Path hit with FTC fine, faces another privacy issue
Path is billed as a social networking app that allows you to remember all of life's moments, but this is one day that the company may want to erase from its timeline.
The Federal Trade Commission and Path announced today that they reached a settlement over the company's unauthorized collection of address book information on mobile devices.
The social networking start-up must establish a comprehensive privacy program and obtain independent privacy assessments every other year for the next 20 years.
Path also has to throw a little bit of money into the federal pot. It will pay $800,000 (around £509,000 AUD$768,000) in civil penalties for not rejecting new members who were under the age of 13.
FTC, Path issue statements
Outgoing FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz made sure to highlight this settlement as a victory for privacy-threatened consumers in the United States. "This settlement with Path shows that no matter what new technologies emerge, the agency will continue to safeguard the privacy of Americans," said the resigning chairman in a press release. "The FTC has been vigilant in responding to a long list of threats to consumer privacy, whether it's mortgage applications thrown into open trash dumpsters, kids information culled by music fan websites, or unencrypted credit card information left vulnerable to hackers." Path, meanwhile, chalked this up to a learning experience. "From a developer's perspective, we understand the tendency to focus all attention on the process of building amazing new things," the company said in a blog post addressing its Children's Online Privacy Protections Act violations. "It wasn't until we gave our account verification system a second look that we realized there was a problem. We hope our experience can help others as a reminder to be cautious and diligent." Path's blog post, curiously, didn't comment on its harvesting of users' address book data.More Path privacy concerns
Path may need another "cautious and diligent" reminder, as the company's iOS app can still give away a user's location information without obtaining permission. "Path's iOS app (yes, that same Path that was caught stealing users' entire address books last February) will use the embedded EXIF tag location information from photos," discovered self-described hacker and security researcher Jeffrey Paul. This exploit happens when iOS Camera Roll photos are geotagged to Path posts, even when Location Services are disabled for the Path application. Paul told TechRadar that he doesn't know if the issue also affects Android users, as he doesn't use the app on devices running Google's mobile operating system. In a response to Paul's blog post, Path Product Manager Dylan Casey said that the company was unaware of the issue and has implemented new code to ignore the EXIF tag location. A new version of the app has been submitted to the App Store for approval, according Casey, who notes that "this only affected photos taken with the Apple Camera and imported into Path."
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Twitter says hacking attack may have affected 250K users
Twitter is the latest entity to undergo a security breach in the last few days, following large-scale attacks on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
"This week, we detected unusual access patterns that led to us identifying unauthorized access attempts to Twitter user data," wrote Bob Lord, director of information security, in a blog post. In all, 250,000 user accounts may have been affected by hackers.
Lord recounted how the company actually intercepted an attack as it was happening, shutting it down "in process" within moments.
"Our investigation has thus far indicated that the attackers may have had access to limited user information - usernames, email addresses, session tokens and encrypted/salted versions of passwords...," Lord continued.
Under fire
As a preventative measure, Twitter reset the passwords and revoked session tokens for potentially impacted accounts. Users whose accounts were compromised should receive an email alert from the company shortly if they have not received one already. These users will need to change their passwords - "Your old password will not work when you try to log in to Twitter." Twitter does not think that the breach was not the work of amateurs. "[We] do not believe it was an isolated incident," Lord wrote. "The attackers were extremely sophisticated, and we believe other companies and organizations were similarly attacked. "For that reason we felt that it was important to publicize this attack while we still gather information, and we are helping government and federal law enforcement in their effort to find and prosecute these attackers to make the internet safer for all users." According to data released this week by GlobalWebIndex, Twitter reached 485 million members in 2012. In addition to the Times and Journal, Lord also noted that Apple and Mozilla turned off Java by default in the companies' browsers following security concerns. Lord too warned against Java in his post. "We also echo the advisory from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and security experts to encourage users to disable Java on their computers," he wrote. A Twitter spokesperson would not disclose whether the attacks were isolated to the U.S. or had impacted other regions, citing security and privacy reasons. While Twitter is taking action, Lord recommended users follow "good password hygiene" on Twitter and elsewhere, advice that may be well worth taking.
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CEO gets giddy over M7, uses phone to take pics at company party
Proving there's nothing cooler than an HTC party, the company's CEO broke out the firm's unannounced upcoming handset, the M7, at a Taipei soiree today.
Set to debut on Feb. 19 during dual events in New York and London, the M7 is said to be HTC's new flagship phone. By the looks of it, it's ready and raring to go.
While leaks and rumors have surrounded the M7 for weeks, Chou used a silver version of the M7 (though also reportedly showed a black one) to snap pictures of the crowd during the company's year-end party.
"This event today is a great opportunity for testing [the camera]," Chou, as translated by Engadget, said. "I was still testing it just now."
Happy days
HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang also took the stage to rally the crowd and oozed enthusiasm over the phone's later-this-month launch. Aside from the fact that he was so juiced he had gave the world its first real look at the M7, Chou's excitement came pouring out as he led the room in spirited chants of "HTC" and "M7." You can watch Chou let it all out in the clip below:That's not all folks
Though there's buzz building for the phone, HTC isn't stopping with the M7, not by a long shot. According to leaked info picked up by Unwired View via @evleaks, HTC has two other phones in the works: one referred to as the M4 and the other the G2. The M4 is described as a step under the M7, in much the same as the One S is related but junior to the One X. On the spec side, the M4 is said to come with a 4.3-inch, 720p display and loaded with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and two cameras - a 13MP one mounted on the back and a 1.6MP facing front. Its battery should be 1,700mAh while Android 4.2 Jelly Bean will course through its system. As for the processor, a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon looks to fill those duties. As if that wasn't enough, the M4 could come preinstalled with the new Sense 5.0 skin we saw leaked last week while also supporting LTE. The G2, which is not related to the company's other phone with the same retail name, looks like an entry level device. A 3.5-inch HVGA display, 1.0GHz ARM Cortex processor, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage plus a microSD card are the major specs here. The leak also points to a 5MP rear camera and a 1,400mAh battery powering the Ice Cream Sandwich phone, while a 1GHz processor gives the G2 some oomph. According to the report, neither device will debut alongside the M7 nor immediately after Mobile World Congress, but rather sometime in the spring. What's more, we could see the M7 start to leave warehouses before February runs its course, though another report has the phone's release date as March 8.
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Review: Acer Iconia W510
Introduction and Design
Don't let the Acer Iconia W510 and its hearty hinge confuse you. It's a tablet, not one of those convertible laptops you've been seeing lately. It may transform into three different modes, but it's a Windows 8 slate with a keyboard dock, pure and simple. Why? Because its 10.2-inch form factor and low-wattage Atom processor make it less than functional for all but the most basic computing tasks. Despite running the full version of Windows 8, it has more in common with the Microsoft Surface RT than a true convertible like Lenovo Thinkpad Helix.
Our configuration of the Acer Iconia W510 packs a 1.8GHz Intel Atom processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD. It retails for $750, half of what true transformers like the HP Envy X2 go for, but don't mistake the W510 for a value. This is iPad pricing without iPad performance, and for just a $100 more, you could get a more functional, albeit heavier, Windows 8 laptop. Or you could get a sleek Surface RT, preloaded with Microsoft Office.
Though the thought of a full Windows 8 slate, keyboard stand included, might be tempting, the Acer Iconia W510 is not suited to be to the solo computing option for anyone but the lightest of users. It's meant to be someone's second or even third device. Portability and battery life are its only true selling points, but its that unfortunate device that's easy enough to haul, but barely functional enough to justify its presence in your bag.
Design
As we said, the Acer Iconia W510 is not a laptop or ultrabook, it's a tablet. You can even buy it sans keyboard stand for $500. We wouldn't want to though, since the stand provides extra battery life and the machine's only full size USB port.
On the tablet itself there's mini-HDMI and USB, a microSD port, headphone jack, volume rocker and charging port, so it really can fly solo without the keyboard dock.
The overall design of the Iconia W510 is defined by one thing: size. At just 10.2-inches and weighing less than two pounds, it's tiny, cute even. While this is an excellent form factor for a tablet, when you drop the W510 into its dock and start to type, you'll feel its limitation immediately.
In ultrabook-esque productivity mode, we found the W510's keyboard annoying and cramped to type on. 11-inches is as small as you can go and still fit a standard laptop keyboard on your machine. Since Acer went below that form factor, some sacrifices have been made. Keys are small, shallow and the touchpad is tiny too.
Banging away on this very review, we often missed keys and always felt as though we were hunched over the thing. Overall, we found the keyboard adequate for email, but not something we'd want to do any real word processing on. Just fifteen minutes or so of composing on the Iconia W510 had us dying to get back to our Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga or MacBook Pro, anything with a full, more functional keyboard.
The touchpad is torturous. It's tiny and sensitive like a gnome with emotional issues. Mousing around, the arrow tended to flit all about the screen any time we applied our pointer finger with anything less than extreme precision. Unless you plan to stick with touching the screen, a wireless travel mouse is a must for the W510. Make sure its bluetooth or you'll be giving up your only USB port to a wireless dongle.
The touchpad is not also not multi-touch capable. This means no dragging two fingers to scroll a web page or slide the Start Screen. This is a corner that really shouldn't have been cut, since the shrunken keyboard makes Home, End, Page Up and Page Down keys into function keys. Make sure your travel mouse has a scroll wheel.
Finally, the whole thing is unbalanced. Though the hinge is sturdy and keeps the screen in whatever position you choose, the thing tends to fall overt backwards at anything other than a ninety degree angle. The tablet/screen houses all the internals, outweighing the dock, giving it a tendency to fall over backwards when placed on anything other than a flat desktop. That's a mighty flaw for a travel-oriented machine.
Specifications and Performance
The Acer Iconia W510 has Intel inside, but not a chip we've seen in awhile. It runs on the Atom processor, which was introduced a few years ago with the first wave of netbooks. This is, of course, an updated version, but at just 1.8 GHz dual-core, it's not terribly modern.OS: Windows 8 Processor: Atom Display: 1366 x 768 Graphics: Intel GMA 3650 RAM: 2 GB Storage: 64GB SSD Weight: 1.32 pounds (0.59 kg)The Atom is supported by 2GB of RAM and you've got 64GB of SSD to fill up, minus the space taken up by Windows 8 and few Acer applications.
Performance
This low-energy processor does wonders for the Iconia W510's battery life, but it makes for inconsistent performance, especially when multitasking. Browsing in either Internet Explorer or Google Chrome was a pleasant experience when it was the only thing we were doing. With three or more programs active at once, websites loaded in a herky jerky fashion. Sometimes a page displayed quickly, but the machine would take a few seconds before we could scroll or click a link.
The Iconia W510 handled games like Angry Birds: Star Wars and Where's My Water just fine, but the machine's specs limit you tablet titles. Real PC gaming is basically out of the question. We were able to get playable framerates in the eight year old Half-Life 2, but anything more modern than that, such as Far Cry 2, proved too much for it to handle. The W510 is capable of basic Photoshop use, but forget about doing any sort of HD rendering.
However, that power-sipping processor does have one massive benefit: great battery life. Acer's estimation is 18 hours when using the dock, and we generally got numbers just slightly south of that. The W510 consistently pulled 16 hour days, with use ranging from word processing, email, web browsing and some Netflix and YouTube streaming.
Using just the tablet still results in very respectable battery performance. We averaged 8 hours when going dockless. The W510 might be unpowered, but it's certainly not unreliable.
Hands on gallery
Verdict
With Windows 8 going all touchy-feely, the PC space is starting to get a tad schizophrenic. Touchscreen laptops are common, as are ultrabooks that want to be tablets, and now we've even got portable all-in-ones like the Acer W700. Full Windows 8 or not, the Acer W510 is a tablet, though it wishes it were a convertible ultrabook.
In trying to be everything to everyone, it embraces the tired old "Jack of all trades, master of none" cliche. While we loved the portability it offered, we'd rather sacrifice our shoulders and haul a heftier notebook with a full keyboard. Ten inches is great for a tablet, but for as a laptop replacement it just doesn't get the job done, and there's not enough pep in its processor to justify a $750 price tag. Additionally, the lack of a 3G/4G option prevents the W510 from being a true road warrior.
We liked
The Iconia W510 is so very portable. At 10.2-inches and weighing less than two pounds, it fits easily in a bag or large purse, and you'll likely forget you're even carrying it. The tablet itself gets excellent battery life, and when coupled with the dock it gets even better. The W510 can easily make it through the day on a single charge.
Like any tablet, it's a great media consumption device. It performed perfectly when streaming web videos and watching Netflix.
It's also a nicely built piece of machinery. The hinge is sturdy, the silver brushed metal exterior looks and feels good, and it looks more like a laptop than other more cobbled together looking tablet and dock setups.
We disliked
The keyboard. We hated it. Typing anything more than a paragraph or two was tortuous, and the touchpad is a real stinker too. It's tiny, very sensitive and not multi-touch. That means no two finger scrolling, a feature we've come to expect on laptops, even if they have a touchscreen. The processor is also not peppy enough for the W510's price point. What's the point of paying for a full Windows 8 machine if it can hardly run any Windows programs?
While the hinge is very sturdy and keeps the screen nicely in place, it's a top heavy design. It tends to fall over backwards when used on a lap or couch cushion. That's rather precarious for something obviously built to travel.
There also aren't enough ports on the thing. One full size USB port is tough to swallow, especially since you'll like use it up with a wireless mouse to compensate for the W510 miserable touchpad.
Finally, the price. The W510 is too expensive for the limited functionality it offers.
Final verdict
Do not purchase the Acer W510 to be your solo computing option. The compatibility of full Windows 8 is tempting, but the internals aren't powerful enough to support the most relevant software. The real deal breaker, however, is how cramped the overall build of the thing is. Let us reiterate that this is meant to be someone's second or even third device, something good for media consumption and light work or gaming when on the go. We're obviously not crazy about this machine, but there is one customer we'd recommend the Acer Iconia W510 to. That'd be someone looking to upgrade from a dated tablet who often types on a third-party keyboard. If you're using an iPad 2 with a ugly keyboard stand, and like the idea of getting a decent Windows 8 tablet bundled with typing dock that provides extra battery, then we would recommend you check out this machine. Go into a store and try typing on it, and make sure the keyboard suits your needs, because it didn't suit ours. Really though, there are better ways to spend your money. For less cash you could pick up a Nexus 7 or Nexus 10, or even a brand new iPad, and pair it with a bluetooth keyboard. If it's the promise of portability and productivity that intrigues you, spend just a little more money and get a real ultrabook, an 11-incher with real keyboard. Your fingers will thank you. Or just get a full-on laptop. You shoulder may hate you after hauling it all day, but you'll be getting a lot more computing power for money. Finally, if it's a real convertible you're after, you're just going to have to pony up. Investigate the The HP Envy X2, the Thinkpad Helix or the Surface RT, or wait for the soon-to-debut Surface Pro. We're not big fans of Windows RT, so we can't believe we're saying this, but the W510 might have been better off as an RT device. Mainly for the Microsoft Office apps that are included with RT. Remember, Windows 8 doesn't come bundled with Word or Excel, so you'll be dropping even more cash to get your W510 functional. We say no thanks.
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Press shots for Asus MeMo Pad 10 surface, but where will the price fall?
The Asus 10-inch Android tablet has resurfaced with leaked press shots and a new name.
Now called the Asus MeMo Pad 10, it looks to be the same tablet as the ME301T model hinted at earlier this year.
Based on previous information, the Pad 10 should sport a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 resolution display, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Nvidia's Tegra 3 quad-core processor.
If earlier reports still hold true, inside of the tablet is a mere 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, though at least the latter can be expanded through a microSD card slot.
A 10-inch alternative tablet
The MeMo Pad 10 is hardly a powerhouse by any stretch of the definition, but that may work in the tablet's favor. After CES, Asus announced the similarly underpowered 7-inch MeMo Pad with an attractive US$149 price tag to offset its specs. Asus could use the same strategy to position the MeMo Pad 10 as a budget-friendly 10-inch tablet. Early reports from smaller European shops disagree though, with listed prices ranging from €329 (US$449, UK£286, AU$431) to €386 (US$526, UK£335, AU$506). The leaked press shots look like the genuine article, and show the tablet in gray, white, and pink, but there is still no official word from Asus confirming the MeMo Pad 10. The tablet may make its official debut at MWC 2013 later this month, though Asus seems just as keen on announcements the day after a big event these days.
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Vita-like trackpad rumored for PlayStation 4's new controller
Sony is preparing a possible PlayStation 4 unveiling in a few weeks, and rumors indicate that a new controller will be a big part of that announcement.
Sources familiar with Sony's new hardware told Edge that the PlayStation 4's controller will prominently feature a touch trackpad at its center replacing the Start, Select, and Home buttons.
The trackpad is allegedly based on the same technology as the PlayStation Vita's rear touch panel, which would indicate that it also supports multi-touch input.
The controller is otherwise said to be similar in size and shape to the PlayStation 3's current Dualshock controller. This leaves a space of approximately an inch and a half for the trackpad on the front of the controller, or a potentially larger space if the trackpad is on the controller's rear as it is on the Vita.
Sharing is caring
Also rumored for the new controller is a new Share button. The Share button is said to be used for players to share screenshots and gameplay videos with other users online. To facilitate the new feature, the console is rumored to keep a constant recording of the last fifteen minutes of gameplay in the background. Users can access and edit the recorded footage from any game and share it online. The console, reportedly codenamed "Orbis," is rumored to have an eight-core AMD CPU with AMD graphics, and is said to be potentially more powerful than the Xbox 720. Sony yesterday invited users to "see the future" at the PlayStation Meeting 2013 on Feb. 20, where it is believed the PlayStation 4 will be unveiled.
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Promotion: Football Week launches, an iPad magazine with a difference
Future, the company that publishes TechRadar, has today launched Football Week - a brand new weekly magazine for iPad that will offer in-depth previews and up-to-date match action.
Culling the best content from PA, one of the world's most respected press agencies, not only does Football Week walk you through what's to come, but it updates you through the matches so you stay in the know.
As well as the latest injury data from physioroom.com, you'll also get the latest live news feeds, match reports and all of the reaction - from ball-boy kicking to Sir Alex's watch tapping.
Plus, every issue of Football Week will use stats and facts to provide you with in-depth analysis of the issues of the week, player interviews, live customised Twitter feeds, photo galleries, interactive games and quizzes.
Check out the video below for an inside look.
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FTC chairman resigns after 4 years of online privacy battles
An aggressive defender of online privacy, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chief Jon Leibowitz will be leaving his post later this month after vigorously battling everyone from generic drug companies to social networking giant Facebook.
The New York Times reported Thursday that FTC chairman Jon Leibowitz has resigned from his position, effective mid-February, ending a four-year battle for consumer online privacy protection.
Among them are alleged violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protections Act (COPPA) against social network Path, who reached a settlement Friday after addressing concerns over children under 13 being permitted to sign up for the service.
"I felt like this was a good time to leave because we got through a number of things that I wanted the commission to address," Leibowitz explained in an interview.
What's next
The FTC chairman's most recent high profile case put Google's search results under the microsocope, an effort which ultimately led to voluntary changes that fell short of what consumer advocates had been hoping for.
Advertisers claimed Google had been giving higher priority to companies whose interests aligned with theirs, at the same time reducing the presence of competitors.
Five FTC commissioners were unanimous in their decision that the company's actions actually benefitted users, even though some were considered less than helpful to the competition.
The departure of 54-year-old Leibowitz had been widely expected, and the chairman now plans a move into the private sector, where he'll continue his laser focus on privacy issues and anticompetitive practices.
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Updated: Sony Xperia Z release date and price: where can you get it?
The new Sony Xperia Z has turned a few heads with a top-end spec list…so how can you go about getting it?
The handset caused something of a stir at CES 2013, mostly because it saw Sony finally releasing a phone that wasn't a couple of generations behind the competition.
This means a massive 5-inch full HD display, which pushes closer to the edge of the screen so you're not left with a comically huge phone dwarfing your hand.
It's also water and dust resistant, comes with top-end Bravia tech and offers an impressive camera too – so which networks will be stocking it?
Clove is offering the handset with a SIM free price of £528 - putting it squarely alongside the low-capacity iPhone 5 and other top-end handsets, and it's joined by Expansys at that price point too.
Sony itself has jumped into the selling game with the Xperia Z, and you can pre-order it from its own website for £529 - although it's only stuck a 'coming soon' tag on the release date.
O2
The effervescent provider tweeted at stupid o'clock in the morning to confirm it would be bringing the handset to market, and it's confirmed the February release date from its "coming soon" page. You can pre-order it now with prices for the phone starting from free at a high contract price, or paying £480 for the handset and getting it for £13.50 a month - although you do get those £300 Sony headphones if you sign up 'while stocks last'. Oh, it is coming in "Exclusive Purple". That may mean it's only landing on O2 in that colour, or it's the actual name of the hue - you know, like Ranging Green or Megalithic Blue.Three
The numerical network also confirmed it would be stocking the Sony Xperia Z and it's now given us a LOAD more information. You can pre-order the new phone from today although the cheapest contract price will start at £34 a month with a £69 upfront cost, and will be available from 28 February. You can also buy it on PAYG though, and it's at a relatively cheap £449.99 if you want to go down this route. Three is also throwing in a pair of Sony headphones worth £300 for the first 1000 customers to nab one, but chances are that deal will be sucked up faster than a Dyson hopped up on Red Bull.Vodafone
Big Red has done a blog post outlining some of the specs you'll have read about loads already, but it's also managed to confirm via Twitter that it will be stocking the phone from 28 February. You annoyingly can't pre-order yet, but we're sure it will pop up pretty soon.EE / Orange / T-Mobile
Nothing from this tri-headed behemoth as yet, but we've asked the question and it has promised to furnish us with details as they become available.
Phones 4U
The independent retailer is already open for pre-registration on this top-end phone, and has now updated its listing to reveal prices and a special gift* for those that sign up. The Xperia Z will be landing on 28 February (if you're not seeing the pattern here, shame on you) and will start at £36 a month on a range of networks. * It's those blasted Sony headphones again. The electronics brand must have a surplus it can't shift.Carphone Warehouse
We're going to get a little quote-y on yo' asses now: "Carphone Warehouse, has confirmed that it will be stocking the brand new Sony Xperia Z from launch in February." Saves us from writing that. The retailer also confirmed that the Z will be available in later February to purchase, so it could beat Phones 4U to the punch of actually getting it into the hands of consumers. We're going to be updating this piece with prices and any more definitive release dates as and when we get them (plus the inevitable offers of more headphones for EVERYONE) – stay with us during this difficult time.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 release date, news and rumours
We've got the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Note 10.1, but there's a smaller sized tablet missing in this line up: enter the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0.
Apparently developed under the codename "Kona", the Galaxy Note 8.0 seems set to be the name the tablet will go to market with.
Although not yet officially confirmed there's an awful lot of talk on the web that Samsung is readying a new, S-Pen wielding slate to slip between the two devices currently making up the Note family.
In fact Samsung's Head of Mobile, JK Shin has apparently confirmed that the Galaxy Note 8.0 will indeed arrive at MWC 2013 in Barcelona.
Although Samsung already has the Galaxy Tab 7.0 and Galaxy Tab 7.7 on the market, it may be that the company sees the Galaxy Note 8.0 as it's best chance of directly competing against Apple's 7.9-inch iPad mini, given its unique styus-based spin.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 release date
Everything seems to point to an MWC 2013 unveiling for the Galaxy Note 8.0, with Samsung's Head of Mobile even reportedly confirming a Barcelona launch. MWC 2013 kicks off during the last week of February, but don't go thinking you'll be able to lay your hands on the Galaxy Note 8.0 anytime soon, as it will probably take a month or two to reach stores. That means we'll probably see the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 release date set for around April - watch this space.Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 price
We'd expect to see the Galaxy Note 8.0 carry a healthy price tag as it will be competing more with the iPad mini than the likes of the budget focussed Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD. The iPad mini starts at £269/$329/AU$369, so in true Samsung fashion the Galaxy Note 8.0 will probably look to undercut its Cupertino-based rival in an attempt to pull customers away from Apple.Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 screen
Unsurprisingly the Galaxy Note 8.0 will sport, yes, you've guess it, an 8-inch display, with early reports suggesting it will pack Super Clear LCD technology and a decent 1280 x 800 resolution. If true it would mean the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 would have an ever-so-slightly better display than the iPad mini, but there's not a lot in it.Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 operating system
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 will almost certainly come running Android Jelly Bean out of the box, but whether it will be version 4.1 or 4.2 is still up for debate. According to SamMobile the Note 8.0 will indeed ship with the very latest version of Jelly Bean - Android 4.2 - which would be excellent news for anyone interested in picking one up.Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 specs
There have been a couple of specification leaks regarding the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 recently, both of which come via SamMobile. As well as the 8-inch display and Jelly Bean OS the Galaxy Note 8.0 will apparently pack 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, microSD slot, 5MP rear camera, 3G option, 4,600mAh battery and of course the famous S-Pen stylus. A second set of specs turned up a few days later claiming to be from Spanish marketing material for the Galaxy Note 8.0. This leak revealed that the slate is likely to pack a 1.6GHz quad-core processor alongside the 2GB of RAM and 5MP camera, but this report suggests you'll only get 16GB of internal memory. Samsung could well offer the Galaxy Note 8.0 in both 16GB and 32GB variants, as well as having the option to throw in 3G connectivity if you so wish.Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 image leaks
The first glimpse we potentially got of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 came via SamMobile; the site was sent a snap of a Spanish listing for the tablet revealing some specs alongside photos of the front and back of the tablet. In terms of looks the Galaxy Note 8.0 looks to be an upscaled Galaxy Note 2, instead of a down sized Galaxy Note 10.1.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 design is reinforced in our second set of photo leaks, this time showing the Galaxy Note 8.0 taking a ride on public transport.
Interestingly in these sanps the Galaxy Note 8.0 is sporting a physical home button flanked by touch sensitive back and menu keys, as found on the smartphone and it's something which didn't feature in the image above.
Last up, for now anyway, is a snap found by French site FR Android which sees the supposed Galaxy Note 8.0 sitting beside the Galaxy Note 2.
The famous Samsung button set up from its smartphone range is present once again on the front of Galaxy Note 8.0 making it look more like a phone than a tablet.
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Updated: Best compact system camera 2013: the best models reviewed
Best compact system cameras
Update: We've added the latest great CSCs and updated the listings with current selling prices, including Australian market prices. The popularity of compact system cameras (CSCs) has exploded over the last couple of years because of the quality images and flexibility of use they deliver. There are models available from all of the key camera manufacturers including Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung and Sony. Although choice is generally a good thing, the vast array of CSCs on the market today can make choosing the right one a daunting prospect. The popularity of these cameras can be put down to a number of factors. Being able to change lenses increases creative possibilities, plus the large image sensor (when compared to compact cameras) in many helps to improve noise levels at high sensitivities and boost dynamic range. Recent advances in sensor technology have also helped to close the gap in image quality between these cameras and bulkier DSLRs. Above all else, the compact size means that compact system cameras are not left at home due to their bulk, which, for many, can bring the fun back into picture taking. Models range from those best suited to snap-shooters, right through to cameras with professional-level controls and features. We've taken a good look through the CSC ranges each manufacturer has to offer and taken each model's strengths into account, to help you to find the camera best tailored to your particular requirements. Prices listed are typical selling prices for standard packages with a basic zoom lens included, in the UK, Australia and the US. We've grouped the best compact system cameras by brand and ranges, to help you to find your way around the best CSCs on offer now.Panasonic Micro Four Thirds range
Developed jointly by Olympus and Panasonic, the Micro Four Thirds system was the first true mirrorless interchangeable lens camera system available. The imaging sensor has an aspect ratio of 4:3, unlike many other cameras that stick to the same 3:2 aspect ratio of 35mm film. There's also a crop factor of 2x, which means a 25mm lens is required to provide the same angle of view of a 50mm lens used on a 35mm camera. Currently, Micro Four Thirds camera owners have the widest range of lenses to choose from, with lenses from both manufacturers being compatible with all Micro Four Thirds cameras. Due to the wide support this system enjoys, third-party lens and accessory manufacturers such as Sigma and Voigtlander also supply compatible products. Adaptors for a wide range of lenses are available to enable them to be mounted on Micro Four Thirds cameras.Panasonic G5
Price: £630/AU$1,000/US$800 Spec: 16MP, 1080p video, 3-inch adjustable touchscreen, EVF
Featuring a newly designed 16MP digital sensor and Venus Engine VII FHD processor, Panasonic promises that the G5 delivers images that are cleaner and freer of noise than seen before on a G series camera. Panasonic is keen to call the G5 a Digital Single Lens Mirrorless (DSLM) camera, since it's slightly bigger than most CSCs.
Innovative new features such as the TouchPad AF operation and Eye Sensor AF are appealing. It also has a good number of automatic controls, digital filters and scene guides to appeal to novices or those looking simply to point and shoot.
The Panasonic G5 is our Best mid-range CSC award-winner.
Read our Panasonic G5 review
Panasonic GF5
Price: £400/AU$700/US$520 Spec: 12.1MP, 1080p video, 3-inch touchscreen
Panasonic has done a great job at building a compact system camera that will appeal very strongly to those looking to step up from compact or bridge models, while keeping enough manual controls to satisfy those looking for more.
The amount of detail the Panasonic Lumix GF5 captures is particularly impressive - especially considering the lens we used for the majority of our shots was the supplied kit lens (albeit the more expensive option). This is a great option for those looking to get started with a compact system camera.
The Panasonic Lumix GF5 wins our Best entry-level CSC award.
Read our Panasonic GF5 review
Panasonic GX1
Price: £440/AU$840/US$470 Spec: 16MP, 1080p video, 3-inch LCD touchscreen, extensive manual control
Aimed at enthusiasts and experienced photographers, the Panasonic Lumix GX1 sports plenty of manual control options in a compact, rugged metal body. Adjustments can be made via the camera's physical controls or via the 3-inch touchscreen interface.
A resolution of 16MP enables large high-quality prints to be produced, and video can be recorded at 1080p in the popular AVCHD format. Support for SD, SDHC and SDXC cards is also included, providing plenty of storage options.
Although no optical viewfinder is included, an accessory port on the rear enables an electronic viewfinder to be attached with relative ease. Other stand-out features include a maximum continuous shooting speed of 5.5 frames per second (fps) and an electronic level, which will help to ensure your images don't suffer from wonky horizons and leaning buildings.
Read our full Panasonic GX1 review
Panasonic G3
Price: £470/AU$745/US$650 Spec: 16MP, 1080p video, 3-inch swivel LCD touchscreen, built-in EVF
The Panasonic Lumix G3 squeezes advanced controls, an electronic viewfinder (EVF) and a 3-inch swivel touchscreen interface into a svelte lightweight body with DSLR styling.
20fps continuous shooting is possible at a reduced resolution of 4MP, and a not too shabby rate of 4fps at full resolution, making this camera suitable for capturing fast-moving action.
Generally well received at its launch, the Panasonic Lumix G3 also produces high resolution 16MP images, suitable for reproduction at large sizes, and 1080p video recording in the popular AVCHD format.
Read our full Panasonic G3 review
Panasonic GH3
Price: £1199/US$1298/AU$1230 Spec: 16.05MP 17.3x13mm Live MOS sensor, Full HD video, 3-inch 614,000-dot variangle touchscreen
Panasonic has made the GH3 more appealing to serious photographers than the Panasonic GH2 by increasing the number of direct controls it has on its body and giving it a more robust magnesium alloy construction that is dust and weatherproof.
The GH3 is also quite a bit bigger than the GH2 that it replaces and it is a similar size to an entry-level SLR.
As on the GH2, the GH3's 3-inch screen is touch-sensitive, but it's a capacitive device and very responsive, so it makes selecting settings, making adjustments and scrolling through images very easy.
The GH3 produces high quality still images and movie footage, but as is often the case, we recommend keeping the sensitivity below ISO 6400 where possible.
All the modern conveniences that we want from a digital compact system camera are provided by the GH3; a decent EVF, an articulating capacitive touchscreen, Wi-Fi connectivity and a fast autofocus system. Not to mention excellent image quality.
Read our Panasonic GH3 review
Olympus PENs
Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2
Price: £500/AU$600/US$600 Spec: 16.1MP, 1080p video, fixed 3-inch touchscreen, TruePic VI image processor
Olympus announced the PEN Mini E-PM2 and the PEN Lite E-PL3 together, at Photokina 2012. Both feature touchscreen controls for quick and easy autofocusing, plus ports for external EVFs, the Mini has a smaller body than the Lite, and a fixed LCD screen rather than an articulating one.
It also has the same excellent 16.1MP Four Thirds type sensor and TruePic VI image processor as the Olympus OM-D, Olympus's premier compact system camera. Another feature borrowed from the OM-D is Live Bulb mode for long exposures, which shows you the image building up on the LCD screen so you can simply close the shutter when the exposure looks right.
Read our Hands on: Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 review
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5
Price: £600/AU$800/US$700 Spec: 16.1MP, 1080p video, 3-inch tiltable touchscreen, 12 art filters
As before, the new Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5 is smaller than the Olympus PEN, but bigger than the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2. Like the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 that it replaces, the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5 has a tilting 3-inch screen, and it's now touch-sensitive.
The touchscreen works with the Live Guide that helps novices make settings adjustments, with the 12 art filters, with Touch Shutter mode and for setting autofocus points. The compact system camera also accepts interchangeable grips that are fixed onto the body by a chunky screw.
Read our Olympus E-PL5 review
Olympus OM-D E-M5
Price: £1,150/AU$1,210/US$1,100 Spec: 16MP, 1080p Video, 3.0-inch OLED tilting screen, Dust and splash proof magnesium alloy body, Built in EVF
Harking back to the classic design of Olympus OM 35mm SLR cameras, the OM-D E-M5 mixes retro styling with modern sophistication. A 16 megapixel LiveMOS sensor, capable of recording images at sensitivities up to ISO 25600 and full HD video, is encased with a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body with a built-in electronic viewfinder and a tiltable three inch OLED screen.
Being aimed at serious photographers, the OM-D sports quick access to manual exposure functions. A newly developed five-axis sensor-shift image stabilisation system also promises to keep images sharp across the frame by compensations for body movement as well as vertical and horizontal camera movements. This new system also works during video recording.
Read our Olympus OM-D review
Olympus PEN E-P3
Price: £650/AU$880/US$730 Spec: 12.3MP, 1080p video, 3-inch OLED touchscreen, dual control dials, built-in flash
Don't be fooled by the chunky retro styling, the Olympus PEN E-P3 is the most advanced CSC from Olympus to date. Housed in the robust metal frame is a 3-inch OLED capacitive touchscreen to aid quick menu navigation. Capacitive touchscreens tend to be more responsive than the resistive type found on most digital cameras, resulting in a slicker user experience, although it isn't possible to use a non-conductive stylus for greater accuracy.
Aimed at experienced photographers and enthusiasts, two control dials give direct access to shutter and aperture functions when shooting in manual exposure mode. Interchangeable finger grips are available too, to customise handling.
This is the first flagship Olympus PEN model to include a built-in flash, which is handy for fill-in and for illuminating dark scenes. As with all Olympus PEN models, image stabilisation is built into the body rather than the lens, so all lenses benefit from this technology. The 12.3MP Live-MOS sensor provides ample resolution for prints up to A3 in size, and Full 1080p HD videos can be recorded with stereo sound.
Read our full Olympus PEN E-P3 review
Sony NEX range
Although Sony NEX cameras aren't the most compact on offer here, they sport a large APS-C sensorwith a crop factor of 1.5x. This means a 30mm lens is required to provide the same angle of view as a standard 45mm lens on a 35mm camera. Larger sensors have a greater surface area available for reacting with light, which should improve performance at high sensitivities and dynamic range in high contrast situations. Having more surface area available also enables higher pixel counts to be achieved. A decent number of additional lenses are available for the NEX system, with third-party lens manufacturers such as Tamron beginning to support the E-mount. Owners of Sony Alpha cameras can purchase an adaptor to enable A-mount lenses to be used with the cameras too.Sony NEX-F3
Price: £410/AU$700/US$600 Spec: 16.1MP, 1080p video, 3-inch tiltable LCD screen, strong high ISO performance
The Sony NEX-C3 has been revised and replaced by the Sony NEX-F3, which has an APS-C sizedCMOS sensor, a resolution of 16.1MP and maximum sensitivity setting of IS0 16000.
A bulkier body and decent finger grip make controls easier to access. All the usual metering modes and manual functions are included too, along with two fully automatic picture-taking modes for those who wish to simply point and shoot.
Read our Sony NEX-F3 review
Sony NEX-5R
Price: £670/AU$800/US$650 Spec: 16.1MP, 1080p video, 3-inch tilting touchscreen, Wi-Fi
The NEX-5R is the first Sony CSC with Wi-Fi connectivity, and is a significant upgrade on the Sony NEX-5N. The inclusion of downloadable apps enables quick and easy customisation, and the new hybrid AF system works well.
The Sony NEX-R5 shows how compact system cameras are really coming into their own. The design doesn't have to rely on retro chic, but instead uses modern research and development to create a compact body shape that both fits the electronics and also feels comfortable to hold.
Read our Hands on: Sony NEX-5R review
Sony NEX-6
Price: £619/US$848/AU$998 Spec: 16.1MP APS-C format CMOS sensor, Full HD video, 3-inch 921,000-dot tilting LCD, 2,359,000-dot EVF
Unlike the Sony 5R below it in Sony's CSC line-up, the Sony NEX-6 has an electronic viewfinder (EVF) built-in. There's also a pop-up flash and a standard design hot-shoe to accept a flashgun.
Oddly, however, the screen is not touch-sensitive like the 5R's and it can't tilt right up to help with self-portraits.
As usual the enthusiast's favourite exposure modes (aperture priority, shutter priority and manual) are available along with a collection of scene modes for less experienced users. The camera is also Wi-Fi enabled and is compatible with Sony's apps to add extra functionality.
We found the NEX-6 a very enjoyable camera to use and it produces some excellent results that can be shared directly on social networking sites like Facebook.
Read our Sony NEX-6 review
Sony NEX-7
Price: £950/AU$1,500/US$1,350 Spec: 24.3MP, 1080p video, 3-inch tiltable LCD screen, EVF, direct manual control
A compact system camera with professional ambition. The Sony NEX-7 is the flagship model in the Sony CSC range, sporting a 24.3MP CMOS sensor, Full HD video recording and direct manual controls. The high pixel count should enable really large prints to be produced.
A 3-inch tiltable LCD screen provides extra flexibility when shooting, and the lightweight magnesium body feels reassuringly rugged.
A high-resolution OLED electronic viewfinder is included, enabling you to choose your preferred method for composing images. ISO sensitivities up to ISO 16000 are available, enabling images to be taken in very dark conditions.
The Sony NEX-7 wins our Best advanced CSC award.
Read our full Sony NEX 7 review
Nikon 1 Series
Nikon was late to the compact system camera party with the 1 Series, and the announcement was quite a surprise for many, due to the small sensor size and other new technologies included as standard. The CX format sensor, at 13.2 x 8.8mm, is much smaller than the APS-C sensor in the Sony NEX series and the Micro Four Thirds sensor in Olympus and Panasonic CSCs. This results in a crop factor of 2.7x, which means an 18.5mm lens would provide an angle of view equivalent to a 50mm lens used on a 35mm camera. Having such a small sensor may cause issues for Nikon producing wide-angle lenses for the system, due to the short focal lengths required. Currently only a few lenses are available for the system, but an adaptor is available to enable Nikon F Mount lenses to be used. Nikon is the only manufacturer currently to employ a hybrid focusing system, which combines the benefits of phase and contrast detection autofocus. To reduce shutter lag, the 1 series also begins taking images before the shutter is fully pressed.Nikon 1 J2
Price: £500/AU$600/US$550 Spec: 10.1MP, 1080p video, 3-inch LCD screen, creative mode
Unlike other systems, Nikon uses a smaller, 1-inch CX format sensor in the Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2, which enables a smaller overall body size.
More of a tweak here and there than a full-blown upgrade, the Nikon 1 J2 nevertheless is a good camera that is more than fit for purpose. The extra resolution on the screen is a welcome addition, as is the ability to more quickly access creative modes.
Read our Nikon 1 J2 review
Nikon 1 J1
Price: £350/AU$680/US$600 Spec: 10.1MP, 1080p video, 3-inch LCD screen, 60fps continuous shooting
Aimed at those ready for a step up from conventional compact digital cameras, the Nikon1 J1 is designed to be compact and, above all, easy to use. The modest 10.1MP resolution is among the lowest found on current CSCs, but since each pixel should have a larger area to react to light, this should help the camera's performance at high ISO sensitivities. A built-in flash is available for extra illumination.
The sleek, compact body is available in a range of five colours, enabling you to choose the one that suits you best. In addition to the HD video feature, which can record 1080p resolution footage, full resolution still images can be taken during recording, which is quite a handy feature. Fast action can be captured at a blazingly fast 60fps at full resolution too.
The Smart Photo Selector feature shoots images before and after the shutter button is pressed, saving the 'best' five to the memory card for whittling down later. This feature is unique to the Nikon 1 series, and should increase your chances of getting the shot you're after.
Read our full Nikon 1 J1 review
Nikon 1 V1
Price: £500/AU$950/US$900 Spec: 10.1MP, 1080p video, 3-inch LCD screen, EVF, 60fps continuous shooting
The Nikon V1 is very similar to the J1, except that it has a higher resolution 3-inch LCD screen and an electronic viewfinder, but lacks a built-in flash. A hotshoe is provided for attaching the new Speedlight SB-N5, which is an optional extra.
The same Smart Photo Selector feature and still image taking during movie recording are present, as is the ability to take shots continuously at 60fps.
Slow motion video at 400fps complements the HD video feature, which records 1080p video at 60fps.
Read our full Nikon 1 V1 review
Samsung NX System
Samsung is often overlooked when considering cameras, but its NX Series of compact system cameras is well worth investigating. Based around an APS-C sized sensor, similar to the Sony NEX series, this results in a crop factor of 1.5x. A reasonable selection of lenses is available to choose from, with most popular focal lengths covered. The latest iFunction lenses enable common functions such as ISO, aperture and exposure compensation to be adjusted via the manual focus ring on the lens, providing an intuitive method for manual control.Samsung NX1000
Price: £400/AU$650/US$550 Spec: 20.3MP, 1080p video, 3-inch LCD screen, Wi-Fi
Samsung's new NX1000 is the most light and compact member of its CSC lineup, but it houses the same 20.3 million pixel sensor as the NX210 and NX20, an APS-C format sensor and Wi-Fi functionality.
Although the NX1000 lacks the quality feel of the other NX cameras, it provides a lot of functionality. And given that it has the same sensor and processor, it should produce comparable images at a more attractive price.
Read our Hands on: Samsung NX1000 review
Samsung NX200
Price: £400/AU$500/US$700 Spec: 20.3MP, 1080p video, 3-inch AMOLED screen, 7fps continuous shooting
Samsung's flagship compact system camera sports an APS-C sized sensor with a whopping 20.3MP squeezed onto it, enabling very high resolution images to be taken, which are suitable for producing large prints. If shooting fast action, these huge images can be captured at a rate of 7fps, so it may be worth investing in a very large memory card to accompany this camera.
Sensitivities from ISO 100 to ISO 12800 can be selected, making the Samsung NX200 suitable for shooting in a wide range of lighting conditions. Full HD video footage can also be recorded.
The sleek metal body is rugged, reasonably lightweight and contains a bright 3-inch AMOLED screen. There's no built-in flash unit, but a hotshoe connection for an external flash is provided.
Read our full Samsung NX200 review
Samsung NX11
Price: £430/AU$600/Not sold in the US Spec: 14.6MP, 720p video, 3-inch AMOLED screen, EVF
Samsung's NX11 has more conventional DSLR styling and is the only current NX series camera to sport a electronic viewfinder. The same 3-inch AMOLED screen found on other NX cameras is also fitted to the NX11.
A 14.6MP CMOS sensor should provide ample resolution for most users, and HD videos can be recorded at 720p resolution.
A lens priority mode provides optimised exposure settings for the attached lens and scene. Pressing the iFunction button on the lens enables the correct parameters to be entered quickly and simply.
Read our full Samsung NX11 review
Canon, Pentax, Ricoh, Leica and Fuji
Canon EOS M
Price: £770/AU$900/US$780 Spec: 18MP, 1080p video, 3-inch touchscreen, EF lens adaptors
Canon finally entered the CSC fray with the long awaited EOS M, which uses the exact same 18MP APS-C format sensor and other innards as the Canon EOS 650D. One notable difference from the 650D, however, is the use of the new Canon EF-M lens mount, which has a shallower flange depth.
Canon wanted to produce a high quality camera that is easy to use and bridges the gap between compact and DSLR cameras. On the face of it, it seems to have achieved this and more, with adaptors for your EF and EF-lenses even available. However, although the image quality is superb, the M is let down by its slow autofocus system.
Read our Canon EOS M review
Pentax K-01
Price: £470/AU$600/US$630 Spec: 16MP, 1080p Video, ISO 100-25600, Compatible with all Pentax K-mount lenses
Pentax Q
Price: £280/AU$450/US$400 Spec: 12.4MP, 1080p video, 3-inch LCD screen, smallest CSC currently available
Unlike most other manufacturers, that opted for larger sensors in their compact system cameras, Pentax has chosen to use a sensor no bigger than can be found in many mid-to-high-end compact cameras for the Q. This has enabled Pentax to create the smallest camera with interchangeable lenses currently available.
The 1/2.3'-inch sized sensor produces 12.4MP images, and 1080p HD video can be recorded. Despite the small sensor size, sensitivities up to ISO 6400 are available.
The range of lenses available is currently very limited, bolstered by the addition of a couple of low-cost 'toy' lenses, so it'll be interesting to see whether Pentax releases more optics in the near future. A built-in flash is provided, and a hotshoe will accept an external flashgun.
Read our full Pentax Q review
Ricoh GXR
Price: £325/AU$750/US$580 Spec: Various sensors available, lens and sensor come as one complete unit
Ricoh's GXR is truly unique. Instead of just changing the lens, each lens comes with its own sensor tailored to the job. Although this novel idea makes sense as far as future-proofing the camera is concerned, it means each lens costs almost as much as a camera itself. It also means each lens unit can be a different resolution, to suit your different needs.
Ricoh continues to release new lens units and accessories for the system, the most exciting being a Leica M-series unit, which can accept a wide range of M-series-compatible lenses. Within this unit is a 12MP APS-C sensor, with a crop factor of 1.5x.
This certainly isn't a mainstream system, but if it ticks certain boxes for you, it may be worth a closer look.
Read our full Ricoh GXR review
Leica M9
Price: £4,950/AU$8,000/US$7,000 (body only) Spec: Various sensors available, lens and sensor come as one complete unit
The Leica M system has existed longer before digital cameras and CSCs were conceived, but the M-series cameras are mirrorless rangefinders. Hence, the M9 deserves a place in this buying guide.
Leica has a reputation for quality that precedes each camera it releases, and these cameras come at a price. Those with a taste for the exotic may consider the Leica M9, the only camera in this list to use a sensor which is equal in size to 35mm film.
The M9's die cast brass construction is incredibly rugged and controls are kept simple. The body also houses an 18MP Kodak CCD sensor specifically designed for the M9. A micro-lens arrangement on the sensor surface is designed to reduce darkening towards the corners, especially with wide-angle lenses. The highest ISO sensitivity available is ISO 2500.
Unlike other mirrorless cameras, there's no video mode or autofocus - focusing is manual, using the rangefinder in the optical viewfinder for reference. Although not for everyone, the Leica M9 is still a compelling choice for photography enthusiasts, collectors and those who require a good digital rangefinder camera.
Read our full Leica M9 review
Fuji X-E1
Price: £1,150/(around AU$1,810))/US$1,400 Spec: 16MP, 1080p video, 2.8-inch LCD screen, EVF, APS-C sized X-Trans CMOS sensor
Combining the fantastic technology of the Fuji X-Pro1 with a more consumer-friendly price and a smaller, more streamlined body will surely make the Fuji X-E1 appeal to a wide range of people.
Adding a new 18-55mm kit lens to the lineup of the Fuji X range of CSCs is also a smart move, which will again appeal to a new crowd. The fact that the lens has a metal build and a wide f/2.8 aperture should also mean that it wins favour with existing X series users, and should allay fears of a drop in performance that is usually associated with kit optics.
Read our Hands on: Fuji X-E1 review
Fuji X-Pro1
Price: £1,540/AU$1,900/US$1,700 Spec: 16.3MP, 1080p video, 3-inch RGBW LCD screen, hybrid viewfinder
Fujifilm has created quite a stir with its announcement of the X-Pro1 mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. It uses the same hybrid viewfinder technology as the Fuji FinePix X100 compact camera. The viewfinder can be switched between an optical or a digital view instantly, with vital exposure information overlaid when using the optical viewfinder.
Fuji has developed a new lens mount for the system, which has a wide opening, enabling lenses to be mounted closer to the image sensor. This should help with lens quality, especially with wide-angles, because the short distance to the sensor can result in simpler optical design. The CSC's Leica M mount adaptor will open up a range of high-quality optics from Leica and Voigtlander.
A newly developed 16.3MP APS-C sized X-Trans CMOS sensor lies at the heart of the Fuji X-Pro1. This sensor is unique, since the individual RGB photosites are arranged more randomly than conventional Bayer pattern sensors. This is claimed to reduce Moiré patterning, so the sensor doesn't require an anti-aliasing filter, which should greatly improve sharpness of images.
Although the images from the X-Pro 1 can't quite match those from full-frame sensors for detail, they are very impressive and the dynamic range is excellent. This is definitely a camera to consider if you like traditional exposure controls.
Read our Fujifilm FinePix X-Pro1 review
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Review: Sony NEX-5R
Introduction
The Sony NEX-5R directly replaces the Sony NEX-5N as the company's mid-range compact system camera offering. While the 5N saw boosted resolution, sensitivity range and continuous shooting rate over the original Sony NEX-5, that launched in 2010, the Sony NEX-5R retains many of the same specifications set down by the previous release. However, this is not to say that the 5R is just a 5N with a few additions - the 16.1 million pixel APS-C sensor has been redesigned to incorporate a new super-fast hybrid AF system, and this is the first Sony CSC to feature Wi-Fi connectivity. The big news for this release, however, has to be its downloadable apps. Design-wise, the basic shape has remained much the same, retaining the ultra-small streamline body that defines the NEX range. Size-wise the Sony NEX-5R is just a touch larger than your average compact camera.
The kit lens, however, is an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6, so is more akin to a full-size DSLR lens, which makes the camera look a little unbalanced when compared with its Micro Four Thirds rivals.
Despite the similarities between the Sony NEX-5N and Sony NEX-5R's exteriors, there are a few key differences; firstly the new large control dial, Fn (Function) button and the touchscreen that now tilts to 180 degrees above the camera and 50 degrees down, similar to the Sony NEX-F3.
Sony NEX-R5 at a glance
Sensor: 16.1MP, APS-C Exmor CMOS
LCD screen: 3-inch 921k dot resolution
Video resolution: Full HD AVCHD/MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) up to 1920 x 1080 50p
ISO range: ISO 100-25600
Dimensions: 110.8 x 58.8 x 38.9mm (4.4 x 2.3 x 1.5 inches), 218g (0.48lbs) body only
Features
New headline features on the Sony NEX-5R include the design of the APS-C sensor; improved sensitivity performance; a hybrid autofocus system; app compatibility; Wi-Fi connectivity; 180-degree tiltable touchscreen; new control dial and function button. All hopes for an integrated flash will have to wait until a later release, if at all. There is, however, a small external flash that slots into the accessory port on the top of the body. This small flash is included in the kit. The 16.1 million pixel APS-C sensor has been redesigned to include a new hybrid AF system, which combines both contrast and phase detection. This new sensor teamed with Sony's Bionz processor is claimed to enable super-fast AF, an impressive 10fps shooting speed and improved high sensitivity performance.
The Sony NEX-5N improved on the sensitivity range of the NEX-5, adding a stop to either end of the scale and increasing the range from ISO 200-12800 on the NEX-5 to ISO 100-25600 on the NEX-5N. Now the Sony NEX-5R retains the range of the NEX-5N.
However, Sony has worked hard to improve the quality of images at the higher sensitivity values.
It's not just the inner workings and technological advancements that have been introduced to the Sony NEX-5R, there are also a few more grass root additions that make taking pictures on a CSC that much more intuitive, and these have migrated from the Sony NEX-F3 and Sony NEX-7.
Firstly, the tilt screen design is similar to the NEX-F3's, and gives a full 180-degree tilt above the camera so that the screen can face the same direction as the lens. This makes taking self portraits that much easier, and features a handy visual countdown feature on the run up to the picture being taken.
In the opposite direction, there's a 50-degree downwards tilt. This greater flexibility is a great improvement over the tilting screen on the NEX-5N, but still doesn't match the flexibility of a fully articulated screen.
As on the NEX-5N, the screen is also touch-sensitive, with a touch shutter mode and controls that are all quickly accessible with your finger.
On the top of the camera's body there's a new control dial, similar in many ways to one of the two that appear on the top-of-the-range Sony NEX-7. This can be used to quickly change settings, such as aperture and shutter speed, depending on the mode you're in.
Mounted next to this is a function button that again enables you to quickly access different settings, such as focus or white balance.
Both these and other buttons on the back of the Sony NEX-5R's body can be customised in the set up menu to fine-tune the handling to your liking.
Apps
Apps were the big new feature on the Sony NEX-5R. As with any smartphone, these can be downloaded directly, without the need for a computer. You do need to join Sony's PlayMemories service, but once done, with the camera connected to Wi-Fi, it all looks pretty straightforward.
The apps include some great image effects, a rather interesting cinema effect that looks like it mixes stills with movies to create a cinemagraph-like image, and a remote app that will enable you to adjust settings and remotely release the camera via your iPhone or Android phone.
Of course with apps you need a way to download them to the body, and to help keep things simple the Sony NEX-5R has Wi-Fi built in, a first for the NEX range of cameras.
Firstly this is great for direct access to apps, but it will also enable you to download your images directly to your computer or phone without cables, once the devices being used are paired and the required software is installed.
If other recent releases of this type are anything to go by, this process should be pretty quick and straightforward.
Build quality and handling
Even with the larger APS-C format sensor, the Sony NEX-5R's body is smaller than some of the Micro Four Thirds offerings, such as the Panasonic GF5 and Olympus PEN E-P3. Despite this, the pronounced textured grip enables good purchase in use, and handling feels more comfortable than on many other CSCs. The build is also reassuring, with the quality of finish that you'd hope for and expect from Sony. All dials and buttons have a defined click that assures you they have been pressed or positioned correctly. It's a small thing, but one that's often overlooked with many of these smaller cameras.
One really nice feature is the battery and card slot door on the base. This has been designed in such a way so that even when mounted on a tripod it can be accessed without having to remove the tripod's base plate. This is a design feature almost always overlooked on other cameras.
The only part that lets down the Sony NEX-5R's build are the small flap doors that cover the accessories and HDMI/USB port. While these match the body well, they feel a little flimsy and likely to break after a year or two of use.
The addition of the new control dial and function button really change the way this cameras feels and handles when shooting. We found that when shooting in aperture or shutter priority, the ability to quickly change settings with your thumb enables a more fluid experience, almost reminiscent of using a lens aperture ring.
When using the camera in aperture, shutter or manual mode we found that the Sony NEX-5R's top control dial gives quick access to settings adjustments, increasing the speed at which a picture can be taken and enabling quick changes when needed to compensate exposure.
This new control dial offers a big usability enhancement over the Sony NEX-5N. Couple this with the new Fn button and most major settings can be directly accessed, giving this compact system camera a high performance feel more akin to a DSLR.
The top also sees a new Fn button, which can be clicked to access key features such as focus, AF mode, AF selection, white balance, metering and effects, again changing the settings using either control dial. The function of this and the control dials can be customised through the settings menu, but we found the default setup intuitive and easy to use.
The updated 3-inch touchscreen has a 921k dot resolution, and while in shade it shows the image clearly, out in bright sunlight the high gloss finish of the surface makes it difficult to see what's going on. During the test, a lens cloth was put to good use, cleaning the screen to remove finger marks that made it almost impossible to see the image or settings.
As with the NEX-5N, there is an optional EVF available that will slot into the accessories port.
The Sony NEX-5R's touchscreen is pressure-sensitive, and worked well throughout testing. As well as being able to use the screen to select focus points and as a touch shutter, you can select options and scroll through settings.
In use, this was all responsive, although the control dials offer a far more accurate form of navigation and selection than using the touchscreen.
App compatibility is the big new feature, and these apps can be accessed through their own section in the main menu. The camera ships with a selection pre-loaded apps, and further apps will be available in late October. We'll bring you an update at the time.
The effects app gives you a series of different visual effects that are applied to the image when shooting. Once the app is selected it takes about five seconds to load (this may just be due to early firmware) and then each of the effects can be selected, giving a similar selection to the Art Filters found on the Olympus PEN range.
Performance
We found that JPEG images direct from the Sony NEX-5R look clear and crisp, with the multi-purpose metering system doing a good job of working out the correct exposure for the scene.
In fact the metering gets it close to spot-on about 90% of the time. However, in high contrast situations there is a slight overcompensation for the highlights, with shadow detail in JPEGs being lost.
This shadow detail can still be recovered in the raw files when using sensitivity settings up to an impressive ISO 6400, or we found you could compensate the shadows in JPEGs by switching on the DRO (Dynamic Range Optimisation) settings to DRO Lv3 or above to instantly lift the shadows and balance the exposures for high-contrast shots.
The new hybrid AF system uses both contrast and phase detection, automatically choosing the best to use depending on the conditions, and in some situations it will use both to ensure fast focus.
In bright daylight conditions, we found this system was capable of finding and locking onto the target quickly and accurately. Even when tested in low light conditions, there was little if any let-up in AF speed.
The phase detection part of the Sony NEX-5R's autofocus system features 99 detection points, and contrast detection has 25 points. When using the camera in high speed shooting mode with continuous AF, we were able to capture a higher than average amount of frames in focus.
Using spot focus proved that the Sony NEX-5R's AF system is fast and accurate, but even when switching to multi-point AF the camera's sensors worked out the point of interest and locked on to their target with little lens refocusing.
The combined system worked well with all conditions we threw at it, and with three AF options - Multi, Flexible and Spot - it offers a good amount of flexibility.
Looking through the images there's a noticeable difference between the JPEG and raw files when it comes to dynamic range, especially in high-contrast shots. While some shadow detail is lost in JPEGs, this dark shadow detail in the raw files can still be easily recovered.
As with previous NEX cameras, noise is handled well, with little if any being visible in images up to ISO 3200. Above this value, noise does start to encroach, but not to the cost of the image.
At the highest settings of ISO 12800-25600, noise within JPEGs is still handled well, but zooming into the image at 100% reveals the high amount of smoothing that has been applied to hide the noise, and cost the image its detail.
However, if the image is destined for a small 6 x 5-inch print or small web thumbnail, who's going to notice? You still have a usable image at this size.
If we compare images shot at these high sensitivities of ISO 12800 and 25600 from the Sony NEX-5N and Sony NEX-5R, we can see that while noise is apparent in both, the NEX-5R has the edge for detail.
Overall image quality is good, and results for signal to noise ratio and dynamic range, especially in raw files, show a strong performance compared to its competitors. However, the resolution results are fairly average, despite an improvement over the Sony NEX-5N.
In fact, the Sony NEX-5R's resolution results at the lower end of the sensitivity scale lag behind those of the Panasonic G5, Samsung NX20 and Olympus PEN E-P3, but at higher sensitivities the Sony NEX-5R redeems itself.
During the test, Auto White Balance was selected for the majority of shots, and as we checked through the resulting JPEG images, we initially felt that they lacked the vibrance and saturation that we'd normally expect from this level of camera.
However, this is not altogether a bad trait, since the colour itself is extremely accurate, with little colour cast and good neutral tones that give the pictures a pleasing natural look.
Image quality and resolution
As part of our image quality testing for the Sony NEX-5R, we've shot our resolution chart. If you view our crops of the resolution chart's central section at 100% (or Actual Pixels) you will see that, for example, at ISO 100 the Sony NEX-5R is capable of resolving up to around 22 (line widths per picture height x100) in its highest quality JPEG files. For a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean, and how to read them, check out our full explanation of our camera testing resolution charts. Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100:JPEGs
ISO 100, score: 22 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 200, score: 20 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 400, score: 20 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 800, score: 20 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 1600, score: 20 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 3200, score: 20 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 6400, score: 20 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 12800, score: 18 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 25600, score: 16 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
Raw
ISO 100, score: 22 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 200, score: 20 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 400, score: 20 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 800, score: 20 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 1600, score: 20 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 3200, score: 20 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 6400, score: 20 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 12800, score: 20 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 25600, score: 18 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
Noise and dynamic range
We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using DXO Analyzer software to generate the data to produce the graphs below. A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image. For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests. Here we compare the Sony NEX-5R with the Sony NEX-5N, Panasonic G5, Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX20.JPEG signal to noise ratio
These results indicate that the JPEG files from the Sony NEX-5R, Sony NEX-5N, Panasonic G5, Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX20 have very similar noise levels, though the NEX-5R sits at the higher end of the narrow scale. Images from the NEX-R5 are, unsurprisingly, most similar to the NEX-5N.
Raw (after conversion to TIFF) signal to noise ratio
It's a very similar story for the raw files (after conversion to TIFF), with Sony NEX-5R, Sony NEX-5N and Samsung NX20 producing similar results, though this time with a smaller variation and fewer fluctuations in results. The Panasonic G5 and Olympus E-P3 show a lower signal to noise ratio than the others.
JPEG dynamic range
The dynamic range results from JPEG images show some variation, with the Sony NEX-5R sitting below the Sony NEX-5N throughout the sensitivity range, and above the Panasonic G5, Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX20 at most sensitivity settings, with the exception of a dip at ISO 400.
Raw (after conversion to TIFF) dynamic range
The Sony NEX-5R's raw files have a higher dynamic range than the camera's JPEG images, producing better results at most ISO settings than the Sony NEX-5N, and significantly better images than the Panasonic G5, Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX20 at all sensitivities. Only the Sony NEX-5R's top ISO settings of 6400 and 12800 show a smaller dynamic range than the Sony NEX-5N's.
Sample images
Shot at ISO 100 at f/4.0 this macro shot shows good natural colour and sharpness fall off in the background. Click here to see the full resolution image
Shot at ISO200 at f/4.0, the NEX-5R captures a good amount of tonal detail. Click here to see the full resolution image
Shot in a relatively low light situation at ISO800 this image shows very low noise. Click here to see the full resolution image
Auto exposure has avoided any burnt out highlights, but shadow detail in this JPEG image have been lost. Click here to see the full resolution image
Despite the shallow depth of field at f/5.0, the kit 18-55mm lens produces good sharp image with a pleasing sharpness fall off. Click here to see the full resolution image
Bright colour and detail is captured well using auto white balance. Click here to see the full resolution image
Using ISO800 at f/11 captures the spinal shape of this bench with a high level of sharpness and little noise. Click here to see the full resolution image
Despite overcast conditions, the auto white balance produces good natural colour. Click here to see the full resolution image
Edge fringing is just about kept under control with only the faintest signs across the contrast edge. Click here to see the full resolution image
The tilting screen enables easy shooting at awkward angles. Click here to see the full resolution image
At 18mm at f/16 a good level of sharpness is seen across the image. Click here to see the full resolution image
Switching to D-Range Optimizer Lv5 helps to recover shadow detail. Click here to see the full resolution image
An example of the High Contrast Mono effect. Click here to see the full resolution image
An example of the High Contrast Mono effect. Click here to see the full resolution image
High Dynamic Range picture effect example Click here to see the full resolution image
High amounts of colour and detail have been captured at ISO160. Click here to see the full resolution image
Sweep panorama example shot at ISO3200. Click here to see the full resolution image
Click here to see the full resolution image
High dynamic range picture effect example Click here to see the full resolution image
High contrast mono picture effect example. Click here to see the full resolution image
Natural colour and pleasant depth-of-field, shot at f/3.5. Click here to see the full resolution image
The new control dial gives easy control over depth-of-field whilst shooting. Click here to see the full resolution image
Bright colours are captured well, producing images with plenty of tone and detail. Click here to see the full resolution image
Click here to see the full resolution image
Picture Effects
HDR Picture Effect applied Click here to see the full resolution image
Soft Focus Picture Effect applied Click here to see the full resolution image
High Contrast Mono Picture Effect applied Click here to see the full resolution image
Soft High-Key Effect applied Click here to see the full resolution image
Retro Photo Picture Effect applied Click here to see the full resolution image
Posterization Picture Effect applied Click here to see the full resolution image
Pop Color Picture Effect applied Click here to see the full resolution image
Illustration Picture Effect applied Click here to see the full resolution image
Watercolor Picture Effect applied Click here to see the full resolution image
Miniature Picture Effect applied Click here to see the full resolution image
Rich-tone Mono Picture Effect applied Click here to see the full resolution image
Sensitivity and noise
JPEG
Full ISO 100 image, see the cropped (100%) versions below.
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 100
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 200
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 400
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 800
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 1600
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 3200
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 6400
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 12800
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 25600
Raw
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 100
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 200
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 400
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 800
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 1600
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 3200
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 6400
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 12800
Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 25600
Verdict
The Sony NEX-5R is not only a refinement of the Sony NEX-5N, but a significant upgrade. The inclusion of downloadable apps enables quick and easy customisation, and if the service already on PlayStations and other Sony electronics is anything to go by, the implementation of the apps should be simple enough to follow and use. The new hybrid AF system works well, with selected focus points locking on to targets quickly, with minimal refocusing through the lens. In multi-focus point mode the camera also makes quick and intelligent choices over subject matter, and again finds focus quickly. Although the body redesign is minimal, with the inclusion of a new dial and function button, the changes that they bring make using the Sony NEX-5R a much-improved experience compared with using the NEX-5N. The dial beneath the thumb works intuitively when shooting and is only a small step from the feel of a traditional aperture ring. While this is similar to the dial found on the Olympus PEN E-P3, the Sony control is far better.We liked
The Sony NEX-R5 builds on the features of the Sony NEX-5N and packs some weighty advancements in technology into its small body. The inclusion of apps gives the camera an exciting edge, enabling you to customise it to your style of shooting. The new hybrid AF system works as advertised, finding focus quickly and locking on to your target. We also found that the continuous AF system delivers a greater number of sharp shots when shooting at high speed than most other CSC systems we've tested. The big feature when it comes to usability has to be the addition of the new control dial. Its position and ability to quickly change settings makes the Sony NEX-5R a joy to use.We disliked
The highly reflective finish of the LCD screen can make it difficult, if not impossible, to see in bright sunlight - or when overly sticky fingers have been using the touchscreen. The lack of an integrated flash means that you have to carry the supplied external flash around with you. Also, the resolution results are slightly disappointing at lower sensitivities when compared against those achieved by Micro Four Thirds cameras.Early verdict
The Sony NEX-R5 shows how compact system cameras are really coming into their own. The design doesn't have to rely on retro chic, but instead uses modern research and development to create a compact body shape that both fits the electronics and also feels comfortable to hold. The merging of the tilting screen design from the Sony NEX-F3 and the control dial feature of the Sony NEX-7 make this a very user-friendly camera for both the beginner and intermediate photographer. If you're just getting into photography, looking for a CSC upgrade or wanting a second body to complement your DSLR, the Sony NEX-5R is the perfect companion. As well as the basic kit, which should be priced at around £500 (around $790), we'd also recommend getting the EVF accessory to combat difficulties with the screen in bright sunlight.
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Exclusive: Microsoft: 'We're the underdogs now'
What comes after Windows 8?
Talking to Frank Shaw, it seems that Microsoft is starting 2013 in combative mode. "If I'm going to have a party with my Facebook friends, it looks like a lot of fun. I have a lot of Facebook friends. And then a party with my Google+ friends, I could probably have in a rowboat…" says Microsoft's comms chief (full job title: corporate vice president, corporate communications). Microsoft could reasonably take a breather this year after the effort of shipping Windows 8 and Windows Phone and refreshing almost its entire product line in 2012. That, however, is not the plan. Shaw gives us a few hints about the coming year – and some clues to understanding Microsoft's wider strategy. "2013 is going to be a big year," he promises. "Yes, we shipped a bunch of stuff in 2012 but there's more coming." "We've got some new stuff coming from Bing that is interesting and provocative and continues to move the needle in terms of how people think about search. And you have the work that we are doing with Skype. The move of Office to the cloud, Office as a subscription service for consumers and all the things that come with that; it's a big deal. And with Xbox we have more we're going to do. We're certainly not done with thinking about the living room and we'll have more to say about that as the year goes through."Into the Blue?
One criticism of Microsoft is that it's failed to produce an integrated product line like Google's, and has consequently fallen behind. That is an issue that 2013 will address, says Shaw. "Across Windows and Windows Phone there is this entire ecosystem that really has received a jolt of adrenaline. We always think about the launch of Windows as the starting line.
"There's more new hardware, there's more new applications, you see momentum in the app store, people are starting to look at it and say, 'Wow, that's pretty cool. I can do things with it I couldn't do before and now I'm going to experiment and bring new things in.' I think you'll see a ton of that over the next year."
Unsurprisingly, he wouldn't give us any specifics about Windows Blue (the possible codename for Windows 9) or even if we'll see new versions of Windows more frequently. "I don't know that I have anything new to say there. You have certainly seen across a variety of our products a cadence that looks like that; Windows Phone is a good for example of that. When we're ready to talk about how that looks more broadly we will, but right now you just have to look at what we've done in those areas."
Improving by jumps
But more frequent updates (something Microsoft is also doing with services like Bing and SkyDrive) wouldn't mean only getting incremental improvements and sacrificing big innovations, he maintains. "It's like this concept of punctuated equilibrium. You get a series of improvements and then you have to find a way of punctuating them and having a jump, and then you start that improvement cycle again. You have to plan for both. "Sometimes those jumps are enabled by new hardware capability or by new demand that we see in the marketplace or something that we want to create. You have to think really carefully about how you consistently improve the product that you have, and how do you make that big jump forward and when you make that big jump forward, how do you do it in a way that is not discontinuous with your users." In those terms, Windows 8 is one of the big jumps forward (and opinion is obviously divided on the discontinuity part). "It is a significant shift. Windows over time has improved in really significant ways; Windows 8 is a jump in terms of the touch-first focus and some of the new platform elements. So you make that jump and you start that drive again to make it better, make it better, make it better… More apps, more hardware, more functionality built in. "But there's always this moment when you make the jump and everybody looks at that and says 'that makes me nervous' or 'that change is hard'. We certainly see some of that as well. But we're committed to building not just for the next month but for the next 18 months, 36 months - whatever the time is on this new platform."'We aspire to be a learning company'
With the Windows interface still highly disputed, we wondered whether a future version of Windows might change the controversial elements. "I think when you are asking people to learn new things, whether it's Start or the ribbon in Office, you have to be committed to your course. But being committed to your course also means you continue to take input and feedback and react to it the appropriate ways.
"When you have as many users as we do, you get phenomenal feedback. [Sometimes] they say how much they love you! And then some of it is feedback like, 'Jeez, have you thought about this?' Sometimes we have thought about it and sometimes we should take a look at what we can do in that specific case. We don't ever want to say we're not taking feedback any more."
The amount of feedback Microsoft has been getting about Windows 8 is a question of scale, he points out. "The thing that people miss sometimes: we sold 60 million licenses to Windows users and if 1 per cent of those users are disgruntled in some way, that's a big overall number. The beauty of the world today is that everybody has a voice. In the past some of those conversations took place for any product but they weren't visible. And now we live in this transparent world where everything is visible and people with a concern can express it very loudly. And that's good! It's good to have input - but you always have to calibrate. Is this universal input, is this an edge case? How do we think about this? All our products have many, many users and so we get lots and lots of feedback that we have to judge."
Taking on Google
One thing we'll definitely see more of this year is Microsoft giving Google a hard time. It's no accident that Shaw calls new developments in Bing "provocative". Remember the Gmail Man video? "There are places where we are underdogs," he says. "And we're either real underdogs, as we are in Bing, or we're perceptual underdogs. There are people out there who think we are not doing as well as we are."A refreshed MS
It's not just that the ads are funny. It's that they show how Microsoft has changed. "The thing is - we have learned some lessons. Every company makes mistakes, every single company in the world. We aspire to be a learning company. We look at decisions we made and they might have been good decisions at the time but they weren't over time the right decisions and we say we're going to do it differently. IE is a great example of that." Not everyone takes those changes at face value, leading to some interesting gymnastics as supporters of the open web find themselves on the same side as Microsoft. "I think it's interesting that we are advocates of the open web and people are like 'huh?' People are having some trouble with that but it's true. People should be willing to accept we're doing this because we've learned and we've grown and it's good for everybody." Is it frustrating for Microsoft to do the right thing and still have people be suspicious? "It's understandable. Perceptions change over time. We've been pretty consistent and hopefully people will look at us in what we're doing and not necessarily why they think we might doing that."
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By buying back Dell, can its founder make you want its products again?
Michael Dell is reportedly set to buy a controlling stake in his company as he, Microsoft and an investment firm look to take Dell back.
Sources have told Reuters that Dell, Microsoft and a company called Silver Lake Partners are planning to announce a deal to take Dell private on Monday.
This would allow Dell and co to reboot the PC company in secret without having to report every move to Wall Street investors; those pumping money into the company want to rekindle public interest in its computers, tablets and, quite likely, reboot its smartphones.
Michael Dell himself is "expected" to buy a majority share by adding to his existing 16 per cent.
Microdell
We reported that Microsoft was sniffing around Dell some days ago, but those rumours suggested that the company would basically buy Dell out-right. Now Reuter's sources are saying that Ballmer and co will be a smaller stakeholder with Michael Dell taking the reigns. The sources warned that the timing could slip so if Monday comes and goes with no word from the Dell camp, that doesn't mean that the buy-out is off. We should probably stop brainstorming Dell-Microsoft portmanteaus now then, we suppose.
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Super-fast 4G to get even speedier under proposed changes
Ofcom is looking to further improve the UK's 4G network by lifting restrictions on 2G and 3G spectrums.
The plan is to allow carriers more freedom to do what they want with their airwaves, meaning the 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands could be used for voice, data or super-fast data though 2G, 3G or 4G.
If the proposal is successfully pushed through than consumers will benefit from improved mobile coverage, and with more capacity available to networks we could see faster data speeds as well.
Hold ya horses
This proposal is still very much in its infancy and considering the shenanigans which surrounded the (ongoing) 4G auction don't expect it to come into force anytime soon. It isn't the first time Ofcom has removed barriers on spectrum, as it allowed EE to swap its 1800MHz spectrum from 2G to 4G last year which led to the firm being able to launch its super-fast service early. The likes of Three, O2 and Vodafone unsurprisingly kicked up a bit of a stink when EE was allowed to switch its spectrum usage, and it's this fuss which as led Ofcom to publish its latest proposal.
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BT Cloud brings at least 2GB online storage to broadband customers
Still need somewhere to store your music online? BT has joined the cloud locker party with BT Cloud, complete with iOS and Android apps.
The digital locker service allows BT Broadband users to store photos, videos, music and other digital bits and bobs for access from their smartphones on the go.
There are two packages available as part of your BT Broadband deal: a 2GB option and a 50GB one. BT says that's enough for 500 or 12,500 songs respectively.
Bits and bobs
If you're more of a film fan, the 2GB option only has room for (approximately) two films but the 50GB should store around 70 - probably not HD films though. You'll have to log in to the My BT user site to find out which you're automatically entitled to, but you do have the option to upgrade to 100GB, 250GB or 500GB of storage - we've asked BT what sort of prices it is charging for these upgrades. While it doesn't explicitly address the issue of pirated music and film files, BT is clear about how it "doesn't support activities which infringe the copyrights of the holder". But whether it'll be checking up on you in this regard is another story.
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Week in Tech: It's the circle of life, it's the wheel of gadgets
If you've seen The Lion King - and if you have kids, or if you ever were a kid, you've probably seen it hundreds of times - you'll know about the Circle of Life. "It moves us all through despair and hope, through faith and love," says Rafiki the baboon, who also notes that "the past can hurt... you can either run from it or learn from it."
That's true in tech, too!
This week, we saw the circle of life in full effect: one noble platform died, and a new one was born - and we found ourselves wondering whether the company formerly known as RIM would run from the past or learn from it.
New shoots at BlackBerry
RIM used to be the king of Pride Rock, the go-to phone firm for road warriors, executives and email addicts, but as Mufasa says, "a king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun" - and in recent years RIM's sun appeared to be setting. The BlackBerry platform has lost market share to Apple and Android, and its brand new BB10 operating system, which is designed to see it through the next decade, has been plagued by delays. Now, though, BlackBerry's back! There's a new OS, BlackBerry 10. There's a new, flagship, touchscreen phone, the BlackBerry Z10. There's a new QWERTY phone, the BlackBerry Q10. There's a new company name - it's BlackBerry now, not Research in Motion - and even the poor old BlackBerry PlayBook is getting an upgrade. It's exciting stuff, so exciting that RIM-sorry-BlackBerry's European MD made himself look like Rafiki's backside during a BBC interview when he was so excited he couldn't answer any questions.Back in 10?
BlackBerry might not be good at answering questions, but we are - and the big one is, of course, "are the new devices and the new OS any good?" Reviewing the BlackBerry Z10, John McCann is cautiously impressed. While the BlackBerry Z10 is "an unassuming slab of black glass and plastic which mimics the general aesthetic design of many a smartphone" and feels a bit plasticky, it is "a decent all round phone" with a good camera, a decent messaging hub, lightning fast web browsing and other goodies. However, "the jury is still out on BlackBerry 10." It's nice to see a new OS, but not everyone wants to learn yet another system. In a word, it's "decent" - pretty good, but not jaw-droppingly brilliant. That's a worry, says Gareth Beavis, because BlackBerry faces "an almost impossible task to win over smartphone users". There's "a massively understocked app store compared to rivals", it isn't cheap, and there aren't any must-have "killer apps". Here's the d-word again: It's a "decent enough product", but it doesn't offer "a game-changing experience". "Five years ago that would have been enough," Gary Marshall says, "but today many are wondering whether a good-enough phone is good enough to save the BlackBerry platform. What happened? Ten things spring to mind." Marshall's list of major strategic mistakes, idiocy and sheer bad luck reads like a Carry On film - Carry On Losing Market Share, perhaps - featuring Bono, twin CEOs, riots and massive network outages. However, as Pumbaa the warthog points out, "you got to put your behind in your past" - and by binning the RIM name and its old OS, the newly anointed BlackBerry has done just that.Symbian says goodbye
As the new BlackBerry said hello, Symbian said goodbye: Nokia's venerable mobile OS is no more. Marshall shed a tear. "We've gone through an awful lot of Symbian phones over the years," he recalls, but "Nokia neglected what [CEO] Stephen Elop would later describe as a 'burning platform', failing to take the iPhone threat seriously enough quickly enough, inventing but not shipping devices awfully like today's iPhones and iPads, and getting bogged down in bickering and bureaucracy... in Symbian, Nokia had an OS - but what it didn't have was time to build an ecosystem to rival Apple and Google." Here's hoping BlackBerry doesn't follow in its footsteps.
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Updated: Sony Xperia Z price confirmed: would you pay this much for waterproofing?
The Sony Xperia Z price has appeared on the Japanese firm's official online store, with the SIM-free handset setting you back £529.
In terms of the Sony Xperia Z release date the listing doesn't offer us any clues, simply stating the handset is "coming soon" and providing you with the option to pre-register - although it's expected to arrive at the end of February or the beginning of March.
Update: Sony has now confirmed you'll be able to start pre-ordering the Xperia Z from February 1 - with a free set of Sony MDR-1R headphones for anyone who does.
What the posting does reveal though are that three colour options will make their way to the UK, allowing you to dress your Xperia Z in black, white or purple.
Time to start saving
The hefty price tag sees the Xperia Z line up alongside the lowest-capacity iPhone 5, with the Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One X+ around £100 cheaper than Sony's new flagship device. Luckily the Xperia Z has some decent features to help justify parting with such a large chunk of cash, sporting a full HD 5-inch display, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 13MP camera, Android Jelly Bean - plus it's both dust and water resistant. We were suitably impressed during our hands on Sony Xperia Z review, but we won't know if it's value for money or a bit of a rip off until we put it through our full review process.
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New Dyson invention to be unveiled next week
Not content with reinventing the vacuum cleaner, hand-dryer, fan and heater, Dyson has a whole new invention up its sleeve ready to be revealed next week.
Invites have been sent out to press to attend a grand unveiling but the details on what to expect are few and far between.
"It's not a vacuum cleaner," is all a spokesperson would tell us when we put our investigative skills to work by asking what it would be.
Invent-o-matic
Clues are presumably there to be found in a teaser video the company has published:
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Updated: PS4 release date, news and rumours
PS4 release date, news and rumours
UPDATE: Sony has invited press to a New York City event on 20 February 2013. The company announced the event on Thursday 31 January, inviting us to "see the future," linking to a PlayStation Meeting 2013 website with few details except the 20 February date and a time of 6 p.m. EST. For PlayStation fans the important questions are; when will the PS4 hit the shelves? What sort of hardware will it pack? And will it even be called the PlayStation 4? There have been rumours doing the rounds suggesting that Sony is calling the PS4 'Orbis'. This comes from a source speaking to Kotaku "who is not authorised to talk publicly about next-gen hardware but has shared correct information" with them before. Assuming the Orbis name is in some way accurate, it's still unclear whether the name is a codename like Durango or whether the console will literally be called the Sony PlayStation Orbis instead of the Sony PS4. The name does make some kind of sense if you combine it with the word 'Vitae' (or Vita). Orbis Vitae translates from Latin as 'circle of life' and hints at some serious synergy between the PS4 and the PS Vita. It could be a red herring, of course, but with the Vita already communicating fairly competently with the PS3, it seems highly likely that this will be the case. So what can we expect from the PlayStation 4?PS4: Graphics and CPU power
The same source who revealed the PlayStation Orbis name to Kotaku also mentioned that the PS4 was penciled in as packing an AMD x64 CPU and 28nm AMD Southern Islands graphics power. However, in November 2012, strong rumours have suggested that PS4 dev kits have been issued to developers packing an AMD A10 APU (check out our review of this combo chip here), between 8GB and 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and a Blu-ray drive. The graphics part of the A10 APU is already quite dated, which is a big disappointment but not all that surprising. Those chips aren't even the best that AMD currently has to offer - so by the time the PS4 goes on sale it would be woefully lacking in power compared to the latest AMD tech, let alone the most advanced chips from Nvidia and Intel. By 2014, Intel will be shipping 14nm - or possibly even tooling up for 11nm - CPUs and with that amount of transistors on a die, we're talking serious performance and efficiency gains. So it's for this reason that we suspect - or hope - that current PS4 development kits may currently be using these AMD chips, but the final PS4 will most likely pack something a little more special. We would at least expect a Steamroller APU packing a newer graphics core. Now, because a console is a closed platform, it's possible for developers and engineers to squeeze more performance out of any given chip than would be possible in a PC which has a lot more redundancies to cater for. So the PS4 will have decent graphics no matter what. But this is still very much last-generation tech we're talking here. And according to various rumours, Sony is attempting to get 4K gaming out the door with the PS4, along with full HD 1080p 3D gaming for the first time. We don't think it would even be possible to achieve this kind of output with the A10 APU unless some kind of multi-GPU set-up is being used - so it's highly likely that Sony will pair the eventual APU with a low-end discrete graphics card to help things along. Latest spec reports The latest rumours suggest that the PS4 will have more computing power than the Xbox 720 while packing less RAM.PS4 release date
Latest rumours suggest that the PS4 will launch in time for Christmas 2013, though Sony are remaining quiet on the issue. We have received strong hints from industry insiders that 2013 will be the year but nothing is confirmed and anything could yet happen. One thing's for sure: Sony is currently losing billions every year and badly needs the cash injection that would come from a new console. VG247 is quoting an anonymous source (always a bad start to a rumour) as saying that Sony believes it is in a position to get the PS4 out of the door before the launch of Microsoft's Xbox 720. The next Xbox is almost certain to hit the shelves in 2013 so maybe we expect them to arrive roughly together. We remember, of course, how Microsoft managed to launch the 360 a full year before the PS3 went on sale and that enabled it to gain a huge headstart, despite all sorts of technical faults and expensive repair bills. Meanwhile, Bethesda's Todd Howard, game director for the blockbuster Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, says that gamers should not expect follow-ups to the PS3 and Xbox 360 until 2014, at the very earliest. Speaking to PSM3 magazine, the Bethesda exec said that gamers were happy with the current generation of console tech and that he didn't expect to see an Xbox 720 or a PS4 before 2014. Further sources said in December 2014 that they also believe Autumn 2014 is a more realistic date, so we're certainly not going to count any Turkeys this Christmas! However, after that slap in the face reports began to surface that the PS4 would be unveiled in early 2013, at least. Games Informer suggested that both the PS4 and the Xbox 720 would be revealed to the world at separate events in March 2013, with release dates slated for late 2013.Backwards compatibility
When the original original PS3 unit shipped, it contained a chip that gave it the ability to play PS2 games. Subsequent iterations of hardware omitted this chip and so the backwards compatibility was condemned to death. Current rumours suggests that the PS4 will completely ignore the possibility of backwards compatibility and focus firmly on the next generation. So if you want to continue playing your PS3 games, keep hold of your PS3s, kids.Second hand games on the way out?
More rumours suggest that Sony is going in the same direction as Microsoft in that it wants to kill off the second hand games market. Current industry wisdom suggests that future PS4 games might be tied to your Sony Entertainment Network account and will thus then have no resale value. That's a similar approach as used by PC developers using Steam so we reckon this is a likely development. Doesn't mean we're happy about it, though.What are the PS4 features we'd most like to see?
PS4info dreams of a next-gen PlayStation with a 32nm Cell processor an up to 16 SPEs, double the number in the PlayStation 3. While over on gamrConnect, there's talk of a greater partnership with Google. Sony's new fondness for Android on the Xperia Play is an interesting strategy. Blu-ray on the PlayStation 4 is a dead cert. While digital distribution is undoubtedly the way forward, not every PlayStation owner has access to a fast broadband connection. As Kaz Hirai told Develop, "we do business in parts of the world where network infrastructure isn't as robust as one would hope. There's always going to be requirement for a business of our size and scope to have a physical medium." As for the PlayStation 4 controller, Dr. Richard Marks (Sony Computer Entertainment's US R&D manager of special projects) says that "anything that lets us get the player's intent into the system more" is technology they'll be looking at. No brain wave gaming just yet.
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LG Optimus 4X HD finally getting Jelly Bean?
Plucky LG Optimus 4X HD owners may finally be treated to the Android Jelly Bean upgrade in the next month or so.
Italian site Caotic claims to have received an email from an LG representative who said the Jelly Bean update will hit "during the first quarter of 2013" on the Optimus 4X HD.
The update will apparently be pushed out to European handsets during this timescale, with no word currently on its availability for Optimus 4X HD owners in other regions.
Better late than never
The Optimus 4X HD doesn't have the best punctuality record arriving on the market several months after its closet rivals the Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One X. It has since been beaten to the Android Jelly Bean punch as well by both handsets, with HTC also managing to squeeze out an updated version of its flagship device – the One X+. And let's not forget the LG-made Nexus 4 which launched the Jelly Bean OS and sported a significantly cheaper price tag than the 4X HD when it launched. It's a shame as we really liked the handset and in our LG Optimus 4X HD review it managed an impressive four and a half out of five stars, we just wish it had made an appearance at around the same time as the competition.
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Review: Kingston HyperX Beast 32GB
There was once a time when the company was known only for producing solid no-nonsense memory modules with standard timings, and certainly none of that fancy dan overclocked stuff with its over the top cooling. While that remains Kingston's core business, it hasn't let the enthusiast market go unchallenged.
The introduction of the company's HyperX product line in November 2002 saw Kingston dipping its collective toes into the murky world of fast, high performance system memory. With its latest HyperX Beast modules it's like finding out that the little old lady across the street uses a Suzuki Hayabusa to go and collect her pension.
The Beast modules form part of the Predator range in the HyperX extended family, which is aimed at both power users and enthusiasts. The new modules range from DDR3 1,600MHz up to 2,400MHz, and come in 8, 16, 32 or 64GB kits made up of two, four or eight modules, with CAS9, 10 or 11 latencies at 1.5 to 1.65V.
Kingston sent us a 32GB, four-module kit of DDR3 2,400MHz to test for this review. And it's a bit quick.
Unleash the Beast
The memory supports two Intel XMP profiles. Allowing our Asus test motherboard to auto detect the memory, it defaulted to 1,333MHz, but by switching to the XMP profiling we got DDR3-2401 11-13-13-32 2N with XMP Profile 1 and DDR3-2133 11-13-13-30 2N with Profile 2. We tested both profiles, then pushed the modules a little further to see what we could get out of them. Switching to auto mode and choosing the next speed offered by the mobo's BIOS (2,600MHz) resulted in the system not booting, so a little more in-depth tinkering was needed. Adjusting the BCLK to 104MHz resulted in a stable 2,496MHz, with a latency of 11-13-13-30 at 1.65v, and the memory kept its stability while running through all of the benchmarks.Benchmarks
Memory bandwidth performance Sisoft Sandra: Gigabytes per second: Higher is better HYPERX BEAST 2,400MHZ: 29 HYPERX BEAST 2,532MHZ: 27 TACTICAL LP 2,133MHZ: 28 Video rendering performance x264 HD: Frames per second: Higher is better HYPERX BEAST 2,400MHZ: 41 HYPERX BEAST 2,532MHZ: 55 TACTICAL LP 2,133MHZ: 41 Gaming performance Batman: AC: Frames per second: Higher is better HYPERX BEAST 2,400MHZ: 135 HYPERX BEAST 2,532MHZ: 138 TACTICAL LP 2,133MHZ: 126 The best stable clock speed we could get out of the memory was 2,532MHz using a BCLK speed of 105.5MHz with timings of 11-13-13-30 at 1.65V. We didn't want to push the memory voltage past 1.65V, but some extra attention to the platform cooling could enable you to push it that little bit. Even so, achieving a 130MHz improvement over what is already fast RAM out of the box, without stressing it too much, shows just how good the HyperX Beast modules are. The Beast modules are no shrinking violets though; the heatsinks on them are huge and black, with a seriously aggressive design. Well, that's what Kingston reckons anyway. The modules are some 40mm tall and 7mm at the widest point, so you'll have to get a ruler out to double-check clearances if you're using a large CPU cooler that overhangs the first DIMM slot. With a closed loop water cooler to support your overclocking endeavours, that wont matter. You're sacrificing latency for frequency, but the Beast modules will ably support you getting the most out of your overclocked CPU with its impressively high frequencies.
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Review: SharePoint Online 2013
SharePoint 2013 has a very new look. The new version of Microsoft's document sharing and collaboration tools gets the same 'Microsoft Design Language' appearance as the company's Office 2013 desktop software (with all the tools for sites either in big friendly icons on the page or neatly tucked away in a ribbon at the top), plus its own version of local sync for files and HTML-based apps you can build or buy.
There are also more social features, like shared calendars and timeline and Facebook-style status posts on your personal page (what used to be called a MySite), along with tasks that sync to Outlook.
It will still be available to run on your own servers, but we looked at a preview of the SharePoint Online service on the soon-to-be-available Office 365 and discovered more than just a facelift. There are new tools for users to find, analyse, manage and share information, and for IT administrators, including the SharePoint Online Management Shell.
Manage, search, share information
Sites for personal and shared team use and document libraries still provide the heart of SharePoint. Uploading documents no longer needs Internet Explorer and an ActiveX control, as you can simply drag a document onto a site page in any modern browser. It's also a lot easier to find useful documents without having to dig through libraries, as you can search all documents without having to specify where they are in the folder hierarchy; and when you find a useful document, you can follow it as if it was a friend on Facebook.
In previous versions of SharePoint, the built-in search has been somewhat basic with the separate option of the powerful FAST Search.
SharePoint 2013 has a single search technology that's both simple to use (and to set up) and delivers rich results, including automatic recommendations based on your previous behaviour. Search for 'marketing deck' and results will include PowerPoint presentations (that don't have the word 'deck' anywhere in the contents), with particularly relevant slides highlighted in results.
Sharing documents – with colleagues or up to 10,000 external partners and customers who don't need to have SharePoint themselves – is also much simpler. Click on the sharing option and type in names or email addresses, choose whether they can view or edit – or copy an obfuscated URL you can send in an instant message or put in a blog post.
Shared documents are marked by an icon you can click to see who you're sharing with (and you can stop sharing a document when you're done collaborating).
SharePoint 2013 has powerful Excel-style business intelligence tools (based on Excel Services and SQL Server 2012) for creating dashboards with charts, maps and scorecards using the latest versions of PowerPivot and Power View, so you can do something useful with the information in the documents you find.
Deeper integration with Office applications also makes it easier to use the information from SharePoint. You can view and edit documents directly in updated versions of the Office Web Apps, and SharePoint 2013 adds itself to the list of places Office can save files.
Personal files stored on SharePoint can be synced to your PC through SkyDrive Prom, a replacement for SharePoint Workspace, and team sites have their own mailbox and OneNote notebook to use in discussions. The new Newsfeed view also supports collaboration through SharePoint 2013.
This looks very like Facebook or Yammer or Twitter; you can follow people, sites, projects, hashtags, documents and events and you'll see in the activity stream when someone does something new or makes a change (you can filter the stream to make it more manageable). You can also preview documents and videos straight from the Newsfeed, or turn any item into an action that becomes part of your task list.
You use Twitter-style @ names to mention people and you can see when other people have mentioned you (you get an email as well as seeing it on the Newsfeed, so you don't have to update feverishly to stay on top of work). Also, you can post your own updates to everyone or just the team you're working with.
Customising SharePoint 2013
It's easy to change the look of a SharePoint site; you can change themes and colours, drag and drop images into the site to use as the background and get a look you like without any code. Adding web parts lets you lay out site pages with more than just document libraries, and you can create different layouts for mobile viewing. Building web pages to host in SharePoint 2013 has also been made far easier; you can upload HTML pages which are automatically converted to SharePoint master pages. Or you can copy and paste code from a standard web development tool like Dreamweaver or Expression Blend instead of having to use SharePoint Designer. SharePoint is also enormously extensible, and SharePoint Online 2013 makes some important advances here. You can use it with the new Office 365 Information Rights Management service to control not just who can see a document but what they can do with it, turning off the printing and copying functions for confidential information. You can include language translation services for sites and documents, and for structured tasks you can add workflows designed in Visual Studio 2012 and have them hosted on Windows Azure. And if you need the same kind of full-trust managed .NET code that lets you customise SharePoint on your own server, you can put that on Windows Azure; as a multi-tenant cloud service, SharePoint Online has to protect users from each other's potentially performance-hogging code, so this is a sensible approach.
But you can now get apps for many of the functions that would previously have needed customisation. These are written in HTML and CSS so web developers can create their own, but you'll find plenty of useful business apps already in the SharePoint store, from WordPress blog hosting to mapping tools. Administrators can control which apps are available from the store (and who can buy more).
Verdict
SharePoint started out as a collection of shared document libraries and has morphed into a much more powerful system that can act as your intranet and business social network, and host your external web site. It's changed from being a server system you install and customise to a cloud service you can subscribe to and scale out, with custom code hosted on Windows Azure (though the on-premise server option is still there for organisations that want to customise and maintain their own system) and use from tablets and phones.We liked
The new release is easier than ever to get started with, for IT administrators and for end users. You can use it to share and find information, to analyse it with the business intelligence tools, to plan a project with the new timelines and shared notebooks, to discuss it (in email or the Facebook-like newsfeed) – and to protect and manage it, with rights management and access control (within your own company and for external partners) and legal holds. SharePoint can do a vast amount of what most businesses need to organise themselves.We disliked
Ironically, the main drawback is the fact that SharePoint 2013 is so comprehensive. It takes time to figure out everything you can do, and to get the most out of it you need to get everyone to put their documents and thoughts and analyses into SharePoint sites.Final Verdict
If you can get the critical mass of information and usage, the new interface and tools will make SharePoint 2013 an extremely valuable business tool. And unless you need to keep on-premise customisation you're not comfortable moving to Azure, the SharePoint Online service on Office 365 is the simplest and most cost-effective way of getting it.
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X Phone outed by Motorola LinkedIn job listing
A Motorola job listing that requires experience is no surprise, but the same cannot be said if that ad includes another "X" word, the X Phone, Google's rumored Motorola smartphone.
Sure enough, someone from the company posted a LinkedIn ad looking for "Senior Director of Project Management, X Phone" candidates for its Sunnyvale, CA offices.
Google must have realized its mistake, as the job ad has been pulled and replaced with a simple message: "Sr Director Product Managment (sic), X-Phone at Motorola Mobility. The job you're looking for is no longer active."
A similar job ad, minus the revealing X Phone title, is still available via Motorola's official careers website.
Motorola X Phone rumored specs, announcement
The details of the LinkedIn version of the ad were captured by Phandroid. Sadly, compared to the blunt X Phone job title, the description remained vague, offering no hard specs or release date. Be that as it may, this was the first, albeit unintended, admission from Google that the X Phone does exist. Previously, the codename for the Google-Motorola smartphone was only a rumor. Conjecture has the X Phone's specs debuting the Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie OS update, and sporting a virtually bezel-less edge-to-edge 5-inch display. With the Google I/O conference coming up in May, the mysterious X Phone could make an appearance along with Motorola's first tablet under Google, the X Tablet. In the meantime, TechRadar will keep its eyes open for more X Phone or even X Tablet listings, and maybe even a Google human resources job listing, just in case this unintended reveal happens again.
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Sony to show the 'future' Feb. 20, could it be the PlayStation 4?
Sony is cooking something up, and it looks like whatever the PlayStation-themed thing is might come out of the oven Feb. 20.
The company took to Twitter Thursday to beguiling invite us to "see the future," sending the Twittersphere to a PlayStation Meeting 2013 website with very few details except the aforementioned date and time of 6 p.m. EST.
Oh, there are two more things: a conceptual video with breathy music and flying triangles, crosses, circles and squares, symbols that should be very familiar to the PlayStation set. There might be a few peeps of some hardware as well, though it's hard to make tell if it's not the siding of the symbols.
Below the teaser flick, visitors can register to receive email notifications when Sony's ready to reveal.
It's going to be big
Invites to a New York City event that day are also hitting the media circuit, signaling that this probably isn't some minor update to an existing system. Though we won't know for sure until the day of, there's a very good chance Sony will lift the lid off the PlayStation 4. The console, reportedly referred to within the company as "Orbis," is said to command an eight-core AMD CPU as well as AMD graphics, with potentially more computing power (though less RAM) than the Xbox 720. A Feb. 20 unveil would put the PS4's debut well ahead of E3 in June and, at least for now, ahead of Microsoft's next-gen console. We'll have all the details soon enough, so stay tuned to TechRadar for all the latest. You can get excited for the future and test out your interpretation skills by viewing Sony's teaser below:
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