GADGET UPDATE powered by Stuff: Nokia, Android, HTC and more

Firefox 4 to launch on 22 March

In true Mozilla style, Firefox 4 is slimming down so it can run circles around its hulking IE9 and Chrome 10 competitors. But good things really do come in small packages – or at least on paper they do. Mozilla's already talking of a plan to launch an RC2 update soon after the RC1 release, if there are any problems. Optimistic. Read more...

Nokia’s tablet plans found in sketch form

If you’ve ever toyed with Nokia’s N8, you’ll know how it feels: heavy. Like a cricket bat made of iron, shrunk for added density. So these drawings of an N8 design-inspired tablet should strike fear into anyone who likes featherweight gadgetry. Dug up at the US Patent Office, the year-old submission shows what Nokia was planning for its tablet debutante. Whether that design will survive into the Windows Phone 7 era remains to be seen. But if it does, be afraid… and get a bag with a padded shoulder strap. View sketches...

World's most expensive Android phone becomes reality

Ulysse Nardin, one of the Big 3 of watchmaking, is unveiling the world's most expensive Android phone at the Baselworld watch show.

It was announced over a year ago, but this will be the first showing of a working model.

The Ulysse Nardin Chairman will have a 3.2-inch touchscreen as well as a physical keypad, 32GB of storage and an 8MP camera. No idea yet which version of the Android OS, though. Read more...

HTC Flyer 10 tablet rumour

HTC's Flyer (pictured) may have a whopping clock speed of 1.5GHz attributed to its single-core processor. The boys at HTC have realised speed will only let you dodge for so long before being knocked down by the bigger guy, namely the Motorola Xoom or Galaxy Tab 10.1. And it appears they’ve decided to bulk up. Read more...

Aesir crafts new luxury phones

Denmark-based Aesir is taking on the likes of Vertu and Mobiado with its own premium mobile phones.

It's all about craft, apparently, which is why these Aesir YvesBehar phones feature wraparound ceramic upper bodies, sapphire crystal over the screen and a choice of either 18k gold or stainless steel for the keypad and back. The keys are laser-micro-engraved and then lacquered. Read more...

Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 released

Internet Explorer 9 is available for general consumption now. After a record 40 million users downloaded the beta release, it’s time for your granny to get browser update fever, so long as she’s not already using Firefox. Microsoft cites access to hardware acceleration, improved security and faster renders as the main improvements. Got it? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Online games suspended to save Japanese energy

Square-Enix has shut down its Final Fantasy XIV and XI servers for at least a week, and Konami's dropped Metal Gear Online off the radar, to conserve power in earthquake-hit Japan.

Following the earthquake, the MotorStorm Apocalypse launch has been delayed, Disaster Report 4 has been cancelled (the clue is in the title), and Sony had to close down 6 of its factories.

Samsung Galaxy S getting a Gingerbread transfusion this weekend

Samsung's Galaxy S could be about to reboot into the latest version of Android (2.3, or Gingerbread). According to Samsung's Romanian Facebook page (not exactly the first source we'd go to for European Sammy news), updates from Froyo will start rolling out to Galaxy S owners from the 20th of March – this Saturday – until the end of the month.

Apple shuns NFC for iPhone 5

Despite intelligent guesswork to the contrary, The Independent has done some digging around with UK networks and drawn the conclusion that Apple has put the kibosh on its iPhone 5 NFC plans.

Near-field communication is expected to bring about wholesale change in contactless payments once it gets into the phone mainstream. Apple’s new phone – expected this summer – was expected to catalyse NFC adoption. If this rumour has teeth, that may now not happen until next year.