Google Maps bringing Street View to web app, says WSJ
Google will add its popular Street View feature to the Google Maps web app, accessible on iOS devices, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The newspaper said the feature will be rolled out on Thursday, and tech correspondent Walt Mossberg has already tested the new version of the browser-based service.
Since Apple replaced Google Maps with its own heavily-criticised and seemingly unfinished Maps app, Google is reported to be working on launching a standalone offering for the App Store.
In the meantime, iPad and iPhone users are flocking to the web version of the app, and Google seems keen to capitalise on the goodwill folks are now feeling towards its ousted mapping service.
360-degree photographic views
The prospective addition of Street View, will allow users to move along roads, explore areas at the street level and even venture inside some buildings.
Wossberg wrote: "Google plans to announce on Thursday that it is adding its popular Street View feature, missing from Apple's maps, to the Web version of Google Maps accessed from the iPhone and iPad.
"I tested this addition, which displays 360-degree photographic street views of selected locations, and interior photographic views of certain businesses, using sample links Google sent me. These links worked well, allowing me to see the locations and pan around with a finger."
Wossberg, in his video test of Apple Maps vs Google Maps (on Android) unsurprisingly found that the latter is superior, at this present time, but he did point out that Apple's navigation experience was "more striking and easier to read at a glance."
We'll let you know when Street View lands on the Google Maps web app.
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Database listing might just show 32GB Google Nexus 7, Galaxy Nexus 2
Like something out of a Mission: Impossible movie, a database listing purporting to show a 32GB Google Nexus 7 appeared online Wednesday.
The database apparently belongs to Carphone Warehouse, Europe's largest independent mobile retailer and a U.K. based corporation.
While the Nexus leak is tantalizing, it isn't the only information obtainable from the listing: there's also an Invisishield intended for a "Samsung Nexus 2" located just above it, pointing to the possibility of a Galaxy Nexus 2.
This information isn't enough to confirm the existence of such devices, but it's interesting to say the least.
Plausible, indeed
Currently, Google's Nexus 7, produced by Asus, only comes in 8GB and 16GB variants.
With competitors like Amazon and Barnes & Noble churning out mighty and new tablets of their own, like the Kindle Fire HD and Nook HD+, Google and Asus are likely looking to extend both companies' stay in the affordable tablet market.
A 32GB next Nexus is certainly plausible, but the world might see a Samsung product first.
Leaks from last week reportedly showed photos taken with a camera from a device dubbed GT-i9260, a model number indicating a follow up to the Galaxy Nexus, as well as specs for the device's camera.
The GT-i9260, while not named so explicitly, is likely a Galaxy Nexus II.
Of course, the database listing could contain industry numbering that could render these theories inaccurate, but it will no doubt get the rumor mill churning at a perceptible pace.
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Apple reportedly wants to ditch Intel chips in Macs, hire its own SoC designer
Apple is still reeling from its transition from Google Maps to iOS 6 Maps on the iPhone, but the Cupertino company looks as if it isn't finished making big changes with long-time partners.
Intel may be the next partner on chopping block. Apple is reportedly considering moving away from using Intel's CPUs, according to two unnamed sources talking with Bloomberg Businessweek.
This would be a tremendous shift, as Intel's line of microprocessors are at the heart of all of Apple's current computers.
The MacBook Pro, MacBook Pro Retina, and MacBook Air use Intel's latest Ivy Bridge chip, while the iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac mini have previous Intel processors and are due for an Intel chip update.
Apple's CPU experience
The move away from Intel would be difficult, but not unprecedented for Apple. After all, it designed its own mobile system-on-a-chip with the original iPad and on the iPhone 4 in 2010.
The iPhone 5 contains the latest Apple-designed chip example, the A6. This processor is also expected to run the next iPad, speculated to be the long-rumored iPad Mini.
The second reason that the move wouldn't be unprecedented is that it wouldn't be the first major chip transition by Apple.
From 1994 to 2006, all of Apple's computers used the IBM-designed PowerPC chips before moving to Intel's line of CPUs.
Apple's SoC hiring tip-off
Adding to the theory that Apple may one day send Intel to the woodchipper is the revelation the company's looking to hire its own lead system-on-a-chip designer.
The "SoC Modeling Architect - Manager / Lead" job ad, picked up by TechCrunch, may simply have its sights set on a designer for a future A7 processor.
However, nothing in the description said that Apple is strictly looking for someone with a mobile background.
Whether or not Apple is looking for a computer-related system-on-a-chip designer now, there's growing speculation that it may be in the Mac-based chip design business in the near future.
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YouTube improves its copyright takedown process
Online video behemoth YouTube has finally offered a major update to its Content ID systems used to automatically detect copyright violation in user videos.
The best part? A new appeals process for users affected by incorrect copyright take down notices.
In a post on the YouTube Creators blog, Rights Management Product Manager Thabet Alfishawi explains that prior to the update, users who rejected the copyright dispute were left with no options.
The new appeals process will shift the responsibility back to the copyright holder, who will be given the option of withdrawing their takedown notice, or filing a formal DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act)notification.
Better algorithms for better results
With more than 10 million reference files used as part of the Content ID system, YouTube has also improved its algorithms in order to reduce false positives in the first place.
the most tangible benefit of this is the introduction of a manual review process for videos that are likely to create a false positive, instead of being automatically taken down.
With copyright holders and world governments putting more pressure on YouTube to improve its copyright protection practices, it's refreshing to see an announcement that ultimately benefits both the copyright holders and the end users.
Via: YouTube Creator Blog
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QR code usage up 96 per cent in Europe
European smartphone users are scanning QR codes like nobody's business, with new figures revealing a 96 per cent increase compared with a year ago.
A report from comScore said 17.4 million users in Germany, Italy, France, Spain and the UK scanned a code in the three months leading up to June 2012.
The Germans led the way with 18.6 per cent of users embracing the scannable barcodes, which often lead to restaurant menus, travel information, company websites, concert ticket sites and other special offers.
Spain was next in line, while UK users are lagging behind with only 11.4 per cent of smartphone users engaging with the codes.
Popular uses
The most popular use for the QR codes, according to the comScore report, is to find further information about a certain product. 71 per cent of scans, across Europe, were for this purpose.
31.8 per cent of people scanned to find event information, while 19.4 per cent of users were seeking special offers and 13.4 per cent of users were using the codes to download apps.
Are you a frequenter of the strange-looking square barcodes? Let us know your favourite uses in the comments section below.
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Nokia Lumia 510 makes an appearance as specs and price leak
Nokia's budget-conscious Lumia 510 Windows Phone made a surprise appearance Wednesday in a newly leaked photo and alleged hardware specs.
The update comes courtesy of GSMArena, which received an in the wild snapshot of the handset with just enough glare on the screen to make out the Nokia logo, buttons, and not much else.
The source also provided a spec list, confirming the Lumia 510 will sport a 4-inch display, 4GB of internal memory, and 256MB of RAM.
Prior reports have also indicated that it runs on an 800MHz Qualcomm Scorpion CPU and has a 5-megapixel rear camera.
The specs certainly run on the lower end for smartphone hardware, with the source saying it will be priced accordingly at $150 without a contract.
No new OS for Lumia 510
The leaked Lumia 510 specs are curious though, indicating that the handset will launch with Windows Phone 7.8 rather than Microsoft's newer mobile OS.
When the Lumia 510 first leaked it was assumed that the smartphone would run on Windows Phone 8, since it would otherwise be rendered obsolete as soon as it launches.
That is apparently a risk Nokia is willing to take, with the single-core processor and other hardware limitations holding it back from an upgrade.
There is no word on a release date for the Lumia 510, which is expected to arrive first in China before wider global distribution.
That is, assuming there will be a wider global distribution at all, which may be too little too late with Windows Phone 8 just around the corner.
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Nokia Lumia 510 specs and price leaked
Nokia's budget-conscious Lumia 510 Windows Phone made a surprise appearance today in a newly leaked photo and alleged hardware specs.
The update comes courtesy of GSMArena, which received an in the wild snapshot of the handset with just enough glare on the screen to make out the Nokia logo, buttons, and not much else.
The source also provided a spec list, confirming the Lumia 510 will sport a 4-inch display, 4GB of internal memory, and 256GB of RAM.
Prior reports have also indicated that it runs on an 800MHz Qualcomm Scorpion CPU and has a 5-megapixel rear camera.
The specs certainly run on the lower end for smartphone hardware, with the source saying it will be priced accordingly at $150 without a contract.
No new OS for Lumia 510
The leaked Lumia 510 specs are curious though, indicating that the handset will launch with Windows Phone 7.8 rather than Microsoft's newer mobile OS.
When the Lumia 510 first leaked it was assumed that the smartphone would run on Windows Phone 8, since it would otherwise be rendered obsolete as soon as it launches.
That is apparently a risk Nokia is willing to take, with the single-core processor and other hardware limitations holding it back from an upgrade.
There is no word on a release date for the Lumia 510, which is expected to arrive first in China before wider global distribution.
That is, assuming there will be a wider global distribution at all, which may be too little too late with Windows Phone 8 just around the corner.
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Apple store employees may be key to fixing Maps
Apple caught plenty of flack from its fans when it replaced Google Maps with its own, less robust navigation app.
However, the iPhone purveyor just might find its way out of the woods if a rumored new initiative succeeds.
MacRumors and ifoAppleStore (via a tweet) both reported the company started a new pilot program to use its resource of Apple retail store employees to hammer out the dents in its beleaguered Maps app.
Can you spare some time?
Complete details on the project haven't yet come to light, but according to the rumors, participating stores will dedicate about 40 hours per week of staff time, split among its employees.
Among employee participants, each will review Maps data and manually submit corrections, though specifics of how employees will review the data are still unclear.
They may simply compare Apple Maps to Google Maps to make adjustments, or could verify Maps' accuracy in person.
In fact, one rumor indicates a team of 10 employees will work at one store with one was designated the "subject matter expert" and has special training to oversee the effort.
The changes will reportedly be handled through a dedicated internal portal on Apple's system.
'We fell short'
Apple switched to its own Map client when it released iOS 6, since becoming the target of harsh criticism, mean-spirited memes, and dedicated Tumblrs.
Criticism has especially centered on moments of disastrous inaccuracy and a lack of public transportation information.
In a few humorous examples, Apple Maps turned East Portland into a nature park, displaced an entire town, and moved Heathrow Airport next to Hyde Park.
Last Friday, Apple's CEO Tim Cook published a letter on the company's site apologizing for the Maps misstep.
"At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers," Cook wrote.
"With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better."
The letter even recommend customers use rival map services such as Bing, MapQuest, and even rivals Google or Nokia's map websites until Apple Maps got up to snuff.
What would Steve do?
In the wake of the fiasco, some have wondered whether this map switch would've happened if Steve Jobs were still alive to guide Apple.
However, a report from Bloomberg reported the change to Apple Maps was actually initiated by the late Apple co-founder.
The former CEO, according to the report, loathed Google.
He felt the rival company copied elements of the iPhone and withheld Google Maps features that allow smartphones to give turn-by-turn directions out loud.
Jobs would've also reportedly liked to cut Google search from iPhones and Mobile Safari completely, however the idea was nixed because Apple thought it would upset customers too much.
Better in the long run
Though Apple Maps is unpopular at the moment, an analyst told Bloomberg that Apple is better off taking control of its own navigation app because it's an important source of customer data and potential future revenue:
"I don't think Apple had any choice but to make a major break and say: We are going to just start from the beginning," Tim Bajarin, an analyst with Creative Strategies, said. "The best thing Apple could do was take the hit now."
Apple has yet to respond to TechRadar's request for confirmation of the employee-correction program at the time of publication, but we will update the story if and when we receive more information.
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BBC reducing Red Button TV services to a single video stream
The BBC has announced that it is cutting back the popular Red Button service to just one video stream on October 15.
The service, which proved hugely useful during the 2012 Olympic Games coverage, currently offers up to five streams simultaneously, enabling multi-view for big events.
The BBC said, as the service runs on linear broadcast technology, it is no longer a cost-effective solution, which is sure to displease the license payers who make use of the Red Button.
Instead, it will be directing Sky, FreeSat and Virgin customers (Freeview users only have one stream) to the BBC website and Internet TV apps in order to continue making use of extended Red Button coverage.
Not the beginning of the end
"This change in no way signals the demise of BBC Red Button," wrote Tom Williams, Development Editor for red button and dual screen in BBC Vision, on the BBC's Internet blog.
"The BBC is committed to maintaining a vibrant and popular red button service. 20 million people a month press red on the BBC and our ambition is to develop the service and increase the size of our audience," he said.
Later, he continues: "Of course, the reduction in video streams will have an impact; we won't be able to offer the choice of coverage we have previously and big events will no longer be multi-screen on red button. This will be a disappointment for many viewers, particularly sports fans, but I'm pleased to say that content previously on red button will be available on BBC Online and we are developing new ways of bringing enhanced coverage of major events to your televisions in the future."
Live restart on your TV
Those new ways include the Connected Red Button, announced back in June, which will launch later this year on for the BBC Online app for connected televisions.
This, according to Williams, "will take advantage of new web-based technologies that deliver richer, more visually-enticing programmes.
"New functions like 'live restart' will be introduced directly to your TV, meaning that next time you come in halfway through The Apprentice, you can simply skip back to the start of the programme.
"Or, if you don't like what's on, find your favourite programme in BBC iPlayer or catch up with the latest news and sport live and on-demand, all on your TV."
For a full outline of the BBC's decision to trim back Red Button services, which is sure to be a huge disappointment for those without connected televisions, follow the link in the hat-tip below.
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LG Optimus G heading to AT&T and Sprint
When LG's Optimus G finally arrives in the U.S. later this year, both AT&T and Sprint will carry the 4G phone.
Announced in August, the Optimus G will arrive with Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich, and pack a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor.
With a 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS Plus display and 2GB of RAM, the Optimus G has a lot of features, which should help it stand out from competition like the iPhone 5, Galaxy S3, and newly revealed HTC One X+.
However, there'll be one distinct difference between the AT&T and Sprint versions of the phone.
While the Optimus G Sprint carries will come with the 13MP rear-facing camera, AT&T's version will come with the slightly less impressive 8MP snapper.
Pricing and release date
Unfortunately, there's still no pricing information or release date in sight for the Optimus G at either carrier.
"We do not currently have the pricing info and store availability for LG Optimus G," said Jackie Vettorino, an AT&T representative.
TechRadar has reached out to Sprint about the new phone, and will update this article when and if they respond to our request for comment.
Despite the lack of information, both companies appear excited to offer the Optimus G on their networks.
"The LG Optimus G lets our customers work and play as hard as they want with one of our first quad core processor designed to deliver a great multitasking experience," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T, in a press release.
With the latter portion of 2012 shaping up to be pretty packed with smartphone releases, it will certainly be interesting to see which device comes out on top as the year's most impressive new device.
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Xbox Music said to launch on Oct. 26
Xbox Music is reportedly coming sooner rather than later, as reports Wednesday peg Microsoft's new service for a launch later this month.
The Verge reported that multiple sources close to Microsoft have pinned Oct. 26 as the launch for the new streaming music service.
The date makes sense as it would place Xbox Music right alongside the launch of Windows 8 and the Surface tablet and close to the launch of the first Windows Phone 8 devices.
Xbox Music was first announced at E3 in June, and rumors later that month claimed that the service would offer music streaming and downloads through Xbox 360, Windows 8, and Windows Phone, as well as cloud storage.
Play that funky music
Pricing for Xbox Music subscriptions (similar to a Zune Music Pass) recently leaked online, revealing pricing plans for the U.K. and U.S.
Aside from subscriptions, the service will reportedly stream songs through a free, ad-supported platform, seemingly mirroring Spotify's model.
Leaked screenshots of Xbox Music show the words "Save as a Playlist" underneath a cloud option, hinting at possible Skydrive integration to share songs and playlists between devices.
Microsoft also reportedly has plans to offer Xbox Music apps to iOS and Android, though those won't be immediately available.
The Verge also reported Microsoft is looking to launch a Xbox dashboard update to support the new service while also issuing updates for its Music and Video apps for W8 in order to support Xbox Music.
Last week, a Microsoft spokesperson told TechRadar that the company wouldn't comment on the Xbox Music leaks, though was quick to add that Xbox Music will be Microsoft's "definitive music service" and promised to reveal more information as soon as it's available.
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Jolla rumored to introduce 'Sailfish' OS, new device in November
Earlier this year, a small collective of former Nokia employees created a company called Jolla and set out to revive the one-and-done MeeGo operating system, which company founders said would help create "the world's best smartphone product."
MeeGo was originally developed collaboratively by Intel, Nokia, and Samsung as a competitor for Apple's iOS and Google's Android.
Back in 2011, Nokia claimed it would support MeeGo for years, though after the sole device to use the OS, the Nokia N9, arrived, the company abandoned MeeGo.
All was not lost for MeeGo, however, because in July of this year, Jolla revealed it would revive the forgotten OS in an effort to continue the work that could contribute to system's success.
"It deserves to be continued, and we will do that together with all the bright and gifted people contributing to the MeeGo success story," Jolla said at the time.
Now, it looks like the company is making good on its promise.
Codename: Sailfish
It's only been a few months, but Jolla may be very close to unveiling its first solo crack at a MeeGo-based OS and device this November.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Jolla has raised €200 million (US$258, AU$252.8, US£160) during initial funding rounds.
Little is known about any device at the moment, but Jolla's new OS comes under the codename Sailfish, and will reportedly continue as an open source platform, a la Tizen.
With reports that several Windows Phone 8 devices are launching in November, including Nokia's own Lumia 920, Jolla may find itself facing some stiff competition on store shelves, especially if it really is introducing an entirely (almost) new OS on the market.
And that's without even considering the continual powerhouse sales of Samsung's Galaxy S3 or Apple's iPhone 5.
Until Jolla actually has something concrete to show off though, we'll reserve further judgment, and hope that the enthusiasm of the development team is enough to make a difference.
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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite orders pushed out 4-6 weeks
Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite, the 6-inch e-reader introduced Sept. 6 alongside the Kindle Fire HD, has effectively sold out, according to reports Wednesday.
Any order placed from now into the foreseeable future will take between 4-6 weeks to fill.
If you click to read the device's specs and place an order on Amazon.com, the site delivers the bad news.
"Due to popular demand, orders placed today are expected to ship in four to six weeks," the message reads.
Paperwhite white hot
At a reasonable $119 for the base model and $179 for a 3G bump-up, the luminous e-reader has 62 percent more pixels than other models and 25 percent better contrast.
Its 8-week battery and ability to read in any scenery - from bright sunlight to low-lit living room - has clearly made this reader a popular choice.
High demand has hit the device before. At the end of September, consumers who ordered the device were told it wouldn't ship until Oct. 22.
At the time, Amazon limited orders to five per customer - now that number stands at two.
As of yet, there's no international shipping date for the Paperwhite, though some reports have it landing in the U.K., other parts of Europe, Australia, Canada, and other countries at the beginning of next year.
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Report: Nokia may sell company headquarters
Having just unveiled two new Windows Phone 8 handsets, the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820, in September, there was a hint of optimism in the air for Nokia.
Even CEO Stephen Elop seemed convinced Nokia's fortunes were about to change, and that soon Nokia would have a stake in the market share battle.
It would be tough to turn around any faltering company, let alone one that posted record losses of $1.73 billion (€1.4 billion EU, £1.1 billion UK, $1.7 million AU) during the second quarter of 2012.
That's more than four times what Nokia lost in the same time during fiscal 2011.
It seems the tough times have continued as Credit Suisse downgraded Nokia to "underperforming," and even suggested Nokia may want to sell off some assets.
If new reports are true, that's just what Nokia is planning to do.
Movin' out
A report from Finnish paper Helsingin Sanomat indicates Nokia may want to sell off its headquarters in Epsoo.
Nokia financial director Timo Ihamuotila spoke to the paper about the company's recent financial woes, even going so far as to divulge potential plans.
"We are exploring different options for our property assets. This includes a possible sale of our headquarters," Ihamuotila said.
Of course, just because Nokia sells off their HQ, that doesn't mean they have plans to actually vacate the premises.
Ihamuotila added Nokia has no plans to leave the head office, giving some credence to the idea Nokia may continue renting the space from the potential buyer.
The strategy is quite common in business when a failing company needs a quick influx of cash assets.
Is it enough?
Despite having several irons in the fire for the future, including planned Windows Phone 8 devices, and their ballyhooed Nokia Maps, Nokia may still have a tough time recouping losses.
Microsoft has claimed the HTC Windows Phone 8X as the "flagship device," even though Nokia has already going all-in on Windows Phone 8.
Nokia has continued to lose market share to both Android and iOS devices, both of which have shown continued growth over the same time period.
With so little of the market up for grabs, it will certainly be a tough battle ahead for Nokia if the company hopes to become profitable, and please investors once again.
TechRadar has reached out to Nokia, and will update this story if and when a request for comment is returned.
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Report: Nokia may sell headquarters
Having just unveiled two new Windows Phone 8 handsets, the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820, in September, there was a hint of optimism in the air for Nokia.
Even CEO Stephen Elop seemed convinced Nokia's fortunes were about to change, and that soon Nokia would have a stake in the market share battle.
It would be tough to turn around any faltering company, let alone one that posted record losses of $1.73 billion (€1.4 billion EU, £1.1 billion UK, $1.7 million AU) during the second quarter of 2012.
That's more than four times what Nokia lost in the same time during fiscal 2011.
It seems the tough times have continued as Credit Suisse downgraded Nokia to "underperforming," and even suggested Nokia may want to sell off some assets.
If new reports are true, that's just what Nokia is planning to do.
Movin' out
A report from Finnish paper Helsingin Sanomat indicates Nokia may want to sell off its headquarters in Epsoo.
Nokia financial director Timo Ihamuotila spoke to the paper about the company's recent financial woes, even going so far as to divulge potential plans.
"We are exploring different options for our property assets. This includes a possible sale of our headquarters," Ihamuotila said.
Of course, just because Nokia sells off their HQ, that doesn't mean they have plans to actually vacate the premises.
Ihamuotila added Nokia has no plans to leave the head office, giving some credence to the idea Nokia may continue renting the space from the potential buyer.
The strategy is quite common in business when a failing company needs a quick influx of cash assets.
Is it enough?
Despite having several irons in the fire for the future, including planned Windows Phone 8 devices, and their ballyhooed Nokia Maps, Nokia may still have a tough time recouping losses.
Microsoft has claimed the HTC Windows Phone 8X as the "flagship device," even though Nokia has already going all-in on Windows Phone 8.
Nokia has continued to lose market share to both Android and iOS devices, both of which have shown continued growth over the same time period.
With so little of the market up for grabs, it will certainly be a tough battle ahead for Nokia if the company hopes to become profitable, and please investors once again.
TechRadar has reached out to Nokia, and will update this story if and when a request for comment is returned.
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Cygnett cases reveal details for device named 'iPad mini'
On the heels of a Wall Street Journal report that Apple has a new, smaller iPad already rolling off the assembly line, cases for the rumored device have started turning up down under.
SlashGear reported on Wednesday that cases from major accessory maker Cygnett appear to offer further confirmation of the existence of the so-called iPad Mini, despite the specifications deviating somewhat from recent product leaks.
At 20 centimeters long, 13 centimeters wide and approximately 1 centimeter deep, the cases are ready-made for a 7-inch display with a 16:9 aspect ratio - a notable change from 9.7-inch versions of the iPad, which have a 4:3 aspect ratio.
The case also runs 9 inches diagonally.
Screen dimensions aside, Cygnett's leaked cases also seem to confirm the final name of the unannounced tablet, with "iPad mini" clearly denoted on the front.
Mini incoming
On Wednesday morning, the Wall Street Journal filed a report claiming Apple's Asian suppliers have already started mass producing a smaller version of the iPad with a 7.85-inch LCD display.
This tablet, according to two unnamed Journal sources, will have a lower resolution than the iPad 3's Retina display.
Earlier reports had the tiny tablet in production in China as well as Brazil, an international plan possibly devised to ease production demands for the Mini as well as the iPhone 5.
Now that the WSJ has joined the chorus, all that really remains is: when will Apple make an official announcement?
TechRadar learned of a rumor earlier this week that Apple intends to send press invites Oct. 10 for a Mini event, which will likely fall on Oct. 17.
Photos purporting to show a Mini inside a Chinese factory also appeared Tuesday, revealing details such as a nanoSIM tray and 3G connectivity capability.
The new tablet is widely believed to be Apple's attempt to curtail market share recently captured by Android-powered tablets such as Google's $199 (UK£159, AU$194) Nexus 7 tablet, as well as a new round of Kindle Fire products starting at only $159 (UK£129, AU$155).
Though the tablet will be Apple's smallest offering yet, the furor surrounding the device is by no means infinitesimal.
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BlackBerry PlayBook tablet OS version 2.1 lands
BlackBerry rolled out an OS update Wednesday, and no, it's not BlackBerry 10.
Though that operating system's taken up the spotlight as of late, RIM's staying true to its word and supporting devices already on the market.
Its PlayBook tablet was the lucky system recipient, taking on version 2.1. The company outlined the improvements in an Inside BlackBerry blog post, where it wrote the upgrade brings new features as well as improved functionality.
PlayBook owners with Wi-Fi can pick-up the update right now while those with 4G LTE versions can expect a roll out "within the next month, upon carrier approval of software."
Better BlackBerry
The improvements, according to the blog, include an updated BlackBerry Bridge, email and PIM enhancements, and improved Android app support.
With Bridge, users can now view, respond, and compose new SMS messages on their tablets when connected to a BlackBerry smartphone over Bluetooth.
The entire function runs better and faster, the blog post noted.
Taking customer suggestions to heart, BlackBerry also added portrait support for email, calendar, and contacts to the tablet, giving users a choice of which orientation they're in when composing messages.
Lastly, Playbook now boasts multi-window applications, camera support, and in-app payments for more efficient all-around usage, while new enterprise features allow for better separation of work and private data.
The update came as news surfaced that Apple ships more iPad's daily than the PlayBook each quarter.
Apple's most recent earnings report has it selling approximately 188,000 of its devices each day, while RIM moved 130,000 of its tabs last quarter.
The company announced new features to the BB10 OS, expected early next year, during a developer event last week.
Among additions to the device-less OS are the BlackBerry Hub, a one-stop shop for important functions like messaging, social media, and email, as well as a BlackBerry Peek feature that allows users to glimpse the hub screen from any application without exiting the program.
When stacked up to Apple, RIM certainly needs all the upgrades it can get.
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Hands-on review: Updated: BlackBerry 10
Hands on: BB10 review
BlackBerry 10 (or BB10) is still heavily under development and still quite some way from being a finished product, but we've checked out an almost-final version of the user interface, which is pretty close to perfection, according to RIM - but we'll let you be the judge by checking out our findings below.
Delayed until early 2013, the first BB10 devices should land in January – although we're yet to see final devices running the new OS.
We saw the near-final version of BlackBerry 10 running on the new Dev Alpha B handset, building on the other test units and newer devices we've seen in the past.
BB10 sees the implementation of a whole new user interface, with RIM doing away with the familiar BlackBerry system we're all used to, in favour of something which resembles the likes of Android and iOS, although with its own unique features.
With BlackBerry 10, RIM has merged homescreens, widgets, app lists and a unified inbox into one slick interface, offering up an easy-to-navigate user experience.
The main homescreen comprises of four widgets, technically mini-applications, which expand to fill the screen when tapped. However, these are the most recently-used apps, which means they'll change depending on use.
Scroll down and you'll notice that this main display actually holds eight mini apps in total – the display in order of use allows you to jump quickly between your recent applications.
Open up an application which isn't in top spot, or a completely new one from the app list, and when you exit it you'll notice that it now occupies the first, top left spot on the homescreen.
Swiping from left to right will bring you to the app home screen, with 16 apps on the screen at any one time, and you can access more by sliding up and down – the whole thing very similar to Windows Phone's Start Menu UI.
At the bottom of both the homescreen and app list you'll notice a shortcut bar, with quick links to the phone, search and camera applications – allowing you to quickly jump to these regularly used features.
These work entirely as expected, running through the phone for mail, apps and contacts or firing up the camera as needed.
Lock screen
The lock screen shows notifications for alarms and unread messages on the left plus your upcoming meetings as well as the date and time, with a button to launch the camera straight from the lock screen to grab a quick snap.
You unlock the phone by sliding your thumb up the screen and from there slide from anywhere on screen. This means that rather than needing to start at the bottom, the screen starts to draw in around where you slide so if you just want a quick peek at the information in one area of the screen, you can just drag to show it and then let go (more on that in 'Peek' mode below).
The idea behind BB 10 is that it Flows... which is the phrase RIM is using mercilessly to describe the new OS.
This means wherever you are in the phone, a swipe up from the bottom will show notifications, and if you continue the slide to the right, the unified BlackBerry hub can be previewed. Complete the slide and you'll open the hub fully.
And when we say all, we mean all, as the unified inbox can deal with multiple email accounts, text messages, BBM, call history, third party messaging apps such as Whats App and a whole host of social networks including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Of course, with so many accounts feeding into the handset, the more popular among us will be quickly inundated with notifications from various different channels, the Peek idea is one that makes it very easy to see when you've got anything new to look at.
The reason for this is so you can quickly see which account has received a new message and jump directly to it if required, whether you're on the homescreen or within another application.
It's hard to explain (but we can't show you on video yet) but suffice to say other gestures will change what you're peeking at, swapping to a different email account or even the calendar in the message centre (by picking the icon or pulling far enough across to see the account name first.
This method works much better when you get your head around all the gestures - although it may prove to be overly complex for some users.
Having the 'peek' idea work the same way in so many applications helps you get used to it as well (though we don't yet know how well third-party applications will be able to do the same thing, although RIM has said it's developed nearly every API asked for when it comes to developers, and they have full access to the Peek code).
When you do get into a message or an appointment, you can see more information about the people involved in a way that will be familiar to BlackBerry PlayBook 2 users; you can see who you know in common, what messages you've exchanged or recent social network updates.
It's a new look for the 'flow' between different apps and information sources that BlackBerry has always been good at, but with a fresh modern look on a much larger screens, with a similar gesture showing you a pane of the apps that are currently running.
If you drag down on the screen you see Personal and Work buttons that let you switch between the two BlackBerry Balance modes.
In Personal, you can install any apps you want, send any email, save any file and so on, working in a partition that's encrypted for privacy but not locked down in any way.
If you use your BlackBerry for work though, you'll also have a Work partition that's also encrypted but completely separate and can be locked down if that's what the company wants.
Drag down on the screen, pick Work mode and all your personal apps disappear – so you can't accidentally copy a work file into your personal cloud storage account.
Other apps use the swipe-down motion in a different way, allowing to function like a menu key - for instance the mapping app allows you to change accounts or settings with a quick finger flick.
Cascades
Then there's Cascades, a new navigation system cooked up by RIM especially for BB10, allowing for quick multitasking from within applications.
The example we've seen is in the messaging app - open an email it will display full screen, but drag your finger from left to right and the message will slide with you, revealing the inbox below.
This means if you get a new message in the middle of reading an email, you can check who it's from without having to close the application – similar to the notification bar on Android and also now iOS.
If you were to open an attachment from the email, a PDF document in the case of our demo, pulling to the side to view the cascade will show the app's layers stacked up – a more visual paper trail, if you will.
It's certainly an intuitive feature that we found to work smoothly on the development handset – but it will be interesting to see how this feature is embedded into other applications and if it will have the same pleasing results.
App world
There's a different version of BlackBerry AppWorld where your company can offer specific work apps – like an app that uses the NFC chip in your BlackBerry to unlock the door to the office.
RIM is hoping having the Balance modes will keep companies happy with security but also keep users happy, because the security team at work can wipe all the company information off your device if they want but that won't delete your photos.
They can't even see what files you have on your phone when they're managing it, because your personal partition is encrypted.
As more of us take our own phones to work, this is much more sophisticated way of protecting both the company and the user's personal files that other smartphones – but again, it's a little on the complicated side and relies on your company having the appropriate BlackBerry management software.
Finally, the last feature which was available for us to play with on this early version of BB 10 was RIM's new full-touchscreen QWERTY keyboard.
BlackBerry handsets are famous for their physical boards and RIM is keen to bring this typing experience to its BB10 touchscreen smartphones with its own offering.
Visually the keyboard looks similar to the stock Android offering, but each row of keys is separated with a silver line – which is supposed to reflect the metal strips between buttons on the Bold range, such as the Bold 9790 and Bold 9900.
Next word prediction, auto-correct and spell check are all common features on smartphones today and RIM has spent some time developing its own system to offer an efficient typing experience.
It sees next-word suggestions appear above the character the word begins with, and if it's the word you want to use, you just need to swipe up over the word and it will be added to your sentence.
As with many offerings these days, the keyboard will learn your style of writing, meaning it will be able to suggest better words the more you use your phone.
We found the keyboard to be fairly accurate and relatively well spaced, but for those of you used to the physical buttons of a traditional BlackBerry it will take some getting used to.
Although the operating system is still very much in its early stages of development, we must say that we were impressed with how smooth and slick the interface felt under out fingers – seamlessly zipping around without fuss.
BlackBerry assured us that is smooth experience would still be present in the final product, thanks to the clever integration of the HTML 5 system, which optimises the performance of the software. We certainly hope they're right.
Early verdict
There are plenty of features of BB 10 that are exciting - the gestures work very, very well after a few minutes, the powerful messaging ecosystem is still there and even the on screen keyboard is great.
What does strike you about the new OS is how the phone is so integrated - Facebook, Twitter, Email are all available, connected to your friends or easy to share to throughout the phone.
It's a much more complex OS than iOS or Windows Phone, but there are only so many ways to re-invent the smartphone wheel; in the case of BB 10, RIM has gone for usable power over rows of easy to use icons.
It's a bold move, and one technophiles will love. If the hardware is decent too, there may be enough BB fans out there willing to use the finger-flicking platform... but with so many things to learn, it will take some serious and quick eduction to get users up to speed.
BlackBerry 10 release date and devices
BlackBerry 10 release date
Initially RIM was planning to launch BB10 before the end of 2012, with at least one flagship device running the operating system arriving in time for Christmas.
However CEO Thorsten Heins confirmed in July that BlackBerry 10 will be delayed until early 2013, as the company continues to fine tune the software, to ensure it launches in the best possible state.
Heins said: "We expect a successful launch of BB10 in the first calendar quarter 2013 – this is our number one priority.
"The timeline has shifted to [this date] and is related to the large volume of software code to work through over last few months.
"This is taking more time than anticipated. To be clear, the change in timeline is not related to architecture, but the integration challenge of bringing all this code our diligent R&D teams have created and get it ready for use globally."
BlackBerry 10 devices
The first BlackBerry 10 devices are now expected to arrive in January 2013, and RIM has confirmed that it will offer both full-touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard handset options.
According to leaked BB10 roadmaps, the first touchscreen phone will be called the BlackBerry London, while the first to sport a full keyboard and the new OS will be called the BlackBerry Nevada – both pegged for a first quarter release next year.
The same roadmap also shows RIM isn't going to be giving up on the tablet market after the poor performce of its PlayBook, with another slate, codenamed Blackforest, scheduled for release in the middle of 2013.
It's thought that the Blackforest will also sport a larger screen than the 7-inch PlayBook – possibly putting it in contention to challenge the new iPad and 10-inch Android crowd.
Heins said BB 10 phones will use the same HDMI and USB connectors as past BlackBerry devices, noting, "We all can save some money" - a cheeky dig at Apple and the new port on the iPhone 5 right there.
The RIM CEO reckons the display on the new touchscreen BB10 device is going to be top notch: "The display in full touch will be beyond what iPhone 5 launched with, it will actually be true HD."
However RIM has also ruled out any chance of us seeing the BB10 handsets before the end of 2012, with the Canadian firm determined to make us wait until the new year.
But wait, what's this? We may have got our first peek at the fully-touchscreen L Series and QWERTY keyboard touting N Series, thanks to a leaked video claiming to be an internal promo clip for RIM.
And the leaks don't stop there: the BlackBerry Aristo will apparently pack a (*takes breath*) Qualcomm Krait quad-core processor, LTE connectivity a 4.65-inch OLED touchscreen and 2GB of RAM as well as 16GB flash memory with a MicroSD slot, with NFC, micro HDMI out, DLNA and Bluetooth 4.0.
Not to mention an 8MP camera with 1080p video recording and a 720p 2MP front-facing snapper too - if these specs come to pass it at least show's RIM's serious about boosting the power on the hardware side too.
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