In Depth: How touchscreens are changing computing
Today's touch tech: how it works
Though it might seem like we've been using mice and keyboards to control our computers forever, the advent of touchscreen phones and tablets has shown us a third way to take control - one that requires no tools but our fingers.Touchscreen technologies have been supported by Windows for years, but only since the release of Windows 7 have they moved firmly into the mainstream.
These days you'll find a range of products, from monitors, tablets and laptops to complete all–in-one PCs, all offering a multi-touch interface to complement your traditional mouse and keyboard, and the number is growing all the time.
Improvements in touchscreen technology mean that the stuff of science fiction is now reality. If you think touchscreens are simply about tapping icons on the screen then you're missing out on a whole lot more.
In this feature we'll explore how today's touchscreens work, supporting multi-touch gestures like taps, flicks and swipes to deliver a feature-rich environment in which to work. You'll find out how touchscreens have developed over the 50 years since their invention, and discover how to take full advantage of your touchscreen PC or monitor using technologies and features already built into Windows 7 itself.
You'll find out how simple touch is to set up in Windows, then learn how to use it and tweak its settings to work perfectly in tandem with your needs, either as an extension of the familiar point-and-click approach of the mouse, or in some cases in place of it.
We'll then look into how Windows 8 will take things one step further. Not only does it provide a version of Windows optimised for tablets, phones, laptops and desktops, it's also designed to put the multi-touch interface front and centre. We'll reveal five great features coming in Windows 8 that use touchscreen technology, and reassure you that the familiar desktop environment you've come to love won't be disappearing just yet.
We'll also take a peek into the future to see where this exciting technology is going next. The simple fact is that the days of the mouse and keyboard as primary interface between you and your computer are coming to an end. You'll learn about the exciting new touchscreens that will soon make with your PC even faster and more natural.
Touchscreens are here, and they're not going away. Spend a few minutes with a touchscreen display and you won't want to go back. Read on to discover not just what they have to offer, but also how simple they are to use, and prepare to embrace the future.
How it works
There are many forms of touch technology, and Windows 7 supports different types. The first touchscreen appeared in 1965, and while we think of them as a relatively recent development, it's easy to forget we've been using them in devices like cash machines for nearly 30 years.More recently, we've seen two main types of touchscreen technology. The older resistive type uses a screen comprising two separate layers with a small gap between them. Pressing down on the top layer makes it touch the bottom layer, and the connection is recorded as a tap. The biggest drawback with resistive screens is that they're far less accurate than other technologies, and most don't support multi-touch.
Capacitive touchscreens use glass displays insulated with a conductive layer. As our fingers are also conductive, touching the screen produces a small charge that produces a disruption in the screen's electrostatic field, which is recorded. Capacitive technologies are more accurate than resistive, and support multi-touch gestures.
Despite their obvious advantage, capacitive screens have their disadvantages too: they rely on the charge in your finger, so they won't work with gloves.
These days, a new technology based on old standards is gaining ground. Optical touchscreens are developed by a company called NextWindow. These cost less to manufacture and produce brilliant results, making them increasingly popular.
Five of the best Windows devices
1. Acer All In One Z3 series
Acer's all-in-one touchscreen PC is designed with a modern, minimalist setting in mind, and the PC's components are housed in the monitor itself. Despite this, you get an AMD quad-core processor, 3GB RAM, a 1TB hard drive, DVD-RW drive, wireless keyboard and mouse, and - of course - the 21.5-inch 1080p HD multi-touch screen.
Not only does the screen support all of Windows 7's touch capabilities, it also includes Acer's own suite of TouchPortal apps. These include tools for photo and video editing, along with a music player and web browser. Despite its small footprint there's plenty of connectivity - it has six USB 2.0 ports, an eSATA port and a memory card reader, plus built-in wireless LAN and a digital TV tuner.
2. Lenovo IdeaCentre B320
The IdeaCentre B320 sports an optical multi-touch screen and comes with optional software to make the most of its capabilities. The 21.5-inch display is full HD, and the PC itself is pretty impressive, powered by an Intel Core i3 processor. The entry level model comes with 4GB RAM and 500GB of storage, but this is a model designed to be upgraded.
Despite its slim all-in-one design, you'll find a sliding cover that gives you easy access to its RAM and hard drive, plus two PCI-E slots. If you opt for a pricier model, you can also benefit from USB 3.0, AMD Radeon 6540HD graphics, 8GB RAM and even an optional OneKey button that allows you to switch to a dedicated TV mode, complete with its own built-in HD recording capabilities.
3. Asus EeeTop PC ET2010AGT
If slim is your thing then the EeeTop won't disappoint, at just 54.3mm deep. It's easy on the power consumption too - just 90 watts in total. The 20-inch widescreen display isn't capable of full HD, sadly, but can still deliver a decent 1,600x900 resolution, and is backed up by powerful ATI Radeon HD 5470 graphics.
The standard ASUS Eee Docking software includes a dedicated app - Fun Touch - to make the most of its multi-touch capabilities. The dual-core Athlon processor is backed up by 2GB RAM (expandable to 8GB), 500GB HD, a DVD rewriter, a webcam and wireless LAN. There's also a HDMI port, which enables you to plug in an entertainment device and use the monitor for watching movies or playing games while your PC gets on with other tasks in the background.
4. Sony Vaio VPCJ23S1E
If you're looking for a solid all-in-one Windows 7 PC, Sony's Vaio J-series won't disappoint. Powered by an Intel Core i3 processor and packing 4GB RAM (expandable to 8GB), it comes with a 750GB hard drive, Blu-ray player/multi-DVD rewriter, and plenty of connectivity options: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, four USB ports (two of which are USB 3.0), and a memory card reader.
The key component, of course, is the 21.5-inch widescreen display. Like all of the others on test here, it's full HD and offers multi-touch support. It's optimised for use with Windows 7, but is also compatible with Windows 8. There's a nifty Quick Web Access button too, allowing you to boot up the PC in 25 seconds for a quick spot of web browsing.
5. Iiyama ProLite T2451MTS
The technology's in the display, so you don't have to ditch your PC to take advantage of touchscreen technology - just invest in a dedicated monitor. This ProLite 24-inch widescreen display offers a full HD resolution, and uses the latest optical touchscreen technology, with support for the multi-touch functions found in Windows 7 and Windows 8.
All the connectivity you need is supplied: DVI-D, HDMI (x2) and VGA covering desktops and laptops, plus the obligatory USB port for hooking the monitor up to your PC and enabling the multi-touch functions. It's an incredibly efficient option too, thanks to the LED-backlit display. Consuming just 0.5 watts in standby and less than 25 watts when running, it won't super-size your electricity bill.
How to set up touch in Windows 7
Have you just switched on your new multi-touch PC? Then you're pretty much good to go - Windows 7 will have already installed all the necessary drivers, and you can get on with exploring its features with the help of the guides here. If you've bought a multi-touch monitor you'll find it connects to your PC via two leads: the standard monitor connection, and USB to enable its multi-touch capabilities. Install any drivers that came with the monitor after connecting it up, and you should be ready to go.
Have you just switched on your new multi-touch PC? Then you're pretty much good to go - Windows 7 will have already installed all the necessary drivers, and you can get on with exploring its features with the help of the guides here. If you've bought a multi-touch monitor you'll find it connects to your PC via two leads: the standard monitor connection, and USB to enable its multi-touch capabilities. Install any drivers that came with the monitor after connecting it up, and you should be ready to go.
Using your touchscreen
The most obvious use of a touchscreen is tapping on the screen with your finger to indicate a mouse click or selection - you should see a small white dot appear to indicate where your finger has landed on the screen.On its own this would be pretty limited, but Windows 7 supports a much wider range of gestures. It can take a little time to grasp the basics of using your new touchscreen interface, but there's plenty of help on hand.
Flicks come with their own practice tool - right-click the Flicks icon in the Notification area and choose 'Flicks training' to access it. You'll also find a number of useful free tools and games from Microsoft that can help you master your new touchscreen - if you've bought an all-in-one PC, they should already be installed; otherwise,you can download them here.
Once installed, you'll find them all under 'Start > All Programs > Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7'.
Step-by-step: Configure your multi-touch settings
1. Calibrate touchscreen
Click 'Start' and select 'Control Panel'. Select 'Hardware and sound' and then 'Calibrate the screen for pen or touch input' under 'Tablet PC settings'. Click the 'Setup' button, then touch to verify which screen you're using. Once complete, click 'Calibrate' and follow the crosshairs to configure it. Then click 'OK'.
2. Configure touch
Click 'Change touch input settings' under 'Pen and touch'. From the Touch tab, make sure both top boxes are ticked, then click 'Settings' to change the speed at which you need to tap for it to register a double-tap. If you'd like a more visual pointer, tick 'Show the touch pointer' and then click 'Advanced options'.
3. Tweak panning settings
Use the Panning tab to configure how you scroll around large documents using your finger. Untick 'Turn on single finger panning' if you want to restrict panning to two-finger swipes, and untick 'Enable inertia after a pan gesture' to prevent the movement from continuing after you've removed your finger.
4. Custom flicks
Switch to the Flicks tab. Selecting 'Navigational flicks and editing flicks' enables four diagonal flicks for deleting, copying, pasting and undoing. Click the 'Customize' button and you can alter the behaviour of any of these flicks - choose 'Add' to specify your own keyboard shortcut. Click 'OK' twice when done.
Why touch will be great for Windows 8
Touchscreen enhancements
Windows 8 will make the most of the improvements in technology since Windows 7 was released. By eliminating the 20-pixel buffer zone around the edges of the screen, which was used in Windows 7 to compensate for screens that become less touch-sensitive at the edges, you'll be able to interact with the sides of the screen.
Multi-touch has also been improved. Windows 7 works with two-fingered gestures, but while Windows 8's own commands are two-fingered only, it supports up to five fingers in third party apps, allowing for a richer user interface.
Finally, typing is now a lot easier thanks to the inclusion of two virtual keyboards, one of which is aimed at those who type with just two fingers.
Versatile - and portable
Despite its embrace of touchscreen technology, Windows 7 is clearly optimised for your PC. Windows 8 is designed to work across a wider range of devices, including tablets and smartphones. This means you'll be able to get the same experience across your devices, making them more intuitive and easier to use.
With this in mind, Microsoft has implemented a number of technologies to help you take your settings with you. By logging in using your Windows Live ID, you're able to synchronise settings like your desktop background, browser settings, sign-in information for specific services like Facebook and so on. This extends to your apps too - not only will purchases and downloads sync, you can even sync settings and the way the program is set up.
A new Start menu
Windows 8 opens at the newly designed Start menu, which is divided into two broad sections. You'll see the new Metro interface in all its colourful, high-contrast glory, optimised so it's visible on everything from your desktop PC to your smartphone.
The main part of the Start menu - your programs list - is displayed as a set of colourful tiles. Tap one to open the program, or swipe to the right to reveal more as the list grows beyond the confines of your screen.
Other parts of the old Start menu have been moved to the Charms bar, which is activated by swiping your finger left from the right-hand edge of the screen. You'll see a list of five options appear - Search, Share, Start, Devices and Settings, of which Settings provides you with access to the various Control Panels you've come to know and love.
Full-screen apps
Applications designed for Windows 8 will run full-screen. Some apps are also capable of displaying key information in the tile itself - Weather will provide a visual description of the current conditions, for example – so you don't necessarily have to open it unless you want more detail.
Full-screen apps are clearly optimised for smaller displays such as tablets, but if you're running Windows 8 on a laptop or desktop you'll find some clever tricks to help you switch between open apps quickly and even to run two apps side-by-side by dragging the app bar to the left or right. A list of open windows can also be displayed on the left-hand side of the window, allowing you to switch, mix and match apps quickly.
Backwards compatible
The changes in Windows 8 are quite radical, but what if you're unhappy at taking such a huge jump without a safety net? Relax, the old Windows desktop is still easily accessible from the new Start menu - once tapped, you'll see the familiar layout of Taskbar, desktop and icons.
Microsoft promises all Windows 7 apps will run on Windows 8 too, accessible through this familiar environment. The only thing missing is the traditional Start menu, but you can return to the new Start menu by pressing the [Windows] key at any time or dragging the mouse or your finger to the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.
You won't lose any touchscreen capabilities either - all the multi-touch gestures from Windows 7 are still there.
The future of touchscreens
As things stand, multi-touch technology is definitely here to stay, with smartphones, tablets and Windows 7 PCs all proving capable and usable. The future promises some bold innovations, but first let's see how touchscreens will evolve for the release of Windows 8.
It's important to note that Microsoft has built in backwards compatibility to protect older Windows 7 multi-touch displays, but one major tweak it's developed for Windows 8 is support for five-fingered multi-touch gestures.
While Windows 8's own gestures will remain one- or two-fingered only, for backwards compatibility purposes, it's adding support for up to five-fingered gestures at the behest of third-party developers, allowing app makers to add extra commands with the help of multiple fingers. As a result, any multi-touch display built for Windows 8 will need to provide support for up to five fingers.
Another refinement planned for future generations is a reduction in the delay between your finger touching the screen and the display reacting. At the present time, there's a lag of around 100ms, which doesn't sound like much, but is visible (try drawing a line with your finger in Paint). It's a problem that Microsoft's Applied Sciences Group (ASG) has been investigating, and it recently previewed a video that highlights how reducing this delay will dramatically improve touchscreen experience.
Radical innovations
For a glance in the near future, TAT produced a video in 2010 showcasing all kinds of touchscreen interfaces it envisaged being in mass use by 2014 which is a somewhat optimistic view of what's coming. Some of the technologies showcased seem a little far-fetched, but others aren't.Samsung has already announced production of 46-inch transparent screens, while the ASG recently demonstrated a transparent screen where the user manipulates objects via gestures performed in front of the display using a Kinect sensor, bypassing touch altogether.
Other emerging technologies are even closer to fruition. Haptic feedback is nothing new, but it's now being paired with touchscreens to provide a more tactile environment - a rumour suggesting the new iPad was getting haptic feedback came to nothing, but hints the tech is ready to enter the mainstream.
Future displays may also become more malleable - 3M has produced a concept video showing off its take on flexible, transparent touchscreen concepts, while university researchers in Canada have developed a 'paper computer', showing off the capabilities of a smartphone that's almost as bendable as paper itself, only without the permanent creasing.
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Buying Guide: If you loved Real Racing, then you'll love these IOS racing games
If you loved Real Racing
The release of the original Real Racing (£1.99, iPhone) filled us with joy, and not just because it was a great game.Back in 2009, iOS still had a real fight on its hands trying to convince people that it was a 'proper' gaming platform. Critics claimed otherwise, arguing iPhones and iPods were nothing more than repositories for fly-by-night lightweight titles. For real games, they said, you needed a Nintendo DS or a Sony PSP.
Real Racing proved otherwise and was one of the key releases that cemented the place of iOS in gaming. This wasn't some simplistic game that you'd finish in an hour, but a fully-fledged racing title that could stand proud next to the very best handheld racers on any platform.
You got dozens of events, 48 cars to unlock, 12 tracks in varied environments, online multiplayer, beautiful graphics, and controls geared specifically towards iOS devices. At its launch price of £6.99, it was quite expensive compared to most other iOS titles, but Real Racing's fans felt it was worth every penny.
The game subsequently appeared in 'HD' (£2.99, iPad) and also as a freebie, in the form of Real Racing GTI (free, iPhone). For cash-strapped racing-game fans, we still recommend Real Racing GTI, which has several modes (Quick Race, Time Trial, GTI Cup), despite costing precisely nothing.
Then at the very tail end of 2010, sequel Real Racing 2 (£2.99, iPhone; £4.99, iPad) appeared, improving on the original in pretty much every way: up to 16 cars on screen! More cars to unlock! Extra locations! Better controls!
When we originally reviewed the game, we felt it had a touch too much grinding, seemingly trying to eke out extra hours from its career mode, but amazingly Real Racing 2 nonetheless remains the best simulation-style 3D racer on the platform. In fact, Real Racing 2 sets such a high standard that it's tough to find anything that compares.
When it comes to career-orientated sim-style racing, our only other recommendation is GT Racing: Motor Academy Free+ (free, iPhone) which also has an HD incarnation (free, iPad). GT Racing isn't as polished as Real Racing 2, and it boasts an underlying freemium model that's mildly irritating, but the courses are both demanding and attractive. Also, entry is free and we happily played for a few hours without ever feeling the need to spend cash.
In order to not cut this If You Loved brutally short, it's necessary to explore other sub-genres within 3D car racing. Real Racing 2 might have simulation-style track racing sewn up, but there are plenty of other types of racing game.
Rallying, for example, has long been a popular subject for videogames. Rally Master Pro 3D (£2.99, Universal) is an excellent handheld adaptation, with 27 challenging and diverse tracks. Note that if you're finding the game a bit gruelling, try using the digital controls, which seem to offer more precision than their tilt counterparts.
You Cruise by Mazda MX-5 (free, iPhone) is also worth a look for rally fans. Although you're driving a shiny sports car in what amounts to an app-shaped advert, the game is actually a pure time-attack racer that put us in mind of a simplified Sega Rally. It's old-fashioned and, sadly, lacks Retina graphics, but for free, it's a lot of fun.
You Cruise also happens to be a decidedly arcade-style driving experience, and for those who prefer racing games with thrills and aren't terribly concerned about realism, there's plenty of choice of those iOS.
If you fancy mooching about the seedy underworld of car crime, Need for Speed Undercover (£1.99, iPhone) fits the bill. It's pretty old and so looks a tad basic, but there are plenty of missions and the cars handle brilliantly, which for us, propels it ahead of more modern iOS fare like Fast Five.
However, EA's own Need for Speed Hot Pursuit (£2.99, iPhone; £5.99, iPad) is even better. It strips out Undercover's slightly ropey storyline and video cutscenes, but ramps up the chase-and-smash gameplay, also enabling you to play the part of the ram-happy cop or nefarious crim. It's fast, playable and, if you're getting on a bit, feels a lot like someone's updated classic arcade game Chase HQ and injected it into your iPhone.
And as anyone who's old enough will testify, Chase HQ was fab. That said, Hot Pursuit isn't the fastest racer on the system - that honour goes to Asphalt 6: Adrenaline (69p, iPhone; £1.49, iPad). To say Gameloft's racer shifts at a fair old pace is a massive understatement - at times, the hyper-real racing feels more like you're desperately trying to guide a missile than a car.
The thing is, Adrenaline is pure arcade grin-inducing pleasure - a total blast that's a very different proposal to Real Racing 2's realism, but every bit as essential. The fact it's only 69p (and just a bit more for the superior iPad version) doesn't hurt either.
Perhaps surprisingly, the iOS racing games that come closest to matching Adrenaline for sheer, well, adrenaline, are decidedly retro fare. Final Freeway 2R (69p, Universal) apes '80s classic OutRun, with you hurtling along in a red sports car at insane speeds.
Elsewhere, 8 Bit Rally (69p, Universal) brings to mind the Lotus series that appeared on early 1990s computers, where you fight your way to the front of a grid of 20 cars, all seemingly driven by people who love weaving and don't understand the concept of rear-view mirrors.
Both are undoubtedly a nostalgia trip for people who remember such games from the first time round, but with modern controls and polish, they're suitable for anyone who has the need for speed.
Additionally, they - along with everything else in this round-up - showcase the depth in 3D car-racing games for iOS. From Real Racing 2's simulation fare to Hot Pursuit's crim-smashing larks to Final Freeway 2R's respectful and considered 1980s arcade tribute, there's truly a top-notch racing game for everyone on iOS. Anyone who argues iOS isn't a proper gaming platform clearly needs to check their oil pressure.
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Review: Acer H5360
When it comes to stereoscopic 3D, we've got a bit of a soft spot for the Acer H5360. It was our first taste of a 3D product that actually had us tempted to take the plunge.
We reckon the greater viewing distance a projector offers compared to a monitor makes it easier for your eyes to cope with the contortions demanded by the fake depth of view. Not only does that make for more comfortable viewing, it also means the 3D illusion is more convincing.
So, just how much do you have to pay for the tantalising prospect of life-sized monsters and machines jumping out of your living room wall? Depending on how you look at it, the answer is nothing.
That's because at £419, the Acer H5360 is no more expensive than Acer's 2D 720p DLP model. So you wouldn't be paying extra for the 120Hz capabilities. In standard 2D mode, it's easily as crisp and accurate as any similar projector we've seen.
The rich, vibrant colour rendering betrays little evidence of compression or loss of detail, too. Likewise we're impressed by the black levels. They're as deep as you would expect from a projector with a claimed contrast ratio of 3,200 to one.
As for brightness, there's more good news. Rated at 2,500 lumens, the H5360 has plenty of punch for running during the day. If anything, it's a little too bright for movies, even with the lamp in eco mode. That said, fan noise is fairly suppressed, making it a decent enough choice for home cinema duties.
It even has a handy feature allowing you to adjust the colour balance when projecting on off-white walls. And it actually works: we found it cleaned up the whites very nicely on a yellow wall, for example.
But where this projector really delivers is games and, even better, 3D games. The drop down in detail compared to 1080p is much less critical in-game than watching some slow-moving, exquisitely shot room-with-a-view drama. The 120Hz capability makes for ultra fluid visuals in standard mode. And you've got the option of firing things up in 3D, too, if that's your bag.
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This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
While TechRadar's US team in San Francisco basks in the summer sun, the UK team has been soaking wet for a month.
The weather has been miserable, but our spirits are not dampened. And the perpetual merry-go-round of tech has continued unperturbed. Check out what we've been up to this week...
Motorola Droid Maxx review
The Motorola Razr Maxx enters the market at the same time as the Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One X, which both overshadow Motorola's effort - perhaps a spec boost could have been included alongside that bigger battery. The Samsung Galaxy S2 is now on par with the Motorola Razr Maxx when it comes to pricing, but offers a better, 5 star, experience. The Motorola Razr Maxx does beat these next-generation handsets when it comes to battery life – its possibly only saving grace when faced with the stiff competition. If you're not too bothered about styling, slicker interfaces and extra features and just want a phone that will see you through a few days, then the Motorola Razr Maxx is probably the one for you.
Panasonic TX-47WT50B review
This is Panasonic's best Edge LED TV ever. It's not quite the high-end home cinema machine, but the sheer detail, smoothness, colour and contrast are a fine achievement – and the smart TV dimension and classy design help, too. Achieved in a seriously short amount of time, the brand that's famous for plasmas has here developed a super-slim bezel containing smooth, blur-free, contrast rich and immaculately detailed images. Home networking is comprehensive and VIERA Connect as slick as ever, though kudos goes to the VIERA Remote app that 'flicks' photos, videos and websites from smartphone to TV. A special mention goes to its smartphone app, though VIERA Connect's app-packed pages impress, too. However, a high price and some distinctly old-fashioned menu systems take the gloss off an otherwise assured package.
Sony Xperia U review
The Sony Xperia U is a solid, well made little phone, that manages to squeeze a high-res and very sharp display into a modestly sized chassis. So if you're not caught up in today's obsession with enormous display sizes, the Sony Xperia U is a great choice of smartphone. It has all the speed, power and features of the larger Android models that cost two or three times as much - your only compromise here is seeing it all through a smaller display. The only noticeable weaknesses here are the phone's video performance, which is terrible despite the 720p claim, and the lack of onboard storage space. If you can live with those niggles, this does everything else just as well as the high-end Android flagship handsets. And the battery will last longer, too.
Sony KDL-40HX753 review
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.
And this week's other reviews...
Laptops
Advent Monza N2 review
Apple MacBook Air 2012 review
Asus K53S review
HP Pavilion g6-1331ea review
Toshiba Satellite P850-138 review
Toshiba Qosmio X870 review
HP Envy 4 Ultrabook review
Hands on: Toshiba Z930 Ultrabook review
Media streaming
Hands on: Google Nexus Q review
Hands on: YouView review
Mobile phones
Samsung Galaxy S Advance review
Samsung Galaxy SIII (T-Mobile) review
Speakers
Audyssey Audio Dock Air review
Tablet accessories
ION Audio iCade Core review
Televisions
Samsung UE46ES6800 review
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Samsung could double earnings with Galaxy phone sales
As smartphone makers go Samsung is doing pretty well for itself, with estimates of record earnings for the company from its Galaxy line of phones.
The South Korean company is expected to rake in second quarter profits for its mobile division around 4.4 trillion won (about $3.9 trillion).
That's more than double from the previous year, powered by sales of an estimated 50 million smartphones.
Of course, success is to be expected from the leading smartphone manufacturer with a healthy 25.7 percent of the handset market.
Every silver lining has a cloud
While Samsung's mobile division is staying strong, the company as a whole isn't as filled with good news.The firm today released its pre-earnings guidance report, estimating revenue of 47 trillion won (about $41.4 billion) for the second quarter.
That falls short of the company's initial forecast of sales reaching 50 trillion won.
Between price pressures and chip shortages, investors have gotten nervous and caused Samsung's stock price to drop 15 percent over the last couple of months.
Samsung's legal battle with Apple over banning the Galaxy Nexus certainly isn't helping matters, with courts recently denying the firm's request to postpone the ban.
Samsung is predicting better news all around for its third quarter though, in large part due to anticipated strong sales of the Galaxy S3.
A Reuters survey of 14 analysts agrees, predicting Samsung's mobile division third quarter profits to reach between 7.3 trillion and 9.1 trillion won.
At this point, the numbers are all projections and predictions. Samsung will announce the official second quarter numbers later this month on July 27.
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AT&T to launch stolen phone database
Lose your smartphone? It happens to the best of us, but a new AT&T service allegedly set to debut on Tuesday is going to make life fairly difficult for anyone who picks up the device you lost - especially if they swiped it.
According to recent reports, an anonymous but allegedly reliable source at AT&T maintains that a new AT&T stolen phone repository - launching Tuesday - will allow customers to kill the voice, data, and text messaging on any device they've reported as stolen.
Instead of just issuing a full SIM block or otherwise forcing a phone theft victim to cancel his or her account and subscribe anew, AT&T will merely add the device to alleged "block list."
Presumably, AT&T will use the phone's IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, to match the block with a unique device regardless of whatever SIM card gets used with the phone.
Block listed
Should the device eventually turn up, the owner will only need to contact AT&T to have the phone removed from the company's blocking service.One kicker, warns AT&T in a leaked memo, is that smartphone owners will need to perform any remote-wipe features they might have on their phones (or installed via a third-party app) before contacting AT&T to issue the block.
Additionally, it appears that users will in fact have to speak directly to a customer service representative at AT&T to issue or release the stole phone blocking service – there's no automated way to do this or some little "block/unblock" button that an owner can hit within their profile on AT&T's website.
While The Verge's source says that AT&T won't keep a centralized directory of "blocked" devices, it remains to be seen just how the process would work otherwise – stolen phones have to be matched to users somehow.
Planning ahead
AT&T's new blocking service fits the goals of the Federal Communications Commission's recently announced national stolen phone database.The FCC's hope is that all LTE smartphones across all carriers will be able to receive a system-wide block, if the device is reported as stolen, by late 2013.
Individually, AT&T is allegedly working to ensure that its yet-to-be-announced blocking service will work across all carriers by later this year.
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Motorola announces new Defy Pro
Motorola is returning to its QWERTY-equipped Pro smartphones with the newly announced Defy Pro.
The Defy Pro takes last year's Defy+ and makes it more business friendly by outfitting it with a full QWERTY keyboard.
Motorola is also making the phone "lifeproof" claiming it to be dust-proof, water resitant, and scratch resistant thanks to a Gorilla Glass screen.
Speaking of the screen, the 2.7-inch display is a little cramped due to the inclusion of a keyboard, but it is still a touch screen for easy navigation and app support.
Built for business, and Brazil
Keeping business users in mind, Motorola is preloading the phones with the Quickoffice app and MotoPrint for document editing and printing on the go.The Defy Pro also comes equipped with a rear 5-megapixel camera as well as a micro USB port, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 2GB of memory that can be expanded through a microSD card slot.
Motorola has so far only announced the Defy Pro for Brazil, releasing on July 15, with no confirmation in sight for other regions.
That doesn't mean we won't see our own version of the Defy Pro later on though, and with RIM's recent troubles the Defy Pro could become a capable entry-level Blackberry alternative.
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Motorola announces new Motorola Defy Pro
Motorola is returning to its QWERTY-equipped Pro smartphones with the newly announced Defy Pro.
The Defy Pro takes last year's Defy+ and makes it more business friendly by outfitting it with a full QWERTY keyboard.
Motorola is also making the phone "lifeproof" claiming it to be dust-proof, water resitant, and scratch resistant thanks to a Gorilla Glass screen.
Speaking of the screen, the 2.7-inch display is a little cramped due to the inclusion of a keyboard, but it is still a touch screen for easy navigation and app support.
Built for business, and Brazil
Keeping business users in mind, Motorola is preloading the phones with the Quickoffice app and MotoPrint for document editing and printing on the go.The Defy Pro also comes equipped with a rear 5-megapixel camera as well as a micro USB port, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 2GB of memory that can be expanded through a microSD card slot.
Motorola has so far only announced the Defy Pro for Brazil, releasing on July 15, with no confirmation in sight for other regions.
That doesn't mean we won't see our own version of the Defy Pro later on though, and with RIM's recent troubles the Defy Pro could become a capable entry-level Blackberry alternative.
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Don't forget: DNSChanger malware could kill your internet on Monday
A prolific trojan called DNSChanger could soon prevent hundreds of thousands of Mac and Windows PCs from connecting to the internet.
On Monday, the FBI plans to shut down defenses that have been in place for months, cutting the estimated 275,000 still-infected computers off from the internet.
To check if your PC is infected with DNSChanger, head to the DNS Changer Working Group's (DCWG) check tool. If the box is green, you're good to go.
If the box is red, your internet will go dead on Monday, July 9, but The DWCG has a whole arsenal of tools ready to use.
Another solution lies with McAfee's DNS checker, which will reportedly aid you in removing the harmful trojan should your computer be infected.
FBI Operation Ghost Click
The DNSChanger malware began circulating in 2007, redirecting infected computers to pirate DNS servers that stole users' personal information.The criminal endeavor was thwarted last November, when the FBI arrested its six Estonian masterminds.
But rather than shut down the servers, thus switching the internet off for any infected computers, the FBI chose to temporarily legitimize them in anticipation of a more permanent solution.
Thus was born the FBI's "Operation Ghost Click," which is being shut down on July 9.
Google tried to warn you
Google began warning users of the impending internet implosion in May.Google search users with DNSChanger-infected computers began seeing messages at the tops of their search results prompting them to "take action" against the trojan.
The search giant used its ubiquity to warn as many potential victims as possible, though there are still as many as 275,000 infected computers.
So try as they might to get the word out, internet service providers are still likely going to get a lot of irate calls on Monday.
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Apple acknowledges app-crashing bug, now resolved, was their fault
Apple has accepted the blame for Thursday's spate of app crashes, which affected well over 100 apps and an unknown number of customers worldwide.
The company said late Thursday that the problem was on one of their servers, but that it's now been resolved.
"We had a temporary issue that began yesterday with a server that generated DRM code for some apps being downloaded," Apple said in a statement.
"The issue has been rectified and we don't expect it to occur again," they added, claiming that only a small number of users were affected.
The bug caused freshly updated apps across a range of Apple devices to crash upon being opened, before even reaching their splash screens.
Users with a broken app can re-download it from the App Store to fix the crashing bug, but there's no need to delete and reinstall, as that may cause data to be lost.
Apple's FairPlay DRM to blame?
Several developers, including Fugitive Pixels CEO Francisco Castillo and Readdle CEO Igor Zhadanov, yesterday blamed Apple's FairPlay DRM for the crashes.It seems likely that the DRM Apple mentions in their statement is indeed the FairPlay scheme, although Apple didn't name it specifically.
The damage is done
Although Apple claims only a small number of users were affected, the damage to many developers' reputations is already done.Instapaper creator Marco Arment spent yesterday compiling a list of all affected apps before giving up due to the sheer number of reports he was receiving.
Arment wrote on his blog that he was "deluged by support email and Twitter messages" from irate customers "within minutes" of his app's new update going live.
Similarly, Metronome+ developer Joe LeBlanc wrote to TechRadar yesterday that users of his app in the US, Japan, Korea, Germany, and France flooded his inbox with complaints as soon as his new update went live.
"It's frustrating," he said. "I've already gotten slammed in the reviews (for example nine 1 stars in Japan - my biggest market) because users are not able to use my app and they don't know why."
That doesn't sound like it's coming from a small, isolated number of users, as Apple claims, and it may be hard for some smaller developers, like Guerra por Votos creator Castillo, to bounce back.
"I'm extremely pissed off," Castillo wrote to TechRadar yesterday.
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Archos 97 carbon tablet seeks to rival Google Nexus 7
Archos has announced a new budget tablet, which it hopes can take on the recently-announced Google Nexus 7.
The entry-level Archos 97 carbon tablet brings a multi-touch 9.7-inch, 1,024 x 768 pixel IPS 'HD' display, which is the same size and resolution of the previous-generation Apple iPad 2.
With Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on board, it brings - unlike many of the cheap Android slates - full Google certification meaning it has access to the core suite of apps and the Google Play Store.
The device boasts 16GB of flash memory, expandable through a micro SDslot, 1GB RAM, a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, a USB 2.0 slot, 802.11b/n/g Wi-Fi and a mini HDMI output.
7 and 8-inch models coming too
Beyond that's there's a 2-megapixel rear camera and a 0.3 megapixel front-facing lens for video calling.The device will begin shipping in July and will set you back £219 ($249). It's a little bit more expensive than the Nexus 7, but it does bring that iPad-style extra screen real estate.
The Archos 97 carbon is the first installment of the company's elements range and 7 and 8-inch iterations of the device will follow that may match or even undercut the Nexus 7's attractive £159 ($199) price-tag.
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HTC profits way down amid weak demand for One range
HTC's recent struggles have continued with its latest quarterly report showing huge downturns in year-on-year revenues and profits.
The Taiwanese manufacturer and dominant company of the early Android era had hoped to bounce back from a disappointing 2011 with a new streamlined range of smartphones this year.
However it appears the launch of the HTC One series has failed to do the trick as the company struggles to re-engage with users in Europe and the US.
Apple injunctions did delay the launch of the HTC One X and the Evo 4G phones in the US, which may help to explain missed expectations.
Ups and downs, but mainly downs
The black and white of it is as such. Profits are down 57.8 percent from $585.95 million (£378m) to $247.5 million (£160m) compared to Q2 of 2011.However, the company will a little take comfort as that figure is at least up $149.5 million (£96.5m) from a bleak first quarter of this year.
The company had projected revenues of $3.5 billion, but missed out on that figure by a considerable margin, posting income of $3.04 billion.
The HTC One series of phones have enjoyed critical success, especially the top-of-the-range HTC One X device.
However, the company's status as the go-to Android manufacturer has been well and truly trumped by Samsung, which continues to go from strength to strength.
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Apple granted patent for Google Glass-like wearable headset
Google's Project Glass has been one of the biggest tech stories of 2012, but it seems that Apple was thinking about a similar pair of AR specs as far back as six years ago.
Earlier this week the USPTO published a patent Apple had originally applied for in 2006, which certainly makes for interesting timing given Google's recent re-reveal at its I/O conference.
The filing speaks of "methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for projecting a source image in a head-mounted display apparatus for a user."
It remains unclear whether Apple is envisioning such a project, given that the name on the patent is iPod mastermind Tony Fadell, who has now left the company to pursue his own endeavours.
You're so vague
The rest of the text relating to the patent is - as a lot of these documents tend to be - quite vague.It mainly pertains to the method of projecting images in front of the users eyes and does make reference to connectivity to an external 16:9 device.
The major difference between Apple's patent filing and what we know about Google glass is that information is projected to both eyes, using a head mounted display
As the patent was filed six years ago it's unclear whether this tech remains in Apple's thoughts.
Perhaps the publishing of this patent is a result of Apple chasing it up with the USPTO in order to remind Google to beware of a potential infringement? Please don't tell us another patent war is brewing though.
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Rumor: iPhone 5 may have quad-core processor based on Samsung Exynos 4
Aside from a larger display and redesigned outer case, iPhone fans are wondering what the iPhone 5 might be hiding under the hood come autumn.
With competing Android smartphones stepping up their game by including quad-core processors, Apple is expected to offer the same with the iPhone 5 as well.
The most curious part about this week's quad-core rumors is where Apple might get its next processor - and at least one report claims it will be from an unlikely source.
That would be Samsung - Apple's onetime ally who's become more of a "frenemy" in recent months as the two battle over patents.
iPhone 5, Samsung mashup
If the rumors are true, the iPhone 5 may tap into Samsung's quad-core Exynos 4 architecture, which the company is already using for its flagship Galaxy SIII handsets sold overseas.While this year's third-generation iPad souped up the graphics processing with a slightly updated A5X processor, the next iPhone is expected to be a much larger leap forward whose processor could be crowed A6 instead.
Quad-core processors are becoming commonplace with smartphones, and it's not only Samsung - HTC, LG and even Meizu have all launched quad-core handsets in Q2 2012.
The rest of the expected iPhone 5 features include a larger 4.0-inch display, 4G LTE data speeds, near-field communication (NFC) and a smaller dock connector, which are expected to be released alongside iOS 6 this fall.
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Review: Google Nexus 7 Tablet
Introduction
Undoubtedly tired of watching OEMs make little headway in their uphill struggle against Apple's iPad, Google executives took the stage at this year's Google IO developer conference to announce a branded seven-inch tablet of their own, which the search giant is offering direct through its Play store.Like other Nexus-branded devices, the Nexus 7 tablet isn't actually hardware manufactured by Google.
As Mountain View has done with Samsung, HTC and Motorola in the past, the company paired with Asus to design and manufacture its slender tablet.
It's a smart move: Among Android tablets, Asus makes some of the best around, but matching the rock-bottom $199 price of Amazon's Kindle Fire while exceeding its meager specs would be a challenge for any manufacturer. And make no mistake: The Nexus 7 is more of an effort to stomp out Amazon's unwelcome (and forked) version of Android more than it's attempt to dethrone Apple's reigning champ.
The good news is that very little has been sacrificed along the way, unlike with Amazon's initial offering. According to Android boss Andy Rubin, Google's profit margin bears the brunt of any sacrifices made, both from selling hardware at cost but also from tossing in generous perks such as a $25 Google Play credit for every Nexus 7 owner.
But enough about why and how Google has released the Nexus 7: Is it worth even $199 of your hard-earned cash?
Hardware
On paper, the specs for the Nexus 7 are quite impressive. Powered by a quad-core Tegra 3 processor with 1GB RAM and either 8GB ($199) or 16GB ($249) of onboard storage, this tablet runs circles around the Kindle Fire, rivaling many competing Android tablets at twice the price (or more).
The seven-inch 1200 x 800 HD backlit IPS display packs a respectable 216 pixels per inch onto the screen. Sure, it's not quite as impressive as a third-generation Retina Display iPad at 264ppi, but given the price, users will have little to complain about from the display.
The front of the Nexus 7 is devoid of hardware-based buttons, but a 1.2MP front-facing camera rests at the top of the tablet front, which is covered entirely by Corning glass (we're assuming Gorilla Glass, but Google isn't confirming).
Curiously, Google seems to buck the landscape trend made popular with most Android tablets. While the Nexus 7 will indeed rotate for landscape use with apps, the home screen itself is fixed into portrait mode, as if Google wants to encourage users to hold it this way when not watching content designed for landscape, such as movies or TV shows. (Portrait mode even works when viewed with polarized sunglasses, while landscape mode goes black.)
Unlike the Kindle Fire with its one lone button, Google has wisely opted for three basic hardware controls. On the right side is a power/sleep button with a two-stage volume rocker just below; the rest is done using Android's on-screen software buttons for back, home and recent navigation, including rotation lock, which can be accessed via the notifications menu.
At the bottom of the unit is a micro-USB port and 3.5mm headphone jack, while a thin speaker port is the only feature of note on the otherwise rubberized back aside from Nexus and Asus branding. The top of the unit is devoid of ports entirely, although a small pinhole can be found here for the included microphone.
While the Nexus 7 is primarily plastic and glass, it certainly doesn't feel cheap. To the contrary, it feels almost as "premium" as one of Apple's tablets, with no creakiness or other clues that Asus might have cut some corners in manufacturing.
Inside, the Nexus 7 packs the usual assortment of features, including an accelerometer, magnetometer and yes, even a gyroscope and GPS chip, nicely timed to take advantage of Google Maps' new offline mode for navigating when Wi-Fi isn't available.
It's almost hard to comprehend how small the Nexus 7 is until you hold its diminutive box in your hand. At a mere 198.5 x 120 x 10.45mm and weighing 340 grams, once out of the box, you can almost stack two Nexus 7 tablets side-by-side on one iPad, which is just one millimeter thinner.
Despite being so petite, Google and Asus managed to find space for a nice bezel around the screen itself (roughly 20mm top and bottom, 14mm on each side), making it plenty comfortable to hold without your fingers or thumbs getting in the way.
The pockmarked back recalls the same vibe as slipping on a pair of premium driving gloves, and this look and feel makes it quite nice to hold. While our review unit arrived with a white back (similar to the ones gifted to developers at Google IO this year), Google is only offering the black model to consumers.
Speaking of which, the Nexus 7 is available direct from the Google Play store with preorders shipping in mid-July, but the company has ambitions to roll the tablet out at retail as well.
Display and interface
While Google and Asus have checked all the right boxes on the Nexus 7's HD IPS display and it is indeed bright and rich in color, we were disappointed to discover the overall contrast was somewhat muted on our review unit. (It's particularly noticeable on the home screens.)Maybe the iPad or even Asus' own Transformer has spoiled us, but the Nexus 7 seems to lack the kind of deep, rich black levels you might find on something like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (which admittedly uses a more saturated, contrast-rich Super AMOLED display instead).
This quibble aside, viewing photos or other content on the Nexus 7 is quite enjoyable, with overall contrast faring much better while displaying such media. Without a second unit to compare it against, we're left to wonder if the brand-new Android 4.1 might be to blame for the lower contrast levels.
Which brings us to the other star of the show: Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean," Google's latest version of its mobile operating system, which makes its debut on the Nexus 7. We'll have a full review of Jelly Bean coming shortly, but suffice it to say that Google has finally sanded down the rough spots in all the right places this time around.
Despite the modest point version increase, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean introduces under-the-hood improvements like "Project Butter," the company's new initiative to streamline the lag and general unresponsiveness Android has been notorious for in the past.
While the Android 4.1 soft keyboard is one of the best around, we were also able to install our second favorite, SwiftKey 3 Tablet, which mostly worked aside from being able to type our Facebook username and password while setting up personalized predictions.
The main star of the Jelly Bean show is Google Now, a card-based information service that uses GPS in an effort to become one step ahead of the user. While the feature may be limited by Wi-Fi only connectivity on the Nexus 7, we'll take a deeper look at Now in our upcoming Android 4.1 review.
Coupled with the Tegra 3 processor and additional headroom afforded by 1GB of RAM, the Nexus 7 makes a great initial showcase for Jelly Bean. Swiping through screens is fast and responsive – even on apps which haven't yet been updated for 4.1 – while flipping through one of the visually rich magazines now available from Google Play doesn't miss a beat. Ridiculous name aside, Project Butter delivers the goods.
Internet & connectivity
Although the Nexus 7 isn't exactly what we'd call pocket-friendly – although it certainly could be when compared to the iPad – the only downside of having a small, light tablet like this is that it's currently limited to Wi-Fi connectivity. We'd love to see one of these puppies equipped with Verizon's fast 4G LTE data network, for example.
That said, Wi-Fi isn't exactly hard to come by these days, and the Nexus 7 is ready to take on most any wireless network you want to throw at it, even if it's being tethered from a mobile hotspot. The tablet comes standard with 802.11b/g/n, although regrettably it's only of the 2.4GHz variety, rather than the superfast 5GHz band. No matter, it's plenty fast enough for modern broadband speeds (and then some).
Bluetooth is also on hand, although Google doesn't reveal which version. Regardless, it's a nice feature to have, and one notably absent from rival tablets in the same price range (Amazon, we're looking at you).
Of course, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have become standard features these days, and the Nexus 7 goes one step beyond by including a near-field communication (NFC) chip, supporting both Android Beam for pushing files between compatible devices, as well as Google Wallet for contactless payment.
We didn't have much luck using Android Beam to transfer a photo between the Nexus 7 and a Samsung Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.0 – the tablet just threw up an error claiming the smartphone doesn't support "large file transfers." Switching over to a Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.1, however, got things working just as magically as Google claims.
Despite already receiving a free $10 prepaid card on our Galaxy Nexus after registering Google Wallet, our Nexus 7 review unit happily granted us a second bonus after initializing the app there. Oddly, even though we used the same Gmail account on both devices, the remaining balance on our Galaxy Nexus didn't carry over to the tablet; Wallet users with multiple devices should be careful and top up prepaid cards on the device they plan to shop with.
Wireless connectivity otherwise worked exactly as you'd expect, and running the SpeedTest app with Wi-Fi actually produced slightly higher numbers from our AT&T U-verse broadband than either the new iPad or the Samsung Galaxy Nexus on the same network.
Camera & Gallery
With the Nexus 7, Google and Asus abandoned the notion of offering a rear-facing camera on an Android tablet. It's probably a smart move – after all, how many of us have actually used the generally crummy cameras on our tablets anyway?
Instead, the Nexus 7 features a more practical 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera, although Google chose to eliminate the dedicated Camera app from the device itself. It's understandable, especially with so many third-party candidates available from Google Play, but it does make the camera somewhat worthless for those just taking it out of the box. (Google Talk does come preinstalled, and a third-party Camera Launcher app is already available for restoring the Camera app).
To test drive the camera, we installed the free Skype app from Google Play. Although it complained about the app not being certified for our device at first launch, we had no problem signing in and making a few video calls, connecting with other users on a MacBook Air and an iPad 2.
Unfortunately, you're likely to have far less luck with popular photo-taking apps such as Instagram. Browsing that title on Google Play throws up an error that "your device isn't compatible with this version," although we suspect Facebook will tweak the app accordingly once it starts getting delivered to customers.
The stock Android Gallery app looks quite nice on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, with large, gapless tiles of images that can be viewed as a slideshow with just a tap. Images load quickly and the Nexus 7 displays them in all their vivid, rich color and detail.
The Gallery app also offers a wide range of editing and crop tools to enhance photos before sharing them, which includes the aforementioned Android Beam for tapping two devices together to make the transfer, no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth required.
Last but not least, Nexus 7 makes life easy on developers, tech journalists and even support folks by allowing screenshots to be taken simply by holding down the power/lock and volume down buttons at the same time. All Android OEMs should follow their lead and make it this simple.
Battery life & storage
By now you might be thinking a tablet this thin and light with a gorgeous display and high-powered, quad-core processor must have an Achilles' heel – and it's probably poor battery life, right?Such an assumption would be wrong. Google and Asus packed a generous 4325mAh battery into the Nexus 7, which promises up to eight hours of "active use." Yeah, not terribly scientific, we know, but considering we're not dealing with 3G/4G data connection here, eight hours for something this small and thin is quite impressive.
To get there, the companies had to seal the battery – you won't pop the back off to slap in another one when that last bit of juice is gone, but since few tablets offer swappable batteries to begin with, we're quite okay with this.
While our casual use over a couple of days supports Google's battery claim, would-be buyers might have more to fret about with the relatively modest amounts of storage offered: The Nexus 7 is sold in both 8GB and 16GB capacities for $199 or $249, respectively.
The dilemma is amplified by the fact that Google and Asus have chosen to leave out the micro-SD card slot that's become a staple of many Android tablets, which makes the only way to expand available storage through Wi-Fi enabled hard drives or removable flash storage such as AirStash.
However, 8GB of storage on our review unit was hardly an issue. Google designed the Nexus 7 to work hand in hand with Google Play, meaning that movies, TV shows and music can be streamed right to your device instead of being stored locally.
Subscribers to Hulu Plus or Netflix as well as home media server lovers who use Plex will be able to get by just fine with the default 8GB. This leaves plenty of space for apps, books and magazines from Google Play, which clearly benefit from being stored on the device for when an internet connection isn't available.
Bottom line: If you're concerned about storage, fork over the extra $50 now for 16GB of storage, especially if you download plenty of large games or prefer to sideload your own content.
Apps & Play
Speaking of content, Google offers a generous selection from its Play store, absolutely free after activating your Nexus 7 with a Google account. Most key Google apps come preinstalled, but others such as Reader or even Google Voice can be installed from Play with ease.In addition to a $25 Google Play credit just for buying a Nexus 7, you'll find a selection of magazines, including current issues of Popular Science, Family Circle, Condé Nast Traveler, Food Network Magazine and Esquire waiting for you. Magazines are new to Google Play, although in our opinion, the seven-inch display is a bit small for comfortably reading such content without switching to text-only view.
Google is also trying to encourage Play Books reading by throwing Nexus 7 owners a free copy of Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Dominion, the latest chapter in Jason Bourne's spy saga first released last summer. There's also free content waiting in your Google Play Music account, while Michael Bay's Transformers: Dark of the Moon is included to celebrate Google's newfound ability to purchase film and TV content rather than renting it.
All in all, it's a great deal that makes the $199 Nexus 7 (or even the $249 16GB model) one of the best values in the tablet market. Savvy users can even keep the free stuff coming by side-loading the competing Amazon Appstore and taking advantage of the e-tailer's Free App of the Day offering.
For the most part, apps work as expected on the Nexus 7. The newly tabletized Google+ app actually makes us want to use that social desert more now, while Google Maps – complete with its excellent (and free) Navigation – looks quite slick on the larger display, and actually quite usable in the car for turn-by-turn directions, assuming you save maps for the areas you're traveling in before leaving home first.
While most apps adapt well to the seven-inch screen, others suffer from being chained to the smartphone. For example, SpeedTest.net appears as a small, phone-sized block in the center of the screen, surrounded by black (think of iPhone apps viewed on the iPad without 2x mode).
Ironically, Amazon Mobile wouldn't install at all from Google Play, but Amazon Appstore allowed us to install it without complaint (neither store would let us install the company's Price Check app). Other branded apps such as Kindle and Amazon MP3 worked fine.
Speaking of Amazon, it's worth noting that the only competitive advantage of the Kindle Fire over the Nexus 7 is its ability to purchase and view movies or TV shows – an advantage that seems to be exclusive to that device, given that the e-tailer has yet to offer an Instant Video app on any other platform.
One pleasant surprise was GrooVe IP, a paid third-party app from Google Play which allows free VoIP calling over Wi-Fi; not only did it install without a hitch, but we were able to make clear calls to landline and cell phones for free right from the tablet.
Overall, Android still has a tablet problem, with many apps attempting to adapt to the tablet screen rather than being expressly written for it. Apple clearly has the upper hand here, but now that Google has gifted Nexus 7 tablets to 6,000 of its most adoring developers, we're hoping that situation will improve in the months ahead.
Verdict
We've fondled our fair share of tablets since the iPad redefined the category back in 2010. While the Google Nexus 7 doesn't quite stack up to Apple's media darling – nor should it, considering the iPad sells for at least twice the price – it's most certainly the tablet we'd recommend for users who can't afford an iPad.
We liked
Hey, we're a sucker for free stuff, so the goodie basket Google includes with the purchase of a Nexus 7 is definitely worth another mention here. We also can't wait to see an army of Nexus 7 owners marching to local stores, where they'll whip out a seven-inch tablet to pay for goods using Google Wallet.Like many recent Asus tablet products, the build quality is on par with Apple. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is exactly the right step for Google at this stage, focusing on enhancing the existing user experience – especially given the low penetration of Ice Cream Sandwich – instead of throwing cool new features against the wall to see what sticks.
We disliked
Although the Nexus 7 has very good Wi-Fi and we were able to tether from a mobile hotspot with ease, we'd love to see a slightly more expensive model with 4G LTE, accompanied by sweet month-to-month data plans, in the near future. Android is still playing catch-up when it comes to tablet-friendly apps, but we're hopeful those kinks will start to get ironed out if and when consumers gravitate to the Nexus 7.Our biggest lament is the muted contrast of the otherwise quite stellar IPS display; while it's not a total deal breaker, we're holding out hope that Google might push out a software update to bring the gamma levels in line with competing hardware, assuming it's not simply a glitch with our review unit.
Verdict
Perhaps the best compliment we can pay to the Nexus 7 is that it makes us want an iPad mini. Not because Google's tablet is bad, because it isn't – we just think there's a lot of potential for something between an iPod touch and a 9.7-inch iPad, and the Nexus 7 finally validates that.Yes, there will be plenty of average folks who can't afford to drop $399 and up for some casual tablet fun, favoring the less expensive Nexus 7 over the iPad – but Apple has little to fear given their commanding market share over the tablet market.
That leaves the Kindle Fire with the most to fear from Google and Asus. Instant Video aside, Amazon has flat out been smoked in the sub-$200 price range it pioneered, by a more appealing, capable device.
Like a bucket of water being used to douse the Kindle's flames, Google appears poised to reclaim any tablet ground lost since the introduction of Amazon's forked version of Android. It may not tread a lot of new ground, but the Nexus 7 is a solid performer and easily the best tablet a couple hundred bucks can buy.
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