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Pocket Picks round-up: April 13th - Samsung Galaxy S III rumoured to launch on May 22nd, HTC One X screen problems, Facebook and Dropbox iOS security issues

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Pocket Picks round-up: April 13th - Samsung Galaxy S III rumoured to launch on May 22nd, HTC One X screen problems, Facebook and Dropbox iOS security issues
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With Easter out of the way and spring officially in the air, the Pocket Picks office is alive with talk of all things new - new mobile handsets, that is.

Specifically, we've been investigating reported issues with HTC's most recent smartphone, the HTC One X, and getting hot under the collar over a leaked image of the Samsung Galaxy S III.

We've also found the time to give the Android version of Instagram a once-over, and discovered some worrying issues pertaining to Facebook and Dropbox security.

So, join us, if you will, for another stroll down Gadget Alley, as we guide you through this week's Pocket Picks round-up.

Samsung Galaxy S III rumoured to launch on May 22nd

A Korean site may have provided us with our first glimpse of the hotly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone.

The image, which was subsequently republished on Yahoo! Korea, shows a partial shot of a slimline silver handset, next to the Galaxy S III logo, and the words "May 22nd, London, United Kingdom".

This image - allegedly a leaked press invitation for the launch of Samsung's new flagship smartphone - has sent the rumour mill into overdrive, with many already speculating on what hardware might lurk inside that lithe metal case.

Internet buzz suggests a quad-core processor and Retina display-grade screen could be on the cards, but it looks like we may not have to wait too long to find out first hand.

HTC One X screen issues reported

While we all like our mobile devices to be flexible, we're usually referring to the handset's multitasking capabilities.

However, CNET has reported that HTC's most powerful new handset is a little too soft at the edges. In fact, the HTC One X's case is so pliable that holding the handset can actually cause the screen's image to deform.

According to CNET's reporter, applying pressure to the edges of the handset produces an on-screen distortion similar to one observed when pushing a finger against a TFT laptop display.

Though the issue cropped up on four separate handsets, HTC was quick to assure users that the company "would never let that [i.e. a unit with that kind of pliability] ship".

Facebook and Dropbox iOS identity theft hack

A flaw has been discovered in the Dropbox and Facebook apps for iOS, which could allow security credentials to be obtained without a user's permission.

The issue, discovered by security researcher Gareth Wright, concerns the manner in which login information is stored in the apps' "Property List" (Plist) file.

The file functions as a digital key, which if copied to another iPhone, could give anyone instant access to your Facebook and Dropbox accounts.

Having proved that the exploit works, Wright went on to inform the apps' developers, who are busy working on a solution. Until it arrives, however, we recommend caution when logging into these accounts from iOS devices.

BlackBerry OS 7 named best for enterprise

RIM executives finally have something to smile about. In an unusually positive piece of news for the Canadian company, BlackBerry OS 7 has just been named the best OS for enterprise users.

In a report by Trend Micro, BlackBerry OS 7 was deemed superior to the competition in certain business-centric areas - namely security, authentication, firewall, and virtualisation.

While the researchers were complimentary about iOS 5 and Windows Phone 7 with regards to security, they were less polite about Google's mobile OS.

According to the report, Android devices are largely running outdated versions of the OS - 2.3, to be precise - and there is no central update mechanism to ensure handsets are brought up to date, rendering them undesirable for business purposes. So, there.

Review - Instagram (Android)

Finally, Pocket Picks reviewer Stuart Houghton took some time out this week to put the the long-awaited Android port of popular photo app Instagram through its paces.

Barring a few tweaks, it seems that the 'droid version of this filter-heavy image editor has migrated from iOS with everything pretty much intact. It's just as easy on your Android blower to capture or import images, and then apply whatever arty frame or tint takes your fancy.

Pleasingly, sharing has been improved in this Android iteration of Instagram, meaning you can now post your images to any of the services with registered Share intents - places like Gmail, Google+, Twitter, Flickr, and more.

On the downside, Android fragmentation has forced the dev to remove some features - like the Tilt shift filter and live preview option - to ensure compatibility with some lower-end 'droid handsets.

You can download Instagram for free from the Google Play Store now.

James Gilmour
James Gilmour
James pivoted to video so hard that he permanently damaged his spine, which now doubles as a Cronenbergian mic stand. If the pictures are moving, he's the one to blame.