Quick news from around the Web.
@FierceWireless RT@TechCrunch: Amazon's Smartphones Detailed: 'Project Smith' 3D Flagship Model And A Value Handset With FireOS Article by @panzer | Follow@FierceWireless
> Apple's iPad mini with a sharper Retina display is reportedly facing delays. Article
> LG Electronics is reportedly prepping a curved display smartphone, the G Flex. Article
> Top Android device manufacturers are reportedly rigging benchmark performance test scores. Article
> AT&T Mobility launched LTE in 10 new markets and is expanding into more rural areas. Article
> Microsoft says it is not "returning" to CES 2014 because it never left. Article
> Samsung Electronics will launch its HomeSync household Android media center, for storing, synchronizing and streaming content across multiple devices, beginning Oct. 6 for $299. Release
> Lenovo is dropping Intel's chips for Qualcomm in its latest K-series phone. Article
> Intel plans to partner with open-source hardware specialist Arduino. Article
> Samsung executives were reportedly told of terms of a secret Nokia-Apple patent license. Article
> A Qualcomm executive said the iPhone 5s' 64-bit chip is "a gimmick with zero benefit." Article
> T-Mobile US is offering more smartphones for $0 down. Release
> Bluetooth SIG announced that it now has a formal liaison relationship with the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) to create smarter wireless charging devices. Article
Mobile Content News
> Android Jelly Bean is now on almost half of all Android devices. Article
> Samsung is now accepting PayPal as a payment option across its mobile ecosystem, allowing users to securely purchase applications, e-books and multimedia content from the Samsung Apps and Samsung Hub storefronts in a matter of seconds. Article
> Mobile application discovery service Quixey (a Fierce 15 winner) has raised $50 million in Series C financing, vaulting the startup's total funding to $74.2 million. Article
> Snapchat is expanding beyond its signature here-and-gone media sharing philosophy with the introduction of Stories, a new timeline feature enabling users to compile photos and videos that may be viewed an unlimited number of times over a 24-hour period. Article
Broadband Wireless News
> Nokia Solutions and Networks said it has virtualized the latest version of its NetAct operations support system (OSS) to provide off-the-shelf management of network functions virtualization (NFV). Article
> Cisco Systems and Facebook are expanding their initiative that enables people to log into public Wi-Fi networks using their Facebook credentials. Article
> Researchers from Microsoft and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) are touting an alternative to geo-location technology for detecting available TV white space (TVWS) spectrum within indoor spaces. Article
European Wireless News
> Vodafone CFO Andy Halford will step down in March after Vodafone completes the sale of its stake in Verizon Wireless. Article
> KPN shareholders approved the €8.55 billion ($11.6 billion) sale of its German unit, E-Plus, to Telefónica Deutschland late on Wednesday. Article
> América Móvil, which has already delayed launching its formal offer for KPN, now may face a further hurdle in its plan to buy the Dutch operator after reports said KPN is pushing for a higher price. Article
And finally... A lawsuit claims a phone a Los Angeles-area father bought for his underage son contained inappropriate and lewd images of sales representatives from the same Sprint store where he bought the phone. Article