Microsoft announce Windows Server 2012 versions
Microsoft has released information on the new versions of Windows Server 2012, there will be four versions covering small businesses through to a cloud-enabled datacentre version.
Microsoft announced on their US site details of the new versions of Windows Server 2012.
The four versions are
- Essentials
- Standard
- Datacentre
- Foundation
The Standard version is aimed at low-density and non-virtualised systems and is licenced by processor and by users and has no upper-limit for users. The version is a full version of Windows Server and includes two virtualised instances.
The Datacentre version is aimed at large businesses and has the same specification as the Standard version and will include unlimited virtual instances.
Additionally Microsoft will also sell a Foundation version, but this will only be available to resellers, and looks to be the version of Windows Server that will be bundled with file and print servers. It will include a cut-down general purpose version of Windows Server 2012 and comes with a 15 user limit.
In the US the price for the Essentials version is $425 (£274), the Standard version is $882 (£569) plus the standard CAL costs and the Datacentre version will be priced at $4,809 (£3,102).
For more details and the release candidate see the US Windows Server 2012 pages. And to see if Windows Server 2012 is for you see our review of Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate.
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News In Brief: One More Thing: Electronic cigarette sparks off terror alert
Vapour ware – A coach on the M6 was evacuated this week, with 48 people on the bus taken off because of a terror alert. The alert was that someone on the bus was seen pouring liquid into a bag which then created some sort of fume. Eight fire engines and six police cars later and the source of the alert turned out to be the vapour of an electronic cigarette. Okay, so it's not exactly Speed 3 but the whole incident should remind you all that smoking is bad people – even when there's tech involved and the cigarette involved is actually a "health improvement aid for smokers". [Guardian]
All white on the night – The PlayStation 3 has been given a makeover and is now available in, drum roll please, white. The new-look console is available from Game and GameStation in 320GB flavour and costs £239.99.
Pi eater – With the little help of some modding, budget PC brand Rapberry Pi may well have found its niche. Some clever fella has taken the computer and modded it so that it plays Super Nintendo games. Basically he created an adapter for the circuit board, set up and emulator and now he has answered the age-old question: Who ate all the pies? Well, turns out it was Mario. [Trusted Reviews]
Face focus – British Airways is looking to Google to help it with identifying customers when they are in a crowd at an airport. A bit like Terminators sent from the future to seek out Sarah Connor, BA staff members are said to be using a "Know Me" system that will allow staff to identify people on their flight before they are, er, on the flight. [Telegraph]
Running man – Fantastic news, double amputee Oscar Pistorius will be taking part in the Olympics in not just the 4x 400 metre relay but the singles 400 metre too. Given that he wasn't allowed to compete in Beijing due to the fact he wears prosthetic limbs, it's great that he's in with a chance in London. [Engadget]
Bit by bit – Oh the irony. The Pirate Bay is blocked in the UK and Europe and lo and behold bit-torrenting increases in these territories. It's almost as if people who want to pirate content will pirate content regardless of the restrictions imposed. Crazy that. [SlashDot]
I haz freedom of internet rights – some of the biggest sites on the web are teaming up to make sure that SOPA and the like doesn't spoil this lovely thing we know as the web. A coalition has been formed by the likes of Free Press, Harvard's Kennedy School, Techdirt.com, Reddit, and Ben Huh's Cheezburger network and they are looking to give web users a say on the Open Internet. Great stuff. [IT Pro Portal]
Look who's talking – A fantastic video has popped up which sees a man talking to his 12 year old self. No, there isn't time travel involved just an old VHS dusted off and the power of YouTube. Not bad for a clip that was 20 years in the making. [Gizmodo]
Google goes courting – YouTube has decided that the courts look like a nice place to have a picnic and have invited a MP3 conversion tool to share its sandwiches and maybe have a game of Frisbee. That is if Frisbee is code for being sued. [Digital Trends]
Mine of thrones – Some people with far too much time on their hands have recreated the mystical world of Game of Thrones' Westeros into block-building video game Minecraft. The results are, well, nothing less than brilliant. Ned Stark would be proud. [Kotaku]
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Updated: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean: who will get it?
Google has announced the latest version of its mobile platform, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, at its annual I/O event in San Francisco, with it appearing alongside the first device to run it, the Google Nexus 7 tablet.
However the Nexus 7 won't be the only device which will end up running the sugary named update, with a host of phones and tablets set to receive the upgrade. Google has also announced that it plans to have Jelly Bean running on the Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus and Motorola Xoom in mid-July.
The Motorola Xoom is an unusual choice, as it's already been usurped by the Xoom 2, and in the UK Carphone Warehouse claims that the Nexus 7 will be the only tablet running Android 4.1 for four months.
If the Ice Cream Sandwich roll out is anything to go by, then manufacturers are likely to take their sweet time about getting Android 4.1 out to consumers, and some devices may miss out.
We've contacted all the major players in the Android market, to find out what their plans are for the Android Jelly Bean upgrade, here's what we've heard so far;
Samsung
Samsung has already issued the following statement regarding upgrades to new versions of the Android OS – although unfortunately it doesn't give us any clues on when we may see Jelly Bean land on devices, or indeed which ones will get it."In the case that a new version of an Android operating system is publicly announced and released, Samsung will review the possibility of implementation to existing Samsung products with the Android operating system ('Update').
"Such a review will be based on various factors including, the overall effect of the update to Samsung products, the system requirements, the structural limitations, and the level of cooperation from the component suppliers and the software licensors.
"If Samsung decides to make the update available to the users it will be released upon successful completion of development."
Google though confirmed in its keynote that Android 4.1 would be coming to the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus in mid-July.
HTC
HTC is keeping it short and sweet at the moment: "We are excited about Google's unveiling of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but don't yet have an announcement about HTC devices running the new OS version. Watch this space for more information."Motorola
Motorola has confirmed that it has not released its plans regarding the Jelly Bean update yet.However Google said it was planning on getting Jelly Bean onto the Xoom tablet in July.
LG
Back in February at MWC 2012, we spoke to LG regarding the Jelly Bean update and the manufacturer confirmed it would guarantee an upgrade to Android Jelly Bean for all compatible 2012 handsets.We will have to wait and see if it delivers on that promise.
Update: A spokesperson for the firm has told TechRadar: "LG will continue to support the latest android platforms, across LG devices however at present an exact date is not yet confirmed."
Asus
During MWC 2012, Benson Lin, Asus' Corporate Vice President told TechRadar: "Asus is very close to Google, so once they have Android 5.0 I think there will be a high possibility that we will be the first wave to offer the Jelly Bean update."It's no longer 5.0, but the Android 4.1 update is still called Jelly Bean, so we may see the Transformer range get a swift upgrade to the latest offering, possibly helped by the fact that Asus is behind the Nexus 7 tablet.
ZTE
A ZTE spokesperson has told TechRadar: "Although Google has released information about Jelly Bean, Google is yet to publish the source code release date."Therefore it is currently impossible to estimate a date for the ZTE Jelly Bean upgrade at this point in time. Based on historical forecasts, Google requires 1-2 months to complete the source code release before manufacturers can begin to develop Jelly Bean based versions of devices."
And the rest
We're stilling waiting to hear from a whole host of Android device manufacturers including; Asus, Sony, Huawei, LG, Acer and Panasonic.Make sure you bookmark this page, as we'll be updating this article as and when we hear back from manufacturers regarding their plans for the Android 4.1 update.
In the meantime, take a look at our hands on Android 4.1 review to see what the jelly Bean update will be bringing.
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7 Days in Gaming: World's most exciting awesome new PS3 image arrives
In a belated attempt to get a tick in its box for consistency, 7 Days in Gaming has actually managed to run for two consecutive weeks. But while we are patting ourselves on the back with a Wiimote, you can check out our EPIC list of the highlights of this week's gaming news.
We don't stand for flagrant self-promotion on 7DiG so we are, at no point, going to point out that Future stable-mate and gaming bible Edge has arrived on the iPad. We're also not going to tell you about the cut-price offer for the next couple of weeks.
Instead we're going to tell you that powerhouse EA is a bit focused on its digital future at the moment telling CVG and then a big conference about its plans to avoid become as obsolete as dinosaurs, Betamax videos or PlayStation Move controllers.
You know how Microsoft-rival Google owns Motorola and Motorola has loads of patents and anyone who owns patents is suing everybody else for using its patents? Yeah that.
Do you remember when we didn't say PSOne but just PlayStation and all the games looked a bit shonky but were fricking awesome? Well, now you can pretend your next-gen cutting edge PS Vita has a rubbish processor and is incapable of handling too many objects on screen by playing the old back-catalogue of original PS games.
Talking of PS3s, a design has surfaced that suggests a new SKU of the console is on the way. Warning the picture is SO GODDAMNED amazingly fascinating your eyes might burst.
Assuming that your orbital cavities are still occupied then you can assume their residents are functioning correctly and, sadly, that the news that the Nintendo 3DS is not selling so very well in the US and Europe is actually true.
CVG have produced a rather nice video detailing the latest in Half Life 3 rumours.
So, that's it until next week (possibly) and, as ever, we leave you with some rather gorgeous links from elsewhere in Future's games portfolio.
CVG
Nintendo 3DS XL review
The best Ps3 games of 2012
Games Radar
How many studios has Activision actually closed this generation?
GRID 2 is coming. 'What's GRID?' Only the most important racer of this generation. Here's why
Official Nintendo Magazine
3DS XL review video
5 3DS games that are better on 3DS XL
Nintendo Gamer
Iwata Asks Kazuo Hirai part 2
Eight things we love about the 3DS XL
Official Playstation Magzine
6 Things Dead Island 2-Riptide Needs To Fix
The Amazing Spider-Man PS3 review
Official Xbox
Minecraft Xbox 360 update: Carmine, Banjo, Fable skins revealed
Dishonored: seven amusing ways to fail completely and die
Tesco Tech Support
Tablet, netbook or Ultrabook: which one is right for you?
How to enable Face Unlock on Android
Golden Joysticks
3DS XL Hands on
Resident Evil 6 gameplay - Leon Playthrough
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Updated: Best headphones for phones: 22 pairs tested
Best headphones for phones - what you need to know
It's a minefield out there - what are you supposed to do when you pull your new phone out of the box and realise the headphones included just aren't up to scratch?Actually, this scenario is less common than you might think, but when it comes to Apple products, you're going to want to know the best replacement iPhone earphones - as let's face it, the ones that come in the box are just laughably poor and leak sound to anyone within a kilometre.
But it's not as simple as choosing the best pair of headphones from a shelf in a shop - you've got to consider styles, shapes, sound quality, price and overall functionality before parting with your hard-earned cash these days.
So to that end, here's our fancy guide to reams of the latest headphones on the market to show you what you need. Whether it's cutting the wires, running a marathon or just spending a few hours in quiet audio contemplation, there should hopefully be something here for you.
Sports headphones
We've all been guilty of it at some point - buying a high end portable music player and then not getting some decent headphones to make the most of it.And with most phones now pumping out a decent audio experience, relying on the in-box buds is almost a crime giving the pathetic levels of sound exuded by most - you need the best iPhone headphones or the best Android headphones.
So if you've chosen from our list of the best mobile phones and found the phones that's right for you, think about investing a little more and getting a quality pair of earbuds or over-ear options to make the most out of your music or videos.
We've trawled through loads of different options and styles of headphones designed to be used with smartphones, so whether it be music or movies that you use your handset for check out our list of the best headphones for phones.
Jabra Sport
Price: £99
One of the worst things about having headphones for sports is the fact most of them still come with wires. It's great then that Jabra has managed to do away with cables (apart from the one that links the two earphone heads together) with the Jabra Sport. It does this by hooking up to your handset through the magic of Bluetooth.
Built for use when running, the Jabra Sport range has been given ear hooks, but these are rather chunky. This is understandable given that they need to house the Bluetooth tech and also have an FM tuner built in, but it does mean that it will take you a while to hook them around your ears. It was lucky, then, that they were rather secure and didn't fall out mid-exercise – even when covered in sweat.
Surprisingly the sound was decent, even though it has been squeezed through a Bluetooth signal.
We did find that linking the earphones up (digitally) to our handset did take longer than expected but this was a one-off thing. Once your phone remembers the headphones, it takes seconds for them to match.
Verdict
A decent stab at sports earphones, with the added bonus of being wireless. Although the Jabra Sport hooks are a tad too chunky, they sit great on the ear and can easily get you through prolonged exercise.Philips SHQ3017
Price: £40
The issue of sports headphones is pretty easy for some people: if there's no hook, then the music dispensers will fall out of your ears at the earliest twinkling of perspiration.
So these SHQs should solve that, with the large, rubberised hook and pseudo-adjustable tips to sit easily in your ear.
However, while they'll never desert you on a run and are immune to degrading from sweat, they will let you down if your perspiration levels get too high, as the buds will slip form your canals and refuse to sit back in there.
The sound quality is tinny too - these are running headphones, and won't stand up to being used day to day, although the upgraded models with inline microphone do sound better than their original counterparts.
Verdict
A decent pair of hook-style headphones will keep you in tunes and won't fall apart, but don't offer good enough levels of sound quality for the price.Sennheiser PMX 680i
Price: £45
These loop-style headphones are a comfortable fit for both running and the gym, and the sweat-resistant nature of the materials used means they won't fall apart after a few months.
However, these options simply sit on top of the ear canals, and often in quite an uncomfortable manner - and if you start sweating profusely, the moisture can create a muffling seal between the audio and your ear.
The inbuilt volume control is handy but can get a bit bulky - make sure you clip it onto your clothes firmly before beginning.
The sound quality is fine - it needs to be up there with the best given the way these sit on the ears, and it just about passes, although you can forget about quality bass reproduction.
Verdict
Great for those that want the loop style, and the inline remote is large enough so you'll always be heard through the panting, but these won't suit for use when you're heart rate is racing.Sennheiser CX 680i
Price: £55
Similar to their neckband-shod brothers, the CX680i's offer up a partnership with Adidas and a day-glo yellow wire for a more 'sporty' look.
And again like their looped brother, the headphones pack a fairly meaty inline remote too, which you'll need to clip securely to clothing to avoid it flapping around when you're charging around the park - although the volume wheel is a really useful tool.
While we were initially sceptical of the EarFin, a small upwards hook that holds the headphones into the ear, we quickly fell in love with the twist lock system when no matter how hard we flapped our head around when running (yes, as ridiculous as it sounds... don't say we don't put ourselves out for our readers) they failed to come loose, while maintaining the comfort of buds.
The sound quality was impressive throughout, thanks to the well-fitting fin and in-ear design - it's nothing market leading, but thankfully not as tinny as most other sports headphones on the market and more than adequate.
Verdict
Our favourite sports headphones on test - a decent audio experience coupled with well-fitting buds make them an easy choice, despite the price. However, the fins might not be as comfortable for everyone, so if you get the chance to try before you buy we suggest you do.Klipsch S5i Rugged
Price: £80
Klipsch headphones might not be your first thought for sport options, but these buds perform much better than you'd expect, even at the higher price.
The large and easy-to-find inline remote has huge buttons for pausing or skipping tracks and controlling volume on iPhones, and the range of tips to choose from is impressively wide.
The fit is snug enough to not need extra hooks on a long run - they stay in the ear pretty well, although if you find yourself sweating profusely they can start to slide around a little. However, the angled design helps them sit in the ear well, giving a comfortable fit.
Sound quality is up there with the best for voice, offering crystal clarity and a decent range for audio too.
Verdict
Perhaps not the most rugged-looking headphones, but if you're trying to up the quality of your exercise tunes these are worth a look.Etymotics MC3
Price: £70 (plus £70 for custom tips)
These are the little brothers to the HF3's, and while not strictly sport headphones, we've decided to include them here for a couple of reasons.
1 - Etymotics has developed an application to monitor noise levels, meaning if a certain noise level (like a vehicle honking) is reached, the app will disable the music so you can deal with it... for instance, not get run over.
2 - If you invest in some custom tips, then they'll stay in your ears without an issue even over a marathon - plus the seal is tight enough to block out sweat.
Sonically we could really hear the difference between these and the HF3's, as they buck the trend of a lot of the more expensive headphones to offer up a relatively bass-free experience. Not to the point of sounding tinny, but it does detract from the richness.
Verdict
With a lower build quality than their higher-end brother's, the MC3's are a nice enough pair of headphones with a decent microphone that can be heard even when running.However, for the price you might want to think about investing that extra £50 for the HF3's as the sonic difference is marked and the overall performance worth the extra cash.
Over-ear headphones
Philips O'Neill The Stretch
Price: £110
Recently rebooted to incorporate an inline remote, the Philips O'Neill The Stretch headphones offer a new black and gold design along with a durable yet flexible frame.
While at the pricier end of the scale, the collaboration with O'Neill means tweaks to make the headphones helpful for all things gnarly - with the detachable tangle-free cord making it easy to plug the headphones in with a phone secreted inside a large snowboard jacket.
The plush pads offer a really snug fit, and while the sound output is pretty bass-heavy, it's a dominant audio experience that directs all the music into your ears.
The inline remote is the only downside in our eyes - people found it a little hard to hear us even when lifting it close to our mouth, and the sliding volume control can sometimes lose connection.
Verdict
A fair whack to shell out, but for sound quality and a comfortable fit, these cans get a big tick from us.Sennheiser HD238i
Price: £70
These open ear style cans might not be the most portable (despite the presence of a carry case) but offer up decent sound quality and bass that really packs a wallop.
Like so many options out there, the higher end sound is a little distorted, but not so much we couldn't bear to use them - it was more in comparison to the bassy rumbles hip-hop tunes offered up and never sound too sharp.
The inline remote is a little stiff and can be hard to double tap to change tracks - but the comfort and build quality of these cans more than makes up for it.
Verdict
Not really a stand out pair of headphones in any way, but the Sennheiser sound quality is apparent and we were really impressed by the construction too.Pioneer HDJ-500-K
Price: £80
We were surprised to find a set of Pioneer cans in our test for mobile phone-related headphones, but these options have made the leap from the DJ booth to the wider world.
Actually, that's not strictly true, as there are actually two cords in the box: one with a coiled standard plug for general DJ-ing-y stuff, and one with an inline microphone attached.
The latter is actually pretty good considering, and we couldn't notice any difference in audio quality between the two - although the build quality of the coiled cord did feel a little higher, making it decent for PC use as well.
The sound quality matches the build detail too - we noticed a larger range of more impressive sound from the deeper bass to the higher end sound with little distortion - although lower quality MP3s were punished by the HDJ-500s more than by other cans on test.
Verdict
The best cans for those that don't always want an inline remote on the go - options are good, and for less than £100, these perform admirably.In ear headphones
Marshall Minor
Price: £45
The brand known for its amplifiers dives into our headphones run down with a set of odd-looking buds - the Minors are by far the largest buds on test.
The fit is achieved by twisting the unit into the ear using a range of tips that slot into the various extrusions on your ears, and while this is novel, it can quickly get uncomfortable.
It also lets a lot of noise leak in, so unless you're dead against in-ear options, these might get tiresome after a while.
That said, for the price the sound quality is immense - the drivers we assume are stuffed into those large frames are certainly pumping out crystal clear sound and the inline microphone is also one of the most audible to those on the other line on test.
Verdict
They look weird, but sound great - but beware, unless you're fine with a lack of noise isolation and slightly uncomfortable fits, these might not be the best for you.Jabra Rhythm
Price: £18
Sometimes you don't want to spend thousands of pennies on new headphones - although technically you still would be for the Jabra Rhythms, at least its fewer coins you'll need.
Jabra promises to have tuned each pair of ear buds especially for different types of music, and while none of them really hit anything approaching a really impressive sonic performance, the Rhythms are the most acceptable of the lot.
The buds fit relatively well, although we had issue getting a tip that really fitted well from the three on offer - and the inline microphone really works much better than you'd expect from the price.
There are loads of headphones in electronics shops for around £20 that offer a really substandard performance - so in that mini league, the Jabra Rhythms are clear winners.
Verdict
Headphones that don't sound terrible, and won't make you cry tears of frustrated anger should you lose or break them - the Rhythms are decent quality and super cheap too.Sennheiser IE8i
Price: £200
If you're fed up with the mountains of cash festooned about your person, or want a pair of headphones that, you know, are actually quite good, then these iPhone upgrades to Sennheiser's powerful IE8's are a decent option,
They'll work with most phones as a hands free too, although like most the volume buttons won't function, and certainly offer a deep and tight sonic experience, with solid, and more importantly rich, bass levels combined with a much stronger performance at the high end than most headphones on test here.
You can even tune the headphones using a small screw - although we found that unless you're desperate for swathes of bass you'll be better off holding this at the mid-to-low setting.
You also get a whopping 10 tips to experiment with for your cash, so you'll always find something to fit in your ear - and while the plastic casing doesn't feel in the least bit premium, it's lightweight and handy for making the headphones portable.
Verdict
A quality pair of headphones that are really only worth considering if you've got a lot of cash to spend - the sonic range is impressive and the range of tips are really helpful in finding the right fit, although be warned: the speaker section that sits in your ear is a bit larger than others on the market.Sennheiser MM50
Price: £40
A pseudo-successor to the insanely popular CX300 set, Sennheiser is looking to corner the market in inexpensive upgrades to your bundled headphones.
The MM50s are what you'd expect from such a purchase, with a snug fit in the ear and a decent level of clarity for the cash - bass heavy if we're being critical, but not terribly so.
The quality of the headphone cord is average and feels a little spindly - we didn't have any trouble with it breaking or cracking in our tests, but don't pull on the wire too heavily when yanking them out a bag.
Verdict
For the price, this is a decent upgrade to the inbox headphones you get in the box - audio clarity outstrips the value for sure.Klipsch X10i
Price: £170
The X10i's from Klipsch represent a real investment in your listening experience, as even with a recent price drop they're still a pretty costly affair.
However, unlike most of the anonymous black buds on offer, these come with a cool stylised aluminium 'tail', which is designed to be an acoustic dampener.
We could chat for ages about the audio quality - the best way to describe it would be 'natural sounding' - giving a wide range of sonic ability without needing to overcompensate for any track. In terms of a set of buds for all occasions, you can't go wrong with these.
But it's the fit in the ear that we love. Not just because of the ridiculously light 10g weight, but the smaller dimensions and angled frame means they sit almost perfectly in the ear and, while not the most adept at noise isolation, feel the most comfortable for long-term use.
Verdict
Slightly pricey, but not out of the price range of most - and the sleek and easy to find inline microphone is among the better we've seen on test.Etymotics HF5
Price: £135 (plus £70 for custom tips)
In a world dominated by background noise, there's only one thing that can save our music - custom earbud tips.
That's right - while the HF3 range is sonically one of our favourite on test, nothing beats the fact you can get your own set of customised earbuds and never have to worry about the sound of the tube disturbing your listening experience again.
We fully recommend getting the custom tips as while you might have to pay nearly £200, it properly realises the power of these strong and lightweight buds. With the inbuilt tips, sound is generally quite good; but with the silicon moulded options, the entire range could be felt and more importantly the bass was improved no end.
Verdict
If money was no object, we'd recommend these headphones above all else on test, and not just because of the option for customised buds.With a well positioned microphone and strong build quality, there's a lot to love here, even for the price.
Denon AH-C 560R
Price: £60
We weren't sure what to expect when we picked up the Denon options, and we have to say that what we were given didn't exactly blow us away.
In fact, it's hard to say anything particularly unique about the Denon 560R's, as while we weren't upset by the bass or high levels, the sound quality was just a bit... average. Roughly what you'd expect for a £60 pair of headphones, but without the wow-factor others have managed to deliver.
The fit was snug enough though, and you'll find these among the more comfortable to wear - the range of ear buds was impressive and offered good noise isolation - although we did experience a fair level of noise leakage.
Verdict
One of the big problems we did have with these buds is the microphone - the buttons are easy to hit, but it was nigh-on useless as a hands on microphone on the street. One to stay away from if you want something with pizzazz and to actually use it as a hands free kit.Bluetooth headphones
Philips Bluetooth SBH 9000
Price: £100
Bluetooth headphones have seemed like such a good idea for what seems like decades, but only now are they becoming genuine alternatives to wired cans.
These options are among the most robust we've seen, ticking the boxes in nearly every category - skipping tracks, pausing on the go, changing the volume, and all from touching one of the ear pads.
The fact they're Bluetooth means the track skipping will even work on non-iPhones, which is a real plus, and the cushioned pads sit nicely on the ears without much in the way of sound leaking.
The only downside is they're pretty bass-heavy and lose some of the higher end sounds, but for general music playback or movie watching, cutting the cords with these is a superb experience.
Verdict
Great battery life and an extra 3.5mm wire in the box means you won't have to worry about a lack of sound with these long-lasting headphones.(Note: The Jabra Sport headphones are also Bluetooth enabled - but they're in the sport section of this test, because, well... isn't it obvious?)
Novero Rockaway
Price: £55
These little puppies are a good find simply because they offer three things for cheap: decent sound, wireless connection and a microUSB connector for charging.
The build quality has been lowered a little to compensate, but we like the flat band design (and can be picked up in a rather striking red hue as well.
Verdict
The Rockaways are a quality set of earbuds for the price - the buds in the box aren't the best for fit, and the design is a little large for some ears.But for £50-ish it's not a problem - and we can heartily recommend these for those looking for something wireless on the go.
Sennheiser MM 550-X
Price: £300What to say about these little darlings that properly does them justice? OK, the price is a little bit on the steep side, but when you break down all the extra features you're getting - well, it doesn't seem so hard on the wallet any more.
From the lightweight construction to the reams of gadgetry bundled, out of all the headphones on test these were the ones we reached for on the train journey home.
The noise cancelling element is among the best out there - we noticed the least audio seepage of any of the others on test.
But the reason we're including them in the Bluetooth section is the fact apt-X is included... it's superb when you hear the improvement, and now the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One X are rocking the standard, audio quality is about to get a lot better.
We have minor quibbles: the blue flashing light on the side is a little onstentatious, the SRS surround sound 'enhancement' is awful and the removable battery can be removed a little too easily... but these are minor elements.
Verdict
If you've got the cash, buy these headphones without question. Sonically, functionally and aesthetically they're among the best on the market.Noise cancelling headphones
Sony XBA-NC85D
Price: £300
Sony's heritage in the headphone space is well-known - and these rather pricey buds are the latest in the long line of noise cancelling options from the Japanese brand.
Their design is striking, and for good reason: they're noise cancelling, but without a separate box on the wire - it's all in the buds themselves.
To that end, they're pretty large and slightly cumbersome - although the fit is excellent and provides good noise isolation even before the quiet noise cancelling kicks in.
However, the headphones won't work when the battery dies, so you can face some lengthy, boring train journeys - and the noise cancellation is prone to the odd bit of hissing here and there too.
Verdict
A little too expensive to be recommended - the weight and lack of passive playback grate, and while the overall functionality is good, it's not quite enough to warrant shelling nearly £300 out for them.BlackBox C20
Price: £110
The less-known brands traditionally are those many steer clear of - but with these BlackBox offerings, you get a more than acceptable noise cancelling experience.
From the easy to clip microphone section to the impressive in ear fit, we're fans of these buds - and that's before we get to the quality noise cancellation too.
They raise the volume a fair bit when you activate the noise cancelling, which feels like a bit of a cheap trick initially - but on the tube and in the air, it offers almost total silence from the outside world/
The headset is a little plasticky, and the AAA battery would be nicer as a chargeable pack... but there's not much else we can criticise here.
Verdict
Headphones that you might not recognise are no longer to be feared. The BlackBox name won't let you down here, and the new C20 range is excellent at keeping up with your smartphones needs.Audio Technika ATH-ANC9
Price: £280
These headphones feel like they should arrive at the cheaper end of the market - with plastic construction and a creaky build, the price tag is somewhat confusing.
However, the options are great: different noise cancelling modes that switch between office, aeroplane and study rooms are a little different to the competition.
The noise cancellation is good too, as the pads are plush and don't tire your ears over use - although the large volume disparity when turning noise cancellation on and off grates somewhat.
Vocal tones are slightly lost in the bass as well, but at least the switch to jump in and out of noise cancellation mode is easy to hit... it's surprising how annoying that can be.
Verdict
Build quality lets down a decent performance from these cans - the overall functionality is nice, but not really something we'd recommend fully for the price, especially with the better-specified and similarly-priced Sennheiser MM 550-X's on the go.
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Opinion: Michael Marshall: 'Identity terrorism' could unsettle society
You walk into your local pub, not alone. As usual you order a beer. You sit chatting with your companion. After a while the barman wanders back.
"Never had you for a red wine drinker," he grins.
"Huh?" you reply.
"Last night. Surprised the heck out of me."
"I don't drink red wine," you say, confused. "You don't. It gives you a hangover and, so far as you can tell, always tastes of cardboard, or wood. 'And I wasn't even here."
The guy laughs. "Yeah, right. Never seen you that drunk before, either."
"I'm sorry," you say, by now uncomfortable, "But I have no idea what you're talking about."
There's an atmosphere. This barman prides himself on being good at his job, part of which is remembering customers. He goes off and comes back minutes later with a credit card receipt. It has your signature on it. It's for a bottle and three further glasses of red wine, plus a bowl of pistachios, which you don't like either. The receipt is dated the previous night.
He shrugs, walks off. Baffled and freaked out, you turn to your companion. This is your wife.
The expression on her face is not good.
"Working late, huh," she says, picking up her purse.
Life imitating art
This – or the virtual equivalent - happens on the Internet a thousand times a day. Just while I've been considering this blog, I've received a DM from an acquaintance on Twitter. This led to a site that looked like Twitter, asking me to re-login. Closer inspection revealed the URL started with "Tvvitter".For the last 24 hours I've been getting hourly emails from alleged journalists via Vimeo, asking me to get in touch – the spoofed email link, naturally, leading to some sordid corner of the net populated by rats and thieves. Last week, I received an email from Google saying they'd blocked an attempt to use one of my email addresses to authenticate an app, and I should change my password.
The week before, I tried to use online banking and couldn't – and discovered the card had been canceled by my bank because it was one of a number that had potentially been compromised by hackers. Luckily, I spotted these breaches ahead of time, and they appear to be unconnected.
Curiously, a similar sequence of incidents happens to the main character of my novel, Killer Move, and in Bill Moore's case there are far darker things afoot. Killer Move is fiction. What happens to Bill is not just real, however, but takes place every day.
The rat-people
Your stuff has never been safe. Lazy, dishonest and feckless people have been stealing other people's gear since the dawn of time. People rob banks and lift iPhones out of handbags and rustle cattle and doubtless made off with some other stone age guy's stone tools.
It's how we roll – some of us at least, the rat-people – and getting hold of banking passcodes is merely a new and groovy iteration of an ancient scumminess. People nicking your stuff doesn't speak to your identity, however. If someone burgles your house, your privacy has been invaded, but not your self.
It'll be annoying and inconvenient, but doesn't impact on who you are, or how other people perceive you. With social networking passwords, however, it actually does represent an attack on identity. Identity is now virtual, and boils down to how you're perceived. People messing with this is like a home invasion of the soul.
The flimsy corral
The most striking change in the Internet over the last years is how it sidestepped from being all about information to being all about shopping... and now to being all about you. Everything you do, from sites you visit to what you buy to what you Like or tweet or which cafes and bars you Check In, to the fact your LinkedIn password is "mybossisanarse" – all these little existential acts – are about you, and your identity, and they're flimsily corralled behind passwords that are alarmingly easy to get hold of.With every day that passes it becomes easier and easier for someone to carve at the heart of you. That's what people are stealing now, and 99 per cent of the time it's not going to matter. But then one day a photo of some cruel, bad thing gets posted somewhere in your name, and it really, really does.
You can get money back. Privacy can be regained. Identity, on the other hand, is a one-way street. Ask anyone who's been slandered or falsely accused. There doesn't need to have been a fire. The smoke never completely fades.
It's not about the cost of the wine any more, bottom line. It's about the cost to your identity - and when it comes to who you are and how people perceive you, it's the little things that count. A couple of years ago my own Twitter account got hacked, and a few followers received a tweet claiming I could tell them the secret to making seventeen hundred thousand million dollars a day.
Some people simply gave me a polite heads up, but others were weirdly bad-tempered about it - despite it being something outside my control, a wrong that had been done to me, not them. When you present in ways that are unexpected, people's response will be unexpected too.
I have no clue what the rat-people want, the ones who've always stolen and spoiled whatever's to hand. They think so differently to you and me that it's hard to get into their tiny, dark little minds. They may merely be making mischief. They could be trying to forge routes from trivial passwords to the more important ones - or may even be in league with the major credit cards, to help them sell us all Identity Theft insurance.
They could even be laying the groundwork for a new and insidious kind of war – let's call it Identity Terrorism - in which the lives of people both great and small are compromised through bad deeds apparently done in their name, in order to subtly unsettle our societies.
I don't know what their plan is.
But I know we'll find out.
You can find more about Michael and his books at michaelmarshallsmith.com
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Mozilla Firefox OS: 10 things you need to know
Mozilla's Firefox OS, originally known as Boot to Gecko, is going to attempt to become a key player in the highly competitive mobile market, which is currently dominated by Android and iOS.
It's still unclear how much of a success (or failure) Firefox OS will be, but here's 10 things you need to know about Mozilla's mobile offering.
1. Release date
The first handsets running the Firefox OS are likely to arrive in January 2013, with Telefonica revealing it will be launching its first device in Brazil sometime in the first quarter of the year.Firefox OS devices will make it to the UK and US, with launch dates thought to be sometime in the second half of 2013.
2. Cost
To start with, handsets running Firefox OS will be aimed at the budget end of the market, so expect to see a raft of super cheap smartphones.Telefonica has said that its first handset, which will go on sale in Brazil, will come in at sub $100 (around £65).
In the future Mozilla will look to get the Firefox OS onto mid and high-end handsets, but it's starting at the bottom.
3. Web-based HTML 5
Firefox OS is a HTML 5 web-based browser, which sits on top of Android kernals, with all the features on handsets basically being accessed through a browser – similar to Google's Chrome OS.4. Better than Android
Telefonica Chief Executive, Matthew Key has claimed that the Firefox OS will offer "a better budget experience than Android" – a big claim and something we'll put to the test when it arrives next year.5. Easy app porting
Developers should be able to easily port their HTML 5 apps to the Firefox Mobile OS, which apparently will be quite a lot according to research by Telefonica, which found 75% of Google Play and Apple App Store apps are already written in HTML 5.6. Social networking integration
Both Facebook and Twitter will be deeply integrated into the Firefox OS, allowing users to easily post updates, link contacts to profiles and keep up to date with all their friends.7. Full Google Maps
Thanks to the HTML 5 base of Firefox OS, a click of the Google Maps app reveals the full blown version of the mapping software which you get on your computer - impressive.8. Qualcomm power
All handsets which will run Firefox OS will sport Qualcomm processors, as Mozilla has done an exclusive deal with the chip maker.9. Widget potential
Even though the demo of Firefox OS we were shown had iPhone-esque homescreens of apps, Mozilla isn't ruling out the inclusion of widgets on the mobile platform.10. Simple, quick and efficient
What Firefox OS claims to offer is a simple, speedy and efficient user experience at the low end of the market, even on handsets running 600MHz processors.
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75% of Google and Apple apps will work on Firefox OS
Applications are big business in today's smartphone market and if Mozilla is to succeed with its Firefox Mobile OS then it will have to offer customers a decent selection of apps as part of the package.
Speaking to TechRadar, Carlos Domingo, Product and Innovation Director at Telefonica revealed some interesting survey results which showed Firefox Mobile OS should be OK when it comes to apps.
Domingo said; "results from our survey showed that over 75% of all apps in Google Play and the Apple AppStore are written in HTML 5, which makes them really easy to port over to Firefox."
Browser apps add to offering
As the Firefox Mobile OS is a web-based HTML 5 platform, any developers who currently have browser-based applications will find that they work seamlessly on the system.Good news for those of you who are partial to a bit of social networking, as Facebook is just mere weeks away from polishing off its HTML 5 offering, and it, along with Twitter, will be deeply integrated into the Firefox Mobile OS.
Mozilla is currently building its own market place for apps, so fingers crossed developers see the potential of the easy switch over to the HTML 5 platform, because if Firefox Mobile fails to attract them it could find itself dead in the water.
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In Depth: 10 best free lightweight networking tools
10 best free lightweight networking tools
Looking for some network utilities? There are plenty of options, but don't waste time on the bulky and more heavyweight contenders, unless you really need them - our Tiny Tools may provide all you need.If you'd like to find out what software is installed across your network, for instance, you could install some expensive commercial solution, complete with database, analytical tools and more. But we've found a 160KB program which will scan all your network PCs for no cost at all.
And capturing network traffic normally involves installing complex utilities, and a supporting library or two. But if you can get by with raw sockets then the 20KB RawCap will get you started in seconds.
This is just the start, though. Other tools in the list will help with performance issues, network management, security, file sharing and more. And they're all free, and very lightweight: even installing all ten will use less than 7MB hard drive space.
1. Network Stuff 3.0.9 - 1.34 MB
Figuring out what's happening on your network normally involves a whole library of tools, yet somehow Network Stuff has managed to cram them all into a single portable application.
It's strong on the basics, for instance: the program can display your IP addresses (both local and external), scan your network for other systems, reveal MAC addresses and run graphical ping or traceroutes to the addresses you specify.
But Network Stuff can also display all the currently open network and internet connections; use built-in Whois and DNS tools to get more information on IP addresses; remotely wake up or shut down other systems on your network, and the list goes on.
The only problem here is complexity, as there's a lot to explore. If you get lost, though, check the author's website for some helpful guidance.
2. DNS Jumper 1.0.4 - 812KB
Changing your DNS settings can improve your online security, perhaps give you access to sites you couldn't reach otherwise, and improve your browsing speed. Windows doesn't exactly make this easy, but that's where DNS Jumper comes in.
This tiny tool comes with a lengthy list of DNS alternatives. If you're not sure which is best then it can test them all to find the fastest. When you're happy, it's able to apply your preferred DNS settings in a click, and the program can even back up and restore your original settings to avoid the chance of any problems.
3. RawCap 0.1.4.0 - 20KB
Packet sniffing - capturing network traffic for later analysis - can be an invaluable way to diagnose tricky network problems, both hardware and software. And there are few easier ways to get the job done than with the super-lightweight RawCap.
The program is a command line tool, but it's also straightforward to run from Explorer. Just double-click the file, choose your network interface, enter an output file name, and that's it - the program will capture raw packets and save them in a .pcap file.
Unsurprisingly for a 20KB tool, there's no help here to analyse the finished results. Just opening the file in Notepad may be enough, though if you're looking for plain text. And there's no doubting RawCap's simplicity: it doesn't need any other components or DLLs beyond the .NET Framework 2.0.
4. Fast Software Audit 1.0.0 - 160 KB
If you manage a PC network then you'll know it's important to keep track of the software your users are installing. You could check this manually, or invest in some big corporate inventory tool, but the ultra-compact Fast Software Audit - portable and only 160KB - could be enough. Just enter the network names of the computers you'd like to audit and it'll quickly scan them, revealing the list of installed applications. (Though please note, your systems will need the Remote Registry service to be running for this to work.)
5. CloseTheDoor 0.2.1 portable - 484 KB
When you want to secure your network it's important to understand which processes are listening for connections, and the portable CloseTheDoor will tell you everything you want to know: the network interface, ports, protocols, process, related Windows services and a whole lot more.
All this information can seem baffling at first, but CloseTheDoor can help. Right-click something and you'll find options to search the web for useful information on the process, port and how it's generally used.
And if you do identify malware then CloseTheDoor can even shut down that process, though be careful - if you accidentally terminate something important then you might crash your PC.
6. BlueLife Hosts Editor 1.0 - 388KB
The HOSTS file can be used to tell Windows the IP address of various network or Internet resources, so improving performance or allowing you to block some sites or resources entirely.
Windows doesn't make it particularly easy to access HOSTS, unfortunately, but the BlueLife Hosts Editor probably provides everything you'll need. Just launch the program to view your current HOSTS file, then add or remove entries to suit your needs, and save the results when you're finished: easy.
Beware, though, if you try to block a site you've just visited then it'll appear not to work, as Windows will cache the previous IP address. Save the new file, click "Flush DNS" and everything should now work just as you expect.
7. Network Activity Indicator 1.6 -1.03 MB
We often miss the old Windows XP network icon, where the monitors flashed to show network activity. But now there's an easy way to get it back. Install Network Activity Indicator and it'll immediately restore the same icon to your system tray. (Although Windows Vista/Windows 7 will often hide it again: click the arrow to the left of the system tray area, click Customize and set "Network Activity Indicator" to "Show icon and notifications to bring it back.)
This isn't just a cosmetic tool, though. You can also customise the program to flash only for particular network traffic (TCP, UDP, ICMP), or on specific network interfaces. And it's even able to provide details on network traffic (MB's uploaded and downloaded), and a host of useful statistics (open connections, failed connection attempts, errors received, more).
8. RemoteRebootX 2012 - 428KB
Network management can be easier than you think. If you've got a copy of RemoteRebootX to hand, anyway.
Add the names of your network computers to the program, and in click or two you can then remotely shut them down or wake them up again, all from the comfort of your own PC.
You can even automate the process, for example having a PC woken up just after lunch so it's ready and waiting when you return.
And there are even system information options to, say, retrieve the free C: drive space on one of the systems, or its list of automatic but stopped services (very useful for troubleshooting). Not bad at all for a portable tool under 500KB in size.
9. HFS 2.2f - 560KB
When you want others on the network to be able to access your files then you'll probably start by sharing folders. But if you can't get that working as you like then setting up a web server with HFS could be a simpler approach.
There's no complex configuration involved, for instance - just run the program and it's ready to go.
Drag and drop the files you'd like to share and they'll be accessible within seconds.
And yet there are plenty more advanced options, if you need them. Worried about the program taking up all your bandwidth, for instance? Just limit the download speed to suit your requirements - it's all very easy.
10. Simple IP Config 2.3 - 1.32MB
If you regularly use a laptop on a couple of networks - home and work, say - then the chances are you probably waste a lot of time manually adjusting a host of low-level network settings. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Simple IP Config allows you to create separate network profiles for home, work, and anywhere else you like. Each of these can be used to store your IP Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway, DNS Server, and so on. And switching from one profile to another is as simple as selecting it, and clicking "Apply" - no messing around in Control Panel is required at all.
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Review: Updated: Nikon 1 J1
Overview
Update: read our Nikon 1 V1 reviewEver since Panasonic launched the first mirrorless compact system camera in September 2008, there has been rumour and speculation about whether Canon and Nikon would follow suit. But we had to wait, a little over three years before Nikon revealed its hand and unveiled two cameras, the Nikon 1 J1 and the Nikon 1 V1.
Collectively these make up the Nikon 1 system, and they both have the same 10.1MP CMOS sensor. The J1 is the entry-level model, with the biggest differences between it and the V1 being the lack of an electronic viewfinder (EVF) and a lower resolution LCD screen.
The Nikon J1 does, however, have a built-in flash, whereas the V1 doesn't - instead extra illumination must be provided by the new SpeedLight SB-N5, which has a novel shoe-mount.
With a street price of around £375 ($497 in the US) for a kit that includes the 1 Nikkor 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens, the J1 is set to be the more popular of the two cameras - the V1 10-30mm kit retails for around £620 ($745).
As well as introducing the first new Nikon lens mount since 1959, the Nikon 1 cameras also debut a new sensor size that has been dubbed CX format and measures 13.2 x 8.8mm. This is smaller than both APS-C and Four Thirds format, and means that mounted lenses have a 2.7x focal length magnification factor.
It also means that the new cameras are slightly handicapped from the outset, because larger sensors mean more room for larger photoreceptors, and larger receptors usually result in better image quality.
However, Nikon hasn't exactly pushed the boundaries of sensor resolution, and has kept the effective pixel count at just 10.1 million. Until recently, Nikon was adamant that 12MP was enough for its APS-C format and full-frame cameras, provided the images are clean and of high quality, so the arguments are familiar for Nikon 1.
More big news for Nikon 1 is that the two cameras have a hybrid autofocus system that uses phase and contrast detection. Unlike DSLRs that use a dedicated AF sensor, the J1 and V1 use 73 pixels on the imaging sensor as phase detection AF sensors. Interestingly, although these pixels have a role to play in auto focusing, they are still used to make up the image.
Nikon employs both phase and contrast detection, because although current phase detection AF systems are faster, contrast detection is generally more accurate.
While the V1 has both an electronic and mechanical shutter (and the user can select which to use), the J1 just has an electronic shutter. Using an electronic shutter enables the continuous shooting rate to be pushed as high as 60fps, with 30fps and 10fps options also being available.
Full HD (1920 x 1080) video recording is possible at 60i, 30p (29.97fps) or 60p (59.94fps). In addition, slow motion video can also be recorded at 640 x 240 at 400fps or 320 x 120 at 1200fps, both of which are played back at 29.97fps.
In Motion Snapshot mode, the camera shoots a snippet of full HD video footage at 69.94fps for replay at 23.976fps (making it around one second long), with accompanying music and ending with a still image. Footage is recorded to the buffer memory from the moment the shutter release button is half-pressed, so the video includes slow-motion action from the point immediately before the shutter release is pressed home.
While Nikon is aiming the J1 at family photographers who are likely to rely on automatic exposure modes, it also has the program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual (PASM) exposure modes that are preferred by enthusiast photographers.
Build quality and handling
Nikon opted to use a smaller than APS-C sized sensor to enable the J1 to be smaller than the average DSLR. While it is small and neat, the J1 isn't quite as small as the Olympus PEN E-PM1, which uses the larger Four Thirds sensor. And if you want something really small, then the Pentax Q could be the way to go – it's tiny, but then so is its sensor.
Design-wise, the J1 is minimalist and uncomplicated, with a fairly Spartan-looking top plate and small collection of controls on its back. The body is constructed from magnesium alloy and has a high-quality feel, as does the knurled wheel mode dial.
With the exception of the rotating multi-controller dial on the back of the camera, the buttons and dials feel well made and are responsive. The multi-controller works well enough, but it feels a little insubstantial and loose under your thumb as it's rotated.
When the Nikkor 10-30mm f3.5-5.6 VR collapsible lens is mounted, there are two ways to start up the J1. If the lens is collapsed, pressing the lens button and rotating the zoom ring extends the optic and brings the camera to life in a little under two seconds. Alternatively, pressing the on/off button on the J1's top plate activates the camera in around a second.
We were initially disappointed to discover that the advanced PASM exposure modes can only be selected via the menu when the mode dial is set to Still Image mode (denoted by a green camera icon). However, it isn't necessarily a huge drama, since many photographers tend to shoot in one mode, for example Aperture Priority, for the majority of the time.
Less experienced photographers can set the camera to Scene Auto Selector mode via the menu, or use the mode dial to set it to Smart Photo Selector.
Scene Auto Selector mode sets the camera to choose the settings that it calculates are appropriate for the scene. Unusually, there's no option to specify the type of scene being photographed.
Smart Photo Selector is an evolution of Nikon Best Shot Selector. In this new mode, depressing the shutter release half-way triggers recording and saving images to the buffer memory. An icon displays in the LCD that lets you know that recording has begun. Pressing the shutter release home also captures the desired shot, and the camera then compares it with the frames captured before the shutter button was fully depressed.
The camera selects what it calculates are the best five shots, based on composition and sharpness, and writes them to the memory card. While this can be useful, the camera is tied up processing and comparing the images for a couple of seconds after shooting.
Given Nikon's history in the photographic market, you would expect it to know a thing or two about camera design and control layout, and while the J1 is easy to use, Nikon DSLR users should expect a few differences. In shutter and aperture priority mode, for example, exposure is changed using a small switch that protrudes from the camera's back just above the mode dial. In manual mode, this switch is used in combination with the multi-control dial below the thumb rest. Both controls are quick and easy to use.
When the AF area mode is set to Single Point or Subject Tracking (via the menu), the active AF point is selected by pressing the OK button at the centre of the multi-controller dial and then using the navigation controls to set the desired spot.
It's straightforward, but it's a measure of the pace of change in the digital camera market that we're disappointed that the Nikon J1 doesn't have a touchscreen to enable faster, more intuitive AF point selection.
On the subject of the screen, the Nikon J1's 460,000 dot 3-inch LCD provides a decent view of the scene being composed, even in quite bright light. The viewing angle is also very wide both vertically and horizontally, but it's not quite as convenient to use as an articulated screen when shooting from awkward angles.
Another omission is an electronic level. These are becoming more commonplace in cameras these days, and while the Nikon J1 has a grid view to aid composition, a level makes it easier to ensure the horizon is level, whatever angle you are shooting from.
Although it's possible to set specific sensitivity settings via the Nikon J1's menu, when moving quickly between areas with different light levels it's useful to use one of the three automatic settings. The widest range is ISO 100-3200, and the camera can usually be relied upon to use the lowest value possible, but for those who want to make sure, ISO 100-800 and ISO 100-400 options are also available.
Overall, the Nikon J1 feels very nicely put together, and it has a reasonably good balance of menu and button-accessed controls, but it is likely to hold more appeal for the seasoned digital camera user than for traditionalists.
Performance
The majority of our test images look good straight from the Nikon J1. There is some variation, but generally the colours are fairly natural-looking, if slightly on the warm side, with just enough saturation to give them a bit of punch.
Under natural or flash light, the automatic white balance system performs well on most occasions, but a few of our shots taken in very overcast conditions have a slight magenta cast.
Although edges can look a little bolder than they should when viewed at 100% on the screen, fine details look a little soft. However, at more sensible printing sizes, images look good.
Nikon is mainly aiming the J1 at relatively inexperienced photographers who haven't yet learned the complexities and stumbling blocks of light metering. These users will find that the multi-purpose Matrix metering mode performs very well, and the camera isn't easily fooled by very bright or dark areas in the scene.
Considering the size of the sensor, the Nikon J1 resolves a respectable level of detail. However, our resolution tests reveal that it can't record as much detail as some Micro Four Thirds cameras. As usual, more detail can be extracted from raw files than is present in the simultaneously recorded JPEGs.
Noise is pretty well controlled, but even images captured at the lowest sensitivity settings have a faint texture that is just visible when they are examined at 100% on the computer screen.
Pushing the sensitivity to ISO 800 introduces some mottled colouring in shadow areas, which becomes increasingly noticeable (at 100%) as the sensitivity is increased. The best high sensitivity images are created by tailoring to the noise reduction for each raw file using Capture NX2.
Interestingly, although Nikon tells us that the J1 applies chromatic aberration correction to JPEG images, when we opened some raw files in Capture NX2 we found that they showed less chromatic aberration than their JPEG counterparts. Turning off the software's chromatic aberration correction brought the two file types closer into line.
Nikon makes some bold claims for the J1's AF system, and in many situations it performs well, even managing to keep up with fast-moving subjects. Not surprisingly, though, it isn't infallible. In low light, the lens is prone to a brief spell of hunting. On many occasions this is just a quick back and forwards adjustment in focus, but it's noticeable, nevertheless.
When Auto Area AF mode is selected, the Nikon J1 usually does a good job of identifying the subject. But switching to Single Point AF mode and setting the point yourself brings extra confidence, especially in busy scenes. The Subject Tracking AF mode also performs well, but the mechanics of activating it means it's hard to achieve the initial lock-on with some moving subjects.
Image quality and resolution
Resolution charts
As part of our image quality testing for the Nikon J1, 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 Nikon J1 is capable of resolving up to around 18 (line widths per picture height x100) in its highest quality JPEG files.
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: 18 (see full image)
ISO 200, score: 18 (see full image)
ISO 400, score: 18 (see full image)
ISO 800, score: 18 (see full image)
ISO 1600, score: 18 (see full image)
ISO 3200, score: 16 (see full image)
ISO 6400, score: 16 (see full image)
Raw images
ISO 100, score: 22 (see full image)
ISO 200, score: 22 (see full image)
ISO 400, score: 20 (see full image)
ISO 800, score: 16 (see full image)
ISO 1600, score: 16 (see full image)
ISO 3200, score: 16 (see full image)
ISO 6400, score: 14 (see full image)
Noise and dynamic range
We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using the DXO Analyzer software to give noise and dynamic range measurements at every sensitivity (ISO) setting.Like the Nikon 1 V1, the Nikon J1 uses a smaller sensor than APS-C or Micro Four Thirds cameras. This means that the J1's 10.1 million effective photosites (pixels) are likely to be smaller, which could be a challenge for image quality.
JPEG signal to noise ratio
Our lab tests indicate that the J1 produces JPEG images that have a low signal to noise ratio in comparison with images from the Olympus PEN E-PL3 and Sony NEX-C3. They are closer to the JPEGs from the Pentax Q, but even this camera - which has a much smaller sensor than the J1 - has a better signal to noise ratio at higher sensitivity settings.A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) generally indicates a cleaner and better quality image.
JPEG images from the Nikon J1 show lower scores for signal to noise ratio than the Olympus PEN E-PL3, Sony NEX-C3 and the Pentax Q.
Raw signal to noise ratio
The difference in the signal to noise ratio of the of the J1's raw files (after conversion to TIFF) and the Pentax Q's is much less than the JPEG files. From ISO 800 up, the J1 beats the Q, proving some benefit from the larger sensor. The raw files can't match the results from the Olympus PEN E-PL3 or Sony NEX-C3 though.
For a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean, and how to read them please click here to read the full article.
JPEG dynamic range
Raw dynamic range
This chart indicates that the Nikon J1's raws compares well against the Olympus PEN E-PL3, Sony NEX C-3 and Pentax Q, with the best results from a sensitivity of ISO 1600. This test shows that the Nikon J1 is capable of capturing a good amount of shadow and highlight detail.
For a full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests, please click here to read the full article.
Sample images
Here are some of the images we've shot with the new Nikon J1 during our testing.
DEPTH OF FIELD: Although smaller than APS-C sized, the J1's sensor is large enough to allow depth of field to be restricted when shooting at f/2.8.
See full res image
SHARP: Even in fairly low and very flat light, the J1's AF system usually gets the subject sharp quickly.
See full res image
NATURAL: Despite the bright sky, using matrix metering has resulted in a natural-looking image with only slight underexposure of the foreground here.
See full res image
FLASH: The bright sky is nicely balanced by the flash output for this low angle shot.
See full res image
ISO 800: There's little noise visible in this ISO 800 image.
See full res image
ISO 3200: Using a sensitivity setting of ISO 3200 has made this image a little on the soft side, and although chroma noise is visible, it's not a major problem.
See full res image
DETAIL: There's plenty of detail in this ISO 400 shot taken with the 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 VR kit lens mounted, but chromatic aberration is visible along some backlit edges.
See full res image
FAST: The Nikon J1's AF system can latch onto and track fast moving subjects.
See full res image
NO FLASH: When you don't want to use flash, the maximum aperture of the 10mm f/2.8 lens comes in handy.
See full res image
Verdict
Nikon's announcement of its 1 system wasn't met with approval all round. Some Nikon users are disappointed by the company's decision to use a relatively small sensor, while others were hoping for something directed more squarely at enthusiast photographers.
Nevertheless it is a formula that seems to be working for Nikon as the J1 has had some impressive sales figures and has been the best-selling CSC in the UK at several points since its arrival.
While Nikon wants to stake a claim in the new compact camera system market, it doesn't want to damage its DSLR sales, and this goes some way to explaining its decision to develop a new lens mount and use a smaller than APS-C sized sensor.
Perhaps more than any other manufacturer, Nikon has succeeded in producing a camera that sits between its compact and DSLR cameras.
Experienced photographers may have been happier if Nikon had used a design a little closer to its most advanced compact model, the Coolpix P7100, with more direct control via buttons and dials and an articulating screen. Perhaps this will come in the future, but it would be intimidating to the intended Nikon J1 (and V1) market - those who want a step up from a compact camera without the complexity of an DSLR.
We liked
Nikon's minimalist design and the magnesium alloy body give the Nikon J1 a high-quality feel. Novice photographers will find that they soon become familiar with the control layout and menu arrangement and will enjoy the decent image quality.We disliked
Exposure mode can only be changed via the menu, and although easy, changing the AF point requires a bit of button pressing – a touchscreen would make it much quicker.Image quality is very good considering the sensor size, but it's not up to the standard from Micro Four Third and APS-C format cameras.
Final verdict
While the Nikon J1 is easy to get to grips with, a high-quality touchscreen would make its handling a little slicker and speed AF point selection. An articulated screen would make composing from unusual angles easier as well.Image quality from the Nikon J1 is good, competing well with the average compact camera and approaching that of entry-level DSLRs.
In summary, the J1 provides a good introduction to interchangeable lens cameras, although it lacks some of the fun features such as in-camera filter effects seen on other offerings
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New service offers businesses free mobile conference calls
City of London based-business Neutrino Networks has launched a new free mobile conferencing service.
The new service Mobileconference, is both cost and commitment free. There are no contracts to sign and calls are via mobile-based numbers, so the calls will be free under your monthly calls if you are a contract-customer. The service is unlike other conferencing services that use "low cost" 0844 numbers, as these aren't usually not included in the free calls on a business contract and can cost up to 41p per minute.
Additionally the new service also includes a unique feature that no other conference call services currently offer, free transcribing.
With the Mobileconference service calls are recorded then transcribed by hand within an ISO-9001 Government Bonded secure facility, and can then be streamed with the text synchronised using the firms' patent pending technology. You can then download the call as an MP3 and save the transcribed text and then share and annotate it with your colleagues on and offline.
CEO and ex-licensed mobile operator, Lee Jones, explains: "We're very excited because our innovative service is a world first and is a real boost for UK businesses that use conferencing services."
Other features of the service include unlimited call recording, desktop sharing and online collaboration. Mobile users can access the service via the Mobileconference website or via a free App (currently only the Android app is available the iPhone and BlackBerry apps are pending release).
Non-mobile callers will shortly be able to dial into any conference completely free using the internet.
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Firefox Mobile OS 'a better budget experience than Android'
Mozilla's upcoming Firefox Mobile OS is set to take on Android at the budget end of the smartphone market from next year.
Telefonica, owner of the O2 mobile network in the UK and many others around the world, is heavily involved in the project with Mozilla as the companies develop the HTML 5 web-based OS.
Telefonica Chief Executive, Matthew Key explained more about the ambition for the OS at a conference in London; "With the Firefox Mobile OS we can produce the same experience as on an Android handset more cheaply, or a better experience at the same price."
Simple, speedy and efficient
What the Firefox Mobile OS claims to offer is a simple, speedy and efficient user experience at the low end of the market, even on handsets running 600MHz processors.Carlos Domingo, Product and Innovation Director at Telefonica added; "Cheap Android phones offer a bad user experience and usually run an older version of the operating system."
Key also revealed when Telefonica's first Firefox handset would be released, and quoted a retail price of less than $100 (around £80); "The first handset cost will be sub-$100, and we'll launch it in the first quarter of 2013 in Brazil, with Europe and other markets (including the US) coming later."
Mozilla has already managed to sign up seven networks and two manufacturers (ZTE and Alcatel) to support the Firefox Mobile OS, and it's in discussions with four or five other large handset manufacturers.
Domingo confirmed to TechRadar that "the Firefox Mobile OS handsets will not be available from any network before the end of 2012. The first handsets will probably arrive in January next year."
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Hands-on review: Updated: Canon 650D
Introduction
Update: we now have a full production sample of the Canon 650D and our in-depth review is on the way. In the meantime we have added our resolution chart images plus our noise and dynamic range graphs to this preview so you can see how it compares with the likes of the Canon 600D, Sony Alpha 37 and the Nikon D5100.
Although it has an 18 million pixel sensor, Canon's EOS 650D/Rebel T4i doesn't use the same CMOS device as other cameras in Canon's range. It uses a new Hybrid CMOS sensor that is designed to facilitate a combined phase detection and contrast detection autofocus system that operates during video recording and when Live View is activated.Images and video are processed using Canon's Digic 5 14-bit engine, which enables a maximum continuous shooting rate of 5fps, that's up from the 3.7fps of the Canon EOS 600D.
Sensitivity has also been pushed, and the Canon 650D/Rebel T4i has a native range of ISO 100-12,800, which can be extended to ISO 25,600.
We have become used to smartphones, compact cameras and compact system cameras (CSCs) having touchscreens, but the Canon 650D is the first DSLR to feature one. Apart from the fact that it is touch sensitive, the screen is exactly the same as the one on the Canon EOS 600D.
This means it is a 3-inch 1,040,000-dot unit mounted on an articulating hinge, which makes it easier to shoot from a wide range of angles. The gap between the screen cover and the LCD is also filled with an optical gel to help cut down reflections.
Another interesting feature of the Canon EOS 650D's screen is that its menu display colour can be changed. There are five different options, four of which are just for preference, but one with red text on a black background that could be very useful for night-time shooting.
Hybrid AF
Like the Canon EOS 600D, in reflex mode the Canon EOS 650D uses a nine-point phase detection autofocus system. However, all of these points are cross-type with the new camera. The 600D only has one cross-type AF point, which is the centre of the frame. This should make the 650D's AF system more responsive than the 600D's, since it's better able to detect the subject.
Obviously we want to test a full-production sample fully before we pronounce judgement, but the early signs are good and the subject jumped quickly into focus at every AF point we selected during our time with the pre-production sample.
In Live View and movie mode, the Canon EOS 650D is able to focus continuously using its Hybrid AF system. This is a first for an EOS camera. The phase detection part of this process is made possible by the presence of on-sensor pixels that are dedicated to informing the system.
Although Canon UK was unable to tell us how many pixels are used for phase detection AF, or how they are arranged, we're told that these pixels aren't on exactly the same plane as the imaging pixels. This suggests that unlike the pixels employed by Nikon's hybrid AF system in the Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 V1, they are used solely for focusing and don't make up the image.
When the Canon EOS 650D focuses in Live View or video mode, it uses the new sensor phase detection system to get the subject close to being sharp, and then the contrast detection steps in to get it fully into focus.
At the time of our preview of the 650D, Canon wasn't able to comment on the reason for introducing the hybrid system, but we assume that it is designed to combine the speed of phase detection technology with the accuracy of contrast detection.
Image rating
We are pleased to find that it's possible to rate images out of five on the Canon EOS 650D, but we're a little disappointed that this function doesn't have a dedicated button like the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. Instead, the rating option is located in the menu. Nevertheless it's still fairly quick and very easy to use.
The great thing about Canon's in-camera rating system is that the information is stored with the image EXIF data, so the star ratings are displayed in software packages such as Adobe Photoshop Elements and Bridge. It makes reviewing images a really useful exercise, especially during a break in a lengthy shoot or after shooting long sequences.
You may not use the review mode to decide the very best image, but it provides a convenient way of identifying the most likely candidates.
New modes
With novice photographers in mind, Canon has introduced two new scene modes with the Canon EOS 650D: Handheld Night Scene and HDR Backlight Control. The first takes a sequence of four images and combines them using auto-aligning to get a correct exposure without blurring the subject. The aim of this JPEG-only mode is to break a longer exposure into four shorter exposures that enable the subject to be frozen.
Meanwhile, HDR Backlight control works in a similar way, combining three JPEG images into one auto-aligned composite with a correctly exposed background and foreground. The mode isn't intended to emulate extreme HDR effects, but to enable you to take correctly exposed images when the background is much brighter than the subject.
When we get a full production sample in for testing we will be interested to see if these modes render the images quicker than the pre-production camera, which took a few seconds.
It will also be interesting to see how the new Noise Reduction option performs. When selected, this mode triggers the camera to shoot and combine a sequence of four images into one with less visible noise. It sounds similar to a Photoshop technique which relies on the fact that most chroma noise is random.
Canon has also added two new Creative filters - Art Bold and Water Painting Effect - that can be added when reviewing images. These are easy to apply, but you may wonder why you can't select to use them at the shooting stage.
Video
No DSLR is complete without the ability to shoot video these days, and the Canon EOS 650D can record Full HD (1920 x 1080) movies at a variety of frame rates. A stereo microphone is built into the top of the camera, but there's also a port to connect an external mic. Furthermore, sound can be adjusted to one of 64 levels.
While this is all good news, you may be disappointed to learn that there is no headphone jack to enable sound to be monitored more easily than listening to the playback through the camera's speakers.
Canon has also included its excellent Video Snapshot mode. This enables footage to be shot in two, four or eight second-long bursts that can then be edited together in-camera.
For Canon, though, the big innovation that the EOS 650D brings to its video capability is full time autofocusing.
Build and handling
In looks and feel, the Canon EOS 650D is almost identical to the Canon EOS 600D, and there are only a few button changes. The grip is nice and deep, and its textured coating helps it to feel secure in your hand.One key difference from the Canon EOS 600D is that the Canon EOS 650D's power switch can also be used to set the camera to video mode by turning it beyond the 'On' setting. A still image can be taken by pressing the shutter release, and pressing the Live View/Video button on the rear of the camera starts video recording. If the power switch is turned to 'On', pressing the Live View/Video button activates Live View mode.
Of course the biggest handling change compared to the 600D is the introduction of the touchscreen. According to Canon UK's David Parry, the 650D is all about ease of use and getting high quality images, and the touchscreen is just one (major) step in that direction.
In addition to Touch AF mode, which triggers the camera to focus on a point in the scene that is set by a touch of the finger on the screen, a Touch Shutter mode triggers it to focus and fire the shutter. We found both responsive, and they will prove very useful when shooting at awkward angles.
Thankfully, Canon hasn't forgotten that some users prefer button controls, and the 650D has all the usual controls with only a few differences from the 600D.
Canon seems to have taken note of all that is best about a touchscreen and incorporated it into the Canon EOS 650D's monitor. For a start it is a capacitive screen, so it responds to a touch rather than a press. We found it very responsive.
As well as being useful for navigating the menu and making settings adjustments, the touchscreen can be used to swipe between images when reviewing. We particularly like the ability to pinch to zoom while reviewing images - it's a quick and intuitive way of checking image details or zooming out to see thumbnails to find a particular image.
We used the pre-production Canon EOS 650D outside on a glorious, cloud-free summer's day, and while reflections were visible on the screen we were still able to see the scene we were composing in all but direct sunlight situations.
Helpfully, like the Canon EOS 600D, the Canon EOS 650D has a sensor near the viewfinder eye cup that detects when the camera is held to the eye and turns off the LCD screen.
Given the progress that Canon has made with Live View technology, we think it might be nice if this could be used to switch between composing the image on-screen and in the viewfinder as some compact system cameras with electronic viewfinders do.
Performance and screens
We weren't able to examine the images that we shot with the pre-production Canon EOS 650D on a computer, so we can't really comment on the image quality just yet. However, we magnified several images on screen and saw that the low sensitivity shots appear to have all the detail that we'd expect from an 18 million pixel APS-C format sensor.Colours also appeared to be bright and punchy, but not oversaturated. We were also able to see a fair bit of chroma noise in images taken at the highest sensitivity settings. Nothing excessive, but nevertheless visible.
We found the early sample Canon EOS 650D's autofocusing during Live View and video was pretty snappy with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II kit lens mounted, especially when shooting outdoors in good light. In low light there was a little of the familiar backwards and forwards adjustment, though.
When the new Canon 40mm f/2.8 STM lens was mounted on the Canon EOS 650D, there was a noticeable change in the focus movement when using Live View and recording video. We found the subject moved much more slowly and smoothly into focus than when the 18-55mm lens was used, and the result is much more professional-looking movie footage.
Screens
Image quality and resolution
As part of our image quality testing for the Canon EOS 650D, 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 Canon EOS 650D is capable of resolving up to around 24 (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: 24 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 200, score: 24 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 400, score: 24 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 800, score: 22 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 1600, score: 20 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 3200, score: 20 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 6400, score:18 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 12800, score: 16 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 25600, score: 12 (Click here to see full resolution image)
Raw
ISO 100, score: 24 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 200, score: 24 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 400, score: 24 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 800, score: 22 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 1600, score: 20 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 3200, score: 20 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 6400, score: 20 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 12800, score: 16 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 25600, score: 12 (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 Canon EOS 650D relate closely with the Canon EOS 600D for signal to noise ratio. However from the chart you can see that the Sony Alpha 37 just has the edge over both of them.
Raw Images
TIFF images (after conversion from raw) from the Sony Alpha 37 and Canon EOS 650D are closely matched for their signal to noise ratio, with the Alpha 37 just having the edge at the lower end of the sensitivity scale, and the EOS 650D showing lower noise at high sensitivities.
Dynamic range
Our dynamic range results show that there is an improvement in performance for JPEG images over the Canon EOS 600D, but both the Nikon D5100 and Sony Alpha 37 are capable of capturing more tonal gradation across the greater part of the sensitivity range.
This chart indicates that TIFF images (after conversion from raw) from the 650D have a greater dynamic range than the Canon EOS 600D's images, but as with the JPEGs, they lag behind the results achieved by the Nikon D5100 and Sony Alpha 37 for the greater part of the sensitivity range.
Early verdict
We have to admit, we're pretty excited about the Canon EOS 650D. It seems that Canon has decided to stick with existing pixel counts (or close to them in the case of the 5D Mark III) and concentrate on making its DSLRs more user-friendly by improving ergonomics and adding new features.Though those who don't like touchscreens can still use direct controls, but we think the implementation of Canon EOS 650D's touchscreen will persuade doubters to try it, and once you try it you'll find it very useful. One of the great things about using a touchscreen on a camera is that you are able to focus on the image, rather than having to look to the body for the controls.
Although we want to do plenty of testing with a full-production sample, the early signs for Canon's Live View and video Hybrid AF system are good. Judging by our experience with the 40mm f/2.8 lens, videographers will find that it works particularly well with the new STM lenses.
Although the EOS 650D sits below the EOS 60D in the Canon lineup, the new model is a pretty enticing option, with an impressive feature set that really gives the 60D a run for its money.
At £699.99 (about $1,085) body only and £799.99 (about $1,238) with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II, it is a little more affordable than the 60D, which can be found for around £750 in the UK or $999 in the US, for the body only.
Those who balk at the price and who really don't want the touchscreen or Hybrid AF features will be well served by the 600D, which can be bought for around £535/$750 body only.
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Hands-on review: Updated: Canon EOS 650D
Introduction
Update: we now have a full production sample of the Canon 650D and our full review is on the way. In the meantime we have added our resolution chart images to this preview so you can see how much detail it can capture.Although it has an 18 million pixel sensor, Canon's EOS 650D/Rebel T4i doesn't use the same CMOS device as other cameras in Canon's range. It uses a new Hybrid CMOS sensor that is designed to facilitate a combined phase detection and contrast detection autofocus system that operates during video recording and when Live View is activated.
Images and video are processed using Canon's Digic 5 14-bit engine, which enables a maximum continuous shooting rate of 5fps, that's up from the 3.7fps of the Canon EOS 600D.
Sensitivity has also been pushed, and the Canon 650D/Rebel T4i has a native range of ISO 100-12,800, which can be extended to ISO 25,600.
We have become used to smartphones, compact cameras and compact system cameras (CSCs) having touchscreens, but the Canon 650D is the first DSLR to feature one. Apart from the fact that it is touch sensitive, the screen is exactly the same as the one on the Canon EOS 600D.
This means it is a 3-inch 1,040,000-dot unit mounted on an articulating hinge, which makes it easier to shoot from a wide range of angles. The gap between the screen cover and the LCD is also filled with an optical gel to help cut down reflections.
Another interesting feature of the Canon EOS 650D's screen is that its menu display colour can be changed. There are five different options, four of which are just for preference, but one with red text on a black background that could be very useful for night-time shooting.
Hybrid AF
Like the Canon EOS 600D, in reflex mode the Canon EOS 650D uses a nine-point phase detection autofocus system. However, all of these points are cross-type with the new camera. The 600D only has one cross-type AF point, which is the centre of the frame. This should make the 650D's AF system more responsive than the 600D's, since it's better able to detect the subject.Obviously we want to test a full-production sample fully before we pronounce judgement, but the early signs are good and the subject jumped quickly into focus at every AF point we selected during our time with the pre-production sample.
In Live View and movie mode, the Canon EOS 650D is able to focus continuously using its Hybrid AF system. This is a first for an EOS camera. The phase detection part of this process is made possible by the presence of on-sensor pixels that are dedicated to informing the system.
Although Canon UK was unable to tell us how many pixels are used for phase detection AF, or how they are arranged, we're told that these pixels aren't on exactly the same plane as the imaging pixels. This suggests that unlike the pixels employed by Nikon's hybrid AF system in the Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 V1, they are used solely for focusing and don't make up the image.
When the Canon EOS 650D focuses in Live View or video mode, it uses the new sensor phase detection system to get the subject close to being sharp, and then the contrast detection steps in to get it fully into focus.
At the time of our preview of the 650D, Canon wasn't able to comment on the reason for introducing the hybrid system, but we assume that it is designed to combine the speed of phase detection technology with the accuracy of contrast detection.
Image rating
We are pleased to find that it's possible to rate images out of five on the Canon EOS 650D, but we're a little disappointed that this function doesn't have a dedicated button like the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. Instead, the rating option is located in the menu. Nevertheless it's still fairly quick and very easy to use.The great thing about Canon's in-camera rating system is that the information is stored with the image EXIF data, so the star ratings are displayed in software packages such as Adobe Photoshop Elements and Bridge. It makes reviewing images a really useful exercise, especially during a break in a lengthy shoot or after shooting long sequences.
You may not use the review mode to decide the very best image, but it provides a convenient way of identifying the most likely candidates.
New modes
With novice photographers in mind, Canon has introduced two new scene modes with the Canon EOS 650D: Handheld Night Scene and HDR Backlight Control. The first takes a sequence of four images and combines them using auto-aligning to get a correct exposure without blurring the subject. The aim of this JPEG-only mode is to break a longer exposure into four shorter exposures that enable the subject to be frozen.Meanwhile, HDR Backlight control works in a similar way, combining three JPEG images into one auto-aligned composite with a correctly exposed background and foreground. The mode isn't intended to emulate extreme HDR effects, but to enable you to take correctly exposed images when the background is much brighter than the subject.
When we get a full production sample in for testing we will be interested to see if these modes render the images quicker than the pre-production camera, which took a few seconds.
It will also be interesting to see how the new Noise Reduction option performs. When selected, this mode triggers the camera to shoot and combine a sequence of four images into one with less visible noise. It sounds similar to a Photoshop technique which relies on the fact that most chroma noise is random.
Canon has also added two new Creative filters - Art Bold and Water Painting Effect - that can be added when reviewing images. These are easy to apply, but you may wonder why you can't select to use them at the shooting stage.
Video
No DSLR is complete without the ability to shoot video these days, and the Canon EOS 650D can record Full HD (1920 x 1080) movies at a variety of frame rates. A stereo microphone is built into the top of the camera, but there's also a port to connect an external mic. Furthermore, sound can be adjusted to one of 64 levels.While this is all good news, you may be disappointed to learn that there is no headphone jack to enable sound to be monitored more easily than listening to the playback through the camera's speakers.
Canon has also included its excellent Video Snapshot mode. This enables footage to be shot in two, four or eight second-long bursts that can then be edited together in-camera.
For Canon, though, the big innovation that the EOS 650D brings to its video capability is full time autofocusing.
Build and handling
In looks and feel, the Canon EOS 650D is almost identical to the Canon EOS 600D, and there are only a few button changes. The grip is nice and deep, and its textured coating helps it to feel secure in your hand.One key difference from the Canon EOS 600D is that the Canon EOS 650D's power switch can also be used to set the camera to video mode by turning it beyond the 'On' setting. A still image can be taken by pressing the shutter release, and pressing the Live View/Video button on the rear of the camera starts video recording. If the power switch is turned to 'On', pressing the Live View/Video button activates Live View mode.
Of course the biggest handling change compared to the 600D is the introduction of the touchscreen. According to Canon UK's David Parry, the 650D is all about ease of use and getting high quality images, and the touchscreen is just one (major) step in that direction.
In addition to Touch AF mode, which triggers the camera to focus on a point in the scene that is set by a touch of the finger on the screen, a Touch Shutter mode triggers it to focus and fire the shutter. We found both responsive, and they will prove very useful when shooting at awkward angles.
Thankfully, Canon hasn't forgotten that some users prefer button controls, and the 650D has all the usual controls with only a few differences from the 600D.
Canon seems to have taken note of all that is best about a touchscreen and incorporated it into the Canon EOS 650D's monitor. For a start it is a capacitive screen, so it responds to a touch rather than a press. We found it very responsive.
As well as being useful for navigating the menu and making settings adjustments, the touchscreen can be used to swipe between images when reviewing. We particularly like the ability to pinch to zoom while reviewing images - it's a quick and intuitive way of checking image details or zooming out to see thumbnails to find a particular image.
We used the pre-production Canon EOS 650D outside on a glorious, cloud-free summer's day, and while reflections were visible on the screen we were still able to see the scene we were composing in all but direct sunlight situations.
Helpfully, like the Canon EOS 600D, the Canon EOS 650D has a sensor near the viewfinder eye cup that detects when the camera is held to the eye and turns off the LCD screen.
Given the progress that Canon has made with Live View technology, we think it might be nice if this could be used to switch between composing the image on-screen and in the viewfinder as some compact system cameras with electronic viewfinders do.
Performance and screens
We weren't able to examine the images that we shot with the pre-production Canon EOS 650D on a computer, so we can't really comment on the image quality just yet. However, we magnified several images on screen and saw that the low sensitivity shots appear to have all the detail that we'd expect from an 18 million pixel APS-C format sensor.Colours also appeared to be bright and punchy, but not oversaturated. We were also able to see a fair bit of chroma noise in images taken at the highest sensitivity settings. Nothing excessive, but nevertheless visible.
We found the early sample Canon EOS 650D's autofocusing during Live View and video was pretty snappy with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II kit lens mounted, especially when shooting outdoors in good light. In low light there was a little of the familiar backwards and forwards adjustment, though.
When the new Canon 40mm f/2.8 STM lens was mounted on the Canon EOS 650D, there was a noticeable change in the focus movement when using Live View and recording video. We found the subject moved much more slowly and smoothly into focus than when the 18-55mm lens was used, and the result is much more professional-looking movie footage.
Screens
Image quality and resolution
As part of our image quality testing for the Canon EOS 650D, 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 Canon EOS 650D is capable of resolving up to around 24 (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: 24 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 200, score: 24 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 400, score: 24 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 800, score: 22 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 1600, score: 20 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 3200, score: 20 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 6400, score:18 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 12800, score: 16 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 25600, score: 12 (Click here to see full resolution image)
Raw
ISO 100, score: 24 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 200, score: 24 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 400, score: 24 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 800, score: 22 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 1600, score: 20 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 3200, score: 20 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 6400, score: 20 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 12800, score: 16 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 25600, score: 12 (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 Canon EOS 650D relate closely with the Canon EOS 600D for signal to noise ratio. However from the chart you can see that the Sony Alpha 37 just has the edge.
Raw Images
TIFF images (After conversion from raw) show that results between the Sony Alpha 37 and Canon EOS 650D are close, with the Alpha 37 just having the edge at the lower end of the sensitivity scale, and the EOS 650D showing lower noise at high sensitivities.
Dynamic range
Dynamic range results show that there is an improvement in performance for JPEG images over the Canon EOS 600D, but both the Nikon D5100 and Sony Alpha 37 are capable of capturing a wider tonal graduation across the greater part of the sensitivity range.
This chart indicates that TIFF images (After conversion from raw) show a greater dynamic range than the Canon EOS 600D, but as with the JPEG images lag behind the results achieved by the Nikon D5100 and Sony Alpha 37 for the greater part of the sensitivity range.
Early verdict
We have to admit, we're pretty excited about the Canon EOS 650D. It seems that Canon has decided to stick with existing pixel counts (or close to them in the case of the 5D Mark III) and concentrate on making its DSLRs more user-friendly by improving ergonomics and adding new features.Though those who don't like touchscreens can still use direct controls, but we think the implementation of Canon EOS 650D's touchscreen will persuade doubters to try it, and once you try it you'll find it very useful. One of the great things about using a touchscreen on a camera is that you are able to focus on the image, rather than having to look to the body for the controls.
Although we want to do plenty of testing with a full-production sample, the early signs for Canon's Live View and video Hybrid AF system are good. Judging by our experience with the 40mm f/2.8 lens, videographers will find that it works particularly well with the new STM lenses.
Although the EOS 650D sits below the EOS 60D in the Canon lineup, the new model is a pretty enticing option, with an impressive feature set that really gives the 60D a run for its money.
At £699.99 (about $1,085) body only and £799.99 (about $1,238) with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II, it is a little more affordable than the 60D, which can be found for around £750 in the UK or $999 in the US, for the body only.
Those who balk at the price and who really don't want the touchscreen or Hybrid AF features will be well served by the 600D, which can be bought for around £535/$750 body only.
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In Depth: Nokia Pureview 808 camera: how good is it?
Nokia Pureview 808 cameraphone introduction
Nokia's headline-grabbing Pureview 808 crams a whopping 41 megapixels on its sensor, but can it actually deliver the goods?Back in February, when the Nokia Pureview 808 was announced, there was only one thing grabbing all the headlines – the onboard camera with its astonishing 41 million pixels.
Even the Nikon D800, the company's semi-pro DSLR with a full-frame sensor, boasts 'only' 36 million pixels, so to find this amount on a smartphone seems almost too good to be true.
Of course, the naysayers will point out that pixel count isn't tantamount to image quality. Which is true in many respects, but it's worth pointing out that the 808 shoots in Pureview mode at 8 million pixel images by default.
This is achieved through a process known by some as pixel binning, or what Nokia terms "pixel oversampling". Whatever it's known as, this process essentially collects together groups of pixels to form larger pixels that are capable of collecting light more effectively. You can also choose to shoot at 38 million pixels if you prefer.
Build quality and handling
Fairly large, even by smartphone standards, a good proportion of the Nokia Pureview 808's bulk comes from the hefty lens protruding from the back of the camera.The camera itself can be accessed either via the main menu or by assigning a shortcut to the home screen. It's a shame not to see a quicker way to activate the camera, such as on the iPhone 4S via its lock screen.
For a cameraphone, the number of controls available on the Nokia Pureview 808 are fairly extensive. You can elect to change to have the camera shoot everything in Automatic Mode, select a specific scene or have access to more advanced settings in the Creative Mode.
It is here in the Creative Mode that you have the option to shoot in different resolutions and "Sensor modes." We're not entirely sure why you'd elect to go for the full 38MP, but the option is there should you desire it.
Under Creative Mode you can also make changes to colour tones, choosing to shoot in Vivid, Sepia or Black and White should the mood strike you. There's also the option to choose between Normal, Bracketing, Interval and Self-Timer capture modes.
Handily, a group of settings can be saved in one of three slots, so if you find yourself often wanting to shoot in high-contrast black and white you can quickly flip to your saved settings.
Once Creative Mode is selected, a number of advanced settings can be accessed via the touchscreen panel on the left of the screen. Here you'll find flash modes, exposure compensation, white balance, ISO and the inbuilt ND filter.
Changes are made by swiping through options. This can be a little fiddly, or quick to change, but you learn the pressure and speed needed quickly once you use it. A handy bonus here is that each parameter includes a reset button for quickly going back to the default setting, which saves a lot of unnecessary swiping.
The shutter itself is released by a touch icon on the right-hand side of the screen. When held in landscape format, a physical button can also be used to activate the shutter on the top-right of the phone. This helps the phone feel more like a camera, and it can even be half pushed to focus first before fully depressing to release the shutter.
Like on other smartphones (and increasing amounts of compact and compact system cameras) the focus point can be altered by tapping on the screen. This is generally responsive, but we found on occasion that it took a while for the focus point to match the area tapped.
Digital zoom is available, which can be accessed either by pinching in and out on the screen or via the physical volume buttons on the side of the camera. This is pretty smooth to zoom in and out, and the actual buttons feel generally well made.
The 4-inch AMOLED ClearBlack screen works well in all but the brightest of sunlight, meaning you can view images in most conditions. Colours on the screen are displayed well, and give a good representation of how the images also appear on a computer screen.
Performance
The Nokia Pureview 808's camera is capable of producing very nice images in good conditions. Colours are bright and punchy, while pictures are crisp and clear.We found very little evidence of chromatic aberration on images, even in high-contrast areas.
Although only equipped with a small sensor, the Nokia Pureview 808 is still capable of producing shallow depth of field effects in certain situations. Given the level of control on the camera, it's a big shame that aperture isn't one of the parameters that can be adjusted.
In the majority of cases, focusing speeds on the Nokia Pureview 808 were quick and generally accurate, although on occasion there does seem to be a lag between pressing the screen and the focus point box appearing.
Metering is another parameter that can't be manually set, so it seems likely that the smartphone's camera uses evaluative, or general metering. In the majority of cases this works quite well, only struggling in very mixed or strong light. If faced with such conditions, you can adjust the exposure compensation.
Sensitivity however, can be adjusted, or left to automatic if you prefer. With a range up to ISO 1600, the 808 is capable of grabbing shots in lower light conditions, but our tests indicate that these images are best kept fairly small and won't make good prints.
Images taken at ISO 800 look much better. At 100% on a computer screen shadow areas have a painterly pattern which is less of an issue in well illuminated sections. At around A4 size on screen there's a noticeable granular texture in the shadows, but it's not too unpleasant.
As you would expect, lower sensitivity images have more detail visible, but there's still a slight graininess in the shadows of images taken at ISO 200 at A4 size.
Once you've taken a shot, edits can be made from the Gallery area. This includes basic cropping, and more advanced options such as adding digital filters and frames.
None of the filters are labelled with names, instead relying on basic clipart-style graphics to illustrate the function, so these take some experimentation to learn the differences between all of them.
The filters are not particularly exciting, and it's a shame there couldn't have been something a little more creative here to take on the might of Instagram, which is available on iOS and Android, but not of course Symbian Belle, the Nokia Pureview 808's operating system.
Similarly, we can't see the jokey frames and clip art appealing to any serious photographers - another element that could have offered something a bit different.
More advanced editing comes in the shape of brightness, contrast and saturation adjustment. Red Eye Reduction and Auto Levels are also available. RGB controls are available, meaning you can create your own digital filters by dragging the sliders, for instance creating a Posterised or a Cross Process effect.
Image quality and resolution
As part of our image quality testing for the Nokia Pureview 808 cameraphone, 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 50 the Nokia Pureview 808 is capable of resolving up to around 16 (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 50, score: 16 (click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 100, score: 16 (click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 200, score: 16 (click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 400, score: 14 (click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 800, score: 14 (click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 1600, score: 12 (click here to see the 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 Nokia Pureview 808 cameraphone show lower signal to noise ratio results than the Samsung Galaxy S2, HTC Evo 3D, Sony Xperia Arc, Motorola Milestone XT720 and Nokia N8.
However, we suspect that this is a result of some of the other cameras' heavy-handed processing of images which removes noise at the expense of detail.
Dynamic range
Cameraphones have very small sensors and if the pixel count is pushed too far this can reduce their ability to record tonal changes in the highlight and shadows. As a result bright areas of the sky in landscape images burn out while the shadows go a deep black because the camera has a low dynamic range.
This chart indicates that the Nokia Pureview 808 camera's JPEGs have at least a 0.5EV higher dynamic range than the other smartphones' cameras up to a sensitivity of ISO 200. Above this value it maintains a better dynamic range than the Samsung Galaxy S2 and Motorola XT720, but is overtaken by the HTC Evo 3D.
At ISO 1600 the Nokia Pureview 808 has a restricted dynamic range so highlights will be prone to burning out and shadow detail will be lost easily.
Sample images
Click here to see the full resolution image
The Nokia Pureview 808's camera is capable of producing shallow depth of field effects, such as seen here. You also have the choice between 16:9 ratio or 4:3.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Black and White mode is one of a few different options you can choose to shoot in. Also included are Sepia and Vivid.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Colours from the Nokia Pureview 808 are represented well, being punchy without being over the top.
Click here to see the full resolution image
One of the editing options on the Nokia Pureview 808 is cropping - you can see the original image below.
Click here to see the full resolution image
This is the original version of the cropped image above. Both images are saved as separate files on the camera.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Although there aren't many interesting digital filters that can be applied post-capture, you can adjust the RGB levels in order to "create your own."
Click here to see the full resolution image
This shot is taken with the camera at fully wide.
Click here to see the full resolution image
This shot is taken with the full digital zoom employed.
Click here to see the full resolution image
One of the manual controls on the Pureview is exposure compensation. On this image, the camera has struggled with the brightness range.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Here, we have upped the exposure compensation in order to produce a brighter, and more accurate, image.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Here we can see that the metering has struggled a little with a bright backlit image. It's a shame that this is something that can't be altered.
Click here to see the full resolution image
The camera struggles a little with macro focusing. You will need to stand a reasonable distance away when capturing small objects. You can always crop in to the image later in post-processing.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Here is an example of one of the digital filters that can be applied post-capture. This gives a slight pinhole camera effect by creating a vignette in the corners.
Sensitivity and noise
Full ISO 50 image, see the cropped (100%) versions below.
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 50
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
Verdict
Overall, the images taken with the Nokia Pureview 808's camera are impressive, especially in the mobile phone arena.
However, with no mobile operators in the UK wanting to offer the phone on contract, and Nokia wobbling over US plans for the phone, any potential customers will need to buy the handset at its full price on a SIM-free deal.
Considering this is currently around £500/$700, we can't see too many people rushing out to snap up the cameraphone. For that kind of price, you can of course get a very highly specced compact camera that includes full manual control, optical zoom and in some cases the ability to shoot in raw format.
That said, it's a very interesting concept, and it certainly suggests more technological developments will come from other mobile phone manufacturers around the world, while camera (especially compact camera) manufacturers will surely be taking notice of the developments.
We liked
The amount of manual control available is pretty impressive for a mobile phone, enabling you to get a bit more creative than the traditional point and shoot devices currently on the market.We disliked
It's a shame there's not even more manual control, since parameters such as shutter speed and aperture would surely have been appreciated by more serious enthusiasts.Final verdict
Nokia had the opportunity to provide something really exciting with the Nokia Pureview 808. However, it seems clear from the reluctance of the phone networks that, attention-grabbing headlines aside, the Nokia Pureview 808 isn't about to capture anybody's imagination.If Nokia had put a bit more thought and enthusiasm into the design and functionality of its onboard camera - perhaps by offering more creative control and fun extras such as digital filters - then we could have been witnessing a real game changer here.
As it is, we're left a little flat.
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Facebook App Centre launches in the UK, app recommendations ahoy!
Fancy downloading an app within an app? Well now you can with the launch of the Facebook App Centre in the UK.
Muscling in on the territory of the App Store and Google Play, the Facebook App Centre is an interesting Russian Doll-like concept. Announced back in June for the US, you can essentially choose apps from the service while you are in your Facebook app on your phone, or while using the desktop version of the social network.
Once done, you will be transported to the relevant app store and the app will be downloaded on your phone – with the special caveat that the app will now be linked into your Facebook account.
Synching feeling
It is this synchronisation that is key to Facebook but for users it looks as if the service will be better suited as a decent recommendation engine."The App Centre gives you personalised recommendations, and lets you browse the apps your friends use," explained Facebook about the service.
"It only lists high-quality apps, based on feedback from people who use the app."
Currently there are 600 apps available and the ones which are more UK-centric include Deezer, The Guardian, King.com games and Livesport.TV.
To access App Centre, head over to https://www.facebook.com/appcenter.
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In-depth look at the Nokia Pureview 808's camera
Nokia Pureview 808 cameraphone introduction
Nokia's headline-grabbing Pureview 808 crams a whopping 41 megapixels on its sensor, but can it actually deliver the goods?Back in February, when the Nokia Pureview 808 was announced, there was only one thing grabbing all the headlines – the onboard camera with its astonishing 41 million pixels.
Even the Nikon D800, the company's semi-pro DSLR with a full-frame sensor, boasts 'only' 36 million pixels, so to find this amount on a smartphone seems almost too good to be true.
Of course, the naysayers will point out that pixel count isn't tantamount to image quality. Which is true in many respects, but it's worth pointing out that the 808 shoots in Pureview mode at 8 million pixel images by default.
This is achieved through a process known by some as pixel binning, or what Nokia terms "pixel oversampling". Whatever it's known as, this process essentially collects together groups of pixels to form larger pixels that are capable of collecting light more effectively. You can also choose to shoot at 38 million pixels if you prefer.
Build quality and handling
Fairly large, even by smartphone standards, a good proportion of the Nokia Pureview 808's bulk comes from the hefty lens protruding from the back of the camera.The camera itself can be accessed either via the main menu or by assigning a shortcut to the home screen. It's a shame not to see a quicker way to activate the camera, such as on the iPhone 4S via its lock screen.
For a cameraphone, the number of controls available on the Nokia Pureview 808 are fairly extensive. You can elect to change to have the camera shoot everything in Automatic Mode, select a specific scene or have access to more advanced settings in the Creative Mode.
It is here in the Creative Mode that you have the option to shoot in different resolutions and "Sensor modes." We're not entirely sure why you'd elect to go for the full 38MP, but the option is there should you desire it.
Under Creative Mode you can also make changes to colour tones, choosing to shoot in Vivid, Sepia or Black and White should the mood strike you. There's also the option to choose between Normal, Bracketing, Interval and Self-Timer capture modes.
Handily, a group of settings can be saved in one of three slots, so if you find yourself often wanting to shoot in high-contrast black and white you can quickly flip to your saved settings.
Once Creative Mode is selected, a number of advanced settings can be accessed via the touchscreen panel on the left of the screen. Here you'll find flash modes, exposure compensation, white balance, ISO and the inbuilt ND filter.
Changes are made by swiping through options. This can be a little fiddly, or quick to change, but you learn the pressure and speed needed quickly once you use it. A handy bonus here is that each parameter includes a reset button for quickly going back to the default setting, which saves a lot of unnecessary swiping.
The shutter itself is released by a touch icon on the right-hand side of the screen. When held in landscape format, a physical button can also be used to activate the shutter on the top-right of the phone. This helps the phone feel more like a camera, and it can even be half pushed to focus first before fully depressing to release the shutter.
Like on other smartphones (and increasing amounts of compact and compact system cameras) the focus point can be altered by tapping on the screen. This is generally responsive, but we found on occasion that it took a while for the focus point to match the area tapped.
Digital zoom is available, which can be accessed either by pinching in and out on the screen or via the physical volume buttons on the side of the camera. This is pretty smooth to zoom in and out, and the actual buttons feel generally well made.
The 4-inch AMOLED ClearBlack screen works well in all but the brightest of sunlight, meaning you can view images in most conditions. Colours on the screen are displayed well, and give a good representation of how the images also appear on a computer screen.
Performance
The Nokia Pureview 808's camera is capable of producing very nice images in good conditions. Colours are bright and punchy, while pictures are crisp and clear.We found very little evidence of chromatic aberration on images, even in high-contrast areas.
Although only equipped with a small sensor, the Nokia Pureview 808 is still capable of producing shallow depth of field effects in certain situations. Given the level of control on the camera, it's a big shame that aperture isn't one of the parameters that can be adjusted.
In the majority of cases, focusing speeds on the Nokia Pureview 808 were quick and generally accurate, although on occasion there does seem to be a lag between pressing the screen and the focus point box appearing.
Metering is another parameter that can't be manually set, so it seems likely that the smartphone's camera uses evaluative, or general metering. In the majority of cases this works quite well, only struggling in very mixed or strong light. If faced with such conditions, you can adjust the exposure compensation.
Sensitivity however, can be adjusted, or left to automatic if you prefer. With a range up to ISO 1600, the 808 is capable of grabbing shots in lower light conditions, but our tests indicate that these images are best kept fairly small and won't make good prints.
Images taken at ISO 800 look much better. At 100% on a computer screen shadow areas have a painterly pattern which is less of an issue in well illuminated sections. At around A4 size on screen there's a noticeable granular texture in the shadows, but it's not too unpleasant.
As you would expect, lower sensitivity images have more detail visible, but there's still a slight graininess in the shadows of images taken at ISO 200 at A4 size.
Once you've taken a shot, edits can be made from the Gallery area. This includes basic cropping, and more advanced options such as adding digital filters and frames.
None of the filters are labelled with names, instead relying on basic clipart-style graphics to illustrate the function, so these take some experimentation to learn the differences between all of them.
The filters are not particularly exciting, and it's a shame there couldn't have been something a little more creative here to take on the might of Instagram, which is available on iOS and Android, but not of course Symbian Belle, the Nokia Pureview 808's operating system.
Similarly, we can't see the jokey frames and clip art appealing to any serious photographers - another element that could have offered something a bit different.
More advanced editing comes in the shape of brightness, contrast and saturation adjustment. Red Eye Reduction and Auto Levels are also available. RGB controls are available, meaning you can create your own digital filters by dragging the sliders, for instance creating a Posterised or a Cross Process effect.
Image quality and resolution
As part of our image quality testing for the Nokia Pureview 808 cameraphone, 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 50 the Nokia Pureview 808 is capable of resolving up to around 16 (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 50, score: 16 (click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 100, score: 16 (click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 200, score: 16 (click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 400, score: 14 (click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 800, score: 14 (click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 1600, score: 12 (click here to see the 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 Nokia Pureview 808 cameraphone show lower signal to noise ratio results than the Samsung Galaxy S2, HTC Evo 3D, Sony Xperia Arc, Motorola Milestone XT720 and Nokia N8.
However, we suspect that this is a result of some of the other cameras' heavy-handed processing of images which removes noise at the expense of detail.
Dynamic range
Cameraphones have very small sensors and if the pixel count is pushed too far this can reduce their ability to record tonal changes in the highlight and shadows. As a result bright areas of the sky in landscape images burn out while the shadows go a deep black because the camera has a low dynamic range.
This chart indicates that the Nokia Pureview 808 camera's JPEGs have at least a 0.5EV higher dynamic range than the other smartphones' cameras up to a sensitivity of ISO 200. Above this value it maintains a better dynamic range than the Samsung Galaxy S2 and Motorola XT720, but is overtaken by the HTC Evo 3D.
At ISO 1600 the Nokia Pureview 808 has a restricted dynamic range so highlights will be prone to burning out and shadow detail will be lost easily.
Sample images
Click here to see the full resolution image
The Nokia Pureview 808's camera is capable of producing shallow depth of field effects, such as seen here. You also have the choice between 16:9 ratio or 4:3.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Black and White mode is one of a few different options you can choose to shoot in. Also included are Sepia and Vivid.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Colours from the Nokia Pureview 808 are represented well, being punchy without being over the top.
Click here to see the full resolution image
One of the editing options on the Nokia Pureview 808 is cropping - you can see the original image below.
Click here to see the full resolution image
This is the original version of the cropped image above. Both images are saved as separate files on the camera.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Although there aren't many interesting digital filters that can be applied post-capture, you can adjust the RGB levels in order to "create your own."
Click here to see the full resolution image
This shot is taken with the camera at fully wide.
Click here to see the full resolution image
This shot is taken with the full digital zoom employed.
Click here to see the full resolution image
One of the manual controls on the Pureview is exposure compensation. On this image, the camera has struggled with the brightness range.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Here, we have upped the exposure compensation in order to produce a brighter, and more accurate, image.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Here we can see that the metering has struggled a little with a bright backlit image. It's a shame that this is something that can't be altered.
Click here to see the full resolution image
The camera struggles a little with macro focusing. You will need to stand a reasonable distance away when capturing small objects. You can always crop in to the image later in post-processing.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Here is an example of one of the digital filters that can be applied post-capture. This gives a slight pinhole camera effect by creating a vignette in the corners.
Sensitivity and noise
Full ISO 50 image, see the cropped (100%) versions below.
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 50
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
Verdict
Overall, the images taken with the Nokia Pureview 808's camera are impressive, especially in the mobile phone arena.
However, with no mobile operators in the UK wanting to offer the phone on contract, and Nokia wobbling over US plans for the phone, any potential customers will need to buy the handset at its full price on a SIM-free deal.
Considering this is currently around £500/$700, we can't see too many people rushing out to snap up the cameraphone. For that kind of price, you can of course get a very highly specced compact camera that includes full manual control, optical zoom and in some cases the ability to shoot in raw format.
That said, it's a very interesting concept, and it certainly suggests more technological developments will come from other mobile phone manufacturers around the world, while camera (especially compact camera) manufacturers will surely be taking notice of the developments.
We liked
The amount of manual control available is pretty impressive for a mobile phone, enabling you to get a bit more creative than the traditional point and shoot devices currently on the market.We disliked
It's a shame there's not even more manual control, since parameters such as shutter speed and aperture would surely have been appreciated by more serious enthusiasts.Final verdict
Nokia had the opportunity to provide something really exciting with the Nokia Pureview 808. However, it seems clear from the reluctance of the phone networks that, attention-grabbing headlines aside, the Nokia Pureview 808 isn't about to capture anybody's imagination.If Nokia had put a bit more thought and enthusiasm into the design and functionality of its onboard camera - perhaps by offering more creative control and fun extras such as digital filters - then we could have been witnessing a real game changer here.
As it is, we're left a little flat.
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Gary Marshall: Batman's right: IMAX rules
The new Batman movie's out in a fortnight, and like all right-thinking people I'm going to see it in IMAX - which is exactly what director Christopher Nolan thinks you should do. "IMAX is aces!" he says. "3D is for losers!"
OK, those weren't his exact words, but you get the idea.
I really wish Hollywood would dump 3D and embrace IMAX instead.
As the parent of a four-year-old, 3D is aimed right at me: to the best of my knowledge there isn't a single cartoon crapfest that hasn't been released in three dimensions. We go to the 2D ones, though, because even at four the novelty of "OOH OOH POINTY THING POINTING AT ME OUT OF THE SCREEN" has worn off.
3D is overpriced, it gives you sore eyes, and it makes your kids act as if they've been possessed by the devil himself.
Most of all, though, 3D just doesn't work.
The famous problem - if you notice the 3D, 3D has failed because you've stopped paying attention to the story; if you don't notice the 3D, then why did you pay extra for it? - is often exacerbated by shoddy 2D-to-3D post-processing, and in a few of my local cinemas, projectors that don't focus properly.
There ain't no headache like an out-of-focus 3D headache.
OOH OOH POINTY THING
When you consider all the cons of 3D - the price, the stupid specs, the hurty-eyes bit when you look at the background and it's all blurry - against the single pro, which is that at some point you'll be able to go "OOH OOH POINTY THING POINTING AT ME OUT OF THE SCREEN", because nobody's ever seen that in a cinema before... it's proof that Hollywood thinks you're an idiot.I can make my point in just three words.
Top Cat 3D.
IMAX is better.
Everything 3D does wrong, IMAX does right. Where 3D begs you to notice it - the aforementioned OOH OOH POINTY thing - IMAX just draws you in deeper; where 3D is dull and dark, IMAX is astonishingly vivid; where 3D makes you wear stupid specs IMAX doesn't demand facial furniture; and where 3D ticket prices feel like a legal mugging IMAX makes you feel like every penny is on the screen.
Oh, and you can't do IMAX at home. No matter how big your telly and how close to it you sit, you simply cannot duplicate the OMFG WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT AAAAGH AAAAGH AAAAGH you get from a good IMAX movie.
That's not just important for Hollywood, although of course it makes pirates' lives more difficult. It's important for me too: as a parent my nights out are few and precious, and if I'm going out I want to make it count. I don't want something I can replicate at home; I want thrills and spills and a screen so big that when I look towards the top of it I dislocate my own neck.
3D is all about the tech. IMAX is all about movies.
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Twitter exec reveals on Twitter that Twitter's to get a search overhaul
A major search update is incoming from Twitter, as the micro-blog gears itself for one of its biggest changes yet.
According to Pankaj Gupta, head of the personalisation and recommender systems group at Twitter, search functionality on the service is about to go through its biggest change yet and we should see the fruits of this in the coming days.
The tweet explained: "Search & discovery in @twitter set to change forever after tmrw. Team - congrats and enjoy the enormity of ur impact few understand today!"
Search me
Now, as much as we love Twitter as a source of endless information wrapped up in a 140-characters or less package, the search on the service leaves a lot to be desired – so any change has got to be a good thing.Twitter has managed to spruce up its recommendations of late, which is great, but lets hope changes to the search and discovery mean you can actually look through your followers as you would say the contacts on your phone.
Other than his initial tweet, Gupta has given nothing away but he did reply to one person on Twitter, saying: "You owe me lunch. Told you I could get on Techmeme."
At least he knows that changing Twitter's search parameters is something many people have been waiting a long time for.
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Week in Tech: Is it woo-hoo for YouView?
Remember 2009? There was no such thing as an iPad, Girls Aloud were still going and Project Canvas was going to revolutionise our TVs. Now, of course, iPads are everywhere, Girls Aloud are considering reforming and, er, Project Canvas is going to revolutionise our TVs.
It's not called Project Canvas any more, though: after a brief spell as a kangaroo, Project Canvas is back in the form of YouView - and this time it's honestly, definitely, absolutely a thing, a real thing, with a launch date and prices and stuff. YouView launched this week, and you'll be able to get it in the latter half of this month.
So what on earth is it? It's IPTV, telly over the internet, and it's best described as Freeview with goodies that come via your broadband connection. The BBC's been the project lead, and partners include ITV, Channel 4, Five, BT, TalkTalk and networking firm Arquiva. Sky and Virgin Media aren't currently part of the YouView party.
You will, of course, need new kit, as Patrick Goss explains: "You'll need a YouView box and a broadband connection, along with a digital television signal." The digital signal gives you live TV, and the internet connection - which for now must be wired, not wireless - delivers on-demand and catch-up services. HD will be available if your connection's fast enough.
YouView may be internet-based, but it won't put Google on your goggle box. "What IPTV and YouView does is use the connection of the internet - your broadband - to stream programmes, use apps and offer other services," Goss explains, pointing out that "there has been no mention of a browser" for YouView users. "Think of it in terms of applications on your mobile phone, they use the mobile connection, but they are not necessarily offering the world wide web."
"This is a great moment in British television," says Lord Alan Sugar. Is it, Lord Sugar? Is it really? Let's ask Marc Chacksfield, who's quick to identify a few issues with the £299 hardware. "If you are an early adopter then what you get is a standalone box with no ISP ties – which means no-frills when it comes to the extras, unless you already have a BT or TalkTalk connection," he says.
"If you have this, then it has been confirmed you will get the extras. Plug in any other ISP and you get a no-frills version of YouView."
Get comfortable through the ads
The interface is good, the EPG is excellent and unlike some services - *cough*Virgin Media*cough* - the remote hasn't been designed by complete bloody idiots. However, YouView doesn't support adaptive bitrates for streaming so "the HD isn't optimised for those who are blessed with speedy connections." That's a problem if the likes of Lovefilm and Netflix come on board, because they pride themselves on "pushing the best stream out for whatever connection is available."Worst of all, you have to sit through the ads. On 4oD, "we had to watch a two-minute advert in full before we could view our content on demand. The ability to fast-forward was frozen while the advert was on... and we had to sit through the same thing again half-way through the programme."
Sky Go goes further, plus more 4G woes
There's another problem, which is that as much as we miss Girls Aloud, it isn't 2009 any more. TV over the internet isn't going to make anybody go "OMG!" any more, because we can already get TV on everything from Apple TVs and Xboxes to Android devices. Just ask Sky, whose Sky Go for Android has just added on-demand streaming.For now mobile telly is best suited to Wi-Fi rather than mobile broadband, but we're hearing that 4G might finally turn up on O2 this time next year. That's good news for mobile users but bad news for Freeview ones: it seems that 4G masts will adversely affect reception for a handful of Freeview users - and by "a handful", we mean "nine hundred thousand". Inevitably, some of those users will be YouView ones.
It'd be ironic if a much-hyped, much-delayed internet video service was messed up by a much-hyped, much-delayed internet video service. If we believed that either one actually existed, we'd probably be outraged.
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Review: Sony KDL-40HX753
Introduction
Forget like.no.other and make.believe; less.is.more should be Sony's new motto if this 46-incher from its HX7 Series is anything to go by.Perhaps it's the company's financial problems or the fact that it's flattered to deceive with many of its TVs in recent years, but 2012 sees Sony streamline its Bravias and sensibly concentrate on core must-have features.
We've already been blown away by a telly from the brand's flagship HX8 Series, the 46-inch KDL- 46HX853, but the smaller version of this 40-incher, the KDL-32HX752, had notable problems with 3D.
In the slim stakes the KDL-40HX753 isn't a patch on some of the smart-looking TVs we've seen of late.
Granted, it's hardly an ugly duckling, but the 59mm panel depth makes it chubby by today's standards.
Around the screen is a sizable 27mm gloss black bezel (reaching 37mm along the bottom) that despite being rimmed with silver shows its less-than-flagship design, though we do admire its clever 'easel' stand that sees two metallic poles jut out from under the bottom of the TV.
The TV appears to float and, furthermore, it leans back slightly (by 6º to be precise). The effect is at once both subtle and dramatic. Now that's proper design.
Also the receiver of a makeover is Sony's smart TV platform, which was easily the best in the business when it launched a few years ago, but had begun to stale.
However, the re-named Sony Entertainment Network (SEN) is merely an extra hub screen that gathers certain apps.
Although the likes of the BBC iPlayer, Netflix and Lovefilm are present, there was no sign of the new BBC Sport app during our test.
The KDL-40HX753 uses Sony's X-Reality processing and sports a 400Hz (that's a 200Hz panel and some backlight scanning) Edge LED-backlit Full HD LCD panel; fast enough for active shutter 3D compatibility, but don't get carried away – there are no 3D specs supplied in the box.
Is Sony trying to kill 3D? With 3D specs – even formerly pricey active shutter flavours – now going for less then £20, it would appear so.
Even worse, despite Sony being a member of the Full HD 3D Glasses Initiative that was invented to make 3D glasses work on all active shutter 3DTVs, neither our Samsung nor Panasonic 3D specs worked with the KDL-40HX753. Why did Sony bother signing up?
Similar models
There aren't many TVs in Sony's 2012 line-up. Joining this 40-incher in Sony's HX753 Series is the 32-inch KDL-32HX753, 46-inch KDL-46HX753 and 55-inch KDL-55HX753.Boasting the same 'easel' stand is Sony's step-down, non-3D ready EX653 Series, which puts 100Hz panels in the 32-inch KDL-32EX653, 40-inch KDL-40EX653 and 46-inch KDL-46EX653.
Above the HX753 Series is Sony's flagship HX853 Series, which include the 40-inch KDL-40HX853, 46-inch KDL-46HX853 and 55-inch KDL-55HX853.
What makes these three superstars is their use of X-Reality PRO picture processing and the use of 800Hz panels, though most crucially they use a configuration of LED backlighting that allows more localised dimming than on the KDL-40HX753.
Sony also sells its entry-level EX553 Series, which comprises just two small HD-ready screen LCD TVs, the 22-inch KDL-22EX553 and 32-inch KDL-32EX553.
Features
While Sony's HX853 TVs have pseudo local dimming on its Edge LED panel, the KDL-40HX753 has none, though matches its bigger brothers in terms of smart TV content.So it's goodbye to the Sony Bravia Internet Video and a big welcome to the SEN, which instantly sounds like a more serious, joined-up proposition, if you ask us.
However, in practice it's nothing more than an additional layer to the core Xross Media Bar design that will be familiar to PS3 owners.
XMB happily integrates a host of widgets including Twitter and Facebook, and stores a list of clickable 'recently used' and favourite apps.
It also builds in access to Sony's own content portals, Video Unlimited and Music Unlimited.
So what is the point of the SEN?
In fairness, it does present a list of all of the apps, which are distinctly video-centric; BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Sky News, Eurosport, Netflix and Lovefilm are all here, while the Sony exclusive of Demand 5 also carries on (nice idea in theory, but Channel 5 catch-up TV is nothing to get excited about unless you're a fan of Neighbours, Home & Away or Benidorm ER).
Skype is also possible if you add a special Sony CMU-BR100 camera (£89).
Twitter and Facebook are also present as apps, though better used as widgets on the XMB dashboard.
Where's the new BBC Sport app? Despite firmware updates, it never appeared during our test.
Scroll lower into the list and you'll get mired in a second wave of second-rate video and news apps that, frankly, someone ought to pull the plug on in the interests of simplicity.
Do you need to get your headlines from Euronews? Of course you don't, and nor does anyone need the likes of aolHD Wired, BillaBong, DailyMotion or eHow.com on a television.
Those apps take-up one of the grids on the SEN home page, which also presents a thumbnail of live TV, too.
The other two tabs are occupied by Video Unlimited and Music Unlimited, which is a tad repetitive and, given they cost money, a touch cheeky.
Another side to the KDL-40HX753's network savvy design is Homestream. A free download for both PC and Mac users, the Homestream software is fairly unobtrusive, and after you've chosen specific folders to share with the TV, does allow for more reliable home networking.
That said, we didn't have any problems streaming MPEG2, MPEG4 and MOV-based video files (including AVI and AVC HD files) from a Mac using Twonkymedia.
There is, however, no support for MKV video.
Ins and outs impress; four HDMI inputs seems good value for a step-down set, with two USBs in support.
One of those can record Freeview HD programmes to a large capacity USB stick or HDD, but since you can't change channel, this is strictly for 'had to nip out to the pub during a fascinating documentary' moments.
Although you can rely on Wi-Fi – something that instantly lets you place the KDL-40HX753 anywhere you want while still access network-fuelled features – there's also a wired Ethernet LAN slot for added reliability (which is what we always use if we can).
While the KDL-40HX753 is a reasonably simple TV to operate, there is plenty for the expert to experiment with.
Most won't look beyond the Cinema, Sports, Animation and Game presets, but it is possible to change the gamma levels, RGB colour bias, the MotionFlow processing and noise reduction circuitry, as well as the usual backlight/contrast/brightness/colour tweaks.
Picture quality
With the KDL-40HX753 designed to cope with a plethora of online content, we put it to work with a couple of YouTube videos and a replay of the European Grand Prix from Valencia from the BBC iPlayer.Pictures are soft, of course, but arguably not quite soft enough since they're also stained with visible digital blocking and picture noise.
To blame is probably the absence of X-Reality PRO; the basic X-Reality processing just isn't as powerful, something that also results in standard definition channels from its Freeview HD tuner lacking a little togetherness.
Compare that to the precise, smooth and ultra-clean live broadcast of Djokovic Vs Stepanek at Wimbledon on BBC One HD.
The other major difference to the step-up HX853 Series is the KDL-40HX753's lack of local dimming, though this doesn't appear to be as crucial as it sounds.
Perhaps it's the relatively small screen, but the KDL-40HX753 displays enough in the way of deep black levels to convince.
In our test of Blu-ray disc District 9, using the Cinema preset as our base, there's noticeable picture noise during a murky scene inside one of the alien's huts, while an outdoor sequence at night demonstrates a greying over of the whole image.
In such scenes it's also possible to see the strongest light from the LEDs on the edges of the screen, though it's so rare it's minor problem.
Overall we'd judge the KDL-40HX753 to have enough contrast for using in a blackout if you're careful, but it's a notch or two below reference level when it comes to the believability of dark areas of images.
That lack of accuracy doesn't apply in other parts of the spectrum; there are few TVs capable of producing natural colours than a good Sony, and the KDL-40HX753 continues that trend.
HD pictures look clean and reasonably detailed, but at the same time they're not the sharpest, crispest HD pictures we've seen; we're talking cinematic, highly watchable pictures, not blow-yer-socks-off visuals.
Motion blur can be cured by judicious use of MotionFlow.
We settled on the Clear Plus setting for watching Blu-ray after finding the Smooth setting creates artefacts around moving objects, and the Clear setting is too bright, though the latter is best in normal ambient light.
Meanwhile, Impulse adds a powerful flicker to video while massively reducing brightness – very weird, and best swerved.
3D
Since there are no 3D specs included in the KDL-40HX753's box, we shouldn't really consider 3D a 'proper' feature on this telly, but our nosy side took over and we asked Sony to send over a pair of 3D specs.The rechargeable TDG-BR250/B are reasonably comfortable and don't let in much reflected light from behind.
The usual problem with active shutter TVs – namely ghosting and double images, known as crosstalk – isn't an issue here if you use the lowest 3D depth setting, which happily doesn't lessen the effect.
There is a slight lack of contrast, though we were happy with both detail and brightness while using the Cinema 2 setting (the other choice, Cinema 1, flickered too much for our eyes).
As a default MotionFlow is set to its 'standard' power, and though the tech is absolutely vital to keep switched-on during 3D playback, the stronger 'smooth' setting better removes some otherwise nasty judder during pans.
During a sequence from the IMAX classic Grand Canyon Adventure, MotionFlow makes simple sequences of people walking past canyon walls far less taxing on the eyes, and allows reasonably detailed, clear camera pans across Lake Powell.
A shot of a rainbow through mist is equally impressive and very 3D, while fast moving kayakers, and even a 3d show-off sequence of water splashing against the camera lens was easy for our eyes to decipher.
You can buy Sony 3D glasses here (a pair of the TDG-BR250/B costs £59).
Usability, sound and value
Usability
Sony has changed a lot of things for the better on its new Bravias, but the remote control has taken a step backwards.
Although we like the appearance of an SEN button in the centre of the remote that takes us straight to the online apps, the remote feels flimsier in the hand than former incarnations and the onscreen menus sometimes take a second too long to respond.
SEN is fine as an idea, but perhaps it would have been better to just increase the scope of the Xcross Media Bar to host more apps instead of introducing another layer of interface-ness.
Still, its design is decent enough; live TV plays in the corner while three grids of apps and film cover art are displayed on the rest of the screen.
Our only complaint it that most of it is taken up by Sony's own content – it's basically a shop window for Sony content.
So although it does have the likes of Netflix and Lovefilm, Sony gives pride of place to its own VideoUnlimited.
Content-wise, it's just as good, and has arguably more must-see, newer titles than any of the embryonic online movie services can muster – and that's despite being Sony-made films only.
In our test we spotted The Woman In Black, A Dangerous Method (both in SD only, £3.49 to rent) and Safe House (SD/HD £3.59/£4.59).
Just as nicely integrated into the TV's core GUI, and similarly stuffed, is MusicUnlimited, though that requires a monthly subscription.
TrackID is an interesting hangover from previous Bravias, and we're pleased it's still included; simply press the dedicated button on the remote while a song plays on a TV programme and the KDL-40HX753 consults the online Gracenote database before displaying a pop-up message with the song title and artist.
We tried it with Radio 2 playing from the KDL-40HX753's digital TV tuner, and it correctly identified All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix.
Meanwhile, the Freeview HD electronic programme guide is class-leading, with details over two hours for eight channels on one page, with a thumbnail of live TV in the top-left corner.
Sound
Decent for dialogue but hugely underwhelming for movies, it's the same old story when it comes to audio.Thankfully it's equipped with an optical digital audio output for taking everything to a home cinema, and we suggest you do; despite some basic audio settings we were impressed only by the clarity of dialogue.
There's no distortion at high volumes, but music sounds tinny and there's not enough stereo separation or power for anything other that flat sounding movie soundtracks.
Value
This is a good all-rounder that does impress in certain areas – especially its smart dimension.However, there are better, more affordable options around, and we can identify better value sets in that range of all of Sony's major competitors.
Some have more 'together' user interfaces, others better picture quality, and others still can stream and network more efficiently. Crucially, they all do that while charging less than what Sony commands for the KDL-40HX753.
Verdict
There's nothing intrinsically wrong with Sony's approach to smart TV, but it's a competitive market and there are better, more affordable options than the KDL-40HX753.We're not convinced by SEN, which has a closed 'Sony Club' feel to it that we really don't think is much needed or wanted.
As an all-round set though, it's worth considering not least for the thoroughly easy to use – though ageing – Xcross Media Bar interface that PS3 users will know well.
We liked
Easy to use and with great colours and enough contrast to supply excellent Blu-ray discs and Freeview HD, Sony has produced a respectable all-rounder with a useful smart TV dimension and highly watchable 3D.Most of the key apps are present, as are almost all of the video and movie apps, and everything is housed in a pleasantly unusual laid-back design.
We disliked
Ultimate black levels aren't of reference standard, upscaling is average, and audio is poor, while the TV isn't exactly super-slim.Nor is there any support for MKV video files in a user interface that's both a tad repetitive and too corporate in its structure.
We're also worried about the lack of this year's best app – BBC Sport – which we had hoped would be on the KDL-40HX753.
Final verdict
An unremarkable effort from Sony, but in truth the slightly confused feel to the KDL-40HX753 isn't all its own fault; the all-new app-studded Sony Entertainment Network and the tried-and-tested central Xcross Media Bar clash and repeat each other to the extent that simplicity is sacrificed.Judged purely on its video capabilities this is a distinctly mid-range performer, lacking in ultimate sharpness, upscaling prowess, and black levels, though it remains a very capable performer with HD and 3D sources.
In summary, the KDL-40HX753 is a very likeable TV, but in a high quality, competitive market comes up a notch short of greatness.
Also consider
Key sets to compare the KDL-40HX753 to from the other big brands in flat TV include Panasonic's 42-inch TX-L42ET50B, Samsung's 40-inch UE40ES6800 and LG's 42-inch 42LM670T (the 47-inch version is reviewed here).
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eBusiness and the law: what you need to know
The Distance Selling Regulations are the core legal framework that all e-commerce businesses must comply with, and a breach of them could involve your business in costly legal proceedings and heavy fines. So it's important that you understand and adhere to them from the start.
The Distance Selling Regulations (DSR) 2000 apply to any business that sells goods or services without the buyer being physically present. Today this will mean online businesses, but the regulations also still apply to your business if it sells to the public using any of these channels:
- Mail order catalogues
- Interactive TV
- Text message
- Fax
- Telephone
How to comply with the Distance Selling Regulations
In essence the DSRs are all about clarity and protecting the rights of consumers that they already enjoy when buying goods or services in the high street. When your business makes a sale, a contract is created.The DRSs include details of the pre-contractual agreement that exists from the start of the sale process, and also the post-contractual period after the sale has been agreed.
The Office of Fair Trading states that your business must ensure that:
- Your website or other sales mechanism such as a catalogue includes detailed contact information about your business.
- The goods or services your business is offering for sale should be described in detail.
- The full price of the goods or services should be shown and include any taxes.
- Delivery costs should be shown in full.
- How payment can be made should be given, and if payment is required in advance, the full address of your business must be given.
- Information about your customer's right to cancel should be given in detail.
- Customer orders should be confirmed in writing or via another means that your customer can keep for their records such as an email or text message.
- If delivery is to be over 30 days, this should be clearly stated in the delivery details.
- The minimum duration of the contract where goods or services are to be provided permanently or recurrently, for example, if you are supplying a mobile phone or satellite TV contract or a cloud-based service paid on a monthly basis.
For goods:
- Seven working days (not including weekends or bank holidays) after the day on which they receive the goods, provided you give the consumer the required written information, no later than the time the goods are delivered.
- When the written information is not provided at the time of delivery, the time limit is seven working days from the day after the day on which the consumer received the written information, and within three months of the goods being delivered.
- Three months and seven days from the day after the day the consumer receives the goods, if you do not give the required written information at all (or give it after the three month period mentioned above).
- Seven days from the day after the contract was concluded, if you give the consumer the required written information on or before the day the contract is concluded.
- Seven working days after the information was received but within three months (beginning the day after the contract was concluded), if the information was received after the contract was concluded.
- Where you have supplied the required durable information before the service starts and the consumer agrees to the service starting before the end of the usual cancellation period, their cancellation rights will end when performance of the service starts
- If the consumer agrees that the service can start before the usual cancellation period ends, but you do not provide the required written information until after the service has started but in time for it still to be useful, cancellation rights will last for seven working days after the day the consumer receives the information. But if you finish providing the service within seven working days after the day the consumer receives the required durable information, cancellation rights will end on the day of completion.
- If you do not provide the required durable information at all, your consumer's right to cancel ends after three months and seven working days counting from the day after the day on which the contract was concluded. This applies whether or not the consumer agrees that you can start the service before the cancellation period ends.
Complying with the E-commerce Regulations 2002
In addition to the DSR your business may also have to comply with the E-commerce Regulations 2002 that governs how your business should sell goods or services online. The basic elements of the E-commerce Regulations include:- Ensuring your website clearly displays your business name, full address and contact information including an email address that is monitored.
- Details of any directory where your business is listed such as Companies House.
- If your business sells a service your website should state whether your business is regulated by any authority, or whether your business is a member of any professional bodies.
- Your business' VAT number if you have one must be prominently displayed on your website.
- Clear pricing should be given including any taxes that are applied and the delivery costs if these apply.
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The Dark Knight Rises director talks up IMAX love
The Dark Knight Rises director Christopher Nolan has insisted that his decision to shoot a big chunk of his movie on IMAX cameras was more about enhancing his storytelling than the technical improvements.
Warner Bros. has published detailed production notes in PDF form on the film's official website, and anyone who has followed the stellar career of Nolan will not be surprised at his love of the IMAX experience.
"We got great results with the IMAX cameras on the last film," said Nolan.
"I appreciate what it offers from the technical side, but I'm most interested in what it can give me as a storytelling tool.
"How can it help me pull the audience deeper into this world? IMAX provides the broadest possible canvas, creating the most immersive experience."
Better on IMAX?
Nolan is now keen that people see the fruit of his labour by spending a bit more to watch the film on an IMAX screen."Having shot almost half the picture with large-format IMAX film cameras, it is very important to me that we show 'The Dark Knight Rises' in the IMAX film format wherever possible," he added.
"Audiences everywhere should be assured that every presentation of the film will be of the highest standard—having benefited from the clarity and depth IMAX cameras offer."
The Dark Knight Rises arrives this month in both normal cinemas and, you guessed it, IMAX ones as well.
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Lexus gives new GS massive 12.3-inch LCD screen
Lexus has given its new BMW 5 Series-bashing GS saloon a massive 12.3-inch LCD display. Lexus says it's the biggest screen ever fitted to this class of car.
TechRadar got a hands on with the new GS and its mahoosive LCD panel at the recent European launch of its latest luxury saloon. Located front and central in the GS's opulent dash, it's certainly a high quality display with beautiful, saturated colours, great contrast and excellent viewing angles.
As for the quality of the interface displayed on the screen, it's more of a mixed bag. The graphics look sharp but feel dated, which is no surprise as they're essentially carried over from previous Lexus infotainment systems in models like the LS, CT and RX. No question, the likes of Audi MMI and BMW iDrive present a more contemporary face.
That said, the graphics do have the advantage of clarity. The navigation screens are particulary easy on the eye. OK, there's no option for fancy 3D or bird's eye mapping. In practice, however, what you want is clear, legible mapping.
That's exactly what the GS gets. What's more, thanks to that huge 12.3-inch LCD, you can run maps in split screen mode with plenty of space spare to show currently playing music or trip computer data.
Another intriguing and not entirely successful carry over from other Lexus models is the puck unique puck-style controller. Flat and square, it's a little like an overgrown input stick from a games console controller.
It's equipped with haptic feedback designed to help you feel your way around the screen and select buttons and options with greater accuracy. It works up to a point. But it also seems to have encouraged Lexus into a slightly slapdash approach to interface design.
Where wheel-input systems like MMI are designed around scrolling through neatly ordered menus, the freedom of the Lexus controller has led to buttons splattered around the screen.
The functionality of the European GS's infotainment kit feels a little behind the curve, too. You do get a few connected features including online searching. But for now, Lexus' Enform app suite isn't available in Europe.
That's a shame because Enform, which is a slightly more grow up version of the Entune platform available from sister company Toyota, drags the GS up to date with features like bing search, Facebook places, Pandora music streaming and more.
If you're wondering how the new GS drives, here in the UK you get a choice of 2.5l V6 and 3.5l V6 hybrid models. The latter packs well over 300hp and is comfortably the quicker of the two. It's also much better on emissions thanks to the hybrid gubbins.
46.3mpg on the combined cycle and 141g/km is pretty spectacular for such a large, powerful petrol car – especially one capable of sub six seconds to 60mph and a limited top speed of 155mph. The only problem is that the hybrid model comes with a CVT transmission that does its best to make what is actually quite a sweet V6 motor sound dull and droney.
So, it's actually the smaller engined GS 250 and it's convetional automatic that's often the more satisfying, if leisurely, drive. That said, both models are surpremely comfortable and refined, as is the Lexus way.
The new GS is available to order today with prices from £32,995 for the GS 250 and £44,995 for the GS 450h.
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Report: Amazon phone being developed with Foxconn
Reports late on Thursday once again claimed that Amazon is currently developing a smartphone in the hope of replicating the success of its Kindle Fire tablet.
Those notorious 'people with knowledge of the matter' told Bloomberg that Amazon is working with long-time Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn on the device.
Another unnamed source said that the online retailer is currently sweeping up wireless patents to ensure any device would be as immune as possible from the current spate of infringement lawsuits.
However, aside from those two tidbits on the 'private' plans, the Bloomberg report doesn't give too much away.
In the works
An Amazon-branded smartphone has been rumoured for a while now, with reports last year claiming Foxconn and Amazon already had a device in the works.At the time, analysts claimed the device would have a Kindle Fire-esque low price point and go on sale in Q4 2012.
Predictably, Amazon has declined to comment on this latest story, but the renewal of speculation adds further fuel to the flames.
If Amazon did follow-up the Kindle Fire with a smartphone of its own, it would almost certainly run the Android operating system, given that Amazon already boasts its own Android App Store.
The company would also hope customers would gobble-up Kindle books and subscribe to the Amazon Prime Video service in order to account for the low (if any) profit margins on the device.
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