Lenovo lapping up tablet shipments
Lenovo is IdeaPadding its pockets thanks to a sharp increase in the company's tablet shipments during the fourth quarter of 2012.
Shipments of the IdeaPad and ThinkPad line represented an "almost 80 percent year-to-year growth," according to Lenovo CEO and chairman Yang Yuanqing during a conference call today.
The more than 800,000 tablets shipped by Lenovo contributed to the USD$9.4 billion (around £5.95 billion, AUD$9.03 billion) in total fiscal third quarter sales for the Chinese manufacturer.
"We will continue to have hyper growth in smartphones and tablets," Yuanqing said of Lenovo's best quarter ever.
IdeaPad pays off
The accelerated growth of Lenovo's IdeaPad tablet line is significant because the company's first IdeaPad tablet, the Lenovo IdeaPad K1, came out just a year-and-a-half ago. Since then, it has launched additional Android and Windows-powered tablets meant for consumers rather than business professionals like its Thinkpad line. The Lenovo IdeaTab S2110A and the IdeaTab A2109 released in 2012 and have been joined by new arrivals the IdeaTab K3011 and Ideatab A2107 this month.Lenovo Blackberry bid in motion?
Lenovo is now China's second-largest smartphone and tablet provider and the world's third largest maker of "smart connected devices." Its 13 consecutive quarters as one of the fastest-growing PC companies has led to rumors that Lenovo might buy struggling smartphone maker Research in Motion, recently rebranded as Blackberry. Some have speculated that it is too late for a Blackberry rebound, but Lenovo could end up being was saves BlackBerry more so than Blackberry 10. Plus, the company was able to take over IBM's personal computer business in 2005 and turn a healthy profit, as evidenced by today's earnings report.
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It could be too late for BlackBerry 10
RIM is dead, long live BlackBerry – but it faces an almost impossible task to win over smartphone users.
It's fashionable for technology journalists to criticise BlackBerry no matter what it does; actually, non market-leading company that has the audacity to tell the world it actually can make a success of its new product. Nokia was, and to a degree, still is the master at this trick (LOOK! You can use it with gloves! It's the future!) and there was something almost apologetic about CEO Thorsten Heins taking to the stage to announce something that's already been shown off many times around the world.
The only vague surprise actually came from the handsets, but even those had been leaked for months – so we were subjected to slightly awkward asides from Heins while Vivek Bardwaj smoothly showed off a number of features most of the audience had already seen.
But it's important not to be an armchair critic with things like this – let's look at BB10 without the years of increasing failure to innovate RIM has forced us to endure. It is a new company after all.
If you lined up all the main mobile operating systems, you'd argue there are four areas of innovation that the others don't have: BlackBerry Hub, Peek, stronger multitasking and Balance.
The Hub is the unified inbox of old but with a more prevalent nature: the ability to see all your notifications with a 'simple' up and right swipe (which actually can be a little hard to activate each time with accuracy). It's a nifty feature though, although one that Android Jelly Bean has eclipsed with even greater info.
But BlackBerry Balance is the area that the company can build the most differentiation, there's no doubt about that. Bring your own device (BYOD) is becoming enormously popular with staff that were once forced to carry a BlackBerry to get the security their company demanded, and was partly the reason that the company began to fall in the first place as the iPhone or Android devices became so strongly requested.
So the Balance is the ultimate way to achieve this: all the info and apps you want, and all the safety and security in a separate partition to stop your IT department losing sleep - although many will have to upgrade systems to use it. It's an excellent addition, although Windows Phone offers the full Office suite on the go, which is something that a lot of workers are relishing at the moment.
But… well, that's it, and once you see past that smaller demographic of BYOD-ers you get to the crux of the problem BlackBerry is facing: convincing the person on the street who just wants the best smartphone that a BB is the one for them.
The keys on the Q10 will help. Users still love keys. But the user who might want an iPhone, or might want a Samsung Galaxy because they've heard that's a 'good' phone to have – what would pull them toward BlackBerry? Fancy gestures? Average-looking hardware and specs?
And let's not forget a massively understocked app store compared to the rivals – these are the things that matter to consumers. And the price isn't cheap either, which makes buying a BlackBerry phone another tricky sell.
Speaking to Andrew Bocking, Senior VP software product management for RIM, he gave a very vague sense of the user the company was looking at: "We're building for the very connected, the very socially aware, those that are very communication driven; they're focused on getting things done, they're doers, acters, closers."
You can read between the marketing lines here: BlackBerry is looking for the user that wants an organised life, information on the go, but a decent smartphone experience too, and there's no doubt that with BB10 BlackBerry has delivered on that aim. It's clear to see that the new range is among the best integrated on the market.
But the rivals have pretty much offered that already; the iPhone or most top Android phones are more than capable of keeping your life in check and have the added advantage of apps and a mature ecosystem to boot.
Add to that the lack of a budget BB10 handset at launch, and BlackBerry has alienated another massive part of the market (although Bocking tells us to 'sit tight, you'll see it' on that area) – BBM flourished in the PAYG markets, but some research points a decline in use for the once-dominant app so by the time budget BB10 appears, the likes of iMessage might have sucked users away.
In short, BB10 is a decent enough product that doesn't add enough to impress the smartphone buyer on the street. The new phones don't ooze a premium feel or instil gadget lust, and while the gestures are cool they will perhaps put off many as well who want a simple experience.
And the price is simply too high to start, something BlackBerry has traditionally already struggled with. RIM talks a lot about the loyal BlackBerry fanbase, but it lost a lot of that loyalty with the massive outages of recent years, and just changing the name isn't going to make that all better overnight.
Users need trust in a system – it's surprising that BlackBerry didn't make more of the fact the new OS would help massively reduce the chances of outages.
What if Apple made BlackBerry?
Before some screech that we're just bashing BlackBerry, consider the platform in a vacuum. If BlackBerry 10 was unveiled by Apple as the new iOS, we would have scratched our heads that such a design-led company had created a more workman-like OS. If it was done by Samsung as an overlay to Android, we'd urge it to bring back the more simple TouchWiz, as we don't need the extra gestures or work and play modes. And if Nokia did it – well, it would probably get as much development as MeeGo, the most underloved OS of all. We're not saying BlackBerry has no chance – it just has to find a way to make a dent in a market that's dominated by Apple and Android, to the tune of 92 percent – but as Bocking said: "We're not entering the [smartphone] market, we're already in it, so we don't have to crack the congested space." BB10 is good. It's slick and performs well. It just doesn't seem to offer a game-changing experience or a reason for consumers to ditch their incumbent device, nor does it do so at a decent price point. The embarrassment of Stephen Bates' appearance on British TV and radio served to highlight that the company was desperate to talk about how it was changing but missed the crucial element of admitting it had made mistakes in the first place. If we're lamenting the death of BB in a year's time, it will be a huge shame as a market with innovation is one to cherish – but if it does happen, it will be because the much-needed redesign came just too late.
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Google Sync gets a few more months on Windows Phones
Google Sync just received a stay of execution, at least for Windows Phones.
Today was supposed the be the deadline for Google to stop allowing new users to put their devices on the Sync service. For most users that will be true, but according to an announcement from Microsoft, Windows Phone users will still be able to sign up for the service for at least a few more months.
Though Google Sync won't be around forever, the search engine will now start the phase out July 31, 2013. And this time, Google means it.
Sync happy
The service allowed users to sync their Windows devices to Google Mail, Calendar and Contacts through the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol. Last December, Google announced it was going to stop Sync as a part of a winter cleaning, when it eliminated some of its less popular services. Back then, the company said it wouldn't allow any new devices to sign up for the service after the Jan. 30 deadline, though it would continue to support it for those who have already signed up. According to Google, the service will be discontinued partly because MEA has become obsolete as the search giant developed more open protocols: "With the launch of CardDAV, it's now possible to build a seamless sync experience using open protocols (IMAP, CalDAV and CardDAV) for Gmail, Google Calendar and Contacts," a Google spokesperson said in statement sent to TechRadar. "We'll start rolling out this change as planned across all platforms but will continue to support Google Sync for Windows Phone until July 31, 2013." But after July, Windows Phone users will still be able to sync their devices to those Google services. That's because Microsoft is building new support into Google's software to operate with the more open CardDAV and CALDAV protocols. After that, ActiveSync and Google Sync will skip off into the sunset.
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Facebook mobile usage outstrips web for first time ever
Facebook's fourth quarter financial statement revealed some intriguing new statistics for the social network.
For the first time in the company's history, the number of mobile daily active users surpassed the number of users checking Facebook on the web.
With the smartphone and tablet markets seeing their numbers increase dramatically during 2012, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise to learn more people are using mobile devices to stay connected to Facebook.
Considering in September only 126 million people used Facebook on mobile devices, and on average, 618 million people used the website daily in December, you can see why the network is so happy with the mobile growth.
"In 2012, we connected over a billion people and became a mobile company," said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder and CEO in the statement.
"We enter 2013 with good momentum and will continue to invest to achieve our mission and become a stronger, more valuable company."
Mo' mobile, mo' money
For its part, there were still 1.06 billion monthly active users on the web, which was a 25 percent increase year-over-year. Though the monthly users on mobile were barely able to reach half of the web's total, the 680 million mobile users were still a 57 percent increase when compared to last December. That dramatic increase in mobile visits paid some impressive dividends for the advertising revenue, as Facebook's app was responsible for 23 percent of the total, which was up from 14 percent in Q3. Overall, the ad revenue for Facebook hit $1.33 billion (UK£844 million, AUD$1.28 billion) during Q4, which was a 41 percent increase over 2011, and accounted for 84 percent of the total revenue. In October, Zuckerberg promised Facebook would "monetise better per amount of time spent on mobile than desktop." It looks like that decision is already working to great benefit, and should continue to do so into 2013.
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Samsung User Agent Profiles show trio of Galaxy Tab 3 models
A trio of Samsung tablet User Agent Profiles (UAProf) point to the Galaxy Tab 3 making its debut with three different models.
The files were uncovered by Japanese tech blog Blue Ringer Men, with UAProfs for tablet model numbers GT-P3200, GT-P5200, and GT-P8200.
The GT-P3200 is listed with a 1024 x 600 resolution display, which is consistent with it turning out to be the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0. Meanwhile the GT-P5200 is believed to be the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1, with a listed display resolution of 1280 x 800.
The GT-P8200 is the most interesting of the bunch though with a listed 2560 x 1600 resolution display, putting it on par with the Nexus 10 as a new tier to Samsung's tablet hierarchy.
The high end tablet was first suggested under the codename Roma, with more recent rumors referring to it as the Galaxy Tab 3 Plus.
Rumor has it
Other rumors have suggested that the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 has been dropped, and Samsung will instead favor an 8-inch Galaxy Tab 3 model. Completely skipping the release of a new 7-inch tablet seems an odd choice though, especially with the 8-inch Galaxy Note 8.0 already filling that size category. Of course, Samsung is keeping its lips sealed on what these potential Galaxy Tab 3 variants could be, forcing us to wait until MWC 2013 rolls around for any announcements. TechRadar will be descending on Barcelona to bring you all the news from MWC, and hopefully clear up what exactly is going on with Samsung's next line of tablets once and for all.
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Twitter approaching 500m users, growth far outpacing Facebook
Twitter may have surpassed half a billion members, according to new research, outed this week.
Figures from GlobalWebIndex suggest that at the end of 2012 the microblog had notched up a whopping 485m members, up from 402m just six months ago.
By its estimates, GWI said that the amount of people with Twitter account now make up one third of the active global internet population.
In terms of active users, the microblog now apparently has 288m active users who're making use of Twitter in the last month. That's up 40 per cent in the last 6 months alone.
Hunting down Facebook
Perhaps more interesting than the bare usage and account figures is the news of Twitter's irrepressible growth. The 40 per cent leap in active users now outstrips progress made by Facebook, which reportedly grew 33 per cent to 693m active users during the same period. "An incredible 21% of the global internet population now use Twitter actively on a monthly basis. That marks a whopping growth rate in active users of 714% since July 2009," GWI wrote on its official blog. Is Twitter on the path to hunting down Facebook? Recent reports in the UK suggested that the company had lost 600,000 users in the UK in December last year would suggest that it is. Earlier this week, GWI revealed that Google+ is now up to 343m active users to move into second place for social networks in terms of active users. Are we the only ones who find those particular figures a little less credible?
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Hands-on review: BlackBerry Q10 review
The BlackBerry Q10 is the second handset to come running the new BlackBerry 10 operating system, but it's the first to offer a physical QWERTY keyboard alongside.
Although it was announced alongside the flagship, fully touchscreen BlackBerry Z10 the Q10 won't go on sale at the same time.
BlackBerry told TechRadar that the BlackBerry Q10 will arrive six to eight weeks after the Z10 hits stores as the Canadian firm wants to concentrate its efforts initially on the handset which will have the widest appeal.
Indeed the Q10 won't have the same appeal as the Z10, but there are still people out there who swear by a physical keyboard on their smartphone.
It's certainly a much smaller market to aim at, but one which the BlackBerry Q10 has an excellent chance of succeeding in as the BlackBerry brand is synonymous for providing top quality QWERTY keyboards on its phones.
Currently there's no firm BlackBerry Q10 release date or price, and even the specs are being kept under wraps for now as the handset isn't completely finalised.
What's immediately noticeable upon picking up the Q10 is the size of the display – it's defiantly the biggest screen BlackBerry has put on a keyboard handset.
BlackBerry refused to give us the exact screen size and resolution, but sitting it side by side a BlackBerry Bold 9900 with a 2.8–inch display and you can plainly see the Q10 is bigger, and it's expected to clock in at around 3.1-inches.
The display is much squarer on the BlackBerry Q10 than on previous BlackBery handsets which sported landscape screens above the keys.
BlackBerry 10 looks crisp and clear on the screen of the Q10 and we reckon it has a similar pixel density to the 355ppi on the Z10.
A noticeable absence on the front of the BlackBerry Q10 is the menu keys and trackpad just below the screen, as BB10 is fully controlled via the touchscreen with the keyboard only coming into play when you need to tap out a message.
This puts an end to the tedious scrolling which plagued the BB OS7 handsets, with the tiny trackpad making moving down long lists a real chore.
Despite its larger dimensions the BlackBerry Q10 is well weighted, balancing nicely in the palm and not feeling top heavy when your hands are gripping the base of the handset as you use the keyboard – this reduces the fear of dropping the handset and that's all good in our book.
Round the back the Q10 is made of a sturdy and attractive material which BlackBerry is calling a "glass weave" and the edges are rounded making the handset fit snugly in the hand.
There's a camera and single LED flash round on the back, while on the front of the BlackBerry Q10 there's a front facing snapper - perfect for video calls especially since the launch of BBM Video.
While the official specs of the cameras have not been revealed we wouldn't be surprised if it was packing the same 8MP and 2MP combo found on the Z10.
On the right side of the Q10 the triple button setup is present with volume switches separated by a central key which can be used to play and pause tracks and launch the voice control app when held down.
Up top you get a centralised power/lock key very similar in position and style to the Bold 9900, which is neighboured by a 3.5mm headphone jack.
BlackBerry is really pushing connectivity on its new BlackBerry 10 handsets and the Q10 is equipped with microUSB and miniHDMI ports on the left side, while under the hood there's Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC – plus we hope a microSD slot has made the cut as well.
The BlackBerry 10 OS runs smoothly on the Q10 and we were able to breeze through applications without any issues.
"Peaking" at notifications was pretty simple thanks to the responsive touchscreen, but the slide-up motion from the bottom of the display didn't always register as there's not a lot of space for your finger to play between screen and keyboard.
The BlackBerry Q10 we got hands on with was running a development build of BB 10 and from time to time you could tell as certain applications didn't display properly on the square display, as the OS has been developed primarily for the longer screen of the Z10.
You can expect those display issues to be sorted before the BlackBerry Q10 goes on sale - we just hope app developers also adapt their offerings to utilise the squarer display.
We were able to test out the web browser on the BlackBerry Q10 which appeared to be in full working order and as impressively fast as the Z10 when loading both desktop and mobile sites.
The camera app was also a snappy affair with rapid shutter speed and the clever Time Shift feature making it an intriguing proposition.
However the main reason, if not the only reason someone would purchase the BlackBerry Q10 is for its physical QWERTY keyboard, a feature which is very much love or hate for a lot of users.
Each row of keys are separated by a silver fret which spaces out the buttons making it easier to type and letters themselves are all angled to different degrees to improve travel and speed.
The keyboard itself has grown in size which in our opinion is a good thing as we always found the tiny keys on the old BlackBerry handsets a bit too fiddly.
With the physical keyboard though you lose out on the typing smarts you get on the Z10, with next word prediction not available here meaning you're left to your own character by character input method.
Early Verdict
The BlackBerry Q10 will appeal to a few but likely be overlooked by many as the touchscreen era is now in full swing. For those who simply can't live without a full keyboard on their smartphone the Q10 is an enticing proposition with a decent size keyboard and larger touchscreen coupled with the new BlackBerry 10 OS making it a far more powerful and diverse handset. BlackBerry is targeting a very exact market with the Q10 and we're sure that market will be more than happy to receive this latest offering, but we don't expect the BlackBerry Q10 to be making huge waves in the mainstream arena.
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Samsung didn't willfully infringe Apple patents, judge decrees
The Apple vs. Samsung trial took another interesting turn on Wednesday, when U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh decided to overturn some of the jury's findings.
Back in August, the verdict had been handed down that Samsung willfully infringed on five of seven different Apple patents, resulting in $1.049 billion (UK£661 million, AUD$1.002 billion) in damages to be paid to Apple.
However, Samsung challenged the jury's decision that it willfully used the patents without consent, claiming it had reason to believe Apple's patents were invalid.
After further inspection by Judge Koh, she agreed, and claimed Apple had failed to prove the "objectively high likelihood that [Samsung's] actions constituted infringement of a valid patent."
Sammy's still gotta pay
Of course, just because Samsung wasn't found to be willfully infringing on Apple's patents doesn't meant the company won't have to pay the handsome $1.049 billion fee. Judge Koh's determination only saves Samsung the further trouble (and expenses) that would have been incurred had she agreed with the jury's original decision. Several other rulings were handed down by Judge Koh, though for the most part, she followed suit with the rest of the jury's findings, including denying Apple the additional $3 billion (UK£1.9, AUD$2.88) in damages it requested. "Given that Apple has not clearly shown how it has in fact been undercompensated for the losses it has suffered due to Samsung's dilution of its trade dress, this Court, in its discretion, does not find a damages enhancement to be appropriate," Judge Koh explained. There's still a chance Judge Koh could reduce Samsung's payout, but she has not given any indication such a ruling could come down as of yet.
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Vertu's first luxury Android phone appears in photo leaks
The first Android phone from Vertu, the British phone makers who sell crappy "luxury" devices with diamonds and rubies glued to them, reportedly appeared on Wednesday in some leaked photos.
The photos, which first surfaced on Japanese site Blog of Mobile, appear to be official press shots, not shaky-cam leaks.
And, as Engadget pointed out on Wednesday, the name "Ti" and the model number RM-828V have popped up recently on benchmark and database sites ranging from GLBenchmark to Bluetooth SIG.
In other words, this leak seems legit, and an official reveal may be close.
Vertu Constellation Ti price
Vertu's got a decent racket going: by tacking gemstones and gold plating onto mediocre devices, they can sell them to uber-rich people who care about status more than actual value. Good on them, we say - where there's a market, there's a way. For its part, there's no indication of how much the Constellation Ti will cost, though going by previous Vertu devices it could be anywhere from £3,500 (US$5,526, AU$5,303) to £200,000 (US$315,000, AU$303,000). Previous Constellation models have come in on the lower end of that spectrum, though that's still as much as a decent used car.What about the actual phone?
Based on various sources around the web, Engadget reported that the Vertu Constellation Ti will likely sport Android 4.0.4: Ice Cream Sandwich, an 800 x 480 display, and a 1.5GHz processor. In other words, meh. In case you had any doubts, Vertu owners really are just paying for the brand. Besides the new physical Android buttons, the Constellation Ti fits right in with past Vertu Constellation phones. Russian retailer spblux.ru even lists four different variations of the Ti, which you can see in the image above. One has a little gold thing, two feature leather, and one has an alligator pattern. The Constellation Ti may show up at MWC in February, so keep an eye out if you've got a few thousand bucks in your pocket and you literally own every other thing in the world.
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Steve Ballmer plays down Office for iPad speculation
For the last couple of years, it's been a case of 'when' not 'if' Microsoft brings dedicated Office apps to the iPad, but bossman Steve Ballmer might have other ideas.
Despite numerous leaked screenshots and rumoured release dates, everyone is still waiting for the world's most famous productivity suite to hit Apple's tablet, and it looks like they'll be waiting a good while longer.
In an interview with Businessweek, the larger-than-life Microsoft CEO appeared almost affronted by a reporter asking how the Office for iPad project was coming along.
He said: "I have nothing to say on that topic. We're very glad with the product, very happy with the product that we're putting in market."
Does it make sense?
Furthermore, Ballmer hinted that a release for the iPad wouldn't make sense at this time, despite the company optimising Office 2013 for Windows RT touchscreen tablets like the Microsoft Surface. "It makes sense on the devices like the Mac and the PC. We have a product that we think makes a lot of sense," Ballmer said. Ballmer also pointed out that users can do limited editing of Office documents through the iPad's web browser and refused to rule out the launch of dedicated apps in the future. He added: "We do have a way for people always to get to Office through the browser, which is very important. And we'll see what we see in the future."Prickly Steve
Ballmer's comments do seem a little prickly, but he's probably right to be coy about the possibility of Office coming to Apple's iPad, given the lukewarm commercial reception given to his own Surface RT tablet. However, It does seem like Big Steve might have jumped out of the wrong side of the bed on the day Businessweek pointed the tape recorder in his general direction. In the same interview he slapped down Dropbox, referring to the cloud storage company, with 100m users, as a "little start-up."
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BlackBerry PlayBook will definitely be upgraded to BB10
BlackBerry 10 will arrive eventually on all PlayBook tablets, BlackBerry announced at the BB10 launch event on Wedneday.
And yes, they're just BlackBerry now - don't forget that Research in Motion is no more.
Wednesday's BlackBerry 10 event served to officially introduce the new OS and BB's new devices to the world, with simultaneous events going down in New York, Toronto, London, Johannesburg, New Delhi and Jakarta.
The BlackBerry PlayBook news was only one small part of a much bigger show, but no doubt there are some PlayBook users out there who are grateful they haven't been forgotten.
BlackBerry 10 on PlayBook
BB10's eventual arrival on PlayBooks is nothing new; Research in Motion (when it was still Research in Motion) confirmed as much last March, almost a year ago. But it was great to hear on Wednesday that that plan had not changed. PCMag's Sascha Segan helped break the news on Twitter, and responses from other Twitter users ranged from the predictable "people still have/use those?" to outright begging ("Please PLEASE! Make the BB Browser Fast!"). BlackBerry provided no time frame for the PlayBook's BB10 upgrade, and so far has not responded to TechRadar's request for more information. They're having a busy day, after all.BlackBerry 10 launch event
Wednesday was a day of revelations for BlackBerry fans, and the PlayBook BB10 reminder was probably least among them. The newly-renamed company also launched BlackBerry 10 officially worldwide, finally unveiled the first BB10 handset, the BlackBerry Z10 (even confirming its UK release date as Jan. 31), and discussed the QWERTY-equipped BlackBerry Q10. No doubt 2013 will prove an exciting year for BlackBerry and BlackBerry fans alike.
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Super Bowl 2013: party tech ideas that costs less than a ticket
Super Bowl 2013 ticket prices have, predictably, gone through the roof of the New Orleans Superdome, costing more than $3,000 on average. That means the next best seat to watch the Baltimore Ravens vs. the San Francisco 49ers game is in your living room with friends and family.
Luckily, there's no better day to show off your latest tech than Super Bowl Sunday. It's the most watched broadcast every year and the second biggest day for Americans to consume food.
Because finding the right sports-essential tech and innovative decor isn't always an easy call, we put together a comprehensive playbook for throwing a successful Super Bowl party. Best of all, it doesn't require a budget the size of most linebackers.
Samsung UN46ES8000
When Samsung isn't busy battling Apple in court and skewering its chief rival in Super Bowl ads, it's making brilliant-looking televisions like the Samsung UN46ES8000, also known as the Samsung UE46E8000 in the U.K.
This 46-inch LED TV has particularly noteworthy sharpness, just in case you want to count the blades of faux grass on the field, yet it remains ultra-slim. In fact, this TV's silver bezel design hardly fits Samsung's name at the bottom. Below its logo that resembles Jay Leno's chin is a unique arch-flow cradle that puts the stand in "stand out."
The Samsung UN46ES8000 comes in three Super Bowl-worthy sizes: 55-inch, 60-inch, and 65-inch, though we had to bring out the chains to be sure that buying one of these monster sets was cheaper than an actual game day ticket.
None of their prices, however, will compare to the real object of our desire, the upcoming 85-inch Samsung S9 Ultra HDTV. That late 2013-bound UHDTV will have to wait until Super Bowl parties to come.
Optoma HD33 1080p 3D Projector
Upgrading to a projector is one way to make every bit of "4th and inches" count. The Optoma HD33 in particular will help you see your team to the goal for just $1,300.
It can project up to 300 party-pleasing inches, meaning that you'll know when a player is out of bounds the same time the referees do. With brightness set at a default 1800 ANSI and a contrast ratio of 4000:1, the Ravens and 49ers will stand out in their mismatched colors.
Super Bowl 47 won't broadcast in 3D, but the Optoma HD33 has that capability, just in case you want to watch a post-game movie in the third dimension.
Projectors are often overlooked, but can offer double the screen size of a television for half the price. You can't go wrong with some of the best HD projectors on the market right now if you have a home theater environment that's dark enough to support one.
- Read more: the best HD projectors
Elite Screen 125-inch Electric Projector Screen
The best way to analyze every inch of the gridiron is to opt for a quality projector screen like the Elite Screens ELECTRIC125H. It's 125-inch MaxWhite screen material achieves up to 1.1 gain and a 160-degree wide view angle so everyone at the party can take in the game.
All of that is great, but the best moment for an owner of this screen is right before kickoff. Greet your guests, let them gather around the guacamole and grow nervous as they notice there's no TV in the room. Eventually they'll ask, "Where are we watching this? It's almost game time!" You may reply with a press of your infrared remote, deploying the motorized drop down screen. It'll take double OT to wow your guests as much as this pre-game stunner.
Toshiba SBX 4250 Sound Bar
Just as important as seeing the Super Bowl clearly on an LED TV is hearing the action in all of its glory. The Toshiba SBX 4250 Sound Bar can pump in the helmet-to-helmet hits, the roar of the crowd, and the booming voices of CBS Super Bowl announcers Jim Nantz and Phil Simms.
It packs twin 75 Watt speakers into the discrete sound bar, and comes with a conveniently wireless 150W subwoofer. Two HDMI inputs are hidden in the back of the bar, while Bluetooth brings even more wire-free functionality to the SBX 4250 and pairs with smartphones, tablets, and computers.
You'll also be pleased to know that because this is a wall-mounted sound bar, you'll be able to do your own end zone dance without tripping and making a complete fool of yourself.
TiVo Premiere XL4 DVR
When controversial calls aren't sent to the review booth right away, you can do your own instant replay with a DVR. That's become standard practice for sports fans over the last decade, and in that time, TiVo has remained the best device for personalized "unofficial booth reviews."
The TiVo Premiere XL4 is the DVR mogul's most sophisticated Series4 model, with four tuners to record four different shows at once, THX Certified audio, a backlit remote, and 300 hours of HD recording. That's enough to fit the entire Super Bowl and the post-game show, and have enough room left over for about a week's worth "Law & Order" reruns.
With apps like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, Pandora, YouTube, and now Spotify, there's plenty else to listen to if you're still sore at Beyonce and want to skip out on the halftime show.
Interactive Toy Concepts RC Cooler
NewAir AI-100BK 28-Pound Portable Icemaker
One of the most overlooked items when preparing for a Super Bowl party - and any party for that matter - is ice. There's some in your freezer right now, but there's never enough. Remember, buying bottles of water once seemed ridiculous but is now commonplace. The same applies to frozen water, aka ice. You just plain need it.
The NewAir AI-100BK Portable Icemaker solves this age-old dilemma with its ability to make 28 pounds of ice per day. The first batch can be ready in 15 minutes and the entire setup fits on the countertop. If more people owned a portable icemaker, no one would have to go out and buy bags of ice again, and warm beer would finally be a thing of the past.
RCA ANT751R Antenna
Looking for the best HD picture for Super Bowl 2013? The $80 RCA ANT751R Antenna delivers just that via an over-the-air signal that's completely free. That's right, you don't have to pay out the nose for local channels like NBC, ABC, Fox, and home of this year's Super Bowl, CBS.
This rather large VHF or UHF antenna is able to capture high-definition signals from up to 40 miles away, and some owners have reported luck from even greater distances. It's supposed to be installed either outside or out of sight in an attic.
Once installed, you'll notice that the signal is even better than the compressed quality that cable and satellite companies put out there. There's no better or cheaper way to watch the game.
RCA TVPRAMP1R Outdoor Antenna Preamplifier
Outdoor antennas are powerful, but being out of range of broadcast towers or having obstructed lines of sight for a perfect signal can interfere with certain channels. There'd be no bigger Super Bowl party foul that having CBS break up on you when guests are expecting to watch the game from kickoff to the final whistle.
Fortunately, the RCA TVPRAMP1R was designed to improve upon the performance of outdoor antennas in remote and low signal areas. With a VHF gain of 16 dB and a UHF gain of 22dB, this coaxial pass-through device is an affordable $40 solution to an all-too-common problem.
Bad Call Brick by HuskerMax
Another common problem that has a quick fix involves controlling unruly guests who are diehard fans and can't take their team losing any portion of the Super Bowl. Nothing spoils a good party faster than a broken expensive piece of technology due to a sports fanatic with anger management issues.
Set up all Ravens and 49ers fans with a Bad Call Brick by Husker Max. This foam rubber brick is the simplest tech suggestion, but it's one that might save the rest of your entertainment center from unnecessary roughness as the clock winds down.
The Go Plate
Lots of football viewers have a losing record when it comes to simultaneously eating, drinking, and cheering on their team in the Super Bowl. The appropriately named Go Plate aims to give these butterfingered folks a winning streak thanks to its innovative design.
Sold online for $17 in packs of ten, Go Plates have a hole in the middle that fits most beverages. Be it a glass bottle, aluminum can, or Solo cup, these plastic plates turn your beverage into a plate handle and are reusable for future Super Bowls parties to come.
Super Bowl companion apps
Tuning into just one screen to follow the Super Bowl isn't very likely in the year 2013. To put it another way, there's a better chance Notre Dame football star Manti Te'o had a real girlfriend the entire time than for you to go all four quarters without looking up information on the game.
The best place use of your data plan is the official NFL Mobile app by Verizon, if that's your carrier. This iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 8 app is accessible by every carrier, but video content and the live stream is restricted to Verizon customers this year.
Non-Verizon customers who are looking to find a Super Bowl 2013 live stream should point their computer browsers to the CBS Sports homepage. It's going to stream Super Bowl 47 for free in its entirety, including Beyonce's halftime show.
Meanwhile, Super Bowl ticket holders should download either the NFL '12 or the more streamlined SB XLVII Guide app for information about going to the game and great places surrounding the New Orleans venue.
Finally, everyone at home should keep the Shazam app handy. More advertisers are looking to use the name-that-tune app to offer promotions and extra information during their commercials.
Super Bowl 2013 kickoff time
The official Super Bowl start time is 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, so you may have to dodge, juke, and dive to the store to find these clutch technology items. After that little bit of effort, however, the gadgets will take over; the RC Cooler will deliver you and your guests beer, the ice maker will keep the drinks cold, and the TV or projector will make the game look great no matter who ends up winning the Super Bowl.
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Updated Apple TV with minor 'component change' turns up at FCC
It's rare that an Apple product turns up in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) database before the company makes it official, but a filing this week ignited rumors that a new Apple TV may be on the way.
The Verge reported Wednesday that the updated Apple TV spotted passing through the FCC is indeed real, but it's not an entirely new model as earlier reports have claimed.
On Tuesday, an FCC filing revealed that Apple may be planning to slim down the existing third-generation Apple TV, from 98mm to 93.78mm.
The news prompted speculation the Apple TV in question might be introduced as a new fourth-generation model, but Apple has now confirmed this is not the case.
Nothing to see here
Aside from a new model number and minor internal tweak the company refused to detail further, this updated Apple TV appears to be much ado about nothing.
"We sometimes make component changes which require an updated model number for regulatory approval," an Apple spokesperson confirmed in a statement.
Promising the "same great user experience" with the updated model, the changes reportedly involve an updated A5X processor and/or new single antenna setup, in keeping with other iOS-based devices.
Apple may not be giving us the full story now, but you can bet once the new model hits the streets, we'll see a teardown shortly after spilling all of the gory details.
Via The Verge
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Review: Updated: BlackBerry 10
Introduction
We've been playing with BlackBerry 10 (BB10) for the past few days and we'll be updating this review over the coming weeks with more in-depth findings. After a number of delays and set backs BlackBerry 10 is finally here and BlackBerry's new mobile platform can finally take its first breath as it steps out into the mobile market. Kicking off the BB10 revolution is the BlackBerry Z10 tasked with reigniting the ailing fortunes of the Canadian firm, but it's the software the handset is running which is really the key to BlackBerry's success, or ultimate demise. The BlackBerry smartphone range has been in desperate need of a reboot for a while as the likes of iOS 6, Android Jelly Bean and Windows Phone 8 have outstripped the now extremely outdated BB OS7 platform. Where as the other platforms have witnessed incremental upgrades BlackBerry 10 is a completely new offering – BlackBerry has scrapped the BB OS7 base and rebuilt from the ground up. BB 10 sees the implementation of a whole new user interface 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. BlackBerry 10 has merged homescreens, widgets, app lists and a unified inbox into one slick interface, offering up an easy-to-navigate user experience.Lockscreen
The first thing you're greeted with on BlackBerry 10 is the lock screen, which not only shows the time and date, but also notifications, unread messages and upcoming calendar events.
There's a button to launch the camera straight from the lock screen to grab a quick snap, just hold down on the icon for a couple of seconds.
To unlock a touchscreen BB 10 handset you need to slide your finger up the screen and as you do the homescreen below will begin to appear, giving you a sneak peek of what's underneath.
Homescreen
The main BlackBerry 10 homescreen comprises of 'Active Frames', technically mini-applications, which give you an overview of information from a particular app and launch the full version when tapped.
BB10 will display up to eight of these active frames, displaying your most recently used apps with the latest app appearing in the top left position.
Only four active frames can fit on the screen at a time, so you'll need to scroll down to see the rest – which all seems a little pointless, as you can just as quickly swipe sideways to access the app list and launch the app you want from there.
For those of you who may be concerned that these 'Active Frames' could be both data and battery intensive, BlackBerry assures us that this is not the case, with the QNX core of BlackBerry 10 providing efficient power management, and the frames only downloading the minimum amount of data required for them to update.
When you're in an app there's no back button, instead with BB10 you use a gesture to exit applications by running your finger up from the bottom of the screen.
While this is easy to do those who are already familiar with smartphones will find the action pretty unnatural and it takes a while to get used to the new way of doing things on BlackBerry 10.
Interface
Swiping from right to left will take you to the app list, with 16 apps on the screen at any one time – if you have more than 16 apps additional pages are added and can be accessed by swiping the same way again – familiar territory for iOS and Android users. 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. There's a pleasant fading animation as you flick between pages, and you'll see the previous page of apps fade away to the side of the screen, to be replaced by the new page.Peek and Flow
Peek and Flow are two core aspects which come heavily baked into BlackBerry 10 and they dictate the way you use the system.
Flow refers to the way the whole of BB 10 operates, as you glide between applications and screens with no hard navigation tools such as the back or home buttons with are found on rival handsets.
It's very different to any system we've experience before so it took us a few days to get our heads around the various gestures required to effectively use BB10.
At times we wished there was a simple back button below the screen as it wasn't always clear how to return to the previous screen, but the more we used BlackBerry 10 the more we became used to the way it needs to be used.
Our concern here is that BB 10 requires a relatively steep learning curve for everyone, even those who have owned BlackBerry handsets in the past.
It becomes easier once you've played with BlackBerry 10 for a few days but we fear customers may be turned off in store when they preview a handset.
Now onto Peek, which is the smart little gesture allowing you to check your latest notifications and messages without having to exit the current app you're using.
As you swipe up over the screen BB10 will minimise the pane you're viewing and display notification icons down the left side.
This includes icons for new texts, emails, BBMs, social updates and missed calls and if any of these pique your interest then continue your finger's motion to the right and the screen will slide over to reveal the BlackBerry Hub so you can see who the message is from.
If it's just a boring news letter you can return to the app or video your were viewing without having to go back to the app list and navigate to it.
The whole BlackBerry 10 interface does appear to be very smooth with no sign of lag which makes for a pleasing user experience – once you've worked out the various gestures required to get around that is.
BlackBerry Hub, BBM and keyboard
BlackBerry Hub
The BlackBerry Hub is the universal inbox found on BlackBerry 10 and it pulls in all forms of communications from calls and texts to emails, BBMs and social updates.
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, and this is where the peek idea makes it easy to see when you've got anything new to look at.
To make the reams of messages easier to manage place your finger on the title in the bottom left corner of the message centre and pull across to reveal a list of all the accounts you have linked up and then select the one you're interested in – this will then populate the Hub which notifications from just that source.
There are also various options which can be selected for a particular message, hold down on the communication in question and a slim column of tools will pop up to the right for you to choose from, including reply, forward and delete.
Drag down from the top of the message centre and the Hub will automatically pull in your calendar events for that day in the top half of the screen, allowing you to quickly see what you've got on without having to launch the full calendar app.
It's an impressive setup and we reckon other platforms may be looking at the BlackBerry Hub with a little bit of envy.
BBM
BBM, or BlackBerry Messenger has been a cornerstone of the BlackBerry experience for years and it gets a revamp with BlackBerry 10.
The dedicated application has been given a lick of paint with easier navigation and a new feature called BBM Video.
BBM Video joins up with BBM Voice which launched recently on BB OS7 to bring both voice and video calls to the BBM application on BlackBerry 10.
There days of the BlackBerry bolt ons on tariffs have been and gone, with all your BBM activity coming out of your data allowance if you're not connected to Wi-Fi, so you'll need to keep an eye on your usage.
Keyboard
Now all this messaging capability is nothing without an input method and keyboards are arguably the thing BlackBerry handsets are most known for.
BlackBerry has spoken in length about how it's engineered its onscreen keyboard to bring users the experience they get on the physical version with the all new touch offering.
Straight up we can say the BlackBerry 10 keyboard is miles better than the pitiful attempt which adorned the Torch range of BlackBerry devices, but it's not perfect.
The keyboard sports the silver frets which can be found on the Bold 9900, providing additional spacing between lines allowing for better travel between keys.
These frets also act as the space for the next word prediction and the more you type the more BB 10 it learns and offers smarter suggestions.
We were able to type at a reasonable pace, but we found the next word prediction if anything slowed us down as the font is too small to easily see and we found our fingers were covering most of the suggestions anyway.
Camera, browser and more
Camera
BlackBerry is making a big song and dance about its BB 10 camera application as well, especially the 'Time Shift' feature, which allows you to select the perfect smile of your subject after taking the photo. Fire up the camera app (from the lock screen if you so wish), select 'Time Shift' mode and snap your subject, and the app will then search for faces in the image.
Once a face is located in a photo, you can tap it and literally roll back time to find the point at which your friend had their eyes open and the perfect grin.
If there are multiple people in your snap, you can individually adjust each person, however during our demo we found 'Time Shift' struggled in lower lighting conditions, subjects face's need to be illuminated well for the camera to detect their mugs.
'Time Shift' did take a couple of seconds after the photo was taken to detect faces and offer us the chance to tweak the image, but this could be down to the fact it's running on a development build of the BB10 software, and speed could be improved in the final product.
Of course the camera can take standard photos and record video alongside the 'Time Shift' function, which itself is an impressive function, but we wonder how much we'd actually use it day to day.
Browser
The BlackBerry browser has also had a refresh for BB10, bringing it in line with the minimalist style of current offerings on other devices, and the location of the URL bar at the bottom of the page is reminiscent of Internet Explorer on Windows Phone.
Even though Adobe has already ditched future support and upgrades of its Flash platform, BlackBerry has made sure it's built in support for the dying format in BB 10, allowing you to access all your favourite Flash built sites and videos of Korean men dancing on invisible horses.
Sweep from left to right while in the browser and the 'peek' functionality comes into play again, this time showing various internet-centric options such as History, Bookmarks, New Tab and currently opened tabs.
There's also a Reader mode built into the new browser, which lifts article text and images from a web page and displays it in a more manageable and easy to read format, stripping out fancy ads, menu bars and any other clutter which gets in the way of actually reading something.
The browser is certainly much, much faster than before, and users will be impressed at the upgrade.
Comparison tests have shown the BlackBerry 10 web browser to be faster than its equivalent on Apple's iOS 6 and the new version of Windows Phone - we'll reserve proper judgement until we have a final handset in our sweaty palm, but at least this is a positive sign.
Cascades
Then there's Cascades, a new navigation system cooked up by BlackBerry 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.
BlackBerry World
Apps have been a big talking point in the run up to the launch of BlackBerry 10, with BlackBerry assuring everyone that it's got loads of developers creating applications especially for the platform.
BlackBerry World launched with over 70,000 applications in the store and while big names such as Whatsapp and Skype were banded about during the BB 10 launch event, the apps are yet to make an appearance on the platform.
While 70,000 doesn't sound like a lot especially when you consider the likes of Android and iOS boast over 700,000 each, BlackBerry reckons it's the quality not quantity in BlackBerry World which makes all the difference.
We'll update this section regularly as the big firms release killer BB 10 apps for a platform which desperately needs them.
The BlackBerry Word app itself isn't our favourite app store in terms of design and navigation, with a confusing list of various apps, music and videos on the main page making it difficult to digest all the information.
You can refine your search by categories which goes some way to working out what's on offer, but there's no option to view say just free apps for example.
Verdict
BlackBerry 10 is a solid smartphone operating system offering up all the functionality you'd expect, wrapped up in a package with does set it apart from the likes of Android and iOS. When it comes to messaging and web browsing BB 10 is second to none and can happily take on the stalwarts of the mobile world, but it's not the perfect operating system. Applications will be a big sticking point for many as most people will take the vast offering on Google Play or the App Store over the tiny on comparison BlackBerry World. There are a lot of big names missing from BlackBerry World at the moment and while many have promised their commitment to BlackBerry 10 the fact they are not there at launch is a little confusing and is little to put punters off. The way you navigate round BB10 is very different to its rivals and it requires the user to spend a decent amount of time with it to fully understand its complexities. Once you get to grips with BlackBerry 10 you'll find it's a quick and fluid user experience which allows you to get to the main features quickly without getting lost in various menus and settings. The thing is it just doesn't feel as complete an offering as iOS, Android or even Windows Phone and we reckon BlackBerry 10 has a bit of an uphill struggle if it's to steal users away from those three.
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Ballmer brands Dropbox a 'little startup' for its paltry 100 million users
What does 100 million users get you? The title of "little startup", according to Steve Ballmer who used the term to describe Dropbox this week.
In a speech we can only describe as irritatingly arrogant, Microsoft's CEO bragged that Office with its Dropbox-competitor Skydrive is a lot bigger than little Dropbox.
"You've got to remember 100 million sounds like a pretty small number to me, actually," he told Business Week. "We've got a lot more Office users."
Mighty Microsoft
Yeah and Microsoft's dad is bigger than Dropbox's dad, we suppose. But it's nothing personal, he added: "I'm not beating on Dropbox. They're a fine little startup and that's great." In fact, 100 million users is just about half of what Skydrive had in October last year, so we'd say that independent Dropbox isn't doing too badly compared to tech behemoth Microsoft. In fact, you might say that Microsoft's cloud product could be doing a little better, hmm? Other little startups of note include Windows Live (RIP) and Instagram.
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Updated: Best compact camera 2013: 33 reviewed
Best advanced compact cameras
Because there are so many on the market, finding the best compact camera for your needs can be quite tricky. In fact there are hundreds of digital compact cameras out there, with advanced, superzoom and rugged camera options all being available. The right choice, of course, depends on what you want from your compact digital camera. Maybe you're looking for a high-end compact camera to take the place of your SLR, or perhaps you want something more basic to get a few snaps on holiday. Whichever compact digital camera you might be looking for, we've pulled together a selection of what we believe are the best compact digital cameras on the market now.Best compact cameras: Advanced
Fuji X100S
Price: £1,130/$1,300 Specs: 16.3MP APS-C format CMOS II sensor, EXR Processor II, Full HD video
Fuji's replacement to its popular FinePix X100 compact camera draws on user feedback to make improvements. The Fuji FinePix X100S uses the same APS-C format sensor, but with a 16.3 megapixel resolution and a new EXR Processor II and 6 x 6 RGGB filter array pattern.
We liked the retro design and control arrangement of the Fuji X100. Its image quality is also good, but it is surpassed by that of the Fuji X-Pro1, which is capable of producing pictures that aren't far off those from some full-frame cameras.
Read our Hands on: Fuji X100S review
Fuji X20
Price: £540/$600 Specs: 12MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor, 6 x 6 RGGB filter array pattern, 7.1-28.4mm f/2-2.8 lens
The Fuji X10 was our favourite high-end compact camera of 2012, and combining it with the same sensor design as one of our favourite compact system cameras - the Fuji X-Pro1 - bodes very well.
Fuji says it's made 50 improvements on the X10 for the X20, including a new 2/3-inch X-Trans CMOS II sensor with 12 million effective pixels and a 6 x 6 RGGB filter array pattern, which combines with an EXR Processor II. The Fuji X20 also boasts a hybrid AF system and a Digital Trans Panel in the viewfinder.
Read our Hands on: Fuji X20 review
Canon Powershot G1 X
Price: £499/$700 Specs: Large 14.3MP CMOS sensor, 4x optical zoom, 1080p HD video, swivel LCD screen
Although the zoom range is limited when compared to other Canon G-series cameras, the trump card of the Canon G1 X is its unusually large sensor. A larger sensor has more surface area to receive light, improving image quality at high sensitivities and boosting dynamic range. Interestingly, Canon has opted to stick with the 4:3 aspect ratio, rather than 3:2 as most APS-C sensors are, even though the sensor in the G1 X is roughly the same height as APS-C format.
In order to make the most of what the sensor can offer, Canon has equipped the G1 X with the latest Digic 5 processor, which promises better control over noise at high ISO sensitivities, faster operation and smoother 1080p video recording.
The 4x zoom lens provides an angle of view equivalent to a 28-122mm lens on a 35mm camera, and the usual array of direct controls found on G-series cameras should make manual operation a pleasure.
Read our Canon G1X review
Canon PowerShot G15
Price: £440/$500 Specs: 12.1MP CMOS sensor, 5x zoom lens, f/1.8 aperture
At first glance, the Canon G15 looks pretty similar to the Canon G12, but there are a few significant differences. The most notable of these is the stacked or overlapping mode dial and exposure compensation dials on the top, and a new f/1.8 lens with 5x zoom.
Canon has manufactured a high quality compact camera in the shape of the Canon G15. It is capable of producing great images with bags of detail, good punchy colours and pleasing shallow depth of field effects.
Read our Canon G15 review
Ricoh GR Digital IV
Price: £435/$600 Specs: 10MP CCD sensor, 28mm (equiv) f/1.9 lens, 1,230,000 dot 3-inch LCD screen
A pocketable camera with a high quality lens, equivalent to a 28mm lens on a 35mm camera, and a fast f/1.9 maximum aperture. The GR Digital IV follows in Ricoh's tradition of producing high quality compact cameras that are ideal for street photography.
Despite the compact dimensions, manual controls are easily accessible and a 3-inch LCD screen with an extremely high resolution of 1,230,000 dots has been squeezed onto the rear. Images can be shot in raw formats too.
Strangely Ricoh hasn't followed the trend of including HD video capability, the GRD IV will record video, but only at VGA resolution.
Read our Ricoh GR Digital IV review
Olympus XZ-2
Price: £420/$550 Specs: 12MP 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor, i.Zuiko Digital lens, TruPic VI processor, Full HD video
The Olympus XZ-2 follows the popular high-end XZ-1, touting a 3-inch tilting touchscreen with 920,000 dots, 1080p Full HD movie capture and full manual and semi-manual exposure controls. It also boasts raw image capture and can share photos straight from the camera to social networks.
Its super-fast i.Zuiko Digital lens has to be this camera's standout feature, offering ultra-wide apertures and an impressive focal length range of 28-112mm, which sails past many of its hottest contenders, and produces sharpness straight out of the camera, which many of its peers fail to match.
Read our Olympus XZ-2 review
Nikon Coolpix P7700
Price: £389/$399 Specs: 12.2MP, 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor, 7.1x zoom, 1080p video, 3-inch 921,000-dot variangle LCD
The Coolpix P7700 replaces the Nikon P7100 and sits at the top of Nikon's compact camera line-up. It's aimed at experienced photographers who want a smaller alternative to an SLR.
There's a liberal covering of control dials and buttons on the P7700's body giving quick access to features such as the shooting mode, sensitivity, white balance and exposure compensation to name just a few.
The lens offers an equivalent focal length range of 28-200mm in 35mm terms, and has a maximum aperture range of f/2.0-4.0.
Although the P7700 is capable of producing excellent images with lots of detail and nice colours, it is a little hampered by slow image processing making it unsuitable for shooting action.
Read our Nikon P7700 review
Sony RX1
Price: £2,600/$2,800 Specs: 24.3MP Xmor CMOS full-frame sensor, 35mm f/2.0 Carl Zeiss T* coated lens, Full HD video
On the Sony RX1, the manufacturer has stashed a 35mm format full-frame sensor and a fixed length, 35mm f/2.0 Carl Zeiss T* coated lens inside a compact body. It also features a new Bionz processor, which enables Full HD video recording and sensitivity capabilities from ISO 50 to ISO 102,400.
The Sony DSC-RX1 produces superb images, with a fantastic amount of detail, colour and dynamic range. It really is the best image quality you'll get in something of this size. Of course, you'll have to be prepared to pay a lot for this ultimate combination of quality and portability, not just in terms of asking price, but also in terms of inflexibility.
Read our Sony RX1 review
Sony RX100
Price: £480/$650 Specs: 20.2MP Exmoor CMOS sensor, 3.6x zoom, 1080p video, Bionz processor, f/1.8-4.9 lens
Though it's a relative small compact camera, the Sony RX100 has a larger than average sensor. In fact its 20.2MP 1-inch CMOS device is the same physical size as the one in the Nikon 1 V1 and Nikon 1 J1, which are compact system cameras.
We love the build quality of the RX100 and it provides all the controls that demanding enthusiasts expect, plus the ability to record raw files. We especially like the control ring around the 28-100mm (equivalent) f/1.8-4.9 lens that can be used to adjust a selection of features including aperture.
Our tests reveal that the RX100 performs well across the sensitivity range (ISO 125-6400) and it produces, bright punchy images that aren't excessively vibrant.
Read our Sony RX100 review
Best superzoom and bridge cameras
Sometimes you don't want to lug around a DSLR and an assortment of lenses - you want one camera and one lens that does it all. This means a feature set that cherry picks the best that a typical DSLR has to offer, including manual control and preferably the ability to shoot in raw format as well as JPEG, along with a lens that offers a very broad focal range, so it won't matter that it can't be swapped. Enter the superzoom camera, also known as an ultra zoom or bridge camera - so called because it bridges the gap between a point and shoot compact and an all bells and whistles DSLR, in terms of handling and feature set, at least.Superzoom build
For this reason, superzooms tend to closely resemble DSLRs in terms of look, build and - to an extent - handling, but feature smaller image sensors and, partly because of this, afford physically smaller lenses. While not a replacement for a DSLR then, the advantage here is that the cameras can offer a very broad focal range; one that, if you were to try and achieve similar with a DSLR, would make for a prohibitively expensive and awkwardly unwieldy combo. The larger physical size of a bridge camera or superzoom when compared with a snapshot camera may deter some, but there's a lot more creative versatility here in terms of framing choices. A case in point: many models also offer tilt and swivel LCD screens as well as optical or electronic viewfinders. Again, with a bridge camera there is more choice and more options for the photo enthusiast. So if you are after one jack-of-all-trades digital camera - either instead of a DSLR, or perhaps as a less expensive back up - and you value convenience and flexibility as much as image quality and pixel count, then a bridge or superzoom camera could be your ideal companion. So here we're shining the spotlight on the best of some recent releases.Fuji X-S1
Price: £500/$700 Specs: 12MP CMOS sensor, 26x optical zoom,1080p video, 3-inch, 460k dot tilting screen
Looking for the ultimate overall bridge camera, and less bothered about just grabbing the longest lens? Separating this 26x optical zoom model from the herd - its focal range running from 24-624mm in 35mm terms - is a rock-solid build reminiscent of the semi-pro DSLR it resembles in shape and form, plus rubberised body armour that aids a firm grip.
Oddly it not only looks gorgeous, but smells great too, the zoom coming with a rubber surround to prevent slippage in the heat of the action. Given that this is a premium product in Fuji's pro/enthusiast photography range, the cost of the Fuji X-S1 is neither cheap nor prohibitively pricey, particularly when it's now being touted for £200 less than the original asking price.
The Fuji X-S1 wins our Best superzoom camera award.
Read our Fujifilm X-S1 review
Fuji FinePix HS30 EXR
Price: £300/$350 Specs: 16MP CMOS sensor, 30x optical zoom, 1080p video, 3-inch, 460k dot screen
Fuji's 16MP FinePix HS30 EXR, denoting both inclusion of a 30x optical zoom - which can be artificially extended to 60x - and a triple-use proprietary 'EXR' sensor, has a lot going for it. Its immediate appeal as you heft it from its box also owes something to a sturdy DSLR-like build, plus a lens barrel that can be extended and precisely adjusted by hand, as with a DSLR proper.
It's a jack-of-all-trades camera, and happily appears to have mastered many of them from the outset. A lithium ion battery, 920k dot resolution electronic viewfinder and tilting LCD screen are improvements. Add in the ability to shoot raw and JPEG, CMOS-shift image stabilisation, f/2.8 maximum aperture, a level gauge to ensure straight horizons without a tripod, plus the ability to manual focus during video - here Full HD - and there's not much to dislike.
Sony Cyber-shot HX200V
Price: £480/$480 Specs: 18.2MP CMOS sensor, 30x optical zoom, 1080p video, 3-inch, 921.6k dot screen
Resembling a downsized DSLR, dimensions in part dictated by a big and bold optically stabilised 30x zoom, here stretching to a 35mm equivalent 810mm at the telephoto end, the HX200 is Sony's flagship bridge camera. While in truth its audience is pretty broad, the included GPS facility - whereby images can be tagged with location data - will appeal to travellers as much as families and photo enthusiasts.
Build quality feels substantial, and thanks to a moulded handgrip the camera is reassuringly chunky. Plus, if you don't mind a painterly appearance to the end result - due to processing smoothing the usual blocky appearance of pixels - zoom capability can be digitally extended to 60x. The zoom is operated either via a lever or by twisting the lens ring, which prompts a mechanised response yet delivers more precise control.
Read our Sony Cyber-shot HX200V review
Nikon Coolpix P510
Price: £400/$400 Specs: 16MP CMOS sensor, 42x optical zoom, 1080p video, 3-inch, 921k dot tilting screen
Trumping its wimpy-by-comparison 36x optical zoom predecessor the Nikon P500 with its new improved 42x zoom, the Nikon P510 is an amateur paparazzi's dream, courtesy of an ultra-wide 24-1000mm equivalent focal length. For that, a £400/$400 asking price doesn't feel too bad. Again, the build is 'DSLR lite', the zoom supported by lens-shift rather than sensor-shift image stabilisation, while a 16 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor lies at its core. Performance is enhanced by an Expeed C2 image processor.
Slightly more exciting is, once again, a tilting LCD screen - this time of the 3-inch, respectably high 921k-dot variety, which can be angled up or down but not swung out parallel to the body. Naturally Full HD video shooting is also included, while like its Canon SX40 HS rival the ISO range tops out at a modest ISO 3200, and, doing battle with the Sony HX200V, a GPS antenna sits over the lens barrel and pop-up flash. This means, unlike the Fuji X-S1, there's no space for a hotshoe. For sports fans, continuous burst shooting of up to 7fps is offered, which is better than most entry-level DSLRs at its price.
Read about the Nikon Coolpix P510
Canon Powershot SX50 HS
Price: £379/$450 Specs: 12.1MP, 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, 50x optical zoom, 1080p video, 2.7-inch, 460,000-dot variangle screen
Although it has the same pixel count as the Canon SX40 HS that it replaces the Canon Powershot SX50 HS makes a huge leap forward with its focal length range as it features a 50x zoom lens. This optic has a focal length equivalent to a 24-1200mm lens on a 35mm camera, with a maximum aperture of f/3.4-65.
This lens means the camera is suitable for a huge range of photographic situations, from cramped interiors to distant wildlife, but if the telephoto range isn't quite enough it can be extended digitally to a100x zoom, giving the equivalent of a 2400mm lens.
As well as the ability to shoot in shutter priority, aperture priority and manual exposure mode the SX50 HS can record images in raw format, making it even more attractive to experienced photographers. Less experienced users are also catered for though as there is a host of automatic exposure modes as well as JPEG recording.
On the whole images from the Canon SX50 HS impress, having plenty of detail, good exposure and pleasantly vibrant colours.
Read our Canon SX50 HS review
Olympus SP-620UZ
Price: £180/$200 Specs: 16.6MP CCD sensor, 21x optical zoom, 720p video, 3-inch, 230k dots screen
Want an ultra zoom but on a tight budget, and not bothered about too many manual features or enthusiast satiating bells and whistles? Although its styling gives a nod to a DSLR, this 16 megapixel Olympus compact is in fact one of the smallest cameras in its class, with dimensions when dormant that enable it to be squeezed into a roomier jacket pocket.
That said, its 21x optical zoom - a range that travel zoom pocket compacts can now match - does appear a tad weedy in the company of such colossus as Nikon's 42x zoom P510, with the Olympus's focal range stretching 25-525mm.
There are some interesting features here, if, arguably, they aren't essential ones. These include Olympus's Magic Filters digital effects - where the manufacturer has led and others have followed - a panorama mode that automatically stitches three images together - not as flash as Sony's machine gun-like burst of images in 3D or 2D Sweep Panorama mode - plus a software-enhanced 3D mode that overlaps two images taken at marginally different angles, with results viewable only on a 3D TV.
Read our Olympus SP-620UZ review
Best travel compacts
Nikon Coolpix S6400
Price: £160/$250 Specs: 16MP CMOS sensor, 12x optical zoom , Full HD video
The Nikon Coolpix S6400 appears to have just about everything you want from a digital compact camera of its class. With a 12x optical zoom, 3-inch 460,000-dot touchscreen, 16 megapixel backlit CMOS sensor, Full HD video recording, a host of direct controls, 20 scene modes, small, lightweight body and a modest price tag, what more could you ask for?
The Nikon S6400 does a number of things pretty well and offers a lot of flexibility, from its wide range of creative filters to its responsive touchscreen, accurate AF system on down to the all-important thing: great image quality.
Read our Nikon Coolpix S6400 review
Samsung Galaxy Camera
Price: £400/$500 Specs: 16MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, 21x optical zoom, Full HD video, Wi-Fi and 3G
It's not really a surprise that Samsung, a company that makes both Android smartphones and dedicated cameras, should decide to merge the best aspects of these two devices to create the Samsung Galaxy Camera.
The combination of a compact camera-sized sensor and a 21x optical zoom lens in a relatively thin body with a huge (by camera standards) touchscreen is very enticing. And an Android operating system and Wi-Fi tools stand out from the crowd. The good news is that this isn't all window dressing - the Samsung Galaxy Camera delivers the goods.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Camera review
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
Price: £330/$350 Specs: 12MP CMOS sensor, 20x image stabilised optical zoom, 1080p video, GPS
Sporting a 20x zoom lens offering an angle of view equivalent to a 25-500mm lens on a 35mm camera, the Canon PowerShot SX260 HS should be very well equipped for those who wish to travel light. A 12MP rear-illuminated CMOS sensor, coupled with the latest DIGIC 5 image processor, enables this camera to take great quality images, even in low light. The image stabiliser system will also help with taming camera shake when shooting at low shutter speeds.
Full HD video can be recorded and output via the built-in HDMI interface and global positioning information can be recorded for sharing on image and video sharing websites. Advanced photographers will also appreciate the inclusion of manual exposure options, whereas a wide range of automatic shooting options are also included for those who are less technically inclined.
The Canon Powershot SX260 HS sweeps our Best mid-range compact camera trophy.
Read the Canon SX260 HS review
Sony Cyber-shot HX20V
Price: £400/$400 Specs: 18MP CMOS Sensor, 20x optical zoom, 1080p video at 50fps, GPS
An 18MP Exmor R sensor promises excellent quality low light images, despite the relatively high resolution. A 20x optical zoom lens providing an angle of view equivalent to a 35-500mm lens on a 35mm camera should cover most photographic situations when travelling.
High quality Full HD 50p videos can be recorded, and a GPS function is included for tagging images with your position. Plenty of artistic picture effects and easy creative options are also included to get your creativity flowing.
Read our Sony HX20V review
Samsung WB850F
Price: £299.95 Specs: 16.2MP, 21x zoom, GPS and WiFi enabled
One of Samsung's Smart Camera range, the WB850F is aimed at travellers who want a versatile camera and as such it has a Schneider-Kreuznach Varioplan lens with a 21x zoom giving an equivalent focal length range of 23-483mm.
In addition to being WiFi enabled so images can be shared via Facebook, Picasa and Photobucket or by emailing emailed direct from the camera, the WB850F also has GPS technology built-in. There's also a 3-in 614,000-dot AMOELD screen which provides a nice clear view of the image being composed in all but very bright light.
Generally the WB850F produces nice, vibrant images with plenty of punch, but it can struggle to reproduce the full tonal range of some reds, making them too intense and uniform.
Read the Samsung WB850F review
Olympus SH-25MR
Price: £190/$350 Specs: 16MP CMOS sensor, 12.5x zoom, take still images while recording HD video, dual Image Stabilisation
Although a 12.5x zoom range may seem quite modest when compared to other travel compacts on offer, the 24mm wide angle will certainly be handy for shots in cramped conditions, or large buildings you may encounter on your travels.
Just like many other travel-orientated compact cameras, GPS tracking is included and a rear-illuminated 16MP CMOS sensor should provide decent quality in low light conditions.
Unique to this camera is the ability to take still images at the same time as recording video clips, enabling you to capture high quality stills to complement your high definition video.
Read the Olympus SH-25MR announcement
Panasonic Lumix TZ30/ZS20
Price: £279/$290 Specs: 14.1MP CMOS sensor, 20x optical zoom, 1080p HD video, touchscreen interface, 3D still images
The Panasonic Lumix TZ30 (or Panasonic Lumix ZS20 in the US) replaces the TZ20 (ZS10) as Panasonic's flagship TZ camera and pushes the zoom range from 16x to 20x, with a focal length equivalence of 24-480mm.
In other respects the TZ30 is very like the TZ20 having the same touchscreen LCD display, GPS technology and a raft of automated shooting modes as well as more advanced options for experienced photographers.
However, HD video can be shot in 1080p at 50 frames per second rather than the TZ20's 1080 interlaced. And, although the sensor is still a 14MP 1/2.33-inch device, it has been redesigned to produce cleaner images across the sensitivity range.
There's a lot packed into this relatively small camera.
Read our Panasonic TZ30 review
Fujifilm FinePix F770 EXR
Price: £300/$345 Specs: 16MP EXR CMOS sensor, 20x optical zoom, ISO 12,800, 1080p video, 8fps high speed continuous shooting
If you've ever struggled to capture the perfect shot of Minky The Whale jumping through a hoop at Sea World, then the Fuji F770 EXR has the solution. It is capable of taking full resolution shots at a blistering pace of eight frames per second, and if you wish to share where the image was taken via popular image sharing services, GPS information can be recorded too.
The rear-illuminated 16MP EXR CMOS sensor has a few tracks up its sleeve too. It can be optimised to take high resolution 16MP images, or images with improved dynamic range at reduced resolution.
By combining neighbouring pixels, sensitivities of up to ISO12,800 are also possible, making this camera ideal for shooting with in adverse conditions.
Read the Fujifilm FinePix F770 EXR review
Best waterproof and rugged cameras
Rugged or waterproof compact cameras allow you to take photographs in places that you wouldn't dare use a normal camera. They are a great choice for beach holidays and ideal for families with children that might want to have a go at taking a photograph. Here are some of the best around.Canon PowerShot D20
Price: £349/$349.99 Specs: 12.1MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, 5x optical zoom, 1080p HD video, 3-inch screen
Canon's rough-and-ready PowerShot provides a good range of beginner-friendly photography features, as well as advanced camera technologies. Along with intuitive point-and-shoot modes, there's a selection of underwater shooting options to make aquatic photo capturing a stress-free experience. Some handling issues – both underwater and on dry land - take a bit of the shine off this camera's overall performance. But what this compact lacks in speed, it makes up for in image quality.
The build quality and ability of this camera to produce consistently well-exposed, detailed images can't be faulted, and additional features such as built-in GPS and Full HD video mode broaden the Canon D20's appeal. It's got a lot to offer, but if you're after an everyday rugged all-rounder, some similarly priced rivals may offer a more comprehensive package.
Read our Canon PowerShot D20 review
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT4/TS4
Price: £349.99/$399.99 Specs: 12.1MP 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, 4.6x optical zoom, 1080p HD video, 2.7-inch screen
One of the higher-priced rugged compact cameras, the Panasonic FT4 is a feature-packed compact with a superb level of protective attributes. Waterproof to a depth of 12m, the Panasonic Lumix FT4 enables you to explore greater depths than with many if its competitors, plus it's shockproof if dropped from a height of up to 2m, and freeze-proof down to -10C (14F).
Built-in GPS, plus a compass, altimeter and barometer all add to the Panasonic Lumix FT4's appeal for adventure-bound photographers, while Full HD movie recording and a respectable all-round image performance makes this a decent choice for active families in search of a reliable camera, with the ability to take more punishment than your average compact.
Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT4 review
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TX20
Price: £309.00/$329.99 Specs: 16.2MP 1/2.3-inch Exmor R CMOS sensor, 8x optical zoom, 1080p HD video, 3-inch screen
This svelte little camera is worlds apart from many of its rivals in terms of looks. The Sony TX20's petite profile - being just 17.9mm thick – coupled with its sleek lines makes this camera perfectly pocketable. The sliding front cover is designed to offer some added protection for the lens when the camera's powered down, and has the added bonus of ensuring that the front panel remains perfectly flat when not in use.
The touchscreen interface may not be for everyone, and it limits this rugged camera's usefulness when trying to operate it with gloved hands, but its general responsiveness impresses, and the on-screen controls make the Sony Cyber-Shot TX20 simple to operate. It may not be as rugged as some of its beefier rivals, but the Sony TX20 is a solid choice for photographers who want extra peace of mind - and style - when out and about.
Read our Sony TX20 review
Fujifilm FinePix XP170
Price: £219/$279 Specs: 14MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, 5x optical zoom, 1080p HD video, 2.7-inch screen
In spite of its lower price point, the Fujifilm Finepix XP170 is brimming with impressive features, including a very good Full HD movie mode, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi. Distinctive, chunky styling ensures a firm grip on the camera, and added extras such as an LED light aid low-light shooting.
It's not perfect in every aspect, but the Fuji XP170 impresses with its ability to reproduce lifelike, faithfully coloured images – including seamless auto-stitched panoramas – and with its extensive battery life, despite some of the potentially power-sapping features it has to offer.
Olympus TG-1
Price: £359.99/$399.99 Specs: 12MP 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor, 4x optical zoom, 1080p HD video, 3-inch screen
This budget-busting rugged compact camera may stretch your resources, but with the technology and features the Olympus TG-1 has to offer, it more than earns its price tag. In addition to some seriously impressive rough specifications, the Olympus TG-1 boasts a fast f/2.0 lens, built-in GPS and little added extras such as a removable lens surround that enables you to attach optional accessories.
No-nonsense styling and an innovative Tap Control feature combine with artistic options such as Olympus's popular Magic Art filters to produce a camera that's as tough and practical as it is creative. A top-notch macro mode, great handling and decent image quality under a range of conditions sweeten the deal.
Read our Olympus TG-1 review
Nikon Coolpix AW100
Price: £329.99/$379.95 Specs: 16MP 1/2.3-inch RGB CMOS sensor, 5x optical zoom, 1080p HD video, 3-inch screen
Nikon's first 'All-Weather' compact camera boasts a decent range of automated features that make it simple to pick up and start shooting with right away. Although its launch price of £329.99 in the UK and $379.95 in the US puts it towards the top end of this sector of the market, you can currently pick up the Nikon Coolpix AW100 online for around £100/$80 less, thanks to its having been around for a little while.
Nonetheless, Full HD movies, built-in GPS and a digital compass, plus useful 'Action Control', are all features that ensure the Nikon AW100 can hold its own among its contemporaries. Overall, it's an attractive prospect that strikes a good balance between rugged features and everyday performance.
Read our Nikon Coolpix AW100 review
Best all-rounder cameras
Nikon Coolpix S3300
Price: £115/$120 Specs: 16MP CCD sensor, 6x optical zoom, 720p HD video, 2.7-inch screen
This slim, metal bodied camera has a 6x optical zoom lens squeezed into a body only 19.5mm thick, which makes it ideally pocketable. The 16MP CCD sensor should provide ample resolution for producing large prints, and the Vibration Reduction system will help to tame camera shake.
Plenty of automatic features are provided to aid creativity without oodles of technical know-how. A set of 18 scene modes cover camera settings for common picture taking scenarios, and the Smart Portrait System provides a plethora of automatic detection technologies to enable foolproof people pictures.
Canon IXUS 230 HS
Price: £185 (about $300) Specs 12.1MP CMOS sensor, 8x image stabilised zoom, 720p HD video
This slim, stylish, metal bodied camera sports an Image Stabilised 8x zoom lens and delivers excellent quality images, even at high ISO sensitivities thanks to the implementation of Canon's HS system. The same 12.1MP CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4 processor found in other Canon HS cameras work together to produce cleaner, sharper images, fast response times and good dynamic range.
Being an IXUS, it is designed with point and shoot photographers in mind and is very simple to get to grips with. 720P HD videos can be recorded via the direct recording buttong on the rear and a selection of art filters expand creative opportunities.
The Canon IXUS 230 HS wins our Best entry-level compact camera award.
Read our Canon IXUS 230 HS review
Samsung PL120
Price: £85/$115 Specs 14.2MP sensor, 5x optical zoom, 26mm wide angle, Dual image display
This budget marvel has an extra 1.5-inch LCD screen on the front, to aid taking self portraits. This is a great feature for those travelling on their own, or as a couple who might be a little scared to trust a stranger with their gadgets when trying to take a picture with themselves in it. It can also show animations to keep little ones' attention when you switch on the Children mode
A comprehensive range of image effects, a video mode and an in-camera editing function all add to what is a very fun camera to use, for a very reasonable price.
Read our Samsung PL120 review
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BlackBerry Z10 UK release date confirmed
Newly-minted BlackBerry has confirmed that its first BlackBerry 10 handset will go on sale in the UK tomorrow.
The BlackBerry Z10 was announced at glitzy events around the world today and will hit the shops tomorrow.
The handset comes with a 4.2-inch screen, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.
Saviour
It also features the new BlackBerry 10 OS as well as a snazzy camera feature that allows you to rewind through frames to get a good picture. The handset is also set to go on sale in the US, but sadly not until March 2013 at which point it will set you back $199.99 at Verizon. The SIM-free BlackBerry Z10 UK pricing is yet to be confirmed but it will set you back £36 a month on all major networks from Carphone Warehouse. Phones 4 U, meanwhile, has a temporary exclusive on the white edition of the Z10, which it will be selling from tomorrow as well. 4G fans will be relieved to hear that EE will be selling the Z10 on 4G EE plans from £41/month for 24 months, with an upfront cost of £49.99. The handset will also be available across a range of 3G plans from EE including £49.99 on a £36 per month, 24 month plan. Vodafone, meanwhile, will offer the BlackBerry Z10 for £29 on a £42 a month deal, while 3 promises that the Z10 is 'coming soon' but doesn't offer anything in the way of a price. Stay tuned for more detail as we get it - in the meantime, here's our full BlackBerry Z10 review.
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Review: BlackBerry Z10
Introduction
We've been playing with the BlackBerry Z10 for the past few days and we'll be updating this review over the coming weeks with more in-depth findings. Usually when a manufacturer launches its flagship smartphone it's looking to show off its latest technological advances with eyes set on raking in cash - with the BlackBerry Z10 however the stakes are quite different. The BlackBerry Z10 is the first handset from the company formerly known as RIM, now rechristened BlackBerry, to run its new operating system BlackBerry 10, and there's much more on the line here than just simply making a few bob – arguably the company's survival rests on the success of this device. It's no secret that BlackBerry has been on the rocks for the past year or so, with the company even admitting that it hasn't been in the best shape of late, and the 4G toting Z10 is the start of what is hoped to be a successful revolution.
TechRadar was lucky enough to get its hands on the BlackBerry Z10 ahead of the official launch, so we'll update this review with its price and release date once the event has ended.
Sporting a 4.2-inch 1280 x 768 display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage the BlackBerry Z10 finds itself jostling for position with the Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5.
Lock eyes on the BlackBerry Z10 and you'll notice it's an unassuming slab of black glass and plastic which mimics the general aesthetical design of many a smartphone these days.
The Z10 is a little bezel heavy with a sizable gap above and below the screen, and that's before we even get to the additional plastic chunks stuck on both ends of the handset.
It all seems a little unnecessary but luckily it doesn't make the BlackBerry Z10 overly cumbersome, with the handset measuring a comfortable 130 x 65.6 x 9mm.
Weight wise the BlackBerry Z10 finds a happy medium – it's no where near as heavy as the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820, yet it's not as feather light as the iPhone 5.
The weight gives it a reassuring presence in the palm and while the chassis is distinctly plastic, the handset's heft at least restores some form of premium feel.
Round the back you're greeted with a textured plastic rear which is slightly rubberised, providing a decent level of grip.
There are only a couple of things to note on the back of the Z10, the 8MP camera with a single LED flash is sat in the top left corner and the shiny metallic BlackBerry logo is in middle.
We were pleased to find that the rear can be removed easily by placing a finger in the indented speaker grill at the base of the Z10 allowing us to simply peel off the plastic.
Underneath you'll find microSIM and microSD slots with the latter capable of supporting cards up to 32GB, although we've been told that a future update may see this support boosted to the 64GB variants.
This means you can build nicely on the already decent 16GB of internal storage which will appeal to many who have been put out by the likes of the iPhone range and HTC One X+ which don't offer storage expansion.
An added boon is the removable 1,800mAh battery allowing you to switch out a dead battery for a fully charged one if you're someone who likes to carry multiple powers pack around.
On the rear cover itself you'll notice the NFC pad which allows the BlackBerry Z10 to interact with other enabled devices wirelesses.
On the right hand side of the Z10 anyone familiar with the BlackBerry PlayBook will instantly recognise the triple button setup, with volume rocker switches separated by a central key – used for playing/pausing music and activating voice control when held down.
Up top you get a centralised power/lock key next to a 3.5mm headphone jack, while on the left there's a couple of handy connectivity ports.
The metal finish of the keys gives the handset a touch of class and all are well positioned, allowing us to reach them easily when using the Z10 one handed.
The now standard microUSB port which features on pretty much every phone these days bar the iPhone is present alongside a miniHDMI port – allowing you to connect the BlackBerry Z10 directly to a TV for big screen viewing.
There's no HDMI cable in the box so you'll need to pick one up separately, but there is at least a USB cable so you can hook the Z10 up to your computer.
The BlackBerry Z10 doesn't wow us with a new design, but it's a sturdy handset with a decent build quality and functional layout which makes it easy to use.
Interface
The key selling point of the BlackBerry Z10 is the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which may go some way to explaining the handset's unassuming design with the manufacturer focussed more on the software inside. BB10 was launched alongside the BlackBerry Z10 and signals a new era for a company which hasn't had the best of times recently.
The aim of BB 10 is to drag BlackBerry into the here and now of the mobile world and offer up a system which is capable of challenging the likes of Android Jelly Bean, iOS 6 and Windows Phone 8.
This has resulted in a platform which is very different to the one found on previous BlackBerry handsets running BB OS7, which means a steep learning curve is required for both new and current BlackBerry users.
BlackBerry decided to move away from the physical buttons found on iOS and many Android devices, instead opting for a gesture based system as the main form of navigation.
Press the power/lock key at the top of the device and the 4.2-inch HD display comes to life greeting you with the BB 10 lock screen.
You get the date and time on the screen along with notifications of any new emails, messages, BBMs, missed calls etc.
There's a shortcut to the camera app in the bottom right corner, while the general unlock function requires you to slide up from the bottom of the screen, which uncovers the homescreen below as your finger moves up.
Complete the unlock sweep to access your homescreen – which is some kind of odd mashup between Android widgets and Windows Phone Live Tiles.
What you get is large thumbnails of your most recently opened applications. Only four can fit on the screen at once and you can have a total of eight applications in this list – you'll need to slide down to view the rest.
This is basically the multi-tasking function in BlackBerry 10 and you can choose to close apps in this list by hitting the cross in the bottom right of the preview.
For those of you who are fans with quick settings you'll be glad to know that BlackBerry has catered for you on BB 10 – just swipe down from the notification bar on the BlackBerry Z10 and you'll get a small drop down with toggles for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, alarm, rotation lock and notifications.
There's also a short cut to the settings menu if you need to toggle the 4G mobile hotspot or NFC on the Z10.
Sliding to the right from the homescreen will take you to the app list, while going left will take you into the BlackBerry Hub – something we'll cover in more detail in the messaging section of this review.
The app list is far more familiar territory for anyone with smartphone experience with the icons lined up in the usual grid formation, with the ability to create folders by simply dropping one app onto another – now where have we seen that before?
Holding down on an app icon will make them all start to pulsate, with the option to drag them around and reposition them in an order which suits you, or you can hit the bin icon to delete a particular app.
The 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 2GB of RAM housed into the BlackBerry Z10 means it has more than enough power to glide through the BB10 system, and we got a smooth user experience without any stutter or lag.
The fancy fade in/out animations as your skip between pages of apps is a nice touch and applications open swiftly.
A responsive touchscreen aids navigation and once we'd got to grips with the BlackBerry 10 ways of doing things the Z10 was pleasing to use.
Some gestures and layouts still seem a little confused but the longer we spent with the handset the easier it became.
As there's no physical back button below the display it wasn't always clear how to get back to the previous screen, which left us feverously scrabbling around for a way to return to the start of an app without returning to the homescreen from time to time.
The BlackBerrry 10 platform succeeds at bringing RIM into line with the other smartphone operating systems and the BlackBerry Z10 has no trouble running it, but it doesn't seem to have a clear advantage over its rivals.
Contacts and calling
Contacts
You can add contacts from a variety of sources on the BlackBerry Z10 including Google, Hotmail, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
During first time set up the Z10 encourages you to sign in to all your accounts and then provides you with toggles for each so you can set which information it pulls through.
We were easily able to pull through our Google and Twitter contacts without issue, which meant we could get straight to calling and texting our nearest and dearest straight out the box.
Our Z10 seemed to struggle a little more with the Facebook integration, failing to pull through all of our friends, and the ones it did we noticed a distinct lack profile pictures.
It wasn't a huge issue as we don't rely on the details from Facebook, it just makes our contact list a little bit drab with all the missing images.
Click through onto a contact and you'll be able to view all their details, including various links to their social media accounts – tap on one of these and the Z10 will launch the native app to display their profile.
The Z10 can also help you when it comes to making new friends on your social media accounts, as it will notify you if you're both on the same network but are currently not connected, with a button to send them a friend request from within the contacts app.
There are two further tabs within a contact's profile after details, Updates and Activity, the former of which pulls through that person's latest status updates from their various connected networks.
Activity on the other hand shows your communication with that person, giving you the most recent calls, texts, emails, tweets, Facebook events or other messages you may have shared with them.
Adding a contact is simple, with an "Add" key along the bottom menu bar in the contacts app which takes you to a form where you can fill out a whole myriad of information on your new chum.
Calling
The Phone app is a little bit special in BlackBerry 10, as it's one of the few that gets a space in the toolbar displayed on the bottom of the homescreen and app list pages.
It lines up alongside the search and camera launchers, but there's also an app icon in the application list if you fancy prodding that instead.
Fire up the Phone app and you're taken to a screen displaying your call history and quick links to your favourite contacts and voicemail at the top of the screen.
There's no visual voicemail available on the Z10, so you'll need to make do with listening to that robotic mistress.
If the number you require isn't in your favourites or call history then you can hit the contacts tab which will display all your chums stored on the BlackBerry Z10 and instead of launching you into their contact cards when you tap, it simply just slides down with the numbers attached to that person.
It's a nice little effect and we found it pleasing to use, as well as being a nice time saver.
Of course you won't have every number stored on your phone, so the final tab is the faithful Dial Pad.
It's a pretty basic offering and doesn't feature anything fancy such as smart dialling, but it's functional and serves the purpose.
Call quality on the BlackBerry Z10 was acceptable as we could hear our mates on the other end pretty clearly and vice versa, but it wasn't crystal clear audio.
The Z10 found and held signal well managing to pick up decent 3G reception in most areas and we didn't experience any issues with dropped calls.
Messaging
Messaging is one thing BlackBerry is famed for – its impressive history when it comes to email management and free messaging via BBM is well known and the BlackBerry Z10 picks up where the others left off.
BlackBerry 10 makes a big thing of all things messages, with its custom "Peek" gesture allowing you to quickly see who's just messaged, Facebooked or tweeted you without having to exit an application.
If you hear the message tone or see the red flashing notification light in the top right of the handset then no matter which screen you're currently viewing you can check the details.
Just slide your finger up from the BlackBerry logo, which sees the current screen minimized to the centre of the screen, with new notification icons appearing to left, so you can tell if it's a new BBM, text or whatever.
A movement left will allow you to see the new message in the BlackBerry Hub and you can decided whether or not to respond straight away or just return to what you were doing.
The BlackBerry Hub is the universal inbox found on BlackBerry 10 and it pulls in all forms of communications from calls and texts to emails, BBMs and social updates.
As well as accessing the Hub via the "Peek" method you can also jump to it by sliding to the left from your homescreen.
Once inside the Hub you can filter it by account if it's all a bit of an information overload, and things such as Facebook and Twitter replies and status can be posted from within the Hub, meaning there's no need to fire up the official app every time.
Instead of having dedicated text messaging and email applications they are all rolled into the Hub on the BlackBerry Z10, with the ability to hop between accounts.
Emails display nicely on the Z10 with the ability to zoom all the way out so you're able to view the whole thing in all its HTML glory – something some Android handsets aren't too fond of.
There are simple compose, reply and forward controls at the bottom of the screen to allow you to email to your hearts content, while at the top of the screen tap the blue bar and you can view any folders in your email account.
The text messaging app is a relatively simple affair with a list of messages on the overview page – the Z10 doesn't pull through profile pictures here.
The message flow between yourself and one of your friends isn't the prettiest of designs with blocky speech bubbles showing your conversation, but at least it's functional and there are options to attach pictures, video etc if you so wish.
As a colleague pointed out it does look a bit "my first smartphone", but it does the job and for that we cannot fault it.
BBM
Of course another big draw for a lot of BlackBerry users is the BBM application, which effectively gives you unlimited free messages between yourself and your other BlackBerry buddies. The layout of the BBM app has been given a revamp to follow the new BB10 theme with messages displaying in the same speech bubble design as texts. You can also access your current BBM conversations from the BlackBerry Hub, allowing you to speedily bash out a missive without having to launch the full blown app.
Thanks to the inclusion of NFC inside the BlackBerry Z10 you can gain new BBM buddies by simply tapping the handset against other enabled BlackBerry devices.
There's also a QR code which you can stick on your business card or get printed on a t-shirt, which people can scan with their BlackBerry Z10 or similar to link up with you on BBM. Who doesn't love a good QR code?
BBM Voice was only recent announced for the messaging service but RIM has launched another new feature to coinside with the arrival of BlackBerry 10 – BBM Video.
As you may have already guessed this allows you to make a video call via BBM - think Facetime on iPhone – which uses your mobile data or Wi-Fi connection to beam the images of your smug face to your friends.
Keyboard
Now all this messaging capability is nothing without an input method and keyboards are arguably the thing BlackBerry handsets are most known for.
But wait, nope the BlackBerry Z10 doesn't slide up to reveal a physical QWERTY keyboard like the touchscreen BlackBerry Torch – that's right it's touchscreen only folks.
RIM has spoken in length about how it's engineered its onscreen keyboard to bring users the experience they get on the physical version with the all new touch offering.
Straight up we can say it is miles better than the pitiful attempt which adorned the Torch range of BlackBerry devices, but it's not perfect.
The keyboard sports the silver frets which can be found on the Bold 9900, providing additional spacing between lines allowing for better travel between keys.
These frets also act as the space for the next word prediction on the BlackBerry Z10 and the more you type the more it learns and offers smarter suggestions.
We were able to type at a reasonable pace, but we found the next word prediction if anything slowed us down as the font is too small to easily see and we found our fingers were covering most of the suggestions anyway.
You can turn the BlackBerry Z10 90 degrees for a larger landscape keyboard which some may find easier to type on with two hands.
The message you're replying to is just about visible at the top, which is handy if you're like us and forget what you're replying to half way through.
Internet
The BlackBerry Z10 comes sporting BlackBerry's new internet browser which it has developed specially for BlackBerry 10, and one that's touted to be fast, really fast.
To keep up with that speed promise the Z10 not only comes equipped with Wi-Fi b/g/n but also 4G connectivity for super fast mobile data on the move.
During our time with the handset we only had a 3G SIM to hand, but we still experienced some impressive browsing speeds on the BlackBerry Z10.
Full-fat TechRadar loaded in just five seconds on the Z10, fancy ad banners and all over 3G, while the mobile version turned up in a flash with two seconds on the clock.
Load speeds are pretty similar over Wi-Fi, but a strong connection can see a second or so knocked off the desktop sites.
The layout of the browser on the BlackBerry Z10 reminded us of the setup of IE on Windows Phone 8 which also has a black toolbar located at the bottom of the display – compared to Android and iOS which both stick with the more traditional location at the top.
Text and images appear crisp and clear on the 4-inch HD display of the BlackBerry Z10 making browsing websites, even those which are content rich, a pleasing experience.
Text doesn't automatically reflow when you zoom which can lead to a lot of sideways scrolling if you need to zoom in a fair bit to be able to read what's on screen.
You can make the reading experience easier by selecting Reader in the menu, which strips out all the images and ads from an article to display just the text on the screen, allowing for an easily digestible read.
There is a simple text size tool at the bottom of the screen making it easy to increase or decrease the font for an even better reading experience.
Sadly there's no offline mode, so you won't be able to save pages to read later when you may not be in signal – it's not a big issue in what is otherwise an excellent browsing experience.
Tabbed browsing is supported on the Z10 browser, just hit the panel icon in the bottom left corner and a menu will slide in, with an option to open a new tab.
Also in this menu are options to view your bookmarks and browsing history.
Bookmarks are easy to add, just navigate to the desired page, hit the settings key in the bottom right and then select Add to Bookmarks – it's as easy as pie.
Interestingly while Google is phasing out Adobe Flash support, and with Apple never supporting it, the browser on the BlackBerry Z10 does provide support for the dying web format – meaning you can view all the videos and websites which still rely on it.
While less and less sites are dependent on Adobe Flash there are still some notable exceptions and it's great to see the support on the new BlackBerry 10 OS.
All in all the BlackBerry Z10 offers a fantastic browsing experience with some of the fastest speeds we've witnessed on a smartphone.
Camera
The BlackBerry Z10 comes well equipped in the camera department with an 8MP rear snapper on the back and a 2MP front facing senor. A single LED flash accompanies the camera on the back of the Z10 and the handset is capable of shooting 1080p video with the rear lens. The camera app can be accessed in a number of ways including the shortcut on the lockscreen where you hold down on the camera icon to launch the app, by selecting the icon from the app list or by tapping the camera on the homescreen dock.
It takes less than a second for the BlackBerry Z10 to load up the camera application and once there you're greeted with a simple setup.
It may not be the most feature-packed camera offering we've ever seen, there's no photo sphere technology a la Android here, but what the Z10 does provide is an easy way to quickly take photos - after all that's what you're here for anyway.
Shutter speed is rapid, although you'll notice there's no shutter button actually on screen.
Instead the whole screen on the BlackBerry Z10 is the shutter which makes taking self portraits easy, but it can be frustrating when you accidentally hit it when trying to get to the settings.
This issue can be partly avoided as both volume rocker keys on the side of the Z10 can be used to take a picture, which is a handy feature especially for those with clumsy fingers.
Auto focus is in play and it can take half a second to settle at times, but there's no tap to focus as such.
The focus can be changed by holding down on the Z10 display and moving around so the focus square follows you.
Release your finger when you get to the point you want the camera to focus on and then tap the screen to capture the image. It's certainly not as quick as the simple tap to focus method, but it's an effective one.
Dive into the settings menu and there are slim pickings on offer, with a toggle for the flash, front/rear camera and aspect ratio (you've got the choice of 16:9 and 4:3) along with three shooting modes (normal, stabilisation and burst) and four scene modes (action, whiteboard, night and beach or snow).
There's a 5x digital zoom which is control by pinching the screen on the BlackBerry Z10, but picture quality is dramatically reduced the closer in you get so it's best to steer clear if you want a half decent photo.
But wait, there is an ace up the sleeve of the BlackBerry Z10 – it's called Time Shift.
Time Shift is a new feature for BlackBerry 10 and when you switch the camera to this mode and take a photo of a person or a group of people the Z10 will highlight all the faces in the picture.
Press on any face after taking the picture and a disc will appear on the screen with that person's mug in it and a slider below.
Move the slider left and right and you'll see the BlackBerry Z10 has captured the face before and after as well as during the time the shutter was pressed.
This allows you to fine tune each person's face to ensure everyone is smiling and has their eyes open – giving you the perfect picture. It's an impressive feature and we were surprised as just how well it worked.
Image quality is generally very good especially in well lit areas, and even in near or total darkness the flash on the BlackBerry Z10 does a good job of lighting things up.
The pictures produced by the Z10 are certainly on par with a lot of its rivals, and you can rest assured you've got a capable, if not slightly feature-less snapper in your pocket if you plump for it.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Click here to see the full resolution image
Click here to see the full resolution image
Click here to see the full resolution image
Click here to see the full resolution image
Click here to see the full resolution image
Video
Video recording on the BlackBerry Z10 is accessed through the camera app, where you'll need to switch to video mode using the icon in the top right corner. The rear facing camera on the Z10 is capable of capturing footage at full HD 1080p resolution, while the front facing snapper can grab 720p video.
With the rear camera you can choose whether to record in 720p or 1080p, and like the camera mode there's a very limited selection on options.
Image stabilisation is a welcome addition which keeps your movies smooth, while over in scene modes you have a selection of just two – night and beach or snow.
An added benefit with the video recorder on the Z10 is when you've started to record (by pressing anywhere on the screen) you can then toggle the single LED light on and off.
This is great if you're moving between light and dark areas during filming, or if you just fancy giving your friend a bit of a strobe light while he performs an embarrassingly poor rendition of Gangnam Style.
You can also use the 5x digital zoom while recording but as with pictures in camera mode video quality is greatly reduced if you decide to hone in on the action.
Video quality is pretty good and easy to watch on the handset's display and you'll see from the video clip below it doesn't look too shoddy on a larger screen either.
Media
BlackBerry smartphones have never really been seen as full blown multimedia devices, thanks in part to their small, low resolution displays, but the BlackBerry Z10 changes all that. With an HD 4.2-inch display, sizable 16GB of internal memory with the option to expand via microSD and additional power under the hood the Z10 is ready to take on any type of media. Using a microSD card is probably the quickest way to get content onto the BlackBerry Z10 as it circumvents the need to download and install the BlackBerry Link desktop before being allowed to drag and drop files when you hook the handset up to a computer with the USB cable. BlackBerry Link allows you to sync and share your media files between your computer and the Z10 as well as backing up your data, just in case something untoward happened. While relatively inoffensive and easy to use, we still prefer the method of simply dragging and dropping content between windows.Music
There's no prizes for guessing where you need to head on the BlackBerry Z10 to listen to your favourite tunes – yep you've guessed it the Music app.
It's a pretty simple, no thrills application which shows you your library, most recently played tracks and playlists.
Music is displayed as album art thumbnails which gives the application a tidy look, although album track listings sport an unassuming grey tone but there is the option to shuffle all the songs at the top of the list.
The now playing screen has all your typical audio controls; play/pause, skip, scrub, repeat and shuffle.
Tapping the album art here will see it slide down and show the other songs queued in the particular playlist, allowing you to quickly jump to another track if you so wish.
Dive in the settings menu and there's very little to choose from with no sign of an equaliser. The only thing of note is the "Play on" option, which allows you to stream music from the Z10 to other DLNA enabled devices.
The major audio formats seem to be supported but we're still waiting to hear official confirmation from RIM on all the types which the Z10 will be able to handle.
Sound quality seems to be perfectly acceptable as far as smartphones goes, but audiophiles will probably want something more from their music player.
If your music collection is a little thin on the ground then you can bolster your library by jumping into BlackBerry World where you'll find a music section powered by 7Digital.
The 7Digital library is a pretty extensive one, with most albums priced between £5 and £8, while single tracks are generally £1.
It's not the easiest store to browse with a seemingly limited number of controls and a distinct lack of top lists meaning only a very small proportion of the library is actually on show.
Videos
Things are being kept simple on the BlackBerry Z10 with all things movie related housed in the Videos app.
The video app is even more basic than its music equivalent, listing the videos currently stored on the Z10 which when clicked on takes you straight into the player.
In the player the basic theme continues with a play/pause key and scrub option the only things to play with other than the aspect ratio toggle in the top right.
The "Play On" option is present in the menu here allowing you to stream the currently playing video to a larger screen, so you can share the movie with a group of people.
Video playback is pretty good but the Z10 doesn't quite reach the heights of the iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy S3 in terms of quality, but movies are perfectly watchable with pretty good viewing angles.
The soft touch back of the Z10 coupled with the rounded chassis makes it a comfortable handset to hold for extended periods with one handed holding not problem.
The additional bezel around the screen is actually a benefit here, as there's no worry of your thumb obscuring the screen.
BlackBerry World also offers various movies and TV series powered by Rovi, which you can either purchase or rent.
The movie offering seems pretty limited at the moment but that may be due to the fact we've got the Z10 ahead of its official launch.
Rental prices seem to be £2.99 or £3.99 while to buy and download a film to keep you'll need to fork out between £7.99 and £15.99.
TV shows seem to come in at £1.99 per episode, with no sign of a season bundle at the moment.
Photos
Last but not least photos are stored in the Pictures app which is were you go to view all your camera shots laid out in a series of thumbnails.
Annoyingly you can't create albums on the BlackBerry Z10, with the system forcing you onto the computer and the BlackBerry Link software to set this up.
It all seems rather unnecessary and an annoying hurdle that people shouldn't need to jump through for what is a pretty straight forward task.
A nice feature which is part of the Pictures app is the edit function, which allows you to choose from a whole range of effects to apply to your photos as well as tools to crop and rotate the image.
The way the effects have been implemented is a clever one, as you're able to drag each effect across the image to see how it will look before deciding whether or not to apply it.
It's such a simple system we found ourselves playing around with it a lot and with 16 effects on offer there's probably something there which will take your fancy.
From within the editor you can also adjust the white balance, brightness, contrast and sharpness of an image. The whole system is pretty intuitive and it's a nice addition to have on the BlackBerry Z10.
Battery life and connectivity
Battery life
The BlackBerry Z10 comes equipped with a removable 1,800mAh battery which will be music to some people's ears, as this means you can carry additional power packs and swap in a fully charged one when the current pack gives up the ghost. Performance wise the Z10 performed relatively well – we didn't experience fast draining issues as with the One X, but equally it was never going to blow us away with its modest battery size.
The issue with the BlackBerry Z10 will be with current BlackBerry users who are used to their BB OS7 devices running for days between charges thanks to the smaller, lower resolution displays and less demanding processors inside the handsets.
With moderate use the Z10 will see you through a full working day, but don't expect it to make it through a second with a nightly charge definitely on the cards for anyone who picks up this device.
BlackBerry is quoting up to 11 hours of talktime on BlackBerry Z10 and 408 hours of standby which we reckon is pushing the boundaries a little, but it's good to remember these figures are produced under lab conditions which are very different to real usage.
Connectivity
Connectivity wise the BlackBerry Z10 is exceptionally well equipped packing everything from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 to DLNA support and even an HDMI port.
To aid with global positioning the Z10 also features A-GPS and you can utilise the handset's super fast 4G reception as a mobile hotspot, allowing other devices such as tablets and laptops to feed off the data connection.
RIM has also stuffed NFC into the BlackBerry Z10 allowing you to wireless transfer content between handsets and other enabled devices without the need for wires or even a network connection.
As we mentioned during the interface section Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can be easily toggled using the quick settings drop down on the BlackBerry Z10, but features such as GPS, Hotspots and NFC are controlled within the main settings menu.
Sharing content between the BlackBerry Z10 and other devices is easy, just navigate to your desired photo, video, track or other content and then hit the share button to open up a myriad of options.
The DLNA support means you're able to wireless stream content to other enabled devices around your home connected to the same network, just look for the "Play on" option in the menu – with types of content and devices controlled from within the settings menu.
That's not all though, if you prefer a more traditional form of connection you can dig out the bundled USB cable and hook the BlackBerry Z10 up to your computer, or why not invest in an HDMI lead and plug the handset into your fancy television?
It's all possible thanks to the microUSB and miniHDMI ports on the left side on the Z10, plus there's that microSD slot hiding under the rear cover providing yet another way to manipulate content.
Maps and apps
Maps
The BlackBerry Z10 comes with its own mapping and navigation solution simply called Maps.
The maps themselves have been provided by TomTom and while they givea pretty good account of the lie of the land, it's not as polished as the excellent Google Maps.
There are far fewer features as well with just the standard map view available, no satellite overlay, no street view, no flyover – but at least it knows where places are.
Visually the maps are not quite as impressive as Google's offering, with the images not looking overly defined – especially when you zoom out.
Opening the maps app was one of the few occasions where we noticed the Z10 struggling a little, as we would have to wait several seconds for the application to load up and locate us.
Once located the BlackBerry Z10 was able to keep track of our position well, even in built up areas where GPS sometimes struggles to reach.
The Z10 also wasn't the smoothest when it came to panning and zooming around the maps, with it needing a second or two each time to render the new image which made for a slightly jilted user experience.
There is live traffic information shown by colouied overlays on the roads to show the flow of traffic, with green being good, orange average and red highlighting delays.
This information is really useful, especially if you're planning a trip and coupled with the route planner you can see exactly what the traffic is like on the roads you'll be driving.
It's not just the maps the BlackBerry Z10 offers though, as with Android and now iOS, BB10 also offers free turn-by-turn navigation.
It's a lifesaver if you end up getting lost, but beware that a data connection is required to load the map so it may struggle in you're up a mountain.
Apps
Apps have been a big talking point in the run up to the launch of BlackBerry 10, with RIM assuring everyone that it's got loads of developers creating applications especially for the platform.
At time of writing – just ahead of the official BlackBerry Z10 launch – the app offering in the newly renamed BlackBerry World is hardly inspiring.
BlackBerry reckons it will have over 70,000 applications in the store when the platform launches, so we hope a few more show up when the launch event kicks off as it certainly doesn't feel like there's anything close to that number in there at the moment.
While 70,000 doesn't sound like a lot especially when you consider the likes of Android and iOS boast over 700,000 each, RIM reckons it's the quality not quantity in BlackBerry World which makes all the difference.
We'll update this section after the official BlackBerry 10 launch event has taken place to see if any of the big firms release killer apps for a platform which desperately needs them.
The BlackBerry Word app itself isn't our favourite app store in terms of design and navigation, with a confusing list of various apps, music and videos on the main page making it difficult to digest all the information.
You can refine your search by categories which goes some way to working out what's on offer, but there's no option to view say just free apps for example.
In terms of pre-installed applications we're pleased to report RIM hasn't gone overboard with the BlackBerry Z10.
The Remember app is BlackBerry's answer to Evernote and it can even sync with the popular note taking app to ensure all your favourite shopping lists safely make the transition over to BB 10.
You can also share content such as pictures and videos to the Remember app if you want to make a note alongside a photo you've just snapped.
The app itself is pretty straight forward, with the ability to tap out a message as well as attach a file or audio clip to it.
DocsToGo is a great application for the business minded out there who may need to finish off a word document, spreadsheet or presentation while on the train to a meeting.
The full blown app allows you to fully manipulate your Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, although the 4.2-inch display on the Z10 is a bit on the small side if you're viewing a complicated spreadsheet.
Games is a hub for your gaming activity on the BlackBerry Z10 and works in a similar way to Apple's Game Center.
It logs all the compatible games you play on the handset and any achievements you unlock along the way.
You can add friends who are also playing on their BlackBerry handsets, compare progress and even challenge them to a show down.
The Newsstand app as you may have guessed is a store for magazines and newspapers which you can purchase and read on the Z10.
An innovative slider along the top of the app allows you to scroll through different categories, while covers of the magazines available are displayed in a pleasing thumbnailed layout.
If anything we wish BlackBerry World took its design cues from Newsstand as we preferred the layout and navigation was much easier.
Single issues seemed to range from around £1.99 to £6.99 depending on publication, but there didn't seem to be any sign of a subscription service – perhaps that will come later.
Voice control lets you bark commands at the BlackBerry Z10 for when you can't be bothered to use your fingers.
It can be activated by holding down the central key lodged between the two volume switches, or you can tap the relevant icon in the app list.
We're not talking Siri levels of controls and questioning here, it's a far simpler offering allowing you say things like "Call this person", "Text that person" and "Make a note to buy milk".
As long as we spoke clearly then the Z10 had no trouble understanding what we were saying and was more than happy to carry out our orders - who's a good phone?
We probably wouldn't use this function day to day but we can certainly see its advantage in certain situations such as driving.
Smart tags is an application that allows you to group together a bunch of information which can then be transferred onto an NFC tag, made into a QR code or passed directly to another NFC enabled handset.
Instead of handing out a business card you could create a smart tag with all you contact information on and then share it via NFC to the phones of people you meet with.
You can save the tags you send so you can use them again and you can also save any you receive from other people.
The smart tags app allows you to easily create tags as well as mange the ones you've sent and received.
Official gallery
Hands on gallery
Verdict
So is the BlackBerry Z10 the smartphone to save BlackBerry? Well it's still too early to say and it's not just this handset which will make or break the Canadian firm over the coming year. That said the Z10 is a promising start to the BlackBerry 10 era.We liked
The BlackBerry Z10 is a decent all round phone sporting a pleasing 4.2-inch HD display, a camera which can take some good shots and a messaging hub which could be the envy of some other platforms. Web browsing deserves a special mention as we were seriously impressed with the speed of the BlackBerry Z10 when it came to loading pages. It's great to see a full fledged mapping and navigation solution on board the Z10, even though it may not be the best service on the market. The expandable storage, removable battery and Adobe Flash support are all small wins for the Z10 and will help as it tries to stand out in a crowded market.We disliked
The jury is still out on BlackBerry 10. On one hand it's great to see an exciting new operating system but on the other it's a completely new learning curve for everyone, and some may not be willing to learn. BB 10 came across a little confusing a times, with the lack of a clear back button leading us to question how we return to the previous screen, while gestures took some time to fully grasp. As the BlackBerry Z10 is set to be the flagship mobile for BlackBerry and its new BB10 platform we were a little disappointed with its obviously plastic case which doesn't exude premium quality. The lack of apps in BlackBerry World will remain to be a concern until we see the big hitters turn up, while some of the stock BlackBerry 10 apps seemed to lack features such as the camera, music and video applications.Verdict
The Z10 is a decent smartphone offering up a strong range of features and a fancy new operating system which may catch the eye of the technologically adventurous. It does pretty much everything we'd expect from a high-end device and there are no major flaws to go running to the presses about. That said the Z10 also lacks any killer selling points. It's hard to find reasons why we'd recommend this over say the Samsung Galaxy S3, iPhone 5, Sony Xperia Z or Nokia Lumia 920. The unproven operating system and severe lack of headlining applications will turn a lot of consumers off at point of sale and it's the image of the BlacBerry brand as a whole which RIM needs to work on fast if it stands a chance of winning back the hearts of the general public. The BlackBerry Z10 – it's got the weight of a whole company on its plastic shoulders. It's holding up, but we're not sure for how long.
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BlackBerry Z10 finally uncovered: the first BB10 phone
In a move that shocked precisely nobody, the new BlackBerry Z10 has launched to the expectant phone-buying public of the world.
The new handset features a number of non-standout features, with the addition of BlackBerry 10 OS the obvious talking point.
The camera offers a few nifty features, such as the ability rewind and get the picture you wanted, rather than the one you actually took.
We're still awaiting the magic of things like prices or a release date, but we'll update the story as soon as we hear.
More to follow
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BlackBerry stays faithful to keyboard warriors with new BB Q10
Combining keys and a high-res touchscreen, the BB Q10 looks to bridge the gap between old and new BlackBerrophiles.
The new handset is the first BB10 handset with a physical keyboard, as "we know there are a lot of keyboard lovers out there," said CEO Thorsten Heins.
The thin and light phone has a glass casing to help it stay strong for all of life's knocks and bumps.
More to follow.
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Research in Motion is no more: RIM rebrands to BlackBerry
RIM sprang a big surprise at the launch of BB10 by dropping the name its had for decades.
CEO Thorsten Heins took to the worldwide stage to announce the big change, which makes sense giving most of us call the company by the fruity moniker anyway.
"From this point onwards, RIM becomes BlackBerry. This is our promise of one brand," said Heins. "Our employees already work for BlackBerry,so from this day on we'll be known as BlackBerry."
No more RIM jokes
The move makes a lot of sense given the company no longer has the same interests it had in other areas, showing that it's focusing totally on the new BB10 platform. BlackBerry (you don't know how hard it is for us to not correct ourselves to write that) will be pushing onto more devices in the near future, such as cars, healthcare and home devices, so having one moniker makes sense.
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BlackBerry 10 finally launches; can it save the brand?
In a move that's designed to safeguard RIM for the next decade, BB10 has been unveiled.
Although the Canadian firm is still relatively cash-rich, the 'brand new platform' is seen by many as the last roll of the dice for RIM, so a re-tooled OS is seen as ultra-necessary.
The main feature of the operating system is BlackBerry Balance, allowing users to have partitions between work and personal sections of the phone. The new OS is also designed to scale to other machines as well, which means it can be used in the car, home or healthcare applications, as well as tablets.
Hub of the matter
BlackBerry Hub is at the heart of the phone; with a swipe to the right from anywhere within the phone a list of all your messages, interests and notifications. It's similar to the universal inbox of the BlackBerry of old, meaning anything that pops up in your life, be it BBM, missed calls or a simple tweet, it's only ever a gesture away.Bringing Balance
As mentioned, BlackBerry 10 offers your IT department the chance to control at least a part of your smartphone. This means the app store can exist in two place on your phone at once, and allows your work to wipe and control the key parts of the phone. It's a simple downward swipe to get between the two modes, meaning users always can achieve the virtual equivalent for sneaking away for a crafty cigarette when sitting at the desk. In this case it means you can just play Angry Birds on your work phone, but still, it's exciting for some. BlackBerry Remember has also been added to the mix, with the ability to mimic Evernote (which it actually syncs with) giving you the chance to organise your life such as notes, photos, missed calls, plus Outlook Notes and Tasks also integrated in once easy to use place.Snap up
The new camera app allows users to tap anywhere to take a photo, with mobile autofocus as well. Timeshift mode allows you to capture the moment by moving back and forward through time to get the photo you want. Cleverly it can find your face and allow you to find the best smile or pose for the person you're looking at or stalking, and fit the head on the body you thinks sharpest. You can then edit the photos on the phone with the inbuilt app, allowing cropping, effects and more with a few swipes. It's not groundbreaking, but it's still a massive step forward for BlackBerry. The BlackBerry Z10 will be the first BB10 handset, and will be available in the US from March, while in the UK the BlackBerry Z10 will be available from 31 January from the likes of Vodafone and The Carphone Warehouse.
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Nintendo's back in the black but the original Wii is still outselling Wii U
Nintendo's in the money as it announces that it has turned a profit over the last year - but its future is far from certain as it cuts its expectations for the Wii U and 3DS.
In fact, the original Wii console is still selling more units than its successor, with the older machine selling 3.53 million units since November and the Wii U shifting 3.06 million.
Still, for Nintendo to be making money is reassuring as this time last year it was a different story: the Wii was ageing, the Wii U was months away and the 3DS was not selling as well as the company had expected.
Nintendo sheepishly announced its first ever loss and the doomsayers had a field day predicting apocalyptic things for the Mario-maker.
Turn around
But today the company announced that it made a net profit of Y14.5bn (around £101m, $159m, AU$152m) in the first nine months of the current financial year, compared to a loss of Y48bn (£333m, $526m, AU$504m) this time last year. So the coffers are looking fat(ish) but Nintendo's not splashing out on Veuve Cliquot and Rolexes just yet - it has decided to cut its forecasts for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS in the coming months. "While Nintendo saw year-on-year increases in the sales of Nintendo 3DS hardware (up 11 per cent year-on-year) and software (up 41 per cent year-on-year), those gains were not enough to offset decreased sales of Wii and Nintendo DS hardware and software," it explained in a statement. As such, Nintendo has said that it only expects to have sold 4 million Wii U consoles by the end of March 2013, as opposed to its original estimation of 5.5 million - it has sold around 3.06 million to date.
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Opinion: RIM is so excited it won't tell us what went wrong with BlackBerry
While the world holds its breath for the launch of BlackBerry 10, it seems the execs are struggling to talk about it.
With any brand trying to relaunch itself, we're used to the tranche of interviews with key executive members showing the world that things are now all better and missing out on the new product would mean missing out on the greatest thing ever.
However, sometimes the message can overwhelm the ability to hold a normal human conversation, and that's precisely what happened to Stephen Bates, RIM's European MD, when speaking about the launch on BBC Breakfast.
Bates was clearly ready for this little media tour, having learned the press release by heart, and was full of the buzzwords surrounding "transition" and "mobile computing" and most importantly "excited", a word he used in various guises no fewer than seven times in a three and a half minute interview.
However, at no point did he answer the question about RIM's dramatic plunge in smartphone market share. The question was subsequently asked again, more succinctly: "What went wrong?"
In response, Bates stayed firm in his decision to be a press release on a stool, pointing out that RIM "took the decision" to make its own mobile OS, which will provide all manner of wonderful things for its loyal bunch of users – without coming close to acknowledging the response required.
Embarassingly the question was asked for a third time "– Yes, but what went wrong?" – at which point it became clear that RIM had briefed all staff not to talk about anything other than the "excitement" of the launch today.
The same routine was heard on BBC 5 Live Breakfast – the presenter repeatedly asked what RIM had learned from the rise of the iPhone, and while Bates wasn't so effusive in his use of the word "exciting", he still was unwilling to answer the question, which was asked multiple times and more aggressively in each instance.
After this line of interrogation was given up, when asked about the features users should be excited about for BB10 Bates surprisingly couldn't give an answer beyond a press spiel about BlackBerry Balance that, to those that have never used it, made little to no sense.
Forceful
Both interviewers were forceful in their questioning, but only because the response to a reasonable question – be it the impact of the iPhone, or why RIM sank from such great heights – was met with the verbal equivalent of a man waving a shining sign with the words 'BLACKBERRY 10 IS EXCITING' on. Both sensed blood over a point many people are wondering, and in refusing to even acknowledge the question RIM has shown fear for rival products instead of pride in its ability to compete. It would be easy to just attack the interviewee, labelling Bates as the wrong choice to be wheeled out to the Cornflake-munching masses, but in truth it paints a worrying picture about RIM's BlackBerry 10 strategy. He was clearly told not to mention competitors or any negativity, and in the face of such direct questioning retreated behind his key phrases. But that doesn't change the fact that those who aren't really bothered about smartphones but have heard about 'some new BlackBerry' won't have been filled with confidence. Even Nokia, the company that will spend hours talking about how every little thing it does is the greatest thing ever, acknowledged it has made some mistakes – that "burning platform" memo didn't leak itself.Make it good, make it true
The launch of BlackBerry 10 was supposed to be simply a new OS with alternative phones and the chance for RIM to almost apologise for making a mistake before offering a great solution. But thanks to these interviews all the talk will be how the company is just another egotistical monster forcing marketing guff down users' throats rather than giving a strong reason to part with a large amount of cash each month. The horse has already bolted in the UK for RIM in terms of the impression the general public has been given of BlackBerry 10, so here's hoping that when CEO Thorsten Heins takes to the stage to formally reveal an OS we've already seen a few times, he actually talks like a human; one that expresses gratitude for those that have stuck with BlackBerry during the last few years when the competition has given consumers better choices. Or at the very least, keep away from the word excited.
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Netflix: waiting for films and TV is for chumps
Delayed gratification, your days are over. Like whining children, internet users are all about the now, the instant, the on-demand. I want it, I want it immediately and if you don't give it to me, I'll go elsewhere.
That's the motto apparently driving Netflix, whose US CEO Reed Hastings has spoken at length to GQ about the company's direction.
Hastings is very anti what he calls "managed dissatisfaction", where studios and broadcasters make viewers wait to see the next episode or wait to see a film at home after it's been out in the cinema.
"The traditional entertainment ecosystem is built on [managed dissatisfaction], and it's a totally artificial concept," he said.
Now, now, now
"The point of managed dissatisfaction is waiting. You're supposed to wait for your show that comes on Wednesday at 8pm, wait for the new season, see all the ads everywhere for the new season, talk to your friends at the office about how excited you are." It's clearly not a concept he approves of, which is why Netflix has taken the power away from the studios by becoming the content creator itself. The company funded and produced the entire fourth season of the newly-revived Arrested Development, for example, and has slated it to hit Netflix all in one go. While it will still hit the US site first, the UK will follow surprisingly soon behind - as such, legions of hardcore fans have cleared their schedules for May as they await an official date for the return of the Bluths.
The same goes for the Netflix-made, Kevin Spacey-starring House of Cards, which hits the streaming service this Friday.
The company's chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, puts Netflix's goal into handy soundbite form: "The goal is to become HBO faster than HBO can become us."
It's an expensive approach and many have suggested that it simply isn't sustainable. But hey, there's always money in the banana stand.
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