Kodak and Samsung partner for printers
Kodak and Samsung have announced a partnership which will see the pair work together on printers for the European market.
Consumer all-in-one inkjet printers from Samsung will use Kodak's printer and proprietary ink technology.
Previously, Samsung had not been present in the inkjet printing market, only offering laser printers up to now.
Printing technology
The company said that it would benefit from Kodak's experience of inkjet technology.Earlier this year, Kodak, the iconic photography brand, announced it was stop making cameras to concentrate on its printing business.
Kodak has sued Samsung in the past for patent infringement relating to its imaging portfolio, but Kodak called the new partnership a "win-win" situation which allowed Samsung to take advantage of Kodak technology with the already successful Samsung brand.
The company will continue to invest and market its own range of All-in-One Printers, along with Kodak ink cartridges and inkjet paper.
It is thought that the new printers have already gone on sale in Germany.
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Video: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 trailer shows off near-future setting
Yes, it's that time of year again – the biggest gaming franchise in the world is back, with a new Call of Duty trailer released.
Following hot on the heals of Modern Warfare 3 released in 2011, the next instalment is actually a direct sequel to 2010's Black Ops and has unsurprisingly been given the moniker Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.
While Black Ops focused on the exploits of a group of CIA-backed soldiers during the Cold War in the 60s, Black Ops 2 moves the action into the near future.
The twist is that there's another Cold War but this time the weaponry is much more advanced.
According to the makers of the game, in the 21st Century Cold War technology and weapons have converged to create a new generation of warfare.
CoD of war
Black Ops 2 has a lot to live up to, as its predecessor was the biggest game of all time – a feat that not even Modern Warfare 3 could match.The original Black OP's multiplayer aspects have been criticised, though, so here's hoping LA-based studio Treyarch has taken this on board and created an FPS that shoots to kill.
Although the first trailer of the game and details have finally been released, there's a bit of a wait for the game – the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 release date has been set for November 13.
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B&O BeoPlay V1 television launches with room for your Apple TV
Bang & Olufsen has announced the arrival of the first TV from its BeoPlay range, the BeoPlay V1.
The television is something of a designer's dream. Made from two sheets of metal and inspired by origami and the Bauhaus art movement, B&O has seemingly made this TV for people to look at as much as the content that will be played on it.
Usually, this sort of design from B&O means having to take out a second mortgage, but Bang & Olufsen is pitching its BeoPlay range at a price point that won't mean a call to the bank manager but just a reassuring text instead.
The BeoPlay V1 comes in both 32-inch and 40-inch sizes and with its own integrated sound system that's thankfully not rubbish.
Amp it up
This is because there are three Class D ICEpower amps in the TV and you can add extra speakers if you want straight to the TV as the the integrated 5.1 surround module and speaker/subwoofer connections are all there and ready to go.When it comes to screen specs, B&O is using a side-lit LED panel that works at 100Hz. B&O is also showing its love for all things Apple with this television by offering space in its backplate for an Apple TV to slip into. This means that you can have the system installed without having to look at Apple's unsightly box.
The remote also means that third-party devices will work straight from the one control which is something of a bonus.
The B&O BeoPlay V1 release date is 2 May (Europe only) and pricing starts from £1,999. For the rest of the world, the release date is just May.
Oh, and for those who like to make a stand, B&O is offering up a variety of stands for the BeoPlay V1 – including the ability to suspend the TV from your ceiling using wires.
If you do actually do this, please send in pictures and we'll make a gallery or something.
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Samsung Galaxy S3 spotted in 'secret' case
It seems Samsung is trying to steal HTC's 'leakiest manufacturer' crown as another Galaxy S3 'photo' has been unveiled.
However, at first glance this might surprise you – the phone looks very similar to the original Galaxy S2. Don't fret though – there are a number of rumours floating around that Samsung is just disguising the S3 in case leaks like this happen.
CREDIT: Sam Mobile
And if you take another look at the photo you can see a more curved device nestling inside – could this be the real Galaxy S3?
Sam Mobile, which was sent the picture by an anonymous tipster, believes the Galaxy S3 will come with the model name of the GT-i9300 – although the (more likely) number of GT-i9800 was also mentioned.
The S3 will also come with a 12MP camera, according to the tipster – we're not sure that would be particularly necessary given most phones are taking excellent snaps with an 8MP option, but would be the kind of headline spec Samsung has loved in the past.
Protect the princess!
More Galaxy S3 news has surfaced today in the shape of a screen protector that's reportedly based on the dimensions of the Galaxy S3, courtesy of Unwired Hong Kong.
Image credit: Unwired Hong KongIt's been shown on a number of devices, hinting that the new phone is indeed curved, has an elongated home button and will come with a screen in the 4.7-4.9-inch screen size range.
Of course, this could just be wishful thinking on the part of a particularly over-zealous accessories manufacturer that has seen too many 'leaks' - but if correct would mean the Galaxy S3 is quite a departure from the Galaxy S2.
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First Sony Ultrabook officially unveiled as Vaio T
Sony has officially unveiled its first Vaio branded Ultrabook - with the Sony Vaio T series bringing an ultralight and ultrathin option to Sony's laptop range in June.
Sony remains a highly desirable brand, and the Vaio T series aims to capture some of burgeoning ultrabook market.
The Vaio T boasts a 13-inch screen, Intel Core i3 processor and the SSD version brings the promise of a nine-hour battery life.
Looksee
Of course, it's the look of the device that is going to decide its success, and as well as the always impressive Vaio screen the Vaio T boasts a 'smartly styled' magnesium and aluminium chassis.
As you might expect, there are HDMI, VGA and RJ45 network ports, plus an SD/MMC media slot and Sony's xLOUD and Clear Phase audio.
Sony: "It's the first Ultrabook to proudly carry the Vaio name."
"Thin, light and portable, the responsive new Vaio T Series is always ready for action," adds Sony. "Smartly styled in tough magnesium and aluminium, the go-anywhere VAIO T Series is tailor-made to handle daily trips to the office or lecture theatre.
"Blending durability and performance, and loaded with the latest technologies from Sony and Intel, it's the first Ultrabook to proudly carry the Vaio name."
The Sony Vaio T release date has been set as June.
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Opinion: Nvidia's $1,000 GeForce GTX 690 is awesome but offensive
Nvidia GTX 690
The lid has been lifted on the Nvidia GeForce GTX 690. It's undoubtedly the fastest graphics card on planet. And it's priced at an utterly offensive $1,000.That means that in the UK buyers should be looking at roughly £700 - still a whopping amount - but UK enthusiasts are actually going to have to pay £830 for this dual-GPU monster.
This is offensive not because it rules out the vast majority of the PC gaming population. That, I'm afraid, is life. Porsche prices me out of the wonderous 911 GT3 RS 4.0 to the tune of about £120,000. I make do with a battered Boxster worth perhaps five per cent as much.
The thing is, the RS 4.0 has some seriously high end hardware. And I'm not sure you can say the same of the GTX 690. It's based on a pair of GTX 680 chips in tag teaming SLI configuration. The GTX 680 is the fastest single GPU you can buy, so a pair of them makes this very likely the quickest dual-GPU board on the market.
I haven't tested a 690 yet, but I'm happy to go along with the performance claims. But here's the rub. The GK104 chip that underpins both the 680 and 690 boards is not a high end chip. In fact, at around 300mm2 it's actually smaller than Nvidia's old mid ranger found in the GeForce GTX 560 which measured 360mm2 and can be had for as little as £150.
GK104 is good enough
The GTX 580 – a pukka flagship beast - weighed in well over 500mm2. It's very likely Nvidia has a high end graphics chip derived from the same architecture as GK104. And it's almost definitely much, much larger. Some rumours suggest Nvidia has had problems getting it working. Just as likely, Nvidia hasn't released it because it doesn't need to.As things stand, it turns out GK104 is good enough to beat all comers. So Nvidia finds itself in the very happy position of being able to sell a mid-range chip at high-end prices. Given that GK104 is smaller than the chip it replaces, the profit margins must be pretty spectacular.
Now, I fully realise that Nvidia is not a charity. It every right to price its products however it wants. And in the short term, pricing GK104 in the stratosphere probably makes sense. But equally, I've every right to be offended that Nvidia isn't passing on at least some of the fruits of its success to loyal customers.
More to the point, I'm not convinced it's necessarily the right thing to do commercially. Currently, GeForce GTX 680 boards are priced around £400 and up with the GTX 690 likely to hit £700. The number of potential customers thin out very rapidly indeed at that level. Hardly anyone buys £400-plus graphics cards.
Equally, those super-high stickers also leave plenty of room for Nvidia's main rival AMD to operate. Admittedly, the graphics chip inside an AMD Radeon HD 7970 measures over 350mm2 and it's not as fast as GK104. But there's plenty of room under £400 to sell 7970s and make money.
What I'd like to see is GeForce GTX 680 at under £250, which is the price point the GK104 chip would have originally been aimed at before Nvidia realised AMD had under delivered this time around, and stick the GTX 690 up at around £400.
They'd sell a shed load – of 680s, at least - and really put the pressure on AMD, which would struggle to make money out of a bigger but slower chip if it was forced to push its pricing down towards £200.
It's particularly odd given that the high end PC segment is currently in decline as all the attention – and money – shifts to mobile computing devices including tablets and smartphones. Why not remind punters what a great platform the PC is by offering fantastic, console-crushing technology at prices they can actually afford?
As it is, the new Nvidia GeForce GTX 690 and its single-chip GTX 680 sibling are pretty much irrelevant.
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Review: Spotify for iPad review
Spotify for iPad review
iPad-owning Spotify users have been crying out for a proper iPad app for months, sick of 2x-ing the relatively basic iPhone version to fit the larger screen, so Spotify for iPad is a welcome release.But after the long, arduous wait for a dedicated iPad app, can Spotify's latest mobile version live up to its promise?
Well, if it's a slick interface you were looking for then yes – swiping around the Spotify iPad app is a pleasure and the dual-panel layout lends itself nicely to the screen size, reminiscent of the Mail app. You can have several of these panels open at once as you click through related artists and the like, and getting back is just a matter of swiping your way through, like pages in an iBook.
Playback
It's worth nothing that there aren't any features that are exclusive to the iPad software, aside from the Retina Display compatible album graphics – and, in an app whose raison d'etre is to play music, that might not be a massive deal to most users.But there are some bits and pieces that are on the iPad app that the iPhone version lacks – like crossfade, which you can set to whatever timing suits you, and gapless playback.
Both work, which is reassuring, although they may require a few more thoughtfully-crafted playlists. Note to self, '90s pop-reggae classic 'Sweat (A la la la la long)' does not segue nicely into Big Star's 'Thirteen'.
There are a few options for sound quality – Normal (94kbps), high (160kbps) and the excellently named extreme (320kbps). Unfussy casual users won't notice much difference – there isn't really that much in it – although the music does get a little warmer with each hop up the quality scale.
You can sync music to offline in any of these modes too, although there'll be a trade off in the amount you can sync if you choose the higher quality options.
The status bar across the bottom of the screen is always there telling you what's playing, with skip and pause functions to boot.
Tapping the album thumbnail brings up your additional options – star, add to playlist, send to a friend, shuffle and continuous playback. It's a much more sensible layout than on the iPhone app where these are hidden away in the 'info' tab when you're on the 'now playing' screen.
Speaking of which, the full Now Playing screen is lovely – the artwork takes centre stage (and looks fabulous when coupled with the new iPad 3's Retina Display), and you skip songs simply by swiping up or down. It's such a simple thing but a real pleasure to use.
The app also offers Airplay functionality so if you've got Apple's Airport Extreme set up, you'll be able to play Spotify tunes wirelessly from your iPad through your speakers.
Spotify for iPad: Playlists and search
On first play with the iPad app, this reviewer was excited to note that editing playlists was a joy. Like other iOS apps, you can choose to edit the line up, which gives you the option to 'unlock' and then delete playlists as you see fit. Easy peasy and a prime opportunity for a playlist spring clean.
Although your existing folders are there to browse through, it doesn't seem that you can add playlists into folders or create new ones, which is a shame because organising playlists like this on the desktop app is a real pain. That's a minor point though, so don't let it put you off.
Given the focus on discovering music, the process for subscribing to and creating playlists has been made really easy. It's really a one-tap process once you've found the playlist or song you're after. Although long-time iPad users may instinctively want to drag and drop songs but Spotify has deemed tapping a more intuitive control mechanism.
As with the iPhone app, you can sync playlists to the tablet to listen to offline by toggling the offline sync control. We synced 14 songs over Wi-Fi at extreme quality and it took only a few minutes.
The good news is that anyone upgrading from the old iOS app to the new iPad app will retain their synced playlists. Hurrah.
Search
The iPad app is geared more towards music discovery, so some real thought's gone into the search function. Results start to populate as you type, with the best match hoiked up to the top of the screen, before sections for artists, albums, playlists and tracks, with artists and songs already in your library prioritised above others.
It's a nice change from the annoying tabbed layout of the search function in the iPhone screen, and being able to browse relevant playlists (as you can in the desktop app) is a really welcome addition.
Spotify for iPad review: Social and verdict
Good news for stalkers, rifling through your friends' profiles is an easy, large-screened experience.
The app makes good use the panelled layout to take you through from a simple list of all your friend's published playlists with songs, to a thumbnail view, to a single playlist outline.
Sharing songs and playlists to your Spotify contacts or Facebook, Twitter is as simple as hitting the share button on the playlist view. Twitter sharing uses the Twitter account you have synced to the iPad and auto-creates a hashtag-tastic Tweet that you can edit down.
Facebook isn't quite as straightforward: sharing opens a small screen pop out that you'll need to log in on, but then you can share it to your timeline, a friends' wall or a group. It's not a very pleasant experience since you're limited to a tiny box and have to scroll sideways to complete the action.
It's a shame really, because the rest of the Facebook integration is as excellent as it is on the desktop version. Your friends are automatically imported when you link your Facebook and Spotify accounts, and what you're listening to shows up on your timeline and in friends' tickers on the Facebook newsfeed. If you're listening to any '90s pop-reggae, you can simply switch on private listening and no one need be any the wiser.
The inbox function is also present and correct, with conversation view showing you all the songs you've sent back and forth. It also shows you whether or not your friend has actually listened to that 20 minute experimental jazz piece you sent them or not, ungrateful swines.
Verdict
Quite simply, this is exactly the Spotify iPad app we've all been waiting for. It looks good, it works flawlessly and it's a more straight-forward app to use than its iPhone equivalent.Yes, we'd like to see Spotify apps come in and yes, we'd like a bit more control over the folders in our playlist library, but we reckon these will be things that come with time. But even so, iPad users should upgrade quick-smart.
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Buying Guide: Best cameras for photographing gigs
Photography gigs explored
Shooting live music events can be both challenging and rewarding. Having the right kit for the job is half of the problem, since difficult lighting can be par for the course at concerts. And although your camera may be able to take great photos in more favourable conditions, the unique challenges faced at a gig can call for some specialised equipment.This guide to cameras for photographing gigs has been designed to help photographers of all skill levels and budgets to choose the right gear for concert shooting.
Whether you're a casual or beginner photographer, an intermediate photographer who takes things more seriously, or an aspiring professional, the best kit for shooting pictures at events is detailed here.
So what challenges can you expect to face? A lot will depend on the kind of venue the event is hosted by. The most common types of events include those hosted at small pubs or bars, medium to large venues, arenas and outdoor festivals.
Each kind of venue involves different challenges, whether it be with the lighting, or the space available to shoot from.
For example, gigs held at small bars and pubs will often have poor lighting and no separate space to take photos from, whereas arena gigs often require photographers to shoot from the sound desk at the back of the venue, especially when the event is seated, or the artist is a well-known pop singer. Each will place different demands on the photographer, and the kit you use.
Larger venues often require a photo pass to enable you to take interchangeable lens cameras into the event.
If you're not lucky enough to obtain accreditation, will we also detail suitable cameras for taking pictures from the crowd. In these cases, do be careful to check your ticket, since some venues and artists ban photography altogether.
So now let's get on and check out the best camera for every different kind of gig environment you could possibly find.
Best cameras for shooting concerts from the crowd
So... You have a ticket to see your favourite band or singer performing at your local venue and you really want to take some decent pictures to remember the event by.
You've read the details printed on the back of your ticket and photography is allowed, but it says that "professional" cameras aren't. Normally this means cameras with interchangeable lenses, although bridge cameras will sometimes be disallowed too, depending on how staff at the venue interpret "professional".
The latest compact digital cameras take good pictures in low light, which makes them ideal for capturing a concert from the crowd.
A general rule of thumb to follow to ensure you will be allowed to take your camera into the venue is that the camera should be small enough to fit in a handbag or coat pocket.
Due to the difficult lighting that can be faced, a camera that takes good images in low light, with some manual control, is often preferable. Although not completely necessary, having manual control will enable you to override the exposure, which will often be thrown wayward by the lighting used at the event.
Because you may be unable to get physically close to the stage, a good zoom with image stabilisation is also something to look out for.
The following cameras should be able to do a decent job of capturing the scene at a concert from the crowd. However, it is worth noting that if the lighting isn't favourable, almost every compact camera will struggle.
Canon Powershot SX230 HS
Price: £200/$250
Specs: 14.1MP, 1080p video, 14x image stabilised zoom
Sporting a 14x Image Stabilised lens, a 14.1MP rear-illuminated CMOS sensor and some manual control, this camera promises to be ideal for taking images at a concert from the crowd, due to its performance at high ISO sensitivities. The slim, compact design shouldn't raise too many eyebrows from staff at venues, either.
Read our full Canon Powershot SX230 HS review
Fuji Finepix X10
Price: £400/$600
Specs: 12MP EXR sensor, 1080p video, 4x zoom with bright f/2-2.8 aperture
Although this camera doesn't offer the zoom range of others mentioned here, the 12MP EXR sensor, coupled with the fast f/2-2.8 lens, make this camera ideal for taking images in low light conditions. The excellent build quality should help the camera to survive the rough and tumble of a concert crowd, too.
Read our full Fuji Finepix X10 review
Panasonic Lumix TZ30/ZS20
Price: £329/$349
Specs: 14.1MP, 1080p video, 20x optically stabilised zoom
Panasonic has long been synonymous with superzoom compact cameras, and its Lumix TZ30 camera should be quite well suited for capturing live music from the crowd, thanks to its 20x optically stabilised zoom and an aperture priority mode. The touch AF and shooting modes should make shooting with the camera held high a little easier too.
Read our full Panasonic Lumix TZ30/ZS20 review
Best cameras for shooting concerts in a pub or bar
Taking pictures of live performances at your local bar or pub venue may not be all that glamorous, but it's where all musicians start out their career. Who knows? That band playing your local boozer might turn out to be the next U2 or Radiohead, and that female vocalist who performs regularly at the local working men's club may turn out to win the next X-Factor.
Since small venues like this work to tight budgets, stage lighting is often poor, and conditions can be cramped. Usually there are very few restrictions as far as photography is concerned, but it is always polite to check with the artist first if, for example, you wish to use flash.
If you are a beginner, most entry-level DSLRs, such as the Canon EOS 1100D, Nikon D3100 or Pentax K-r, will enable you to take decent pictures at an event such as this. And so long as the artist is fine with you using flash, the kit lens and built-in flash unit should suffice, in conjunction with a high ISO setting or longer shutter speed, so that the atmosphere of the gig isn't lost.
For photography without the flash, a 30mm, 35mm or 50mm prime lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 or faster will enable you to work more effectively with ambient lighting.
Most compact system cameras can take high quality images in low light. But using a screen or electronic viewfinder in very dark conditions can be difficult so the camera will struggle to display a suitably clear image for critical focusing, and contrast detection AF often struggles in low light.
Intermediate photographers may find the direct control and improved autofocus of a mid-range DSLR body such as the Canon EOS 60D, Nikon D90, Sony A580 or Pentax K-7 will stand them in good stead when shooting an event at a pub or a bar.
Just as is the case with a beginner, a 30 to 50mm prime lens with an aperture of f/1.8 or faster will enable you to work under ambient lighting conditions.
A zoom lens covering roughly 18-50mm, with a constant f/2.8 aperture, may also be an asset, even if you're using flash. The faster maximum aperture will enable more of the ambient light to be captured at reduced ISO sensitivities.
The greater flexibility of an external flashgun may also help, since they are more powerful and the light can be bounced off surfaces at the venue and directed out of the eyes of the performer.
Professionals, or those aspiring to be so, will find the superior noise control of a full-frame DSLR, such as the Canon EOS 5D Mk II or Canon EOS 5D Mark III, or the Nikon D700 or Nikon D4 an asset.
In addition to a standard f/2.8 zoom lens covering 24-70mm, an ultra-wide zoom lens in the 16-35mm range, also with a constant f/2.8 aperture, will enable more of the stage to be captured in one shot, or full-length shots of the performer in cramped conditions.
A range of prime lenses with focal lengths from 24mm to 85mm may also be preferred if you prefer to work with the ambient conditions.
Shoots at venues with little or no lighting may require a wireless flash setup to get the best images possible, so long as permission from the artist can be sought. By placing flash units around the stage, and even using coloured gels in some cases, you can effectively create your own lighting on stage for the shoot.
Best cameras for medium or large venues
As the venues get larger, the restrictions tend to get tighter. Gigs held at medium or large concert venues tend to require appropriate accreditation to enable you to take an interchangeable lens camera into the venue.
Although most venues of this size will have a pit at the front, which you can gain access to with your pass, you will invariably only be able to shoot the first three songs of each act, and it will be very rare that flash is permitted.
As with gigs in a pub, an entry-level DSLR camera such as the Canon EOS 1100D, Nikon D3100 or Pentax K-r should be adequate.
Because flash is rarely permitted, beginners will do well to invest in a lens with a fast maximum aperture. The option with the lowest cost is a 30 or 50mm prime lens with an aperture of f/1.8 or brighter, which can often be picked up for around £100/$150, or even less in some cases. Although this be great for low light, it lacks flexibility if shooting a more active performer.
In these cases a zoom lens with a fast constant f/2.8 aperture covering roughly 17-50mm will help. Those offered by third party manufacturers, such as Sigma, Tamron and Tokina, cost less than the manufacturer's own lenses.
Intermediate photographers will be served well by an mid, to high-end DSLR such as the Canon EOS 60D, Canon EOS 7D, Nikon D90, Nikon D7000, Sony A580 or Pentax K-7.
This coupled with a standard f/2.8 zoom covering roughly 17-50mm and a telephoto zoom with a fast f/2.8 aperture covering the 70-200mm range. The bright maximum apertures will enable sharp images to be taken under most stage lighting and will also isolate your subject from a potentially cluttered background.
Professional photographers will find the quality at high ISO sensitivities and increased dynamic range offered by a full-frame DSLR, such as the Canon EOS 5D Mk II or Mk III, or the Nikon D700, invaluable.
Two or three zoom lenses with a constant aperture of f/2.8 will be the norm, the most common being lenses covering roughly 24-70mm and 70-200mm. Some professionals may wish to pack an ultra-wide zoom for capturing more of the stage too.
Although flash is rarely allowed, it pays to be prepared and pack an external flash unit, just in case. On the same note, a prime lens with a bright maximum aperture of f/1.8 or brighter will cover those times when the venue appears to forget to switch on the lights.
Best cameras for arenas or stadiums
Concerts at arenas or stadiums are often among the best lit, but due to the stages being larger, and restrictions for where you can shoot from being the norm, these kinds of gigs often have the greatest requirement for specialised equipment.
Many arena concerts require accredited photographers to shoot from the sound desk, the aisles, or even the back of the room. If you're lucky, you may be escorted to the pit at the front to take photos, but this often isn't the case.
If you are a beginner, and you're lucky enough to have gained accreditation for a show at an arena, and you haven't the means to buy fancy professional lenses, an image stabilised 70-300mm zoom lens coupled with an entry-level DSLR body, such as the Canon EOS 1100D, Nikon D3100, or Pentax K-r, should give you a reasonable chance of getting some decent images.
The image stabilisation should enable slightly slower shutter speeds to be used. Even though lighting at arena shows is generally quite bright, this may still be necessary due to the slow f/5.6 maximum aperture of these lenses.
If you're lucky enough to own a camera with in-body stabilisation, then it isn't be necessary to buy a stabilised lens.
Intermediate photographers should be served well by a mid-range camera body such as the Canon EOS 60D, Canon 7D, Nikon D90, Nikon D7000, Sony A580 or Pentax K-7. The direct nature of the controls will enable you to adapt to changing lighting conditions more quickly than would be possible with an entry-level DSLR.
A telephoto zoom lens covering the 70-200mm range with a bright maximum aperture of f/2.8 will be the most useful lens for this kind of concert, although some may find a standard f/2.8 zoom handy for wider shots of the venue or stage.
Most professionals will use a full-frame camera body such as the Canon EOS 5D Mk II, Canon EOS 5D Mk III or (soon) Canon EOS 1DX, or the Nikon D700, Nikon D3s, or Nikon D4 with a 70-200mm f/2.8 images stabilised lens as a basis for a gig kit.
For those gigs where restrictions require images to be taken from the sound desk or aisles, a 300mm f/2.8 prime, or a teleconverter for use with the 70-200mm f/2.8, is necessary to enable close cropped images of the performer. Some photographers may even hire longer lenses up to 400mm or even 500mm for shooting concerts with these restrictions.
These lenses will generally require a sturdy monopod to enable sharp images to be taken. A standard 24-70mm f/2.8 lens will also be required for shooting wider shots of the venue, or for shooting from the pit.
Best cameras for shooting outdoor music festivals
In the summer the music moves outdoors for festival season. Shooting music outdoors puts different demands on your kit, with many artists performing in daylight, and others on smaller covered stages making it a challenge in itself to be equipped for everything. There's also the weather to consider, since it can change from bright and sunny to thunder and lightning within minutes.
Accessories that are useful for all levels of photographer include a good waterproof, breathable clothing, and waterproof covers for your cameras and lenses. Although a bin bag and an elastic band may do for a short while, any prolonged rain will require a dedicated cover.
Optech Rainsleeves are a good option for those on a budget. They are basically a plastic bag shaped specially for a camera with a drawstring that fastens around the end of the lens. A hole is also cut out in the rear which can be fixed around the viewfinder eyepiece, to enable a clear view.
Another accessory that can be useful at festivals is a step of some kind. Outdoor stages at festivals tend to be quite high, to accommodate the large crowds that gather. This causes a problem because you can only get a clear shot of the performer when they're at the front of the stage, and then the image is taken from a very unflattering angle, right up their nose.
A folding plastic step is ideal for small to medium festivals, but larger festivals may need something a little bigger. A proper set of aluminium stepladders is the tool of choice for photographers who regularly shoot these kinds of events.
Beginners shooting a festival will be served well by an entry-level DSLR such as the Canon EOS 1100D, Nikon D3100, or Pentax K-r.
At least two lenses will be needed. The standard kit lens that came with your camera will be great for taking shots of the atmosphere at the festival, but inadequate for shooting artists on stage. An image stabilised zoom covering 55-200mm or 70-300mm will enable better shots of artists on stage, and will be more than adequate for shooting during daylight.
Saying that, with those lenses it may be a struggle to get decent images after sunset, unless the stage lighting is favourable. For smaller, covered stages, a 30-50mm prime lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 or faster will help under the darker conditions faced there.
Intermediate photographers will find a mid-range DSLR such as the Canon EOS 60D, Nikon D90, Sony A580 or Pentax K-7 work well. For peace of mind, a weather-resistant body such as the Canon EOS 7D, Nikon D7000 or Pentax K-5 may be preferable to help prevent the ingress of dust on dry days and moisture in inclement weather, since even when using a rain cover, cameras tend to get wet during prolonged rain.
An f/2.8 telephoto lens covering 70-200mm is the ideal lens for shooting festival stages, and a standard f/2.8 zoom covering 24-70mm is perfect for shooting stages under cover, and for capturing scenic views at the event.
Professional photographers, or those aspiring to be, will find the quality at high ISO sensitivities and improved dynamic range of a full-frame DSLR invaluable.
Weather-sealed cameras such as the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EOS-1DX, Nikon D700, Nikon D3s, Nikon D4, Pentax K-5 or Pentax K-7 are built to withstand the rigours of being used in changeable weather conditions, and should be high on the list for most pros.
A 70-200mm f/2.8 lens with optical stabilisation will be suited for most types of stage, with a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens being used for smaller covered stages and scenic shots. Depending on the festival being covered, this kit may be complemented with a 1.4x or 1.7x teleconverter, or a 300mm prime lens, for taking close-cropped images on very large stages.
An ultra-wide zoom or fisheye lens is also ideal for scenic views and for taking scenic shots and images of the crowd, which are all part of the atmosphere of the event. Although flash is rarely permitted when shooting the stage at festivals, many professionals will carry one anyway, just in case, for portraits taken on site, or atmosphere shots at all times of day or night.
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Spotify finally rolls out dedicated iPad app
After months of speculation and one sneaky spy shot, Spotify for iPad has finally arrived.
The app lands on the App Store today, bringing Retina Display support to the new iPad 3 and a swipe-tastic user interface that spans all generations of Apple's tablet.
Spotify refers to this as the "actual" iPad app and says that the focus is on discoverability as opposed to the iPhone app's focus on playing what you've already discovered.
Spotify for iPad is fairly similar to the recently announced Spotify Android beta app and, just like the spyshot that leaked back in April, it comes with panelled navigation and a slick interface that sees you swiping to skip tracks and making the most of the large screen to show off album art.
Rock 'n' roll train
As always, you'll need to be a premium Spotify subscriber to stream music through the app, although free users will be able to download and log-in to the app to lust after its features if they want.The app comes with most of the features you'll find on the desktop version – recommendations, playlist view, folders, inbox and the ability to browse friends' profiles – but it doesn't have the Spotify apps like last.fm and We Are Hunted.
It sounds as though the apps could be on the cards for future iterations of the Spotify iPad app though, as Gustav Söderström, Spotify's chief product officer, said in response to a question about the Spotify apps, "We're always working on lots of stuff, listening to users seeing what they like and developing for that. So we'll let you know."
Audiophiles will be pleased to hear that the app comes with optional crossfade and gapless playback for the first time on iOS.
The dedicated Spotify iPad app will hit the iOS App Store later today as a free download and if you just can't wait, you can check out our Spotify for iPad review.
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Flickr works with Pinterest for 'fairer pinning'
Flickr has announced that it has been working together with Pinterest, the increasingly popular social networking site, for better pinning options.
Pinterest has been growing in popularity over the past few months, but concerns have previously been raised about the copyright of images that are 'pinned' to a user's board.
Initially, Flickr allowed users to opt out of allowing their images to be pinned from the site in a bid to satisfy photographers worried about any potential infringement.
Now, however, Flickr has announced that images can directly be shared from Flickr to Pinterest in a way that means proper credit and link back to a photographer's page is included.
Pinning
The new Pinterest button can be found in the share menu on Flickr, which allows users to share photo pages, favourites and groups. If you are a prolific pinner, the menu will change to prioritise the Pin It button. If a photographer would prefer their images to be kept away from Pinterest, the share menu will be disabled.Writing on the Flickr blog, the company said, "We made sure that every image shared from Flickr will be clearly attributed with the name of the photographer, the title, as well as a link back to the photo page. Because the attribution cannot be edited, photographers can rest assured that pins and repins of their images will be credited and linked back as well, ensuring people can leave comments, fave the photo or contact you directly on Flickr."
The attribution also applies to photos that are pinned from Flickr photos embedded into other websites and pages.
Interestingly, Pinterest has also taken the step to go back and add the correct attribution to all photos that have been pinned from Flickr so far.
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Pentax Q price drops by 40% in the US
The price of the Pentax Q has dropped significantly in the US, after already being reduced in the UK, perhaps suggesting that a new CSC from the company is imminent.
Pentax introduced the Q around a year ago, which is the world's smallest interchangeable lens camera.
Its tiny proportions did not belie a tiny asking price, with many balking at the £600 ($800) asking price, especially when considering the small sensor on board the camera, which is similar in size to a standard compact camera.
Disappointed
Since then, Pentax has admitted that it has been disappointed by sales of the Q, and more recently announced the Pentax K-01, which is much larger, features an APS-C size sensor and a lens mount compatible with its existing line-up of K-mount lenses.At the time of the K-01 launch, Pentax assured that the Q was still very much a priority, and they were committed to the line. However, last week rumours began circulating that Ricoh Pentax would announce a new low-price mirrorless camera into the market.
Perhaps keen to take away some of the glory of the Nikon 1 V1 and J1 success (which also utilise a small sensor), the new camera could conceivably be offered at a more realistic asking price for the beginner market.
2012 is shaping up to be a very exciting year for compact system cameras, with popular new products already being outed by Fujifilm and Olympus and Canon apparently set to finally enter the market.
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Blackberry 10 camera app allows you to 'rewind' photos
One of the most exciting things to be announced as part of the new Blackberry 10 operating system was its new camera app, which allows for photographs to be "rewound" in case you've mucked up the image.
Say for instance your friend is blinking in a shot, with the new app you would be able to "rewind" the image to the point where they weren't and save it.
Similar in essence to one of the key features of the Nikon 1 V1 and J1 compact system cameras, basically the app is taking pictures from the moment it is loaded - not just when you choose to hit the shutter release.
This means that there is always a buffer of previously captured frames ready for you to use if something should go wrong.
Quality
RIM is not generally known for the quality of its on-board cameras, but perhaps this new app is a sign that the company is starting to take image quality more seriously, and is looking to head in a slightly different direction from the rest of the smartphone pack which is dominated by the likes of Apple and Samsung.With the launch of Blackberry 10, RIM has also revealed a developer toolkit for the platform, which could mean that more photography and image-editing apps are in the pipeline.
Blackberry 10 will power a new breed of smartphones from the company, which perhaps will also be equipped with better optics than is currently available.
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Review: Acer Aspire Timeline U M3
Acer Aspire Timeline U M3
Nvidia has been calling the Acer Timeline U M3 the first true Ultrabook. And the big, green graphics giant has good reason to be backing this svelte-looking machine - at its heart beats the very latest in mobile graphics power, the GeForce GT 640M.This is the big selling point for this otherwise rather middle-of-the-road machine, and without it there is no way we would be anywhere near as enamoured with it.
As a 15-inch notebook it's rather stretching the idea of the super-slim Ultrabook, and the screen sure is nothing to write home about. But, as it stands, we are rather taken by this laptop because of what the M3-581TG actually represents.
This slimline machine is a comparative gaming monster: when you put this ultra-portable notebook up against heavyweight gaming slabs from the likes of MSI and Asus, you realise it's just as capable of throwing up frame rates that are completely playable. And never before seen in a machine this thin.
Now this is no cumbersome gaming behemoth but a portable plaything in a very manageable form. We're not talking about quad-core processors or SLI graphics here, but rather a laptop that feels at home on your lap and one that can move more than a couple of feet from a power outlet.
So, aside from the new Nvidia GPU humming away inside this slimline Acer chassis, what else is helping to run the show?
This is the top-end version of the Aspire Timeline U M3, so it comes with an Intel Core i7-2637M CPU, a dual-core, HyperThreaded chip nominally running at 1.7GHz, 4GB DDR3 RAM and a 256GB SSD. All this running under the ubiquitous Windows Home Premium 64-bit.
For a standard Ultrabook those are pretty decent specs, but for a gaming laptop a 1.7GHz CPU is far from the norm. Still, Intel's Turbo Boost allows it to run at a rather more healthy 2.4GHz when it's being taxed.
Gimme GPU
As we've already alluded, this machine would be far less interesting if it wasn't for that graphics card, and it really is an impressive chip. Nvidia has been keen to stress that this 600 series generation of its GeForce graphics, in both mobile and desktop trim, is all about performance per watt. As such, you're not really getting any more performance than you would have seen in past mobile chips.Indeed, the GTX 555M is still a faster graphics chip. What it does do, though, is run far leaner in terms of power draw. Thanks to the die shrink from 40nm transistors down to a miniscule 28nm, this is a much smaller chip, and therefore drinks a lot less juice.
That means it also puts less strain on the battery, but even more importantly it also produces much less heat. The cooler operating temperatures means that the GTX 640M doesn't need the scale of cooling solution the previous 40nm chips needed. Basically all this technical stuff means you can get decent, gaming-capable graphics performance from laptops like the M3 with much smaller footprints.
The Acer M3 is also running a relatively low-resolution screen - at 1,366 x 768 it's not hitting the full HD scale of more media oriented machines. But gaming is this notebook's raison d'être and keeping the native resolution low means this mid-range GPU can hit excellent frame rates on high settings.
As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding and the eating - or in this case the proof is in the graphically intensive Battlefield 3 and the virtual murder of other gamers. The Acer M3 can run BF3 on Ultra settings, with GPU-stressing extras like anti-aliasing, and run like a dream. It's the smart combo of low native resolution and the Nvidia GPU that make this possible.
Frame rates do drop when you yank out the power cable, though, so you're going to have to drop the more intensive settings like anti-aliasing, but it will still keep the Nvidia GPU running. Unlike Alienware's M11x which relegates you to the Core i7's HD3000 GPU away from the plug socket...
Benchmarks
Battery Eater '05: 283 minutesCinebench: 8633
3DMark 2006: 8858
Ultraportable gaming
As a gaming laptop, this is a thing of beauty, but as a standard laptop there is definitely much room for improvement. For starters, you can't get away from just how awful the trackpad is.
As the main interaction with your notebook, the trackpad needs to stand up, but having the whole pad itself as a button is a recipe for disaster. In this machine it means you're constantly missing icons or Windows buttons, and makes right-clicking on anything a real lottery. It also feels rather flimsy, and doesn't seem to be sitting flat in its housing on our sample.
The chiclet keyboard isn't too bad though, and does aid the cooling of the machine's innards, but the short action still feels dead to the touch. That said, the keyboard does have space for the numeric side and there's enough space between keys to avoid many mis-types.
In the context of changing the scale of gaming laptops, these are minor problems. Being able to have a laptop on your lap while you're playing a game without melting the flesh from your bones, is real treat.
Battery life is pretty decent too, getting close to five hours. With the GPU taxing the battery though you're likely to be looking more at three hours, but that should take care of many a train journey while you journey through Skyrim.
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Mumpreneurs and Dadpreneurs wanted
Business owners who have started a firm in the last six months whilst looking after their family full-time have been called on to enter the Mumpreneur Awards 2012.
Organised by business support network Mumpreneur UK, award categories include: Start Up, Online Business, Green Business, Supporting Business, International Trader, Mumpreneur Product and the Inspirational Business Mum award. The Dadpreneur award is open to dads who juggle running a business with looking after a family.
Applicants must complete a 600-word online form outlining the challenges they have overcome, their plans for growth and how they've managed their work-life balance.
"We encourage all mums in business to enter the awards, as everyone can benefit from local press through simply a nomination," said a Mumpreneur UK spokesperson.
Last year's Inspirational Business Mum was Kate Wilson of children's book publisher Nosy Crow. After losing her job in publishing Kate set out on a journey that she and her family knew would be long and hard. Since launching Nosy Crow, Kate has secured multiple authors, has publications translated into ten different languages and is launching multiple apps.
The deadline for entries to the awards is 27 July.
To enter the awards head along to the Mumpreneur site and fill in the form
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Review: Asus X54H
Asus has recently been focusing on tablets and smartphones, but its bread-and-butter products are still laptops. The Asus X54H is an entry-level machine with a dual-core processor and several features that make it worth a look.
Unfortunately, the power of the X54H is hidden in an unattractive plastic chassis. The design isn't dissimilar to the Toshiba Satellite Pro C660 - it's a black plastic construction with a rivet-style pattern on the lid and palmrest. There's no glossy effect like you get with the Fujitsu Lifebook, and the result is underwhelming.
A corollary to the design is the weight. The Asus X54H is relatively bulky at 2.4kg. We don't think you'll be throwing it in a bag to take on a road trip, although the build quality is pretty solid. There's very little flex, and we feel it could take a few knocks and keep performing.
Further evidence of its workman-like quality is the screen, which lacks the reflective Super TFT coating that many laptops are treated to. Instead, you have a matte screen that absorbs the light, allowing you to work in brightly lit areas without getting blinded.
The resolution is the standard 1,366 x 768, letting you play 720p high definition content, but stopping short of the full 1080p experience.
Comfortable keyboard
Despite its lack of portability, we would probably recommend this laptop as more of a work-based machine than a laptop for media and games (although the 500GB hard drive is large enough for a big music and video collection).
The keyboard is very comfortable and large enough that we got typing quickly with few mistakes. There's a dedicated numerical keypad to the left, which is helpful, although a bit cramped. Similarly, the arrow keys are a little on the small side.
Like other budget laptops, the X54H is packing an ageing Intel Celeron processor. This is the B800 model and runs at a modest 1.5GHz, but the 4GB of RAM means the memory cache is enough to keep the OS running smoothly.
Loading up Internet Explorer and other programs took a little time, but the Asus X54H performed well in our benchmarking tests. Don't expect much in the way of gaming though, as graphics processes are handled by the integrated graphics chip.
Benchmarks
Battery life: 131 minutesCinebench: 4502
3DMark 2006: 2617
Although the X54H offers the usual set of ports and connections (such as HDMI and VGA for connecting to external displays), one of the two USB ports is the newer USB 3.0 format. This is noticeable via the blue strip inside the port, and means that you can transfer data up to 10 times as fast as a regular USB port. You don't often see this feature on budget laptops, but as the technology ages, it should start to become standard.
While still not as well-known as the likes of Samsung, Dell and HP, Asus has proved it can manufacture decent, reliable laptops. The X54H isn't as attractive as the glossy Fujitsu or the business-like Lenovo, but it is durable and hard wearing.
The usable keyboard and matte screen mean this would be a better choice for a working machine than an entertainment centre, but given the weight and battery life (131 mins) don't expect to be taking it out with you for long trips.
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Sky: We're UK's biggest triple-play provider, Now TV on track
Sky's pay-per-view Now TV service remains on track for a launch in the next three months, as the company insisted it is now confirmed as Britain's biggest triple-play provider.
The trials and tribulation of the Murdoch family have overshadowed Sky's over business in the first three months of 2012, but the company has had a decent time with its broadband and telephony business according to its latest financial reports.
Although its core business, TV subscriptions only rose by 15,000 in the quarter, HD subscription increased significantly (up to 4.2 million) and broadband, telephony and line rental all went up by more than 200,000.
This led to the company declaring it had the "largest base of triple play customers in Britain at 3.2 million, up 24% year-on-year".
NOW TV update
Also on the horizon for Sky is its next major service - Now TV - available to anyone with a broadband device."Now TV on track for launch in first half of calendar 2012, widening the availability of Sky content on broadband-connected devices," confirmed Sky.
Chief executive Jeremy Darroch pointed to the growth in customers taking bundles, broadband, telephone line and television.
Good start
Darroch: ""The decision to focus our marketing on home communications has paid off with...confirmation that Sky is now Britain's favourite triple play provider."
"We have made a good start to 2012," he said "In what remains a tough economic environment, strong and consistent execution of our plan has delivered good growth across our product range. "We have grown revenues by 5% while holding prices flat for customers and delivered a record nine-month operating profit of £908 million alongside 24% growth in earnings per share.
"The decision to focus our marketing on home communications has paid off with our fastest quarter of growth since launch and confirmation that Sky is now Britain's favourite triple play provider.
"More households are choosing Sky and taking more products from us because we're constantly looking to improve the quality and value that we offer.
"Already in 2012, we've launched an entirely new channel dedicated to Formula 1, given millions of households access to a huge choice of on demand TV and made our market-leading broadband service even better with the launch of our fibre products and free out-of-home WiFi.
"Looking ahead, we will continue to improve our service for all Sky customers as we believe this is the best way to build a larger business and continue to increase returns for shareholders."
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Microsoft reveals how to get an adult app into Windows Marketplace
Microsoft is planning a more stringent approach to 'racy' apps in its Windows Marketplace, suggesting a few ways that adult app makers can be a little more subtle.
Ultimately sexual content apps are always liable to be popular, something Microsoft is aware of.
But while attempting to allow adults to have access to adult content, the software giant is keen that developers adopt a mature approach to mature content.
Stringent
"Recently we decided that we could improve the shopping experience for all our customers by a more stringent interpretation and enforcement of our existing content policy," stated Microsoft's Todd Brix on the Windows Team blog.Brix: "Showing male or female models in silhouette, for example, is one possible alternative"
"Specifically, we will be paying more attention to the icons, titles, and content of these apps and expect them to be more subtle and modest in the imagery and terms used."This is about presenting the right content to the right customer and ensuring that apps meet our standards."
So what does Microsoft expect an adult content icon to look like in its brave new world?
"...there are plenty of creative and appropriate ways to comply: showing male or female models in silhouette, for example, is one possible alternative."
Of course, we're now worried that a Tales of the Unexpected app would be badged as adult.
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Facebook makes a 'life-saving' change to profiles
While Facebook frequently takes heat over privacy issues and continual changes to the look and feel of its website, the social network wants you to know it can also do some good as well - including encouraging users to become organ donors.
Facebook introduced a subtle new feature to your profile on Tuesday. But if you blink, you might miss it.
Tucked away among life events in the Health & Wellness section of your Timeline is a new option to become an organ donor, and share your decision with other Facebook friends.
Broader awareness
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg calls the new Timeline feature part of "a life-saving initiative" to create "broader awareness about organ donation.""By simply telling people that you're an organ donor, the power of sharing and connection can play an important role," Zuckerberg explained, noting that 18 Americans die each day waiting for organ transplants that never come.
If you're not sure how to get started as a donor, the Facebook link allows users to register to become an organ, eye or tissue donor, then share this proud accomplishment with the rest of your social network.
The feature is currently only available for Facebook users in the U.S., who may "Like" this latest addition to one of their favorite social networking sites.
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HTC Evo 4G LTE release date - could be coming soon
Sprint could release the highly anticipated HTC Evo 4G LTE Android phone in under three weeks on May 18.
The HTC Evo is the final piece of Sprint's new 4G LTE-enabled trio, rounding out the already-released Samsung Galaxy Nexus and LG Viper.
Although AT&T and Verizon have been rolling out their 4G LTE networks for some time, Sprint has been somewhat late out of the gate.
But the carrier plans to bring the faster 4G data standard to 10 cities, including Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Baltimore, Kansas, and Atlanta, by mid-June.
And the Evo, Nexus, and Viper will be the first phones to take advantage when they do.
HTC One X vs Evo 4G LTE
Sprint's HTC Evo 4G LTE brings a number of improvements to the already stellar HTC One X.The two phones share a 4.7-inch, 1280 x720 resolution Super-LCD screen, 8 and 1.3 megapixel rear- and front-facing cameras, Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and 16GB of memory with 32 additional gigs via optional Micro SD slot.
In addition, the HTC One X and Evo 4g LTE both use Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich, HTC's Sense 4.0 UI overlay, the Beats Audio equalizer, and HDMI Media Link for wireless HD streaming.
But unlike the plastic One X, HTC's Evo 4G LTE is housed in an aluminum unibody, and the Evo kickstand has returned from earlier Evo phones. Now it can even charge while it's kickstanded.
Furthermore, the Evo's battery gets a boost over the One X, from 1,800 mAh to 2,000 mAh.
HD Voice
The most exciting feature, though, is one that until now has only been available in Europe: HD Voice.
The technology will make call quality clearer than it's ever been before, and HTC's 4G LTE on Sprint will be the first phone to bring HD calls to the US.
Between HD Voice and the promise of soon-to-come lightning-fast 4G LTE data speeds, the new Evo could be the phone to beat this year.
If the current rumor holds true, the HTC Evo 4G LTE will be released on May 18 for $199 with a two-year contract, exclusively through Sprint.
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Sprint could release the HTC Evo 4G LTE on May 18
Sprint could release the highly anticipated HTC Evo 4G LTE Android phone in under three weeks on May 18.
The HTC Evo is the final piece of Sprint's new 4G LTE-enabled trio, rounding out the already-released Samsung Galaxy Nexus and LG Viper.
Although AT&T and Verizon have been rolling out their 4G LTE networks for some time, Sprint has been somewhat late out of the gate.
But the carrier plans to bring the faster 4G data standard to 10 cities, including Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Baltimore, Kansas, and Atlanta, by mid-June.
And the Evo, Nexus, and Viper will be the first phones to take advantage when they do.
HTC One X vs Evo 4G LTE
Sprint's HTC Evo 4G LTE brings a number of improvements to the already stellar HTC One X.The two phones share a 4.7-inch, 1280 x720 resolution Super-LCD screen, 8 and 1.3 megapixel rear- and front-facing cameras, Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and 16GB of memory with 32 additional gigs via optional Micro SD slot.
In addition, the HTC One X and Evo 4g LTE both use Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich, HTC's Sense 4.0 UI overlay, the Beats Audio equalizer, and HDMI Media Link for wireless HD streaming.
But unlike the plastic One X, HTC's Evo 4G LTE is housed in an aluminum unibody, and the Evo kickstand has returned from earlier Evo phones. Now it can even charge while it's kickstanded.
Furthermore, the Evo's battery gets a boost over the One X, from 1,800 mAh to 2,000 mAh.
HD Voice
The most exciting feature, though, is one that until now has only been available in Europe: HD Voice.
The technology will make call quality clearer than it's ever been before, and HTC's 4G LTE on Sprint will be the first phone to bring HD calls to the US.
Between HD Voice and the promise of soon-to-come lightning-fast 4G LTE data speeds, the new Evo could be the phone to beat this year.
If the current rumor holds true, the HTC Evo 4G LTE will be released on May 18 for $199 with a two-year contract, exclusively through Sprint.
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Rumor: Amazon is working on a smartphone
Amazon's Kindle Fire is a hot seller, so will the company tackle smartphones next?
The Kindle Fire tablet doubled its share of the Android tablet market earlier this year, jumping to 54 percent of all Android-based tablets in February.
So, some analysts say that a smartphone is the next logical step for Amazon's hardware division.
Citigroup's Mark Mahaney released a report last year that claimed Chinese factories including Foxconn already have an Amazon phone in the works, and that it would launch in Q4 2012. If it comes to fruition, Amazon would sell it at cost - $150 or $170 (£92 or £104).
And with rumors of even a Facebook phone heating up, Amazon's success with the Kindle Fire seems to point more and more every day to an impending grab at the smartphone market from the online giant.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Amazon phone would almost certainly run a modified version of Google's Android OS , much like the retailer's popular Kindle Fire, and would act as a direct portal to Amazon's massive online store.Amazon's shopping and Kindle apps are already available on iOS and Windows Phone devices, but Amazon's affordable price point (they're already rumored to be selling the Kindle Fire at cost) and perceived brand reliability could be enough to attract your average customers.
But the idea of an Amazon phone is not without misgivings.
There are a plethora of Android phones on the market currently, and Amazon could have trouble differentiating its own product from the pack.
And if the Amazon phone uses a unique version of Android similar to that on the Kindle Fire, it could be unattractive to developers looking for the largest possible market.
Furthermore, the streaming services that Amazon users take advantage of on their Wi-Fi-enabled Kindle Fires could eat away at an Amazon phone's 3G or 4G data plan, analysts say.
But with Amazon's busy online storefront potentially serving as a free digital stage for the Amazon phone, much like it has for the Kindle Fire, Amazon may have all the advantage it needs in grabbing its share of the smartphone market.
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RIM puts money where mouth is with guaranteed app revenue
In an attempt to deliver quality applications for its BlackBerry mobile platform, Research in Motion is offering a revenue guarantee to its developers.
RIM is promising every qualifying application, submitted to App World before BB10 launches, $10,000 (around £6,100) in revenue in its first year on the market.
Talking about application investment at BlackBerry World 2012, Alec Saunders, Vice President of Developer Relations for RIM said: "We strongly believe that quality matters, not just quantity, so today I am happy to announce we are making a massive investment in quality, subject to some terms and conditions."
Cher-ching
Developers need to earn the BlackBerry Quality Certification and have previously generated at least $1,000 (around £600) under their own steam in the App World to qualify for the revenue guarantee.If a qualifying app does not reach $10,000 of revenue in its first year, RIM will write the developer a cheque for the difference.
In a further commitment to its developers and the BlackBerry ecosystem, Saunders also announced that RIM is set to invest $100 million (around £61 million) into the system over the coming year.
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RIM puts money where its mouth is with app revenue promise
In an attempt to deliver quality applications for its BlackBerry mobile platform, Research in Motion is offering a revenue guarantee to its developers.
RIM is promising every qualifying application, submitted to App World before BB10 launches, $10,000 (around £6,100) in revenue in its first year on the market.
Talking about application investment at BlackBerry World 2012, Alec Saunders, Vice President of Developer Relations for RIM said: "We strongly believe that quality matters, not just quantity, so today I am happy to announce we are making a massive investment in quality, subject to some terms and conditions."
Cher-ching
Developers need to earn the BlackBerry Quality Certification and have previously generated at least $1,000 (around £600) under their own steam in the App World to qualify for the revenue guarantee.If a qualifying app does not reach $10,000 of revenue in its first year, RIM will write the developer a cheque for the difference.
In a further commitment to its developers and the BlackBerry ecosystem, Saunders also announced that RIM is set to invest $100 million (around £61 million) into the system over the coming year.
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BlackBerry App World growing faster than App Store and Google Play
Research in Motion has confirmed that it's hit the 99,500 application mark in its BlackBerry OS and PlayBook App World stores.
Alec Saunders, Vice President of Developer Relations for RIM, took to the stage at BlackBerry World 2012 in Orlando to bust some myths surrounding the company and applications on BlackBerry devices.
Saunders mentioned the rumours which suggested that developers were leaving the BlackBerry platform, but apparently not, as he reported the number of vendors in the App World at the end of 2011 had risen by 254% on the previous year.
Fastest growing vendor community in the mobile world
That 254% increase makes the BlackBerry app vendor community the fasting growing in the mobile world in terms of new-to-existing app ratio.Unsurprisingly this massive flux in vendors has resulted in a rise in the number of applications, with the BlackBerry App World now boasting 99,500 apps in its BB OS and PlayBook stores – a 226% year-on-year increase.
There's still some way for BlackBerry to go to match the likes of Apple's App Store and Google Play, which both house over 400,000 apps each - however RIM is combatting this with a whole range of new tools for developers, allowing them to easily create apps for the upcoming BlackBerry 10 platform.
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Google vs Oracle: Verdict coming in Android 'copying' case
A crucial verdict in the courtroom battle between Google and software developer Oracle is imminent after a jury retired to consider the case.
Oracle alleges that Google unlawfully copied elements of its Java software, when it developed the Android mobile operating system, rather than pay a license fee.
Google admits it did utilise the Java API under the "fair use" policy, but then created its own software rather than "copy" the Java within Android.
If the jury decides Google is at fault, it may end up costing the search giant billions in compensation and unpaid licensing fees.
'Nothing to see here,' says Google
"There was no copying here because Google knew that it couldn't use Sun's source code," said Google legal eagle Robert Van Nest in his closing arguments."This kind of use of APIs in this way where you use the minimum you need to be compatible is fair use."
However, Oracle says there was nothing fair about Google's use of the Java software and without legal intervention, the software licensing infrastructure will fall apart.
"If Google can just take the APIs and be forgiven under fair use, that licensing falls apart," Oracle lawyer Michael Jacobs told the San Fransisco court.
The verdict will only bring to a close the first part of this complicated patent infringement case, with several more installments set to follow.
So far, 2012 has been the year of the patent wars and that trend is showing no sign of relenting.
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