Kogan action cam base jumps past GoPro Hero 3's price point
Kogan has set its sights on disrupting the action camera market with its new Full HD Action Camera.
Kogan's offering is priced at $119, taking on the GoPro Hero 3 rather aggressively, which has a current RRP of $399.
"GoPro is a massively popular product, but Australians are forking out about $500 for one with the accompanying accessories. That's almost a week's pay for some people," said Kogan CEO and founder Ruslan Kogan.
"It's a huge market we're disrupting today."
Similar specs on the cheap
The Kogan Full HD Action Camera has Full HD 1080p recording, a 12MP camera, remote control, USB, AV Out and HDMI, as well as a micro SD card slot.Weighing 110 grams, it has the same field of view as the GoPro Hero 3 with a water, shock and dust proof casing.
It also has larger screen size than the GoPro at 1.5-inches, which is also a colour display, but with a smaller battery size (1000mAh to the GoPro's 1050mAh), this could take its toll on its power consumption.
"At this new price point, more Australians will be able to capture their fun, action-packed, and cherished moments on the go," Kogan said.
The Kogan Full HD Action Camera comes in black or silver for $199, or bundled with an accessory pack for an extra $20.
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First Hangouts, then Helpouts? Google may bring live video marketplace to life
Google is reportedly working on an extension of its Hangouts live video service dubbed "Helpouts," which is said to turn it into an e-commerce marketplace for individuals and businesses.
Google Helpouts would connect experts and advice seeks, spanning categories like computers, education, food, health, hobbies, and repair, according to sources speaking with TechCrunch.
Although it's supposed to be a "secret project," rumored details and screenshots of the service paint a picture of seller profiles, reputation management, scheduling, payment features via Google Wallet, and of course search and discovery tools for buyers.
Testing is said to have begun in late June and an initial Google Helpouts release date "may be at least a month away from a public release."
How it could help out
Described as "live, real-time commerce," Google Helpouts is along the lines of expert-pairing services like eBay's Secretguru and TaskRabbit.Through Google Hangout video technology, it could set the stage for fee-based cooking classes without the hassle of having to travel to a distant location for the learning experience.
Likewise, it could revolutionize language-learning services through the web, one-upping Rosetta Stone and most online classes that neglect to offer a fluent real-world counterpart to speak to.
Computer repair could happen over an tablet, offering live feedback with every turn off a screw.
And help pout
Google Helpouts, if launched, may be great for start-up seeking individuals, and it could also help brands reach additional customers.To that end, Google is rumored to have partnered with companies including One Medical Group, Sears, Weight Watchers and Alliance Frances.
However, whether Googlers - accustomed to seeking information from Google products for free - rally around a mostly fee-based service remains to be seen.
It could end up being the next YouTube or fall by the wayside as the next Google Wave.
- Read the success of Google Play, one marketplace that is doing well.
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Updated: Google announces Chromecast to stream video from your devices to your TV
A new Nexus 7 and Android 4.3 weren't enough for Google, the tech giant also introduced a new online video viewing solution called Chromecast.
The 2-inch dongle will cost $35 (about £22, AU$38) and serves as a way to bring online content to the box in your living room. Google focused heavily on YouTube (duh), but Chromecast also works with Google Play Movies & TV, Google Play Music and Netflix.
Greater app support is coming soon, the G-team noted, including putting Pandora in the Chromecast corner.
Once Chromecast is plugged in, users are able to go to a supported app, press a new Cast button, and pull the video from the cloud to their television set.
Chromecast is available for order in the U.S. starting today through Google Play, with Best Buy stores selling the dongle on July 28. It's expected to be available in other countries in the coming weeks. Early purchasers will get three months of Netflix free, a pretty sweet deal if you need to catch up on House of Cards.
Update: Chromecast is seemingly off to a rousing start. While initially U.S. shipping dates were given as 1-2 days, that's now been pushed out to Aug. 7, or two weeks.
Chromecasting stones
Chromecast works with smartphones, tablets and laptops. It runs a simplified version of the Chrome OS, and features full device playback.While it plugs into your TV via an HDMI port, it does require an external USB power adapter to juice up. The Wi-Fi packing insert max output video resolution is 1080p, and Chromecast is CEC compatible. But enough of the dry details, here's Google's first feel-good promo for Chromecast:
Get the idea?
Chromecast lets users continue to use their device while a video is in session, clutch if you need to text a buddy about the trick slam dunk you just witnessed or shoot off an email. You can also search for videos without breaking your viewing.
Google is keenly aware that not everyone has an Android device, so Chromecast will work on iOS, Chrome, Mac OS 10.7 and higher and Windows 7 and up.
If it sounds like a challenger to Apple AirPlay, Apple TV, Roku and even Google TV itself, it could very well wind up as just that. The price is like an on-sale outfit - you may not really need it, but how can you pass up something so affordable? Granted, it's limited in these early days, but Chromecast has an abundance of potential.
A feature that's still in beta is the option to project Chrome directly to your TV. The demo onstage at Google's event was shown using a "standard" Windows 8 laptop, while projected photos and videos pulled up via Chrome onto a TV screen.
There is a Google Cast SDK going up today for Windows, Chrome for Mac and Chrome OS. Google's aim is to create a cohesive Chromecast experience over time, allowing devs to create a high-quality multi-screen experience.
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Twitter apologises after using fake tweets to promote itself
Twitter has found itself in hot water, having to apologise for attributing fake tweets to real users while promoting its own advertising product.
Twitter posted on its blog earlier this week about the new "Amplify" product for brands and advertisers, which will allow them to retweet TV ads. Twitter's blog post was shared by @Twittterads.
Along with this blog, however, it also posted a mock-up of the new advertising dashboard with tweets from users lauding TV commercials.
And while the tweets were fake themselves, the shocking element is that the three users used in the mock-ups are very real, and very unhappy.
Too late to apologise?
One of the fake tweets read: "What is the song in the new @barristabar commercial? I love it!!"Attributed to @Neil_Gottlieb, he told blog site SF Gate, "It's disturbing and has no place. To use my image and fake a tweet is wrong and needs to be addressed."
In response, Twitter removed their profiles from the tweets, instead attributing them to Twitter employees and added an apology to its blog post:
"An earlier version of this blog post included an image with mock Tweets from real users of our platform. This was not OK. Once we became aware of this mistake we took it down immediately. We deeply apologize to the three users included in the earlier images."
They also tweeted an apology: "Hey @Neil_Gottlieb, @WilliamMazeo, @subhash_tewari - so sorry about the confusion earlier today. We're fixing the problem now."
But Gottlieb remains unimpressed and told SFGate that he will be consulting an attorney.
Via: SFGate
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New Nexus 7: Everything you need to know
The new Nexus 7 tablet has just been officially unveiled, and while it might share a name with its predecessor it proves to be a significant upgrade. Let's take a look at all of the new features that the new Google tablet brings.
As expected, Google is using its new Nexus 7 tablet to push its latest Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS, but in an unusual move for the company it's the hardware that draws the most attention here.
The new Google Nexus 7 may still be an affordable entry point to the tablet market, but it also boasts a couple of truly cutting edge components that will have rivals sweating.
One thing looks extremely likely - Apple is going to have to come up with something pretty special with the iPad mini 2 if it's to retain the "top compact tablet" title.
New Nexus 7 screen
The undoubted highlight of the new Google Nexus 7 is its display. While it shares exactly the same 7-inch size and 16:10 aspect ratio with the preceding model, it takes a massive step forward in visual fidelity.
Out goes the first Nexus 7's respectable 1280 x 800 resolution, and in comes a class-leading 1920 x 1200 upgrade. That's an increase in pixel density from 216ppi to 323ppi.
Among other things, this will enable native Full HD 1080p video playback for the first time ever on a 7-inch tablet. Google also claims that the web browsing experience will benefit, as you won't have to zoom in to read text.
The new Nexus 7's display should prove to be as vibrant as it is sharp, with Google claiming that it's capable of outputting a 30 percent wider range of colors.
New Nexus 7 processor and memory
While the original Google Nexus 7 was no slouch, the new model represents a sizeable step forward in performance.Its 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU provides almost double the processing power of the original, while the attendant Adreno 320 GPU ramps up the graphical performance fourfold.
These are backed up by 2GB of RAM, which is double the amount provided in last year's Nexus 7 debut.
New Nexus 7 storage
The range of storage options in the new Google Nexus 7 matches that of last year's model. That means a choice of 16GB or 32GB models at launch.Google ditched the initial 8GB option relatively early in the original Nexus 7's lifespan, so we're neither surprised nor disappointed to see the lack of one here. Still, a larger 64GB model would have been nice - especially with all of that HD content that you'll no doubt want to experience on your new Nexus.
New Nexus 7 cameras
Another major new hardware component found in the new Nexus 7 is a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera. We say it's a major addition not because it will be an important or particularly accomplished feature (we're still not sold on the whole taking pictures with a tablet thing), but because the previous model didn't have one at all.The front-facing camera is, once again, a 1.2-megapixel example, so you probably won't see a huge difference in the quality of your video calls.
New Nexus 7 dimensions
Despite its extra power, cutting edge screen and all-new camera module, the new Google Nexus 7 will be smaller and lighter than the first generation device.It's almost 2mm thinner than the 10.56mm original Nexus 7, while the new device's side bezels shave off 3mm each to make it (you guessed it) 6mm narrower overall.
All this trimming has done wonders for the new Google Nexus 7's weight, dropping 50 grams compared to its predecessor.
New Nexus 7 software
As we mentioned in the intro, Google is using the new Google Nexus 7 to debut its Android 4.3 mobile OS.This isn't the next generation Key Lime Pie upgrade that many are looking forward to - we're still firmly in Jelly Bean territory here. Sure enough, the list of improvements is relatively meager and unexciting, and we'll deal with them in detail in a separate feature.
To summarize, Android 4.3 brings restricted profiles, Bluetooth Smart support, OpenGL ES 3.0 for advanced 3D graphics, and new DRM APIs that will enable you to stream more true 1080p content to your tablet - all the better to show off the new Nexus 7's 1080p display.
New Nexus 7 battery life
The price you usually have to pay for more power and sharper screens is an inferior battery life, but that's not the case here.Google reckons you'll actually be able to squeeze an extra hour of usage out of a single charge of the new Google Nexus 7. This translates to nine hours of high definition video playback and 10 hours of web browsing.
New Google Nexus 7 connectivity
As befits a device designed by a company that specializes in web services, the new Google Nexus 7 is one well-connected tablet.Each device supports dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, as well as Bluetooth 4.0, HDMI (through an adapter) and NFC.
The top model even supports 4G LTE, which is an advance over the 3G-only first generation. We'll have to wait to see if this makes its way over to U.K. with its fledgling 4G ecosystem.
New Nexus 7 release date
As you might have expected, the new Google Nexus 7 will debut in its home territory. It'll be available to buy in the U.S. from July 30 through the Google Play Store and a number of leading U.S. retailers.In fact, Google will use more physical outlets than ever before to push its new toy, so we're hopeful that it will do likewise here in the U.K.
Speaking of which, other key territories, including the U.K., Germany, South Korea, Japan, France, Spain, Canada and Australia will receive the new Google Nexus 7 in the coming weeks.
New Nexus 7 price
We don't have any U.K. or European pricing as yet, but we do know that the new Google Nexus 7 will start from $229 for the 16GB model in the U.S. That's $30 more than the previous device, though it packs a much bigger technological punch.Meanwhile, the 32GB Wi-Fi model will cost $269 and the 32GB LTE model will set U.S. customers back $349.
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Android 4.3: What's New?
With no Key Lime Pie to speak about at the moment, and no Android update announced at Google IO 2013, the Mountain View company took us all to breakfast to announce Android 4.3: Jelly Bean. 'But wait' we hear you shout, 'are there not already two versions of Jelly Bean already?'
Yes, Android Jelly Bean already comes in two versions, 4.1 and 4.2, but today's announcement sees the launch of the next iteration, unsurprisingly titled 4.3. Google, as ever, has also chosen today to launch its new mobile OS alongside some new mobile hardware, the new Nexus 7.
Previous Nexus devices will also gain the update, as well as HTC and Samsung devices, although both manufacturers have proven a little hazy with regards to specifics such as devices and dates.
The real question is 'What is new?'
Multiple Users
The ability to have multiple users, each with their own area has been around since Android 4.2. Multiple people can have their own distinct home screens, apps, widgets and email accounts all on one device.This has been taken to a whole new level with Android 4.3, with parental controls becoming a lot more stringent. Parents can now place a lock on certain apps through Google's 'personal spaces' idea. Apps will need to optimised, but things will get a lot easier.
Bluetooth Smart
Again, Bluetooth technology is something that has been around for a while, so it might seem a little odd to be mentioning this as 'something new'. What has changed is due to the development of Bluetooth smart technology, or Bluetooth low energy.
This is now fully supported by Android 4.3, something that make play a large part in the development of wearable tech given its presence in a lot of modern fitness tech. This is something that we expect to see come into use with the wave of smart watches that are rumoured to hit the market in the future.
Mobile Gaming Boost
The news that OpenGL:ES 3.0 support in Android 4.3 Jelly Bean will be a massive boost to the mobile gaming industry. The update means that any device using this platform will receive an update in its graphic capabilities. Detail and speed comes massively enhanced, with photorealism and greater effects making their way across.
This will not only mean that Google's devices will be able to make giant steps in the mobile gaming world, with EA revealing that its biggest game retailer is Apple, but it brings significant credence to EA Labels president, Frank Gibeau comments when he said "In the near future, the next wave of tablets and phones will have nearly Xbox 360 or PS3 capabilities in terms of graphics."
Mobile Media Streaming
Google has also included DRM APIs which will make it easier for media companies to show off their content. Initially announced with Netflix gaining 1080p high definition streaming, developers of media streaming apps will find it easier to stream content.
Keyboard and Camera updates
Every iteration of Android brings along a new keyboard, and this is no different in Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Expect greater auto-corrections, as the technology continues to grow, alongside improved Swype-style Gesture typing. It was fast and accurate in Android 4.2, so we expect this to continue.Camera updates are also something that have been heavily leaked, with the biggest update coming across to the interface. In reality there is not a whole lot of change, with the only change being to how the icons are shown, in a neater arc, as opposed to a circle.
Other Features
Another minor update allows the use of Wi-Fi locations, even when the Wi-Fi is turned off. There doesn't seem to be a lot of use for this initially, but expect it to increase location finding in mapping apps, without the associated battery drain. This could be useful, especially as we are suckers for anything that helps preserve battery.
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Microsoft pulls another Xbox One 180, says it will allow self-publishing
Microsoft made a big announcement today when Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry Hryb (a.k.a. Major Nelson) revealed that the policies surrounding the Xbox One have been overhauled yet again.
In a massive shift, it turns out the Xbox One actually will support self-publishing, a welcome boon to indie developers.
Previously Microsoft stated that releasing a game on Xbox One would require a publishing partner, creating a huge barrier for indies.
Today's change broke at Game Informer and Hryb discussed it later on his blog, tweeting that more details will be revealed at Gamescom in Germany next month.
'Every person can be a creator'
Sony's PlayStation 4 won the popular vote at E3 for many reasons, one of them being its emphatic support of indie developers.Microsoft's policies alienated those same developers, though, and it seems the backlash has caused the company to rethink its policies.
In addition to allowing self-publishing, Microsoft is looking at a new certification process similar to Apple's, with a 14-day turnaround, and it turns out that every Xbox One console can be used as a development unit as well, rather than devs requiring special hardware.
"Our vision is that every person can be a creator," Xbox Chief Product Officer Marc Whitten said in a statement published by Hryb. "That every Xbox One can be used for development. That every game and experience can take advantage of all of the features of Xbox One and Xbox Live."
"This means self-publishing," he continued. "This means Kinect, the cloud, achievements. This means great discoverability on Xbox LIVE. We'll have more details on the program and the timeline at Gamescom in August."
That's another big shift for Microsoft, and once again it's not unwelcome.
- This isn't the first time Microsoft has been forced to rethink its Xbox One policies - will this one be enough to get gamers back on its side?
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Early View: New Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD 7-inch
When Google launched the original Nexus 7 in mid 2012, it threw down the gauntlet to its rivals by providing a high-performance yet affordable compact tablet. The Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch and the Apple iPad mini soon followed with their own unique features, but now Google has rung the bell for the start of the second round.
The second generation Google Nexus 7 has been revealed, and it's a formidable package indeed. In fact, on paper it would appear to leave both of the aforementioned rival devices in the dust. Here's how.
New Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: release date
Of course, the new Google Nexus 7 won't be available until July 30 in the U.S. and at an unspecified time over the coming weeks in other key territories - including the U.K. Meanwhile, you can pick up an iPad mini or an Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch in shops or online right now.
New Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: price
Google has bumped up the price a little for its new Nexus 7, with the entry-level 16GB model set to cost $229 and the 32GB Wi-Fi model $269. The top of the range 4G model will set U.S. customers back $349.Still, it remains significantly cheaper than the iPad mini, which starts at $329 (£269 here in the UK) for the 16GB Wi-Fi model. That's $100 more expensive than the equivalent Nexus 7 model.
The 32GB iPad mini costs $459 (£449) and the 64GB model a whopping $529 (£429). The 32GB 4G model, which is equivalent to the top of the range Nexus 7, costs $559 (£449).
Amazon's Kindle Fire HD 7-inch undercuts them both, with the entry-level 16GB Wi-Fi model costing just $199 (£159) and the 32GB costing $249 (£179).
New Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: processor and memory
The new Nexus 7 comes with a meaty 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 CPU, which compares favorably to the iPad mini's dual-core Apple A5 processor running at an estimated 1GHz. The Kindle Fire HD 7-inch brings up the processor performance rear with a dual-core TI OMAP4 4460 clocked at 1.2GHz.All three tablets utilize very different RAM setups. The new Nexus 7 leads the way with 2GB of RAM, while the Kindle Fire HD 7-inch has half that at 1GB. Bringing up the rear by some way is the iPad mini with 512MB of RAM, though it's worth mentioning that the Android OS running on the other two tablets is far more of a memory hog than iOS.
New Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: battery life
All three tablets boast similar levels of stamina. Google claims the new Nexus 7 can withstand nine hours of continuous usage, while Apple pins the iPad mini at 10 hours. The Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch would appear to win this round at 11 hours, but in truth all three last more than long enough in between charges.
New Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: operating system
The new Google Nexus 7 will ship with Android 4.3: Jelly Bean, the very latest version of the Android OS. It's pretty much the same as Android 4.2: Jelly Bean, but with a couple of extra tweaks like restricted profile options and OpenGL ES 3.0 advanced graphics support. Apple's iPad mini runs on the latest version of iOS, which at the time of writing is iOS 6. Expect iOS 7 to be a real game changer.
Finally, the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch runs on a heavily modified version of Android: 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich - so heavily, in fact, that you wouldn't recognize it simply by looking at it. Amazon's own Silk UI has been layered on top, which simplifies navigation, pushes media content to the fore, and utilizes Amazon's vast server network to boost certain tasks through the cloud. Suffice to say, it's the worst OS experience of the three as result of such tinkering.
New Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: display
Google's new Nexus 7 would appear to win this round hands down. Its display is massively sharper than the other two, with a 1920 x 1200 resolution resulting in a staggering 323 pixels per inch (ppi). It's by far the sharpest 7-inch tablet yet.While the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch contains an identically sized 7-inch display, it can only produce a 1280 x 800 resolution and a pixel density of 216 ppi.
It might surprise you to learn that the iPad mini's display is even less sharp. A combination of it being bigger (7.9-inches) and lower res (1024 x 768) results in a pixel density of just 163 ppi - roughly half that of the new Nexus 7. Still, it remains a clear, crisp and responsive display in its own right.
New Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: storage
As we've already mentioned in the pricing category, all three tablets come in 16GB and 32GB models. Only the iPad mini differs by also offering a 64GB version - at quite a premium, it has to be said.This is especially important as none of these devices comes with a microSD slot, so you can't expand the default storage amounts post-purchase.
All three manufacturers have attempted to mitigate the issue of storage through their own cloud storage initiatives. Google's is arguably the most fully formed and tightly integrated, with services such as Google Drive, Google+ and its extensive online media library all reducing the need to store quite so much data locally.
Amazon's cloud offering is also quite robust, and as mentioned its Silk UI is built around the cloud-based Amazon media ecosystem. Apple's iCloud arguable brings up the rear, although it stores your photos and documents reasonably efficiently.
New Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: camera and speakers
Both the new Google Nexus 7 and the Apple iPad mini contain 5-megapixel rear cameras for taking pictures and 1080p video, while the Amazon Kindle Fire HD has none.It also loses out when it comes to its front-facing camera, which is merely listed as "HD." The Nexus 7 and the iPad mini equivalents are both 1.2-megapixel units, which will result in sharper video calls.
New Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: connectivity
The new Nexus 7 supports dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, as well as Bluetooth 4.0, HDMI out (via an adaptor) and NFC. There's also an LTE model that will enable you to use 4G networks if available in your country.For its part, the iPad mini also supports dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and HDMI out (again, via an adapter). Apple has yet to jump aboard the NFC bandwagon just yet, though. It too supports 4G networks, including the U.K.'s first next-gen network on EE.
The Kindle Fire HD is Wi-Fi only, but again it supports 802.11a/b/g/n standards. Its dual MIMO Wi-Fi antennae (which the iPad Mini also has) ensures speedy and stable wireless download performance. Bluetooth 3.0 is featured, which is a lesser standard than on the other two devices.
New Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD 7-inch: dimensions and weight
Google claims that the new Nexus 7 will be a whopping 50 grams lighter than the previous model, which by our calculations will make it weigh just 290 grams. That compares favorably to the 395 gram Kindle Fire HD and even the 312 gram iPad mini.The Nexus 7 isn't as skinny as Apple's super-svelte tablet, though. While the new iteration is said to be almost 2mm thinner than the first Nexus 7 - so around 10.4mm - it's still some way fatter than the 7.2mm iPad mini.
Meanwhile, the Kindle Fire HD also appears to be marginally slimmer than the new Nexus 7 at 10.3mm.
However, where the new Nexus 7 really stands apart is in its narrowness. With 6mm shaved off of the original's side bezels it's now a mere 114mm wide, which will make it extremely easy to grip one-handed or slip into a mid-sized pocket. The iPad mini by contrast is 134mm wide, and the Kindle Fire HD a relatively chunky 137mm.
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As campaign tops a few million, Ubuntu Edge adds a few more price points
Canonical has added three new pricing tiers to its Ubuntu Edge crowdfunding campaign, which already surpassed $5 million (about £3.25m, AU$5.44m) in just a few days.
If that sounds like a lot, it's because it is - but it's only a fraction of the $32 million (about £20.8m, AU$34.8m) Canonical is seeking to fund its high-end new smartphone on Indiegogo.
The $600 (about £390, AU$653) price point - which allowed 5,000 backers to secure the phone for themselves when it launches - sold out practically immediately, so the company has added $625 (about £406, AU$680), $675 (about £439, AU$734), and $725 (about £471, AU$789) tiers as well.
The next-lowest pricing tier after $600 was previously $830 (about £540, AU$903), and Canonical is likely trying to rope in more on-the-fence customers while it's still riding the wave of buzz from its initial announcement.
Get 'em while they're hot
Like the original $600 tier, each of the new price points gets backers a pre-order Ubuntu Edge smartphone.All three have 1,250 slots available, though Canonical will offer more and more sub-$830 spots as the campaign continues.
The Ubuntu Edge is designed to be more powerful than anything that's being offered on the smartphone market today, including flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, iPhone 5, and Lumia 928.
With 4GB of RAM, dual LTE receivers, 128GB of storage, and likely a 4.5-inch display made of pure sapphire crystal, it may well succeed. It's more concept car than consumer product however, but it could well be the beginning of something bigger at Canonical and for Ubuntu.
That of course depends on Canonical actually raising that $32 million, which seems only slightly less insane now that the campaign has reached $5 million since Monday.
The company currently plans to make just 40,000 of the high-end Ubuntu Edge smartphones, with other, low- to mid-tier phones running Ubuntu possibly coming afterward.
- Curious about the inspiration behind the Ubuntu Edge? Canonical founder and space tourist Mark Shuttleworth has an anecdote about NASA for you.
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Mo' mo' mobile: Facebook rides the tide of portable device pervasiveness
Facebook seems to have overcome the ad revenue dilemma that plagued its initial public offering a year ago, thanks to significant mobile ad revenue growth.
Reporting its second quarter 2013 earnings, the top social networking company announced that 41 percent of its advertising revenue came from mobile ads in that time.
"Soon we'll have more revenue on mobile than desktop," said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg during the company's earnings call.
"We now have more daily [active users] on mobile than on desktop. Nealy half a billion people use Facebook on their phones every day."
How it made mo' mobile money
Facebook's impressive mobile returns go into the pot of total revenue, which it announced as $1.81 billion (about £1.18b, AU$1.95b) for the three-month span ending June 30, an increase of 53 percent year-over-year.Facebook continues to make money off of your peepers and clicks, with ads accounting for $1.60 billion (about £1.04b, AU$1.72b).
It supplemented its main revenue with payments and fees for virtual items like games and gifts with $214 million (about £139m, AU$230m) in the second quarter.
Avoiding mo' problems
These better-than-expected mobile figures came despite the fact that Facebook can only show so many ads on devices with smaller screens, i.e. smartphones and tablets.The shift from the web to mobile users increased, with 819 million monthly active users on smaller devices in the quarter.
When web and mobile were combined, Facebook had 1.15 billion monthly active users in that same time frame.
Zuckerberg made a point to say that this includes teens, as the company is constantly combating reports that its popularity among younger demographics has been slipping.
"One specific demographic I want to address is U.S. teens," he said. "There's been a lot of speculation that fewer teens are using Facebook. But based our our data that just isn't true."
"We believe that we have close to fully penetrated in the U.S. teen demographic for a while and the number of teens using Facebook on a daily and monthly basis has been steady over the past year and a half."
They remain "really highly engaged" when using Facebook, according to Zuck's data, and these numbers don't include the company's Instagram product that's popular with young amateur photographers.
Of course, he noted that measurements in this area aren't perfect as some pre-teens tend to lie about their age. To sign up for Facebook you must be at least 13 years old.
The next 5 billion people
Zuckerberg looked at Facebook's next five to 10 years during the call and what it would take to reach the next five billion people on the social network."There are three main goals I'd like us to achieve," he said. "Connect everyone, understand the world, and help build the knowledge economy."
Most people on Planet Earth don't have smartphones or data plans, noted Zuckerberg, but they still have the desire to share and be connected on Facebook.
In addition to looking beyond developed countries, the CEO wants text and photo updates that dominate users' updates to carry more meaning in an effort to "understand the world."
According to Zuck, this includes "long-term knowledge about the world like what people are interested in, which restaurants are good, which hotels your friends have stayed at, and so on."
"We want to lead our community to create a graph of all that understanding to power that intelligence."
Building the knowledge economy is something Zuckerberg calls a core part of Facebook's mission, as the advertising platform not only helps his company reap billions, but also helps brand awareness for other business out there.
- Read about how Facebook Graph Search is now open to the public.
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2GB of RAM? Pah! Samsung outs 3GB memory unit, may debut in Note 3
The forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3 could be thundering along at an almighty pace thanks to a new 3GB memory unit announced by the Korean company on Wednesday.
The company's new low-power LPDDR3 chip has now entered mass production with Samsung promising to slide it into devices during the second half of 2013.
With the Note 3 heavily tipped for a pre-IFA arrival on September 4, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to suggest that famed phablet may be the first to benefit from the improvement in memory tech.
Samsung has promised PC-like performance and a "generational shift" from the current 2GB packages, which resides within handsets like the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S4 smartphone.
Better, thinner, faster
Among the benefits, Samsung promises smoother full HD video streaming, faster multitasking and support for faster 4G LTE-Advanced data.The thinner chipset, built on 20-nanometer architecture, will also free up more space for larger batteries in slimmer phones, the company said, adding credence to reports suggesting the Note 3 will be more slender.
"Three gigabyte mobile DRAM will be adopted in the most up-to-date, high-end smartphones starting in the second half of this year − an initial adoption that will expand to most high-end smartphones worldwide next year," said Young-Hyun Jun, executive vice president, memory sales & marketing, Samsung.
As well the likelihood it'll appear in the Galaxy Note 3, that statement seems to confirm the Samsung Galaxy S5 will also boast 3GB of RAM.
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Reaction: TechRadar Reacts: New Nexus 7
Google is out with a new version of the Nexus 7 tablet, and it's a refresh in every sense of the word. It's running an updated operating system (Android 4.3), it's slimmer, it's sharper, it's packing 2GB of RAM ... and the improvements don't stop there.
But even with all the upgrades, is this version of the Nexus 7 enough to win over the TechRadar team? We've weighed what there is to know about the latest entrant on the tablet terrace, and gathered our knee-jerk scores for you right here.
Kate - News Editor
Oh man, this is a nice tablet. Let's review. Super slim bezel: yes please. Full HD screen: GOD, YES. Snapdragon S4 Pro? Take me now. Android 4.3: … well, we can start with that and talk about Key Lime Pie later - right, Google?Knee-jerk score: 4
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Alex - Associate Editor, Reviews
Can the iPad mini look anymore overpriced? Starting the new Nexus 7 off at $229 (about £162, AU$270), Google has really lowballed Apple. Since the iPad mini is still sans Retina, the Nexus 7 has the better display for a lot less money, and while Apple still has the stronger tablet ecosystem, all that could change. Adding things like Tablet 101 to the Play Store could really help highlight the best tablet optimized apps, which has never been Android's strong suit.I'm also wondering why anyone would want a Kindle Fire HD now. For just $30 (about £19, AU$32) more you can have a device with way more functionality, thanks to features like the new tablet enhanced Chrome. Unless you plan to only consume media on the device, I see little reason to buy Amazon's tablet.
I have to say, I did scoff audibly when the Google rep called the Nexus 7 an "ultimate gaming machine." No offense to Riptide GP, but playing an uprezzed version of WaveRace 64 in the park is not my idea of "ultimate gaming." It could be an ultimate reading machine though. That light weight and pixel dense screen will make it easy to toss in a bag and whip out to consume a quick chapter.
Knee-jerk score: 4.5
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Gareth - Phones and Tablets Editor
I was a huge fan of the Nexus 7, and this new update looks immense. Improving on a great screen is always a good move, and the power updates will really please the spec fans. Android 4.3 is massively underwhelming, but who cares when there's instant updates, low cost and a huge re-focus on media? I'm sold.Knee-jerk score: 4.5
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Hugh - Staff Writer
For me, the new Nexus 7 is all about the screen. The fact it got to Retina on a 7-inch before Apple makes it impressive from the outset. Watching Netflix in 1080p on something that's less than 300g? Yeah I'm on board with that. And if the iPad Mini 2 isn't retina then Apple's going to have a lot to answer to. But can we please stop putting rear cameras on our tablets?Knee-jerk score: 4
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Lily - Assistant Editor
I've been avoiding tablets like the plague for awhile now because I'm old-fashioned and prefer keyboards. Oh yeah, and they're pretty dang pricey (lookin' at you Apple). Plus I have a smartphone, why would I need a tablet?But Google's crazy low pricing and 7-inch screen with a bajillion pixels (323 pixels, to be exact), makes the Nexus 7 tempting. SO very tempting, especially for a 32GB Nexus for what, only $40 (about £26, AU$43) more then the starting price?! Why am I having this internal debate? I'm now imagining how I won't have to haul all my books and comics around with me anymore ... well, my birthday is in August so I think I know what's going on my list.
Knee-jerk score: 4
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Michelle - US News Editor
I'm with my colleagues on the new Nexus' specs - for the price, you're getting a whole lot of tablet. I personally am not a fan of 7-inch tablets, and while I can't fault the new Nexus for being that size (it has to appeal to plenty of people, otherwise Google wouldn't have made it), it will affect my decision to purchase it. In other words, I'm not going to buy it.I'm especially interested in seeing how other tablet makers react to the full HD screen (among other specs) and particularly if Apple decides it needs to stick some Retina on the iPad mini ASAP.
Knee-jerk score: 4
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John - Phones and Tablets Writer
I'm really excited about the new Nexus 7. It's reduced size and weight coupled with its full HD display and attractive price will force the rest of the budget market to buck up their ideas. It's not without its flaws though. I was really hoping for microSD slot and larger storage options. 32GB may sound like a lot, but take into account the OS and pop a few movies on it and it starts filling up. At the end of the day though it's a tablet that I'd genuinely like to own and it puts my original Nexus 7 to shame.Knee-jerk score: 4
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Total knee-jerk score: 4.14
Want to know what else the TechRadar team is reacting to? Read these:- Is size everything with the Lumia 625? Not a chance
- The Lumia 1020's super snapper didn't exactly bowl us over
- Did HTC make magic with the One Mini?
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Free Partridge? Kiss My Face! Blinkbox offers pilots to tackle Lovefilm, Netflix
Tesco-owned video on demand platform Blinkbox is offering free episodes of popular television series in a try-before-you-buy capacity.
The 'Try TV on Us' offering brings first episode access to 28 hit shows including The Wire, True Blood, The Following, Modern Family, Sons of Anarchy, The West Wing and I'm Alan Partridge.
The promotion, which could boost Blinkbox's challenge to the likes of all-you-can-eat subscription services like Lovefilm and Netflix, encapsulates programming from HBO, BBC, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros..
The on site, voucher code is valid to August 19 and gives users the chance to sample a show before splashing out on the entire series.
Choice cuts
"Great TV continues to be one of our biggest obsessions and the fuel for many conversations," eulogised Blinkbox CEO Michael Comish."There's more choice than ever before thanks to services like ours and our insights told us that customers relished the opportunity to try TV before committing to purchase. After all, life's too short to watch something that you're just not into.
"We think you should be able to enjoy great TV all year round, anytime and anywhere, not just when programmes are scheduled. We're confident that we have the best selection of great TV, so offering a taster for free seems like a good way to introduce people to our service. We're delighted to say be able to say 'try TV on us.'"
New users taking advantage of the offer will have to sign up for a free Blinkbox account, but then they're all set for a little free TV until the 19th of next month.
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Exclusive: HTC and Samsung both confirm Android 4.3 plans
Google has just unveiled its latest version of Android, an iterative update to Jelly Bean known as Android 4.3 - and both HTC and Samsung are eying it with interest.
Unfortunately, HTC couldn't tell us if or when Android 4.3 would come to the HTC range, nor which handsets would be in line for the update, despite Google itself confirming that the Google Edition HTC One would be getting the update "soon".
But HTC's senior global online communications manager Jeff Gordon told us, "We're reviewing Android 4.3 to see how this update fits into our plans."
HTC Dream
The company hopes to have more info for us soon - and we hope that info will be, "Yeah, sure, we'll be bringing Android 4.3 to the whole line-up... tomorrow!"Samsung is sadly being more direct on a timescale, and it's not good news. It told TechRadar: "Samsung UK will confirm upgrade plans to Android 4.3 to selected Galaxy devices in the coming months".
This means that it could be 2014 until we start seeing Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 updates...we just can't wait for the reams of stories about the rumours of this update coming.
What we do know is that the new Nexus 7 will be the first new device to come with Android 4.3, while the Neuxs 4, old Nexus 7 and Samsung Galaxy Nexus handsets should be receiving the update from today, with the Google Edition Samsung Galaxy S4 and Google Edition HTC One next in line.
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Google outs new apps, boasts Play passing the 1 million mark
Google may have outed a new Nexus 7 and Android 4.3 today, but it lent plenty of attention to apps and the Play Store.
Among the app announcements was a new app called Google Play Games, a sort of hub for all your Google gaming needs. There are leaderboards and social boards, and users can jump to buy games from within the app.
Google Play Games app is available today, and it's shipping with the new Nexus 7 tablet.
Google also talked up a new Netflix app, released earlier this week. The app can play 1080p thanks to a new DRM. As you can guess, the new Nexus 7 is primed to take full advantage of the feedback.
Play Store stats
Android apps aren't doing to shabby in general, as Google revealed the Store boasts 1 million apps, a figure that's doubled in a year.Also in the last year, 20 billion apps have been downloaded from the Play Store.
More to come...
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MPs say shift focus to rural broadband
The Government should refocus its efforts to increase broadband speeds in rural areas where they are slowest, according to a report by Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee.
The report says the focus on rolling out faster fibre optic broadband to the majority of the UK risks undermining efforts to provide a minimum downstream speed of 2Mbps to 95% of the country by 2015, particularly in the face of financial uncertainty.
It notes that the Government has made £20 million available from the Rural Community Broadband Fund to help rural communities in the 10% of areas where broadband connectivity is poorest.
But MPs on the committee criticised the Government's refusal to provide support for communities wishing to put in place alternative schemes that offer speeds of 10Mbps because this would fall short of what it deems 'superfast'.
The report calls for the Government to support such schemes and include a minimum upload speed target that would meet the needs of small and midiszed businesses that increasingly use the internet to share and distribute files.
It also proposes that the Government sets out how many households and businesses are not going to be covered by the roll out of 2Mbps under the Rural Broadband Programme.
The report also suggests that Broadband Development UK (BDUK) and Ofcom consider requiring BT to disclose its costs in the way that permits comparison across contracts in order to allow competitors into the frame after Fujitsu, the only other company in the running, dropped out last year.
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Updated: Android 4.3 release date, news and features
We're all waiting for the next big iteration of Android to hit us and while we already know it's going to be dubbed Key Lime Pie, it turns out Google isn't quite finished with Jelly Bean as Android 4.3 the next update on the horizon.
Google has finally announced the changes this new operating system will bring, so stay tuned to see all the information on the launch of Android 4.3 and the new Nexus 7, as well as any other fancy news.
Here's a round-up of the new features of Android 4.3:
Multi-user ability was added to 4.2, but with the new version you can now customise things on a user level, allowing parental controls and a lock on apps if needed through 'personal spaces'.
Apps have to be optimised to work in this way, but parental control will be much more stringent with the new version of Jelly Bean.
Bluetooth smart technology (Bluetooth low energy as it's also known) is now supported, allowing apps to connect to the low-power sensors that are all the rage in fitness technology these days.
Open GL ES 3.0 is supported in Android 4.3, which means a massive update in the graphic ability in any device using the platform. This means detail and speed in games is now massively enhanced, and will see a greater level of photorealism and effects.
DRM APIs will also make it easier for media companies to show off their content to users - for instance, Android 4.3 will allow 1080p streaming of Netflix content on the go, with more apps to follow.
Other features include background Wi-FI locations (meaning the connectivity can be used for location even when turned off) and a new and updated keyboard - stay tuned for more updates on that.
Android 4.3 release date
Android 4.3 is available from today if you're the proud owner of a Nexus 7, and it will also be coming 'soon' on the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 Google versions.Many believed that Android 4.3 Jelly Bean would make an appearance at the search giant's annual IO conference which took place in May, but sadly no such announcement was made.
Apparently Android 4.3 was at the Google IO show however, with one reporter claiming he was able to get hands on with the software on a white Nexus 4 - although his prediction that 4.3 Jelly Bean would arrive on June 10 has turned out to be false.
Android 4.3 devices
Google is going to treat its own-brand devices to the Android 4.3 update first, with the likes of the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10 and Galaxy Nexus all in line for the new software early doors, as well as the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Editions 'soon'.HTC has told TechRadar "We're reviewing Android 4.3 to see how this update fits into our plans. We hope to have more info for you soon."
This should be sooner rather than later as we've already spotted versions of the phone running Android 4.3 in the wild - and word is Samsung's Galaxy S3 and Note 2 will be going straight to the newer version of the Google platform.
Android 4.3 upgrades and features
As we've mentioned the Android 4.3 update isn't a totally new operating system - instead you can expect some minor tweaks here and there.
One area which looks to be getting some serious attention from Google is the camera app, with snaps taken at Mobile Expo in Taiwan claiming to show the new design for Android 4.3.
We're currently checking to see whether this is actually in the new version of Android, but chances are it will be given Google loves to update the camera with each update to the OS.
While icons such as the shutter key and settings appear to be the same, the circular menu has been ditched in favour of an arc towards the bottom of the screen.
Another shot of the camera app was spied alongside a couple of other screenshots claiming to be from the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean software.
Android 4.3 Google Play update
A new game centre and a whole new suite of Android apps will be coming to the platform, including a special section where you can check out tablet-optimised apps, which means you won't have to just look at stretched apps.Google Play Games is also added into the mix so you can more easily beat your friends down when playing multiplayer titles.
You'll get access to cloud saves, achievements and more so your gaming funtimes won't be ruined by your device falling apart or accidentally deleting a game.
There's more to come from the Google unveiling of Android 4.3, so keep an eye on this page to get the full info as it unfolds.
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Google officially launches Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Google has finally taken the covers off the next version of its mobile platform, but Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is more iteration than next-generation.
With that in mind the changes that Android 4.3 are relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, with updates to multi-user and OpenGL ES 3.0 support among the points in system's changelog.
Google added multi-user support in Android 4.2 on tablets and with version 4.3 it's gone further with Restricted Profiles.
This allows you control access to content and apps for particular users. Google pitches this mainly at parents, as it gives them piece of mind, allowing them to control what their kids can access.
Good for gamers
Something which has made waves in the media recently is kids racking up huge bills on parent's accounts through in app purchases, but with Android 4.3 these payment processes can now be completely hidden from certain users.There's good news for gamers too, as Android 4.3 upgrades the OpenGL support to the latest OpenGL ES 3.0 version allowing developers to make even better games.
The new Nexus 7 will be the first device to ship with the new Android 4.3 software.
Google is also pushing out the Android 4.3 update from today to Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Samsung Galaxy Nexus devices, with the Google Editions of the Galaxy S4 and HTC One getting it soon.
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Google unveils new Nexus 7 with Android 4.3 on board
After a pretty substantial leak earlier today, Google's new Nexus 7 is officially official and it's the first device to come rocking Android 4.3.
The new Asus-made tablet is 2mm thinner than its predecessor - and the two companies have reduced the side bezels so the new Nexus 7 is nearly 6mm narrower despite the 7-inch screen being the same size.
That spells a much more comfortable grip, Google told press at its event today, but we'll be the judge of that when we get our hands on it ourselves.
Full HD
The rebooted tablet also comes with full HD resolution (1920 x 1200) which is a pretty solid improvement on the original Nexus 7's 1280 x 800 offering. Google says this makes it the highest-resolution 7-inch tablet around.Google is also pretty keen for you to use the tablet to watch more movies than ever before so, as well as the full HD screen, it has incorporated stereo speakers and Fraunhofer's virtual surround-sound system for mega audio action. There's also an HDMI output for getting involved with the big screen.
When it comes to the camera, the new Nexus has a 5MP snapper round back and a 1.2MP front-facer to boot.
A quadcore 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro processor is powering the whole thing along and the RAM has been upped to 2GB. That's double, fact-fans.
An unlocked 4G LTE model will be available, with NFC bringing up the rear on the connectivity front.
As for battery, Google says you'll get nine hours of HD video playback from the thing, or 10 hours of web browsing.
When, where, how much?
The new Nexus 7 US release date is July 30 for the Wi-Fi model with the 4G edition to follow 'soon'.The UK, Australia, Canada and other territories will get the tablet in the coming weeks.
As for price, there are three models to choose between: the 16GB Wi-Fi edition will be $229 (around £150 / AU$250), the 32GB Wi-Fi edition $269 (approximately £175 / AU$292)and the 32GB LTE model $349 (about £230 / AU$380).
No official word on UK and Australian pricing yet - we'll keep you posted.
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PC graphics arrive on smartphones as Nvidia flaunts Project Logan
Another day, another example of how mobile graphics are snapping at the heels of desktops and laptops.
But today Nvidia has truly gone from talking the talk to walking the walk, showing off Project Logan – its first mobile chips that shares the same Kepler graphics architecture found in its recent desktop GPUs.
Nvidia's first Tegra 4 devices, including Shield, are set to hit the market soon, but the company is already getting serious about the future.
While Nvidia says it's still early days, it plans to get what will likely arrive as Tegra 5 off the production line and into the market in the first half of next year.
Logan's run
While Nvidia is still holding back on detailing some of the spec jumps over Tegra 4, it has said that the new chip will use less than a third of the power consumption of GPUs in today's tablets such as the iPad.And in case Nvidia's word just isn't good enough for you, it's also put up some footage of the chip running Ira, its face expression demo that was shown off earlier this year running on a desktop PC.
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In Depth: LG G2 release date, news and rumours
The LG G2 is coming. The Korean manufacturer has gone so far as to confirm the name of the handset and the event that it will be launched at.
Couple that with the plethora of leaks which have surrounded the handset, originally dubbed the Optimus G2, and there's very little left to actually find out about LG's next flagship smartphone.
Following on from the Optimus G and Optimus G Pro, the G2 will take its place at the top of LG's mobile lineup and it's hoped it will get a bigger global rollout than its rather Asia-orientated predecessors.
We've pulled together the most coherent news and rumours from around the web to bring you an overview of what you might be able to expect from the LG G2.
LG G2 release date and price
LG has been giddy over its G2 launch event, failing to contain its excitement and blurting out that it will be showing off the flagship handset on August 7 in New York.
Having spelled out the name of the handset and the launch date, we're still a little unclear on the LG G2 release date, although rumours point towards a late August/early September launch.
Pricing is equally as elusive at the moment, but taking a look a the specs below the G2 will probably be going head to head with the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4, Nokia Lumia 1020 and iPhone 5 - so expect to be shelling out a lot.
LG G2 display
The LG G2 is a flagship device which means it's going to be sporting a pretty big display with a juicy resolution to really show off.Various leaks have pointed towards a 5-inch, full HD screen and apparently it's cued up to sport a super thin bezel, which should keep the dimensions somewhat under control.
However more recent reports have suggested that the screen may actually be slightly larger, with a couple of leaks pitching 5.2 inches as the display size.
Resolution is thought to be a pin-sharp 1920 x 1080, putting the G2 in line with other full HD handsets such as the Sony Xperia Z and Galaxy S4.
LG G2 processor
You can expect to find a pretty meaty processor packed inside the LG G2, with a 1.7GHz quad-core chip appearing as an early leader in the leaks.A benchmark test claiming to be for the LG G2 shows that the handset could have a Snapdragon 800 processor - which was later confirmed by Qualcomm and LG as the chip of choice for the next generation G-series mobile.
Another report claims there will be a number of variants of the G2, with some packing 2GHz chips and others a more tame 1.5GHz option.
There's also been the suggestion that the G2 could even pack a punchy 2.3GHz quad-core processor, which would deliver some serious power - so in short the speed is still up in the air.
What seems to be staying consistent throughout all the chatter however is the RAM, which has been listed as 2GB pretty much everywhere.
LG G2 operating system
With Android 4.3 all but confirmed and featuring on the new Nexus 7 2 tablet, the LG G2 is really set up to roll off the production line with the latest version of Google's operating system, or so you may think.Some reports have said that the G2 will launch with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, which is certainly not out of the question as manufacturers tend to be a bit behind Google and its software rollout cycle.
It's also been suggested than the G2 could launch with an even older version of the OS, Android 4.1.2, but this seems pretty unlikely.
- What's Jelly Bean? Read our Android Jelly Bean review
Other specs
Storage is another important aspect on today's smartphones and the LG G2 should sport a respectable 32GB of internal space - although some of that will be taken up by the Android OS. There's no word currently on any microSD slot.Battery life is always a concern with the highly powered, large screened, full HD handsets and early reports pointing towards a 3000mAh power pack look to be a little optimistic.
More recently, images have popped up apparently confirming a 2540mAh battery for the G2, which is a touch smaller than the Galaxy S4 but bigger than the HTC One - with the added bonus of also being removable.
If the G2 is to go head to head with the Galaxy S4, Xperia Z and Lumia 1020 it will need to have a half decent camera, and a 13MP snapper should fit the bill.
A little design quirk which looks almost certain to be on the LG G2 are a couple of buttons on the rear of the device, just below the camera lens.
From various photo leaks these keys appear to be replacing the traditional volume rocker switch usually found on the side of smartphones.
There's even a video online claiming to show the LG G2 in all its glory - back buttons and all.
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Updated: Best laptop: 25 top laptops for every budget
Choosing the best laptop for you
What's the best laptop for 2013? We've got all of today's latest laptops compared and rated.Now that Windows 8 is edging towards being a year old, we've got a huge number of laptop-tablet hybrids appearing as well as plenty of traditional laptops using the new OS. And that's before you get to Apple's hugely successful MacBook line as well as Google's new Chromebooks.
No wonder choosing the right laptop can be even more confusing than ever.
It's not only high-end powerhouses that are packing in the performance; cheap laptops are more powerful and capable than before, while high-end devices are often perfectly good replacements for your desktop computer, able to cope with more intensive programs.
Those after a fast boot up time and a lightweight machine to carry might drool over an Ultrabook.
Serious gamers will want a machine tailored to their graphical and processing needs, while those after flexibility might fancy a convertible laptop-tablet hybrid.
Here we look at some of the best laptops for 2013 - those that really excel themselves in our extensive testing processes this year. We've arranged them into categories to help you find the best one to suit your needs.
We also list the current selling prices in the UK, Australia and the US, although in some cases a laptop listed here may not be available in every territory.
All of the machines listed here are laptops. Although we have listed the convertible laptop-tablets that fall more on the side of laptop than tablet, we haven't listed those that are more tablet-like. You can find those in our tablet reviews page and buying guides. Similarly, all-in-one touchscreen computers and other desktop PCs are in our PC and Mac desktop reviews page.
PRICING NOTE: The prices listed here are for guidance only and aren't guarantees of availability at a certain price. Because of the wildly fluctuating availability of certain models, we often review laptops by series. As a consequence it may be that there are tens of models with similar or the same name, vailable at various price points.
When considering what to buy, think about your needs and your most important factor, be it laptop battery life or screen size. The most important part is to be honest about what you need, and you could save a fortune on getting the best laptop for you.
Best laptop-tablet hybrids
Since this article seeks to round up the best laptops available, we are only listing those we have fully tested and reviewed in real life situations. More laptop-tablet hybrids will be reviewed as soon as we get them in for testing, so we expect to add more impressive convertible tablets to this list later.For now, here are the great machines we have tested and loved so far:
1. Sony Vaio Duo 11 - £900/AU$1,500/US$1,500
A full Intel Core processor powers the sliding tablet-laptop design of the 11.6-inch Sony Vaio Duo 11, enabling it to run Windows programs as well as Windows Store apps. Its design is a welcome change from the many docking 'transformer' style hybrid devices such as the Samsung Ativ Smart PC and Asus Vivo Tab.
While it's not a perfect laptop-tablet hybrid, and certainly won't have mass appeal, Sony has furthered the Windows 8 cause with an exceptionally powerful device that challenges the perceptions of what tablets can achieve.
Read our Sony Vaio Duo 11 review
2. HP Envy x2 - £830/AU$900/US$640
The outstanding industrial design in the HP Envy x2 really shows the potential of a tablet/laptop hybrid, and will leave you with little question that this is the direction laptops are heading in. It combines a full version of Windows 8 with excellent battery life in a compact package, with its superb 11.6-inch screen topping things off.
Read our HP Envy x2 review
3. Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro - £1,000/AU$1,500/US$1,100
When you have it in its Ultrabook form, the Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro is maybe not the standout laptop some of its peers are. But when it becomes a tablet, it's a great Windows 8 tab with an excellent screen that's powerful, well balanced in your hands and very responsive to touch. You can go from either mode to the other in seconds, and neither is disappointing. Write on it with a stylus, type on it with the keyboard attachment, navigate with your finger - the Smart PC Pro can do it all.
Read our Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro review
Best budget laptops
4. Samsung Series 3 Chromebook - £230/US$330 (around AU$350)
Cheaper than some tablets, the Samsung Chromebook doesn't run a typical operating system such as Windows, OS X or even Linux. Instead, it is designed just to run Google Chrome, the web browser, and related web apps.
If you think you could do all your computing using Google web apps, you could well benefit from the good battery life, silent operation, light weight and portability, simplicity and implicit security of the Chromebook, not to mention its low price. However, with no 3G connectivity, it is pretty much limited to use only in Wi-Fi areas.
Read our Samsung Series 3 Chromebook review
5. Lenovo IdeaPad S405 - £350/AU$695/US$400
The Lenovo IdeaPad S405 is an attractive laptop that has Ultrabook looks at a rock-bottom price tag. It doesn't offer a huge battery life, so is best around the home instead of out and about, but it's lightweight and smart, making it a great option as a secondary machine. It will happily perform most tasks with ease, such as browsing the web or watching HD movies, although full-on gaming is out of the question. As a bonus, it boots up nice and quickly too. There's even a good array of ports, and the build quality is impressive for the price.
Read our Lenovo S405 review
6. Asus VivoBook S200 - £450 (around AU$685/US$715)
The Asus VivoBook S200 offers supreme good looks, touchscreen operation, slick performance and excellent portability, all for a reasonable price.
This laptop runs on an Intel Core i3-3217U processor, which means it provides more than enough grunt to power Windows 8 through any day-to-day tasks, while keeping power consumption to a minimum.
Read our Asus VivoBook S200 review
7. HP Envy Sleekbook 6-1126sa - £500 (around AU$760/US$780)
The HP Envy Sleekbook 6-1126sa is a system that anyone looking to buy a budget laptop should check out. Its large screen and decent audio subsystem make it great for enjoying music and movies, while the comfortable keyboard and strong battery life make it a joy to use for everyday tasks. It also looks far more expensive than it is, and offers decent specs for its price too. It's not quite up there in terms of raw power, but in almost every other respect, this is a very tempting machine.
Read our HP Envy Sleekbook 6-1126sa review
High-end laptops
8. Toshiba Satellite P855-32G - £650 (around AU$1,000/US$1,030)
The Toshiba P855 is one of the better conventional laptops we've seen of late, offering a lot of performance for a relatively small price tag. Though it's in the high-end section of this roundup, it's really more of a mid-range laptop in terms of its price.
Sporting a third-generation 2.5GHz Intel Core i5-3201M and 8GB of RAM, the P855 is certainly no slouch. Its bright screen, Nvidia GeForce GT 630M graphics card and clear Harmon Kardon speakers mean this is the perfect home entertainment powerhouse.
Read our Toshiba Satellite P855-32G review
9. HP Spectre XT TouchSmart - £1,000/US$1,200 (around AU$1,500)
The HP Spectre XT TouchSmart Ultrabook is a milestone. Watch the Ultrabook market over the next year. Watch as heavyweight chips join incredible screens as the norm rather than the exception. This is a great-looking machine, with a brushed aluminium shell and stunning 15-inch touchscreen, but there's a lot of substance here, too. The keyboard is excellent, the 1080p screen makes it great for working or for movies, the hybrid drive makes it run impressively fast and the touchscreen is a great extra… uh, touch. It's a shame it doesn't have the strongest battery life, but we'll forgive it since it's got that great screen to power instead.
Read our HP Spectre XT TouchSmart review
10. Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch - £1,000/AU$1,350/US$1,200
The mid-2012 MacBook Pro 13-inch is a significant step up from its older brother. The new processors and their improved graphical capabilities give it a considerable power boost over its predecessor, and USB 3.0 ports enable it to connect with high-speed storage peripherals.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is ideal for those who need a little more configurability and storage than the MacBook Air can offer, but also need a very portable machine. Creative professionals and gaming enthusiasts might be better off with a 15-inch MacBook Pro, though.
Read our Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch review
11. Dell XPS 15 - £1,280/AU$2,000/US$1,600
While the Dell XPS 15 doesn't have the skinny credentials to qualify as an Ultrabook, it boasts a huge spec sheet, and an incredible hardware configuration inside a great-looking chassis. We're not sure we've seen anything as impressive on a PC as its Corning Gorilla Glass, Full HD display, though it doesn't quite have the "wow" factor of the MacBook Pro with Retina display.
If you're looking for a high-end PC that marries good looks and superb performance, and are more Windows than Mac, then you really shouldn't look any further than the Dell XPS 15.
Read our Dell XPS 15 review
12. Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display - £1,800/AU$2,500/US$2,200
The new Apple MacBook Pro's most exciting new feature is, of course, its Retina display. With a 2880 x 1800 resolution at 220 pixels per inch, it crams over 5.1 million pixels into its 15.4-inch screen. That's over three million more than an HD TV.
However, it does mean that after-market upgrades are almost impossible, and sacrifices have been made, such as the lack of a hard drive, optical drive and Ethernet or FireWire 800 ports. Clearly aimed at video editors, photographers and graphics professionals, the Retina screen is beautiful, but the laptop's high price tag will put some off.
Read our Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display review
Best ultra-portables
13. Lenovo IdeaPad U410 - £600/US$700 (around AU$915)
Sure, there is plenty of room for super-skinny, super-slick, ultra-desirable machines with hefty price-tags, but there is also a demand for more affordable portable notebooks. That's where the Ivy Bridge Core i5-toting Lenovo IdeaPad U410 comes in.
Ultrabooks aren't great if you're looking to do some high-end gaming or intense HD video editing, but for everything else this is a brilliant machine that is perfectly suited to meet your digital media demands, with an extremely tempting price tag.
Read our Lenovo IdeaPad U410 review
14. Toshiba Satellite Z930 - £780/AU$1,290/US$1,200
The Toshiba Satellite Z930-10X manages balances power with affordability. Thin, light and powerful enough to handle a wide range of tasks simultaneously, it boasts a wide range of connectivity options and an Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor.
If you want an Ultrabook exclusively for entertainment then we'd recommend looking elsewhere, since it lacks a Full HD resolution and has integrated graphics and fairly weak audio compared to other Ultrabooks. But as a mobile workstation for offices, the Toshiba Satellite Z930-10X is an excellent purchase.
Read our Toshiba Satellite Z930 review
15. HP Envy TouchSmart - £850/AU$900/US$800
The design of the HP Envy TouchSmart is thoughtful, with an excellent level of attention to detail: solid construction and a sweet touchscreen stand out as the best parts here. The brushed aluminium and matt black chassis give this machine a premium look and feel that sets it apart from many of its duller peers. The screen is very responsive to touch commands, making it a breeze to navigate Windows 8, while its 14-inch size gives it a good balance of portability and usability. The keyboard and trackpad are also good, making it an extremely comfortable laptop all round. It's reassuring to know that a well balanced laptop that's practical, fun to use and handsome can shine in a crowded market.
Read our HP Envy TouchSmart review
16. MacBook Air 2012 - £930/AU$1,100/US$1,100
Although not technically an Ultrabook, previous iterations of the MacBook Air were the machines that inspired the creation of Ultrabooks, so we felt it deserved to sit alongside these rivals. The 2012 MacBook Air is just as inspiring, with an Intel Core i5 processor, faster RAM and better connections.
It's easy for us to recommend the newest MacBook Air, because it's a fantastic machine. But, unlike last year, there are other impressive lightweight options out there.
Read our MacBook Air 2012 review
17. Gigabyte U2442 Ultrabook - £970/US$1,100 (around AU$1,480)
A very strong first laptop offering from Gigabyte, which usually makes components, the Gigabyte U2442 Ultrabook has a lot to recommend it. Gamers and power users will appreciate the Nvidia graphics and 8GB RAM, while everyday users will respond well to the lack of bloatware and clever features such as Smart Manager.
Adding power through boosted RAM and extra graphics while keeping the chassis down to a slim and portable size is what this Ultrabook is about, while the screen is well suited to both entertainment and processing tasks.
Read our Gigabyte U2442 Ultrabook review
18. Dell XPS 13 - £1,100/US$1,500 (around AU$1,670)
Dell has really got serious with the internals of the XPS 13. An Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, an SSD for fast performance and an absolutely staggeringly large battery life all combine to make this pretty much the ultimate road warrior's laptop. It's brilliantly thin and light, and the 13-inch screen still gives you room to work. It's a bit of a shame it doesn't offer a touchscreen, but the Dell XPS 13 is still one of the best laptops you can buy, offering top performance, brilliant battery life and excellent build quality.
Read our Dell XPS 13 review
19. Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A - £1,350/AU$1,700/US$1,420
When Ultrabooks were first introduced by Intel, one of the first models to show us that it could stand up to the gauntlet laid down by the MacBook Air was the Asus Zenbook UX21. The Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A continues the styling of its predecessors, and adds a Core i7-3517U processor, Intel HD 4000 graphics and 4GB of RAM.
But the most notable change is its screen - a 1080p IPS wonder that dwarfs its competition's resolution. It falls down on battery life, so you should consider if that's a big issue for you. It's also expensive, but its performance is admirable.
Read our Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A review
20. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon - £1,500/US$1,500 (around AU$2,290)
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a fantastic business Ultrabook, with one of the most comfortable keyboards we've ever used. Fantastic build quality and lightweight design meet top performance and a range of useful features, such as a long battery life, huge SSD drive, super-fast boot times and blistering processor performance.
A few niggles with the screen and connections aside, if we chose one Ultrabook to be our business companion, we'd pick the comfortable, high performance and long lasting Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon every time.
Read our Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon review
Best gaming laptops
21. Scan 3XS Graphite LG5 - £590 (around AU$900/US$935)
Designed from the core up as an ultra-portable gaming laptop, this packs a punch in the processor and graphics. The Intel Core i5 3210M is a capable workhorse of a chip that will handle all the games you throw at it, and chew through more serious work as well. The GeForce GTX 640M GPU and low native resolution enable you to hit great frame rates, but the 11.6-inch screen is small.
The SSD is also too small, but that's easily rectified online. The undersized screen isn't as easy to fix though, and we'd advise anyone looking to do work to look elsewhere. However, as a gaming system there's a lot to love here.
Read our Scan 3XS Graphite LG5 review
22. Gigabyte U2442F - £800/AU$1,200/US$980
The Gigabyte U2442F is an interesting option for any gamer who wants a laptop that is as happy out on the road as it is plugged into the wall playing the latest games. The gaming performance is impressive for a machine that is so thin and light - you'd usually have to pay heavily in the bulk and weight stakes to hit these kinds of performance figures. It's also a versatile option if you're looking to do something a little more work-orientated, and it has a good array of ports.
Read our Gigabyte U2442F review
23. Alienware M17x 2012 - £1,090/US$1,275 (about AU$1,665)
The Alienware M17x has had an Intel Ivy Bridge flavored refresh for 2012. The most notable addition is the inclusion of a third-generation Intel Core CPU. The model we reviewed packed an i7-3610QM processor, a four-core monster clocked at nominal 2.3GHz, which can be pumped full of Intel Turbo Boost steroids to achieve a top speed of 3.3GHz.
Combine this with a seriously powerful GPU courtesy of the latest Nvidia or AMD graphics technology and you're looking at a top-end gaming machine more than worthy of its hefty price-tag. There's also Intel HD 4000 graphics as part of the Ivy Bridge package, meaning DirectX 11 support.
Read our full Alienware M17x review
24. Samsung Series 7 Gamer - £1,350/US$1,900 (around AU$2,060)
The Samsung Series 7 Gamer laptop has the hardware and performance that gamers care about, and a price tag that we would deem fair. Samsung's custom UI, however, mostly detracts from the overall experience, short of one or two niceties, such as being able to disable the trackpad and Windows keys. It's also quite heavy.
From a purely processor to pennies perspective, the Series 7 Gamer is worth the money. It's a gaming machine capable of playing the latest titles at respectable settings. All its case lights and fancy UI, though, make it a bit like a party guest who arrives overdressed. You're glad they showed up, but the bow tie they're wearing just makes them look silly.
Read our Samsung Series 7 Gamer review
25. Razer Blade - £2,000 (around AU$3,050/US$3,170)
The standout feature on the Razer Blade is its Switchblade touchpad interface - a unique feature that turns the Blade's touchpad into a fully functioning small second screen that you can use to check your email, watch YouTube videos or amplify your gaming experience.
The Intel Core i7-3632QM CPU is powerful, and the sound is crisp, but it is expensive, the keyboard is a little stiff and the touchpad placement to the side takes some getting used to. But its long battery life and comparatively lightweight chassis makes portable, quality gaming possible.
Read our Razer Blade review
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Nvidia's 'fastest GPU ever' doubles graphical grunt
Nvidia has unveiled the new silverback gorilla of professional graphics world, its flagship Quadro K6000 GPU.
The GPU is based on Nvidia's Kepler architecture and features 12GB GDDR5 graphics memory, along with 2,880 streaming multiprocessor cores.
The company is claiming five times higher compute performance and nearly double the graphical grunt of its predecessor, the Nvidia Quadro 6000 GPU.
It can support four simultaneous displays up to 4k resolution with DisplayPort 1.2, and provides 'ultra-low latency' video I/O to support large scale visualisations, according to Nvidia.
Testimonials have come from Nissan, which is using the extra power to load complete vehicle models into modelling software for almost instant photorealism, while Pixar's artists are using the added memory to render more complex animations in real time.
Mobile boost
Nvidia has also announced several new mobile workstation GPUs, including the flagship Quadro K5100M, which is also built using the Kelper architecture.It joins other newly unveiled GPUs in the form of the Quadro K4100M, K3100M, K2100M, K1100M, K610M, and K510M. They will be available in the autumn, along with the Quadro K6000, from Nvidia's distribution partners. No word yet on pricing.
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EA reveals its biggest games seller is now Apple
Electronic Arts' big push into mobile has paid off according to its recent financial results, with Apple revealed as its biggest games retailer.
EA has embraced mobile in recent years, converting its flagship titles for mobile and also buying up Plants vs Zombies creator PopCap for $650m (£470m/AU$705m).
Its cosy relationship with Apple was highlighted back in September when Real Racing 3 was used on stage at Apple's press conference to show off the iPhone 5's gaming skills.
It seems that it was The Simpsons: Tapped Out that managed to bring in most of the money, however, with EA COO Peter Moore revealing in the earnings call that it had its highest revenue quarter since release and that the App Store was a big cash generator for the company.
"Our quarter was notable for the high percentage of revenue attributable to digital games and services," explained Moore. "To that end, Apple was EA's biggest retail partner measured by sales. And that is a first."
It was also revealed that Real Racing 3 has been downloaded some 45 million times to date and 2 million people play the game every single day.
Tapping out
Both Real Racing and Tapped Out have been created to entice users with in-app payments, so expect this micro-transactional way of selling content to continue, whether you like it or not.Although the revenue split between Android and iOS wasn't broken down, Moore's quote hints that the majority of the $90m (£60m/AU$97.6m) made from smartphones and tablets was from iOS games.
What EA failed to note is that the App Store is now a bigger revenue generator than that of its own Origin service.
Given the chunk of change Apple takes for each download through its store, EA may well be looking at ways to change this.
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Blip: Identified PAYG deals in bagging area as Sainsbury's launches mobile network
Mobile by Sainsbury's, the supermarket's Vodafone-partnered network, has launched today, hoping to entice you with some tasty pay as you go deals.
The handsets on offer aren't anything to write home about but the SIM deals do look pretty good. The Basic bundle gives you 8p per minute calls, 4p texts and 50p for 25MB of data per day.
Then there are three 30-day options - £10, £15, and £20 - all with varying minutes and data, but with unlimited texts across the board.
Plus, you get Nectar points when you top up. Just like on Tesco Mobile but, you know, totally different.
More blips!
Now checkout some of our other blips:- Ashton Kutcher, he of 'Jobs' movie fame, might be the new face of Lenovo
- Revealed: how Netflix lets you live the stream dream
- 3D printing already consigned to a museum
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