IT-Code-News: IT News Head Lines (Techradar) 19/03/2014

It's time for Sydney to retune their TVs

With Australia's remaining analog TV signals switched off last year in December, Aussies have been asked to retune their digital TVs as the final step in the switchover.
While the majority of eastern Australian states have retuned their TV, starting today, the Australian government is reminding Sydney that it's their turn for the big digital shuffle.
The rest of Australia will follow throughout the year, but if you go home today to a fuzzy TV signal, you should go to the government's Digital Ready website to check if your area needs to retune.

Tuning in

Retuning is the final phase in Australia's digital switchover, which began on June 2010 in Mildurra, Victoria.
The digital retune, or restack, of the digital TV channels will free up the spectrum that had been auctioned off by the government up as part of the Digital Divendend.
If you're having trouble figuring out how to retune your TV, digital recorder or set-top box, you can try finding the user manuals.
If that proves a task in itself, you can also go to www.digitalready.gov.au/retune or call the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 201 013.

With everything going digital, you may also want to like into new technologies like 4K and Ultra HD TVs

blip: Foxtel fast tracking Game of Thrones two hours after US broadcast

Foxtel has confirmed that Game of Thrones season 4 will be available two hours after US broadcast, with the first episode arriving at 3.30pm on April 7, and a second viewing scheduled for 8.30pm.
The series will be shown on the Foxtel channel Showcase, which is available to traditional Foxtel subscribers, while subscribers to the movie package on the streaming service Foxtel Play can currently get special pricing for access to Showcase.
It's yet to be seen if this will help pacify Game of Thrones fans, as earlier this year Foxtel revealed that it has a new deal in place with HBO that blocks competitors like Quickflix and Apple TV streaming the program.
If you're still grumpy at Foxtel, the pay TV operator also has a new competition for fans to win a life-sized Iron Throne. Sydneysiders will also be able to get a chance to sit on the Iron Throne tomorrow, March 19, at Martin Place between 7.30am to 3.30pm.

More blips!

While we wait for season 4 to start, here are some more blips:

Twitter testing a 'Fave People' timeline for your top tweeters only

Twitter may soon offer mobile users the chance to create a timeline dedicated to their 'Fave People,' with the company currently testing the feature in an experimental app.
As reported by TechCrunch, the tool has been worked into the social network's alpha app for Android, which it uses to trial changes before passing them onto beta guinea pics and then the public.
The app, which has a swipe-able top menu, now features 'Fave People,' alongside the more familiar Home, Activity and Discover sections.
Fave People, doesn't need that much explaining as it is simply presenting an easier way to access the users favourite accounts than the current method of making and navigating to custom lists.

Self-explanatory

Adding accounts to the 'Fave People' lists is also pretty self-explanatory, according to the description offered within the alpha app.
On the Face People screen, users are advised to 'Pick Some Favourites' which takes them to their 'following' list. Users simply have to hit the favourite star on an account, just as they would to favourite a single tweet.
The company has also set up the feature so users can choose to receive notifications whenever one of their favourite accounts sends a tweet.
Adding Fave People seems like a logical step for Twitter, considering the list of accounts we follow tends to grow much faster than, say, our Facebook friends list.
However, just because the company is in the early stages of testing the feature, doesn't mean the general public will be seeing it anytime soon. The firm often tests new features before deciding to abandon them.

Fighting Talk: Twitter's redesign is ridiculous!

Amazon could stick it to Chromecast with its own streaming TV dongle

Amazon is expected to launch a streaming device that beams video and game content to TVs, but it may come in the form of a small streaming stick, not a full-sized set-top box.
The online retailer is preparing to launch the diminutive-sized streaming dongle with a design that resembles Google Chromecast, according to TechCrunch, citing anonymous sources.
That differs from previous reports that indicated Amazon was developing a more generic-looking box, codenamed Firetube, that resembled the Apple TV or Roku 3.
Such is the trend, however. The thumb-drive-sized Roku Streaming Stick is serving up a similar streaming-on-a-stick approach next month and it too plugs into any HDMI port.

OnLive-style streaming

While Amazon may be taking cues from others on the design of its unofficial streaming device, it could easily set a trend among dongles with video game streaming functionality.
It is said to go as far as supporting full PC titles in an effort to better compete with PS4 and Xbox One in the living room, according to TechCrunch, this time citing a single unnamed source.
The service is being compared to the ill-fated OnLive cloud gaming platform in which the internet and remote processors did all of the heavy lifting. Users needed minimal hardware.
Add in the leaked Amazon controller, and this bundle could bring something considerably new to the front room with a cheaper entry ticket than any PlayStation Now streaming hardware.
There's no Amazon streaming dongle release date tied to today's report, but with Chromecast expanding its footprint to the UK and the Roku Streaming Stick set for April, it shouldn't be long.

For the real gaming debate: PS4 vs Xbox One

Updated: Amazon phone release date, news and rumors

Release dates, rumors, and more

With the runaway success of Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet - the media-happy device owns over half the Android tablet market - it seems only natural that the company would turn to smartphones next.
Amazon's strategy of putting all its media content directly into consumers' hands has worked out well so far, so wouldn't the Seattle company take the next logical step?
Like the Kindle Fire, an Amazon smartphone would be a veritable home-shopping network - replete with Kindle books, Android apps and Amazon Prime video - only as a phone, so it would be the only device users would really need.
Given the anticipation that's built up around a product that's not even certain to exist, we figured it wise to compile all the rumors and speculation in one place.

Amazon phone will be dirt cheap, here in 2014

Rather come in at the top of the price tier, Amazon might clean up on the bottom. The latest rumors peg Amazon's phone as a budget device.
That doesn't mean it will be a hunk of junk though, Amazon's Kindles are all bottom dollar devices with great builds and peppy internals. Rumors also peg the budget Amazon phone for a 2014 release. There's still plenty of time to make that rumor come true, Amazon!

Will HTC make Amazon's phone?

Will Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC lend Amazon a hand with its upcoming phone? That's the latest speculation to hit the streets.
It's the kind of job HTC has been up for in the past, crafting the HTC First for Facebook. While that phone was a fizzle, HTC know how and Amazon clout could be a killer combo. This rumor has us intrigued.

Get this: Amazon will give the phone away for free

Update: no it won't. In an unusually concise statement, Amazon has said that it has no plans to release a phone this year, and if it does make a phone, it "would not be free." Sorry cheapskates.
We've heard of free shipping and low-priced phones on a two-year contract, but this is ridiculous. The latest rumor says Amazon will give its handset away for free.
Could it be true? Well, possibly. Amazon has a history of pricing its hardware dirt cheap, expecting to clean up on apps rather than the initial investment. It's not a bad plan, especially if the retail behemoth can get people signed up for Amazon Prime using the deal.

Amazon working on two phones, one of them 3D

We've debated whether it will be called the Kindle phone, Amazon phone or something else, but now it seems that Amazon is working on more than one device. That's the latest rumor coming in over the wire.
Beyond that, apparently one of the handsets will have 3D projection capabilities, sans glasses. That sort of technology has been a success for the Nintendo 3DS, but remember the LG Optimus 3D and HTC Evo 3D? We hardly do either, which makes us wonder what the online retail giant is planning.

Evi to be the Amazon Phone's Siri?

Back in January, Amazon acquired the startup behind a natural voice search engine similar to the Apple's Siri. Now the scent on the wind is that Amazon will be putting a chat-to app called Evi on its Amazon Phone .
It sounds logical, because Amazon would need this technology to be competitive, and it would be great on Kindle devices, too. Imagine yelling at those lock screen ads that you don't want Fifty Shades of Grey.

Amazon hires Windows Phone 7 head honcho

Amazon has added Microsoft's ex-Windows Phone General Manager to its stable of talent. Could this be a big name hire for developing the Amazon Kindle phone?
The former Microsoft man is named Kindel, Charlie Kindel, so we'd say he has the proper pedigree to help Amazon break into the market with an Amazon Phone or Kindle Phone, whatever the name ends up being. And despite the naming coincidence and the news breaking on April 1, we're confident there's nothing phony about this story.
"I'm building a new team going after a totally new area for Amazon. I'm hiring cloud and mobile developers and testers, program managers, and product managers," Kindel commented, immediately sending the internet into a flurry of rumors and sidelong interpretations.

Amazon phone to hedge its bets with a reasonable 4.7-inch display

According to Digitimes, so called "industry supply chain sources" have put a ruler to the Amazon Phone. They say the handset will have a 4.7-inch display, which would put it in between an iPhone 5 and a Galaxy S4 when it comes to visual real estate.
This supposed fact, combined with a rumored low asking price, suggests that Amazon is going for the casual smartphone user, one who does not want to spend a fortune and would like to be able to carry the phone in their pocket with ease.

Amazon phone will miss rumored Q2 2013 release date, still looking like a Foxconn product

It's all still the stuff of rumors, but previous rumblings pegged the Amazon Phone (or maybe Kindle Phone) as arriving in the second quarter of 2013. Now it looks as though that deadline will make a delightful whooshing noise as it blows past.
Somewhat infamous manufacturing mogul Foxconn is said to be on deck to produce the dirt cheap device. Its subsidiary Ensky Tech made the original Kindle Fire and now produces the Kindle Fire HD and the Kindle Paperwhite, so it would be no shock at all to see the two collaborate on the project.
As far as what's causing the delay, a report at Digitimes blames the "engineering verification test period due to issues related to its mobile platform," saying that the process, "has not been as smooth as expected."
This is surprising, given the great deal of experience Foxconn and its partners have in this field. It has us wondering what Amazon could have up its sleeve that's making the phone such a bother. As always, rumors are like cheap takeout; they just leaving you hungry for more.

Foxconn to manufacture Amazon phone for summer 2013 release date

This might be the most concrete rumor yet regarding the Amazon phone. Supposedly the online retail giant has inked a deal with Foxconn to manufacture its first smartphone. Industry insiders also expect a summer 2013 release.
According to the reports, the phone may also have a dirt-cheap asking price of $100-200 (around £60-120/AU$95-190). This would fall in step with Amazon's strategy with its Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Paperwhite line, devices sold at highly competitive prices in order to get customers investing in Amazon's media library.
While the involvement of Foxconn is not surprising, since the company has become a prolific manufacturer of all things electronic, it is somewhat troubling given its reputation for overworked, striking employees. Maybe the Amazon phone will be one of the first devices assembled in American Foxconn factories?

Amazon Phone rumors catch fire

Rumors of an Amazon Phone started to catch on in late 2011, when analysts began predicting the Amazon Phone's existence, despite a lack of hard evidence.
That hard evidence, by the way, still hasn't made an appearance, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning away.
Kicking things off, analyst firm CitiGroup reported that it discovered the existence of the then-unheard of Amazon Phone through its "supply chain channel checks in Asia."
Analyst Mark Mahaney led the Amazon Phone charge, proclaiming that the bookseller was in cahoots with infamous Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn to build the device.
Other analysts agreed: "A smartphone would be a logical next step for Amazon," ABI Research's Aapo Markkanen told Wired in May.
"The lock-in effect of a great content ecosystem shouldn't be under-estimated," he continued.
Bloomberg fed more fuel to the Amazon Phone fire in July, when its anonymous sources ("people with knowledge of the matter") confirmed that Amazon and Foxconn remained hard at work on the smartphone.
Further, the same report claimed that Amazon is busy hoarding as many wireless patents as possible to defend itself from the inevitable infringement suits that follow any modicum of success in the market.

Windows Phone executives board the good ship Amazon

The summer heat must have helped the Amazon Phone fires spread, as July gave birth to yet another bout of speculation when two Windows Phone vets joined Amazon.
First Brandon Watson left the Windows Phone team to become Amazon's director of Kindle cross platform, then Robert Williams, previously Windows Phone's senior director of business development, joined Amazon as its app store director.
Of course, the mere fact that the two previously worked on Windows Phone in no way proved that Amazon had brought them on to work on its own phone - but then again, it's not that far of a stretch, is it?
To further stoke the flames, it appeared toward the end of July that Amazon's innovation center - Lab 126 - had been hiring workers to develop new mobile devices that would run on wireless carriers' networks.
In other words: an Amazon Phone. Imagine that.

Amazon Phone release date

In CitiGroup's original 2011 report, the firm predicted that the Amazon Phone release date would fall in Q4 2012, though that's looking less and less likely the more time passes without a peep from Amazon.
That doesn't mean it's not going to happen, of course, but other rumors since then have been somewhat less optimistic about the Amazon Phone release date.
Less than a week after Bloomberg's report that Amazon and Foxconn still had their collective noses to the grindstone, another source (this one from Amazon's component suppliers) told the Wall Street Journal that the bookseller was already testing Amazon Phone prototypes.
That report claimed that the device could go into production during the second half of 2012, and that the Amazon phone release could fall in late 2012 or early 2013.

Amazon Phone price

From the beginning, speculators foretold that an Amazon Phone would hit the low end of the price spectrum.
In part, it's assumed that Amazon would sell the device wholesale (or maybe even at a loss) in order to further expand its digital content distribution.
Every pair of hands holding an Amazon Phone comes with eyes, ears and a wallet, after all.
CitiGroup analyst Kevin Chang said in 2011, "For a normal brand like HTC, they need to price the product at $243 to make 30 percent gross margin. If Amazon is actually willing to lose some money on the device, the price gap could be even bigger."
That means the Amazon Phone price could sink as low as $170 or even $150, though Amazon would surely make up the difference somehow - just like it does with the Kindle Fire.

Amazon Phone specs

There's been little speculation about the Amazon Phone's specific hardware features, considering there's yet to be any official word - or even a measly leaked prototype image - to go off of.
But the WSJ's source claimed that the Amazon Phone's screen size would fall somewhere between 4 inches and 5 inches, placing it right in line with top Android phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S3 andHTC One X.
The Amazon Phone would at least need to perform well enough to reliably stream content and be integrated with Amazon's various media and cloud services, and the better the resolution, the more attractive the device would be for streaming video.
Battery life will be another important factor, as nothing will turn the average consumer off faster than being interrupted in the middle of "Real Housewives" by a pesky low power warning.

Will the Amazon Phone run Android?

An Amazon Phone is almost dead certain to run on some variation of Android, as Google and Amazon, despite occasionally finding themselves at one another's throats, can just as often be found sitting snugly in one another's pockets.
According to some reports, the retail giant has even considered stocking Google tablets like the Nexus 7 in its stores, indicating that their rivalry can't really be all that heated.
Besides, Windows Phone is sat firmly in Nokia's camp, at least for the lifespan of Windows Phone 8 - Microsoft's not about to throw away years of build-up just to hop in bed with Amazon.
That leaves BlackBerry maker Research in Motion, who - to be fair - is rumored to be shopping the BlackBerry 10 OS around for a licensing deal.
But there's a chance BB10 will be more or less dead on arrival, and either way, an OS swap at this point would just be too risky for Amazon, who'll already be tossing the dice with a smartphone gambit in the first place.
Furthermore, Citigroup's initial Amazon Phone report from 2011 claimed that the bookseller would have to pay royalties to Microsoft, all but spelling out that the phone would be another Android device.

Amazon phone: 10 things we want to see

TechRadar's Amazon Phone wish list

We at TechRadar aren't immune to the charms of an Amazon Phone, even if it does only exist in the imaginations of analysts and tech bloggers at the moment.
That's where this wish list of Amazon Phone features came from, as well, after all.
On the list are such far-fetched notions as an at-cost Amazon Phone price point, something that's basically been assumed all along, as well as slick cloud and streaming integration, a refreshed app store, exclusive shopping discounts, and killer hardware features like NFC.
Whether any of that will actually come to fruition - or whether the Amazon truly even exists or really is just a figment of a thousand overactive imaginations - will be seen only when Amazon decides to step out of the shadows and into the firelight.
Here are 10 things we'd like to see in the Amazon phone, in order for it to make a dent in the smartphone space.

1. Discount the Amazon phone price

Amazon was willing to sell Kindles at a loss in order to grow the device's base from zero to hero.
Just how far is the online retail giant willing to go to cut the Amazon phone price in order to entice customers?
It's hard to justify a brand-new smartphone purchase at non-contract prices. What can Amazon do to sweeten the deal for upgraders and off-upgraders alike?

2. Tie in services

It goes without saying, but Amazon's going to have to do a superb job integrating its cloud storage, web-based MP3 service, and streaming video collection into a phone.
Amazon smartphone

These service gems all sound like familiar offerings from Google, Apple, or Microsoft: To be different, Amazon has to raise the bar with what it offers (more storage!) or how it allows users to interact with its other services.

3. Play nice

We get it. Amazon wants to use Google's operating system as the base for its phone (or so the rumors go), but Amazon doesn't want to allow users to easily tap into Google's goods and services.
Competition is fair.
But, please, for the sake of usability - don't just throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Amazon smartphone

Amazon might not like Google Play, but that doesn't mean it has to ditch every Google-branded app out there, especially if they exist in a market that Amazon doesn't play in (Maps?)

4. Update the appstore for Android

Sorry, Amazon. Your appstore leaves a lot to be desired.
Amazon Smartphone

Refresh the interface, quicken it up, allow users to more easily navigate through apps that they might want to try out, and consider adding some social features to help one's friends recommend diamond apps in the rough.
Or, feature weekly rotating lists of must-have apps that are worth downloading based on editor feedback, not just because they're inexpensive.

5. Integrated discounts

Free apps. Amazon's Gold Box. Shipping discounts for Amazon Prime members. Affiliates.
There's a lot of magic surrounding many of Amazon's core services and cold, hard cash.
Amazon, extend these options to your phone.
Court larger developers to offer better free applications.
Offer rolling discounts for apps (people actually want to use) in special time-limited sales that you tease throughout the week.
Allow users to make money by recommending apps to their friends, colleagues, and peers.
Bring the mercantile magic of Amazon dot com into Amazon Phone (or whatever it'll be called).

6. Primed for Prime

Here's the big one: What benefit do Prime subscribers get if they pick up an Amazon phone?
Big discount? Increased access to services (like streaming video)? More storage space?
Prime is Amazon's big change to sell its phone on the cheap and incentivize owners to pay more, annually, for a more exclusive slice of Amazon's pie.
Make the bonuses killer, and you've just locked in a user for an extra $160 (or so) over the course of a two-year contract.

7. Ignore exclusivity, choose and stick to a release date

Well, for carriers at least. Nothing would hurt Amazon more in its quest to establish a foothold in the smartphone market than allying itself with a single carrier - worse, a carrier that isn't the top in the market for good ol' 4G LTE service.
Amazon needs to capitalize on its brand recognition and, as the saying goes, "go big or go home."
Amazon Smartphone

Pick one chip that supports GSM and CDMA for non-4G LTE service and allow customers to switch carriers without hassle (unlock that phone!)
And as far as a Amazon phone release date, pick one and stick to it. Don't keep it pushing it back like other carriers.
Think worldly, Amazon.

8. Consider prepaid plans

The big buzzword today is "prepaid" smartphones, but the concept does come with a bit of hassle – the smartphones cost a bit more, might not be as good as some of the top-shelf items you can purchase, and prepaid providers just don't have as good of a reach as the cellular industry's big guns.
If Amazon were to somehow flex its clout and get the main carriers to work more harmoniously with prepaid service plans (or the smaller carriers that support them)… that would be quite an eye-opener, wouldn't it?

9. Amazon phone specs need killer hardware

It goes without saying (again), but Amazon might not want to slink into the smartphone market with a low- to medium-powered device.
You can't just Kindle Fire your way into the market from absolutely nothing. To make a dent, Amazon will have to make a splash.
It's unclear how Amazon would go up against some of the market's leading manufactures and their speedier, faster, larger, and more feature-packed devices (that release on a more consistent timeframe).
But there's a little thing called the iPhone 5 that's going to start capturing a lot of attention as we inch closer to the end of the year.
Amazon needs to capture the buzz with, quite simply, a "cooler" phone.

10. NFC for you and me

Amazon's an online shopping powerhouse.
So, turn the phone into a powerhouse shopping device: Give users a super-easy method for comparing what they're looking at against products in Amazon's database to determine whether they're getting the best possible deal.
Or, better yet, incentivize users who price match with their devices by giving them a small discount on Amazon.com purchases itself.
Amazon smartphone

Help users remember what to buy and where to buy it (if not from Amazon).
Tie in Amazon's reviewing service so users can recommend, on the fly, Amazon-hosted alternatives for items they might want to buy.
And then there's the biggie: Tie NFC payments to one's Amazon account and allow users to pay for products using their phones, not their wallets.
Transform the offline shopping experience with a smartphone the same way you transformed the online shopping experience with Amazon's.

Office for iPad will reportedly headline a March 27 Microsoft event

The arrival of Microsoft Office for iPad has been rumored for some time now, but its unveiling may be nigh.
According to sources speaking with The Verge, Microsoft will introduce a tablet app similar to Office for iPhone during an event March 27.
Invitations to an event hosted by CEO Satya Nadella that day are making the rounds. It will be a cloud- and mobile-focused affair, and it sounds like Office for iPad will be a headlining announcement.
It's curious timing since the company's Build conference kicks off April 2, but it appears Microsoft wants to drum up attention and set the stage for its developer conference by dropping a big bit of news beforehand.

What Office for iPad will bring

As The Verge tells it, the iPad version of Office will fall in step with its iPhone counterpart. To edit, users will need an Office 365 subscription.
Document creation and editing are reportedly supported in the Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps. As for the interface and other features, don't look for anything too different from the iPhone original.
For Nadella, who was named Steve Ballmer's replacement in February, this will be his first major press conference as Microsoft's chief executive. The unveiling of Office for iPad will underline the strategy he's laid out since his appointment was made public; Microsoft is adopting a cloud first, mobile first mantra.
News of the event and possible Office for iPad unveiling follows Microsoft's release of OneNote for Mac.

Read our full review of Microsoft's console, the Xbox One!

GDC 2014: Facebook wants you to game on mobile and on desktop

"Cross-platform" typically carries connotations of jumping from iOS to Android to Windows Phone, but for Facebook's gaming arm, it has a slightly different meaning.
Aaron Brady, an engineering manager at the social network, made the case for game developers to produce titles for both mobile and "the Facebook Canvas," more commonly known as the desktop browser.
"Games are social, and Facebook is social," Brady told a room of developers at GDC, adding that the company wants to help devs engage more richly with the people playing their titles.
What's more, just as Facebook is pervasive in 1.2 billion people's lives, so too can games be anywhere and everywhere while driving revenue for the people who create them.

Play and pay

To make his case, Brady cited two studies conducted by Facebook that show cross-platform players "play more and pay more." Certainly music to monetization-minded devs.
Chief among the studies' findings was that revenue from cross-platform players was 3.3 times that of revenue for desktop-only users. Engagement also sees a 40% increase when mobile is played in tandem with Canvas. Engagement takes an 8% dip "with people who stuck to mobile only."
Facebook told TechRadar that its push for cross-platform game development is based at least in part on the company's findings that this kind of gaming monetizes well. A spokesperson declined to give specifics on cross-platform usage numbers.
We also asked for the most up-to-date figures for mobile game usage, but were told more stats and details are due during a Facebook talk Wednesday.
Tune back to TechRadar for all the latest from Facebook and others during the rest of this gaming-filled week!

PS4 or Xbox One? Which do you choose?

WhatsApp CEO looks to quiet post-Facebook purchase privacy concerns

WhatsApp made sweeping headlines when it was acquired by Facebook for $19 billion (about £11b,AU$20b). But along with the big bucks the messaging service received, it was roped in with Facebook's questionable privacy principles.
Now WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum has come out in a blog post to set the record straight on what WhatsApp's partnership with Facebook means for users' data and privacy.
"Above all else, I want to make sure you understand how deeply I value the principle of private communication," Koum wrote. The WhatsApp CEO continued on to say privacy was a very personal matter for him having grown up in the Soviet USSR during the 1980s.
"Respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA, and we built WhatsApp around the goal of knowing as little about you as possible," he said.

Keep it safe, keep it secret

Among the information users still won't have to provide, Koum noted that his company doesn't need to know anyone's name, email address, birthday, home address, where they work or live, search history or GPS location - basically any info that's ever collected by Facebook.
Koum stated that his company's "fundamental values and beliefs will not change." The company head honcho promised his service would continue operating without any of this data, which has never been collected or stored by WhatsApp
"If partnering with Facebook meant that we had to change our values, we wouldn't have done it," he continued. "Instead, we are forming a partnership that would allow us to continue operating independently and autonomously.
"Our focus remains on delivering the promise of WhatsApp far and wide, so that people around the world have the freedom to speak their mind without fear."

In a privacy-minded world every little bit helps, and that includes ultra-secure smartphones

GDC 2014: We're here at GDC 2014!

That's right - the weather is beautiful, the panels are underway and we're here in lovely San Francisco ready to check out the 2014 Game Developer's Conference.
We're pretty excited to see what all the big names have in store especially with all the rumors surrounding Sony's "superior" virtual reality headset on the roster for a reveal this week.
Microsoft doesn't have too much on its plate - just a few bits about SmartGlass, cross screen applications, DirectX 12 and a massive focus on indie gaming (just kidding folks, looks pretty full to us).
Valve also recently showed off the latest iteration of its Steam Controller which we're hoping the company brought along so we can grab some hands on time with before the conference is over.
TechRadar will be at Moscone all week long so keep checking back for the latest GDC news.

Don't get too amped about roaming fees ban! Networks drop hike at home hint

New laws requiring mobile networks to abolish roaming charges in the EU are expected to be approved on Tuesday, but a coalition of carriers has warned the average mobile bill may go up as a result.
European Commissioners will vote on whether to outlaw the ramped-up fees incurred when citizens use phones outside of their home nations, with any ruling to come into effect by the end of December 2015.
However, the roaming coalition, which represents 15 operators and virtual networks across the region, said domestic tariffs may see an increase as the networks seek to make up the loss of income.
"There is a risk that domestic tariffs for European consumers will increase," the coalition said which represents Three and Virgin Media in the UK.
"Roaming might not be subject to surcharges anymore, but the overall level of tariffs would increase, and non-roaming customers might effectively foot the bill for roaming customers."

Brits losing out

Should the legislation pass, (and an official verdict is expected on April 3), Brits would be able to travel abroad and make use of their own minutes, text and data allowances, rather than be greeted with a large bill upon their return home.
In July, new rules will come into place lowering the cost of wholesale roaming, cutting costs to 5 Euro cents per megabit of data/voice call and two cents per text message. However, Brits are currently forking out less than that when they travel abroad, meaning they'll pay more for travelling in southern Europe.
While July's move is considered a step forward, Brits won't feel the benefit until the proposed abolition comes in December of next year. But will the raising of domestic contracts put paid to any potential savings when we go abroad?

Until the new laws come in, Three's 'feel at home' initiative is our best hope for avoiding roaming charges.

Updated: Google Drive and Gchat down for hours for some users

Update: And we're back! As of 12:48 PDT and according to Google's App Status Dashboard (and our own testing), Google Sheets and – more importantly – Gchat and Google Hangouts are back to normal operating conditions. You can go back to getting things done now.
Original story below...
Many users, including us, are reporting that both Google Drive and Gchat are currently misbehaving.
Gmail still seems to be working ok, but editing Google Drive speadsheets is impossible. Annoyingly. Gchat, meanwhile, has stopped working completely.
According to Google's Apps Status Dashboard, only Google Hangouts, Sheets and Talk are experiencing disruption right now. We'll keep you in the loop.

iOS 7.1 looks to have the fewest app crashes on iPhone and iPad yet

It's been about a week since iOS 7.1 arrived, and along with the lack of white screens of death it seems the OS update also has some new-found stability for apps too.
According to performance monitoring firm Crittercism, the crash rate of apps running on iOS 7.1 has dipped to just 1.6%.
It's a small but noticeable improvement from the 2.1% rate of crashing apps on iOS 7.
The research also shined a light how iOS 6.1 and iOS 6 were actually more prone to app crashes despite not having iOS 7's known white or black screens of death.

Adoption preferred

Along with the improved performance numbers, new data from Chitika, an online advertising network, shows that Apple users are rapidly adopting iOS 7.1. The network puts the number of hotly updated iOS devices accessing its ad network at 12% just 48 hours after Apple released the new operating system.
Crittercism corroborated the numbers stating the number of iOS 7.1 adopters is being boosted by late iOS 6 holdouts who skipped the early jump to iOS 7.
iOS 7 had a rough start thanks to bumpy issues like the buggy lock screens and fingerprint scanner hacks. But from the early looks of it, iOS 7.1 has fixed many of those wrongs.
Additionally, the point-one update has brought on some new tweaks including better Siri and Touch ID integration, including better fingerprint memory. iOS 7.1 on the iPhone 5S also automatically enables HDR photography from the get go and the built-in Calendar now has the ability to show events by month.

iOS 8 is still a long way off but we've already got a wish list lined up for it

Sense 6 caught on video ahead of new HTC One launch

A video claiming to show off the new HTC Sense 6 user interface, set to make its debut within the All New HTC One, has appeared online.
The two-minute video clip appears to show a pared down experience, with flatter icons and a new design language for the company's love-it-or-loathe-it Android skin.
Along with the minimalised design there appears to be a host of new gesture controls added to the mix.
Double tapping the handset will wake it from a sleep, while hitting the volume button in landscape mode will instantly unlock the camera app, screenshots in the video explain.
Other gesture controls involve swiping right to hit BlinkFeed (which has also had a visual overhaul) and swiping left to go straight to the Android widgets screen.

No alarms and no surprises?

As of right now, it's difficult to know where the YouTuber got the Sense ROM from, but he was able to install it on an existing HTC One device.
The new handset, complete with the user interface bump, won't be revealed in full for another week, during HTC's planned media event on March 25.
It's entirely possible this isn't the final version of Sense 6.0, but it gives us a pretty good idea of what we can expect from HTC's latest interpretation of Android.
After all of the hardware leaks, eBay listings, press renders and details of interactive cases, there seems little left for HTC to surprise smartphone fans with next week, but we live in hope. In the meantime, check out the purported new version of Sense in the video below.
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3B0WbRqgd8

Zoe is the star of the latest 'all new' HTC One teaser trailer.

Samsung releases dev kit for Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo Tizen apps

The software development kit for Samsung's Tizen-based Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo wearables is now available to third-party developers, the company has announced.
Samsung prefaced this move with an announcement toward the end of February that it would open up Gear development to third parties with the release of the new Gear models.
Eager app developers can download the Gear SDK from the Tizen developer site.
The Gear 2 was designed to improve on many of the original Galaxy Gear's flaws, and opening up its app ecosystem is one of the ways Samsung hopes to do that.

There's an app for that

Dozens of Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo apps have already been developed thanks to Samsung's numerous partnerships, the company said.
With the new apps the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo "provide users with enhanced wearable experiences for fitness, shopping, social media, music, news, and sleep management," Samsung's announcement says.
They come from companies including Feedly, CNN, eBay, Expedia, and many others.
On top of that, "a variety of applications for Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo are expected to be developed by active Tizen app developer community," the company said.
"Samsung continues to focus on shaping the future of the wearable technology as well as expanding more possibilities for app developers, partners, and consumers."

Here's what TechRadar thought of the Samsung Galaxy S5

The US government doesn't want to be in charge of the internet anymore

The US government has announced that it no longer wants to be in charge of running and overseeing the internet.
The government has turned to ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, to help it cede control to a separate body, according to the BBC.
The government created ICANN in 1998 to help oversee the internet's addressing system, and now it wants the organization to do so with no government oversight at all.
They hope to shift control of the internet to a third party made up of private company and government representatives, and they want to do it soon.

Miles to go

ICANN's contract with the government expires in 2015, and they hope to have a body in place to take over the internet by then.
The Internet Corporation has already sent out invitations to companies, governments, civil rights groups, and web organizations globally to take part in the discussions and planning.
ICANN's board chairman Dr. Steven Crocker said both ICANN and the government have been looking forward to this day all along.
"We have all long known the destination," he said in a statement. "Now it is up to our global stakeholder community to determine the best route to get us there."
US Assistant Secretary of Commerce Lawrence Strickling said in a statement that the handover must "support and enhance the multistakeholder model" and maintain the internet's openness.
And European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes, who previously called for US stewardship of the internet to end, has released another statement asserting that "the next two years will be critical in redrawing the map of internet governance."

How fast is your internet? TechRadar tried out five different internet speed test utilities

Mozilla snubs Window 8 Metro

The Mozilla Foundation has stopped developing a Windows 8 "Metro" version of Firefox because of a lack of users.
Jonathan Nightingale, vice-president at Mozilla has issued a statement saying that in the months since, as the team built, tested, and refined the product, Metro's adoption had been rubbish.
While there are millions of people testing pre-release versions of Firefox desktop, only 1,000 active daily users used it on Metro.
NetMarketShare and StatCounter put Firefox's aggregate share of the global browser market at between 17.7 and 19.2 per cent, which means that the browser has hundreds of millions of users for its desktop version.

Who wants Metro?

The "Metro" version of Firefox could be used on the tile-based Start Screen of Windows 8 to replace its built-in Internet Explorer browser.
The news could be seen as another nail in the coffin of Microsoft's Metro interface which was supposed to be the next big thing. However, users indicated that they much preferred the old desktop version and stayed away from Metro in droves.
Nightingale said that he had therefore decided to halt the release of a 1.0 version, because the organisation could not afford to devote time to projects with such small interest.
He did admit that killing the product opens up the risk that Metro might take off tomorrow and Mozilla would have to scramble to catch back up, but that's a better risk for it to take than the real costs of investment in a platform users have shown little sign of adopting.

Now read all about how Windows 9 could save Microsoft.

Updated: iPad Pro release date, news and rumors

Release date, rumors and design

With Apple's thinner, lighter iPad Air and Retina display-equipped iPad mini out in the open, what's left for Apple to do?
Rumor has it that the Mac maker is working on an even larger iPad, commonly referred to as the "iPad Pro." We've combed through all of the rumors and scuttlebutt to bring you everything we've heard so far about this alleged iPad Pro.

iOS 7 review: Our take on Apple's radical OS redesign

Apple did something interesting with the launch of the latest full-sized iPad (aside from a total hardware revamp): Gave it a new name. The iPad Air alludes to the Cupertino, Calif. company adopting the naming convention of its laptop lines, the MacBook Air and Pro series, for its premiere range of tablets.
Logic would dictate, then, that if Apple were to release an even more sizable iPad, it would be with a professional bent and named the iPad Pro. So, we're looking at 2014 for a newer, bigger iPad entering a product category that has seen little success thus far. Will Apple be the one to legitimize the "professional's tablet?"

Cut to the chase
What is it? A brand new, larger iPad
When will it release? Either spring or fall 2014, we expect
What will it cost? Likely somewhere between the iPad Air and MacBook Air

iPad Pro release date

The iPad Pro release date might be in 2014, following the iPad Air, which released November 1, 2013. However, there are many rumors regarding the tablet's firm release date.
Unnamed Foxconn sources have told Chinese news site Pad News that Apple plans either a late winter/spring or October 2014 release date. To further confuse things, these sources also claim that Apple is working on two versions of the pro-level slate.
According to Pad News, an iPad Pro with a 2K screen resolution will launch in April 2014, while a 4K iPad Pro will land in October. Korea Times's sources at a "local first-tier display supplier" report that a single version will launch "sometime early next year" with a nearly UHD resolution.
Even more sources reporting to China's United Daily News, point to another iPad Pro manufacturing partner entirely: Quanta Computer. DigiTimes's sources (hit-and-miss with rumors) recently backed up this report, claiming that Apple expected the manufacturer to have either a 12.9 or 13.3-inch model ready. Now, the Taiwanese outlet's sources say that Apple is leaning toward the smaller screen.
As if to mix things up even more, International Business Times reports that Apple is aiming for winter or even a spring 2015 release, according to its Foxconn sources.
Computer World points out that most US school districts determine their budgets in January or February each year. So, a fall or winter 2014 launch would make the most sense.
However, Rhoda Alexander, an analyst for market research firm IHS, isn't convinced that we'll see an iPad Pro in 2014 if at all. Alexander told CNET that, while she's aware that many manufacturers are looking at sample panels at various sizes–12.85 inches being one of them–it's still early days for the potential pad.
"We have not seen volume shipments yet of any panels," Alexander told CNET. "We have to get a lot further down the line in terms of seeing really strong indicators from Apple that such a product exists, and we're just not at that point."
Thanks to an analyst with KGI Securities, whether Apple will get to the iPad Pro in 2014 at all is a question we're all asking. According to a report published by the firm, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo doesn't expect that Apple will be ready to launch the pro-grade tablet until 2015.
As of March 17th, the latest from the rumor mill is that Apple has canceled its iPad Pro project altogether. DigitTimes – take that grain of salt – reports that the larger iPad has been shelved, anticipating a lack of support from developers and the overall ecosystem. Has Apple already backed off out of fear of crowding the market? We'll have to wait and see, of course.

Apple tries to quash the rumors

On the Macintosh computer's 30th birthday, Apple executives responded to rumors that the company was looking to merge Mac OS X and iOS into a single operating system. The retort? No chance in hell.
"We don't waste time thinking, 'But it should be one [interface].' How do you make these [operating systems] merge together?' What a waste of energy that would be," Apple SVP of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller told Macworld.
Craig Federighi, Apple's SVP of Software Engineering, echoed Schiller's statement with some rather sensible logic. Regardless, neither does this mean that an even larger iPad isn't in the works nor that iOS could become more professional-friendly to support such a device. Basically, if Apple were to release an iPad Pro, it wouldn't pull a Microsoft.

The competition already heats up

Samsung beat Apple to the punch in unveiling its 12.2-inch Galaxy Note Pro and Galaxy Tab Pro tablets during CES 2014. With that, DigiTimes expects Apple "to release its competitor by the end of the third quarter at the earliest."
YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqdOPHjL34w#t=69

iPad Pro design

It's doubtful that Apple would do much to change the shape of the iPad Pro in its leap to 12.9 inches, the supposed size most rumors point to. The iPad Air's design was applauded by critics (us included), and early sales projections say that consumers are into it. However, an Evercore Partners analyst suspects the size to be a smaller 12 inches to align itself closer to the 11.6-inch MacBook Air, AppleInsider reports.
It should go without saying that the iPad Pro will inevitably be heavier than the iPad Air. To even meet the iPad Air's feathery 453.6 g at 12.9 inches would be a miracle of modern engineering. That said, not much should stop Apple from meeting the Air's super svelte profile at 7.5 mm thin.
The concept designers at SET Solution seem to disagree. In the video above, SET Solution dreams of a device with an even narrower bezel with sharper edges, a camera with the dual LED flash found on the iPhone 5s, Touch ID and a textured aluminum backing.

iOS 8, iPen and iPad Pro keyboard case

iPad Pro keyboard case

Back before the iPad Air unveiling, former Apple fellow Jamie Ryan claimed to have heard from current Apple employees that an iPad keyboard case was in the prototyping stage. Ryan went on to say that the keyboard case mimicked the Microsoft Surface Touch Cover.
While it didn't make the latest iPad debut, the iPad Pro would provide the perfect stage for the reveal of Apple's proprietary iPad keyboard case. Ideally, this keyboard would connect physically to the tablet much like the Smart Cover does today, but use Bluetooth for the interaction. Plus, an included keyboard would all but be a must for a professional-grade tablet.
iPad Pro release date, news and rumors

What would an iPad Pro be with an iPen?

Despite late Apple chief Steve Jobs's derisive comments on styluses before, rumor has it that the Mac maker just might go through with creating a stylus for the would-be iPad Pro. The above image comes from one of Apple's alleged 20 patent filings regarding a potential iPen, Patenly Apple reports.
While it might sound silly for Apple to head down this road, it might be a necessary move. Lacking a stylus could be a ding against a potential iPad Pro when the business-minded Galaxy Note Pro line rocks Samsung's S-Pen.
Patently Apple strikes again, unveiling even more Apple patents for a possible iPen accessory. This time, details include potential features like a laser pointer, the ability to project images and scanning capabilities among other. If Apple really is to make an iPen, it will be more than just any old smart stylus.

iPad Pro, meet iOS 8

While no rumors specifically point to this, it's pretty much a given that the iPad Pro will run the latest iOS. If the pro-level pad launches in October 2014, then this is almost a certainty, as we expect iOS 8 to launch alongside the awaited iPhone 6 in September. However, our friends at MacLife seem to disagree.

iPad Pro storage

This is Apple's chance to differentiate the iPad Pro from the iPad Air even further. Professionals expect lots of space from their computing platform of choice, and while the current 128GB iPad maximum is nice, it might not be enough.
Of course, a 256GB, 12.9-inch iPad would cost a small fortune, but what does the end user care when it's on company dollar?

iPad Pro home button

You can bet the farm that Apple will include its TouchID technology into the iPad Pro home button. Fingerprint security has become all but a must-have feature on enterprise laptops, and this professional iPad will have to meet that standard to gain better traction.
Rumors point to an iPhone 6 prototype having no home button, according to Business Insider. But that seems an unlikely fate for both devices, given that the iDevice form factor is minimalist enough as is.

2K (or 4K) screen, processor and more

iPad Pro screen

This is where things get way interesting. First, the Korea Times reported, citing Apple's "local first-tier display supplier," that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will sport an almost-UHD resolution when it arrives in early 2014.
A later rumor, this time from China's Pad News, pointed to both 2K and 4K resolution iPad Pro models in the works. Per the story, Apple is prototyping a 2K model that would likely exceed that of the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9's 2560 x 1600 (339 pixels per inch) and blow away the iPad Air's 2048 x 1536 (264 ppi).
A 4K iPad Pro would likely come in around 4096 x 3072, beating the 4K TVs available today. Pad News also claims that Apple intends to launch both of these prototypes in 2014, with a 2K version to come in April and a 4K model to launch in October. It seems unlikely to us that Apple would release two models in the same year. No, wait, that's already happened.

iPad Pro processor

Again, this shouldn't be a major shocker. The iPad Pro will almost undoubtedly use a beefier version of of Apple's 64-bit A7 chip, if not an all-new A8 processor.
That said, it looks like Apple intends to drop the amount of Samsung-made A8 chips in 2014, thanks to its increasingly intense rivalry with the Korean handset maker. At any rate, expect even further gains in power and battery life from Apple's latest processor.
DigiTimes recently reported that Amkor Technology, STATS ChipPAC and Advanced Semiconductor Engineering–all with facilities in Taiwain–will produce 60% of Apple's A8 processors for 2014. According to the Taiwanese outlet's sources, the A8 system-on-a-chip will use the same package-on-package design to incorporate both the processor cores and mobile DRAM on a single, even smaller chip.
It will be interesting to see whether 64-bit processing has an effect on the iPad Pro's enterprise capabilities. But what will be even more important is Intel's response to such a product, given its long-standing relationship with Apple on the MacBook line, Daily Finance suggests.

iPad Pro camera

Not much, if anything, has been said of the iPad Pro's shooter. Given that this tablet will be as large as (although lighter than) a number of laptops, we wouldn't be concerned too much with what kind of photos the tablet can take.
More important will be the iPad Pro's front-facing webcam. Will we see a higher resolution snapper on the front for quality video conferencing? Well, we sure hope so. A truly HD webcam would get heavy travelers more jazzed about an iPad than ever.

iPad Pro eye tracking

To put an even finer point on the importance of the iPad Pro's webcam, Apple would be remiss not to include eye tracking technology. The company has already seen startups like uMoove interested in providing the tech, and IBT's sources claim that this will be a key feature.

The iPhone 6 is expected to come with eye tracking. Now, all that's left is to implement them in a way that makes sense on an iPad Pro. Sharing with others what we're looking at on our own screens in conference calls immediately comes to mind.

Microsoft and Google reportedly duelling Asus' dual-OS plans

Plans by Asus to release devices running two operating systems are reportedly being blocked.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the Taiwanese computer manufacturer had planned to launch a device running both Windows 8.1 and Android this year. Opposition from Microsoft and Google, however, has apparently forced the company to postpone it indefinitely.
Dual-OS devices would provide users with extended functionality. The most appropriate OS could be used for work and for leisure on the same device, or people could just switch OS in order to use specific software packages.

Muscling in

Microsoft or Google are unlikely to want dual-OS devices in the marketplace, however, as neither will want the other encroaching on their existing markets segments.
For Microsoft, that is PCs, in particular for business, and for Google that is mobile. Dual-OS devices could give either a foothold in markets in which they are otherwise relatively small players.
In its report, the WSJ said that Google declined to comment on the story, while Microsoft reportedly said that it standing in the way of Asus' plans was a pack of untruths.
"Our policies have not changed - Microsoft will continue to invest with [original equipment manufacturers] to promote best-in-class OEM and Microsoft experiences to our joint customers," a Microsoft spokesperson told the publication.
Asus has yet to announce any revised plans with regards its proposed dual-boot devices. Its Transformer Book Duet TD300, which runs both as a tablet or laptop with different operating systems for each mode was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.

Asus Transformer Book Duet is a hybrid laptop in more ways than one

Microsoft, AT&T team up for long-awaited LTE-equipped Surface 2

Microsoft is scratching off one more excuse for not buying its Windows tablet hardware with the introduction of an 4G LTE model that glides into US retail stores this week.
Microsoft and AT&T today announced the launch of a new Surface 2 model that comes out of the box with 4G LTE mobile broadband and 64GB of onboard storage - but buyers won't find one at their local AT&T store.
Instead, the Surface 2 (AT&T 4G LTE) will be available tomorrow, March 18 for $679 at Microsoft's own retail and online stores as well as Best Buy's website and brick-and-mortar retail stores.
The launch includes Best Buy Mobile outlets, but curiously leaves AT&T's own stores out of the mix for now, although the carrier was more than happy to crow about being the first to provide LTE connectivity for what they call "the nation's premier Windows tablet."

No more tethering

The addition of built-in 4G LTE is likely to offer a significant boost in sales for Microsoft and the Surface 2, especially when the tablet can be added to an existing AT&T Mobile Share plan for only $10 per month.
Powered by Windows RT 8.1, the Surface 2 already offers an enticing range of features including a 10.6-inch 1080p HD display and dual-position kickstand - but until now, mobile broadband options have been limited to tethering from a smartphone.
The carrier also offers a range of prepaid and postpaid options for customers without a current Mobile Share plan, priced at 250MB for $14.99 per month, 3GB for $30 per month or 5GB for $50 per month.
Surface 2 (AT&T 4G LTE) buyers will also receive 200GB of free OneDrive storage for the first two years as well as Microsoft Office Home and Student RT and Outlook 2013 RT, which already comes built into each model.

Surface 2 may be great, but is it the best tablet? Find out in our roundup!

Zoe the star in latest video teaser for the all new HTC One

The Zoe camera functionality was first introduced in the HTC One and the Taiwanese firm has now confirmed it will be making the jump to the phone's successor - the all new HTC One.
Zoe automatically cuts your photos and movies into highlights which you can share with your friends in a short little video package.
It combines photos and HD video footage you've shot and then adds visual effects based on a smart algorithm to make a montage of an event/occasion/memory you captured with your smartphone.
The teaser video hints that the all new HTC One will build on this functionality, but sadly doesn't go into detail.
What we do know is that the new HTC One will be unveiled at a special event on March 25, and TechRadar will be reporting live - so stay tuned!
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXGrkgmKm-g

Everything you need to know about the all new HTC One

Apple's Healthbook app will keep an eye on your bloodwork, hydration and more

Loads of new information about Apple's Healthbook app for iOS 8 has been revealed in a massive leak, showing that Apple wants to track your blood and hydration as well as sleep cycles and exercise.
The gang over at 9to5mac have pieced the information together from multiple sources supposedly working directly on the app, and have recreated screenshots of the software to boot.
The grabs show that Apple wants to go well beyond just another fitness app: alongside sleep and activity tracking, you'll find places to store your weight, heart rate data, blood pressure, blood sugar, nutrition information, respiratory rate and hydration.

Sensor-y overload

It's unlikely that the iPhone 6 or iWatch, which we expect to launch with iOS 8 and hence the Healthbook app, will have all the necessary smarts to analyse your blood directly. We reckon there'll be a certain amount of filling data in based on what your doctor tells you.

But some elements could be tracked by the iWatch - one rumour we've heard to date claims that the wrist-worn device will be able to study the sounds blood makes as it flows through the veins in your wrist and predict heart attacks on that basis. Sounds far-fetched, sure, but so did having the internet in your pocket back in 2005.
The iPhone 6, meanwhile, is said to be rocking an array of new sensors - indeed, even Tim Cook has said, "The whole sensor field is going to explode. It's a little all over the place right now... with the arc of time it will become clearer."
But there's no confirmation on any of this: even 9to5Mac notes that Healthbook might not launch with iOS 8 or even at all if Apple can't make the sensors work the way it wants. So take the whole shebang with the requisite portion of salt for now.
Check out our concept video of what we really hope the iPhone 6 looks like:
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y6ZAH8c1MM

Review: Olympus OM-D E-M10

Introduction and features

Olympus is hoping that the new OM-D E-M10 will find favor in the same way as the OM-10 did when it was launched way back in 1979.
Whereas the OM-10 was the first consumer-level camera in Olympus's OM series of SLRs, and went on to be a big hit and a popular choice for family photography, the Olympus E-M10 is the first consumer-level model in the highly respected OM-D series. It sits below the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Olympus OM-D EM-1 in the company's line-up of Micro Four Thirds compact system cameras.
For those unsure of the difference, the Olympus OM-D series distinguishes itself from the Pen series (Olympus Pen E-PM2, Pen E-PL5 and Pen E-P5) by its more SLR-like styling and the presence of a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF).

Features

Many of the features found in the E-M10 are the same as in the Olympus E-M5, the original OM-D – the Four Thirds type (17.3x13mm) 16.1-million-pixel LiveMOS sensor and 1,440,000-dot electronic viewfinder, for example.
Olympus

This means that unlike the E-M1's sensor there is an optical low-pass filter present. However, rather than using the TruePic VI engine of the E-M5, Olympus has used the TruPic VII processor that is found in the top-end OM-D E-M1.
The TruPic VII processor incorporates Fine Detail II Technology that adapts processing to the characteristics of individual lenses and aperture settings. It is also claimed to allow better noise control. These two features may mean that the new E-M10 could produce better quality images than the E-M5.
This processor also allows sensitivity to be set in the range ISO 100-25,600 and a maximum continuous shooting rate of 8fps – although focus and exposure are locked at the start. In addition, shutter speed may be set in the range 1/4000-60sec (plus bulb) and exposure compensation can be adjusted to +/-5EV.
Olympus side shot

As the E-M10 uses the E-M5's sensor it doesn't have the phase detection pixels of the E-M1, so focusing is carried out by contrast detection alone. A total of 81 AF points are available for selection at normal viewing sizes, which can be selected individually or in groups of nine.

Focus modes

In addition to Single AF mode, Continuous AF mode, Manual Focus (MF), Single AF + MF and AF Tracking mode are available. Manual Focus is aided by the ability to magnify specific areas of the scene and focus peaking, which highlights the areas of highest contrast.
Face Detection AF is also available and this can be augmented with Eye Detect AF, Left, Right and Near side priority.
While it's the entry-level OM-D camera, the E-M10 still has the enthusiast friendly exposure modes: program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual. There's also a healthy collection of automatic scene modes (24 in total), including a new Hand-Held Starlight mode. In this mode the camera captures eight images and automatically combines them into a single composite for better exposure and noise control.
Rear

In addition to Olympus's standard Live Bulb and Live Time modes, which allow the photographer to see the image build-up on the screen during long exposures, there's a new option called Live Composite Lighten Mode. This allows a Live Bulb image to be combined with one 0.5-60sec exposure for better dynamic range control in some situations.

Filter modes

Being an Olympus camera, the E-M10 has a large collection of Art Filter modes – 19 in total – which may be used to apply an effect to images. Many of these effects are customisable. They can be applied to JPEG files and video clips, but raw files can also be recorded at the same time so there's a 'clean' image for processing.
Like the other OM-D cameras, the E-M10 has a tilting LCD screen that is touch-sensitive for making settings adjustments and swiping through images in review mode. This is a 3-inch device with 1,370,000 dots like the E-M1's, so it trumps the E-M5 screen's 610,000 dot-count.
Side on

Key differences in comparison to the E-M5 include a simplification of the optical stabilisation system, which is 3-axis rather than 5, no battery-grip compatibility, the lack of an accessory port in the hotshoe and no weather-sealing.
The 3-axis stabilisation counteracts yaw, roll and pitch for both still shots and HD movies, irrespective of the lens attached to the camera. It is claimed to extend the safe hand-holdable shutter speed by up to 3.5EV.

Pop-up flash

A small pop-up flash, with Guide Number 5.8m at ISO 100, is a key addition to the E-M10. This will be useful for fill-in or shooting in low-light conditions. As mentioned earlier, there's also a hotshoe to accept an external flash. While the built-in flash sync speed is 1/250sec, it is 1/200sec with an external flashgun (1/180sec with the FL-50R).
The new camera also has Wi-Fi connectivity built-in, the same system as in the E-M1. Furthermore, it's compatible with the updated Olympus Image Share app which gives extensive control over camera settings, even allowing the exposure mode to be set to something other than the option indicated by the camera's mode dial. It's also possible to use a smartphone like a standard wireless remote shutter and just trip the shutter, keeping the camera settings as they are set on the body.
Side on 2

On the face of it, the E-M10 looks like an attractive alternative to the E-M5. It has many of the same features, makes only a few compromises and has a few aspects borrowed from the top-end E-M1.
Olympus has announced a new 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ lens to complement the E-M10 and it will be offered as the standard kit lens. This new lens is a powerzoom and it collapses down when the camera is turned off to maintain the slim lines of the camera. Olympus claims that it is the slimmest standard zoom lens in the world.

Build and handling

Olympus has used a very similar design for the E-M10 as it has for the Olympus E-M5, the original OM-D. However, at 119.1x82.3x45.9mm and 350g it's a little bit smaller and lighter than the older camera (121x89.6x41.9mm and 373g). Consequently it's also smaller than the OM-D E-M1 (130.4x93.5x63.1mm and 443g), which sits at the top of the Olympus compact system camera line-up.
It doesn't have the dust- and splash-proofing of the E-M5, nor the freeze-proof build of the E-M1, but it is constructed from metal so it feels nice and solid.
Rear viewfinder

A small, but pronounced rubberised pad on the back of the E-M10 makes a good, comfortable thumbrest, while a ridge on the front provides grip for your fingers. The two combine to make the camera feel secure in your hand while shooting and when carrying it between shots.
The control layout of the E-M10 is almost identical to that of the E-M5, albeit on a slightly smaller body.
As before, there are plenty of button and dial controls giving a direct route to camera settings. Everything is within easy reach and the controls feel responsive.

Assured layout

Following the layout of the E-M5 rather than the E-M1 means that the E-M10 has a mode dial on the left side of the top-plate as you hold the camera for shooting. This provides a route to all the exposure modes. While there is the usual option for Art Filters, these can also be applied when shooting in the other exposure modes such as aperture priority, so it is possible to retain control over the camera's settings.
Top shot

The two control dials on the top of the E-M10, for adjusting shutter speed/aperture and exposure compensation, are a little deeper and chunkier than the ones on the E-M5, but the difference is subtle.
Like the E-M5, the E-M10 has two Function buttons which can be customised to perform different operations. The button marked 'Fn2' button at the top of the camera also has the Highlights and Shadows icon as it gives direct access to this contrast control. However, it can also be used to access the Color Creator, sensitivity, white balance, Image Aspect and Magnify options.
Holding the Fn2 button down while rotating one of the control dials allows you to select the option (Color Creator, sensitivity, white balance, Images Aspect and Magnify) that you want. Once the button is released, a single press activates the feature, ready for adjustment or use.
Rear open

The E-M10's 3-inch 1,370,000-dot screen provides a nice, clear view with plenty of detail visible even in quite bright conditions, but when the sun is shining the electronic viewfinder (EVF) is a welcome alternative. It's helpful that there's a sensor to detect when the camera is held to the eye.
This activates the EVF so you can quickly switch between the two viewing devices. However, if you want to dictate when you use one or the other, the sensor can be deactivated and there's a button on the side of the EVF.

Touchscreen

As usual, the touchscreen can be used to alter the focus point with a tap of a finger. It can also be used to trip the shutter, first focusing on the point you touch and then taking the shot. We found the touchscreen to be very responsive and quick to use, just as it is in the E-M5.
Rear side

As it's mounted on a tilting mechanism the LCD screen is easier to see than a fixed screen when shooting landscape format images from low and high angles, but it's no help with portrait format images.
Olympus's reluctance to provide a fully articulating screen is somewhat counterbalanced by the fact that it's possible to compose images on a smartphone screen. This can be achieved while controlling the E-M10 remotely via the built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and Olympus Image Share app.
Side on open screen

The 1,440,000-dot electronic viewfinder in the E-M10 is the same as the one in the E-M5, but it benefits from the Adaptive Brightness Technology found in the E-M1. This adjusts the brightness of the view according to the ambient light to give a more comfortable viewing experience, taking into account the size of the user's pupil.
We found that the EVF provides an excellent view with no obvious texture or flickering (it operates at 120fps). EVF naysayers should give it a try because it brings many benefits over an optical finder including the ability to see the image as it will be captured.

Kit lens

The new 14-42mm kit lens extends promptly when the camera starts up and it feels well-balanced on the E-M10. However, it takes a few moments to get used to how close the zoom ring is to the camera body. Also, anyone switching from an SLR may initially find their fingers naturally resting on the focus ring on the end of the barrel.
Lens off

Connecting the E-M10 to a smartphone or tablet using the built-in Wi-Fi system is easy thanks to the free Olympus Images Share (OI Share) app. Although there's no NFC (Near Field Communication) chip, initial set-up is simplified by the fact that the camera's screen displays a QR code which the phone scans to obtain the necessary data.
From here it's just a question to touching Wi-Fi on the camera's screen to activate the system, waiting a couple of seconds and then starting OI Share before selecting the desired option in the app – Remote Control, Import Photos, Edit Photo or Add Geotag.
The camera responds quickly to settings adjustments made via the phone and the system provides a convenient method of controlling the camera when shooting from awkward angles or tight spots. The only downside is that the digital level isn't displayed on the phone screen, so you can't be sure that the horizon will be level in the image.
Lens off 2

It's especially useful to control the camera remotely via the app when shooting in Live Bulb or Live Time mode, as it avoids introducing blur when you touch the camera. It's also often more comfortable to watch the image build up on the 'phone rather than the camera, and has the added benefit of drawing attention away from the camera.

Performance

As it has the same sensor as the E-M5 and the same processing engine as the E-M1, we had reasonably high expectations for the E-M10's image quality. These expectations have not been disappointed as the camera is capable of producing superb images with plenty of detail.
Noise is controlled well in JPEGs taken at up to around ISO 6400, when some smoothing and slight loss of detail is evident in images viewed at 100% on screen. As usual, this softening increases with sensitivity and while the top value, ISO 25,600, produces respectable results, many photographers are likely to keep it for emergencies only.
Front

Luminance noise is visible at 100% from around ISO 1600, but it only starts to become noticeable at normal viewing sizes at about ISO 6400. Chroma noise (coloured speckling) isn't an issue in high sensitivity JPEG shots, even in the darker areas. It can be made to appear by turning off noise reduction when processing raw files, but it's fine-grained with no clumping or patterning visible and comfortably within respectable levels at ISO 6400.
Olympus's general purpose ESP metering system performs very well in a range of situations and delivers good exposures. Naturally, it's not completely foolproof and the exposure compensation facility can come in handy on occasion.
Where this was required during this test, it was usually to decrease the exposure a little in high contrast conditions. Reducing the exposure of a bright landscape shot by 1/3EV can also play dividends in colour saturation.

Colour tests

On the subject of colour, the E-M10 generally produces natural-looking hues in it's Natural Picture mode and the automatic white balance copes admirably with most natural lighting conditions. As is often the case, however, it struggles a little under artificial light when a bespoke setting is the best option via the manual white balance control.
Our lab tests indicate that the E-M10 has a pretty impressive dynamic range. While our real-world images confirm this, it's worth noting that it comes coupled with a slightly flatter look to JPEGs taken using the default 'Natural' Picture mode than the Fuji X-E2 produces.
The images look good, but they lack the bite or midtone contrast of JPEGs direct from the Fuji X-E2. This isn't intended as a criticism of either camera, just an observation. The E-M10's files have a larger range of tones and are less likely to lose the highlights.
As it has an anti-aliasing (aka optical low-pass) filter, we thought that the E-M10 may not be able to resolve quite as much sharp detail as the E-M1, but judging by our resolution chart images, it can. In fact it can resolve a little bit more than the E-M1 and the E-M5 at some low and mid-range sensitivity settings, although there's not a huge amount in it.

Visible detail

At the higher end of the sensitivity scale, however, its resolution score drops off, probably because of the noise control. But there is still a good impression of detail visible at normal viewing sizes.
In normal daylight conditions the E-M10's autofocus system is fast and accurate. It's even able to keep up with quite fast-moving subjects and in AF Tracking mode it can keep it sharp as it moves around the frame.
Flushed with confidence at this success, we took the OM-D E-M10 to a funfair at night to see how it would deal with erratically moving subjects under low-light conditions. Sadly, it proved too much for the camera's contrast detection AF system, which though able to cope with stationary subjects, was not quick enough to lock onto fast moving subjects such as dodgems and roundabouts in the low artificial light.
However, we managed to get a few sharp shots of a children's mini-rollercoaster. In continuous AF mode, provided we kept the active AF point over the moving subject, the camera was able to get it sharp and stayed with it as it moved towards us.

Filter control

Olympus's Art Filters have proved very popular because they're a convenient way of applying effects to JPEGs. It's particularly useful that you can set the bracketing control to produce an image using every Art Filter with just one press of the shutter release.
You can select which Art Filter you want to use, so you don't have to use them all if you don't want to. The TruePic VII processor makes using this bracketing option a much better experience than it was in the past as processing and write times are much faster. The fact that you can shoot unaffected raw files at the same time is a major bonus not offered by any other camera manufacturer.

Sensitivity and noise ranges

JPEG

Full ISO 200 image, see the cropped (100%) versions below.
ISO 200
ISO 200

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ISO 400
ISO 400

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ISO 800
ISO 800

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ISO 1600

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ISO 3200

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ISO 6400

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ISO 12800

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ISO 25600

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RAW

ISO 200
ISO 200

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ISO 400

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ISO 800

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ISO 1600

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ISO 3200

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ISO 6400

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ISO 12800

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ISO 25600

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Image quality and resolution

As part of our image quality testing for the Olympus OM-D E-M10, we've shot our resolution chart.
For a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean, and how to read them, check out our full explanation of our camera testing resolution charts.
Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100:

JPEG

Full ISO 200 image, see the cropped (100%) versions below.
ISO 200

ISO 200, score: 26 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 400

ISO 400, score: 26 (Click here to see the full resolution image)
ISO 800

ISO 800, score: 24 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

ISO 1600, score: 22 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

ISO 3200, score: 18 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

ISO 6400, score: 14 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

ISO 12800, score: 10 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

ISO 25600, score: N/A (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Raw

ISO 200, score: 26 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 400

ISO 400, score: 26 (Click here to see full resolution image)
ISO 800

ISO 800, score: 24 (Click here to see full resolution image)

ISO 1600, score: 22 (Click here to see full resolution image)

ISO 3200, score: 18 (Click here to see full resolution image)

ISO 6400, score: 14 (Click here to see full resolution image)

ISO 12800, score: 12 (Click here to see full resolution image)

ISO 25600, score: N/A (Click here to see full resolution image)

Noise and dynamic range

We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using DXO Analyzer software to generate the data to produce the graphs below.
A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image.
For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests.
These charts compare the results of the Olympus OM-D E-M10 with the Panasonic G6, Olympus OM-D E-M1, Fuji X-E2, Canon 70D and Nikon D7100.

JPEG signal to noise ratio

Although the Panasonic G6 performs best at ISO 400, the Fuji X-E2 has the best results at every other sensitivity setting. This indicates that there's plenty of detail and low levels of noise in the X-E2's JPEG images in its default settings. However, the Olympus E-M10 puts in a very good performance and compares very well with the two SLRs (the Canon 70D and Nikon D7100), especially at the higher sensitivity settings.

Raw (after conversion to TIFF) signal to noise ratio

The Olympus E-M10 is a clear winner here, indicating that it produces the cleanest images across the sensitivity range. However, our resolution chart results show that this comes at the expense of some detail at the highest sensitivity values.

JPEG dynamic range

The Olympus E-M10 and E-M1 in their default (Natural) Picture Mode have very similar dynamic range in their JPEGs. This means that there's a wide range of tones and detail isn't lost quickly in the highlights or shadows. However, it's worth noting that the Fuji X-E2, which has a lower dynamic range, produces punchier-looking images straight from the camera in its default configuration.

Raw (after conversion to TIFF) dynamic range

These results confirm our real world findings that the Olympus E-M10's raw files have lots of tonal data and its images have an impressive dynamic range. It beats all the competing cameras here.

Sample images

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JPEG images have a high level of detail direct from the camera, but as usual there's a bit more visible in the raw files (see below).
Signal box (raw)

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Raw files bring increased scope to fine-tune contrast and sharpening to help bring out detail.
Catkins

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These catkins were bobbing about violently in the wind, but in the bright light the E-M10's AF system was able to lock onto them quickly. It even managed to keep up with them as they moved around the frame in AF Tracking mode.
Train

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In low light, AF performance drops off and although it wasn't fast enough to produce sharp images of erratically moving dodgems, it managed to deliver a few sharp images of this junior roller-coaster ride.
White Flower

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The E-M10 general purpose ESP metering system wasn't thrown off by the brightness of the main subject in this shot and has delivered an excellent exposure.
Crocus

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The tilting screen is useful when shooting very low subjects, like this crocus.
Fungi JPEG

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Although the white in the fungi in this JPEG file is a bit too burned out to pull back, it could be retrieved in the simultaneously captured raw file below.
Fungi Raw

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It only took a couple of seconds to adjust the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw to restore the highlights in this raw file.
Fair

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Using Live Time mode enabled us to see the image build up on the screen on the back of the camera (or our iPhone) and then close the shutter when the exposure looked correct. This image took 5.5 seconds at ISO 100 and f/18.
Coolers

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Olympus's Grainy Film Art Filter suits this cooling tower image well, but if you're not sure you can shoot a raw file simultaneously so that you have a 'clean' file to work with. It's also possible to bracket the Art Filters and produce a sequence of images with each one (or just your favourites) applied with just one press of the shutter release. Alternatively, the supplied Olympus Viewer 3 software allows you to apply the filter effects to raw files as they are processed.
Landscape no drama

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Another example of where a tilting LCD screen can come in handy.
Landscape drama

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This JPEG file was shot at the same time as the raw file above, but the Dramatic Tone Art Filter has given it a bit more impact.

Verdict

At launch, the E-M10 has a recommended retail price of £529.99/US$699/AU$734 body only, or £699.99/US$799/AU$999 with the new 14-42mm EZ (powerzoom) lens which makes it considerably more affordable than the E-M1 and E-M5.
These cameras can be found for around £1,299/US$1,399/AU$1,199 and £749/US$1,099/AU$1,599 (body only) respectively. Expect the E-M10's price to drop a little after it has been on sale for a few months.
Olympus has given the E-M10 many of the features of the excellent OM-D E-M5, and some from the E-M1 at the top of Olympus's OM-D range.
The only compromises appear to be the lack of weatherproofing, the loss of the ability to attach a battery grip (although there is an accessory grip to make the camera larger if you prefer), the loss of the hotshoe accessory port and a reduction in the level of correction offered by the stabilisation system.
However, you get a pop-up flash, a more advanced Wi-Fi system and a better LCD screen. Plus the camera is a little more compact and lightweight – but still robust with a metal construction.
As it has the same sensor as the first OM-D, the widely respected E-M5, and the same processing engine as the top-end E-M1, it's not really a surprise that the E-M10 produces high-quality images. However, it is a little surprising that they resolve quite so much detail – especially considering that the E-M10's sensor has an anti-aliasing filter.
While the OM-D E-M10 manages to improve a little on the detail reproduction of the E-M1 and E-M5 at some lower and mid sensitivity settings, the desire to control noise seems to limit the resolution score a little at the highest values. Nevertheless, at normal viewing sizes images taken at ISO 12,800 look very good. The very top value, ISO 25,600 is probably best avoided however.
Our lab results show that the E-M10 competes very well against popular SLRs such as the Canon 70Dand Nikon D7100, by which we mean it whips their butts. That will give SLR manufacturers and prospective buyers something to think about.
While we may not have an issue with the E-M10's image quality, it's clear that the AF system still needs some work if the camera (or compact system cameras as a whole) is going to compete fully with an SLR. In good light all is well, but in low light conditions an SLR copes far better (at least with a high quality lens mounted). For many photographers this probably isn't an issue, but for dedicated enthusiasts that want to shoot a wide range of subjects, it's a restriction they won't want.

We liked

The E-M10 has plenty of controls within easy reach and an extensive featureset in a compact body that feels reasonably durable and comfortable in the hand. The EVF provides a nice clear view, showing scenes as they will be captured using the selected settings, and the touchscreen is responsive.

We disliked

A fully articulating screen would be nice, but the ease with which the camera's Wi-Fi system connects to a smartphone means that it's easy to compose images on the screen if the camera is at an awkward angle. It would be helpful if the camera's level could be displayed on the phone screen, however.
While the AF system is very good in most outdoor daylight conditions, it slows considerably when you step into subdued lighting conditions or night falls. This limits the camera's ability to shoot subjects such as music gigs and sports.

Verdict

I like the Olympus OM-D E-M10 a lot. It's small and light enough to fit in a large coat pocket or small bag so it can be used as a carry-round camera. It affords lots of control over images, feels good in the hand and has a control layout that's easy to get to grips with. It also has a healthy number of customisation options and produces high quality images.
As with Olympus's other recent compact system cameras, the Art Filters can be customised and used when you're shooting in advanced exposure modes like aperture priority, shutter priority and manual.
What's more, you can use them when shooting raw and JPEG files simultaneously to have a 'clean' image for processing. You can even bracket to have all your favorite Filters applied with one press of the shutter release. Some of the filter effect results are superb.
Front camera

Just about the only thing we don't like about the E-M10 is that its AF system isn't fast enough for shooting low-light gigs and fairgrounds. That's not an issue exclusive to the E-M10, it's an issue for all CSCs that we've tested to date and it's something that SLRs take the lead on.
In daylight, however, the E-M10's AF system is one of the best around in a CSC (only pipped by the hybrid system in the OM-D E-M1) and it's capable of bringing still and moving subjects quickly into focus.
It might be small and light, but the E-M10 feels like a proper camera, and when you look at the images that it produces, you know it is.

Industry voice: The benefits of a truly open cloud

In truth we're nowhere near understanding the true potential of the cloud or the Internet of Things and the scope it offers developers, nor has anyone grasped the range of possibilities that it will open up for either businesses or consumers.
Social media has blazed a path in demonstrating the value that can be built in a very short space of time. AWS is another great example, and as a platform for interchange it has a lot in common with Facebook.
Both companies reduced the barriers to entry for start-ups to create and market very small, very specialised applications to a broad set of users in order to grow rapidly. In that way they have a lot in common with the success of iOS and Android in the mobile world.
All four, to varying extents, provide(d) a curated market for experimentation and entrepreneurship, and a simple method to commercialise any traction achieved.

Gone are the old ways

The old days of managing PCs and servers with monolithic on-premise products are over. Cloud services and the mobility, scalability and flexibility they offer are now starting to appeal to businesses of all sizes, and vendors need to respond fast.
We need to enable our customers to bring in best in class solutions easily and affordably rather than creating needless barriers or anti-competitive walls. We need to be flexible and open to collaboration or integration.
For me the concept of all-in-one products has reached its zenith and it's time to move on. There are just too many smart kids entering the market nowadays for that kind of strategy to work and not to be knocked down and replaced by more specialised services; those with a narrower focus, but more broad and robust interfaces to allow deep integration and collaboration within an ecosystem of like-minded offerings.
Let's also not forget that today's developers are being brought up in an 'appified' world. People collect and organise multiple apps on mobile platforms that allow just enough sandboxing to ensure security and data privacy, but an otherwise open field for co-operation between complimentary apps.
Why would these same people change their approach when designing enterprise services?
You can see how we got here. Historically, product leaders faced with high penetration have needed to add to their portfolio to maintain growth and consolidate their position.
Hey, if you make great taps, and sell a lot of them, you might as well sell plugs as well, right? And then sinks and baths, showerheads, and what about toilets too.
The problem is, unless your products all work with your competitor's products, you'd better make sure that each and every one of them is the very best.
And therein lies the problem. No company can be the best at everything, forever. Sooner or later there will be a start-up in a garage that will make a better tap and it won't work with your pipes.
When it comes to offering your customers what they want, I'm a big believer in accepting that sometimes somebody else might offer them something that you either can't, or choose not to. Technology vendors shouldn't try to be something they aren't.
At CentraStage we don't try to be best at everything, but we sure as hell want to be the best device management solution. So why not team up with another specialist technology solution that does offer what your customer wants?

Cloud makes it easy

It seems like a no-brainer to me and cloud computing makes it easy. No longer will customers have to search for one technology that does everything and inevitably fails to do much of it well.
SaaS technologies, combined with private or published APIs, allow customers to choose the best technology fit for their business and seamlessly integrate them, without the need for extortionate professional services.
I don't pretend to know the answer, but I'll offer an alternative scenario, and the success of iOS and Android in the mobile market provides a great insight.
I would argue that their current dominance over competing platform such as Windows Phone and Blackberry 10 is not down to whizzier feature sets or a flashier UI; but rather due to their provision of a superior platform for application interchange – and that includes both the technical and commercial aspects.
Importantly, they allow their users (customers) to pick and choose – and change their mind multiple times – on the mix of specialist apps that collectively provide them with the experience and outcome that they seek. Specialised apps, produced by specialist companies, which do one or two things really well.
Blackberry was too late in figuring that bit out, and Microsoft (initially) figured they could do it all themselves. There's just too much you can do on a mobile device for one company to be the best at everything, and that's a good thing.
In my opinion, the exchange of data and functionality between specialist cloud services will be key to unlocking the 'internet of things'; technology vendors need to decide what services they are offering and what they need to do to make themselves indispensable to their customers.
Software providers need to grow, evolve and converge to ensure they're ready for the coming tidal wave of mobile, cloud, social and Big Data realities that will make up the 'internet of things'. That's certainly what my team and I are doing.

Christian Nagele is CEO and co-founder of CentraStage, a global SaaS endpoint management platform that delivers full visibility, control and compliance through a single cloud platform. Christian co-founded CentraStage in 2008 in response to the growing challenge of endpoint management.

Industry voice: How are traditional businesses coping in the internet age?

The fact that the web is playing an increasingly important role in the way modern small businesses engage with their customers is nothing new; indeed, many small businesses started in the last 10 years probably wouldn't exist if it weren't for the internet.
Less well known, however, is the way in which well-established and traditionally technology-averse businesses are embracing the channel.
Take for example the classic car business. Until fairly recently, people looking for these cars would scour the classified ads at the back of specialist magazines, join car clubs or seek out local specialists.
While these more traditional channels still have their part to play, technology – and social media in particular – is stealing a march on them, because it works in real time and engages customers in a way that simply wasn't possible before.

Technology-focused Approach

One such business is CUP Classic Cars, part of our BT Business Mentors (a network of like-minded businesses that help other companies across the UK).
Owner Richard Phillips has been using a technology-focused approach to attract new customers – spotting that the demographic of classic car owners is getting younger and that the internet is a real-time channel that has to be linked with what's going on in the real world.
An example that Richard shared with me is that he saw the launch of the Bond movie Skyfall as the ideal opportunity to help drive awareness of one of CUPs flagship cars, the Aston Martin, viaTwitter.
He was lucky enough to attend the local premiere of the film and, when he noticed they had a replica of the silver Bond DB5, took a picture and tweeted it from his phone.
The response was phenomenal: even before the film had ended, the photograph had been retweeted and generated comment from all over the world, also being linked and hash-tagged in wider conversations about the Bond launch.
Being part of that helped drive awareness of CUP and linked it to discussions about the brand. This experience demonstrated the benefits of driving debates around the validity of classic car status across social media channels, to the point where CUP now actually sells cars via Facebook.

Power of the Web

Another BT Business Mentor operating in a very traditional space is Bradley Mcloughlin of nationwide Braant Accounting. Coming from an online background originally building a business selling customers' auction items via eBay, Bradley instinctively understood the power of the web and applied it to his new venture.
Braant Accounting works in a perhaps more conservative industry, providing bookkeeping and accounting services to businesses.
As well as traditional onsite services, it also uses its specialist software and online resources to manage its clients' accounting needs remotely, in order to ensure they meet their regulatory requirements, whilst reducing costs – both financially and in terms of their time.
This is no longer just the preserve of smaller businesses either, with Braant's clients ranging up to multi-million pound international businesses.
The signs are clear: businesses, even those operating in traditional sectors, are already waking up to the power of the internet to engage with, rather than broadcast to, their customers. The days of putting up a website and leaving it in the hope of getting traffic and sales-leads are over.
Social media networks may come and go the way of other internet fads, but it is the genuine understanding of how they are used to communicate that will remain, and those who possess that understanding will become the classic brands of the future.

Danny Longbottom is managing director UK SME for BT Business, Responsible for the SME market in the UK.

Review: Samsung NX30

Overview

Although Samsung was one of the first manufacturers to launch a compact system camera to the market, back in 2010 with the NX10, it's fair to say that the NX range has failed to capture the same amount of attention as CSCs from Panasonic, Olympus and Sony.
Samsung's compact system cameras, like Sony's, feature an APS-C sensor, and unlike some of the other manufacturers mentioned. All of the cameras in the current Samsung line-up share the same sensor, a 20.3 million-pixel device.
Alongside that sensor, which we have found to be a good performer before, are a number of features which are likely to grab the attentions of serious enthusiasts. For starters, there's a fast, 1/8000 second shutter speed and a nine frames per second (fps) continuous shooting function.
For the first time in a Samsung CSC, there's also a tiltable electronic viewfinder, which boasts an impressive 2,359k dot resolution. It is joined by a three inch, 1037k dot, fully articulated touch-sensitive screen.
Samsung NX30

The camera features a hybrid AF (autofocus) system, with the sensor featuring 247 contrast detect AF points and 105 phase detection points.
Both raw format shooting and full manual control is available, along with semi-automatic modes such as aperture priority and shutter priority. There's also a host of creative extras, such as digital filters, which can only be shot in JPEG, or Picture Wizard, which can be shot in both raw format and JPEG.
Samsung is a key advocate of Wi-Fi technology, so it's no surprise to see it featured here on the NX30. As with other SMART (Samsung's term for Wi-Fi connected) cameras, there is a variety of useful functions that make use of this. For instance, you can upload images directly to Facebook as well as using your phone or tablet to control the camera. There's also a baby monitor setting which means you can set up the camera in the room of a child and use your phone to keep tabs on your infant.
Samsung NX30

Samsung announced a new 'premium' lens, the first of its kind in the Samsung range, at the same time as the NX30 was. The 16-50mm f/2.0-f/2.8 offers the brightest maximum aperture for a 3x zoom lens, and indicates that Samsung is trying to attract a more serious kind of photographer than ever before. The company has indicated that more premium lenses will be coming soon too.
The NX30 comes packed with an 18-55mm iFunction lens as standard. iFunction lenses, unique to Samsung, allow you to control some aspects of the camera's functionality via a button on the lens itself. At present, there are 13 lenses available for the NX range, all of which are iFunction optics. Although the range isn't as large as those available for Micro Four Thirds, there are some interesting primes and zooms available.
Unlike the Samsung Galaxy NX, the user interface of the NX30 is not an Android operating system, but the same menu system as used on other NX cameras. Whereas some Sony cameras allow you to download additional apps from the company's PlayMemories store, there's no such additional functionality than can be added with the NX30.
Other interesting features of the NX30 include a DRIMeIV image processing engine and full HD video recording.
As it sits at the top of Samsung's line up, the NX30 goes head to head with the likes of the just recently announced Sony a6000, Sony's most advanced APS-C compact system camera, the Panasonic GH4, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 and arguably even the Fuji X-T1, with which it shares a relatively similar shape, if not the retro styling.

Build quality and handling

Samsung compact system cameras are generally divided into two camps. There's the flatter, more compact-camera-like style, and then there's the thicker, DSLR-like devices, and that's the category the NX30 falls into.
There's a chunky grip, which is textured and feels very nice to hold. There's a ridge on the grip for your middle finger to sit on and feel extra comfortable, and also a raised thumbrest on the back of the camera, so the camera sits very nicely in the hand. It's probably not a camera you'll use one handed all that often, but if you did want to, it feels secure.
Samsung NX30

Although the NX30 has a touchscreen, unlike the Samsung Galaxy NX, there are lots of physical buttons too, which will likely be appreciated by more traditional users. It's nice to be able to use a combination of the touchscreen and real buttons to quickly change settings, too.
On top of the camera are quite a few dials and buttons. There's a mode dial for switching between the various exposure options, including fully automatic and semi-automatic modes such as shutter priority and aperture priority. Wi-Fi has its own slot on the mode dial since you can do quite a few different things with the Wi-Fi options – I'll come onto that later. There are also two slots for groups of custom settings – useful if you often find yourself shooting a particular type of scenario (such as low light).
Samsung NX30

To the right of the mode dial is a smaller dial for changing the drive mode, a simple flick can move you from single shooting to burst mode, time or bracket mode. It's a nice addition which saves diving into the menu to change the setting, and the dial is stiff enough to not accidentally be knocked out of the position you desire.
Around the shutter release button is the on/off switch, while just behind it is a scrolling dial used for altering aperture or shutter speed, depending on the mode you're shooting in. If you prefer, you can also use the dial on the back of the camera to make this change, and if you're shooting in fully manual mode, you use one for shutter speed, and the other for aperture.
To the right of the shutter release is a small button for changing the metering mode and another for accessing the Wi-Fi functions of the camera.
There are also quite a few buttons on the rear of the camera, and they're all grouped on the right-hand side of the body for easy access from the thumb. There's a traditional four-way navigational pad, with each direction of the pad serving a specific purpose – right changes the AF mode, up changes the display, down changes the ISO (sensitivity) and left changes the white balance. Unlike with Sony cameras, there's no way to change the purpose of the buttons on the back of the camera, but it's a sensible choice of options nonetheless. There is one custom button, which doubles up as the delete button, which can be set to one of three settings – Drive Settings, AF Area or Reset. It would have been nice if you could have set a wider variety of settings here.
Samsung NX30

The Fn (function) button gives access to the most commonly used settings. Pressing this button brings up a display which you can navigate around using the directional keys, or you can touch the screen itself. You'll find options including AF area mode, aperture and sensitivity.
Other buttons on the rear of the camera are an exposure compensation button, AEL lock button and a playback button. Exposure compensation is altered by holding down the dedicated button and then using the dial on the top of the camera to add or reduce compensation.
To change the autofocus point, you have a couple of options. You can press the central button on the navigation pad and then use the navigational keys to move around to the point you require, or you can use the touchscreen to quickly tap the point you require. One problem here comes when you're using the EVF as it can be quite easy for your nose to change the AF point, presumably in the brief pause between the EVF switching on and the LCD switching off. Eventually, you learn to approach the EVF in a different way (forehead first), but it takes a bit of getting used to. If you're finding it particularly problematic, you could switch touch AF off, or fold the screen inwards towards the body of the camera.
Another useful feature here is that you can set the autofocus point, then drag across the screen the corner of the box to another point to set exposure lock to a different point on the screen. When you're done, you simply drag the second box back into the AF point box to rejoin them.
Samsung NX30

The fully articulating screen sits flush against the camera body, thanks to a recess into which the screen can be folded to protect it when not in use. The screen's hinge feels very secure and like it could withstand a fair amount. An articulating screen is the most useful in terms of shooting both landscape and portrait images, along with self-portraits.
Another clever piece of design is the viewfinder. Not only is there a sensor for automatically detecting when it's lifted to the eye for an almost seamless transition between using the LCD and the EVF, but it also pops out to tilt through various degrees to all the way upwards. Thanks to the clever, sleek, construction, you might never realise it did this, but it does and it's very useful if you're shooting something from a slightly awkward angle.
Samsung's Wi-Fi functionality is excellent, allowing you to instantly upload images to Facebook and the like, as well as take remote control of the camera. It's a lot more flexible than some of the other manufacturer's options, and we often wish that other companies would adopt the same approach to Wi-Fi integration as Samsung.

Performance

This is not the first time we have seen this sensor in a Samsung camera, so we were pretty confident that the NX30 would produce excellent images, similar to those we have seen before. Happily, I was pleased to find that once again, images produced are excellent.
That 20.3 million-pixel sensor is capable of resolving a lot of detail, while colours are bright and punchy without being overly saturated. Skin tones are also recreated well, being accurate and pleasing.
This is a camera which Samsung intends and expects to be used with other lenses aside from the kit lens, and it is when used with some of the excellent options available from Samsung that the camera really comes into its own.
That's not to say that the kit lens is a bad performer. It's a decent all-rounder, and would make a good first lens while you save up for another optic. Samsung has introduced a new 16-50mm f/2.0-f/2.8 which seems like the perfect partner for this camera. I haven't been able to get hold of one of these lenses to date, but when I do I will be keen to see how well it performs.
Samsung NX30

For now, the 18-55mm zoom range is decent for most every day shooting scenarios, and although it only opens up to f/3.5 at its widest, you can still get some pleasing shallow depth of field effects.
Out of focus areas are rendered beautifully, while beautiful bokeh is evident, especially when using one of Samsung's excellent prime lenses with a wider aperture, such as f/2.8.
All-purpose metering is generally good, but I found that it has a tendency to underexpose on occasion, meaning that I had to dial in some positive compensation to get a correctly exposed image. Automatic white balance is particularly impressive though, coping well under artificial lighting to produce very accurate colours the majority of the time.
Examining images at 100% reveals some degree of image smoothing throughout the sensitivity range. I've found that, at ISO 800 and above, there are some areas of the image in which detail is lost and a painterly effect can be seen, but it's only really noticeable if you're pixel peeping – viewing the image at normal printing or web sizes is more than acceptable.

ISO noise

Shooting at higher sensitivities in lower light conditions, such as ISO 1600 or ISO 3200, reveals that noise is kept to a minimum, which accounts for some of the image smoothing. Generally though, detail is kept very well in most areas of the image, and I would happily use the camera at ISO 3200 if I was printing at A4 or smaller, or sharing images online.
Samsung doesn't make any claims about having the world's fastest autofocus, unlike Sony or Fuji, but, never the less, focusing is very swift. The camera is capable of locking on almost instantly in very good light. When levels begin to drop, focusing speed does too, occasionally hunting around to acquire focus – depending on the lens used. It's only when light levels drop very low that the camera has problems focusing at all though.
There are a number of digital filter and colour options that you can use with the NX30, as with other Samsung NX cameras. Unlike the Galaxy NX, you can't add additional apps to give you more flexibility, but those that are already built-in to the camera are worth investigating. I would argue that the range available on Micro Four Thirds cameras from Panasonic and Olympus are more interesting, but there are still some here which I liked.
You can use Picture Wizard while shooting in raw format, but not when using Smart Filters, which is a shame as it means that whatever you shoot, you're stuck with if you change your mind down the line – but at least the different Picture Wizard options are available. You may need to spend some time exploring the different options as some of them have unusual names, which don't necessarily immediately signify the effect – for instance, monochrome is titled 'Classic'.
Both the screen and electronic viewfinder are excellent performers. The screen offers a clear and bright view of the screen, not suffering particularly badly from glare or reflection, while the EVF is also similarly useful in terms of viewing the scene in sharp detail.

Image quality and resolution

As part of our image quality testing for the Samsung NX30, we've shot our resolution chart.
For a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean, and how to read them, check out our full explanation of our camera testing resolution charts.

Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100:

JPEG

ISO 100. Score: 24 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 200. Score: 24 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 400. Score: 24 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 800. Score: 22 Click here to see the full resolution image

ISO 1600. Score: 20 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 3200. Score: 18 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsing NX30 Review

ISO 6400. Score: 16 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 12800. Score: 14 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 25600. 10 Click here to see the full resolution image

RAW

ISO 100. Score: 24 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 200. Score: 24 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 400. Score: 24 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 800. Score: 22 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 1600. Score: 20 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 3200. Score: 18 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 6400. Score: 14 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 12800. Score: 12 Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 25600. Score: 12 Click here to see the full resolution image

Noise and dynamic range

We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using DXO Analyzer software to generate the data to produce the graphs below.
A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image.
For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests.
These charts compare the results of the Samsung NX30 with the Sony NEX-6, Panasonic G6 and Olympus OM-D E-M10.

JPEG signal to noise ratio

Here we can see that the Samsung's signal to noise ratio performance is very good, being at the top of the pile for almost every sensitivity, in the lower end of the scale (ISO 100-800). At ISO 1600, it slightly dips below the Sony NEX-6, but jumps back to the top again for ISO 3200. For very high sensitivities (ISO 6400 - 12800) it is beaten by the other cameras on test.

Raw signal to noise ratio

It's a slightly different story for the raw files (after conversion to TIFF), which appear to put in a much poorer performance. Here it is very closely matched with the Panasonic G6. It's likely that these results reflect how much detail is kept in raw format files allowing you to apply your own noise reduction, rather than letting the camera do it for you.

JPEG dynamic range

For dynamic range, the JPEG files from the NX30 put in a consistent performance, being closely matched with the Panasonic G6 and the Sony NEX-6. It is clearly beaten here by the Olympus OM-D E-M10 though.

Raw dynamic range

Here again we can see a consistent performance, being most closely tied, but beating, the Panasonic G6. The Sony NEX-6 and the Olympus OM-D put in a much stronger performance here. The fairly flat shape of the graph reflects the warm saturated tones of the NX30, which is pleasing to the eye though.

Sample images

Click here to see full-resolution image.
You can achieve pleasing shallow depth of field images, even while using the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
Colours straight from the NX30 are pleasingly vibrant.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
At high sensitivities, the NX30 does a good job of maintaining lots of detail, while keeping noise levels to a minimum. If you zoom into 100% there is some evidence of image smoothing, but it's certainly not something that should bother the average printing or web size image.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
Automatic white balance does a great job of producing accurate colours, even in mixed lighting conditions.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
Whites are vibrant and crisp, straight from the camera.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
There are a number of prime lenses available for the NX system. This was taken with the 20mm f/2.8 lens, which is small and makes for a great walkaround lens, offering an equivalent of 30mm in 35mm terms.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
On occasions, the NX30 has the tendency to underexpose, so you'll need to dial in some extra compensation to get a well balanced exposure.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
The NX30's 20 million pixel sensor is great at resolving plenty of detail.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
Shooting from awkward angles is no problem with the NX30, as both the screen articulates and the EVF tilts to help you get the shot you want.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
There is a 60mm f/2.8 macro lens available for the NX range, which is useful for capturing lots of detail.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
Another example of how well colours are represented by the NX30.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
The NX30 is well suited to a wide variety of different shooting subjects, including portraits. This was shot with the 60mm f/2.8 macro, which offers a nice focal length (92mm equivalent) for classic portrait work.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
The camera's ability to quickly focus on the subject makes it ideally suited to lots of different scenarios.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
Another example where positive exposure compensation needed to be dialled in to get the best from this shot.
Samsung NX 30

Click here to see full-resolution image.
Colours directly from the camera are vivid, while the camera's metering system hasn't coped too badly with the very bright light in the corner of this scene.

Sensitivity and noise images

JPEG

ISO 100. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 200. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 400. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 800. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 1600. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 3200. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 6400. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 12800. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 25600. Click here to see the full resolution image

RAW

ISO 100. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 200. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 400. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 800. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 1600. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 3200. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 6400. Click here to see the full resolution image
Samsung NX30 Review

ISO 12800. Click here to see the full resolution image

Verdict

Samsung has struggled to capture the attention of the interchangeable lens camera-buying public in the past few years, despite the fact that many of its cameras produce excellent images. However, the NX30 could possibly the camera to change that.
I was expecting images to be good, as that sensor is now extremely proven, but I have been less impressed with the handling of other Samsung cameras. This time however, I really enjoyed using the NX30, and I found it to be highly intuitive, with the sturdy, textured grip and weighty build giving it a more professional feel than others in its range.
It's great to have a fully articulating touchscreen, and the bright display is wonderful for displaying images crisply. One small criticism here is that I found that my nose was accidentally setting the autofocus point on occasion, but after a while I learned to approach the camera in a different way so as to avoid this problem.
There's a lot of debate about electronic viewfinders, but the 2.36 million dot device here is one of the best currently available on the market, and I didn't notice any significant lag. As we have mentioned in other reviews, there are several advantages to using an EVF over an optical device, such as the ability to see the image you've just taken without having to take the camera away from your eye – that's something which really speeds up the shooting process, and is especially useful when you don't want to waste time. The fact that the viewfinder also tilts upwards is extremely handy when shooting from an awkward angle.
Going back to image quality, as mentioned I have been extremely impressed by what the camera is capable of. The kit lens is a decent all-round performer, but it's nice to see that Samsung is producing some excellent additional optics now. Although it's still true that its lens range is more limited than its Micro Four Thirds and Sony cohorts, many of the most common, or commonly requested focal lengths, are available, so there should be something to cater for most needs. During this test I used the 16mm f/2.4 lens, 60mm f/2.8 macro lens and 85mm f/1.4 lens. I am keen to get my hands on the new 16-50mm f/2.0-f/2.8 optic, which I think will probably make the ideal companion to the NX30 for enthusiast users looking for something versatile and high quality.

We liked

Happily, there are lots of things to like about this camera. Handling feels very intuitive and the textured, chunky grip make it a real pleasure to hold. Having a touchscreen and EVF which are both great make it a joy to compose and play back images. Inbuilt Wi-Fi is a nice touch, which although becoming an almost-standard feature nowadays is particularly well implemented in Samsung cameras, including the NX30.

We disliked

It can be a little bit too easy to accidentally set the autofocus point using the touchscreen when you don't want to. After a while you get used to it, but it seems that the EVF sensor could do with being a tiny bit quicker so as to avoid this problem altogether. I'd also like to see some more customisation options available for the buttons on the back of the camera.

Final verdict

It seems like Samsung has finally made a camera which enthusiasts can aspire to own. It's a great camera to use, and crucially, images are fantastic. The NX system is starting to become a more complete package, with a decent, if limited, range of optics currently available. The addition of new premium lenses suggests that Samsung is now actively chasing the higher end of the market, which should make things interesting for every other manufacturer – it will be intriguing to see what kind of impact it has.

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Tuesday, March 18, 2014

IT News Head Lines (Techradar) 19/03/2014

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