant .zip file. Launch the Play store, and it’ll ask you to sign in with your Google Account. And that’s it, you’re done.

Here it is in action.

Nokia’s X range of mobiles comes just as the firm’s phone arm is being bought by Microsoft. Microsoft will use Nokia’s hardware to push its Windows Phone operating system, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Redmond company wasn’t too keen on its new acquisition launching Google-powered devices.

CNET.com’s Jessica Dolcourt was a bit underwhelmed by Nokia’s hook-up with Google. She called it “an ill-fitting mix at best and an unholy union at worst.”

What do you think of Nokia’s X? Is it a bold new direction for the company? Or a bit of a mess? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.

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The Samsung Galaxy S5 is even more eagerly anticipated than its predecessor. Pre-orders for the handset are a whopping 130 per cent higher than for the S4, according to Carphone Warehouse. And that’s just in the first three days, compared to a 10-day pre-registration period for the S4. Impressive.

“If these early pre-registration figures are anything to go by then customer interest is extremely high,” Carl Cowling, managing director of Carphone Warehouse said in a statement. “Samsung has clearly built up a very loyal fanbase and the Galaxy S5 looks set to become one of the biggest selling handsets ever. By introducing mobile payments, health and wellness functions and a host of other useful features, Samsung has created a device that will synchronise seamlessly across all aspects of a consumer’s life.”



You can register your interest for the S5 over at Carphone Warehouse, but it hasn’t priced up the handset yet. Unlocked Mobiles has though — it’ll cost £599.98 SIM free, and will go on sale on 11 April. We’re still waiting to hear what kind of tariffs it’ll be available on, though I wouldn’t expect them to be cheap.



The S5 will go head to head with Sony’s new flagship, the Xperia Z2. The Z2 goes on sale 10 days before the S5, and will be about £50 cheaper SIM free. These won’t be the only new flagships in town though. HTC is set to unveil its new HTC One on 25 March, so expect a release shortly afterwards. Looks like we’ve got a decent mobile scrap on our hands, just in time for spring. That’s what we like to see.



Which handset do you think will come out on top? Are they worth the money? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.


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Fancy something for the weekend? How about a cheap as chips pay as you go mobile from Vodafone? The big red operator has slashed the prices on select handsets this weekend.

You can pick up the Nokia Asha 300 in black for £50. That handset usually sells for around £89, so a £40 saving isn’t to be sniffed at. But that’s not the only cut-price mobile Voda is offering.

You can pick up the BlackBerry Curve 9320 for £70. Tesco Mobile currently offers the 9320 for £79, which is the cheapest I could find it for, so again, there are savings to be had. Finally, the Huawei Ascend G510 drops to £90 (that’s £80 for the handset when bought with £10 credit — or a Freedom Freebee as Vodafone insists on calling it). The G510 can be had for £89.90 from Play.com, but that’s without the extra credit.

The deals can only be had in-store, so I’m afraid you’ll have to hit the high street if you want to take advantage.

The Asha 300 is a bit long in the tooth now, seeing as it launched more than two years ago. It’s not going to cut it with the big boys nowadays, but if you want a cheap, simple phone, it could be worth a look. It could be a good option as a second phone, if you’re worried about losing your prize blower on a night out.

The Curve 9320 only scored two and a half out of five in our review about a year and a half ago. But if you want BBM on a budget, and long for the days when physical keyboards were the norm, then it might be for you.

Huawei’s G510 is the most recent of the three, but it’s still almost a year old. It’s got a 4.5-inch display, which is impressive at this price.

Would you buy any of the above? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.

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Update 2: Dish Network Corporation has got back to me and it looks like the story is bunk. A spokesperson told me: “Contrary to media reports, Dish Network Corporation and Blockbuster L.L.C. have not entered into any licensing agreement for the Blockbuster brand in the UK, nor has it made any statements on the subject.” The original statement has also been removed from the website of Crash Entertainment Group. I’ve been chasing Crash for clarification and will update this story if I hear back. The original story follows.

In a twist that’s worthy of the most hackneyed Hollywood screenwriter, DVD rental chain Blockbuster is back from the dead. The struggling rental chain finally shut up shop in December, resulting in 808 job losses. But now Dish Network Corporation has licensed the Blockbuster brand to Crash Entertainment Group, and Crash has some pretty big plans, Eurogamer reports.

Crash will open new stores, re-brand some of its own, get the mail DVD distribution business up and running, and even get Blockbuster streaming films too.

Crash will open 10 new Blockbuster stores by late 2014, and will rebrand its five Crash Entertainment shops on the Isle of Man as Blockbuster. It’ll get Blockbuster’s mail DVD service going again, and run streaming service Blockbuster On Demand through Virgin Media’s TiVo service.

Update 1: Virgin Media has confirmed it isn’t in talks about offering Blockbuster On Demand through its TiVo service. A spokesperson told me in a statement: “You can already watch an unbeatable choice of on demand movies with Virgin Media and we are not in discussions about a service from Blockbuster.” I’ve chased Dish Network for more info and will update this story if I hear back. The original story continues.

Joseph P. Clayton, Dish Network’s CEO and president, said in a statement: “This is good news for Blockbuster customers in the UK, as consumer demand is clearly moving to digital distribution of video entertainment.

“Despite our closing of the physical distribution elements of the business, we continue to see value in the Blockbuster brand, and we expect to leverage that brand as we continue to expand our digital offerings.”

Blockbuster went into administration in January 2013, when 160 stores closed. In March last year, Deloitte sold the chain to an investment company called Gordon Brothers Europe. It was thought that 264 Blockbuster stores would stay open, saving 2,000 jobs, but that wasn’t to be. By the winter, the brand was on the slide again, with further closures in November, ahead of the final round in December.

Hopefully this will breathe new life into the brand, and help our beleaguered British high street.

Would you like to see Blockbuster make a comeback? Can it ever compete with the likes of Amazon? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.

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Three started rolling out its 4G network in December, and now it boasts that all its customers are on a 4G tariff. Three offers 4G at no extra cost, so its customers haven’t had to do anything to be upgraded. (It’s worth remembering that Three is the smallest of the main networks in the UK as well — it has 7.9 million active customers, a spokesperson tells me, whereas EE has almost 27 million.)

Of course, a 4G tariff means nothing unless you have a 4G-capable device to use it with. According to Three, around 1.7 million of its customers use a 4G device.

A 4G tariff is also meaningless unless you’re in a part of the country that’s covered by 4G. Three’s rollout has so far reached 36 large towns and cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Reading and Liverpool. The numerical network is on track to have 4G live in 50 cities and over 200 towns by the end of the year. By the end of next year, it says its 4G will cover 98 per cent of the population.

EE’s 4G already covers 70 per cent of the population. But then it had a year’s head start on the rest of the operators. It’s signed up 2 million people to 4G, which is impressive, given that they have to pay extra for it. Tesco Mobile has joined Three in offering 4G for no extra fee, so hopefully we’ll see prices come down. Or ideally, the others will get with the program and will stop charging for it altogether.

Have you used Three’s 4G service? What do you think of it? Is 4G a ripoff? Are you waiting for the prices to come down before you dip your toe in the water? Or is reasonable to charge extra for a faster service? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.

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If you’re wondering what has happened to Google’s Project Ara modular mobile project, seeing as Google is selling Motorola to Lenovo, there’s no need to worry. Google has held onto Motorola’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group which was the home of Project Ara. And the latest news is that Google intends to start selling the modular smart phone next year for just £30.

Time has had a good long chat with the team behind Project Ara, and reports that the basic device will cost $50, or about £30 in the Queen’s currency. The catch? It’ll be Wi-Fi-only, so you won’t actually be able to make calls with it. I have to say, that’s quite some catch. But then you pays yer money, you takes yer chances.

That’s just for the basic unit though. Google — and third-parties — hope to sell you a host of add-ons so you can build the phone you want. Don’t take many photos? Don’t bother with a camera module, just get a better battery. The team was less forthcoming on how much each of these modules will cost. But the low price of the basic device could mean it’s big in emerging markets.

Google will make three sizes of Ara device: mini, medium, and jumbo. I’d wager that mini will be around the size of the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, with jumbo being phablet-size. This is the one part you won’t be able to customise, as Google is said to make them all, with no third-parties involved. So choose your size wisely.

Project Ara will fall under the umbrella of Google’s Android. Whether it’ll run that OS or not, we’ll have to wait and see.

We’ve also got an idea of the size of the devices. Google says they won’t be thicker than 10mm, which is fatter than the slimmest smarties around right now, but not by a huge amount.

If you want to remove a module, you’ll have to disengage it through an app on the phone. They shouldn’t just fall off if you drop your phone on the floor.

Google is also working with 3D Systems to allow us punters to customise the size and shape of the handsets’ enclosures. And you might even be able to swap these enclosure between devices as well.

So when can we get our hands on these build-it-yourself blowers? Google should have a working prototype in the next few weeks, and they should be ready for shop shelves in just over a year. What do you think of the project? Is it the future of phones, or just a gimmick? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.

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