E3 2012: Microsoft Xbox SmartGlass: what you need to know
The interesting thing about E3 2012 was how few really big surprises there were.
While everyone and their cosplaying mother knew that Nintendo was gonna make a splash with the WiiU it remained to be seen what, if any, hardware announcements would be made by Microsoft and Sony in regards to their Xbox and PlayStation brands.
Microsoft's press conference, while getting a rise from the fanbase by showing trailers for Halo 4 and a slew of other sequels, was mostly par for the course. That was until they busted out Xbox SmartGlass.
While we all knew about Nintendo's Wii U, the PlayStation 3 and its Vita compatibility, everyone was excited to see Microsoft get into the "second screen" game.
Of course, while it was easy to see this as Microsoft's attempt to steal Nintendo's Wii U thunder, smart money is that this was Microsoft firing a shot across Apple's bow.
What exactly is Xbox SmartGlass?
Of course, Xbox SmartGlass aims to be more than just that.
At first glance Xbox SmartGlass looked like a remote control that lets users control media that's playing on an Xbox 360 from a mobile device.
If Appl'es AirPlay comes to mind you're not alone. And while it does do this (and may be the primary way that people use it) it also promises to do a lot more.
During Microsoft's E3 2012 press conference, the Washington-based company talked about how they think people consume media, as well as how they think people use the myriad devices that have become part of our daily lives.
With that in mind one of the cooler features with Xbox SmartGlass is that it lets you start media (like music or video) on your Xbox 360 and seamlessly continue the media on another SmartGlass-enabled device (whether it's a Windows 8 tablet or smartphone).
SmartGlass vs "second screen" solutions
From a hardware perspective, E3 2012 was about two things: so-called "second screen" gaming and streaming games from the likes of OnLive and Gakai (but we'll touch on streaming gaming in another article).It would seem that with Xbox SmartGlass Microsoft was hoping to kill several birds with one stone: steal Apple's thunder during WWDC 2012 and show that not only is the Wii U special, but also that Microsoft's open system is superior to Nintendo's closed system in that it works flawlessly with the devices you already own.
Serving as a "second screen" Xbox SmartGlass will provide additional content that is pertinent to what you happen to be doing whether it's a video game, a movie or a TV show.
The caveat being that it's playing on your Xbox 360. During Microsoft's E3 2012 demonstration they showed off Xbox SmartGlass with "Game of Thrones."
Using the Xbox SmartGlass we were shown an interactive map of Westeros (or whatever that place is called) that showed where the action in that given scene was taking place.
During gameplay players will be able to use Xbox SmartGlass in a tactical way. During Microsoft's E3 2012 demonstration they showed how a player could use the second screen while playing Madden Football NFL 13 to draw hot routes.
In Halo 4 players will be able to see their stats and other information.
If there's a "killer app" with Xbox SmartGlass it's Microsoft's promise that the app will be available on whatever mobile device you own: whether Android, iOS, or Windows 8.
This has the potential to blow the second screen scene wide open as Nintendo, Sony and even Apple's second screen solutions are relatively closed.
Who will actually use Xbox SmartGlass?
While Microsoft, and everyone else it seems, is betting on this whole second screen thing, it remains to be seen how it will be accepted.The Wii U shows promise in certain applications and games. But smart money is that Microsoft is making a move against Apple's AirPlay and seeing that it will exist cross platform as a simple app, we see no reason that folks won't at least, give it a shot.
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Now Apple is officially friends with Facebook, iTunes Ping set for chop
Apple has decided to pull the plug on its iTunes Ping social networking experiment, according to reports.
The company annoyed the bejesus out of Facebook when it launched the service in September of 2010, beginning a period of frosty relations between the tech giants.
However, Ping, which encourages users to follow their favourite artists and keep track of what their pals are listening to and buying on iTunes, has failed to lure the massive customer base.
Now Apple is finally embracing Facebook with full integration in iOS 6, to sit alongside the baked-in Twitter functionality, it seems the company is happy to let the big two do the talking for them.
Gone in iTunes 11
AllThingsD reckons Ping, which currently exists within iTunes 10.6.3 and is a non-functioning feature within the iOS 6 Beta, will be gone when iTunes 11 and iOS 6 launch in full later this year.During a recent interview at the site's D10 conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted that Ping had failed to connect with the public.
He said: "We tried Ping, and I think the customer voted and said 'This isn't something that I want to put a lot of energy into.'"
That sounds like a man who, in this particular instance, is ready to admit defeat doesn't it?
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Samsung Galaxy S3 gets an early firmware upgrade
The best-selling Samsung Galaxy S3 handset has received its first over-the-air update, with UK users reporting a pair of firmware downloads.
The Android 4.0 device is not experiencing any issues, to our knowledge, but that hasn't stopped Samsung pushing out updates promising "Improved stability" and nothing else.
The 31.7mb download can be installed over Wi-Fi or 3G.
Slashgear is reporting, following the completion of the initial firmware update, that users are being prompted to download another smaller 15mb file, which also promises improved stability.
Taking care of business (TCOB)
The updates suggest that, even with no complaints from an already sizable userbase, Samsung may have spotted something its not completely happy with.The company has enjoyed some incredibly good, almost Apple-esque feedback from users and critics, so it's good to see it staying on top of matters to ensure that remains the case.
If you haven't been prompted to download the upgrades yet, you can get them by visiting the software updates page within the Android OS settings menu
And, if you're still weighing up whether a 4.8-inch smartphone is really for you, check out our Samsung Galaxy S3 review.
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Harman Kardon launches headphones in the shape of iPhones
Harman Kardon's latest range of headphones sees the company putting all its eggs in Apple's basket.
Not only are the five new sets of cans being sold exclusively through Apple shops and designed to work only with Apple products, the physical shape of the headphones is inspired by the original iPhone.
This is most obvious on the two over-ear sets. The ear pieces are boxy rectangular affairs which Harman-Kardon thinks will appeal the premium-loving (and spending) Apple set.
Interesting look
The in-ear headphones also feature the oblong covers in a smaller form, as well as 9mm drivers, a dynamic range from 16hZ to 20,000hZ, and an inline-remote that works with iOS devices.The cheaper in-ear NI model will be available from today with a UK price of £89.95 (US $99.95), while the more expensive AE set, which come with better sound quality and malleable Comply foam buds that provide a better seal will set you back £129.95 (US $149.95).
The on-ear CL edition headphones are made from sand-blasted steel, with 40mm drivers and the ability to be folded flat. You can remove the cables for easy storage if you're willing to shell out £169.95 (US $199) for a pair.
The over-ear Bluetooth BTs are the highest spec of the bunch available today, and are much the same as the on-ear CLs, but with Bluetooth. You can charge them via USB or cable them up if you want to keep listening on-the-go once the 12-hour battery has died.
The BT model will cost £219.95 ($249) and a noise-cancelling set (known as NC) will be available in August at some point for the princely sum of approximately £279 (US pricing TBC).
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Rumor: Sprint preparing to launch a Google Wallet competitor
Sprint could develop its own NFC-based digital wallet, according to a batch of recently leaked presentation slides.
The slides suggest that Sprint is seriously considering launching its own competitor to Google Wallet, a service the carrier has collaborated with in the past.
For some time, Sprint was the only U.S. carrier to offer its customers access to Google Wallet, although Verizon's recent 4.0.4 update reportedly made the Google Wallet app accessible on Verizon Wireless's Galaxy Nexus.
Regardless, Sprint could cut ties with Google Wallet as they launch their own digital wallet service, called Touch Wallet.
Can Sprint compete?
Touch Wallet will reportedly require a 4-digit passcode to open, and it will allow users to tap the phone on a credit card reader to open up a list of available payment options.Sprint could partner with McDonalds, Starbucks, Target, Macy's, Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, and more companies, though the logos seen in the slides could be mere examples used by Sprint in the presentation and not indications of companies that are actually on board.
Questions that remain include which banks will become involved and what security measures will be in place to prevent the service from being hacked.
If Sprint does launch Touch Wallet, they'll no doubt break ties with Google Wallet, likely leaving that service floundering without a significant presence on mobile devices.
Touch Wallet 'makes very little sense'
J. Gold Associates analyst Jack Gold believes that Sprint would be better off remaining in league with Google."Sprint is already fairly dependent on Google from the perspective of Android," he told TechRadar, so "we'll see if they actually can do that."
He added that they'd be better off simply creating their own version of Google Wallet that distinguishes itself as a separate platform but uses Google's service as a core.
"For Sprint to try to go out and do their own wallet," he said, "to me makes very little sense."
"I think ultimately wallets are going to be one of those things like web browsers, where there's lots of them out there, and no one really buys - you know, no one gets 100 percent of the marketplace," he added.
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Nokia Maps to replace Bing Maps in Windows Phone 8
Apple isn't the only one making a coup of starting fresh with a new map service, as reports indicate that the future of Windows Phones will ditch Bing for Nokia Maps.
According to WPCentral, Nokia Maps service will replace Bing Maps across all devices with the launch of Windows Phone 8.
The service will offer 3D street navigation through hardware acceleration as it abandons Microsoft's beloved Bing namesake.
Then again, Nokia's Navteq map service has long been one of the key providers for Bing Maps. Just last month Nokia's Where platform began providing traffic data for Bing Maps too, so the partnership isn't exactly difficult to believe.
Windows 8 in the wings
The official announcement of Nokia's Map prominence on Windows Phones is expected during Microsoft's upcoming Windows Phone Summit.The one-day event on June 20 promises a "sneak peek of the future of Windows Phones," which many believe to mean the unveiling of Windows Phone 8, known as Apollo.
An announcement at the summit will especially help to clear up some confusion that started brewing in April as to whether Apollo will even be compatible with existing Windows Phone handsets.
With iOS6 just announced and Android Jelly Bean rumors heating up, the time is right for Microsoft to open up about its latest Windows Phone update.
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Verizon dropping almost all phone plans in favor of shared data, nixing unlimited data
Verizon Wireless announced plans to discontinue the majority of its existing phone plans today, in favor of shared data plans that will allow multiple family members and up to 10 devices to draw from a single pool of monthly data.
The plans will encourage users to link devices like laptops and tablets to their accounts, and a Verizon spokesperson told TechRadar via email that the carrier plans to support more devices in the future.
These devices previously required their own expensive data contracts, but Verizon Wireless' new plans will allow them to share data at a reduced overall cost to consumers.
At the same time, though, customers who plan to continue using only a single device could end up spending more.
Most of the new plans come with unlimited calling and texting, which not every user needs.
Existing customers will be able to keep their current plans or move to the new ones, with the exception of users with unlimited data plans, who will have to choose a new plan when they purchase new phones - unless they pay the full, unsubsidized price (i.e. $650 instead of $200 for an iPhone 4S).
Interestingly, customers on the new plans will not be charged extra to use their smartphones as mobile hotspots for tethering, though the data usage will count against their monthly allowances.
How much would you pay for shared data?
Verizon previously announced that existing 3G customers who wished to shift to a faster 4G connection would be forced to give up their "grandfathered" unlimited data in favor of the shared data plans.Now the details of Verizon's "Share Everything" plans have been announced.
On top of $40 for calls and texts, 1GB of monthly data will cost $50, 2GB will cost $60, and every additional 2 GB/month will cost an extra $10 after that.
Data allowances can be adjusted month-to-month, but overages will cost customers $15 per GB.
Previously, a data plan for a non-phone device cost at least $30 a month. Now adding a tablet will cost $10, and adding a USB data dongle for a laptop will cost $20.
With the exception of a single $40 limited-call and text plan for "dumb" phones, all of Verizon's existing limited plans will be eliminated.
The existing $30 data plans for single, non-phone devices will still be available.
Unlimited calling and texting will no doubt make the plans seem more attractive to customers, though the reality is few people need those benefits.
Data, on the other hand, is a valuable commodity, a fact Verizon is using to its advantage.
Other carriers will follow suit
The new plans will allow Verizon to continue to grow now that most Americans already have cell phones, and other carriers are likely to follow suit.AT&T is expected to announce its own shared data plans soon, and Sprint and T-Mobile would have to have something unique up their sleeves to defy the changes brought by their two biggest competitors.
But a T-Mobile spokesperson told TechRadar via email that the carrier has no intention of changing its plans.
"T-Mobile believes consumers today do not want a 'one size fits all' approach to shared family data plans, nor would they benefit from that model," the representative said.
The statement continued that T-Mobile believes "customers who pay more, should get more," "data should be worry-free," and "data plans should be flexible and affordable," indicating that the carrier has no plans to stop offering unlimited data.
Representatives from AT&T and Sprint did not immediately respond to TechRadar's questions.
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Review: Samsung Stratosphere (Verizon)
Introduction
Not all that long ago, tapping into Verizon Wireless' rapidly expanding 4G LTE network meant choosing a huge, expensive smartphone with poor battery life. But oh, how things change in just a short time.
Billed as "a Galaxy S phone," the carrier's Samsung Stratosphere (aka SCH-I405) nicely fills a niche as the first 4G LTE-enabled smartphone for users who prefer an old-school slider QWERTY keyboard coupled with a 4.0-inch, 800x480 WVGA Super AMOLED touchscreen display.
Weighing in at 5.8 ounces and measuring 4.96 inches tall, 2.54 inches wide and a not-so chunky 0.55 inches thick, the Samsung Stratosphere offers a nice compromise for users who want a slightly larger display. However, it does so at the expense of being able to comfortably hold the device to your ear for any length of time while having a conversation.
The front of the Stratosphere features a thin earpiece slightly raised above the surface of the display, with a Verizon logo emblazoned below. A 1.3MP front-facing camera is embedded at right. At bottom are four capacitive buttons for Menu, Home, Back and Search, crowned by a Samsung logo.
Up top, the device features a lone 3.5mm headphone jack, with power/sleep button on the right side, placed just a bit too high for our thumb to comfortably press. The bottom features a lone micro-USB 2.0 port at center, while a volume rocker rests at the top left side.
The back of the handset includes a 5.0MP auto-focus camera with LED flash. The keyboard slider requires both hands to open, but it's solidly built and the keys are firm and easy to type on.
Verizon Wireless offers the Samsung Stratosphere for $99.99 with a two-year agreement ($409.99 retail price); a 4G data plan is required.
Display and interface
The WVGA display on the Samsung Stratosphere is certainly bright and colorful, but there's no denying that this PenTile screen is old school by today's standards, especially with the proliferation of 720p HD devices. Given the potential midrange buyer for this device it's not much of a hardship, but the display was a tad on the soft side for our tastes.
Don't get your hopes up for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich: The Stratosphere comes with Android 2.3 Gingerbread (version 2.3.5 to be exact), and this particular handset is (sadly) not on Samsung's current list of devices to be upgraded.
Once you've made peace with that reality, users can find comfort in the loving arms of an unidentified flavor of TouchWiz, which very capably runs on the Stratosphere's 1GHz processor. We prefer Samsung's lighter touch when it comes to skinning Android compared to the likes of HTC's Sense.
When waking the handset from sleep, a cutesy lock screen shows a puzzle with a missing piece – slide it into place and you're in. A large clock widget is perched atop an AccuWeather.com-powered weather widget, with space for two rows of icons below.
By default, the bottom row features icons for Voice Mail, Email, Browser and Android Market, which quickly switched over to the new Play Store after being launched the first time. Pinned below is a dock with icons for Phone, Contacts, Messaging and Applications.
A tap in the upper left corner of the home screen allows quick access to choosing a different home screen from four other pages, accessed by swiping left or right. All in all, a fairly fluid UI that's not overly cluttered with options.
Contacts, calling and messaging
A tap on the Phone icon in the dock calls up the dialer, featuring a large, finger-friendly keypad. Start typing a phone number and a bar appears above the keypad offering suggestions; tap one and the complete number is entered, ready to call.
Call volume was quite good through earpiece and speaker alike, although actual call quality was a bit on the digitized side for our tastes. During a call, users can switch to another task and then return to the call, mute, speaker or end it, all from the notifications window.
The dialer also includes buttons at top for quickly accessing Keypad, Call log, Favorites and Contacts. Orange buttons below offer voice dialing, which failed to find the correct contact after repeated attempts, and a shortcut to messaging, which worked like a charm.
We really like the TouchWiz soft keyboard, which comes with Swype baked right in. Whether you're banging out a quick SMS or simply typing a URL into the web browser, you'll find the soft keys are among the best Android has to offer.
Samsung also has a slick, clean UI for Messaging, with easy access to Recent, Contacts or Group recipients. MMS messages can be attached from pretty much everywhere, including a full slideshow, movie or image files, contacts and calendars.
Internet & Media
The Samsung Stratosphere comes with a fairly stock Android web browser that performed about as expected in our tests: 5832.9ms with SunSpider 0.9.1 and 160 with PeaceKeeper, compared to the far zippier 2246.2ms and 315, respectively, with an iPhone 4S.
The stock Flash-enabled browser doesn't quite have the kick of the Android 4.0-only Google Chrome, but it's perfectly serviceable for those who don't want or need to sync bookmarks from the desktop.
On the other hand, the Stratosphere manages to make the most of Verizon's 4G LTE, pulling down a whopping 16.11Mbps while pushing a respectable 5.97Mbps upstream. The results were far less impressive on the carrier's aging 3G network, which only managed 0.33Mbps down and 0.61Mbps up in our tests.
Although we can't imagine surviving with such slow 3G, the Stratosphere is at least noteworthy for its ability to completely switch off 4G LTE (under Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile Networks > System Selection) for those who prefer to maximize battery life while on CDMA only.
The Stratosphere isn't exactly a slouch when it comes to multimedia connectivity, either, with a surprisingly comprehensive array of preinstalled options. AllShare allows playing or downloading media from your phone to a compatible player, tapping into the same from a PC or laptop and more.
Verizon has also loaded up the handset with its own media content available in V CAST Music, V CAST Tones and V CAST Videos. Samsung's Media Hub also allows for renting movies, TV shows and more right from your handset.
Camera and video
The Samsung Stratosphere's 5.0MP autofocus rear camera is capable of shooting still images up to 2560x1920 or capturing video at up to 720x480 (480p). Not quite state of the art, but in our tests, the results were better than expected, particularly with still images.
While we didn't have much luck trying to snap decent photos of subjects in motion, actual picture quality was quite rich in detail. Images were a little on the soft side, but otherwise had accurate color reproduction and contrast.
The camera app offered a surprising number of options given the Stratosphere's lower rung on Samsung's ladder. Users have nearly full control over how their images are shot (including four choices for the actual shutter sound!), although Effects options are quite skimpy (Negative, Black and white and Sepia only).
What's more, 480p video recordings are made in the MP4 format, but exhibited a noticeable amount of noise and even some moderate pixelization upon playback when played back on our iMac, even with movies shot in bright sunlight.
While the lack of HD video recording was a bit of a mystery to us, Samsung has done an otherwise admirable job here. We're more impressed with the Stratosphere's optics and camera software than the company's more high-end Galaxy Nexus, which has a notoriously poor camera considering its lofty status.
Battery life and connectivity
The Samsung Stratosphere comes packing a removable 1800mAh battery, which can be accessed by using a thumbnail to pry off the entire thin plastic shell covering the back of the unit. Once opened, you'll also find the LTE SIM card slot above the battery and off to the right, space for a micro-SD (4GB preinstalled, up to 32GB supported).
Samsung and Verizon promise standby time of up to 212 hours (just shy of nine days) and usage time up to eight hours (or rather, 480 minutes, which the carrier touts in an effort to impress). We didn't quite reach those lofty heights of usage or standby time, but given the 4G LTE data connection, we have no complaints.
The Stratosphere is also a cost-effective way to tap into Verizon's 4G LTE, since the handset is Mobile Hotspot capable for up to eight devices (five devices over 3G). The device includes 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 as well.
Speaking of Wi-Fi, the Samsung Stratosphere includes a setting we've not seen before: "Notify me." When toggled on, the device nags you when known Wi-Fi networks are available before consuming high-speed data on one of Verizon's notoriously capped 4G LTE data plans.
Thankfully, this feature is easily toggled off for users who don't want to be bugged each time they want to tap into some LTE goodness.
Maps and apps
Verizon bloatware is at an all-time high on the Samsung Stratosphere, with no fewer than 20 such apps gobbling up space on the handset's 4GB of internal storage – and no, you can't delete them, sorry.
Football fans will appreciate the included NFL Mobile, while Big Red also includes V CAST Media, which has now been replaced by Backup Assistant Plus for accessing pictures, videos, music and documents on your desktop from devices like the Stratosphere.
Verizon also crams a number of other apps onto the device including Amazon Kindle, Blockbuster (which includes $5 free credit upon signing up), My Verizon Mobile (for account management), Quickoffice and Slacker Radio.
A couple of games are also thrown into the mix from Gameloft: Let's Golf 2 and Need for Speed: Shift, but as usual, both are playable demos that require purchasing the full version to truly enjoy. Last but not least is City ID, a $1.99 per month service for displaying the city and state of incoming phone calls.
On the navigation front, Verizon has included the $4.99 per month VZ Navigator (free 30-day trial included, also available for $2.99 per day as needed) along with the free Google Navigation, which is one of our favorites.
Verdict
For Sprint customers who might be making the jump to Verizon Wireless, you could feel right at home with the Samsung Stratosphere: It's basically a souped-up version of that carrier's Epic 4G. Although the handset doesn't do any one thing exceptionally well, it's a worthy companion for budget users who want to tap into LTE speed on the cheap.
We liked
Samsung's TouchWiz has always been less overbearing than the competition, and the Stratosphere makes good use of this UI skin here. For a handset lower down the food chain, it comes packed with quite a lot of functionality, which makes it a good choice for first-time smartphone buyers.The camera actually rivals higher-end devices like the Galaxy Nexus, so Stratosphere owners won't have to feel like they're being shortchanged – especially compared to competing handsets from the likes of HTC.
We disliked
We've never really cared much for QWERTY sliders and while the keyboard works just fine, the slider mechanism itself feels pretty stiff. You'll need both hands free to make any use of this one.The screen resolution doesn't quite live up to the Super AMOLED display, but otherwise the Stratosphere is bright and colorful. Like many Samsung handsets, the back of the device comes off easily, but it's so thin and fragile that we fear having to tape it on by the end of a two-year commitment with this handset.
Verdict
QWERTY slider keyboard fans don't have a whole lot of choice when it comes to 4G LTE data, but they could do a lot worse than the Samsung Stratosphere. It's not a handset intended for Android power users, but the sum of its parts is overall a good value.
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PureView cameras confirmed for future Nokia Lumia Windows phones
Nokia is hard at work bringing its powerful PureView camera technology to future Windows Phones.
While speaking with HowardForums, Nokia US president Chris Webb came right out and said, "you can expect we'll be bringing PureView technologies to the Windows Phone platform and Lumia devices."
"We're absolutely committed to doing that," he added.
What Webb didn't comment on when we will actually see a Lumia PureView cameraphone.
Though he did go on to say that the handset maker is working with Microsoft to ensure the full PureView feature set is available on Windows Phone.
"At the same time we're working with Microsoft to make sure their platform supports the broad set of things we want to do with the PureView imaging."
PureView coming to America
Nokia already debuted the 41-megapixel camera in the Symbian-based 808 PureView cameraphone, which launched last month in select countries across the globe.Last month, Webb hinted that the 808 PureView could even make its way to the US, though it would not be tied to a specific carrier.
Leaked snapshots of multicolored PureView Windows Phones appeared online earlier this year, suggesting that the wait may not be too long after all.
That first look may arrive June 20, when Microsoft is holding a Windows Phone Summit where it promises "a sneak peek of the future of Windows Phones."
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Review: Sony Vaio T13 Ultrabook
Introduction
Sony may be late to the Ultrabook party, but it's sure to make quite an impression with its debut device - the Sony Vaio T13.Not just because the first Ultrabook-branded Vaio machine looks like an incredibly desirable bit of tech. But, because Sony has managed to cram in a decent hardware setup and a wealth of features into a stylish slimline chassis that comes in comfortably inside £700/$1,000.
This Sandy Bridge-configured Sony Vaio T13 isn't the cheapest Ultrabook that we've seen - that honour belongs to the Novatech nFinity 2367 Plus - but the Sony Vaio brand carries so much weight that we're delighted to see it priced as it is.
But while the price tag is fairly low, the design and build is anything but. Despite it not being as sleek as the Dell XPS 13, as pretty as the Asus Zenbook UX31, or as feature-ridden as the HP Envy 14 Spectre, the 13.3-inch Sony Vaio T Series is a seriously slick machine with a robustness and sharp finish unlike any other Ultrabook we've seen.
At 17.8mm thick, and with a weight of 1.6kg, the Sony Vaio T13 is certainly not the skinniest Ultrabook on the catwalk, but its square, almost industrial edges set it apart from its rivals. A MacBook clone it is not - although that's a crime that more than one of the Ultrabook brigade are guilty of.
The housing is made up of a mix of aluminium and magnesium alloy, with the lid's brushed aluminium finish creating an instant sense of excitement.
The all-over silver design scheme helps to create an industrial and rugged impression for the Sony Vaio T13. And this impression isn't misleading either - the lid and screen, while thin, are plenty sturdy, and it should be safe enough in your bag for a day out and about.
This £679 version of Sony's first foray into the Ultrabook market is packing a second generation Intel Core 13 processor in the UK. There are third generation Ivy Bridge versions now available but these will cost you at least £100 more. So, because of its appealing price-point, we feel that this particular model deserves a standalone review.
In the US, the Sony Vaio T13 range starts with a third generation Intel Core i5 version for $769.99, or a Core i7 version for $150 more.
We will, of course, bring you a comprehensive review of the Ivy Bridge-powered Sony Vaio T13 Ultrabooks in due time.
Specifications
Powering the Sony Vaio T13 that we reviewed was a Sandy Bridge i3-2367M dual-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz, with Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics and 4GB of RAM. With the Ivy Bridge revolution now in full swing you would be forgiven for having reservations about forking out for an Ultrabook with, essentially, outdated tech on board.If that is the case, then you do have the option of upgrading to either an Intel Core i5-3317U chip for £100 extra, or an i7-3517U one for £140 more.
As we said, in the US the third generation Intel Core i5-3317U version, clocked at 1.70GHz, costs $769.99, and the third generation Core i7-3517U model, at 1.90GHz, costs $919.99.
However, if you're on a strict budget then it's worth remembering that the original Ultrabook lineup - including the HP Folio 13, the Samsung Series 5 and, the-Ultrabook-that-isn't-actually-an-Ultrabook, the MacBook Air - all run on Sandy Bridge processors and are more than up to the job.
Running Windows 7 Home Premium Edition (with the option of upgrading to Window 7 Professional for an extra cost), the Sony Vaio T13 boasts a quick response time from sleep mode, thanks to the hybrid storage system made up of a 320GB HDD and a 32GB SSD.
The SSD aspect kicks the Intel Smart Response Technology and Sony's Rapid Wake into action, meaning almost instantaneous wake times. There is a standard SSD option too, which will give you an extra couple of hours battery life - nine as opposed to seven. Our hybrid hard drive review unit managed a fairly ordinary 212 minutes under duress.
A strong point of the Sony Vaio T13 is its connectivity options, which include a raft of 'legacy' ports. There are a couple of USB ports on the left-hand side, one of which is of the faster USB 3.0 variety, and on the right-hand side of the machine there is a VGA port, an HDMI port, an Ethernet option and a 3.5mm jack for your headphones or speakers. There's even a multi-card reader, as well.
In terms of wireless connectivity, you're presented with 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. Ultrabooks are great for digital media, social networking and keeping in touch while on the go, and the Sony Vaio T13 is no exception to this rule.
The built-in webcam is HD, has 1.3 megapixels and is powered by Exmor for PC. Exmor is a technology that Sony has used with some of its CMOS image sensors for its digital cameras, including the excellent Sony RX100, and we're told the inclusion "ensures sharper details, higher contrast and rich colours" and, after giving it the once over, we can't argue with that.
The PC's display may not be Full HD, with a 1366 x 768 resolution, but this seems to be the standard across sub-£1,000 Ultrabooks at the moment.
The Sony Vaio T13 had no issues playing back HD video from a range of file formats, and the sound quality is particularly strong for such a slim notebook as a result of the xLOUD and Clear Phase technology onboard - so it's more than acceptable as a media-based machine.
The 13.3-inch display isn't the greatest though; the semi-gloss finish is quite reflective, and viewing angles aren't fantastic.
Performance
The lack of an i5 or i7 processor, and the fact that we're dealing with a low-end Sandy Bridge processor, means that the Sony Vaio T13 is slightly underwhelming when it comes to performance. High-end gaming is a definite no and high-quality media editing isn't advised. Overall, it scored below average in benchmark tests compared to the rest of the Ultrabook posse, and these scores are reflected when it comes to everyday usage.However, that's not to say that the Sony Vaio T13 is a sluggish affair. Far from it. It breezed through HD video playback (from a variety of codecs) with no bother, played photo slideshows with ease, and carried out everyday tasks such as document editing, file management and keeping up to date with your social media networks with no trouble at all - even with multiple programs opened at one time.
This being a Vaio laptop, there's a plethora of Sony bloatware pre-installed, although it's not all bad. We are fans of Vaio Gesture Control, for example - a Kinect-like motion detecting system that enables a Minority Report-style hands-off control experience.
It takes a while to set up and get used to, and is probably more gimmicky than useful, but we're were impressed nonetheless.
You are more than likely going to want to spend a bit of time uninstalling some of the other handy programs that Sony has chosen for your machine. The Vaio Gate toolbar is a bit annoying (although easily switched off) and the sooner you rid the Sony Vaio T13 of the constantly crashing Vaio Media Plus, the better.
Back to the build and a nice design touch is the lipped-hinge system that raises the angle of the keyboard when the display is tilted backwards. It's obviously down to personal habit, but the prime screen position also seemed to coincide with the perfect keyboard angle for us.
As per the recent Vaio trend, there are three physical buttons above the F keys: Assist, Web and Vaio, which are all pre-set as shortcuts to Sony's chosen destinations. You can, however, point these whatever way you choose by tweaking the settings.
The keyboard has got a bit of the MacBook flavour about it - with a black isolated arrangement. Sadly, there's no backlighting for the keys though, and the response isn't quite as soft as Apple's slimline stunner. Key depth is shallow and taps are pretty loud compared to some of the Sony Vaio T13's rival Ultrabooks.
The trackpad is a solitary affair, orphaned by a lack of physical buttons. However, this integrated affair seems pretty natural after a short play, and there are some nice multi-touch features including a four-finger swipe to switch between open programs and a Mac OS X-like two finger scrolling option, which comes in handy when reading long articles on the web.
Benchmarks
Cinebench: 4,3963DMark: 3,059
Battery Eater: 212 minutes
Verdict
Sony's entry to the Ultrabook market was long overdue, and the Vaio T13 is certainly an encouraging debut. The price-point obviously means that some sacrifices have been made when it comes to hardware, and therefore performance, but the Sony Vaio T13 is a fantastic looking ultra-portable computer that is perfectly suited for somebody looking for a day-to-day media-friendly laptop.We liked
The design of the Sony Vaio T13 is refreshing, to say the least. It may have substituted a slightly slimmer waistline in favour of a more robust, industrial and original design, but we're all for it.The build quality is so sturdy and strong that we were never concerned when it came to carrying the Sony Vaio T13 around, even without a protective sleeve.
Although common across all Ultrabooks, we found that the Intel Rapid Start technology performed with particular aplomb on the Sony Vaio T13. While laptops are never going to compete with tablets for ease of use, it's certainly not a hassle to pick up and fire up the Sony Vaio T13 from sleep.
We disliked
Performance isn't great, with a Sandy Bridge CPU used in order to keep the cost down. You'll have no bother with the day-to-day basics, but try to push the Sony Vaio T13 beyond the likes of browsing, photo viewing or video watching and you'll come unstuck.There's also a wealth of Sony bloatware that you'll need to get through before you get the Sony Vaio T13 running as smoothly as it can do and, even when you do, you may just find the 13.3-inch display a bit too reflective.
Final verdict
There are Ultrabooks out there that offer a slicker experience than the Sony Vaio T13 but, at £679/$769.99, it only really has two rivals: the Novatech nFinity 2367 Plus and the Acer Aspire S3.And while it can't quite match that duo for speed and performance, its build and design blows them out of the water.
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Review: T-Mobile Sidekick 4G
Not long ago, T-Mobile's Sidekick was the ultimate solution for keeping friends abreast of your daily minutia. But that was before status updates officially became a thing, and such functionality became standard in all phones. Along with a series of embarrassing missteps that did much harm to the line's legacy.
One that has been largely forgotten thanks to the rapidly changing climate of cell phone technology and habits. Which is why many might be scratching their heads at the idea of the brand's revival. But that's exactly what T-Mobile is attempting.
The Sidekick 4G has hardware by Samsung, software by Google and the verdict? A surprisingly competent device, one that can hold its own among other Android handsets in its class.
The first thing that most will notice is the design, which clearly reflects its legacy. The end result is a breath of fresh air; almost every Android handset on the market today, even with a sliding keyboard, largely resembles an iPhone to a certain point. Not the Sidekick 4G.
The device sports a 3.5-inch screen that has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. By itself, it's nothing worth getting excited over, but the QWERTY interface that's nestled underneath is noteworthy. There's plenty of room between keys, resulting in a hassle-free typing experience. Plus their feel, along with the sound they make when contact occurs, amounts to one of the best keypads you'll find on any smartphone today.
But the real star is the hinge that allows the QWERTY interface to be either exposed or hidden behind the display. Unlike most previous models, which have mostly sported a swivel-type mechanism, by simply pushing the lower lip just a solitary centimeter will gracefully slide the screen upwards.
Yet the hinge is no pushover either; the construction is supremely solid. Even after steady, aggressive use, it still feels just as tight as when the phone was first taken out of its box.
At each corner on the face of the phone are buttons, which are also carryovers from the original Sidekick line. But because of Android, the mix of old and new may lead to confusion among many longtime users of the platform. To the point that one has to wonder why the stock hardware button icons weren't simply used instead.
Behind the phone are two rubberized areas for gripping. While nothing substantial, it does feel nice and gives the device further character. The top is where the USB port is positioned, along with button to allow quick access to the camera app. Though the phone must first be woken up, if it's in sleep mode, and unlocked for any picture taking to happen.
At the bottom of the phone is the power key, to either wake the device up or turn it on/off. The volume rocker is also found down there, right next to the headphone jack. The placement for all these physical elements made total sense. Battery life is also respectable, and despite being made almost entirely of plastic, the Sidekick 4G feels great in the hand. Nice and sturdy, with a decent sense of weight.
But the hardware is not without faults. The rear facing camera is only 3.15 megapixels and serviceable at best. There's a front facing camera as well, which is VGA. Also on the front is an optical track pad that's rather pointless in portrait mode, and difficult to use in landscape, which is when it's supposed to be used. And underneath it all is a Cortex A8 Hummingbird CPU, plus a PowerVR SGX540 as the GPU.
On paper, the two chips sound like a competent pair, but they sometimes struggle to keep the Froyo party going. The touchscreen interface can be sluggish, especially while scrolling. And when performing certain functions, primarily when playing video or running graphically intensive games, the Sidekick 4G has been known to lock up.
At least the image quality is impressive, given the low resolution and how the display is LCD instead AMOLED, which is the norm among Samsung handsets. Text and images always look crisp, plus colors shine.
The interface can also be confusing, depending on what orientation the phone is at, but this is an issue that persists among many Android handsets that has a QWERTY keyboard into the mix.
On the positive side is Samsung's skinning of Android; it's miles above anything you've seen on their flagship Galaxy phones. The lock and jump key screens are super stylish, to make itself even more attractive to a younger, hipper audience.
But seeing the time on the lock screen displayed via words and not numbers will appeal to anyone with keen design sensibilities. The Sidekick 4G's is clearly aimed at teens, and manages to hit its target successfully without pandering, thanks to genuine ingenuity. Samsung deserves much credit for that. Yet it can also be argued that one reason for the aforementioned sluggishness is due to graphical overlay that is being rendered.
And as everyone already knows, the Sidekick was designed with the broadcasting information in mind. The 4G comes equipped with built-in Twitter, Facebook, and even MySpace functionality, courtesy of Samsung's Social Networking Sync. It attempts to merge people's identities from assorted social networks, but pruning, due to duplicate entries, is still a minor headache, and most may want to stick with official clients in the end.
When it comes to surfing the web, the device lives up to its updated moniker, thanks to T-Mobile's HSPA+ 4G network. And as for the actual phone part of the phone, like making calls, voice quality was exemplarily on both ends.
The verdict
Our time spent with the Sidekick was generally positive. A sometimes-confusing interface, one that is hampered with slow speeds was the biggest turn offs. Yet neither were deal breakers, and the 4G accomplished what it set out to do, with stylishly crafted and solidly built hardware, and one of the most attractive looking skins even devised for Android.Long time fans of the line will feel right at home, while those who simply want an affordable, mid-range Android device, yet one that is still very much unique, need not look any further.
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Amazon releases Cloud Player app for iPhone, iPod touch
Better late than never, Amazon finally released an iOS client for its Cloud Player service, allowing iPhone 4S and iPod touch owners to both stream and download their content from the cloud.
Amazon Cloud Player marks a departure from the company's HTML5 mobile-enhanced web app, which allows playing music tracks without DRM copy protection directly from the e-tailer's cloud storage locker.
The free Cloud Player app for iPhones and iPod touch allows both streaming and downloading of stored content, with the ability to both create and manage playlists that are also stored in the cloud.
From cloud to player
"Customers tell us that they want access to all of their music, wherever they are, and on all of the devices they use," said Steve Boom, Vice President of Digital Music for Amazon."By bringing Cloud Player to iPhone and iPod touch, we now have the most widely compatible cloud playback solution available, giving our customers the ability to buy once and enjoy their music everywhere."
Amazon Cloud Player includes 5GB of free storage, which customers can use to upload their own DRM-free MP3 or AAC music files.
Purchases made through Amazon's MP3 store can optionally be stored free of charge in Cloud Player, with the added benefit that such files won't consume available space.
The Amazon Cloud Player app, now available for download from the App Store, also works just fine on the iPad, but since it's not a universal app, there is no native support for the larger screen.
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Hands-on review: E3 2012: Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Headset for Xbox 360
While the Xbox 360 may be the no.1 gaming console, one area where it has lagged behind the PS3 is in in-game communication. Regardless of how you feel about Microsoft and Sony's respective systems, the fact remains that the PS3 has always been the easier the system to connect a communication device to.
Enter Mad Catz who hopes to change that with the officially licensed Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Headset for Xbox 360.
TechRadar originally saw the Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Headset for Xbox 360 at CES 2012 and while we were impressed by the headset, the sound quality of the gaming experience, and the incredible range, we were left to wonder when gamers would actually be able to experience them.
While Mad Catz was mum about the exact release date of the headset, at E3 2012 we realized that Xbox 360 gamers are ever closer to being able to game as close to wirelessly as the Xbox 360 is capable of.
Shipping with two rechargeable lithium ion batteries (one battery is charging while the other is in the headset itself). While this makes for seemingly uninterrupted gameplay, since the headset ships with a "charging station" we would love to see an inductive charging mechanism a la PowerMat.
Sporting 5.8 GHz wireless technology and 7.1 Dolby surround sound during our demo, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 sounded absolutely incredible. Another absolutely incredible feature is the Warhead's ability to support wireless voice chat.
Long the holy grail of Xbox gaming. Being an officially supported Xbox product the Warhead rocks a security chip that enables this truly wireless functionality.
Expected to ship this summer, expect the Warhead to cost around $299.
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Hands-on review: E3 2012: Hands on: Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Headset for Xbox 360
While the Xbox 360 may be the #1 gaming console, one area where it has lagged behind the PS3 is in in-game communication. Regardless of how you feel about Microsoft and Sony's respective systems, the fact remains that the PS3 has always been the easier the system to connect a communication device to.
Enter Mad Catz who hopes to change that with the officially licensed Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Headset for Xbox 360. TechRadar originally saw the Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Headset for Xbox 360 at CES 2012 and while we were impressed by the headset, the sound quality of the gaming experience, and the incredible range, we were left to wonder when gamers would actually be able to experience them.
While Mad Catz was mum about the exact release date of the headset, at E3 2012 we realized that Xbox 360 gamers are ever closer to being able to game as close to wirelessly as the Xbox 360 is capable of.
Shipping with two rechargeable lithium ion batteries (one battery is charging while the other is in the headset itself). While this makes for seemingly uninterrupted gameplay, since the headset ships with a "charging station" we would love to see an inductive charging mechanism a la PowerMat.
Sporting 5.8 GHz wireless technology and 7.1 Dolby surround sound during our demo, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 sounded absolutely incredible. Another absolutely incredible feature is the Warhead's ability to support wireless voice chat. Long the holy grail of Xbox gaming. Being an officially supported Xbox product the Warhead rocks a security chip that enables this truly wireless functionality.
Expected to ship this summer, expect the Warhead to cost around $299.
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Review: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Introduction
Travel zoom cameras have quickly become something of a saviour of the photographic industry. Their broad focal ranges yet pocket-sized proportions distance and differentiate the compacts from the smartphone threat.They also suggest an all-in-one solution for travellers who don't want to pack a DSLR or compact system camera, yet still require choice when shooting stills and video.
Offering all of the above and more is the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V, the latest flagship pocket compact in its High Performance range. With a solid-feeling metal build, stereo microphones, integral GPS, top-of-the-range G series lens, plus serious black finish, it certainly resembles a premium camera.
A high-ish price tag of £349 in the UK and $398 in the US pitches the Sony HX20V against the class-leading Panasonic Lumix TZ30 - both cameras featuring a 20x optical zoom range - as well as high-powered bridge cameras such as the 30x zoom Fuji HS30.
On the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V, the core focal range is equivalent to 25-500mm on a 35mm camera, and the camera witnesses the debut of what Sony calls its Advanced Aspherical (AA) lens design, the purpose of which is of course to deliver a big zoom in a fairly small body.
The camera's dimensions measure 106.6 x 61.9 x 34.6mm, with a leather effect rubber grip plus Optical SteadyShot stabilisation helping to avoid blur when shooting handheld at maximum telephoto, and effectively so, as it happens.
Value-added features such as the auto stitching Sweep Panorama extend the scope for how much information can be squeezed into your frame.
The Sony Cyber-shot HX20V finds room for the same 18.2 megapixel 1/2.3-type Exmor R CMOS sensor used by the Sony HX200V, while avoiding its sibling's mini DSLR bulk and being cheaper with it. Also onboard is its image enhancing Pixel Super Resolution technology, helping to reduce if not wholly prevent the blocky appearance of conventional digital zooms.
In doing so the Sony HX20V looks to deliver what many could consider a very fair compromise of small size, yet big imaging performance. That's if potential purchasers can justify paying £150/$200 more than less flashy but still fully featured travel zooms such as the 18x zoom Samsung WB150F, also with GPS.
Lending the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V a more rarefied air, however, are DSLR-style features such as a software-boosted maximum sensitivity of ISO 12800 (against the Samsung's ISO 3200), high speed Bionz processor, and AF timings of 0.13 seconds in daylight. This latest high-powered Sony Cyber-shot certainly looks the part and reads as capable on paper, but how does it prove in practice?
Build quality and handling
With the grip at the front providing room for your two middle fingers and a further pad at the back for the thumb, it's possible to shoot one-handed at maximum telephoto with the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V, leaving the forefinger free to squeeze down on the shutter release button or toggle the zoom lever that surrounds it.A body-only weight of 221g, without the 320-shot rechargeable battery or choice of SD or Memory Stick Pro Duo inserted at the base, further adds stability when held in the palm.
18 megapixel stills and Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels video clips captured at 50fps are composed and reviewed via the 3-inch, 4:3 aspect ratio LCD screen on the backplate, the 921k dot resolution ensuring that visibility is good, both indoors and out.
There's no additional viewfinder, and clean lines are further preserved by the fact that the flash is sunk into the top plate when not in use.
Sony has, however, found room for a tiny shooting mode dial, ridged edging providing greater purchase for the thumb. If we're nit-picking we could have done with the dial's action being slightly stiffer to avoid slipping accidentally onto an adjacent setting when fetching the camera out of a jacket or back pocket.
On the dial itself, we're provided with the usual complement of intelligent auto and creative settings - 10 in total. Here manual options are divided between Program mode and Manual mode, the latter also including the ability to adjust aperture value and shutter speed.
The two fully auto modes are similarly divided, to provide exposure-adjusting and sharpening Superior Auto, plus subject-recognising Intelligent Auto. Also present and correct are separate scene, 3D and panorama shooting options.
Video also gets a dedicated setting on this top plate dial, as does, interestingly, a shallow depth of field-aping Background Defocus mode, while a red video record button features top right of the backplate. This button is inset, so requires a deliberate dig with a thumbnail to activate.
While separate playback, menu and delete buttons on the backplate keep operation straightforward and intuitive, readily falling under the thumb, the centrepiece here is a jog dial-come-scroll wheel. With a thumb press to one of its edges this can be used for gingerly tabbing through settings, or it can be spun to progress quicker.
Ranged around this are display, flash, self timer and continuous shooting settings, while when in Intelligent Auto mode a press of its bottom edge will access the Photo Creativity options.
This enables brightness and saturation to be tweaked in the camera pre-capture using an on-screen slider, while a few digital filters - including a pop art and toy camera style effect - can also be applied.
Missing here is a miniature mode option, but in truth filters are only likely to be applied in moderation, if at all.
Performance
Give the top plate power button of the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V a press and within two seconds the lens barrel has extended from flush with the body to its maximum wide-angle setting, soundtracked by the buzz of lens mechanics.The display settings here are interesting, in that with subsequent presses of the rear dial the user can call up a live histogram displaying brightness levels across the image or an on-screen spirit level, thereby enabling straight horizons even when shooting handheld.
Hold a finger down on the zoom lever and the camera zips through its focal range from extreme wide angle to maximum telephoto in all of three seconds, although once again there's that low waspish buzz.
To compensate for this, the zoom is much slower - and a good deal quieter - when used after the movie record button has been pressed, taking seven to eight seconds to travel the same distance. This isn't altogether a bad thing, as transitions are much smoother on the resulting footage.
Half squeeze the shutter release button in stills mode and there's the briefest of adjustments before the shot snaps into focus and a cluster of AF points appear highlighted on screen.
Squeeze the button fully and the shutter fires nigh instantly, the captured full resolution frame remaining on screen for a second or two, while it's being written to card.
In terms of image quality, this being a Sony camera and with default settings in place, colours really pop when downloaded to your desktop computer, with vibrant reds and lush greens being particularly striking. Shots straight from the camera display a good amount of contrast and deep blacks too, subtly adding depth and dimension to its frames.
In terms of low light performance, you'll probably want to stick to ISO 3200 and below, or at ISO 1600 if you want to avoid having any grain at all. Shots taken at ISO 6400 and ISO 12800 have an artificial look - the result of software trickery to boost the sensor performance while limiting noise.
At maximum setting there is a watercolour look for sure, but it's far from a deal breaker.
Image quality and resolution
As part of our image quality testing for the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V, we've shot our resolution chart.If you view our crops of the resolution chart's central section at 100% (or Actual Pixels) you will see that, for example, at ISO 100 the Sony HX20V is capable of resolving up to around 22 (line widths per picture height x100) in its highest quality JPEG files.
For a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean, and how to read them, check out our full explanation of our camera testing resolution charts.
Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100:
ISO 100, score: 22 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 200, score: 22 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 400, score: 22 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 800, score: 20 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 1600, score: 16 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 3200, score: 16 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 6400, score: n/a (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 12800, score: n/a (Click here to see full resolution image)
Noise and dynamic range
We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using DXO Analyzer software to generate the data to produce the graphs below.A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image.
For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests.
JPEG images from the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V have similar signal to noise ratio (SNR) results to the Panasonic TZ30 at mid-range sensitivities (ISOs). After that is doesn't perform as well, although it's consistently better than the Fujifilm F770 EXR. The very high SNR values at the highest sensitivity settings are the result of heavy smoothing which takes out all of the noise at the expense of detail.
Dynamic range
This chart indicates that the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V scores relatively high results for dynamic range when compared to the Canon PowerShot SX260 HS, Panasonic TZ30 and Fujifilm F770 EXR.
Sample images
Click here to see the full resolution image
The Sony Cyber-shot HX20V once again offers its manufacturer's Sweep Panorama function, automatically compositing together a single elongated frame from a burst of images. The result is a 20MB (as opposed to an average 6-8MB) file. While exposure is even and the result's dramatic, movement has resulted in some 'diced' subjects on the far right.
Click here to see the full resolution image
A long lens reach on a pocket camera is the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V's chief selling point - and here it has come up trumps, bringing out the inner Chris Packham, enabling us to shoot handheld and capture impressively detailed close ups of wildfowl.
Click here to see the full resolution image
You can also get up close and personal with this Sony camera and still capture bags of detail and colour even when shooting at maximum 25mm equivalent wide-angle setting. Here we're only a centimetre or two from our subject, so that it dramatically fills the frame.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Another extreme wide-angle shot, and here one delivered with minimal barrel distortion, which is a boon for any landscape or cityscape photographer. However, to be picky, we notice softness towards the very edges of the frame.
Click here to see the full resolution image
By contrast, a shot taken from exactly the same vantage point, but this time at maximum zoom setting, pulling the house at the very end of the terrace - some 200 metres or more away - bang to the fore.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Another shot taken on the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V at maximum telephoto setting, enabling us to play at amateur paparazzi. Capturing sharp candids at maximum zoom has the benefit of enabling shots to be just that - candid - while throwing the background nicely out of focus.
Sensitivity and noise
Full ISO image, see the cropped (100%) versions below taken from the darker side of this scene.
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 100
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 200
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 400
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 800
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 1600
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 3200
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 6400
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 12800
Verdict
If you're in the market for a travel zoom camera that delivers remarkably consistent, colourful and detail rich results, offers a solid-feel build that should withstand bouncing around in your backpack - plus you're prepared to pay a top-end price - then the Sony HX20V should come high up on your wish list.We liked
A high-quality metal construction including padded rubberised grip provides a firm hold when shooting towards the telephoto end of the zoom, which, when coupled with SteadyShot image stabilisation, means that sharp shots can be achieved handheld in a wide variety of conditionsWe disliked
Aside from the odd performance niggle, the £349/$398 asking price of the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V is the issue here; it is on the high side. This money would alternatively buy you a bridge camera with an even larger zoom, such as the 30x Fuji HS30, or stretch to a lower-end compact system camera, such as the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM1.Final verdict
The chief selling point here remains the ideal compromise between the broad zoom range and compact dimensions, and on the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V such far-reaching scope as afforded by a 25-500mm equivalent focal range will deliver a huge amount of compositional opportunities without you needing to take a step forward or back.The Sony HX20v isn't the cheapest travel zoom on the market, but a high-ish asking price for what at the end of the day is just a snapshot camera has to be set against the value of a consistent performance.
This camera provides very usable results throughout the zoom range, and even when shooting handheld at maximum telephoto setting. Add in GPS, Sweep Panorama and 3D options and we have a capable jack-of-all-trades.
Further good news comes in the fact that we were seeing street prices of £299.99 in the UK and $350 in the US for the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V as we were putting the finishing touches to this review, which removes a healthy chunk of any barrier to purchase.
Simply put, this is one of the better travel zoom cameras we've encountered to date, and, as we're due to be heading off on our own holidays soon, we're loathe to let it go.
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News in Brief: One More Thing: New Lamborghini phone makes our eyes bleed
Vulgar - We can only assume that this £1770 Lamborghini phone is the result of good taste and good sense engaging in a quick murder-suicide. [Gizmodo UK, High.Tech.Mail]
Threepac - Plans to eke more money from the memory of Marilyn Monroe by reanimating her as a holographic (except, yes, we know, not really holographic) representation of her former self have hit a snag. The snag being that her estate is dead against the plan, threatening Digicon Media (the company that holds the 'rights' to it) with legal action should it go ahead. For future reference, OMT does not want to be reincarnated in any digital manner after it dies. Thanks anyway. [The Hollywood Reporter]
FaceLion - Apple announced a thing or two yesterday, including Facebook integration into its Mac and mobile OSes. Sadly for Mountain Lion users, the baked in social networking won't be coming to the Mac OS until 'this fall' despite the software getting its official release next month. Fall, of course, is American for autumn. [9to5Mac]
Chore - While some people devote years of study and research to curing cancer and world peace, others opt for solving the rather more pressing problem of domestic laziness. Enter the self-making bed. Put us down for two. [Stuff]
Maximillian - Android's getting in on the Max Payne action at last, with the original iteration landing in Google Play on June 14. The hold-up is all down to the myriad Android devices out there, while good old uniform iOS handsets got the port way back in April. [The Verge]
Doing it wrong - Careful how you hold the Samsung Galaxy S3 - you don't want it to go all iPhone 4 on you. [Don't Hold It Wrong]
Image credit: Don't Hold it WrongLife, oh life - "I had this dream last night. The Nazis were back except this time we had Twitter and then we made a slide out of plasticine and the queen made us eat it." As OMT has just proved, there's nothing more tedious than hearing about other people's dreams. Which is why we probably won't be downloading Dreamt It, an app intended to let you capture and share your dreazzz... [IntoMobile]
Modern life is rubbish - Here's a story we yearn to mock but can't because there but for the grace of god etc. Hannah Metcalfe has such a severe sensitivity to electromagnetic, er, stuff that she can't use a mobile phone, an iPad or even go near Wi-Fi or fluorescent lights. Sorry yes, this is a Daily Mail story, but just imagine. What if Wi-Fi is slowly doing this to all of us? What if one day we have to revert back to dial up? WHAT IF? [Mail Online]
Sol - It has emerged that Kodak used the 13-month International Fixed Calendar until 1989. See Kodak, it's stuff like this that led to your downfall, you great kook (although we can't help but approve of the additional month named Sol). [Peta Pixel]
Once in a lifetime - Spotify for Android has exited beta and made its way to Google Play. So, there's something to write home about. [Spotify]
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Are large sensor compacts from Olympus and Panasonic set to rival Sony's RX100?
With Sony's announcement of its latest compact camera, a device which it has called a "gamechanger", it's only natural that the internet murmurs start to discuss the possibility of rival cameras.
The Sony RX100 features a 1 inch CMOS sensor, which is roughly four times larger than the devices found in conventional compact cameras and the same size as that found in Nikon's compact system camera offering, the Nikon 1.
As smartphones cannibalise entry level camera models more and more, the real growth area in the market is in the premium end, with consumers looking for higher image quality in the smallest possible package.
High-end
Up until now, this gap was filled by the likes of the Canon S100, Panasonic LX5 and the Olympus X-Z1, each featuring full manual control, raw format shooting and a number of other premium features.However, all of these cameras feature a smaller sensor than the RX100 leading to speculation that upgrades could be just around the corner.
The possibility of a Panasonic LX6 featuring a large sensor is something that has been discussed by the company before, while Olympus will also probably be keen to revamp its X-Z1 compact, which was first introduced at CES in 2011.
Few specs about new cameras from Panasonic and Olympus are known, but, rumoured release dates of July have been speculated about for some time.
Stay tuned for any news on new releases as it happens.
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Comcast rubbishes report that it's to buy BSkyB
Comcast, the largest cable operator in the US, has claimed that it is not looking to buy BSkyB, despite reports saying a deal is being worked out.
BSkyB has had a rather torrid time of late, with the corporation's major shareholder News Corporation – which owns a 39 per cent stake – being put through the mill by Ofcom. The regulator is currently deciding whether the company is 'fit and proper' to have a broadcasting license.
The New York Times reported this week that Comcast has been mulling over bidding for BSkyB if its shares were to come up, citing unnamed sources who believe that a deal is in its preliminary stages.
Rubbish rumour
Michael J Angelakis, Comcast's vice chairman and chief financial officer, tried to put the record straight however, saying of the rumour: "This is complete rubbish. It is total speculation and inaccurate."BSkyB on the other hand has decided not to comment on the rumour and considering News Corp's stake in the company isn't even up for grabs at the moment, it's understandable that a statement hasn't been released.
The New York Times insists it is standing by its story, however, and points to the fact that Comcast isn't shy when it comes to bidding for majority stakes in big businesses.
Just last year Comcast took a 51 per cent stake in NBC Universal, a move that's similar to News Corporation buying up half of 20th Century Fox back in 1981.
Essentially both media monoliths control not only the making of movies and TV shows, but the delivery of them.
With this in mind, having Comcast's name even mentioned in the same breath as a BSkyB takeover will no doubt have pricked up the ears of the world's competition commissions.
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Kodak seeks to auction off digital imaging patents
Kodak is seeking to sell off its portfolio of digital imaging patents in a bid to raise cash during bankruptcy proceedings.
The firm has filed a motion to have a silent auction process approved, which would allow those interested in purchasing the patents to produce their best offer without revealing the amount.
Kodak, which announced it was filing for bankruptcy protection at the start of the year and has since stopped designing and manufacturing cameras has sold off several patents and technologies in the past, including the division responsible for inventing the world's first digital camera sensor.
It is expected that the auction, if approved in July, will be held in early August with a winning bidder being announced in the middle of August.
Confidentiality
In a statement, the company said that it had marketed its assets over the past 12 months, and 20 parties had signed confidentiality agreements relating to the patents.Among the patents it holds include those which relate to digital capture of images, processing and transmission of images and image manipulation, tagging and network based services.
Now focusing its efforts on the printing side of the business, the silent auction appears to be the latest move to help save the 120-year-old company from folding altogether.
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Exclusive: Fuji: Growth of CSC dependent on Canon
According to Adrian Clarke, Fujifilm Imaging's vice president, if Canon announces a compact system camera at this year's Photokina, as many believe it will, the mirrorless camera market will take a major step forwards.
Speaking to TechRadar, Adrian Clarke, Fujifilm Imaging's vice president said, "Most of the action and innovation from the majority of brands is within CSC, and it's just a question of whether Canon joins the party this year.
"There's lots of rumours that they will, and if they do, probably that will accelerate the adoption of non-mirrored cameras. If Canon keep away, if they make a statement that they don't believe CSCs are the way forward, they'll take a lot of people with them."
Fujifilm entered the CSC market earlier this year with the X Pro1, which features an APS-C sized sensor and has been very favourably reviewed.
Several predictions suggest that compact system cameras will overtake traditional DSLR sales in the UK in the next few years, whereas in Japan they already selling at 51% (of all interchangeable lens cameras).
Giants
In 2008 Panasonic introduced the first of the new breed of mirrorless system cameras, closely followed by Olympus. Meanwhile photography giant, Nikon was slower to react.In fact it wasn't until towards the end of 2011, that Nikon finally revealed its interpretation of the compact system camera with the Nikon 1, which features a small, 1 inch sensor. It's been rumoured that Canon, in a bid to distinguish itself from its biggest rival, will use a larger sensor.
Patents for APS-C compatible lenses have been found online, with many suggesting Photokina as a possible release date.
Clarke continued, "They still sell 45-50% of the DSLRs in the world, and if they don't enter the CSC market, I'm sure it will take a long time to erode that advantage, they still make very popular SLRs."
Speaking to us earlier in the year, David Parry from Canon UK said that he believed compact system cameras to be "a great idea" but was unable to comment on whether or not Canon would be likely to produce its own.
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Valve turns movie maker, Steam set to for film download debut
Valve has its eye on the silver screen as its Source game engine is being used to create an animated film.
The game maker is currently working on a film named Deep, which is being produced by Brown Bag Films and directed by Shane Acker, the man behind short film 9.
With a relatively low budget of $19 million (around £12.25 million), the film is set in a post-WW3 world where people have to live underwater for some reason, probably something to do with nuclear war.
Budget
With a relatively low budget come relatively low expectations, but Valve's Source engine offers better value than most industry-standard animation tools.Plus, using the game engine to create the film means that half the work involved in making a game to release alongside it is already done.
What's more, Brown Bag's Darragh O'Connell told Variety that they plan to use Steam, Valve's online game distribution network, as an alternative movie release platform.
Although the film is currently in the pre-production stages, you can start getting excited about it now with this Valve-tastic teaser trailer.
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In Depth: MacBook Pro 2012: everything you need to know
MacBook Pro 2012 release date, news and specs
Apple has updated its new MacBook Pro with the latest Intel Core processors, faster graphics and flash storage that, according to the company, is up to twice as fast as the previous generation.As if that wasn't enough, there's also a new, thinner, retina display version of the MacBook Pro too, which also has flash storage as standard. So that means there are now six separate products in the MacBook Pro line:
- 15-inch MacBook Pro with retina display 2.3GHz - £1,799
- 15-inch MacBook Pro with retina display 2.6GHz - £2,299
- 15-inch MacBook Pro 2.6GHz - £1,799
- 15-inch MacBook Pro 2.3GHz - £1,499
- 13-inch MacBook Pro 2.9GHz - £1,249
- 13-inch MacBook Pro 2.5GHz - £999
MacBook Pro 2012 release date
All the new MacBook Pro 2012 models are available now.MacBook Pro 2012 processors
The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models have been updated with the latest Ivy Bridge-spec Intel Core processors. Everything but the basic £999 13-inch MacBook Pro now has a Core i7 on board - see above for the speeds of the various models. Speeds are up to 2.9 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.6 GHz. You can also configure a 2.7GHz quad-core inside the top-end retina display model.MacBook Pro 2012 graphics
Once again Nvidia provides the discrete graphics inside the MacBook Pro, though the 13-inch doesn't get the extra help, instead sticking with the integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 chip. It's a different story for the bigger size notebook though; the 15-inch 2.3GHz configuration comes with the 512MB version of the Nvidia GeForce GT 650M. The 2.6Ghz 15-inch and both retina display models have the 1GB variant of the GeForce GT 650M.MacBook Pro 2012 storage and memory
Both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro can be configured with a 1TB hard drive or SSDs up to 512GB. As before, the MacBook Pro features a Thunderbolt port.The 2.5 GHz 13-inch MacBook Pro is available with 4GB of memory and 500GB hard drive, while the 2.9 GHz dual-core version has 8GB of memory and a 750GB hard drive.
The 2.3GHz 15-inch MacBook Pro is available with 4GB of memory and a 500GB hard drive. The 2.6 GHz version features 8GB of memory and a 750GB hard drive.
The two retina display MacBook Pros both have flash storage - 256GB and 512GB respectively. You can upgrade the higher end model to 768GB if you've the extra cash. These have 8GB of memory.
As you may have heard, there's no optical drive in any new generation MacBook Pro.
MacBook Pro 2012 retina display
The retina display models boast a staggering resolution. You get a 15.4-inch LED-backlit IPS display which clocks in at 2,880 x 1,800 resolution. That's 220 pixels per inch, so not as good as the iPhone 4, 4S and iPad though - the latter is 264ppi, while the iPhone 4 and 4S is 326ppi. The standard MacBooks have 1,280 x 800 resolution displays.
MacBook Pro 2012 dimensions and weight
As for the standard models, both are 2.41 cm in height. The 13-inch is 32.5 x 22.7cm, while the 15-inch is 36.4cm x 24.9cm. The weight of them is 2.06Kg and 2.56Kg.The retina display version of the MacBook Pro brings the thickness down to just 1.8cm, while the footprint is slightly smaller than the standard 15-inch at 35.89 x 24.71 cm. Weight is just over 2Kg.
MacBook Pro 2012 connectivity
Apple has finally buckled to USB 3.0 and HDMI - we're glad to finally see these on the Mac and it's sad Apple decided to go the Thunderbolt route in previous preference. However, HDMI is only provided on the retina display MBP which also has two USB 3.0 ports plus an SDXC card slot and Thunderbolt for connection to other display standards including DisplayPort, DVI and VGA. You can also connect this to FireWire and Gigabit Ethernet via adapters you'll need to buy separately.The standard MacBook Pro models retain FireWire and also have a Gigabit Ethernet port in addition to Thunderbolt (which also connects to other display standards including HDMI). There's a combined line in/out on the 13-inch, while these are separated out on the 15-inch. You also get a Kensington lock slot on the standard models.
All have 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.
MacBook Pro 2012 battery life
Apple says the and 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros deliver up to 7 hours of wireless battery life - yep, that includes the retina display model too.MacBook Pro 2012 and OS X Mountain Lion
The MacBook Pro 2012 ships with OS X Lion. Starting today, customers who purchase a Mac are eligible for a free copy of OS X Mountain Lion when it becomes available.
MacBook Pro 2012: all our previous rumours
A thinner MacBook Pro with no optical drive
While you might imagine Apple would make the MacBook Pro resemble its Air line, the latest rumours suggest that's not the case. Slashgear reckoned the case will remain much as it is in the current models, but the space will be used differently: the optical drive will be removed, the battery will be increased in size, and SSDs for boot drives would become standard (possibly Samsung's fast 830 series, according to 9to5Mac).9to5Mac also said in May that Apple would ditch the optical drive, but thought it would nonetheless reduce the MacBook Pro's thickness a little, but the case won't taper like the Air's.
Developer Marco Arment added that Apple could ditch the glass in front of the display in favour of glossy plastic, like in the Air, to save on weight.
MacBook Pro 2012 gains USB 3, loses FireWire
The 9to5Mac report said the 2012 MacBook Pro will be the first Mac to sport USB 3, offering three ports. Other ports include one each for charging, audio in, audio out and an SD card slot, and two for Thunderbolt. The new MacBook Pros will ditch Ethernet and probably also FireWire. Arment explained that will be down to the thinness of the case not providing enough room for those ports, and quipped: "Expect video pros to complain."MacBook Pro to gain a Retina display
As reported by AppleInsider and others, DigiTimes was naturally first to claim the MacBook Pro would sport a Retina display, boasting a resolution of 2880-by-1800 pixels on the 15-inch model. This would, it said, differentiate the laptop from those made by other brands.An Ars Technica report in March added fuel to the fire, having unearthed double-sized images within OS X Mountain Lion. Interestingly, the 9to5Mac report added Apple might ditch pixel-based resolution settings with the new MacBook Pro, instead using descriptions such as 'big', 'small' and 'optimal'.
However, CNET put a spanner in the works by noting relevant displays already exist but are $100 more than those Apple currently uses.
The Cupertino giant will save some money by ditching an optical drive and using its massive cash pile to secure displays for the cheapest possible price, but the question is whether the MacBook Pro will nonetheless see a price-rise in an increasingly competitive market.
Ivy Bridge processors in the MacBook Pro
According to Bloomberg the 2012 MacBook Pros will run on Intel's Ivy Bridge processors with Nvidia graphics.According to the previously mentioned 9to5Mac report, this combination is "perfect for a high-end professional notebook", and will boost performance while also potentially improving battery life. MacRumors in May appeared to confirm this rumour with a report on Geekbench database updates that included a 'MacBookPro9,1' entry.
The relevant model was running OS X 10.8, had a 2.7 GHz processor, and its score was 12,252, compared to 10,500 for the corresponding current MacBook Pro processor.
No 17-inch MacBook Pro - at least for now
In a MacRumors report on Retina display costs, Eric Slivka noted that the issue of the 17-inch model was 'unaddressed', not least because it would require a display of 3840-by-2400, which could mean a massive price-hike.In the report, Slivka suggested the 17-inch model would, as usual, simply lag behind the rest of the line in terms of updates, although in an earlier article he cited a research analyst that said the 17-inch model would simply be quietly discontinued, in order to streamline the range.
MacBook Pro 2012 release date
According to the Bloomberg report, the new MacBook Pros will be unveiled at WWDC 2012, starting June 11.Typically, Apple gets its kit on to the store extremely quickly after such announcements, and so it's possible you'll be able to order a new MacBook Pro this month. As reported by 9to5Mac, Amazon appears to be banking on this being the case, having just added laptops and netbooks to its US trade-in program.
However, Cult of Mac reported in late May on a DigiTimes story regarding supply chain 'havoc'.
Massive orders from Apple during the industry's "slow season" means demand reportedly cannot be met for a 'possible' July release. Still, you know, it's DigiTimes, and so chances are Apple's already had its MacBook Pros shipped out, and is now just waiting for everyone to open their wallets.
Expect the next-generation MacBook Pro to be thinner, faster and lovelier than this current model
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Exclusive: TomTom: 'smartphones will cannibalise the sat nav market'
After the announcement that TomTom is behind Apple's new mapping and navigation system on iOS 6, the company has confirmed a shift in focus.
TechRadar spoke to Taco Titulaer, TomTom's SVP Corporate Development & Treasury, who revealed the state of play at the company.
Titulaer said: "As more and more people get smartphones, it will start to cannibalise the PND (personal navigation device) market, and we cannot stop that."
"TomTom has been very open about PND sales and realises the market will shrink, although it's still tens of millions of people in size."
Making in-roads into automotive and mobile
To combat the shrinking dedicated device market TomTom has changed to the way its works, to prepare for the future."We're focussing more and more on content, software and services. TomTom has started to make in-roads into the automotive market, and now with the announcement this week, the mobile market as well", Titulaer explained.
It's a smart move by TomTom, who noticed the shift a few years back, thus started to work with car manufacturers to get its navigation devices built in to vehicles.
However, if you think prices are about to tumble as TomTom tries to shift units, think again, as Titulaer confirmed that cuts were not on the cards, as the firm is confident in the large market that still exists.
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Choosing the best phone service for your business
Most small businesses never give a second thought to the telephone systems they have in their premises. However, the telephone is an essential business device that should be treated just as every other critical system of your enterprise.
Choosing the right phone equipment to use now and that your business can expand into should be approached with all the due care and attention you would use when purchasing any other equipment for your business.
With so many systems currently available, take your time when drawing up a shortlist of vendors and equipment to ensure you test the best before deciding where to spend your money.
Equipment profile
With all purchases you make for your business your current and future needs will be of paramount importance to consider. When looking at telecoms ask these questions:- Will your business grow beyond 50 employees over a short period of time? If so, looking at a dedicated PBX system would be advisable.
- Does your telecoms systems need to have caller ID, conferencing facilities, speakerphone options or one-touch dialling?
- Is the volume of calls made overseas likely to be high? If so, VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) phones could save your business substantial amounts on its call costs.
- Will your workforce work remotely for more than 50% of their time? If so, VOIP could be an option as well as telecom accounts that offer landline and mobile options and tariffs.
Taking advice is also a good idea before making what could be a substantial investment in telecoms equipment. A consultant will be able to assess your business' precise needs and offer a profile of the equipment that could ideally suit your company's requirements.
VOIP or landline?
For small businesses VOIP looks like a godsend, as it can offer free calls, but there are a number of considerations your business should look at very closely before using VOIP. Few businesses rely on VOIP for all of their calls, instead using this platform for long distance and international calls only. The pros and cons of using VOIP are outlined below:Choosing the right phone system for your business means understanding not only your current needs but also how these might change in the future.
Pros- Calls can be free when routed over the Internet, once your broadband and mobile data plans are paid for.
- If your business has remote workers, calls can be made to them over VOIP directly to their notebook PCs and increasingly tablet computers as well.
- International calls are an area where VOIP offers real bonuses.
- VOIP can also be used for conference calls and increasingly for teleconferencing.
- There is now a range of equipment including hybrid phones that can be used as a standard landline phone and as a VOIP handset.
- As you are routing your calls over the Internet, the quality may well differ from day-to-day.
- If you use VOIP and your Internet connection goes down, so does your business' telecoms systems.
- Initial set-up and training for VOIP can be expensive for very small companies.
- Using VOIP could open every system it is used on to attack from computer viruses that could affect other systems in your business.
- Calls are only free if everyone else you are calling is also using the same VOIP service provider.
Buying checklist
Choosing the right phone system for your business means understanding not only your current needs but also how these might change in the future. When assessing your telecoms ask these key questions:- What is your current call volume and how is this likely to change?
- Do you have a fast and reliable connection to the Internet to allow VOIP systems to operate efficiently?
- Does your new telecoms hardware and software have to function with existing equipment?
- What new features are you looking to add to your telecoms systems?
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HTC denied use of Google patents in Apple case
HTC is getting baited by Apple lawyers again and its call for help from Google has been refused by a judge.
Apple is still very much on the patent war path, with several well documented cases popping up around the world.
The two companies have seen a lot of each other recently, as Apple attempted to get the HTC One X and Evo 4G LTE banned in the US, and then trying to get 29 HTC devices blocked.
Reinforcements have NOT arrived
In an attempt to add some weight to its defence in this latest case, HTC tried to use Google patents which it had borrowed to challenge Apple.However ITC Judge Thomas Pender ruled that HTC couldn't make this play, as it hadn't acquired the correct rights to use the patents.
The upshot from this is that five patents HTC was trying to use against Apple have now been thrown out, which could seriously wound the Taiwanese firm and see the Cupertino-based company score another legal win.
However, three patents HTC is alleging Apple has infringed are still valid, so it seems, yet again, litigation is about to rumble on.
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