HTC Titan II coming to AT&T on April 8
HTC's flagship Windows Phone, the HTC Titan II, will launch on the AT&T network on April 8, the carrier has revealed.
The LTE-enabled sequel will cost $199 on a two-year contract with AT&T.
Although that seems a pretty standard subsidised price point, it's still twice as much as the Nokia Lumia 900 device, which goes on sale on the very same day.
Nokia is aggressively pushing its top Windows Phone handset, so HTC faces a fight to encourage customers to spend an extra $100.
The same, but different...
The HTC Titan II is very similar to its predecessor, inside and out. It has the same 4.7-inch LCD screen, but does bring the traditional HTC 'chin' design into play.The other key difference is the inclusion of a giant 16-megapixel camera sensor, which is the largest on any Windows Phone to date.
There's also a re-imagined camera interface, a backlit illuminated sensor and a low-light friendly aperture setting of F2.8, meaning the dual-flash camera should produce some better shots.
The device boasts a 1.5GHz chip (no dual core or quad core action here), 16GB of internal storage as featured on the original Titan.
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In Depth: Canon mirrorless camera rumours: what you need to know
Canon mirrorless camera rumours
Rumours have been circulating about an impending Canon compact system camera for almost as long as we can remember, but as of yet Canon is still to enter the market.With every other manufacturer already producing mirrorless models, surely it can't be long until the number one imaging brand follows suit?
But with a myriad of options currently out there, how will Canon stand apart from its rivals? We take a look at all the latest Canon mirrorless rumours.
Canon mirrorless camera specs
Canon's major rival in the market, Nikon, has gone with a smaller sensor than most of the other manufacturers, and is marketing it as an 'entry level' model.Conversely, Fuji has gone for an APS-C sensor that is in some ways capable of beating full-frame sensors such as those found in the 5D Mark II.
Therefore, one way for Canon to really stand out in the market would be to introduce a full-frame sensor, taking on the might of the Leica M9.
A designer (not affiliated with Canon) has mocked up his impressions of a Canon mirrorless model, housing the 18 million pixel sensor from the Canon 1DX.
However, this seems to fly in the face of a recently discovered Canon patent, which apparently showed a new lens designed to work with a mirrorless APS-C body.
Canon mirrorless camera release date
With Canon it really is a waiting game, so any dates that may have been touted should be taken with a pinch of salt.However, recent reports suggest that August will finally see the arrival of a camera, which would mean it would tie-in nicely with the Photokina photography show taking place in September.
August has been a big month for photography announcements for several manufacturers in the past, including Sony and Nikon.
Canon mirrorless camera price
Predicting the price of an unknown camera such as this is nigh-on impossible, but we can look to the pricing structure of similar products on the market.If the camera decides to target the advanced enthusiast/pro end of the market by fitting in a larger sensor, it's likely that the camera would retail somewhere in the region of £1000-£1500, keeping it in line with the likes of the Olympus OM-D, Sony NEX-7 and Fuji X Pro1.
However, if it decides to go down the other route and position the camera as a "step-up" offering, it's more likely to sit around the £500-£800 mark, especially when it's new.
We will bring you more news and updates as they arrive.
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Updated: Game begins closing stores
Update: Game has begun closing stores as it enters administration, and has announced that it can no longer offer refunds, exchanges or redeem reward points and gift cards.
It is estimated that 277 stores will be closed immediately with some shutting their doors today - MCV has a comprehensive user-generated list of shops that have already ceased trading - and around 2119 people are set to lose their jobs across the company.
Online sales may be affected by the events over the next few days (the website is down at time of writing) and the Group has taken to Facebook to confirm that refunds, exchanges, Reward Card points and gift cards can no longer be accepted.
Unsurprisingly, Game will not be accepting pre-owned software or hardware "at this time".
Original report: The latest reports suggest that Game has been unable to find a buyer to stop it going into administration.
This means that 6,000 jobs are now in question, with Sky News reporting that the administrator will soon announce which of Game's 600 high street shops will be closed.
However, PwC, the company sorting the whole procedure out, is expected to ensure that all staff are paid any wages owed at the end of the month, reported to total around £12 million (about $19 million).
A new hope
There are still some potential buyers eyeing Game with interest, although a last minute bid failed to materialise.However, an American games retailer called Gamestop, a group of businesses including the Royal Bank of Scotland and OpCapita, which owns Comet, are all still reportedly sniffing around.
Buyers' interest may be piqued by a slimmed-down operation after the store closures are announced.
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Developers 'excited but full of fear' over next-gen consoles
Doublesix CEO James Brooksby has admitted that many games developers are feeling both excited and scared about the arrival of the new Xbox and the PS4.
Brooksby's doublesix has enjoyed success with games such as Geometry Wars: Galaxies and Burn Zombie Burn but the forthcoming arrival of new hardware is a double-edged sword for developers.
"[The industry] is full of excitement and fear in equal measures," said Brooksby at a Westminster eForum. "The step to the next generation of classical consoles brings more fear in a lot of people's eyes.
"The step up may not be as costly as the previous arrivals [Xbox 360 and PS3] but it's still pretty scary to devs and publishers alike.
"I think that people are likely to stick to the proven dev houses for the next generation and that is likely to be a challenge to the UK games industry."
PC, smartphone and tablet
Brooksby believes that small independent developers may well enjoy more success on non-console platforms such as the burgeoning tablet and phone market and the old warhorse that is PC."Gamers are almost spoilt for choice and many people will be having a real discussion around their strategies and thinking of new strategies for 2012 and 2013," he added.
"Gamers are moving around all over the place because they have so many options and we need to look hard at where our audience has gone and make games that are appropriate for them.
"Small developers making innovative games on console may become the exception to the rule – but we'll see more of those kinds of stories on tablets, smartphones and the trusty old PC."
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News in Brief: One More Thing: Pirate Bay links banned from Messenger
If there's one thing that can make you seem like a hip young internet brand, it's blocking links. If there's another, it's painting a giant QR code on your roof.
Congratulations, Windows Live and Facebook. Even the Church of England is cooler than you right now, and it's using Twitter to divine who the next Archbishop of Canterbury should be.
Avast! – Windows Live Messenger is now blocking all links to The Pirate Bay. So when you think you're sending helpful links to your friendly local pirate, you're actually sending them the message, "The link you tried to send was blocked because it was reported as unsafe." Unsafe? Like our freedom of speech? We be concerned, maties. [Slashgear]
Pulse. Finger. On it. – Facebook has put a 42-foot QR code on the roof of its Californian HQ. And where does it take you? Not to "a Clarissa Explains It All Geocities page" or a Rickroll for online maps, but to Facebook's QR code page intended to host games and puzzles. Gosh. They're so fun over at Facebook, aren't they! Obligatory. [TechCrunch]
Image credit: TechCrunchAre you there God? It's me, Twitter - God's a bit busy so the Church of England is turning to Twitter for help in choosing a new Archbishop of Canterbury. Tweet @c_of_e with your views on the diocese of Canterbury, if you have any. [Telegraph]
Are you there Kraken? It's me, James Cameron – Taking a break from his busy schedule of foisting 3D on the world,James Cameron has been to the deepest depths of the world's oceans – seven miles down, to be exact – in his secret submarine craft. And what did he do when he got to the ocean floor in his "vertical torpedo"? Tweeted about it, of course. "Hitting bottom never felt so good," he said. All right Jim, time and a place. [Twitter]
Literally magical – Seven iPads. Two magicians. Actual magic. Or just really good timing and… some kind of magnet? Related: we're moving to Stockholm. [TNW]
Health and safety – We've all been there. You're down at the Apple store happily perusing the iPads and checking Facebook on MacBooks that you can't really afford when BAM! Glass wall. 83-year-old Evelyn Paswall did just that and broke her nose, so she's suing Apple to the tune of $1 million for negligence. By our reckoning, that's a couple of grand for the pain and $998,000 for the embarrassment. [The New York Post]
Photography +1 – A bunch of photographers have created the Plus One Collection, a book collecting together 193 photographs originally submitted and chosen through Google+. It must be quite good because they've already sold over $10,000 (around £6300) worth of copies. Or all of their mums have bought one. [Google+]
Monty's apps – We're living in the future here, people. Mr Burns has an iPad and he's got apps on it and everything. Excellent. Disappointing to see that there's not some kind of GPS Bobo tracker although we do like the sound of Google Naps… [Gizmodo]
Reach for the Skype – Skype for iPad now supports Retina Display, handy for those of you who snapped up a new iPad and shun Apple's proprietary FaceTime app. You might want to put some makeup on before using it though. Even you, fellas. [iTunes]
Living the stream – Streaming movies will overtake disc-based viewing in the US this year, says IHS Screen Digest – legal ones, even! [Bloomberg]
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Samsung 'still testing' Galaxy S2 Ice Cream Sandwich update
Samsung UK has posted that the long awaited upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich for the Galaxy S2 is still not ready.
Samsung Galaxy S2 owners are starting to lose their cool as they continue to wait for Android 4.0 to hit their handsets – and it looks like the waiting isn't over yet.
Samsung UK posted on its Facebook wall: "Samsung UK is working hard to bring Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) to our Galaxy S II customers.
"We are unable to confirm exact dates as the software testing and approval process is subject to several variables, but we are working as quickly as we can. Thank you for your patience."
Why are we waiting?
This is somewhat of a surprise as we heard that Samsung would start rolling out the update to UK carriers from the 19 March, with customers who purchased an unlocked Galaxy S2 being able to download the update from that date.This was followed by Three confirming it had started to rollout the Ice Cream Sandwich update to its Galaxy S2 customers on the 20 March.
All very peculiar stuff from Samsung, and it leaves us wondering when we will actually see the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Galaxy S2.
O2 claims that it will have the update ready for its customers by the end of the month, but with this latest news from Samsung, could it be subject to change?
TechRadar has contacted Samsung and O2 to try and find out what it going on. We'll update this article once we've heard back.
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Updated: Is the Samsung Galaxy S3 launching on March 30?
The Samsung Galaxy S3 could be in-line for a surprise launch this week, depending on the conclusions you draw from a cryptic paint-job adorning London's flagship Phones 4U store.
The Oxford Street branch of the high street retailer has refreshed its external appearance with an advertisement boasting the Samsung logo and the words "Coming 30/3/2012."
Of course, we'd all love to believe that that all this hoopla means the long-awaited S3 is finally here. What else could the store be making such a big fuss about?
Earlier than expected
The handset was initially slated for a launch at MWC in February, but Samsung pushed that back. The last we heard it was due for April or May, so a March 30 launch would be earlier than expected.On top of that, there are few already-announced products that would justify a redecoration of the store front.
New Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Note devices are in the pipeline, but this suggests something bigger.
Another Phones 4U exclusive?
The Samsung Galaxy S3 is comfortably the most in-demand Android smartphone of the moment, following on from the success of the ground-breaking five star-rated Galaxy S2.Rumours suggest that the third iteration will boast a faster Samsung-made processor, a 12-megapixel camera, more RAM, internal storage and a stunning 7mm thin form-factor.
Phones 4U secured exclusivity for the Android 4.0 Samsung Galaxy Nexus so it's not out of the realms of possibility that it has scooped another big-hitter.
Will this Friday really see the launch of the Galaxy S3? If we were gambling folk, we wouldn't stake the family farm on it, but it could be a decent each way bet. We'll keep you posted.
Update: TechRadar has spoken to Phones4U, who were unable to provide any further information at this time. We'll try again later in the week to see if we can find out what all the fuss is about.
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Best tripod head: 8 tested
Tripod heads explained
So you've chosen the best tripod to mount your DSLR on, but which tripod head should you buy to go with it? Come to think about it, what kind of tripod head is even best for you? This handy guide explains the different options, to help you decide which tripod head suits your needs best.The most classic, conventional photographic head is a three-way head. In the vast majority of cases, these have separate locking mechanisms for pan, tilt and swivel. A simpler variation is a two-way head, which lacks a swivel facility, but this is only really used for video cameras, where you won't need to shoot in portrait orientation.
With three-way tripod heads, you'll often get three locking levers that extend from the head, although another common configuration is to have just two levers and a thumbscrew for locking off the swivel adjustment.
Even so, extending levers are a pain when you're carrying the tripod around, so the usual fix is to unscrew one lever completely and screw it into the other, angling them both downwards so they lie against the folded tripod.
A ball head is the main alternative to a three-way head. Based on a ball-and-socket design, these typically use a single locking screw, which tightens to clamp the head in all directions of adjustment.
Some examples feature an additional friction adjustment, so the head isn't too floppy when you release the clamping screw. This is particularly useful when you're using big, heavy lenses.
Another feature available in some ball heads is a separate pan-only lock. This is neat if you're taking a sequence of shots to stitch into a panorama, because you can keep tilt and swivel movements locked off and only allow panning adjustments.
The third type of head is the so-called pistol or joystick variety. This is really a variation on standard ball heads, since it still uses a ball-and-socket clamping action.
The difference is that, instead of loosening and tightening a clamping screw, you simply squeeze a trigger to enable adjustment of the head, and then release the trigger again for a spring-loaded clamping action.
Ultimately, three-way heads are best when you need to make very small and precise adjustments - in architectural or macro shooting, for example. Ball heads and pistol-grip heads are ideal for general photography, because you can make wide-ranging adjustments in any direction extremely quickly and easily.
Tripod heads compared
Now you know what the different types of tripod head are, here are some of the models currently available, in price order from cheapest to most expensive.Giottos MH5001 three-way head - £45/$70
Good for extremely precise adjustments, there's hardly any sag in this three-way head after positioning the camera and locking it off. Dual bubble levels at the base and on the camera plate enable easy levelling of tripod and camera. It's chunky and lives up to its 6kg max load rating.4/5
Manfrotto 804RC2 three-way head - £55/$69
Neat calibrated markings for the angles of pan, tilt and swivel complement the chunky lever locks. The max load rating is only 4kg, but it's still a robust piece of kit. A bubble level on the camera platform is handy, but adjustments are a bit jerky unless you unscrew the locks.3/5
Manfrotto 496RC2 ball head - £55/ $80
Adding an adjustable friction damper to the previous incarnation of this head reduces what used to be very pronounced sag after adjustment to a minimum. There's no independent panning lock, but the 6kg-rated head punches above its weight, with excellent stability.4/5
Benro BH2-M ball head (BRBH2) - £60 (about $95)
Sturdy, and with an 8kg load rating, the BH2-M has a neat scissor-action on its quick-release plate lock and a bubble level. However, it lacks an adjustable friction damper or pan-only lock. The rubber strips on the quick-release plate are spongy, which impairs the overall stability.2/5
Vanguard SBH-100 ball head - £70/$79
With a 10kg load rating, this head features a pan-only lock and two spirit levels on the camera platform, but no adjustable friction damper. Sagging can be an issue after clamping the head in position, especially with heavy lenses. Annoyingly, there's no D-ring on the quick-release fastener.3/5
Giottos MH1311-652 ball head - £70 (about $111)
With a full set of locking screws, adjustable friction damper and pan-only lock, this is a full-featured ball head with a hefty 10kg load rating. Dual spirit levels on the camera plate aid levelling and, with correct adjustment of the friction damper, any sag after clamping is minimal.4/5
Manfrotto 324RC2 grip ball head - £85/$112
This head is suitable for loads up to 3.5kg. The bubble level is handy, but there's sag after releasing the spring-loaded clamp. Stability is lacking in portrait mode, unless you remove the quick-release plate from the camera, reverse its orientation, then use the grip left-handed.3/5
Vanguard GH-100 pistol grip ball head - £120/ $99
Although rated at 6kg, this head failed to give a firm hold when clamped, even with its friction/locking-pressure adjuster screwed to maximum. You must remove the plate and refit it in different orientations to shoot upwards, or in portrait mode, which makes the head clunky to use.2/5
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The new look TechRadar is here
TechRadar's new look has finally gone live, bringing a cleaner and more modern feel to Britain's favourite technology site and making it easier for you to find the news, features and reviews that you love.
Although we'll forever reminisce about the news grid, we decided that the time had come to be a little more linear in the way that we do things – making it easier to find out what's happened and when.
You'll also notice that the front page loads faster and that the whole site is bedecked with big, beautiful widescreen images.
Video star
Video will now be significantly bigger in the page and a lot nicer to watch. There's even a video homepage where you can flick through all of our best video content. You can read more about the redesign here.Although things may look different we'll still be bringing you the most authoritative reviews, the latest and greatest tech news and the hardest-hitting features by some of Britain's most important technology voices.
So, welcome to the new look TechRadar. We hope you'll enjoy the cleaner, brighter and more visual site and we'd love your feedback – good and bad – so we can carry on improving for years to come.
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Updated: Best tripods and camera supports: 15 tested
Tripods and camera supports explained
With many of the latest cameras and lenses boasting excellent image quality at high ISO (sensitivity) settings, along with state of the art image stabilisation, it's easy to think that the photographer's three-legged friend is going the way of the dinosaur. And yet, a good tripod is just as essential as ever.For long exposures that capture movement - when shooting waterfalls, or for evening shots when the sun's gone down - a sturdy tripod is a must.
Even in broad daylight, a tripod not only minimises the risk of camera shake, but also helps you to fine-tune a composition with precise camera adjustments.
On top of that, a tripod enables you to keep the camera firmly in place through a sequence of shots - ideal for time-lapse photography, say, or for creating composite images from multiple, exposure-bracketed photos.
Alternatively, you can keep the camera on the level and pan by precise increments to create a sequence of images that you can stitch into a panorama.
A tripod is also great for macro shots, where even the smallest movement of the camera is likely to cause blurring from focus errors as well as camera-shake. And when you're in tourist mode, a tripod and self-timer combo will help you get yourself into the frame. The possibilities are almost endless.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that a tripod is just three legs with a head on top.
Like most things photographic, however, there's been plenty of revolution and evolution over the last few years. All the models in this test group feature multi-angle legs. This enables you to swing the legs out to alternative angles away from the centre column, which is great for shooting on very uneven terrain, or for reducing the overall height of the tripod for low-level shooting.
Another new trick featured by five of the tripods on test here is a pivoting centre column, which can extend as a horizontal boom. This is a big bonus for macro photography, as well as for shooting with ultra-wide-angle lenses, as it reduces the risk of a tripod footappearing in the bottom of your picture.
The most common construction material is aluminium - or rather aluminium alloy, since there's generally some magnesium or titanium mixed in.
The other main choice is carbon fibre, although this tends to be more expensive. The main advantage is that, for any given size, carbon tripods are likely to be about 25 per cent lighter than comparable aluminium models. Both should be fairly rugged, but there's a danger that carbon fibre will shatter if it gets a sharp knock.
For general use, the main considerations are ultimately how much stability the tripod offers, and the trade-off between maximum load capacity and carrying weight.
Similarly, there's a balance to be struck between the maximum height when the tripod is fully extended, and its carrying length. All the tripods in this group have three sections to each leg, apart from the Hama Omega Carbon II, which has four.
Extra sections enable the tripod to fold down smaller, but stability can be impaired. Not only is each additional joint a potential weak point, but the lowest leg sections can end up being very thin and spindly.
Benro A297EX
Benro A297EX - £105/$150
From Benro's FlexPod series of tripods, the aluminium A297EX is impeccably finished and presented in a smart and stylish padded carrying bag, complete with handle and shoulder strap.Thankfully, the FlexPod tag doesn't refer to undue flexing in the Benro A297EX, but hints at flexibility in use. This stems from features that include multi-angle legs and a 180-degree pivoting centre column.
Despite it weighing just 2kg, the tripod's maximum load rating is a generous 10kg, which easily accommodates a hefty DSLR and large lens combination. Little extras include a bubble level on the tripod shoulder for easy levelling on uneven terrain, and a hook fitted to the bottom of the centre column to hang a stabilising weight off.
The Benro A297EX's three leg sections mostly extend under their own weight when the clip locks are released, but sometimes need just a little encouragement. They lock in place very firmly, as do the clamps for adjusting the tripod's centre column. These include a regular height extension clamp, as well as one for altering the angle of the column in pivot mode.
A further locking screw enables lateral rotation of the centre column through 360-degrees when you're using it in pivot mode.
Resistance to flexing is very good, keeping movement to a minimum, and the pivot facility, which can be fiddly in some designs, is straightforward, quick and easy to use.
Read the full Benro FlexPod A297EX review
Benro FlexPod C297EX
Benro FlexPod C297EX - £235/$500
Proving you often have to pay a hefty premium for carbon fibre, the Benro FlexPod C297EX costs more than twice the price of Benro's aluminium alternative, yet has an almost identical design.The shoulder is the same as on the Benro A297EX, which is no bad thing because it includes the quick and easy leg angle adjustment mechanisms and a pivoting centre column facility. The clip locks for the three leg sections are also the same, so the extra price is justified purely by the carbon build of the legs themselves.
Compared with the aluminium Benro, this carbon tripod is about 25 per cent lighter, at 1.6kg instead of 2kg. And the maximum load capacity increases from 10kg to a class-leading 12kg.
However, the maximum operating height with the centre column fully extended reduces from the aluminium model's 175cm to 170cm, so it's about two inches shorter.
The Benro C297EX's spiral-patterned carbon fibre leg sections extend and contract smoothly and are held in place firmly by the clip locks. There's little protection when carrying the tripod around, however, because only one of the upper sections is padded, and only for less than half its length. At least the padded carrying bag should absorb knocks.
Stability is on a par with the aluminium Benro so, despite its extra load capacity and its 400g weight saving, it's hard to justify the extra £130 asking price.
Giottos MTL9251B
Giottos MTL9251B - £85/$128
A little on the small side compared with the bigger Giottos tripods, the Giottos MTL9251B stretches to a modest maximum height of 161cm with the centre column fully extended.The leg sections are also thin, which at least makes the carrying weight quite light at just 1.5kg (100g less than the Benro C297EX). This also has an impact on load capacity, however, which is a distinctly average 5kg.
There's no pivot facility for the centre column, but at least it's easy to invert the column, which comes with a rotating ring on its base to avoid accidental removal. Overall build quality is high, as expected with Giottos, and the tripod comes with a tool pouch for making any necessary adjustments to the tension of locks and adjusters over time.
The Giottos MTL9251B is reasonably firm, and flexing is quite restrained given the thin leg sections. But, as is typically the case with thinner legs, they catch a bit when telescoping and lack smoothness when sliding in and out.
The simple push-pull mechanisms for selecting any of the three adjustable leg angles work well, and the rotary clamp for locking the centre column is equally simple and effective. A bubble level on the tripod collar aids levelling.
Even so, unless you need to travel light, the bigger Giottos MTL9361B offers much better value for money.
Giottos MTL9361B
Giottos MTL9361B - £100 (about $160)
Standing tall at up to 174cm (without a tripod head), the Giottos MTL9361B is 9cm loftier than the cheaper Giottos tripods. Despite only costing £15 more, it has a much beefier maximum load capacity of 8kg too, thanks to sturdier legs.It also features a pivoting centre column facility (entirely lacking on the cheaper Giottos MTL9251B), which offers a full range of 180 degrees vertically and 360 degrees horizontally.
The pivoting system is simple to use but, uniquely in this group, it gives you an extra option for low-level shooting. The tripod comes with a low-angle adaptor, which replaces the centre column altogether, so you can splay the multi-angle legs without worrying about fouling the centre column on anything.
The Giottos MTL9361B's chunky legs are stable at all operating heights, with minimal flexing, and they also extend and contract smoothly.
The multi-angle leg mechanisms and centre column's pivoting system are similar to those used on the Benro FlexPod A297EX and Benro FlexPod C297EX, except that the Giottos features a more purposeful, circular locking ring for horizontal rotation in pivot mode, instead of a locking screw. Adjustments are intuitive, quick in use and firm when locked off.
This tripod is a star performer with great versatility. It's unbeatable value for money, and a cut-price kit is available, which includes the MH5001 head.
Read the full Giottos MTL9361B review
Giottos MTL8271B
Giottos MTL8271B - £290 (about $460)
This carbon fibre giant is the tallest tripod on test, and also the most expensive. The Giottos MTL8271B's maximum height of 185cm (without head) is all the more remarkable when you take into account the short centre column.Shorter centre columns can add stability, at the expense of the collapsed length if the legs are made longer to compensate. It's a sizable 72cm in this case.
Being carbon fibre, the tripod is fairly light at 1.9kg, which is some 300g less than the smaller Giottos MTL9461B. Maximum load capacity is increased from 8kg to 10kg. Less impressively, this carbon model lacks a pivoting centre column or low-angle shooting adaptor, despite being almost three times the price of the mid-range Giottos MTL9361B.
The clip locks for the chunky carbon leg sections lock very securely but, because the legs are so long, there's noticeable flexing as you approach the tallest operating heights. Extending and collapsing the legs is also quite a performance, and there's no silky gliding to enjoy. Instead, telescoping is a somewhat stiff and jerky affair, which is disappointing, considering the tripod's steep asking price.
Unless you really need the extra height (about 15cm, or 6 inches), this carbon fibre tripod offers pretty poor value compared with many of the aluminium models in the group.
Hama Omega Carbon II
Hama Omega Carbon II - £195
For a full-sized carbon fibre tripod, the Hama Omega Carbon II looks great value as a set of legs. Better still, the price includes a head - a sturdy ball head that equals the 4kg maximum load rating of the legs. It also features an additional, adjustable friction damper and pan-only lock.The maximum operating height of 174cm is pretty respectable, although this does include the additional height of the head.
Potentially more of a problem, the maximum height is achieved by extending four sections in each leg, rather than the usual three. As a result, the bottom sections are quite thin and flimsy and, when you need to extend them, the whole tripod becomes a bit flexible.
On the plus side, the extra leg sections enable the tripod to fold down quite small for carrying, to 69cm including the head.
Using just the three fatter, upper sections of each leg, the Hama Omega Carbon II is reasonably solid, and stability is only compromised when all sections are extended. Telescoping the legs is a bit stiff and jerky, but smoother than with the carbon fibre Giottos MTL8271B.
The multi-angle facility for each leg works in the same way as on the Benro and Giottos tripods - simply and effectively. There's no pivot facility and the various clamps and other adjustments are adequate, not impressive, in terms of build quality.
Read the full Hama Omega Carbon II review
Manfrotto MT294A3
Manfrotto MT294A3 - £95/$120
The larger and heavier model from the new Manfrotto 290 series, the MT294A3 is nevertheless quite travel-friendly. It's 60cm long when collapsed, and lightweight at 1.9kg.That's still a little heavier than the similarly sized Giottos MTL9251B, which also has a maximum load capacity of 5kg. The Manfrotto MT294A3 extends a little higher, to 169cm, as opposed to the Giottos' moderate 161cm.
There's no pivoting centre column, and the Manfrotto MT294A3 is altogether quite basic, lacking a weight hook at the bottom of the centre column and the almost ubiquitous bubble level on the shoulder.
Even the multi-angle leg mechanism only enables two angles, where most tripods offer three.
On the plus side, the newly designed angle selection lever is clever, requiring just a quick flick of a thumb from one side to the other. It's faster than the push-pull arrangement on the Benro, Giottos, Hama and Slik tripods we tested here.
Typical of Manfrottos, the leg sections drop out in freefall when the clips are released, so don't need any coaxing. This makes the legs easy to extend one-handed, but the flip side is that a little extra care is needed when collapsing the tripod, due to the looseness of the sections.
The Manfrotto MT294A3's stability is pretty average for a lightweight tripod - about the same as the Giottos MTL9251B.
Manfrotto 055XPROB
Manfrotto 055XPROB - £110/$170
Costing a little more than Manfrotto's newer MT294A3, the venerable and sophisticated Manfrotto 055XPROB has more to offer.A weightier and more substantial proposition, this tripod feels a lot more rugged, has a greater maximum load capacity of 7kg and extends 10cm higher to 179cm.
Additional features lacking on the more basic 290-series Manfrotto include a pivoting centre column, a bubble level and adjustable leg angles with four, rather than just two, positions.
There's still no weight hook on the bottom of the centre column, but the one built into the shoulder serves equally well.
Sturdiness and stability are very good, equalling the likes of the aluminium and carbon versions of the Benro 297EX, and the Giottos MTL9361B.
Like the cheaper Manfrotto, the Manfrotto 055XPROB's legs drop out on their own without any encouragement, once the clips are released, so there's no need for wrestling when you're extending or contracting the legs.
The push-button mechanism for selecting different leg angles is very quick and easy to use, as is the pivot system for the centre column.
The only drawback with the latter is that you can only use it in vertical or horizontal mode, so it lacks versatility compared with pivoting systems on other tripods, which enable 180-degree rotation in small increments.
Read the full Manfrotto 055XPROB review
Slik Pro 500DX
Slik Pro 500DX - £120/$127
Slik proudly proclaims that the Slik Pro 500DX's aluminium magnesium titanium (AMT) construction offers a 40% increase in strength-to-weight ratio, compared with basic aluminium.That's not much to shout about though, since other tripods of the same weight have a higher maximum operating height and a greater load rating. Indeed, at 167cm, including the supplied three-way head, the Slik is a bit short, and the 4.5kg load rating is unimpressive.
There are three leg angles, but in other respects the Slik Pro 500DX is quite basic. There's no pivoting centre column, bubble level or weight hook, but the comfort padding on all three legs is generous. The head feels a bit flimsy compared with those we're reviewing separately.
You can remove and replace it, but the platform at the top of the centre column is small compared with most tripods, and has a similarly small 1/4-inch rather than 3/8-inch mounting stud, without any extra grub screws.
The Slik Pro 500DX is pretty solid even at its maximum operating height, with the centre column fully extended. The centre column itself is in two sections, so you can unscrew the lower part for easier low-level shooting without the need to invert the whole column.
Overall, it's a good performer, but is outclassed by most of the competition.
Read the full Slik Pro 500DX review
Vanguard Alta+ 203AP
Vanguard Alta+ 203AP - £85/$100
Only slightly larger and heavier than mini 'travel tripods', the Vanguard Alta+ 203AP weighs in at just 1.4kg, complete with the supplied three-way head, and collapses down to 57cm. It certainly gets around the problem of leaving your tripod at home because it's too big and heavy, and not having it with you when you really need it.Despite the lightweight build, there are some nice design touches. The downsized three-way head is firm and solid, and attached to its mounting platform with the addition of three grub screws for solidity.
Simple, push-button locks enable three alternative leg angles, there's a removable weight hook to enhance stability and the centre column can be easily inverted for ultra-low-level shooting.
The addition of a bubble level on the camera platform, just behind the quick-release plate, makes it easy to level the camera itself.
The lightweight build impacts on the maximum load rating, which is a mere 2kg. Even so, and despite the spindly legs, stability isn't too bad. It can't match the big boys in the group, but it's still adequate for a DSLR with a standard zoom lens or budget telephoto.
For thin legs, the ease of extending and contracting each section is also very good. If carrying weight is a big issue, the little Vanguard Alta+ 203AP eases the load.
Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT
Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT - £125/$150
A big step up from the smaller Vanguard Alta+ 203AP, the Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT is a full-sized tripod and, despite only weighing an extra 600g, has a much greater 7kg maximum load rating.It's also packed with advanced features. A similar push-button mechanism enables easy selection of three leg angles, and the legs themselves are a lot chunkier and more heavy-duty.
Like the Benro FlexPod A297EX, Benro FlexPod C297EX and the Giottos MTL9361B, a simple yet easily operated pivot system gives you the option to swing the centre column through 180 degrees in the vertical plane, in small increments, as well as rotating 360 degrees horizontally.
A sprung weight hook in the bottom of the centre column retracts when you don't need to use it, and a bubble level on the platform aids set up on uneven ground. Tools are provided for fitting and removing tripod heads, as well as for making adjustments to the clamps and fasteners.
The leg sections are a little on the stiff side, and don't extend merely by the power of gravity like they do on most Manfrotto tripods. However, their action is clean and smooth, without any jerkiness or annoying sticking points.
Sturdiness is equal to the best-performing tripods on test, but the asking price is higher than the similarly proficient Benro A297EX and Giottos MTL9361B, so it's not quite such good value for money.
Velbon Sherpa 600R
Velbon Sherpa 600R - £95/$140
Like the Slik Pro 500DX, the Velbon Sherpa 600R comes with a three-way head, but the complete kit is 400g lighter, at just 2.1kg. The maximum load capacity also drops from the Slik's 4.5kg to 4kg.The three-way head is unusually quick to adjust, because it has only one locking lever that clamps both pan and tilt. Just one separate lock is fitted for switching from landscape to portrait orientation.
To continue the Slik comparison, the Velbon head supplied isn't sufficiently impressive that it's something you'd buy separately. And if you remove it and replace it, the centre column's platform is rather on the small side.
Other features of the Velbon Sherpa 600R include three-position multi-angle legs and, while the selection mechanism looks quite cumbersome, it's quite speedy in use and works effectively. You can also split the centre column for low-level shooting, although there's no pivot facility so you can't extend it as a horizontal boom.
As with the Manfrotto tripods we tested, the leg sections drop out under gravity when you release the clip locks. Pushing them back in is a similarly free-gliding process.
The legs aren't that resistant to flexing, especially at maximum extension, so overall stability is acceptable rather than impressive. Overall, the Velbon Sherpa 600R lags behind the best tripods in the group.
Read the full Velbon Sherpa 600R review
Other camera supports
Joby Gorillapod SLR - £25/$34
Each of this tripod's legs consists of a series of flexible joints ending in a rubber foot, so you can wrap it around anything from branches to railings. The 'SLR' version comes with a mini ball head and built-in spirit level, but the maximum load of 800g is only suitable for lightweight SLRs.
SteadePod - £25/$25
After screwing the business end of the SteadePod into your camera's tripod socket, you pull out a length of spring-loaded cable and lock it off. The cable has a flat plate at its end, which you stand on, pulling up on the camera so the taut cable keeps it steady. It's a neat idea that works well.
Tamrac ZipShot - £40/$50
Adjusting leg clamps can be a chore, but the ZipShot has none at all. Just release two short cords and the legs spring out and lock in seconds, although collapsing the tripod takes longer. However, while the tripod weighs just 312g, it also feels flimsy. We would worry about loading it to its maximum 1.35kg capacity.
Verdict: Best tripod
The £100 (around $160) Giottos MTL9361B offers proof that you don't need to spend top dollar to get great kit. While light enough for easy carrying, it's also robust and has excellent stability, even at its maximum height with the centre column extended.
Advanced features work well, including a pivot system that enables the centre column to swing through 180 degrees vertically and 360 degrees horizontally, multi-angle legs and a low-angle shooting adaptor. It's rugged, versatile and really easy to use.
For advanced features and all-round build quality, the Benro FlexPod A297EX and Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT come very close to the Giottos, and the Manfrotto 055XPROB isn't far behind.
The Slik Pro 500DX and Velbon Sherpa 600R are quite dated tripods in terms of features, and the supplied heads are unimpressive.
The carbon fibre tripods are relatively poor value for money.
Overall, the Giottos MTL9361B wins. It offers a perfect blend of sturdiness and well-implemented features, at a great price.
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Exclusive: Fuji 'considering' more affordable CSC
Fuji has said that it will look at all areas of the compact system camera market, and is investigating the idea of a more affordable camera than the X Pro1, which retails for £1500 body only.
Speaking to TechRadar, Adrian Clarke, Fujifilm's senior vice president for Imaging said, "You need to maximise your investment on developing the standard, so we need to look carefully at each marketplace and work out if we can offer something better and different to users."
Clarke said that the marketplace was clearly defined into three separate areas: step-up cameras, which includes products such as the Nikon J1; enthusiast cameras, which includes models such as the Panasonic G3 and the advanced enthusiast or pro space, which is where its current X Pro1 sits, alongside other models including the Sony NEX-7 and the Olympus OM-D.
System
"We'll be looking at each segment in detail and deciding what to do, we'll be looking at expanding the system, not only to pros but also to marked amateurs, so that will be our direction and absolutely we'll be adding new cameras to the range."Previously, Clarke said that introducing a CSC with a large, full-frame sensor, as seen on the Leica M9 was also an option, but argued that would be an incredibly niche market.
Panasonic, which introduced mirrorless cameras into the UK back in 2008, is the big player in the CSC market, still retaining its number one position, so it will be interesting to see what happens should Fuji decide to enter its territory.
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Review: ZTE Light Tab 2
To anyone keeping up with the smartphone market, the Chinese manufacturer ZTE won't be entirely unknown. Specialising in affordable handsets, the company has now turned its hand to budget tablets and the result, the ZTE Light Tab 2, isn't a bad offering.
It's solidly constructed and surprisingly zippy. The only problem is the operating system is well out of date and, more importantly, there's no sign of Google Play.
Although this is one of the more pricey budget Android tablets, you get a fair amount for your cash. There's a 1,024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen, while power is provided by a Qualcomm 1.4GHz Snapdragon processor and 512MB of RAM.
Unfortunately though, the ZTE Light Tab 2 is saddled with Google's Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system, rather than the tablet-focused Honeycomb or Ice Cream Sandwich iterations. Gingerbread was released in 2010 and ported to tablets from smartphones, and there's no getting away from the fact it seems dated.
Interestingly, the ZTE Light Tab will allow you to insert a SIM card for 3G and, if you're so inclined, phone calls. Holding it to your ear is a little bit impractical though, given the 202 x 122 x 13mm dimensions.
At 395g the ZTE Light Tab isn't heavy, but the BlackBerry Playbook and Tablo are lighter and therefore easier to use long-term. Some may argue that a little extra weight adds a sense of quality to a gadget, and the ZTE certainly feels strong and well constructed.
There's a fairly thick bezel wrapped around the screen, with touch-sensitive Android buttons for Home, Menu and Back. The rear of the tablet features a matte plastic covering that comes away to reveal the 3,400mAh Li-Ion battery and slots for a SIM and MicroSD card.
With only 4GB of on-board storage, half of which is taken up with the OS and pre-installed apps, you'll want to accessorise the ZTE Light Tab 2 with a MicroSD card if you want to store your media collection.
The ZTE Light Tab 2 handles media well. The smaller size might not be to everyone's taste, but it's perfectly serviceable for small bursts of entertainment. The built-in browser supports Flash playback, so you can visit sites like YouTube and iPlayer and watch embedded video right on the page.
All work, no Play
While that sounds like a good thing, it is in fact masking the biggest drawback of the ZTE Light Tab 2 - the lack of a pre-installed Google Play app store. Of course, if you're a dedicated tech head there are ways around this, but for the vast majority of us, Google Play is a must-have addition. The fact that the ZTE doesn't come with it is a black mark on its record.It comes with lots of pre-installed apps, including some good ones like Documents to Go (an Office app), FM radio, email and several games, but with no option of adding more, this tablet has a limited lifespan.
If you're less keen on apps and are instead looking for a device for watching media and browsing on the move, the ZTE Light Tab is a good choice. The 3G capability and excellent screen are clear standout points, but the lack of Google Play and the outdated OS make it somewhat hard to recommend.
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Updated: Apple iTV rumours: what you need to know
Apple iTV rumours: what you need to know
We love our Apple TV (and the new Full HD Apple TV looks fantastic), but we're not sure Apple does: the firm's more interested in getting iPads into your living room than Apple TVs under your flat screen.Apple says the Apple TV is a hobby, but it turns out Apple is thinking bigger. Much, much bigger: it wants to sell you the entire TV set, not a little box beneath it.
In a 15 February 2012 earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted again at the release of something bigger and better than the current Apple TV (credit CNN Money).
"With Apple TV, however, despite the barriers in [the TV set top box] market, for those of us who use it, we've always thought there was something there. And that if we kept following our intuition and kept pulling the string, then we might find something that was larger.
"For those people that have it right now, the customer satisfaction is off the charts. But we need something that could go more main market for it to be a serious category."
Here's all the rumours and speculation surrounding the next-generation new Apple TV.
Apple iTV design
Forget the current hockey-puck form factor: the rumour mill is unanimous that the next Apple TV will be a proper TV.
The Telegraph says that "sources within the company" say that Jeff Robbin, the man who helped create the iPod, is leading the team.
The latest reports point at a late 2012 Apple iTV release date.
Apple iTV specifications
Engadget predicts an A5 processor and 1080p video - neither of which are a huge surprise, granted.
Australian tech site Smarthouse says that the Apple iTV will come in three sizes, including 32-inch and 55-inch models.
Sources at "a major Japanese company who are involved in manufacturing the TV" reckon the sets will have the same processor as the forthcoming iPad 3, which presumably means an Apple A6.
Smarthouse isn't usually the go-to site for Apple rumours, but its report echoes similar claims by respected Apple analyst Gene Munster, who told the recent Future of Media conference that Apple will make its TV in a range of sizes.
The supply chain for the iTV is set to get going during the first quarter of 2012. That's according to Digitimes on 27 December 2011.
March 2012 rumours pointed at Sharp being the manufacturing partner and that production would start in May. SlashGear says work on components is already under way.
Apple iTV operating system
As with the Apple TV, any iTV is likely to run iOS, albeit in slightly disguised form. Compatibility with other iOS devices is a given: current Apple TVs already accept video streamed via AirPlay and access shared iTunes libraries. We'll be amazed if the iTV doesn't get apps.Apple iTV and iCloud
Steve Jobs told his biographer: "I'd like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use. It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud. It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it."Apple iTV remote control
Munster says the iTV will come with an ordinary remote control, and will be controllable with iPhones, iPod touches and iPads, but the real remote control will be Siri.Apple's voice recognition system will be the heart of the new Apple TV, enabling you to choose channels and control the TV's functions with voice alone. That means " the simplest user interface you could imagine" is voice.
However, according to a new patent filed in March 2012, Apple has come up with the design for an advanced universal remote that would also be compatible with your iPhone and iPad.
Apple iTV AirPlay mirroring
After AirPlay mirroring from Mac to Apple TV was present in the developer preview of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, it's not a great leap to suggest that the Apple iTV could mirror the display of your Mac or iPad wirelessly too. AirPlay mirroring is now 1080p with the new iPad and new Apple TV.Apple iTV programmes
While the iTV will get content from iTunes and iCloud, it's not going to be completely separate from current TV broadcasters: Munster says that you'll still need a cable TV subscription and decoder because Apple doesn't have enough content.We're not sure whether it would play nicely with Freeview and Freeview HD here in the UK, but perhaps a DVB-T compatible unit will arrive as part of a second generation.
As of 6 March 2012, rumours were continually doing the rounds that, as the New York Post reports, Apple is planning to launch a music streaming service this side of Christmas.
On 13 March, Les Moonves, who is CEO at CBS, says he was the recipient of a pitch from Steve Jobs regarding his network's participation in a subscription-based service, but turned him down.
His reasoning? Moonves says he was worried about damaging the network's existing revenue streams through broadcast and cable television.
Apple iTV price
Gene Munster reckons that the iTV will be twice the price of a similarly sized TV. Ouch. However, new March 2012 rumours point at a subsidised launch - courtesy of various partners.Apple iTV picture quality
If the iTV does appear, it won't leave manufacturers quaking in their boots. That's according to Samsung's Chris Moseley who told Pocket-Lint in early February 2012 that the firm isn't overly concerned with what Apple launches if it decides to enter the TV market"We've not seen what they've done but what we can say is that they don't have 10,000 people in R&D in the vision category," he says.
"They don't have the best scaling engine in the world and they don't have world renowned picture quality that has been awarded more than anyone else."
Apple iTV release date
Most rumours predict a 2013 Apple iTV release date, but the more optimistic observers think Apple won't want to miss 2012's Christmas shopping season. The New York Times says that price, not technology, is the problem: Apple is waiting for the cost of large LCD panels to fall further before building iTVs.
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Game fails to find buyer to avoid administration
The latest reports suggest that Game has been unable to find a buyer to stop it going into administration.
This means that 6,000 jobs are now in question, with Sky News reporting that the administrator will soon announce which of Game's 600 high street shops will be closed.
However, PwC, the company sorting the whole procedure out, is expected to ensure that all staff are paid any wages owed at the end of the month, reported to total around £12 million (about $19 million).
A new hope
There are still some potential buyers eyeing Game with interest, although a last minute bid failed to materialise.However, an American games retailer called Gamestop, a group of businesses including the Royal Bank of Scotland and OpCapita, which owns Comet, are all still reportedly sniffing around.
Buyers' interest may be piqued by a slimmed-down operation after the store closures are announced.
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Review: Western Digital My Passport Essential USB 3.0
Western Digital has refreshed its My Passport Essential portable external hard drive for PCs by adding some very welcome USB 3.0 support. The previous version of the My Passport Essential was notable because of its inclusion of pre-installed backup software, which meant users didn't have to buy, install and set up a third-party backup program.
While in 2009 this was a relatively novel approach, these days almost all external hard drives come with proprietary or licenced third-party backup software. Sometimes this software is a good addition, while at other times it can be useless.
The Western Digital My Passport Essential comes with WD SmartWare as the backup software. It can be installed straight from the drive itself, so be careful about formatting it before you use it if you want to make use of the software.
The software is nicely laid out and scans your PC's internal hard drives, dividing the content on them into categories such as 'Documents' and 'Movies', with a handy visual representation of how much space they take up on the drive. Backing up and restoring files on the drive is easy, although there's no option for automatic backups - Windows will have to handle that.
Since the My Passport Essential is an external hard drive with a large capacity and an emphasis on backing up, speed is of huge importance. The aforementioned USB 3.0 interface enables the drive reach sequential read and write speeds on average of 80.57MB/s and 80.5MB/s respectively.
These aren't the fastest USB 3.0 transfers we've seen, probably due in part to the 5,600rpm speed of the enclosed hard drive, but it's a huge improvement on the USB 2.0 of its predecessor, and slightly better than the 5,400rpm of the Mac version, the Western Digital My Passport Studio.
Verdict
Priced at £89.99 in the UK or $129.99 in the US - where a smaller 320GB version is also available for $89.99 - the Western Digital My Passport Essential is definitely a worthy upgrade.
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Exclusive: Nikon: pricing error a 'genuine mistake'
We have been in touch with Nikon UK, who explained more about the pricing error surrounding the Nikon D4 and Nikon D800, which have risen in price by up to £500 due to a "systems error".
Jeremy Gilbert, UK marketing manager said, "What's important is that we are honouring the pricing. There has been an error on the system that got flagged when we started shipping the product, it's a genuine error."
"These things are never easy, it's a genuine mistake which we have to rectify, but we have tried to ensure that we minimise any customer dissatisfaction, and we've been proactive as possible to ensure that pre-orders are met."
Gilbert said that he didn't believe that the D4 price increase to within just £10 of the Canon 1DX would affect future sales, "The price shouldn't detract from how good a product we have, and I don't think it's necessarily going to affect the long term future of the product, it's still a good product."
Global
Nikon was also keen to make clear that the error in pricing was UK only, so it affects only the UK and Irish markets.Some have suggested that this means the cameras can be picked up for (comparatively) cheaper abroad. "There is always a little bit of fluctuation with pricing globally, on all products, but we made a mistake and that's been identified and we had to change that mistake," said Gilbert.
Getting hold of both the D4 and D800 has proven tricky for customers as demand has been so high. "There is some stock pressure, we've had high interest in the product," Gilbert said, "We are getting out to market as much as we possibly can, as quickly as we possibly can, we would ask people to be patient, but interest has been unprecedented, but that's actually got nothing to do with this as an error.
"I want to make it clear that we've made a strong commitment to our customers that have pre-ordered."
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Apple: our nano-SIM patent will be free for all
Apple is looking to topple opponents in the nano-SIM battle, as it announced it would make its patents freely available if its proposal became the industry standard.
The nano-SIM, already in use in the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4, reduces the size of the SIM card, allowing device manufactures to create smaller and thinner products.
In a letter to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), Apple has said if its design is chosen, it would provide "an unequivocal commitment to grant royalty-free licenses to any Apple patents essential to nano-SIM".
Not on our watch
We reported last week that Apple was willing to fight over the nano-SIM technology, with firms such as Nokia arguing that Apple's design is technically flawed and inferior to other options.A number of firms, including Apple, have pitched their nano-SIM plans to ETSI, all hoping that theirs will be chosen as the industry standard.
The various designs will go head to head later this week in France during the Smart Card Platform Plenary meeting, where we will see if Apple's new free-to-use patent offer goes down favourably with its rivals.
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Updated: Amazon Kindle Fire 2 rumours: what you need to know
Amazon Kindle Fire 2 rumours rounded up
The Kindle Fire has been a big success stateside, though it sadly hasn't yet made it to the UK.However, there is plenty of speculation and rumour about what the Kindle Fire 2 could bring to the party - and whether it will be available in the UK.
So we've rounded up all the suggested Kindle Fire 2 specs, release date and more and put together this little piece to share them all with you.
Kindle Fire 2 release date
The Kindle Fire 2 is set to land in spring 2012, according to DigiTimes, which reported that Quanta Computer has already been given the order to start producing the new device.However, on March 8, Digitimes suggested that the second Kindle Fire wouldn't launch until the second half of 2012 - and that there would be more than one version of the tablet.
On March 26, rumours emerged that Taiwanese chassis manufacturer Catcher had received an order from Amazon for a new tablet.
The Kindle Fire 2 screen will be bigger
The Telegraph - and many others - predicts a Kindle Fire 2 vs new iPad summertime tablet fight-fest based entirely on a single post by the not-always-that-accurate DigiTimes, which says that the Kindle Fire 2 will have an 8.9-inch touch screen and will begin manufacturing in the first quarter of 2012.That may well be true, but Digitimes also reports that the Kindle Fire 2 screen will be 9.7 inches, or maybe 10.1 inches. Perhaps the Kindle Fire 2 is made from potatoes and powered by clockwork elves.
Further rumours in early March 2012 suggested that the Amazon Kindle Fire 2 will land in both 8.9-inch and 10-inch flavours.
An analyst writing in February 2012 predicted a 9-inch Amazon Kindle Fire tablet, as well as a refreshed 7-inch model by the middle of 2012.
Chad Bartley of Pacific Crest has increased his Kindle Fire 2012 sales estimate from 12 million units to 14.9 miilion units, partly due to the expected new models.
"We are raising our 2012 sales forecasts to 14.9 million from 12.7 million," he wrote in a note to investors.
"But we believe there is an upward bias, particularly from the new 7 and 9-inch models, which we expect to launch in mid-2012."
The Kindle Fire 2 processor is a quad-core Tegra
That's what Boy Genius Report predicted back in May, anyway: Amazon was "planning on releasing at least two before the end of the year... the big boy? That's codenamed 'Hollywood' and will be based on the Nvidia Tegra 3 which will bring a screaming quad-core processor with a 500% performance increase".That would come in handy, as some reviews have pointed out that the current Fire is a bit slow, but if it's coming there's no way you're getting it for $200. Amazon may be losing money on every Kindle Fire, but there's losing money and there's losing enormous amounts of money.
The Kindle Fire 2 is the real Kindle Fire
Speaking to Gdgt, a "source" claimed that the Kindle Fire 2 is the tablet Amazon really wanted to make, but couldn't get out in time for the pre-Christmas shopping period.The Kindle Fire 2 operating system is Android, sort of
As with the first Fire, the Kindle Fire 2 should run Amazon's own fork of Android, which adds a nifty interface to Google's OS. Expect integration with the Amazon app store and services rather than Android market and Google books.An early March source also claimed that Amazon has reduced its E Ink orders (the fancy screen technology found on Kindle e-readers).
The Kindle Fire 2 display won't be a hybrid
A hybrid e-ink/LCD screen is one for our Kindle Fire 2 wish list, although we don't expect to see it on the next Kindle Fire.The Kindle Fire 2 specifications might include some missing features
There are some obvious omissions from the current Kindle Fire - GPS, a microphone, cameras - but we're not sure the Kindle Fire 2 needs them: if it wants to be an iPad rival then yes, such things are important, but they're not necessarily deal-breakers for sofa surfing.The Kindle Fire 2 name probably won't be Kindle Fire 2
If a launch is imminent, Amazon won't want to annoy existing Kindle Fire customers by suggesting their shiny new tablet is already obsolete. It'll be called something different, such as Kindle Burny. OK, probably not Burny.
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Exclusive: Olympus: OM-D pre-orders 'highest ever'
A spokesperson from Olympus has said that pre-orders for its E-M5, the first in the Olympus OM-D line are the highest they've ever had, for a camera of its kind.
Speaking to TechRadar, Mark Thackara, Olympus UK marketing manager said, "Pre-orders are the highest we've ever had, it's a lot higher than the [PEN] E-P1, and even the biggest pre-order level for many years, which I think shows how people are responding to the camera."
Olympus introduced the OM-D during the Japanese photography trade show, CP+. It features a retro design and inbuilt electronic viewfinder.
It's a new direction for the company, which was one of the first on the market with mirrorless cameras, unveiling the PEN E-P1 back in 2009.
Audience
The OM-D is aimed at advanced enthusiasts, and comes with a price tag of around £1000 body only, or £1200 including the new 12-50mm kit lens.It competes in the market against the Fuji X Pro1 and Sony NEX-7, both of which are also aimed at the advanced/pro end of the consumer.
Scheduled for release in mid-April, UK customers have been tempted by an array of offers which include a free battery grip for all pre-orders.
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Review: ViewSonic VX2336s-LED
The floodgates have opened for cheap IPS technology and the screens keep on flowing. Our latest low-priced IPS candidate is the new ViewSonic VX2336s-LED 23-inch Full HD PC monitor.
The ViewSonic VP2365-LED, too, is one of the brave new low-cost IPS army members, with a UK price of £200 and US price of $349. Costing just £160 in the UK or $198 in the US, however, the ViewSonic VX2336s-LED is even more affordable.
Inevitably though, something has to give.
Most obvious is the loss of a fully adjustable stand. The ViewSonic VX2336s-LED gets a very rudimentary tilt-only affair.
The chassis itself isn't exactly luxurious, either.
Arguably what really matters is how the quality of that Xtreme View IPS LCD panel stacks up.
Is it as gorgeous as the more expensive ViewSonic VP2365-LED? Likewise, how does it compare to the conceptually similar AOC i2352Vh, which packs a cheap IPS panel into a similarly no-frills enclosure?
Let's find out.
It's all about the image quality. That's our number one priority when it comes to PC monitors, so we're willing to forgive all manner of peripheral faux pas if the screen's a corker.
That's especially true in the context of the ViewSonic VX2336s-LED tight £160/$198 pricing.
Granted, the AOC i2352vh is even cheaper, but by historical standards, this is still a startlingly cheap IPS monitor.
So let's start with the good news. The image quality is simply fantastic. The ViewSonic VX2336s-LED is every bit as lovely as its VP2365-LED sibling.
It's got the same fabulous colours, and the same great viewing angles.
Even better, just like the VP2365-LED, it doesn't suffer from some of the traditional downsides we normally associate with IPS panels.
For starters, the anti-glare coating is nice and smooth, not grainy and sparkly. What's more, there's little evidence of that annoying IPS glow.
We're also pleased to note there's none of the edge bleed that blights the otherwise excellent AOC i2352vh.
Overall, then, you're getting pretty much identical image quality to the pricier ViewSonic, just for £40 less.
Of course, what you're probably not getting is genuine 8-bit or 10-bit channel colour.
Many of the latest cheap IPS panels are 6-bit colour per channel. We think that probably applies here. Frankly, unless you're a graphics professional, that's of little consequence.
This is a gorgeous panel.
That said, you will have to live without a fully adjustable chassis. At least there's a 75mm Vesa mount, enabling you to use an aftermarket stand.
You'll also have to make do with just DVI and VGA connectivity. For a PC monitor, we think that's just dandy. But it does mean this monitor isn't ideal for tag teaming with a games console or various other HD set-top boxes.
We liked
Image quality, image quality, image quality. That's what this screen is all about.Thanks to its IPS technology, it really delivers. Just a year ago, screens at this price point were only available with mediocre TN panels. So it's a real pleasure to find such a nice panel at such an affordable price.
We disliked
In an ideal world, we'd prefer 1920 x 1200 pixels and a 16:10 aspect ratio over the ViewSonic VX2336s-LED's 1920 x 1080 pixel grid and 16:9 aspect ratio.We're not fans of the tilt-only stand and the frankly pretty flimsy chassis, either.
Verdict
Despite some minor flaws, the ViewSonic VX2336s-LED is easily the best sub-£200 screen we've seen. IPS image quality has hit the mainstream. Hurrah.
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Amazon Kindle Fire 2 may be nearing production
The upcoming Amazon Kindle Fire 2 tablet may be about to enter production in Taiwan after an order from the online-retailer was leaked.
According to sources in the upstream supply chain, Taiwanese chassis manufacturer Catcher has received an order from Amazon for a new Kindle Fire tablet.
No further details were provided, leaving us in the dark over how many units may have been ordered and what possible specifications Amazon's next tablet will sport.
Double the screens?
It's thought that if the leaked order is real, and there's absolutely no guarantee that it is, then production of the Amazon Kindle Fire 2 could start very soon.We reported at the start of the month that Amazon could be working on two variants of the Kindle Fire 2, a 7-inch model and a 10-inch version to compete with the likes of the new iPad.
The original Kindle Fire sold strongly in the US, mainly thanks to its low price tag, but it has failed to make it to the UK. We expect the Kindle Fire 2 to grace us with its presence here in Britain, as Amazon looks to tackle the global tablet market.
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New Facebook privacy policy will track non-users
Facebook is in the process of updating its user agreement documents, in part to clarify its position on employers demanding job applicants' log in details, but has also added a couple of sneaky additions.
Now known as its Statement of Rights and Obligations, Facebook's new user agreement is still being reviewed but includes a clause that it can store and process data on un-registered users who in any way interact with the site.
Facebook wants "non-users who interact with Facebook" to agree to have their "personal data transferred to and processed in the United States" – but it's not clear how these non-users who haven't signed up to Facebook can possibly give consent to these terms.
For its part, Facebook says that not much has changed:
"Facebook is a social website and so is our platform. Apps need data from friends to develop these social experiences and that is the whole purpose for our platform. If you're not comfortable with that, you can use your app settings to control what friends can share about you, block individual apps, or you can turn off the platform altogether," said Barry Schnitt, spokesperson for the social network
Book 'em, Lou
Most other changes to the nine-page pdf document are fairly superficial, but there's another pretty outrageous one: it requires that all Facebook users agree that Facebook owns the trademark for the word 'Book'.We're not averse to referring to Zuckerberg's social network as the 'Book in our fruitier moments, but we're not sure its claim is exactly rock solid – apparently there are these other objects filled with paper adorned with words and pictures that some people call books too.
Just Wikipedia'd these "books"; it looks like they've been around since, like, some time BC – a bit before Zuck's time.
It's possible that Facebook merely means the suffix "-book" - but then we imagine Apple would have a little something to say about that too.
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Nikon to honour 'incorrect' UK pricing
Nikon UK has issued a statement saying that it will honour the pre-order prices for anyone who placed an order for the D4 and D800 before March 24th.
Over the weekend, Nikon has faced criticism after an "internal systems error" apparently led to the incorrect pricing of the cameras being communicated at launch.
Both of the cameras have risen in price by approximately 10%, the pro Nikon D4 now comes with a price tag of £5289, which is an increase of £500, while the Nikon D800 has risen by £200 to £2599.
Apology
In a press statement released this morning, Nikon expressed regret over the situation, "We would like to apologise sincerely to our customers for this unfortunate mistake, which has been corrected with immediate effect."Speaking to us earlier in the month, Nikon stated that the D800 had seen "unprecedented" pre-orders, which we found to be true when checking with several retailers on the March 22nd launch date.
"We know that there has been strong consumer interest in these products and a high level of pre-orders place with retailers," the Nikon statement continued. "Nikon will be honouring the original prices to retailers on all customer pre-orders placed before March 24th, 2012."
We have been trying to reach Nikon UK for comment, but so far have not heard back.
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