Gamescom 2014: PlayStation TV to land in Australia on November 14
Sony has confirmed the PlayStation TV mini console will arrive Down Under in November this year, precisely a month after it goes on sale in North America on October 14.
At its Gamescom media event Sony, announced the box will hit Aussie shores on November 14, priced at $149.95, which includes three game downloads.
Sony also confirmed that the PlayStation Now cloud gaming service, currently offering over 1,000 archive titles to gamers in the United States, will hit Europe in 2015, but there was no mention of Australua, unfortunately.
The Japanese company did say, however, that the PlayStation Now beta will launch in the UK before hitting other countries in the PAL territory.
Remote Play
Until the launch of PlayStation Now, the key PlayStation TV functionality may be the ability for gamers to play Sony PS4 games on another TV in the house.However, the device will also provide access to Sony's entertainment portals, allowing users to listen to music and view movies and TV shows. Like other streaming boxes, it'll also include access to third party apps.
The mini console boasts a Remote Play feature not too dissimilar to the one within the PS Vita handheld console.
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An Apple a day: Oculus Rift gets Max OS X support with latest dev kit update
Oculus released the second generation of its development hardware in July, and with the DK2 Rift headset came a new software development kit as well.
Now that SDK is being upgraded from version 0.4.0 to SDK 0.4.1, and with the extra integer comes Oculus Rift support for Apple's Mac OS X operating system.
This also adds versions of the Oculus Runtime and Unity Tuscany demos for Mac.
No word on when Oculus Rift Linux support will arrive just yet, but this is something.
Progress
The Oculus SDK 0.4.1 update also fixes a few hiccups, including making the new Rift headset more compatible with AMD CPUs and older versions of the SDK.There's also a new Unreal Engine 4 integration patch for the 0.4 versions of the SDK.
Oculus continues its work despite its acquisition by Facebook, though there's still no time frame for an official consumer release.
Developers too are hard at work making their own virtual reality games, but despite their progress they may still have a lot to learn.
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Samsung's VR headset appears in the flesh, look for it next to the Note 4
We've seen it leak countless times, but we've never actually seen what Samsung's VR headset looks like in the flesh.
That seemingly changes today as an image of the set-up was acquired by The Verge.
Codenamed "Project Moonlight," the publication reported Samsung plans to unveil the headset during its September 3 pre-IFA event. It's there Samsung is also expected to announce the Galaxy Note 4.
The headset, which may be dubbed Gear VR at the time of release, looks to employ a smartphone as its display, much like Google's Cardboard. Its lenses are capable of turning the flat on-screen imagery into a 3D wonderland, it would seem.
Calling Oculus
Oculus had been reported as involved in Samsung's VR project, but how much the Rift-maker partook in developing the headset shown here or what its involvement in the final product is like isn't known.The phone shown alongside the goggles in this leak looks to be a Galaxy S5, however if Samsung announces Project Moonlight and the Note 4 at the same event, you can bet there will be some synergy between the two.
Besides the panel that presumably holds the phone onto the headset, Samsung's VR gear looks to have a focus dial and possibly a micro USB connection to tether to the handset.
TechRadar will be on hand at Samsung's events September 3 in New York and Berlin, so stay tuned.
- There's plenty to look forward to at IFA 2014!
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PAX Prime 2014: PAX Prime 2014: what to expect from the show
With the hype of E3 behind us, we can now concentrate on the Comic-Con of video games: PAX Prime 2014.
We already had a blast at PAX East and now we're gearing up for the four-day gaming convention in Seattle. It was once a smaller show but it seems to grow in popularity every year; in fact, tickets for PAX Prime sold out in a matter of two hours.
Last year saw the buzz of the next-gen consoles everywhere but what will this year hold? Perhaps it's time for the PC-console Steam Machines to show up and really woo the crowd by letting us play on 'em some more. Alienware's Alpha play-time wasn't enough during E3.
PAX Prime is also all about the awesome panels, and you can be sure there will be a ton to look forward to this year. Will the controversy surrounding Assassin's Creed Unity and its lack of female representation show up? Will we get to hear more about all those next-gen games that have been delayed? What sort of indie games will pop up and wow us this year?
Keep up with us as we update this page with everything we know and everything we want to see at PAX Prime 2014.
1. PAX Panels
Leading the annual story time session this year is Mikey Neumann, Chief Creative Champion of Gearbox Software. Last year we heard from Peter Molyneux about his experience creating Godus after leaving an indie studio and a large studio to once again head another indie studio.We'll hear about a similar tale, or origin story, from Neumann who along with being a writer, podcaster and all around jack-of-all trades, worked on Borderlands 2 and its DLC's.
Another notable panel includes "Women Surviving and Thriving in Games Media" where games journalists like Polygon Editor Megan Farokhmanesh, Nerdist host Jessica Chobot and others will detail their struggles and successes in the industry.
There seems to be a good mix of panels on bullying, gaming with a disability, gaming music and even one from Destructoid called "Video Games Are Stupid: The Inherent Silliness of the Medium."
2. Steam Machines
The last we heard from Alienware at E3 was to expect more during PAX. So here we are, with the gaming event almost upon us, ready and excited to see more Alpha.
We went to a pre-Gamescom event where the company showed off the Alienware exclusive UI, but didn't get to play with it just yet.
It wasn't entirely finished during our hands on either but it managed to remain an interesting box to look out for when it releases later this year.
Here's hoping we see a more finished version of the Alpha, and perhaps more Steam Machines to see how they're stacking up against Alienware, and even the Nvidia Shield Tablet - which can also stream Steam.
3. PC gaming
PAX is all about PC gaming, so along with PC specific panels, you can definitely expect a bunch of PC peripherals to come out of the show.Last year, SteelSeries was on the floor with the SteelSeries H Wireless headsets made for the PS4. We're expecting to see a bunch more headsets with console compatibility this year too.
During PAX East, we went hands on with the MSI Ghost Pro laptop and were pretty impressed with this thin, beautiful beast of a machine.
Since that was pretty recent, we may not see anything from MSI but it's possible another powerful gaming laptop will rear its head and make us drool for 3K and 4K gaming.
4. Virtual reality
You wouldn't think VR and PCs would go together so well, but what else has the juice to make these fancy virtual reality headsets work? Not the consoles (yet).So that means we'll definitely be seeing the Oculus Rift again, in full SDK 2 glory showing off the same games from E3 - and maybe a few new ones?
There's a chance Sony's Project Morpheus will pop up too, and you can bet on seeing various other VR wonders all over the show floor hoping to make it big in the growing industry.
5. Indie games galore
Of course, we can't forget about the lifeblood of PAX - the indie game. There will be plenty of indie games all over the convention center.
In fact, you can even check out the PAX 10 already to see what ten games have been chosen as the best of 2014.
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Opinion: OnePlus women-only photo contest shows we still have a long way to go
I'm a woman, and I like technology.
Sadly, I'm all too used to moments of ignorance and sexism as displayed by a now seemingly pulled OnePlus contest.
If you haven't already heard, OnePlus launched a contest to commemorate reaching 200,000 message board members in which only women – or "ladies" as we're referred to like a Tuesday night cover charge special – were asked to submit a photo of themselves with the OnePlus logo drawn on a piece of paper or themselves.
The 50 photos that garnered the most "likes" would earn the entrants a T-shirt. If there were at least 500 entries, OnePlus would extend an invitation to buy a One smartphone to its "favorite photo."
Reaction on Twitter was decidedly negative.
"This is disgusting," one person wrote.
"You folks are gross," another chimed in. "Any interest in buying your phone just melted away."
It goes on like this, and it's worth noting many of the Twitter users expressing disgust over the contest and saying they're taking their business elsewhere are male. One "lady" wrote, "Here's my photo. Not sure I'm following the rules, but I think it conveys my message." Her entry is below:
Sarah Ditum wrote a great op-ed on the consequences of excluding women in tech, and one of my favorite lines from her April piece is this: "The problem is, the industry appears to carry on under the impression that it's a perfect microcosm of the rest of the world, and then gets surprised every time it's reminded otherwise."
It appears that's what we're living out right now; some folks at OnePlus seemed to think this was completely OK to do and saw nothing wrong with it … until the internet (a.k.a. the world) reminded them otherwise.
Such is the beauty of direct engagement and social media – people can instantly call you out when you do wrong.
It's important to point out this contest also excluded men, which isn't a good thing either.
OnePlus hasn't issued a response (I've asked them for one), nor a tweet responding to the backlash. Links to the contest appear dead, though the damage seems apparent.
Will a promising company and well-reviewed phone be undone by a moment of sheer stupidity? As some tweets attest to, business is already walking out the door.
We're here, and we're only getting stronger
We're reminded continually that the tech world suffers from a dearth of diversity and female employees. Apple is only the latest company to release a diversity report that shows it's really not diverse at all. Just 30% of its workforce is female and 55% of its employees are white. Women are most highly employed in non-tech jobs.I can't speak definitely to the workforce make-up of OnePlus. A photo on the OnePlus website's About Us section shows a group that includes women, but I've contacted the company to ask them how many women they employ, what their roles are and to confirm if the contest has been pulled.
As I said, OnePlus has remained silent on the situation.
I'm nothing new or a fluke; I know a number of women, many of whom work at Future, TechRadar's publishing company, who breathe their iPhones, can build their own PCs and can't wait for Mass Effect 4 to come out.
And yet women who like tech are treated like we don't exist or, almost worst, like we would be willing to participate in a photo contest where people vote on our image so we can buy a device. It's degrading, disgusting and infuriating.
The world of technology and gaming and everything that's packaged along with it has always been about inclusion. It welcomes, or at least believes it welcomes, outsiders - people who don't feel they fit in, people with different ideas than mainstream society and people who want to do and experience the extraordinary not prescribed by the rest of the world.
Yet, as has been written about ad nauseam and company diversity reports continue to show, women are sorely missing from tech.
So what's the solution? Encourage girls and women to pursue their interests in technology. Educate them and hire them. Open up seats in positions of power where, if something like this comes across their desk, they can say, "No." I'd personally say, "Oh hell no!" but we all of our different management styles.
There are programs like Girls Who Code, TechWomen, Women Techmakers and WeTech that seek to support girls and women in technology careers. More and more conference panels are focusing on women in tech and gaming. Women like Meg Whitman, Ginni Rometty, Marissa Mayer and Sheryl Sandberg are breaking through the boys club of executive positions at tech companies.
This is all fantastic, but we're kidding ourselves if we think this is enough, especially when incidents like today's happen.
Quick anecdote: I approached Sandberg at Facebook's developers conference earlier this year to ask for a photo and talk women in tech with her. She was taking pictures with any attendee who asked, but when I did she said, "Of course! Especially for another woman." She is acutely aware our numbers in this sector are far too small.
My ideas have been said in one form or another elsewhere before. I know I'm not adding anything revolutionary to the conversation, but I am adding my voice. I'm speaking out that we need more women and tech and that we must do away with the tone deaf sexism that rears its ugly head all too often.
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Siri's inventors plan to one-up Apple with a smarter, self-learning AI
When Siri was first introduced with the iPhone 4S in 2011, the voice-controlled computer of the future was finally at hand - until you asked it to arrange a reservation of any kind.
Now Viv Labs, which was co-founded by three Siri engineers, claims it is working on a radical new AI that outpaces Cortana, Siri or any other virtual assistant out today.
Viv Labs explained in an interview with Wired that its AI - also named Viv - isn't simply limited to completing tasks that its been programmed to. Rather this new electronic assistant will learn to complete almost any task by accessing more parts of the web.
"I'm extremely proud of Siri and the impact it's had on the world, but in many ways it could have been more," Viv Labs co-founder Adam Cheyer said. "I want to do something that could fundamentally change the way software is built."
A global brain
Currently Siri is only able to access apps built into iOS 7 and other services Apple has made direct partnerships with such as pulling games scores through ESPN. Even with Siri getting some cross app upgrades in iOS 8, it won't be able to access a website such as Expedia to book a flight or set up a restaurant reservation on OpenTable.Viv Labs claims its AI will be able to thanks to its improved ability to interpret voice commands.
"Give me a flight to Dallas with a seat that Shaq could fit in," Dag Kittlaus, one of Viv Lab's co-founders, asked as an example. Whereas Siri would not be able to interpret the request, Kittlaus claims Viv would be able to connect the dots by looking into Kayak, SeatGuru and the NBA media guide to identify flights with more legroom.
Viv Labs claims its AI has unique access to "a global brain" that helps power a million different apps and devices. The global brain will also theoretically be an open system to incorporate even more businesses and applications into its network.
Coming to a reality near you?
Viv Lab's founders say they imagine their AI will be used with a phone, though they did not suggest any platforms or how close they are to completion.A lot of promises behind this novel AI reek of outlandish futurism shrouded by Apple-informed secrecy, but if Viv works as promised, it could be more robust than anything we've previously seen.
- How powerful will Siri be on the iPhone 6?
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Sony dishes on PS4 Share Play, YouTube support coming this fall
Life is better with friends, and that sense of togetherness will extend to your favorite Sony gaming console later this fall with the introduction of Share Play, one of several new features coming with the next big update.
PlayStation Blog today teased a few of the new features coming to PlayStation 4 with System Update 2.00, including the ability for friends across town to help get you through more complicated parts of a game with Share Play.
Scheduled for release sometime this fall, the first major PS4 update adds this new online co-op experience described as a "virtual couch," allowing friends to join in your game, even if they don't own that particular title.
Sony likens the feature to "handing over the controller to a friend on your couch," except in this case, the screen is shared over an internet connection, allowing PS4 owners to join in from anywhere in the world.
Plenty to share
Share Play wasn't the only new System Update 2.00 feature touted by Sony during Tuesday's PlayStation press conference at Gamescom 2014, which will also include dedicated app support for YouTube, an option promised at E3 back in June.In addition to a standalone YouTube app, the PS4 will also be able to upload game footage to Google's wildly popular video sharing service, making it easier than ever to strut your stuff in front of a global audience.
Last but certainly not least, What's New will be adding friend-of-friend suggestions, real name search and instant access to friends' broadcasts or recently played games for "enhanced real-time activity."
Sony isn't saying exactly when PS4 owners should start priming the System Update pump on their consoles, but the gaming giant did tease additional 2.00 features will be announced "in the coming months."
- Check out what the competition is up to in our Xbox One review!
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Twitter confirms 23 million active accounts are actually bots
Twitter seems to get a little worse everyday between ads and a mute function to shut itself up. Now it turns out a significant chunk of its users could be bots masquerading as living individuals.
Twitter filed a document to the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) revealing 8.5% of its 271 monthly active accounts were using third-party apps to automatically post updates. If the numbers are real this would mean roughly 23 million users are actually bots that operate without needing a real user to man the account.
The new findings only account for three months of activity ending on June 30, but no matter what, this makes Twitter look bad.
The social media company went on to explain that the percentage of bots includes automated services that post immediately after a news story is posted. However, Twitter has always been notorious for being flooded with spam bots and fake accounts created for users who pay their way to high follower counts.
Bot net
The new numbers come in stark contrast against the 500 million total user count Twitter reported it was approaching last January. The company also chirped some of its best revenue growth yet on July 30.This isn't the first time Twitter has been caught fluffing its reach. Prior to this official report a French consumer insight firm revealed only 34%, or 170 million Twitter users, were actively accessing their accounts.
- Are Facebook and Twitter one and the same?
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Samsung Galaxy Alpha benchmarks trump Galaxy S5, HTC One (M8)
Samsung may be mere hours from unveiling its latest Android smartphone, and judging from newly leaked benchmarks, this one might just be able to run circles around the hottest handsets around when it comes to sheer processing muscle.
GSM Arena (via Russian website Hi-Tech@Mail.ru) today reported the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Alpha will be able to hold its own in a battle of processor wits against the Korean manufacturer's own flagship device or even the HTC One (M8).
A leaked image revealed the device running an AnTuTu benchmark score of 38248, which handily trumps not only HTC's latest and greatest, but also a trio of Samsung's most coveted hardware, including the Galaxy S5.
Judged purely from outward appearance, the Galaxy Alpha looks remarkably like the aforementioned Galaxy S5, right down to the metal frame, glass display and yes, plastic rear shell - but it's apparently what's inside that counts.
Octa-powered
Although earlier rumors have pegged the Galaxy Alpha as running an Exynos 5433 processor, the latest round of leaks suggest a more powerful octa-core 1.8GHz Exynos 5 Octa chipset is on board, complete with 2GB RAM and hexa-core Mali-T628 GPU.The Galaxy Alpha could also be the first Samsung handset to support a nano-SIM card, based on a trio of leaked images that appear to be a close-up look at just such an ejectable metal slot.
Everything else appears to line up against previously tipped specs, including the 4.7-inch 720p HD display running Android 4.4 KitKat, 1,850mAh battery, 4G LTE connectivity and the usual dual cameras (12MP on back, 2.1MP around front).
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Alpha tomorrow, August 13, and a report from TechTastic in the Netherlands has pegged the price somewhere between €500 and €550 (about US $668-735, UK£397-437, AU$721-793) when it hits the streets in late September.
- Me too? Check out our review of the Xiaomi Mi 3 smartphone!
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Round up: Top 5 best YouTube converters
YouTube is a great resource for viewing videos, but at some point or other you might want to download them to a computer or mobile device There's numerous reasons for doing so - from viewing offline to burning to a DVD for watching at a later date (or archiving), converting into an audio podcast for listening to while traveling or burning to a CD for entertainment while driving.
The process of doing any of those things sounds simple enough: find a video on YouTube (or a similar website like DailyMotion), download it, and upload it to your device. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen quite so smoothly, as videos and their accompanying audio soundtracks come in a variety of formats that determine aspects like video quality, resolution and whether they can be played back on certain devices.
You may have come across the issue before where you've downloaded a video, uploaded it to your PC, smartphone or tablet, opened the file and clicked play, only to stare at a blank screen, a dark picture with sound, or nothing at all. So what's the answer? Hunting down a YouTube conversion tool would be a good start, and luckily there's a few of them kicking about that won't set you back a penny - such is the magic of freeware.
We've listed some of the best free YouTube convertors here, and while they're all free, some of them come with some undesirable third-party apps that aren't essential for them to work, and you'll need to uncheck them to opt out.
Have we missed a program off our list? Let us know in the comments section below.
1. aTube Catcher
aTube Catcher is an appropriately named YouTube conversion tool as it'll catch any number of video downloads you throw its way before converting them to a number of different formats. It supports AVI, FLV, MOV, WMV, MPG and MP4, in addition to less common formats such as PSP, which is used for Sony's handheld games console.
The installation process is speedy, and once up and running you'll be presented with a colourful Windows 8-like grid that clearly presents the available options. From there you can dive straight into its video conversion utility for converting to another file format, or you can convert videos to MP3s for audio playback on devices.
Grid aside, it's not the best-looking program out there, but it's plenty functional and allows you to easily pick the format you want to convert your video to through a simple dropdown menu. Once you've chosen a format, drag in the files you want to convert and right-click Start to set them going. You can prioritize certain clips to have them converted first, or leaving the program will see it work on the queued files from top to bottom.
2. Free YouTube to MP3 converter
Free YouTube to MP3 converter is a freeware program that converts videos from YouTube to other popular video formats - including WMV and AVI - in addition to audio ones formats such as MP3. The program lets you queue up multiple files for conversion and features a clean interface that clearly displays what files are waiting to be converted.
It's a particularly useful tool for musicians who may want to download guitar backing tracks to jam along to, or similarly you could grab kareoke backing track to burn to a CD in time for that weekend party.
3. Freemake Video Converter
Freemake Video Converter features an attractive design and supports more file formats than you can shake a stick at. You can convert to more than 200 available formats after downloading a video - including AVI, MP4, WKV, WMV, DV, RM, QT, TS and MTS - and you can choose to rip and convert audio to MP3 too.
Freemake claims that a few of its features are unique - including integrated CUDA and DXVA technology that apparently converts videos faster while using less CPU resources. It's certainly one of the fastest on our list, but how quick it carries out conversions will ultimately depend on the power of your PC.
4. YouTube Downloader
YouTube Downloader can download and convert videos from some of the most popular video websites - from Facebook to DailyMotion and College Humor - in addition to YouTube. It features the ability to convert videos into most popular video formats - from MP3 and MP4 to WNV, FLV, MOV, 3GP and AVI.
The programme's makers claim that the latest version is faster and more stable than previous releases, and it also has the handy feature of resuming downloads automatically in the event that your internet connection goes down and comes back online.
5. Free Studio
Developed by DVDVideoSoft, Free Studio comes with a massive 25 video conversion options that can convert your files automatically once they've downloaded for viewing on different devices. It's particularly useful as it bundles multiple convertors into a single program, saving you from having to search around for several solutions when converting to different formats.
It's a flexible option that allows you to work with HD video file types in addition to high quality MP4 video. It also comes with an advanced screen capture utility that allows you to record a section of the screen, flip it and rotate it before saving the edited output to disk with the option of burning onto an other device.
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Twitter may follow Facebook's lead and spam feeds with video ads
Twitter might be the next social network to incorporate video advertisements into users news feeds, with the firm revealing it has spent much of 2014 testing the new money-spinning feature.
In a blog post on Tuesday, Twitter explained how it has been building videos into its media-friendly 'Cards' interface to allow one-tap playback.
The company said it is now ready for a beta test of Promoted Videos, which could spell another influx of tweets from brands and company's users have little interest in following.
"By using Promoted Video," the firm wrote on its advertising blog, "it's easy for brands to upload and distribute video on Twitter, and to measure the reach and effectiveness of this content."
Commercial interruption
The announcement from Twitter comes following Facebook's deployment of video ads within it's own portals and photo ads on its Instagram photo-sharing app.Twitter has already come under fire this month, after news emerged that the company was experimenting with integrating tweets in from accounts followed by users' friends.
That's on top of its promoted and sponsored tweets. With video also added into the mix, will there by much timeline real estate left for, you know, folks Twitter users actually follow?
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Possible Nexus 6 benchmark stacks Google flagship up to its rivals
The long-awaited Nexus 6 may have just appeared, albeit in truncated form, on a benchmark site for all to see.
The Motorola "Shamu," which sources have said is the code name for the next Nexus phone, appeared on GFXBench in the results for a single test.
The site's Manhattan test placed the Shamu about on par with the Samsung Galaxy S5, the Sony Xperia Z2, the OnePlus One, and the HTC One (M8) in terms of GPU power.
Based on its performance relative to these devices TechTastic reckons the Nexus 6 will sport a 1080p display and a Snapdragon 801 chipset, unsurprising specs for a high-end handset and probably a safe bet.
A whale of a phone
When word of the Motorola Shamu leaked in late July sources said it has a massive 5.9-inch screen, pushing it past the phablet category and closer to being a true whale.These sources also claimed the Shamu has a fingerprint scanner, much like the Nexus 6 is rumored to have.
They added that the code-named Nexus 6 will arrive in November, and Google already confirmed that a new Nexus device is indeed on its way this year.
If these rumors pan out the Nexus 6 will surely help usher in the age of Android L.
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Gamescom 2014: PlayStation TV hits Europe November 14, PlayStation Now launch set for 2015
Sony has confirmed the PlayStation TV mini console will arrive in Europe in November this year, precisely a month after it goes on sale in North America on October 14.
At its Gamescom media event Sony announced the box will hit the EU on November 14, priced at €99/$99 (around £78, AU$106), which includes three game downloads.
The UK price is yet to be confirmed, but expect it to fall somewhere around the £100 mark.
Also among the European-focused announcements, Sony confirmed the PlayStation Now cloud gaming service, currently offering over 1,000 archive titles to gamers in the United States, will hit Europe in 2015.
Gamers in the UK will have the first opportunity to take PlayStation Now for a spin, with the beta launching in the UK before hitting other countries in the PAL territory.
Remote Play
Until the launch of PlayStation Now, the key PlayStation TV functionality may be the ability for gamers to play Sony PS4 games on another TV in the house.However, the device will also provide access to Sony's entertainment portals, allowing users to listen to music and view movies and TV shows.
Like other streaming boxes, it'll also include access to third party apps like Netflix
The mini console boasts a Remote Play feature not too dissimilar to the one within the PS Vita handheld console.
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Businesses are incredibly lax about restricting ex-employee access: survey
Eighty-nine percent of employees retain access to corporate apps after they leave their respective companies, according to the 2014 Intermedia SMB Rogue Access Study. Just fewer than half of former employees (45%) retained access to "confidential" or "highly confidential" data, and 49% logged into ex-employer accounts.
In an era when bring your own device and work-from-home policies enable employees to work from anywhere on their machine of choice, the lines between work devices & information, and personal devices & information is blurring. In fact, 68% of survey respondents admitted to storing work files in personal cloud storage services.
Organizations are not doing a good enough job keeping up with employees as they leave their respective companies. Six out of 10 respondents were not asked for cloud logins when they left jobs and 88% retained access to the file sharing services they used at previous jobs.
Inside jobs
The data revealed in the survey presents a serious issue for organizations. Security breaches are on the rise and the cost of data exposure is increasing. By not restricting access to apps and information after employees leave companies, employers are opening themselves up to an additional avenue for data theft.The survey was conducted by Osterman Research for Intermedia during May and June of this year. The majority of the survey's 379 respondents hailed from the US and worked at companies of fewer than 1000 employees.
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Gamescom 2014: Sony announced 10 million PlayStation 4 consoles have been sold globally
During the Gamescom 2014 PlayStation keynote, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president and CEO Jim Ryan revealed that 10 million PlayStation 4 consoles have been sold worldwide.
Microsoft recently announced that its Xbox One sales have doubled but it appears Sony has one upped its competition.
However, Rise of the Tomb Raider will be an Xbox One exclusive, which is mighty jab at the console king.
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Updated: Samsung Galaxy S6 release date, news and rumors
Galaxy S6: release date, rumors and news
We're still waiting on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, but that doesn't mean we can't look beyond them to the Samsung Galaxy S6. Samsung itself will surely already be hard at work on the phone and the first leaks and rumors are starting to emerge.Not much is known so far, but there are a few whispers floating around and other things which we can take a good guess at from a mix of past history, common sense and the state of the market. With more information likely to flood in soon, particularly once IFA is out of the way, stay glued to this page for all the updates.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The next flagship smartphone from Samsung
When's it out? Early 2015, probably March
What will it cost? A lot, at least as much as the pricey Galaxy S5
What is it? The next flagship smartphone from Samsung
When's it out? Early 2015, probably March
What will it cost? A lot, at least as much as the pricey Galaxy S5
Samsung Galaxy S6 release date and price
There's no official word on when the Samsung Galaxy S6 might launch, but Samsung has a yearly product cycle which it rarely deviates far from. In fact from the Samsung Galaxy S2 onwards the company has always announced its phones at or close to MWC, so it's not a stretch to assume that the same will hold true for the Galaxy S6.Next year's MWC is set to take place between March 2 and March 5, so it's likely that we'll see the Samsung Galaxy S6 sometime around then. Possibly not at the show itself but perhaps at a press conference a day or two before it starts, much like Samsung is expected to do for the Galaxy Note 4 launch before IFA 2014.
There's no real information on what the Samsung Galaxy S6 might cost either, but this is a flagship phone we're talking about, so it's not likely to be any cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S5, which at launch sold for £579 (around $972 / AU$1048) SIM free.
Given that the specs will presumably be better and that it may even have a premium build for once it's possible that it could be even more expensive, but we'd be surprised if Samsung went much higher than £600 / $1000 / AU$1100.
Samsung Galaxy S6 screen
There's no sign that Samsung is ditching Super AMOLED in its screens, so we expect that to make a return in the Galaxy S6.The resolution will likely get a boost though, as Samsung has already released a 2560 x 1440 Galaxy S5 LTE-A in South Korea and with the LG G3 bringing such resolutions to the mainstream (and the Galaxy Note 4 expected to do the same) we'd expect the Galaxy S6 to have at least that.
In fact Samsung has previously said that it hopes to have smartphones with 4K 3840 x 2160 displays on the market by 2015. It's possible then that the S6 will leapfrog 2K and go straight to 4K, but with an early 2015 launch expected we'd be surprised. More likely Samsung will save that for the Galaxy Note 5.
Either way, the Samsung Galaxy S6 is likely to have a slightly bigger screen than the Galaxy S5. The company has slowly been increasing the size of the screens on its flagships and we'd expect the Galaxy S6 to push things up by another 0.1 or 0.2 inches to 5.2 or 5.3 inches.
If Samsung can shrink the bezel then it could probably even achieve that without increasing the phone's footprint.
There's also an outside chance that the Galaxy S6 might have a flexible display. Samsung has been looking at this sort of technology for a while and there are numerous rumors that the Note 4 might have one so why not the Galaxy S6 too?
But we doubt Samsung would equip its flagship with such an untested technology, so if there's no mainstream flexi-phone launched beforehand, don't expect it here.
Samsung Galaxy S6 power
With Android L arriving shortly and bringing 64-bit support with it we fully expect the Galaxy S6 to have a 64-bit processor.As for which processor specifically that's still rather up in the air, but traditionally it's been equipped with a Snapdragon chip of some variety and both the Snapdragon 808 and Snapdragon 810 are expected to start appearing in devices during the first half of 2015, so one of them seems likely.
The Snapdragon 808 is a six-core 64-bit processor with support for 2K screens, while the Snapdragon 810 is an octa-core 64-bit chip which can power screens of up to 4K resolution and includes an Adreno 430 GPU, which is said to be 30% faster than the Adreno 420, so either way it should be in for a boost.
There's no word on how much RAM it will have, but a 64-bit processor works well when imbued with north of 4GB, so the sky really is the limit. Having said that the Galaxy S5 only has 2GB of RAM, so we'd be surprised if the S6 had more than 4GB - or 4GB at all.
Samsung Galaxy S6 chassis
While we don't know what the Galaxy S6 will look like there's every chance that Samsung will mould it on the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, which is expected to have a metal frame and otherwise look a lot like the Galaxy S5, albeit with a slimmer, 6mm thick build.
A metal frame would finally make Samsung's flagship look almost as premium as it is and if the company packs one into the Galaxy Alpha it's hard to imagine that it wouldn't roll something similar or at least similarly high end out for its flagship.
Samsung Galaxy S6 operating system
While Samsung is cooking up its own Tizen operating system, the Galaxy S6 will almost certainly stick with Android, and probably Android L since that's likely to arrive several months before the S6. It will also almost certainly run Samsung's TouchWiz UI on top, albeit streamlined once more to make sure it doesn't annoy consumers who are becoming aware of the simplicity of raw Android.Samsung Galaxy S6 camera
One of very few rumours that specifically refers to the Galaxy S6 notes that it may have a 20MP camera, up from 16MP in the Galaxy S5. Samsung's always about more and bigger so this seems believable.
According to ETNews the Galaxy Note 4 was originally going to have a 20MP sensor but Samsung dropped it to 12MP to keep it thin while still including OIS, however the company will instead use the 20MP sensor on the Galaxy S6 apparently.
What it doesn't say is whether the S6 therefore won't include OIS or won't be all that slim, since reading between the lines one or the other is likely to be the case.
Samsung Galaxy S6 other features
There are a few things that we can be pretty confident that the Galaxy S6 will include. Samsung has been putting its fingerprint scanner on a number of phones and tablets so we're sure the S6 will get it too. Likewise it may well retain the heart rate monitor from the Galaxy S5.We fully expect a microSD card slot too, since the Galaxy S range has always included one and we'd be very surprised if it wasn't water and dust resistant, since the Galaxy S5 is and removing a useful feature like that seems unlikely.
Something that is unlikely but has nonetheless been rumored is a retina scanner, as Samsung has claimed to be looking at iris detection. Of course such technology may still be quite a way off yet and we're not all that convinced we'll see one in the Galaxy S6.
- Sony probably won't even wait till 2015 to launch the Xperia Z3.
Galaxy S6: what we want to see
Given we don't know a whole lot about the new Galaxy S6 at this point, here are the key things we think Samsung must chuck in there to make it a roaring success, rather than an unimpressive flop:Samsung Galaxy Alpha
Wait... what? The Samsung Galaxy Alpha? If the rumor mill is to be believed before we get any sign of the Galaxy S6 we will be treated to an updated version of the S5, which was initially going by S5 Prime, then Galaxy F, but now looks like it will be called the Samsung Galaxy Alpha.If the various leaks and sources are correct the Galaxy Alpha will arrive with a premium metal chassis or at the very least a metal frame, to bring it more in line with the build quality of the Sony Xperia Z2 and HTC One M8.
Reports suggest the Galaxy Alpha will only have a 4.7 inch screen and sport a disappointing 720p display, quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor and 3GB of RAM.
Originally the Galaxy Alpha's release date was tipped for June, but that's been and gone and a September launch is now looking more likely.
A better body
It would be fair to say that the dimpled back panel on the S5 wasn't universally well received. Everyone has been crying out for a new design in the Galaxy S series for a while now, but Samsung isn't listening.An S6 with a metal unibody and a premium feel would be a potential crowd pleaser. If a redesign is on the cards, why not take it further and go for a new form factor? A new premium profile could refresh the range and make it feel special again.
Given that the Samsung Galaxy Alpha is rumoured to have a more premium chassis it's entirely possible that the Galaxy S6 will too.
A 2K display
No one is impressed by 1080p anymore, not when 4K TVs are in the shops and we've already heard that Samsung's working on 2K and 4K displays for smartphones. We wouldn't have been surprised to see a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution on the S5, but it seems QHD displays are not ready for prime time just yet.Anything less than a 2K display in the S6 will be a bit of a disappointment given that the LG G3 has a 2K screen. Just make sure it doesn't hurt the battery while you're at it, Samsung.
Hey, we're not here to solve these issues - that's for your fancy R&D labs.
A 64-bit processor
Perhaps the lack of a 64-bit processor in the S5 was an acknowledgement that there aren't many advantages yet, or maybe it was a statement about not copying Apple.In any case, regardless of benefits perceived and real, 64 is a bigger number than 32 so it must be better, and if our friend's iPhone has one, if you don't put one in the S6 we're not buying it.
While you're there, for heaven's sake add more RAM – 2GB is not enough to satisfy the modern day demands of multi-tasking, especially if you're going for a 64-bit chip.
A flexible design
Remember that advert where the guy folds his phone out to tablet size? That would be a real slice of fried gold and we've heard Samsung has a folding prototype already. Failing that, a squidgy, bendy phone that can take all sorts of damage and return to its original shape unblemished would be nice.Squeezy controls could bring a fresh tactile element to smartphone ownership. At the very least we expect flexibility to deliver greater durability and new potential shapes, but it has got to be better than the Samsung Galaxy Round.
A bigger battery
We can hold the sum total of humanity's achievements in one hand, accessing all of our scientific knowledge, and our greatest works of art, but only for a few hours at a time. Why are mobile phone batteries still so crap?We need bigger batteries, more efficient power management, and faster wireless charging. The 2,800mAh battery in the S5 might be a slight step up from its predecessor, but it has an extra 0.1 of an inch of screen to power. You're treading water, Samsung. Free us from the daily charge.
An end to bloatware
No one wants a Samsung-branded app that does exactly the same thing as an existing Google app, only worse. We also expect a device listed as 16GB to have more than 10GB free. The days where Android was rough and ready and Touchwiz really added value are gone.
Stock Android is smooth and delicious, KitKat needs no embellishment. It's time to tone it down a little. By all means stick S Health on there as an optional extra, but please let us uninstall as many S apps we don't want and ditch the superfluous doubles (which, in fairness, it looks like it will do).
There is some good news here, as a top Samsung exec has been quoted as saying the firm is looking to ditch the Samsung Hub suite, sparking talk of the end of bloatware heavy smartphones, and that change is already happening on the Tab S range. We can but hope.
A decent pair of stereo speakers
Sadly there's just one speaker on the S5. We don't want to have to wear headphones or hook up speakers all the time. It's a mobile device. The HTC One clearly demonstrated the benefits of dual front-facing speakers. Sony heard it, because the Z2 has them too.Screens are big enough to watch movies with friends now. How about bringing that sound quality up to scratch? A good set of stereo speakers in the S6 would be welcomed by everyone.
A DAB chip
Wi-Fi isn't always available and mobile data can be costly, so streaming tunes from the cloud or internet radio can be tricky and prohibitively expensive. FM radio seems to be rapidly disappearing from mobile devices and the quality is pretty patchy anyway.Isn't it about time digital radio made it into smartphones? Access to high quality stations without the fiddling or the network connection would open up a world of music, sport, and talk. DAB chips are coming to smartphones and we'd love to see one in the Galaxy S6.
Always listening
The Moto X was a mixed bag, but it's undeniably cool to be able to talk to your phone and have it blink to life. Google continues to improve Now and add more functionality. If the Galaxy S6 was always listening, we'd get more value out of it.Voice recognition is improving fast. Given that our smartphones are starting to connect to wearables, home electronics, and cars, the ability to issue voice commands brings us a step closer to the futuristic utopia we've all been dreaming about.
A new UX
We already suggested that Touchwiz is no longer adding much value to stock Android, but that doesn't mean it couldn't. A radical rethink of the stagnant UX could wash away childish fonts and pointless features to deliver something fresh and stylish.Samsung must have bags of data on how we interact with our smartphones and a cursory glance at popular launchers reveals a world of possibilities. Be bold Samsung, offer us something new and exciting! As long as it isn't a candy-fuelled, garish, neon nightmare, we'll give it a try.
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UPDATED: Ballmer's ballin' as Big Steve wins battle to buy LA Clippers NBA team
UPDATE (Thursday August 12): Ballmer now officially owns the LA Clippers NBA franchise according to Bloomberg. The deal was initially agreed on May 30, but incumbent owner Donald Sterling took some shifting.
Original story continues below...
When Steve Ballmer stepped down as Microsoft CEO earlier this year, he seemed an unlikely candidate for a quiet retirement playing golf or collecting stamps... and so it has proved.
The brash and bombastic Ballmer has reportedly won the bidding to buy the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers franchise for a cool $2 billion (around £1.2bn, AU$2.15bn). Just to make the story a little more bizarre, he apparently beat out an Oprah Winfrey consortium in the process.
The team, whose stars include Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, came on the market after basketball authorities decreed that current owner Donald Sterling must sell up for allegedly being a massive racist.
So, what can we expect from Ballmer as the owner of a sports team? Well probably a keen interest in development and passion that can be measured in buckets of perspiration. Look out, Lakers... LA has a new sheriff!
More blips...
These blips are comin' at you from downtown...- Beats co-founder tells Apple its earbuds suck
- Google to host UK's first live ad break
- Did Google+ because Serg' is a weirdo?
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Updated: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 release date, news and rumors
Note 4 release date, screen, power and camera
As inevitably as summer follows spring the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will follow the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.The Note 3 came out last year and the Galaxy S5 has already broken cover, so it seems safe to assume that the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will arrive before too long.
So far news and rumors about the device are pretty slim on the ground. We expect they'll pick up steam once the dust has settled on the Galaxy S5, but we have heard a few things, from the possibility of a 64-bit processor, to a curved screen and more.
Cut to the chase
What is it? Samsung's fourth gen phablet
When's it out? Probably September
What will it cost? A lot, even more than the pricey Galaxy S5
What is it? Samsung's fourth gen phablet
When's it out? Probably September
What will it cost? A lot, even more than the pricey Galaxy S5
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 release date and price
We're pretty certain we'll see the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on September 3. Samsung has sent invites for an event advising people to 'Note the date', which is a bit of a give away. But even before then rumors were converging around early September.
Earlier in the yea Samsung mobile chief Lee Young Hee told Bloomberg that it would be launched in the second half of 2014, while the Korea Times claimed it had been told the Note 4 will arrive at the IFA show in Berlin. Android Geek's sources got even more specific, claiming it will arrive on September 3, as did The Korea Times.
The previous three Galaxy Note smartphones were announced in the first week of September at the IFA show in Berlin, so there's a fair chance we'll see the new one then too. In fact with no conflicting rumors we'd say that IFA will almost certainly be used as a platform to launch the Galaxy Note 4.
There's been absolutely nothing about the price yet, but this is a premium phone so expect it to be at least £550 / $800. Better start saving.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 screen
First up, screen size. The original Note rocked 5.3 inches, the Note 2 showed up with a 5.5-inch display and the Note 3 pushed things to 5.7 inches.Going by this logic the Galaxy Note 4 should come with a 5.9-inch display, which would see it match the HTC One Max and LG G Pro 2, while still falling short of the 6.4-inch Sony Xperia Z Ultra.
That may make logical sense but a mention of the phone on Indian site Zauba lists it as having a 5.7-inch display while an Antutu benchmark result also pegs it at 5.7 inches and so does a report from the Korea Times, so it might not be getting any bigger at all.
As for the resolution, a user agent profile on Samsung's own website suggests that the Galaxy Note 4 will have a 2560 x 1440 QHD screen, which would make sense as now that the LG G3 has just such a display it's likely that all sorts of phones will follow suit and the Galaxy Note 4 is likely to be one of the few handsets with a screen big enough to benefit from it.
Samsung's done well with Super AMOLED, but there's a suggestion that it might ditch the technology for the Galaxy Note 4 and use PLS LCD instead.
A report by ET News claims that Samsung is "considering" using the technology in future as it could apparently cut costs by as much as 20% by doing so. But Samsung is apparently only considering it in any case, so there's hope for Super AMOLED yet.
In fact AMOLED is looking ever more likely, as SamMobile has 'confirmed' that the phablet will have an AMOLED screen.
A more positive potential change is that the Galaxy Note 4 might have a curved screen, but not in the way we've seen on the Galaxy Round. Instead the bulk of the display would be flat but it would curve off at the edges so that there'd be no visible bezel.
This particular rumor stems from a patent filed by Samsung late last year, which shows a very Note-like device as the subject.
Surprisingly that rumor is gaining some steam, as ZDNet Korea is reporting that the Galaxy Note 4 might have a flexible display and that "industry insiders" claim it will have a three-sided screen, presumably allowing you to read notifications and the like from side on.
A new Samsung patent also shows a device with a curved, multi-sided screen and interestingly it looks as if certain apps or on-screen buttons, such as camera, email, settings and the back button will be lined up down one of the sides, giving you easy access to them without taking up valuable screen real estate on the front of the phone.
If this pans out then it will be a big change for Samsung's phablet flagship, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Recently a Samsung executive confirmed that the company is thinking about a flexible display while ZDNet reckons a three-sided Samsung screen has entered trial production and we've even seen a trademark for the 'Galaxy Note Edge' which could be referring to a device with a screen that curves around the edges, though that's pure speculation.
So in other words nothing is set in stone one way or another, but there is at least a chance that we'll get a curvy screen.
Indeed another rumor suggests the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will come in two variants, one sporting the traditional flat screen and the other packing a tasty curved display.
We've also heard reports from South Korea claiming that Samsung is working on a phone with a flexible, three-sided display for launch later this year, possibly as soon as September.
It's not stated whether it's the Galaxy Note 4, but given all the curved screen rumors surrounding it already and the fact that it's likely to launch in September it's looking increasingly likely that at least one version of Samsung's phablet will sport a curved, flexible screen.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 power
So far Apple is the only mobile phone maker that's using 64-bit chips, but Samsung is set on joining the party. Kyushik Hong, vp of marketing for Samsung's LSI business told CNET that Samsung is "very actively working" on 64-bit right now.So, while we didn't see one in the Galaxy S5 there's a chance that 64-bit chips might make their Android debut in the Galaxy Note 4.
Indeed SamMobile reports that the European version of the Note 4 will feature Samsung's new Exynos 5433 chip, while the North American, Korean, Chinese and Japanese market will get a Snapdragon 805 processor.
The Note series is usually where we see a bump up in RAM from Samsung, and with the Note 3 packing 3GB we could well see the Galaxy Note 4 rock up with a tasty 4GB under the hood.
Both the Note 3 and Galaxy S5 sport the Adreno 330 GPU, which leaves the door wide open for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 to enter the fray with a beefed up graphical processor - could this be the best gaming mobile to date?
If you believe some Antutu benchmark results the Galaxy Note 4 may well rock up in two variants, one sporting a quad-core Snapdragon 805 version an Adrendo 420 GPU, and another with an octo-core Exynos 5433 (the newest version of the SoC) processor, ARM Mali-T760 GPU combo.
Both are said to have 3GB of RAM backing them up and 32GB of internal storage stuffed inside giving you plenty power and space to play with.
Both phablets have appeared again in a set of AnTuTu benchmarks and the Exynos powered version seems far more powerful than its Snapdragon 805 powered sibling. Other information highlighted by the benchmarks include the fact that the Exynos model has a 2560 x 1440 QHD display, while the Snapdragon handset is stuck at 1080p.
The Exynos 5433 version of the Note 4 is also 64-bit, yet AnTuTu wasn't able to test it in a 64-bit environment, so it's possible that it's even more powerful than the results suggest.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 camera
The Galaxy Note 4 might be in for quite the camera upgrade, as a report from ET News claims that Samsung is developing a 20MP sensor, due for release in the second half of the year.
With the Galaxy Note 4 also due to be released later in the year it seems a prime candidate to benefit from the lens.
The Galaxy Note 3 only has a 13MP camera and even the Samsung Galaxy S5 has just a 16MP sensor, so the Note 4 could be Samsung's best camera phone yet.
Though more recent rumors from SamMobile and an Antutu benchmark point to a 16MP snapper, albeit a new Sony IMX240 one. That will apparently be coupled with either a 2MP or 3.6MP front facing camera.
More recently still we've heard claims that the Note 4 will actually have just a 12MP sensor, but that it will pack optical image stabilisation. Sources say that a 20MP snapper was originally planned, but the decision was made to drop it to 12MP in order to keep the phone thin while still including OIS.
G for Games reports that the Galaxy Note 4 will indeed have OIS, but that it will use a 16 megapixel camera, so the rumors here really are all over the place.
Note 4 OS, S Pen, chassis and what we want
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 operating system
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will almost certainly run the latest version of Android, which is likely to still be Android KitKat.Presumably it will also be overlaid with some version of Samsung's TouchWiz interface, likely to be very similar in form to the new version which adorns the Galaxy S5.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 chassis
Samsung is still banging the plastic form factor drum with its latest flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S5, arriving clad in the not-so-premium material.With this is mind we're not holding out too much hope for an all-metal body on the Galaxy Note 4, although Samsung has reportedly promised a "new form factor" for its next phablet offering.
Having said that recent reports point to there being two versions of the handset, one made of plastic and the other packing a metal chassis, so maybe it will get a premium refresh after all. We've seen a couple of images supposedly showing the phone now and the back certainly still looks to have that good old leather effect.
Though the Korea Times reckons it will just have a metal frame, much like we're expecting from the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, which could be the case even if these images are legitimate as it's hard to tell if the frame is metal or just a metal effect.
We've also caught sight of what might be the retail packaging. This comes from Phone Arena and seem to match the image above.
We'd put money on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 being dust and water proof (or at least resistant). It's a key feature of the Galaxy S5 so it's unlikely that Samsung would remove it for the Note 4.
Besides which Samsung has reportedly ordered a large batch of High performance In-Mold antennas, which are easy to waterproof. They didn't arrive in time to be used in the Galaxy S5 but Samsung must be planning on using them in something, so the Galaxy Note 4 seems likely.
For those of you who are fans of colour options a separate report reckons the Galaxy Note 4 will show up in "Electric Blue" and "Copper Gold" variants along with the blander white and black. Huzzah!
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 wireless charging
Wireless charging is starting to pick up steam but it's yet to hit the big leagues. That could all change with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 as ET News reports that Samsung is working on an improved resonance charging solution.Magnetic resonance charging is a kind where the device doesn't even need to be in contact with the charger, so it could have some extremely versatile applications.
There's no confirmation that Samsung's take on the technology will make it into the Galaxy Note 4 but according to the report it might be ready to go by the middle of the year, which would make the Galaxy Note 4 a good test bed for it.
S Pen improvements
It's the S Pen which makes the Galaxy Note series stand out from the rest of the supersized smartphone crowd and with every iteration we see Samsung upgrade its capabilities in some way.The inclusion of a stylus with a fully touchscreen smartphone is still a little hit and miss, but we're coming to accept the S Pen and the additional features it provides.
The image filed with the application shows it being used to 'call mom' by, well, writing 'call mom' on the lock screen, but it's easy to see how it could be used to open apps, send text messages and more.
Word from Holland is that Samsung is working on ultrasound S Pen technology after a patent was spotted. This tech would make the stylus more accurate, cheaper to produce and allow for advanced 3D input.
It also means the device it's being used on wouldn't require a digitizer in the screen, potentially making the Galaxy Note 4 slimmer if the new stylus was to appear.
Retina scanner
Fingerprint scanners in our smartphones are the biometric test of choice for manufacturers at the moment with Apple, HTC and Samsung all getting in on the action - but the Galaxy Note 4 may well take things to the next level.A teasing tweet from via Samsung's Exynos chipset account has hinted that the Korean firm may be getting into the eye scanning tech in the near future - and the Note 4 would be a likely candidate.
The tweet read " Security can be improved using features unique to us. That's what we envision. What would you use?" and was accompanied by a cheeky image which appears to depict retina scanner tech.
UV sensor
Samsung might be going a bit overboard with scanners and sensors if rumors of a built in UV sensor pan out. According to the Korea Times and Sammobile users will be able to control the sensor from within the S Health app and by holding their phone to the sun at a 60 degree angle they'll be able to get a reading.A 0-2 reading means there's minimal risk of skin damage, 3-5 means moderate risk, 5-7 is high risk, 8-10 is very high and 11+ equals an extreme risk.
As well as being able to monitor UV the Galaxy Note 4 will apparently also include a number of true or false statements about sun protection. These will presumably be included in the S Health app.
What we'd like to see
As rumors are pretty thin on the ground at the moment here are a few things that we'd like to see from the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.1. A premium build
Samsung has stubbornly refused to move away from plastic handsets and the faux-leather of the Galaxy Note 3 just doesn't cut it.The perforated skin of the Galaxy S5 is a little better but we want to see a truly premium design from Samsung. Something which would make even HTC and Apple look twice.
2. Less bloatware
Sometimes less is more and that's a lesson which Samsung could do with learning. A cleaner, stripped back interface with less half baked features and more focus on the important things would suit us fine.Or the option to just hide/delete any of theunnecessary apps like you can in HTC's Sense overlay - it's not much to ask.
3. A better battery
Samsung is leading the way with battery technology and the Galaxy S5 in particular looks like it should have a lot of staying power, but there's still room for improvement.It might not be realistic to expect all week battery life from the Galaxy Note 4 but we want it to at least be able to last several days of moderate use between charges.
4. A QHD display
We're seeing smartphones boasting 1440 x 2560 resolutions over in China, but on screens ranging from 4 to 5 inches the improvements aren't exactly easy to see.The big winner when it comes to Quad HD (also dubbed 2K) displays are phablets as their increased screen size makes the result appear a lot more impressive - and let's face it, we'd all much rather watch a movie on a Note rather than an iPhone.
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Sharp's MX-C301W printer is 17-inches wide, 18-inches tall
Businesses searching for a powerful printer in a small frame will be interested to hear about Sharp's latest offering. Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America has released a new 17-inch wide, 18-inch tall multifunction printer (MFP) that weighs 72.8 pounds.
The MX-C301W desktop color MFP offers traditional copy, print, scan and fax capabilities, as well as wireless connectivity and a 7-inch touchscreen panel. The compact printer is capable of producing 30 pages per minute at 600 dpi, and the scanner can process 37 pages per minute.
All of this work can be done directly from mobile devices via the Sharpdesk Mobile app, which allows users to scan and print documents directly from smartphones and tablets without a hardline connection.
Sharing and saving
The MFP supports Cloud Portal Office, Sharp's proprietary content management service that enables clients to store and share documents in the cloud. The MX-C301W comes loaded with a 250 GB hard drive and Sharp's ImageSEND functionality that enables users to scan documents to e-mail, network folders and USB devices.The multifunction printer is generally available for purchase or lease.
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Industry voice: Correcting the flaws appearing in online customer service systems
Given that billions of people and devices are now online, and the internet of things continues to grow explosively, it is no surprise that consumers' preference to do their shopping online rather than actually going into a store has increased dramatically in recent years.
Consumer buying behaviour has changed and is now evolving in such a way that retailers are having to approach how they engage in a completely new way. As a result we've witnessed a huge rise in online-only retailers, meaning the days of actually walking into a store to purchase goods are increasingly distant, and with recent reports that by 2018 £1 in every £7 spent in the UK will be online, growth is on the horizon.
Inherently flawed
This change in behaviour is putting retailers in a challenging position as it is driving a disconnect between them and their customers – resulting in some inherent flaws in the customer service model.This is because retailers have struggled to keep up with the trends of the modern day consumer. We have entered a period where more often than not, consumers have better technology than a retailer and are more informed than the person they are buying from. In addition, consumers are, now more than ever, turning to social media channels like Facebook and Twitter to air their grievances, often with mixed results.
The customer service model has become fragmented by technology and retailers are trying to piece it all back together. Some retailers have done so successfully and been quick to implement viable customer service solutions in their offering but others, often those with smaller amounts of resources, have struggled.
Resolution matters
But, it doesn't end there. Online retailers are facing the uphill task of actually resolving customer issues as they don't have the solutions in place to deal with the process after the enquiry stage – driving further flaws and gaps in the consumer relationship. Just look at eBay, which last year had over 60 million unresolved disputes – that means a lot of unhappy customers in the marketplace.By implementing the right solutions in the back end and giving consumers the right channels to engage, retailers are in a prime position to help bridge the gap and correct the current flaws in the customer service model.
By delivering an end-to-end customer service model that is reactive to consumers' needs and proactive in making sure issues are resolved, retailers are able to build stronger relationships with customers and brand reputation will increase as a result. Issues being dealt with in a quick and efficient manner keeps customers happy and all retailers will tell you that a happy customer is usually a loyal customer.
Impending legislation
Retailers should also be aware of the EU-wide legislation which comes into play in 2015 which will make online dispute resolution (ODR) compulsory for retailers, so whilst business growth financially might be a short-term goal, implementing a viable service to manage online disputes will be something that retailers need to address very soon.If European retailers address the existing flaws that are appearing in the online customer service model, they have a huge opportunity to increase sales by decreasing customer churn, and they can keep their current customers happy whilst also adhering to impending EU legislation.
- Karl Reindl is Managing Director of Youstice and has over 20 years of international experience in IT, sales, consulting and management.
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Alienware Alpha Steam Machine outs its UI, US pre-orders start now
We played with the Alienware Alpha Steam Machine during E3, and left intrigued, but still feeling like we needed to see more for the living room hopeful to really make a lasting impression.
During a pre-Gamescom briefing in San Francisco, the company finally showed off the Alpha's Alienware exclusive user interface - but only through screenshots.
One of the main points made was that the UI will provide complete controller support with quick access to your Steam gaming library.
The machine is set to boot straight into a customizable Alpha UI and will fully be integrated with Steam Big Picture without the need for a keyboard or mouse.
However, there are remaining bugs the team is working on fixing - like how some games will prompt you with a launch screen (Skyrim and Ubisoft Uplay titles for example) which will leave you stuck needing a mouse. For the time being there is a certain button combo that should drop you back into the Alpha interface but Alienware is working with Valve and Ubi on a better solution.
About a thousand games with gamepad support will also be tested just in case the issue isn't resolved by Alpha's launch. Those that "pass the criteria" will be seen by default on the console and the others will be added later on. You'll still be able to play the games with launch screens, but Alienware will flag the titles letting you know that a mouse will have to be plugged in.
Alpha is almost ready
While we didn't get to actually play with the UI just yet, we did get a first look.
After choosing a network connection, Alienware reps said that there will likely be a day one update, and that it should only take about ten minutes.
Then you get the choice of picking "Console mode" or "Desktop mode."
Afterwards, you should see a simple menu with three options: Power, Launch Steam and Settings.
Power takes you to the standard off, sleep and restart options. At the moment, the team is tinkering with the sleep mode to potentially allow you to download games from your mobile device when you're at work - similar to Steam's own mobile app.
Regarding the modest menu, Alienware says, "We are not PlayStation, we are not an Xbox. We want to keep things really simple and we know our users really want to get into Steam ... what we're doing is giving them the option to get into Steam right away."
The reps also noted that this isn't an OS - rather it's an app running on top of Windows 8.1 which you can choose to have or disregard in favor of the UI.
Fancy getting yourself an Alpha?
The Alpha can be pre-ordered from the Alienware and Dell websites, or from Walmart and Amazon starting August 12 in the US and will begin shipping in November. An Xbox 360 controller plus free bonus content including the complete versions of PayDay 2, Magika, in-game content and more will be bundled with the Steam Machine.Global pre-orders will begin "during the holiday season."
Base specs of the Alpha include Intel Core i3 Haswell based processor, 4GB DDR3 1600MHz memory, custom-built NVIDIA Maxwell based GPU, with 2GB of dedicated GDDR5 high-speed memory, dual-band Wireless-AC 1x1 with Bluetooth 4.0, HDMI In and HDMI Out for uncompressed 8 channel audio & support for 4K content, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, 500GB SATA 3 HDD
Configurations start at $549 (about £327, AU$592).
- Know what else will stream your Steam games? The Nvidia Shield Tablet. Check out our review to see which you'd rather get
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Round up: Top 5 best internet download managers
Introduction
Streaming (rather than downloading) content has become more popular in recent years, but many people aren't prepared to ditch their larger capacity smartphones, computers and storage devices just yet.Started in the mid 90s, people's love affair with downloading files - from movies and MP3s to torrents and applications - is as strong as it ever was, and with increasingly fast broadband and mobile connectivity, more data is being downloaded to hard drives than at any point in history.
Internet download managers have existed for almost as long as the Internet has been around, and have similarly evolved over time. Their primary goal is still to help you with downloading large or multiple files, but many now come with extra functionality that supercharges the process - from splitting files into separate partitions to help land them onto your hard drive quicker to converting them to other file formats to be played on other devices.
A common misconception is that downloading is all about illegal activity. It isn't - there are many legitimate reasons to fire up an internet download manager - such as wanting to grab a file that you've uploaded yourself after you've lost the original copy. Or you might be downloading creative works, or open source material that has been made available by the author.
Here are five of the best internet download managers. If you have any suggestions for this list, let us know in the comments below.
1. Download Accelerator Plus
Download Accelerator Plus is a tool that helps you speed up your internet downloads by searching servers on the internet to find the file, or files that you're download. By locating and requesting it from multiple sources at the same time, it can find the quickest route from its location to your computer's hard drive, landing it much quicker than if it was downloaded from a single server.
This works best when used to look for files that may be commonly available in multiple locations - such as anti-virus programs, operating system utilities and other executable files that have been made available by their creators. In addition to speeding up your downloads, Download Accelerator Plus comes with a built-in FTP program that allows you to access, download and upload files stored on a web server, and a Private Disk function allows you keep your downloads away from prying eyes.
2. JDownloader 2 BETA
JDownloader2 is the sequel to the popular file downloader JDownloader. Like others on our list, the program can download files from regular websites, but JDownloader2 stands out for its ability to easily download files from one-click hosts - such as Rapidshare, MediaFire, Uploaded and NetLoad.
Some download managers don't allow this due to incompatibility with the file formats that one-click hosts use, but JDownloader2 runs into no such problems as it supports the Rapidshare Downloader Format (RSDF), Cryptload Container Format (CCF) and Download Link Container (DLC) formats.
Other handy extras featured in the program include automatic captcha recognition, allowing you to bypass the common (and irritating) security mechanism, and you can even set up your downloads workflow to automatically move downloaded files into various folders based on their filename, allowing you to keep organised with minimal effort. Note that you'll need to download Java Runtime to get it to work, and the program is still BETA, so bear in mind that it's not the finished product.
3. Free Download Manager
Torrents have something of a reputation when it comes to illegal content, with owners of website such as The Pirate Bay appearing in headlines for being commanded to the dock for allowing its users to share copyrighted content. But there are numerous legitimate reasons to use torrents too, and if you're looking to get involved, Free Download Manger combines the best bits of regular download managers with torrent downloading programs.
Free Download Manager allows you to start downloads directly from the BitTorrent network or by clicking on torrents hosted on other sites, in addition to being able to download files over the regular HTTP, HTTPS and FTP protocols. The program's makers claim they have managed to increase the tool's speed by up to 600% in the most recent version, which now has the ability to continue previously cancelled downloads. With a slew of other features including the ability to convert audio and video into different file formats, Free Download Manager aims to be a one-stop shop for downloading a multitude of files from a wide range of online locations.
4. YouTube Downloader
YouTube Downloader is a hassle-free way of ripping YouTube videos to your hard disk drive, with the option to convert files into multiple different formats. It may have YouTube in its name, but it also works with a multitude of other video websites - from DailyMotion to Facebook.
The use of a tool like Free YouTube Downloader is necessary as many video websites stream video in the Flash format, which tends not to be compatible with smartphones, tablets and other devices. To save time, you can select from a variety of video formats - including AVI, MP4 and WVM - before pasting in a YouTube URL to automatically convert the file after it's downloaded.
5. Freemake Video Downloader
Freemake Video Downloader can download videos from a range of websites before converting them into different file formats. If you're running Firefox, you can even grab a plug-in that allows you to download any video from YouTube with a single click, which is useful for archiving your own video collection to hard disk or quickly grabbing copyright-free content from other users' accounts.
The program uses Freemake's own video conversion technology that powers its Freemake Video Converter, allowing you to convert files into formats including MP4, WebM, FLV, MP4 and 3GP. Aside from the basic conversion options, there's a whole heap of additional features - from allowing you to download - from social media sites such as Yandex, Facebook, Nicovideo and VKontakte - and you can set it to download through a proxy server and even filter adult content.
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Internet of Things tops Gartner's annual hype cycle
Gartner's Hype Cycle is 20 this year and its latest iteration has crowned the "Internet of Things" and "Natural-language Question Answering" as the two most hyped technology with both expected to reach their respective "plateaus of productivity", i.e. when they are will become mainstream.
The blunt reality though is that the Internet of Things, where all "things" are interconnected, has been around for a while and has only recently hit the headlines.
The fundamentals – and the main players – are still there in what is essentially embedded technology coupled with machine-to-machine (M2M) communication.
As Gartner VP and Fellow, Hung LeHong puts it: "Standardisation (data standards, wireless protocols, technologies) is still a challenge to more-rapid adoption of the IoT.
"A wide number of consortiums, standards bodies, associations and government/region policies around the globe are tackling the standards issues. Ironically, with so many entities each working on their own interests, we expect the lack of standards to remain a problem over the next three to five years."
Ironing out differences and unifying a promising ecosystem – in a way Android changed the mobile landscape - is what makes IoT so enticing.
That doesn't mean that businesses are not making billions out of it. Gartner itself predicted that the IoT environment will be populated by more than 26 billion units with an expected market value north of $19 trillion by 2020, if Cisco's CEO, John Chambers, is to be believe.
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Gamescom 2014: White Xbox One will be available to buy this October
Microsoft has officially announced that a white Xbox One will be availabe to buy this October, with pre-orders kicking off today.
Previously only available for Xbox employees, the lighter-toned console will now be available for all to purchase and will come bundled with Sunset Overdrive when it launches on October 28 in the US and October 31 in the UK.
The bundle comes priced at £349.99/$399 and includes the console, controller, and a digital copy of the game.
In other Xbox news, Microsoft also announced that the One will soon be able to support media playback from USB or DLNA, and stream TV to smartphones and tablets running the Xbox SmartGlass app.
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Blackphone not as hackable as first thought
The Blackphone, which has been pitched as one of the safest smartphones in the world, was momentarily compromised at the BlackHat conference by security researcher Justin Case, whose Twitter handle is @TeamAndIRC.
While the hack itself was discovered in about five minutes, the actual hack itself took way longer than that.
As reported by the Register, that would require not updating the device to the latest firmware as well as physical access to the phone and knowledge of the personal identification number (PIN).
The phone that was allegedly hacked was later found to have an old firmware. Three issues identified by Justin Case were explored by Dan Ford, Chief Security Officer of Blackphone.
ADB (Android Debug Bridge) was turned off by default because it conflicts with how the phone works and "potentially impacts the user experience", so was not considered as an actual weakness.
The two others were actual vulnerabilities, one which was closed within 48 hours and the other one is one that both parties were unwilling to discuss at the time because it affects other smartphone manufacturers as well.
So in the end, the Blackphone is not as vulnerable as some might have first posited and it looks as if others as well are in for a nasty surprise.
Source: The Register
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