You no longer have to buy an HTC handset to get your hands on HTC apps and services. The Taiwanese company is opening up its software to third-party Android devices, starting with Zoe, a video sharing platform that hopes to compete with the likes of Instagram and Vine.

Samsung promised us a smartphone made from “new materials,” and while it hasn’t shunned tacky plastic altogether, its new Galaxy Alpha is a huge step in the right direction. It’s the South Korean company’s first smartphone with a metal frame, and at just 6.7mm thick, it looks great.

Xiaomi has apologized after it was found to be uploading contacts lists to its servers without obtaining permission from its users. The Chinese company insists that protecting user data and privacy is a “top priority,” and it has now made its MIUI Cloud Messaging service optional.

Microsoft is hoping to appease Chinese workers who are unhappy about its massive layoff plans by offering them a free smartphone. Up to 300 employees can claim a free device every day, but only if they agree to resign.

New images of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Alpha indicate it will be even thinner than Apple’s iPhone 5s. The handset’s rear-facing camera protrudes out of its back somewhat — just like the Galaxy S5’s — but overall, the device could well be the slimmest Samsung smartphone to date.