Telstra switches on 1500th 4G base station
Hot on the heels of Optus' 4G expansion announcement this week, Telstra has passed its own milestone, activating its 1,500th 4G tower.
The telco claims that the LTE network is well on the way to reaching 66 per cent population coverage by the end of June this year, by which stage it plans to have more than 2,000 towers pumping out 4G signals.
It's been a rapid expansion for Telstra's 4G network, with more than 2.1 million devices connecting to the LTE service, and coverage jumping from around 40 per cent at the start of the year to the 66 per cent Telstra hopes to achieve by the end of the financial year.
Long road ahead
It's going to require a lot of hard work for Telstra to pull off its plans though. The goal of hitting 2,000 active 4G towers within six weeks is going to challenging.Especially when you consider that it took the telco 12 months to activate its 1,000th LTE tower, and has only activated 500 in the past 12 months.
Still, Telstra Networks Executive Director Mike Wright has claimed that the rollout is on schedule.
"The program is now running at pace and is on target – our technicians are now installing literally dozens of 4G base stations each and every week. It's great to mark the 1,500th milestone but we've committed to installing over 2000 base stations by the end of this financial year and we'll keep working to meet this target," Wright said in a statement.
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In Depth: PS4 vs Xbox One: which is better?
The first shots have been fired in the PS4 vs Xbox One console war now that both Sony and Microsoft have announced their next-generation systems.
While Sony confirmed the PlayStation 4 specs back in February, Microsoft is only now drawing its line in the sand by unveiling the Xbox One specs.
To its credit, though, Microsoft did show the video game press the official Xbox One console body.
Sony, in contrast, is waiting until E3 2013 to announce what the PS4 looks like.
For now, we can take a look at what's inside the mystery system and the newly revealed Xbox One with confirmed specs.
Agreeing on an AMD CPU
As much as the two warring systems are different, the heart of the Xbox One and the PS4 remain very similar.That's because they're both running x86 octa-core CPUs, and these eight-core processors are built by the same chipmaker, AMD.
The use of AMD in the Xbox One and PS4 is certainly a switch for both companies.
Previously, Microsoft used an IBM PowerPC processor, while Sony partnered with Toshiba and IBM on its own complicated Cell processor.
While the Xbox One will run a heavily modified eight-core AMD processor, PS4 will utilize a x86-64 "Jaguar" CPU.
AMD's Graphics Core Next
Both console makers are also relying on AMD to design their next graphics processors that will produce the next-generation visuals that differentiate console games from the emerging smartphone market.The Xbox One marries its GPU to the CPU in a system-on-a-chip design, according to Wired, with Direct 11.1 support.
The single 40-nanometer SoC really contrasts with the two dedicated 90-nm chips found in the Xbox 360.
However, it only marginally contrasts with the PS4, which also combines its AMD CPU with the chip maker's GPU.
In the case of PS4, the graphics processor is described as semi-custom AMD Radeon that runs at 1.8 TFLOPS.
Sony scores with 8GB DDR5 RAM
One of the most impressive things about the PS4 specs has been its use of 8GB GDDR5 RAM.Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One to have 8GB RAM as well, but it's GDDR3 memory variety.
That may mean more to game developers in the long run as opposed to gamers themselves right now, but it's still an interesting choice for the Xbox One.
Which has the better controller?
The Xbox One controller vs the PS4 DualShock 4 controller is a debate that won't be won anytime soon, mostly because gamers' already have a locked-in preference.The reason for this is that neither Sony nor Microsoft have radically changed their respective controllers over the years - they're more like evolutions 2000 and 2001.
The DualShock 4 is a little bigger in the next-generation thanks to its unique front-and-center touchpad. Sony stuck with the dual analog sticks down in front, but at least have a central divot recess for easier gripping.
Microsoft also didn't mess with success, only slightly modifying its controller in the jump to the Xbox One. It's 40 design innovations are subtle, including the tweaked D-Pad on the bottom-left of the game pad.
Xbox One Kinect vs PS4 Eye
While Xbox One and PlayStation 4 will appeal to "core" gamers with mature launch titles, Microsoft and Sony are charging forward with motion-sensing devices.The Xbox One Kinect was unveiled along with the system during the May 21 announcement, when Microsoft refered to the advanced camera as "human control for a human experience."
Expanding on that motto, the packed-in 1080p Kinect 2.0 will be able to process 2GB of data per second, analyzing more joints, the slight rotation of a wrist or shoulder and your heartbeat.
Less is known about the PlayStation 4 Eye, but Sony did state that its similarly shaped camera bar contains two 1280×800px cameras.
The PS4 DualShock 4 controller will come into play with the PS4 Eye thanks to its multi-colored light bar. It will also be compatible with those PS4 Move motion controllers that have gone unused.
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Xbox Reveal: Xbox One: 10 reasons you're going to love it
It's here. It's alive. It's packed to the brim with features, and it's called Xbox One.
So why do we love it already? Why give you one reason when we can give you 10?
1. It's adaptive in the best way possible
Before the big reveal, we were worried that the new Xbox would be too focused on multimedia and not focused enough on the games.While the reveal show was mainly about hardware and features, there was enough game talk to keep us happy for the time being.
Microsoft Studios announced that it has 15 exclusive titles coming to Xbox One over the next year, eight of which will be brand new franchises.
We also got a look at the range of new EA Sports titles coming out way, including Fifa 14 and Madden 14. Call of Duty: Ghosts also got its world premiere trailer, showcasing the brand new engine.
The One is certainly changing with the times, but it doesn't feel like the gamers are losing out as a result. And guess what? It doesn't require an 'always on' internet connection to play. Phew.
2. TV and film just got better
TV integration is one of the killer apps of Xbox One, and we were suitably impressed with what Microsoft had to show off at the Redmond event.The Instant Switching feature lets you change between programmes and live TV with ease, while Snap Mode lets users run more than one service at any time. You can check your emails while watching a movie, for example.
All in all, Microsoft's new console is perfect for a generation of 'second screen' users and offers itself as the ultimate multimedia device for our living rooms.
3. Voice control
Xbox chief Don Mattrick had our attention from the moment he said "Xbox on" to power up the console, but it didn't stop there.Voice commands can be used to navigate between TV viewing and gameplay on the console. For example, you can say "watch TV" to, yup, you guessed it.
Overall recognition has been greatly improved, while hand gestures can also be used as a form of control.
4. New Kinect
Xbox One Kinect is "rocket science-level stuff" according to Microsoft. We knew Kinect would be baked into the new console and we're impressed with how far it's evolved.The new sensor is vastly improved with an extra wide field of vision meaning more people can get involved. The new Kinect can better analyse your body movements, picking up motion in just 13 billionths of a second, and can even detect your heartbeat.
It also has a 1080p camera to make that picture sparkle on your HD TV. Can't argue with that.
5. Exclusive content
One thing that kept coming up during game discussions was exclusive content that would be coming to Xbox One users firtst.EA Sports announced that exclusive content for Fifa 14 will be coming to Xbox One, adding that it had formed a "special relationship" with Microsoft.
It was also announced that DLC for the upcoming Call of Duty: Ghosts will also be exclusive for Xbox One at first. These exclusive deals will be a huge pull for the hardcore gamers.
6. The controller rocks
With no console to show, the PS4 announcement was very focused on the controller, which it had a lot to say about as it turned out.The first thing that struck us about the Xbox One controller was that it's keeping with a winning formula. Not a lot has been changed: the D-pad has been tweaked and the Xbox home button has been pushed up.
But all in all, the design holds onto all the best features of the 360 controller with just a few small changes that should make it feel even more amazing in our hands.
7. It has enough power to stand up to the PS4.
8 Core CPU, 8GB RAM, 500GB HD – these specs put it in good footing for the next-gen race. Blu-ray support is another big feature we're happy to see on board too.However, both consoles do use different types of RAM. Xbox One uses DDR3 while the PS4 uses GDDR5. This means the PS4 will have higher bandwidth when dealing with large-scale stuff, while Xbox One will be better at performing lots of smaller tasks at once.
Whether this will put Xbox One at a disadvantage remains to be seen, but we're confident right now that it's more than ready for what the next generation of gaming has in store.
8) Better Xbox Live
Microsoft say the new Xbox Live service will react dynamically to gamers as well as bringing DVR functionality that lets you record and upload in-game footage to the internet.We also know that it will be jumping from 15,000 to 300,000 servers, which is pretty impressive if you ask us.
Another cool feature we're keen on is Trending, which will show you what's currently popular among friends and within the Xbox Live community, a little like the Wii U does.
9. Spielberg's producing a Halo show for Xbox-ers
'Nuff said really. One of the biggest surprises of the Xbox event was the announcement that a live action Halo TV series is being made, and Steven Spielberg will be producing it.We've been waiting for a Halo movie for ages, but we'll be just as happy with a TV show. No mention of a new Halo game though, but we expect we'll hear about that at E3.
10. This is just the start
Microsoft's reveal might have been more comprehensive than Sony's, but there are still plenty of things we're yet to see.TechRadar was promised at a special event that this is just the first part, with E3 being the second. We can't wait to see what else Microsoft has to share, especially with regards to the live TV features and Xbox Live.
Of course, we'll be at E3 to see the rest of the reveal play out, when we'll also finally see the PS4 shown in all its glory. It'll be at that moment that the next-gen console war will really kick off.
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CTIA 2013: Nvidia Tegra 4i reappears at CTIA with 4G LTE-Advanced
When it debuted at Mobile World Congress back in February, Nvidia's Tegra 4i mobile processor impressed with its ability to reach speeds of 100mbps.
Nvidia returned with the Tegra 4i at CTIA 2013, and somehow managed to boost those speeds even further without altering the structure or hardware of the chip.
Thanks in large part to its i500 LTE modem, Nvidia was able to update the chip's software to push the capabilities to Cat 4 150mbps.
Even though no marketed phones currently house the Tegra 4i chip, Nvidia demonstrated the full power of the processor while also making calls and streaming video over AT&T's LTE network.
Little chip, big power
At 40 percent of the size of a traditional LTE modem, the Tegra 4i packs a lot of punch into a diminutive chip.Nvidia attributes this to the Deep Execution Processors design, which offers "fast, high performance" in a highly adaptable modem.
During the demo, Nvidia's Phoenix concept smartphone was also tested to show off the LTE-Advanced prowess with special emulation, as there are currently no such networks available.
Though the Tegra 4i will be compatible with LTE-Advanced, the chip has also been designed to be backwards compatible with earlier cellular networks.
This means you'll be able to use any Tegra 4i device on LTE Cat 3, 3G, and 2G whenever 4G isn't available, providing an incredible amount of flexibility for any phone housing the processor.
Qualcomm hasn't truly been challenged by another processor in the mobile space as of yet, and it will be interesting to see how the competition heats up as the cellular market expands.
How long it will be until the first true smartphone with Tegra 4i arrives remains to be seen, but the quicker it's certified, the sooner we'll get to use the impressive chip ourselves.
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Xbox Reveal: Xbox One release date, news and features
Microsoft has announced the new Xbox One games console at its Redmond HQ!
The company described the Xbox One as "the ultimate all in one entertainment system - one system for a new generation." It has the second generation of Kinect baked in nice and deep and has powerful specs similar to those of the Sony PS4.
The Xbox One wants to be the one-stop entertainment solution for your living room, integrating live TV, games, movies and web services like Skype, all controlled using Kinect's improved voice recognition features.
Xbox One specs
No big surprises here, really. The Microsoft Xbox One comes packing an x64 8-core AMD CPU, USB 3.0 ports, 500GB hard drive and 8GB DDR3 RAM. Connectivity-wise you've got 802.11n Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Direct functionality for exchanging data between devices - specifically the new Xbox controller.There's also the addition of a Blu-ray drive, which marks Microsoft's first move to embrace the disc format created by Sony et al, which vanquished HD DVD back when TechRadar was but a glint in someone's eye.
So as expected, then, the Xbox One is more like a mini-PC than any Microsoft console that's come before. These specs put the console on a par with the PS4 and bode well for developers who want to make cross-platform games.
The console has not only an HDMI-out port but also HDMI-in too. This is for interfacing with set-top boxes in order to integrate the Xbox One with your TV-watching experience. As far as you're concerned, you'll only have one device instead of two.
Xbox One: Kinect
The Xbox One has Kinect functionality built into its very core. To turn the console on, you need only say the words "Xbox on" - the console is always listening.A live demo at the launch event showed Kinect instantly responding to hand gestures and voice commands. That simply isn't possible on the current hardware with the Xbox 360 and suggests that Kinect v2 is the gesture and voice controller we always wanted it to be.
The demo showed the ability to switch between games, videos, music and live TV instantaneously using simple voice commands such as "Xbox watch TV". You can even ask to watch a specific channel - HBO was an example they used - and Xbox will take you there straight away.
Microsoft says that Kinect 2 is to fast and powerful that it detects motion in just 13 billionths of a second - the time it takes light to get from you and into the camera.
The Kinect sensor as a resolution of 1080p which means its footage will look great on your HD TV, and it captures video at 60fps which means footage that's lovely and smooth.
The camera aslo has a field of view that's 60% bigger than the original Kinect which means less faffing around trying to stand in the exact spot it tells you to. That combined with the more powerful means you'll be able to get a lot more people gaming with Kinect all at one time.
What's more, Microsoft says that the new Kinect uses infra-red, which means it works in complete darkness.
Xbox One: Discs
The Xbox One games will come on Blu-ray discs but they're only for one-time use. Once you've installed the games onto your hard drive, you no longer need them as the game is tied to your Xbox Live account. This is a similar idea to that employed by Steam and Uplay on the PC.Xbox Live upgraded
Live is the most popular online gaming platform on the planet and it's getting a huge behind-the-scenes overhaul for the new generation.While current games servers number roughly 15,000, Microsoft is expanding that to a barely conceivable 300,000 in order to ensure you have instant access to your games and content no matter where you are.
Xbox One personalisation
You can turn on the Xbox One by simply walking over and talking to it. It turns on instantly, and Kinect will recognise you and take you straight to your own personalised home screen. Here you have access to your own personal movies and music, as well as leaping straight into your own save games.
Xbox One: Always on? Nope!
One rumour that put the fear of God into many gamers was that the new Xbox would require an always-on internet connection. But this is in fact not true. "No, it does not have to be always connected," says Microsoft, "but Xbox One does require a connection to the Internet. We're designing Xbox One to be your all-in-one entertainment system that is connected to the cloud and always ready. We are also designing it so you can play games and watch Blu-ray movies and live TV if you lose your connection."Xbox One games
Microsoft has announced that its own games studios will release 15 games in the first year of the Xbox One's life cycle. Other than that, we also know that FIFA 14 will launch on the console with exclusive content, and the new COD game, Call of Duty: Ghosts, will also have exclusive content on the Xbox.Xbox One: Backwards compatibility
Because the Xbox One uses a completely different system architecture to that of previous Xbox consoles, it will not be compatible with any Xbox 360 games.However, it is yet to be seen whether the cloud might come to the rescue and allow games to be streamed over the web. Perhaps E3 has the answer...
Xbox 720 release date
Microsoft sadly made no mention of a release date during its Redmond launch event. However, more details are promised for E3 in July which is when we should find out when we can expect to get our hands on one. However, that hasn't stopped retailers opening pre-orders already.Many industry experts actually predicted that we'd finally get some hard Xbox 720 info at GDC this year but Microsoft confirmed to TechRadar that turned out not to be the case.
All indications are that the next Xbox will arrive in time for Christmas 2013.
Microsoft briefly stated that the new Xbox is imminent in an interview with the Verge before swiftly backtracking and issuing a moderately embarrassing denial.
This is further backed up by a Microsoft job advert which confirms a new Xbox launch is imminent.
Further rumours of an Xbox 720 release date of pre-Christmas 2013 was backed up at the end of November 2012 by a Bloomberg report which cites sources at Microsoft and says we are likely to see the Xbox 720 make its debut at E3 2013.
But then! In January, a report from Game Informer suggested that we'd actually see Microsoft bust out an all-singing all-dancing event to launch the Xbox 720 around Game Developers Conference in March.
Why no E3 reveal? Because Microsoft wanted to make a splash away from the noise of the mega-show. Unfortunately, the report indicated that Sony had the same idea for the PS4...
Xbox 720 price
No pricing info has yet been revealed by Microsoft - expect this when we get official confirmation of worldwide release dates.That leaked document we mentioned earlier mentions a $299 (£190) price point which sounds gloriously ambitious to us. Expect the Xbox 720 price to be a bit more than that but assuming the PS4 launches around the same time, expect some competitive pricing.
Xbox Mini
Strong rumours are building that Microsoft is planning a double assault on the console market. The new Xbox will allegedly be joined in the cabinet by an Xbox MIni - a small, Apple TV-like device based on Windows 8, with the ability to stream Xbox 360 games from the cloud.
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XBOX REVEAL: Xbox One: where can I get it?
The Xbox One has been unveiled, described as "the ultimate all in one entertainment system - one system for a new generation."
Microsoft says the console will be released "later this year", but there's no word on pricing just yet. Of course, that hasn't stopped some places taking pre-orders already.
BlockBuster is kicking things off by already taking pre-orders on its site with a £20 deposit.
Game has announced it is also taking pre-orders on its site also with a £20 deposit - and in stores starting May 22.
Zavvi has the console listed on its site for pre-order at £399.99. We're yet to confirm whether this is an official RRP or not, but will update as soon as we know more.
Developing...
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Xbox Reveal: Xbox One: UK marketing director didn't know the name either
The UK marketing director for Xbox in the UK has confessed to TechRadar that he didn't know that the new console would be called the Xbox One until the name was revealed on the live feed.
Speaking to TechRadar at the UK launch streaming event, Harvey Eagle admitted that he was on tenterhooks as to the brand, but that he was delighted with the simple moniker.
"Truthfully, I learned tonight. It was closely guarded and I found out at the same time as you found out," he said.
One was surprised
"I love the name, I love a few things - I love the fact that it surprised me and therefore I assume surprised everyone in the room."I've seen the names that were out there, from Infinity to 720 to Durango. I said to myself on the way in 'I don't know what it is I'm going to be surprised in realtime like you guys - wouldn't it be great if it was a new name that had never been reported'.
"When I heard it - given what I saw and knowing our vision - it makes perfect sense to me. It is an all in one gaming and TV device and we've repeated that over and over again and so the name Xbox One just works."
Eagle's honest admission makes us feel a lot better about not being on the small list in the know. And although HTC may be both honoured and miffed by the choice, it certainly seems an obvious choice given the remit of the Xbox One.
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Xbox Reveal: First look: Xbox One
The gaming public finally had its first look at the Xbox One console during an event today in Redmond, Wash., where Microsoft revealed its all-in-one rival to Sony's PS4.
And unlike its competitor, Microsoft actually showed off its console, allowing us to get an up close and personal look at the new device. Let's take a gander at the Xbox One console, its new Kinect motion sensor, and the redesigned Xbox One controller, a tweaked version of the gamepad that Xbox 360 players have been using for the past seven years.
Although dubbed at Microsoft's all-in-one console, the Xbox One will come in three major pieces. The console, shown in the middle of the photo, the new Kinect senor bar and the redesigned controller.
The first photos of the Xbox One confirm that the system design will put the "box" in Xbox, even more so than the concave "breathing in" Xbox 360.
All of the Xbox One photos simply label the system as "Xbox"; however, the surprise name of Microsoft's new console is indeed Xbox One, trumping theorized names like Xbox 720, Xbox Infinity, Xbox Loop and new Xbox.
The Xbox One Kinect will come with the system instead of being an accessory. This should encourage developers to make games that use the motion sensor because the entire Xbox One audience will have one - not just a fraction of the console owners, as was the case with Xbox 360.
A new Kinect, which will accompany every new Xbox One console, sports a refined design that makes it look less like a toy. Going with that theme, Microsoft said that this Kinect 2.0 device will be able to process an amazing 2GB of data per second.
The result of that 2GB of data-per-second processing is the ability to detect more joints or the slight rotation of a wrist or shoulder. It'll also know when you adjust your body weight and be able to read your heartbeat.
The new Xbox Kinect will be 1080p, an upgrade over the original's VGA camera. Microsoft calls this new camera "human control for a human experience."
In addition to "revolutionizing" the Kinect, Microsoft tweaked its now seven-year-old game pad design with the new Xbox One controller.
The Xbox One controller analog triggers and face buttons look the same, but Microsoft claims that it made 40 design innovations to the new controller.
On the front, Microsoft redesigned the D-Pad for more immerse gaming and added new dynamic impulse triggers.
On the back, say goodbye to disposable batteries. The Xbox One controller will boast an integrated battery compartment that won't bulge the backside of the game pad.
A photo from behind the Xbox One console, shows all of the ports that gamers can expect from the new Microsoft system.
Upon closer inspection, the Xbox One rear shows both HDMI in and HDMI out ports, confirming that Microsoft will be able to control a cable TV box for live television viewing.
Gone in the Xbox One is Microsoft's reliance on the old disc-loading tray technology. The new system features a slot-loading of game and movie discs.
The Xbox One design is a little boxy, like an 1980s VCR, but Microsoft was able to clean up the front side of the system, reserving the USB ports for the front of sides of the system.
Another USB port is tucked away on the side of the system, which should make it easily accessible in your home entertainment system.
The Xbox One is heading out globally later this year but we're hoping to see more of it at E3 2013.
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Xbox Reveal: Xbox One is not backward compatible with any Xbox 360 games
Microsoft introduced the new Xbox One during a press conference this morning, showing off features like the new Kinect, voice commands and exclusive NFL and Call of Duty content.
But it failed to address a burning question for fans: whether the new Xbox One console will be backward compatible with existing Xbox 360 games.
After the announcement, though, Microsoft's marketing director for Xbox UK, Harvey Eagle, confirmed that the new Xbox One cannot play any type of Xbox 360 game, either physical or digital.
This unfortunate development is due to the Xbox One's new architecture, which Microsoft's Marc Whitten described as "revolutionary."
Excuses, excuses
"Because of the Xbox One hardware and the new architecture, games from the Xbox 360 will not be compatible with the Xbox One," Eagle said."With digital content like movies or entertainment on Xbox live, you will be able to download to the One," he continued. "With gaming content, again because of the different architecture it won't be possible to play them on the Xbox One."
We've heard that excuse about past gaming systems that didn't feature backward compatibility, but is there a way to save the feature after all?
Can the cloud save backward compatibility?
During the Xbox One announcement, Whitten teased that the new Xbox Live experience has been redesigned around the cloud.But Microsoft didn't address rumors from yesterday that the new Xbox system will focus on streaming games over the internet.
Cloud gaming could solve the backward compatibility problem by allowing players to play older games that are processed by far off data centers and streamed to the new Xbox One console.
Sony teased that functionality for backward compatibility in the PlayStation 4, but Microsoft hasn't made similar claims.
Maybe they'll surprise us at E3 2013?
- Now that the Xbox One revealed that it's not backwards compatible this begs the question which is better the PS4 or Xbox One?
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Vodafone confirms no 4G network launch until the end of summer
Vodafone will not roll out its 4G LTE network until "after the end of the summer," the company claimed on Monday.
The network won big in the 4G spectrum auction earlier in this year, but wants to make sure its infrastructure is ready before offering next-gen speeds to customers.
It had widely been expected to open 4G tariffs in June this year, but the delay extends EE's massive headstart after it launched in late October 2012 and continues to roll out to more cities.
Vodafone's hesitance may have arisen from the incompatibility with the Apple iPhone 5, which runs on EE's 4G frequencies, but will not work on the spectrum Vodafone purchased back in February.
Voda still confident
The company still, which may be waiting for Apple to announce its next-gen phone before launching 4G, claimed its network will still best the existing EE infrastructure once it launches.Vodafone's chief executive, Vittorio Colao, said: "We are convinced our own 4G will be better performing," said
"We want to be able to launch it when it's really ready. End of the summer means when there is going to be a good commercial window for launching it."
The company spent £790m on securing a large portion of the 800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum up for grabs in the spectrum auction.
As a result it was expected to beat O2, and Three - which has said it is in now rush to roll out 4G - to the punch. That now seems unlikely.
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XBOX REVEAL: Xbox One does not need 'always on' connection, supports pre-owned games
The Xbox One reveal event might have been packed with a lot of exciting content, but it didn't answer one of the big questions we've been seriously concerned about: will Xbox One still play without an internet connection?
The good news is that we can confirm it does. "Whether you require always-on - Xbox One's answer to that is no - you do not require an always-on connection," said UK Xbox marketing director Harvey Eagle in a Q&A session after the big reveal.
"Xbox One is clearly designed to be connected to internet and you should have seen benefits but if your connections drops you'll still be able to play games, watch movies on Blu-ray and live TV," he added.
Update: On follow-up with TechRadar, the Xbox team offered us much the same answer as what's on the Xbox Wire page: "Xbox One does not have to be always connected, but it does require a connection to the internet"
That's all the team said they'd share at this time, but to stay tuned for more details. Obviously, they need to clarify just how this need for the internet will work in actuality.
Traded games will play too
Eagle also confirmed that Xbox One will play pre-owned titles, going against some previous rumours. "Yes we will support trading of games," he said during the Q&A.Following EA's decision to ditch its Online pass system, it seems Microsoft doesn't want to upset gamers by jumping on the DRM train for now.
On the less positive side, Xbox One will not support backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 titles, physical or digital.
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Xbox Reveal: Xbox One games include FIFA 14, Quantum Break and Forza Motorsport 5
The first Xbox One games announced includes FIFA 14, Madden NFL, NBA Live and UFC from EA Sports, it was revealed at Microsoft's new Xbox reveal event today.
Xbox One will also see a game from Max Payne developer Remedy called Quantum Break.
Finally, Microsoft Game Studios' hallmark racing series will be coming to the new system in the form of Forza Motorsport 5.
The engine powering these game titles is EA's new engine Ignite, it announced today, that delivers a broad array of rendering capabilities, run-time physics, animation, intelligence, locomotion and integrated online systems.
FIFA 14 Ultimate Team exclusive
There are a total of 15 exclusive Xbox One games in development, according to Microsoft, including eight brand new franchises.Better yet, there will be exclusive features in some of the launch games for Xbox One. This includes an Ultimate Team for FIFA 14, which EA Sports boasted is exclusive to Xbox One.
EA Sports also announced that these sports titles will include 3D crowds, dynamic sidelines and a daily stream of content.
EA Sports promised more details about FIFA 14 Ultimate Team mode later this year, which likely means an E3 announcement along with further Quantum Break and Forza Motorsport 5 news.
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CTIA 2013: CTIA opening keynote talks 2014 'super show,' women in wireless
Savor this spring session of CTIA 2013, because it will be the last. In Las Vegas' Venetian Ballroom, moguls of the wireless world took the stage for the show's opening keynote to discuss the expansion of wireless service in North America, the future of the CTIA shows, and women in wireless.
After the show closes on Thursday, the Wireless Association will merge the spring and fall CTIA shows will merge to form one session. 2014's show will be a so-called "super show."
CTIA as holiday launchpad
Like this year's show, the next CTIA session will also be in Las Vegas. Taking place from September 9-11, the time has been chosen to give manufacturers the chance to launch products into the holiday season.This should help CTIA compete with the other Vegas tech show, CES, which occurs in January, after the holiday feeding frenzy.
A subdued send off
The last opening keynote of the CTIA spring show began on an appropriately dour note. CTIA President and CEO Steve Largent began his address with condolences to the victims of Oklahoma's deadly tornadoes.
Former NFL player Largent is an Oklahoma native himself, and served his state in the U.S. House of Representatives before shifting to a career in the wireless industry. He praised the work of emergency workers in his home state, and urged the audience to text a donation to the Red Cross.
Women in Wireless
Largent then introduced newly appointed FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. The first woman to hold this position, Clyburn was still in her first week as commissioner when she took the stage on Tuesday.
Clyburn was followed by Mary Dilon, president of U.S. Cellular and CTIA Chairwoman. She stressed the need to encourage young women to enter the wireless industry, joking that the CTIA rest rooms are the "only place where the men are waiting and the women just waltz right in."
Despite an overall gender imbalance in the industry, the CTIA opening keynote was able to muster an impressive all-female panel of wireless moguls. Executives from Qualcomm, Target and more joined Dilon for a discussion of their own career paths, and their vision for the industries future.
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Xbox Reveal: Xbox One instant switching, Snap Mode features offer multitasking power
The Xbox One will hit shelves with instant switching and Snap Mode, two multitasking features that will prove Microsoft's new console can rub its belly and pat itself on the head at the same.
Instant switching, demoed for the first time at the Microsoft Xbox One press conference today, can be triggered with voice controls like "Xbox, watch TV."
"Xbox, game," said Microsoft senior vice president Yusuf Mehdi, which switched to a Forza Motorsport 5 before being commanded to switch back and then onto something else. "Go to TV, go to music."
Xbox One's instant switching feature resulted in some applause and cheers from the crowd up until he asked the console to switch to Internet Explorer browser, which drew considerably less applause.
Previously, systems like the Xbox 360 often forced users to exit to the dashboard to open up a new app or program on the console. This first-world problem seems solved on Xbox One.
Snap Mode for real multitasking
Instant Switching on the Xbox One is nice, but it's more like Apple's brand of multitasking. True multitasking comes in the form of Snap Mode."Have you ever wanted to do more than one thing at a time when watching TV?" asked Mehdi, who answered his own rhetorical question with "Of course you have."
While playing a movie, he commanded the system to open up the Xbox's web browser by saying "Xbox, Snap Mode Internet Explorer."
He then demoed the ability to watch a Star Trek: Into Darkness trailer, and surf the web ordering tickets to the new movie before turning to Skyping with a colleague with Snap Mode.
This new multitasking feature will also enable Xbox One owners to shut down one these simultaneously running programs without having to exit what they're doing on the new console.
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Xbox Reveal: Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC for Xbox One to be exclusive at first
Call of Duty: Ghosts downloadable content will launch on Xbox One first, Activision announced at the Microsoft reveal event for the new console.
The exclusive launch of CoD: Ghosts DLC on the Xbox One continues the trend that started on Xbox 360.
That means the Xbox One generation will be like the previous one in which the Microsoft console saw the new content a month before the PS3 and PC versions of the game.
As a result, Xbox One owners should be able to get their hands on new CoD: Ghost maps, modes and character customizations before the PS4 version of the first-person shooter game.
CoD world premier trailer
In addition to giving Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg the last spot to make the exclusive CoD: Ghosts DLC announcement, the Microsoft event hosted the game's world premier trailer for the game.This new CoD gameplay trailer demoed the title running at 60 fps on the Xbox One hardware, and Hirshberg promised that it would be the best-looking Call of Duty game to date.
He even went as far as showing a comparison between CoD: Ghosts and Infinity Ward's previous Call of Duty game, CoD: MW3.
There will be more details about Call of Duty: Ghosts, most likely at the Microsoft E3 2013 press conference next month.
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XBOX REveal: Xbox One hosting live action Halo TV created with Steven Spielberg
343 Industries general manager Bonnie Ross took the stage today at the Xbox One reveal to tease a live action Halo TV show only referred to as Halo: The Television Series.
"At 343, we've put a lot of thought into how we want to evolve storytelling on Xbox One," she said. "I'm excited by the potential of merging the storytelling magic of television with the interactive innovation of Xbox One."
The head of the Halo developer suggested that the series will be inspired by shows like Breaking Bad, Band of Brothers and Game of Thrones.
The Halo TV show is being created in association with Steven Spielberg, who appeared in a video to speak briefly about the series.
Spielberg talks Halo
"Like all of you here today, I have been playing games for decades," Spielberg said."Those stories have gotten more compelling and the technology has certainly improved, and so for me, the Halo universe is an amazing opportunity to be at that intersection where technology and myth-making meet to produce something really groundbreaking.
"I'm incredibly excited about the great journey we're all on - the heroes, worlds and wonders that Halo will take us on."
Unfortunately he did not reveal much about the series itself, and details seem to be scarce at this point. But the Xbox One will launch later this year, and more could be revealed at E3 in June.
Entertainment 720
Microsoft entertainment and digital media president Nancy Tellum also stepped up to talk about Xbox Entertainment Studios and its new live action Halo series in association with Steven Spielberg.Tellum promised that the Xbox One will be truly social.
"TV on Xbox will immerse you, enabling you to virtually jump into the action whenever you desire. For the first time ever, TV will be truly personalized to your tastes and your needs," she said.
Expect to hear plenty more about the Xbox One at E3.
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Xbox Reveal: Microsoft teams with the NFL for Xbox One partnership
Microsoft unveiled it's all new console today, the Xbox One, and with it a host of partnerships with game companies for new titles heading to market later this year.
Of particular note is a partnership between Microsoft and the National Football League to mix the real and virtual world of gaming together.
One a user is watching teams on the gridiron, they can seamlessly switch to fantasy football information and displays, as well as receive on screen updates.
Developing...
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Xbox Reveal: New Xbox One Kinect is 'rocket science-level stuff,' says Microsoft
Microsoft's Marc Whitten stepped on stage at the Xbox reveal today to introduce the Xbox One in detail, including a new Kinect sensor for the new console.
He said the new Kinect is "rocket science-level stuff."
The new Kinect has a 1080p widescreen view of your world. "Now that world is crisp, it's clear and beautiful," Whitten explained.
The new Kinect can sense your movements in greater detail, and sense your heartbeat and minuscule shifts of your weight, he said.
Xbox Three?
Whitten described the Xbox One as consisting of three main parts.First is the console itself, with its "revolutionary Xbox One architecture," as Whitten described it.
Then there are the input devices; the new Kinect, the new Xbox One controller and SmartGlass integration with smartphones and tablets.
Lastly there's Xbox Live, which Whitten said is now "reinvented" around the cloud.
Kinect, though, is "the binding power" that makes the Xbox One work, he explained.
Microsoft showed off few new games today during the Xbox One reveal, but expect more - no doubt including plenty that utilize the new Kinect - at E3 in June.
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Xbox Reveal: Microsoft plans 'what's next' news for Xbox 360 at E3
Microsoft president of the interactive entertainment business Don Mattrick took the stage at Microsoft's Xbox reveal this morning to introduce the new console, dubbed "Xbox One."
He promised that the current generation of gaming isn't over, though, and that more Xbox 360 news and games will be revealed at E3 in June when Microsoft discusses the future of the existing console.
Game consoles traditionally live on for some time once their successors are released, but for how long can be dependent on a number of factors.
It sounds like Microsoft has plenty of plans to support the Xbox 360 even in light of the Xbox One being revealed, though, so the 360 could potentially live on for some time.
Xbox 360 at E3
The Electronic Entertainment Expo is gaming's biggest annual convention.Microsoft will hold a keynote press conference early in the convention, revealing more about the Xbox One and, we learned today, the future of the Xbox 360.
The current console was only mentioned in passing during today's Xbox One reveal, but expect more on the Xbox 360 as E3 approaches in June.
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Xbox Reveal: Microsoft reveals Xbox One, its all new console
The day has finally arrived - after all the speculation, Microsoft has lifted the veil off the new Xbox.
It's called the Xbox One and it's Microsoft's effort to put the user at the center of the entertainment experience. Unlike the PS4 reveal, we actually got a look at the console during the Redmond, Wash. event.
"Team Xbox is on a new mission," said Microsoft's Marc Whitten, "to create an all-in-one system to light up a new generation of games, TV and entertainment.
"It puts you at the center. It's simple, instant and complete."
The console features interactive gestures and apps, and universal gestures like grab are designed to help users zip through their system in an all new way.
Xbox One specs
The Xbox One has 5 billion transistors, 8GB of RAM, eight-core CPU and a 64-bit architecture. USB 3.0, a Blu-ray drive, 802.11n wireless and 500 GB HDD are also part of the Xbox One package.The device is loaded with a new architecture called Xbox One Architecture, essentially a 3-in-one approach to the system. There's also a kernel of Windows inside, Microsoft noted.
Nvidia followed up the initial announcement with news that it will support the Xbox One with its PhysX and APEX SDKs.
What's more, Microsoft has created a new Kinect sensor, and is updating Xbox Live to match the One's capability. This year, the company plans to up its Live servers to 300,000, a jump from the current 15,000 operating now. There's naturally a new controller heading to living rooms as well.
The Xbox One is heading out globally later this year, but there's more to look forward to at E3.
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Boosting server performance: tuning for MySQL calls
As IT managers have looked to leverage higher performance from SQL server deployments, many have been adopting techniques that can improve the overall input and output queries have become a focus of the process.
Server tuning has always been one of the key goals of all DBAs, and increasingly large workloads are being imposed on SQL servers as big data has become a commercial imperative for all businesses.
System performance will always be tied to the underlying hardware on which the MySQL database will run. As such, the I/O performance of the hardware has increasingly come under the spotlight as a means to improve server performance.
Trial and error
What has become clear with I/O tuning for SQL servers is that patience and perseverance are essential. A great deal of trial and error is required before an optimum balance is achieved, and the first step will always be to benchmark and measure the existing I/O performance.Here, tracking the IOPS (I/O operations per second) is a good way to gauge the current loads that are moving over your server configuration.
Admins are also encouraged to make use of the SQL Server Profiler that ships with each issue of the SQL database. This tool is invaluable to capture server events, which can in turn be used to track workloads. This enables you to see where bottlenecks are situated.
In addition, SQL Server 12 users can use the Extended Events function to give more detail insights into the workloads on their server I/Os.
One of the most effective methods of improving I/O performance is to increase the available memory. As installed memory is very low cost, IT managers don't need to focus on memory saving techniques as they strive to maximise I/O performance.
Focusing on the I/O events themselves, and reducing CPU time will be more productive and lead to real world performance increases.
Buffering factor
Memory buffering has also proven to be highly effective. Here, buffering server requests that are then sent to the SQL database in groups reduces overall I/O times.The operating system will do a good job of caching these calls and sending them to the database in the most efficient way, reducing I/O events.
The configuration of storage area networks can also have a huge impact on I/O performance. Log files should be placed on their own volume, as should the tempdb routine that should have its own I/O subsystem.
Backups should also have their own I/O to prevent these from adversely impacting the overall performance of the server.
Overall, understanding the existing I/O profile of your SQL data is essential before tuning can begin. As no two installations will be the same, IT managers will have to develop their own bespoke approach that delivers the best performance for their particular installation.
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Boosting server performance: placing the swap file on a separate HDD
Businesses that have moved to virtualised machines need to ensure they have a regime in place to ensure their installations are running at optimised performance.
One way to gain a boost in performance is to move the swap file away from the default drive.
Moving the swap file to its own dedicated hard drive is one option to increase performance within any given virtual machine. However, as the swap file by its nature is only created when the available physical memory of the server is restricted, IT managers can optimise their servers by installing more memory.
As storage is low cost, this is an easy win for IT managers tasked with improving the performance of their servers. A good example of the possible memory expansion includes the moves by Dell to offer SSD storage on some of its PowerEdge servers.
Troubleshooting
VMware states: "Moving the swap file to an alternate datastore is a useful troubleshooting step if the virtual machine or guest operating system is experiencing failures, including STOP errors, read-only file systems, and severe performance degradation issues during periods of high I/O."Before any changes are made to the location of the swap file it is advisable to read the appropriate guidance in the Virtual Machine Admin Guide [https://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/].
As all ESX/ESXi hosts will only power on their virtual machines when they can create a swap file, it is vital that any changes to its location are carried out correctly.
In addition, system adminstrators should check that there is enough space for the swap file to be created on any host that vMotion can access.
The management of the swap file must be carefully assessed and decisions made whether this should be located with the configuration file (set up by default) or moved to another location. VMware has best practice guidance that includes this advice:
"If swapping cannot be avoided, placing the virtual machine's swap file on a high-speed high bandwidth storage system will result in the smallest performance impact. The swap file location can be set with the sched.swap.dir option in the vSphere Client (select Edit virtual machine settings, choose the Options tab, select Advanced, and click Configuration Parameters).
"If this option is not set, the swap file will be created in the virtual machine's working directory: either the directory specified by workingDir in the virtual machine's .vmx file, or, if this variable is not set, in the directory where the .vmx file is located. The latter is the default behaviour."
Decision time
Clearly a decision has to be made whether moving the swap file to its own dedicated memory will offer any performance boost.For servers with limited memory resources this move could offer an advantage, but it's not a long term solution. This would make a priority of more installed memory to ensure that when the swap file is activated it will not adversely affect the overall performance of the server.
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Boosting server performance: hard drive maintenance
After the initial installation of a MySQL database, IT managers may detect that the I/O performance of their servers has begun to degrade.
One of the most common reasons for this is hard drive fragmentation. If your particular installation uses a high number of random calls, this will often lead to fragmentation across all the installed memory.
Having a defrag regime in place is essential to avoid this performance issue.
One of the key areas to look for fragmentation is in the SQL tables. This can often happen with random deletion and insertions increasingly fragmenting a table until there is a drop in performance in the host server.
In addition, if you are seeing increases in disk space usage that can't be explained by other actions you have taken, it's likely that a fragmented table is to blame, as they tend to take up more of the available disk space.
First step
The most common tables to experience fragmentation will be InnoDB and MyISAM. For system administrators tasked with understanding why their database performance has eroded, focusing on the former type of table first will always be a good first step.This is because as the InnoDB table marks any written data as deleted that block remains empty and is not overwritten with new data. Of course, over time this artificially inflates the table with a corresponding issue with performance.
Generally, running the 'Optimise Table' routine will rebuild the table and its index. Note that the table will be locked while this command is carried out.
Also, sysadmins should be aware that secondary tables could still have high levels of fragmentation even after the routine is complete.
However, many sysadmins are being more intelligent with their defragmentation regimes, as they realise that some tables will have more traffic than others. Performing a hard defragmentation via the Optimise Table routine can be inefficient.
One consequence of doing this regularly is that each instance generates a transaction log, which can take increasing amounts of time to back up. Also, checking the actual level of fragmentation on each index before you start can often be highly revealing.
Setting a minimum level of index fragmentation before defragging is performed will ensure you are not performing unnecessary defrags on your servers.
Low fill factor
Sysadmins should also think about how they have their database set up. In some cases this will include a low fill factor, which speeds up writes to the database but conversely slows reads.They can also can see performance advantages if they can cache their databases.
If this isn't possible look at how the database is spread over the installed hard drives. If you have shared storage across a Dell PowerEdge installation for instance, think about how you could simplify this to reduce the amount of random accesses your database has to perform over a given number of hard drives.
In addition to focusing on the database tables themselves, IT managers should also think about their maintenance of the physical hard drives that their servers are using. An OS defragmentation at regular intervals should offer better life expectancy for the hardware and also allow installed applications to see performance boosts.
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Cortado raises cloud printing stakes
Cloud service provider Cortado is out to extend its role in the market for cloud printing services with the launch of ThinPrint Cloud Printer.
It works through an app that can be downloaded onto mobile devices or remote desktops and makes it possible to operate any printer through the cloud.
The company is going out of its way to emphasise the difference with Google Cloud Print and HP ePrint, which are tied to either proprietary browsers or printers.
Steven Jones, Consulting Director for Cortado, told TRPRo that it is different from other cloud printing services in working with all browsers and smartphones and as a Windows driver. It also supports printers from all manufacturers and works with different types of office software.
Users can send a file to Cortado's cloud servers, which generate the print job and send instructions back to a local computer connected to the printer.
Jones said the particular appeal for small businesses should be that it provides a secure route for those that don't have a virtual private network. Documents are sent through a secure https connection, print jobs are stored in password-protected accounts, and once they are complete they are deleted from Cortado's servers.
He also claimed it can reduce the strain on their hardware and networks as Cortado generates the job.
The service also has a reporting facility, which makes it possible to identify where any heavy printing costs arise.
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CTIA 2013: Sprint and Boost look to make a splash with waterproof Kyocera Hydro Edge
Following last night's showing of the ruggedized Cat B15, Sprint and Boost followed up with their take on the hardcore handset at CTIA 2013.
The Kyocera Hydro Edge is a joint venture between the two carriers and Kyocera Communications, and is a waterproof handset that can survive the splash of a summer sprinkler run or drop in the lake.
OK, don't take it scuba diving - it can last for up to 30 minutes in fresh water up to 3.28 feet deep.
The Hydro Edge builds on the original Kyocera Hydro, a phone Boost launched in 2012. While exact pricing and availability isn't ready for the public yet, it will be released this summer.
Edge specs
The Hydro Edge comes sugared up with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon from Qualcomm keeps the internals humming.A 4-inch, impact-resistant touchscreen display cakes the front, and the carriers have equipped it with a 5MP camera with LED flash and video camera to capture all those summertime moments.
The phone also features Smart Sonic Receiver technology, which eliminates the need for a traditional speaker by using vibrations to transmit sounds directly to the user's ear. Even in the nosiest of environments, sounds will reverberate with clarity.
The idea with the Smart Sonic tech, besides fidelity sound, is to remove the speaker cavity, allowing for sharper aesthetics and enhanced waterproofing.
The Hydro Edge is a 3G device, and we'll update this story with news on price and availability as soon as it becomes available. However, consumers will be able to choose whether they go contract or not by picking either Sprint or Boost as their carrier.
- Like the idea of a rugged handset? Read more about the Cat B15
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