A Russian hacking ring has nabbed a massive amount of internet credentials
If there's one thing everyone should remember about the internet, it's that your data is never truly safe.
Case in point: a Russian cyber gang has made off with around 1.2 billion username and password combos and 542 million email addresses, Hold Security researchers told The New York Times. The publication noted this is the largest collection of stolen internet credentials yet known.
These credentials were reportedly gathered using botnets and SQL injections from around 420,000 different websites, ranging from the very large and to fairly small. The security firm won't name these sites, in part because of nondisclosure agreements, but it has begun alerting them.
The hackers, based in a small city in south central Russia, so far have not sold most of the stolen information, but they are posting spam to social networks in service of other groups.
Hold on for dear life
Hold Security last year discovered a similar heist, with tens of millions of records stolen from Adobe. Apparently they have a solid track record.Just to be sure, though, the NYT had a third party analyze the data to confirm the researchers' claims.
Meanwhile many of the affected sites remain "vulnerable," Hold Security founder and Chief Information Security Officer Alex Holden said.
Let's just hope we don't have another Target hack fiasco on our hands. The real question is, when will the sites start alerting users?
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iWatch time? Suspicious Apple trademark makes mention of watches
Apple is not the type of company that hints slyly at its plans before it's ready to fully reveal them, but once in a while something does slip through the cracks.
That may be the case with recent trademark filings that make reference to what could be Apple's iWatch.
The trademarks concern iOS 8's HealthKit software, and include lists of other products and devices that could take advantage of the health-tracking kit.
This list includes a watch, though it doesn't refer to the iWatch specifically (Apple isn't nearly sloppy enough for that, unfortunately).
Bases loaded
Apple's HealthKit filings differ from region to region, and it was the European trademark that mentioned watches alongside "health, fitness, exercise, and wellness sensors, monitors and displays; medical apparatus and devices," and more.The trademark doesn't just mention "watches" and leave it at that, though. It covers every time-related base imaginable:
"Horological and chronometric instruments; watches; clocks; timepieces; chronographs for use as timepieces; chronometers; watchstraps; watch bands; cases for watches, clocks, and horological and chronometric instruments; parts for watches, clocks, and horological and chronometric instruments," and, finally, "jewelry."
Of course Apple has also been known to cover all its bases as a matter of principle - like when it started trademarking the word "iWatch" in a variety of countries. Hm.
Maybe Apple is that sloppy after all? Either way we're looking for the iWatch to debut this fall.
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Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 rolling out ... just not to HTC phones
Microsoft has hit pause on delivering Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 to HTC phones, the company confirmed in a statement to TechRadar.
"We have paused delivery of Windows Phone 8.1 Update to customers with the HTC 8X and HTC 8S who are using the Preview for Developers," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement. "Microsoft and HTC have identified an issue and are actively working to fix it, and will resume delivery of the update once a fix is in place."
The update, which is still in beta and technically only for developers (though you can get it, too), started rolling out August 4. However, it quickly became apparent HTC Windows Phone owners were hitting snags getting it.
What's keeping the handsets from installing the latest update? HTC told us it had no information to share, but WP Central discovered the handsets need a driver update sent down from ... HTC.
Seems Microsoft and HTC are working to deliver the necessary driver update, so let us know when you can install the Windows Phone 8.1 Update on your 8X or 8S. Of course, let us know if you can't either.
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In case you were worried, the Moto X is definitely getting Android L
It's sometimes unclear where Google+ fits between Facebook and Twitter, but at last we know what it's good for: getting answers from executives at companies that have worked closely with Google.
The Google social network is where Motorola Vice President of Product Management Punit Soni has confirmed that the Moto X is still scheduled to be upgraded to Android L.
After one user posed the question and another tagged Soni in the responses, the executive jumped in with a simple answer: "Yup."
When another user complained of the speed at which updates go out, Soni replied, "Sad. We really try to speed things up…"
Upgrade by upgrade
Android L brings a bevy of improvements to Android, including interface adjustments, speed tweaks and more.Of course the Moto X only recently got the Android KitKat update on some carriers (cough, Verizon), so it may still be a while before Android L for the Moto X arrives.
Meanwhile it seems likely that Motorola will launch its next flagship - what looks to be called the Moto X+1 - with Android L on board out of the box.
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64-bit Chrome now available for OSX as a downloader beware beta
Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users have been happily using 64-bit beta version of the Chrome for two months, and now OSX users can download their own beta version 64-bit web browser.
Google has quietly swapped out the developer-focused version of Chrome Canary to a 64-bit version anyone can download.
As with the Windows version users can expect a slight speed increase now that the application is better optimized to work with 64-bit processors. Also improved ASLR support coupled with better heap partitioning should add an extra dash of security.
But for now we wouldn't suggest managing your finances or looking at any sensitive materials with this yet to be finalized browser for now.
At your own risk
While the experimental browser is available for anyone daring enough to use it, Google strongly warns users that the application can "sometimes break down completely" as it has been designed for developers and early adopters.Ultimately it's a good sign there's a 64-bit version of Chrome rolling out at all as it will lead to more finalized beta and stable releases that will be more reliable for everyone to use.
The search company launched its 64-bit browser into developer and Canary channels for Microsoft's operating systems. After that Google eventually released the experimental build onto its beta channel for adventurous users several weeks later on July 30.
Stay tuned to this space as we will post more news when stable versions hit the net.
- Get more speed out of your internet connection
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Less to look forward to in this month's Windows 8.1 update
The gang in Redmond is gearing up to unleash a big Windows update next week, but "big" appears to be a relative term, given it won't be the "Update 2" many pundits have been expecting.
Microsoft today announced on its Blogging Windows portal that the next update to Windows 8.1 will arrive as an over-the-air download next Tuesday, August 12, but the company is tempering user expectations accordingly.
"Despite rumors and speculation, we are not planning to deliver a Windows 8.1 'Update 2'," the blog post elaborated, a comment presumably targeted at journalists and rumor websites who have been touting a forthcoming so-called "Update 2" in recent weeks.
Instead, next week's update is more along the lines of Microsoft's usual monthly patches, which include "more frequent improvements" along with the traditional security updates provided by the company's "Update Tuesday" releases.
Modest expectations
Microsoft did take the time to outline three "new features and improvements" coming on August 12, beginning with improvements to the touchpad made possible by three new settings, along with new Wi-Fi direct APIs to enable compatibility with a Miracast receiver.With the former feature, Windows PC and tablet users can now choose to leave their touchpad active when a mouse is connected, allow right-clicks on the touchpad itself or double-tap to drag an item when using the touchpad; the update also adds a "Keep me signed in" option to minimize login prompts with SharePoint Online.
Current Windows 8.1 users will start seeing the patch roll out sometime after next Tuesday if automatic updates have been enabled, but it can also be manually installed via Windows Update beginning Tuesday.
Microsoft also plans to deliver similar modest improvements to Windows Server 2012 R2 starting next week, and plans to continue rolling out smaller patches rather than waiting to bundle everything into less-frequent releases such as last April's Windows 8.1 Update.
- Take a peek at our expansive Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review!
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Review: Mini Review: Roccat Kone Pure Military
In PC gaming, hardware isn't everything – but it's no doubt a factor. Take inputs, for instance: better tools won't make a bad player good, but they might make a skilled one better. Cue the Roccat Kone Pure Military gaming mouse, a $69 (£59, about AU$74), no-nonsense pointer aimed at upping your game.
The Pure Military is essentially an armed forces-themed revision of the German peripheral maker's more compact Kone Pure series of gaming mice. Available in Camo Charge, Naval Storm and Desert Strike color schemes, it's clear that Roccat is after the Call of Duty crowd.
Roccat stuffed the Pure Military with a 5,000 dpi pro-optic sensor, a 32-bit Turbo Core v2 processor and 576KB of memory inside. The latter two features, of course, are for storing and quickly calling up macros stored through the company's KonePureMilitaryOption software. (But more on that later.)
Design
This control-shape – or as it's generally known, palm style – mouse comes housing seven buttons total, including two option buttons on the left beside the two standard clickers. In the middle rests Roccat's heavily-marketed Titan Wheel scroll wheel and two dpi control buttons. The whole unit is tethered to a 5.9-foot (1.8m) braided USB cable.At the base of the mouse is a fierce Roccat logo that either emits a solid bright light or pulsates, which you can change with up 16.8 million color options in the aforementioned app. (Seriously, the Thundercats people might want to take a look at that logo.)
Overall, the mouse's smooth plastic surface and grooved sides, namely its thumb grip, make for quite the comfortable tracking experience. That said, this mouse is for right-handed players only – move along, lefty heathens.
Aside from the 3kg push force and 24 steps per cycle Titan Wheel – really, guys? It's a scroll wheel – Roccat really wants you to know about the Pure Military's Easy-Shift[+] button duplicator feature. Essentially, the rear side button on the mouse operates like a Shift key on a keyboard, enabling completely different functions when held before pressing other buttons.
Frankly, I find it to be rather cumbersome, and not all the useful. But then again, I generally don't rely on the mouse for much more than pointing and clicking in games. (For those who look to escape their 16-button MMO mouse, this might be a godsend.) Thankfully, you can disable this feature through the included software just by enabling a different function on that button.
Despite what I consider a goofy feature, the Pure Military gaming mouse fits my hand like a glove – it's incredibly comfortable. And while I won't ever use the Easy-Shift[+] feature, I can appreciate its versatility for those who prefer to use their mouse for more control.
Setup and software
One area in which Roccat needs work on is its setup experience. Sure, the Pure Military works right out of the box – even on a Mac! – but you're only getting half of what you paid for. That is, if you're none the wiser to look up whether a driver is available, tucked away on Roccat's website. (Not to mention described in Deutsch.)Once I finally found the driver and downloaded the compressed folder, I installed the updated driver and the management software, which are different executables, mind you. After that, nothing happened – at least nothing visible. What did happen was that the installation created a folder and essentially hid the app away. No shortcut was made. Nothing.
After finally finding the file path and opening the software did I finally unlock the power behind this little tracker. Within the app, you can tweak everything from the mouse's sensitivity to the five levels of dpi that the center buttons switch between when pressed. You can even set it to play a stereotypically "epic" voice, telling you exactly what dpi you're set to.
Users can set up to a maximum of five profiles, and everything is tweaked with simple sliders, even the choice of color for the light-up Roccat logo. There are also options to determine with buttons do what in default and Easy-Shift[+] modes, not to mention write a number of macros.
If you want to get really deep into the settings, you can tweak angle snapping (which auto-corrects cursor trajectory), sensor alignment (this adjusts the sensor's X and Y axis orientation) and lift-off distance (the distance from the surface at which the sensor stops working).
Verdict
For 10 bucks less than the 12,000 dpi (!!!) Logitech G502 Proteus Core, the Roccat Kone Pure Military might not offer the same hardware-level customization, but it's far more comfortable. Not to mention that the mouse is way simpler, and offers much of the same software features.Then again, this isn't an ambidextrous mouse, so that writes a portion of the PC gaming population right out of the Pure Military's potential audience. Another minor complaint: installing Roccat's software takes a bit of ingenuity that the company shouldn't expect from its users – not to mention a glaring lack of Mac support.
Regardless, the Roccat Kone Pure Military is one of the comfiest gaming mice that I've used in a long time, and 5,000 dpi is plenty. Sure, some of this mouse's marquee features might range from cumbersome to superfluous, but they're easily avoided. Turn the goofy-sounding Easy-Shift[+] right off, and the result is a straight up gaming mouse that doesn't cost much more than a brand new game.
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Hands-on review: Updated: Nikon D810
Introduction
Nikon's D800 and D800E caused great excitement when they were first announced in February 2012 largely because of their groundbreaking 36 million pixel count. These two full-frame SLR cameras are identical apart from the fact that the D800E's sensor has a weaker anti-aliasing (AA) or optical low-pass filter (OLPF) to enable it to deliver sharper details straight from the camera.Thanks to their impressive detail resolution the two cameras quickly went to the top of the wishlist for many professional and enthusiast photographers, especially those looking for a comparatively lightweight camera for landscape, still life or macro photography. They have remained firm favourites ever since, setting the bar for resolution by which other cameras are judged.
Now the replacement for these two cameras has been announced in the form of the 36.3Mp Nikon D810, one camera without an anti-aliasing filter to replace both models. Interestingly, we have been told that while the D800E was widely reported as having no AA filter, the filter over the sensor did actually have some anti-aliasing element and this has now been completely removed from the D810's filter. This should enable the new camera to record even more detail than before, and Nikon is claiming that the D810 produces 'the highest image quality in Nikon's history'. Omitting the AA filter brings increased risk of moire patterning in images, but it hasn't been found to be a major issue for D800E users.
- This hands on review has been updated with our lab testing results, the full review will be published very soon.
Other changes from the D800 include a higher resolution LCD screen, the ability to record smaller raw images as seen with the Nikon D4S and the introduction of Group-area AF mode, also seen in the D4S. The move to the EXPEED 4 processing engine also enables an increase in the maximum continuous shooting rate at full resolution to 5fps, this was previously 4fps. Alternatively, the D810 can shoot at 7fps in DX format and record 15.3Mp images.
We are awaiting information about the raw file burst depth when shooting at the maximum continuous frames rates, but they are believed to be similar to the D800's. However, it's possible to shoot JPEG images continuously until the card is full, the D800 maxed-out at 100.
Sensitivity may be set in the native range ISO 64-12,800 and there expansion settings stretching from ISO 32 to ISO 51,200, giving greater scope for shooting at wide apertures or in bright conditions as well as better low-light capability.
In addition, the D810's video capability improves on the D800's with the ability to shoot at 50 and 60p and a Zebra display mode that shows areas close to burning out. There's also a new Flat Picture Control mode that has reduced sharpening and contrast to maximise dynamic range for better post-capture grading. This new Picture Control mode is also available when shooting stills.
Video (and stills) may be shot in FX or DX format and there's a clean HDMI out, plus the ability to capture full-resolution footage in-camera and on an external recorder simultaneously. When shooting video in manual mode, sensitivity can be set from ISO 64 to ISO 51200 while the Auto ISO function allows you to specify the maximum sensitivity setting to be used. This is especially useful when combined with the ability to use power aperture and set the two buttons next to the lens mount on the front of the camera (marked Fn and Pv) to open up or close down aperture. It should also ensure steadier footage with less operation noise.
Further video-centric improvements include greater control over audio recording to allow the user to select the sound range (wide/voice) and for wind noise to be reduced when recording with the built-in microphone. Audio levels can be fine-tuned in isolation before and during recording.
In another change to the Picture Control options it's now possible to adjust image clarity or micro contrast to give an impression of greater (or reduced) sharpness without over-emphasing strong edges.
Like the D4S, the D810 has Nikon's 51-point Multi-CAM 3500FX AF system which adds Group-area AF mode to the usual options (9-,21- and 51-point dynamic-area AF and 3D-tracking). Group AF mode is designed to help when shooting subjects that are comparatively small and close to a high-contrast or distracting background. When it's activated the user selects an AF point and the camera uses it and the ones immediately above, below, left and right to keep the subject sharp.
Nikon has given the D810 a new shutter/mirror box mechanism that is claimed to reduce vibration giving a steadier viewfinder image with less blackout for better autofocusing and sharper images. Internal vibrations can be further reduced by a new electronic front-curtain shutter. Both of these points should enable users to get greater benefit from the camera's potential resolving power.
Like the D4S, the D810 can record smaller sized uncompressed 12-bit raw files. This is of particular interest to animators and those producing timelapse sequences who want the quality and control of raw files without the huge files size of a 36Mp image.
While the size of the D810's monitor remains the same as the D800's at 3.2-inches, its resolution has been boosted to 1,229,000-dots and the colour balance and brightness can be tuned to the photographer's preference or the shooting conditions.
In a first for a Nikon SLR, there's a new Live View split-screen zoom mode that allows photographers to check sharpness in two areas at the same time. This could be especially useful when shooting landscape and macro scenes when depth of field is very important.
It's a shame that Nikon hasn't included Wi-Fi connectivity in the D810, instead users wishing to transfer images wirelessly have to use the optional UT-1 Data Transmitter together with the WT-5 Wireless Transmitter.
Build and handling
Any D800 user that picks up a D810 is going to find themselves right at home because there are only a few fairly subtle design changes introduced with the D810. The grip, for example, feels a little more solid and the memory card door more durable.
The metering switch on the back of the D800 has also gone to make the AE-Lock/AF-Lock and AF-on buttons easier to reach and operate with the camera held to the eye. The metering options are now accessed via what was the bracketing button above the drive mode dial on the top of the camera.
The most noticeable difference, however, is the introduction of an I button on the back of the camera. This gives access to some key settings and works in the same way as it does on Nikon's other recent SLRs. It is particularly useful when shooting in Live View or Video mode and it provides the means of accessing the Split-screen view.
Performance
I haven't been able to shoot any images on the D810 yet, but Nikon is making bold claims for the new camera, saying it produces the best image quality of any Nikon camera. This is largely down to the fact that the camera should be able to resolve more sharp detail than the D800E because all of the anti-aliasing effect has been removed. Plus, the newer processing engine should enable better noise reduction. Naturally, we'll have to wait and see until we get a full production sample in for testing.I'm really looking forward to investigating how the D810 handles noise, because although the D800 is good for a 36Mp camera, it is still a limiting factor. If Nikon has managed to make significant improvements it should make the new camera more versatile.
It will also be interesting to see how much impact the changes to the shutter makes to the sharpness of images. With the D800 we found that you generally need to use a shutter speed of at least 1/125 sec when handholding the camera to avoid image blur from spoiling the image at 100%. It seems unlikely that this will be changed as the shutter vibrations are more likely to cause blurring when the camera is on a tripod, but you never know.
When I tested the Nikon D4S I found that the AF system was incredibly fast and accurate, with the Group-area AF mode seeming very reliable in many situations, even in low light. My short time with the D810 indicates that is likely to be true with the new camera, but we will test it fully when we get a sample in for testing.
Early verdict
While it's disappointing that Nikon hasn't included Wi-Fi or GPS technology in the D810, it still seems like a good, solid upgrade that promises to deliver what's most important to photographers – better image quality. Few would've expected an increase in pixel count, but a potential increase in detail and improved noise control along with a few handling and video enhancements should make it an enticing option for many.Resolution
As part of our image quality testing for the Nikon D810 we've shot our resolution chart.Click the link to see a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean.
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 100 image, see 100% crops below.
ISO 32, score: 36. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 64, score: 36. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 100, score: 36. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 200, score: 36. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 400, score: 36. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 800, score: 36. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 1600, score: 34. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 3200, score: 34. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 6400, score: 34. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 12800, score: 32. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 25600, score: 30. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 51200, score: 28. Click here for full resolution image.
Raw
ISO 32, score: 38. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 64, score: 38. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 100, score: 38. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 200, score: 38. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 400, score: 38. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 800, score: 36. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 1600, score: 36. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 3200, score: 34. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 6400, score: 34. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 12800, score: 32. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 25600, score: 32. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 51200, score: 30. Click here for 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.
We have compared the Nikon D810 with the Nikon D800, Canon 5D Mark III and Sony Alpha 7R. The D810 has a large sensitivity range, stretching down lower than any other camera here - to ISO 32 - and up as high as ISO 51200. The Canon beats its top setting, reaching up to ISO 102400.
JPEG signal to noise ratio
As we can see from this chart, the Nikon D810's JPEG files have the weakest signal to noise ratio of the three cameras at lower sensitivity settings. But the camera's JPEGs overtake the Sony Alpha 7R at ISO 1600 and above, beat the Canon 5D Mark III at ISO 25,600 and outdo the older Nikon D800 by producing better ratios at ISO 25,600 and also extending its range further at the lower and upper end of the scale.
The difference that we have detected between the D810's and D800's results is likely to be explained by the slight smudging of noise in the D800's raw files. At 100% on screen the D810's images have more detail and look crisper to the eye, but the chroma noise is a little more evident.
Raw signal to noise ratio
Conversely, the signal to noise ratios of the TIFF images (after conversion from raw) from the Nikon D810 are stronger than TIFFs from the Nikon D800 at lower sensitivities, yet weaker at ISO 800 and above, falling steeply at the upper reaches of its range. The D810's TIFFs produce weaker ratios than the Canon 5D Mark III's at every sensitivity setting, and weaker signal to noise ratios than the Sony Alpha 7R's at lower ISOs, before surpassing them at ISO 400 and above.
These results differ from those produced by DXO itself, but we convert raw files to TIFF using the manufacturer's supplied software and with all the noise reduction turned off before they are analysed, whereas DXO analyse raw files directly. Raw files from the D800 also exhibit the slight smudging that we see with the JPEGs in comparison with those from the D810. The D810's images look more natural at 100% on screen.
JPEG dynamic range
The Nikon D810's JPEG results for dynamic range are again weaker than the Nikon D800's JPEGs at most sensitivities, but they have a similar range to the older camera's JPEGs at ISO 3200, 6400 and 25,600. The Nikon D810's JPEGs have a wider dynamic range than the Canon 5D Mark III's at ISO 50-200 and ISO 25,600, a similar range at ISO 400 and a smaller range at other sensitivities. Compared with the Sony Alpha 7R's JPEGs, the D810's JPEGs show a wider dynamic range at the lowest setting and at ISO 3200 and 6400, but have a smaller range at ISO 100-1600 and a similar range at ISO 12,800 and 25,600.
Raw dynamic range
Again the TIFF images (after conversion from raw) from the Nikon D810 are significantly stronger at lower sensitivities than at the higher settings, outperforming the Canon 5D Mark III for dynamic range from ISO 50 to ISO 800, where its results suddenly fall below all of the other cameras here. The Nikon D810's TIFFs show a less impressive dynamic range than the older Nikon D800's at every setting but ISO 400, and fall below the Sony Alpha 7R's TIFFs throughout the range.
Sensitivity and noise images
JPEG
Full ISO 100 image. See 100% crops below.
ISO 32, click here for full resolution image
ISO 64, click here for full resolution image
ISO 100, click here for full resolution image
ISO 200, click here for full resolution image
ISO 400, click here for full resolution image
ISO 800, click here for full resolution image
ISO 1600, click here for full resolution image
ISO 3200, click here for full resolution image
ISO 6400, click here for full resolution image
ISO 12800, click here for full resolution image
ISO 25600, click here for full resolution image
ISO 51200, click here for full resolution image
Raw
ISO 32, click here for full resolution image
ISO 64, click here for full resolution image
ISO 100, click here for full resolution image
ISO 200, click here for full resolution image
ISO 400, click here for full resolution image
ISO 800, click here for full resolution image
ISO 1600, click here for full resolution image
ISO 3200, click here for full resolution image
ISO 6400, click here for full resolution image
ISO 12800, click here for full resolution image
ISO 25600, click here for full resolution image
ISO 51200, click here for full resolution image
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Is it game on for Apple as it patents gaming-centric iPad with rear sensors?
Apple appears to be exploring ways to boost the functionality and versatility of its best-selling iPad tablet range, judging by a patent recently awarded to the firm.
PatentlyApple reports the company has successfully patented a tablet with sensors around the rear perimeter that, according to the 2012 filing, could be used as an input method for video games.
The beneath-the-surface sensors could be ultrasonic, capacitive or pressure-based and could be accessed via a natural grip in portrait or landscape mode, the filing appears to show.
Essentially, this means the sensors could open up the iPad to a gaming experience more closer associated with console play, tailored to those who abhor constant tapping and swiping on a touchscreen.
PS Vita like?
The sensors could also be used in the same way as the rear touch pad on the PS Vita handheld console. Within games like FIFA soccer, players gamers can shoot more accurately by tapping areas of the pad.Interestingly, the patent application combines another innovation, which shows a virtual keyboard on the display of an iMac or MacBook, including a visual representation of the position of the users hands
This could be aimed as allowing users to see what they're typing without looking down at the keyboard.
Both parents where applied for separately but have been awarded together. However, it seems a stretch to imagine these innovation will be featured within of the rumoured forthcoming iPad and Mac updates
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Pebble smartwatch comes in super fly blue, green and pink for a limited time
After releasing well over a year ago the Pebble Smartwatch has been long over due for a make over and now its available in three new bright colors for a limited time.
Pebble launched its inaugural wearable in three previously unreleased shades of new Fresh Green, Hot Pink, and Fly Blue. Other than the swanky new colors these Pebble smartwatches still offer up the same functionality and $150 (about £88, AU$161) price point.
Act fast though. Pebble told TechRadar these colorful bands will only be available for a limited time until supplies last.
After they're gone buyers will have to go back with to the old black, grey, red, white, and orange colors. Alternatively, users looking for a more professional band could go for the Pebble Steel, essentially the metal version of the smartwatch.
Swanky
Along with the new color options Pebble also announced it has added the Weather Channel to its growing app store, which is already stocked with apps like ESPN, Mercedes cars, Yelp and Pandora.Lastly a Reading Rainbow time face featuring the likeness of LeVar Burton in an 8-bit style is rumored to arrive later this year.
- How does Android Wear fare in the wearable world?
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Updated: Save the date: iPhone 6 launch likely for September 9
The iPhone 6 launch date has been circled for September 9, according to a new report.
The oft-accurate Recode has word Apple plans to host a "big media event" on that Tuesday. September is new iPhone time for Apple, but this year we expect to see two versions of the iPhone 6 - a 4.7- and 5.5-inch variant.
Update: Both the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg have spoken to their sources and backed up September 9 as iPhone 6 launch day. Make that iPhone 6s launch day as both publications say more than one new iPhone will be announced, namely two with 4.7- and 5.5-inch screen sizes.
In addition to stretching to larger screen sizes (and coming in two premium flavors for the first time), the new iPhone is expected to ramp up to a A8 processor and perhaps even flash a scratch-resistant sapphire display.
Touch ID is almost certainly making a comeback, and with iOS 8's focus on health and home, the iPhone 6 will likely have plenty of features not seen in the iPhone 5S.
There's always more
Of course, it wouldn't be an Apple event if some iPhones were all we got.While the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 are probably October arrivals, there's a high chance we'll finally (finally!) see the iWatch come September 9. It's about damn time, to be honest.
With rumors of a new 12-inch Retina display MacBook Pro, 4K iMac, 27-inch iMac and a new Apple TV set-top (though that has reportedly hit some snags), September 9 should be filled to the brim with fruity goodness.
If it's not, well then we have October to look forward to.
- Will the iPhone 6 make the Galaxy S5 look like a chump?
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HP launches a Helion cloud solution for light workloads
HP has unveiled a managed infrastructure-as-a-service tool designed to provide cost-efficient delivery for light workloads.
The tool, HP Helion Managed Virtual Private Cloud Lean, is catered to large and mid-sized businesses that are focused on application development and test environments, and workplace collaboration solutions. HP is banking on users witnessing lower latency, greater compliance, higher availability, and more advanced security as a result of using this tool.
The package starts at $168 per month (about £99, AU$180) for a small virtual server configuration. HP is hoping its clients will benefit from the tool by taking advantage of regionalized cloud storage, the company said in a statement.
HP’s big bet
In May, HP said it would invest more than $1 billion in a new set of cloud-based products and platforms for organizations. As part of that investment, HP launched its Helion cloud portfolio - a suite of cloud products and services for building and maintaining hybrid IT environments.With HP Helion Managed Virtual Private Cloud Lean organizations will be able to benefit from hybrid clouds without an overwhelming investment.
HP’s -as-a-service solutions are where the company is focusing its efforts. After struggling the past few years, HP intiated several massive rounds of layoffs that trimmed the company by 50,000 jobs. The company is the world’s second-largest PC manufacturer behind Lenovo, however, software-as-a-service and licensing revenue continues to increase and represents a bright spot on HP’s balance sheet.
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Opinion: Console gaming is dead - everything good is happening on PC right now
A golden age for PC gaming
Word is that the Xbox One might be getting another price cut. But the Xbox One doesn't need a cheaper price tag or new colours to get people interested. It needs some decent games, because let's face it, there are none.Games, apps, features and functionality - both next gen consoles are still hugely lacking in them all and we're nearly a year in now.
It's not unusual for each generation to start slowly, but against the backdrop of an exciting golden age for PC gaming, games consoles are starting to look looking increasingly... irrelevant.
Why? Because all of the good things in the gaming world right now are happening on PC. All of them.
Elite: Dangerous, Star Citizen, DayZ, Witcher III, Arma III, Project Cars to name just a few. Not to mention the big deal that is F2P these days, the promise of Steam Machines, the innovation behind the Nvidia Shield Tablet - and did you hear about the Oculus Rift? I could go on... oh and I will.
For gamers of all types, the PC is the place to be. Which is all the more remarkable when you consider that this is a time when millions of brand new big budget next gen console sitting at home in fast-boot standby mode, desperate for something other than tumbleweed to blow into their empty disc bays.
Isn't PC gaming already dead?
Did you hear the one about how PC gaming is dying? How about the one where the PC is already dead? It's a joke that has about as much to do with reality as the driving physics in Mario Kart 8. No one believes that crap any more.Granted, back in 2006 the PC was having a bit of a crisis as the Xbox 360 and PS3 embarked on a period of sales dominance. But how about this for a statistic in 2014: sales of those consoles combined comes to a total of around 160 million. The number of PC gamers currently subscribing to F2P smash hit League of Legends? 130 million. Yeah, and 27 million of them play that one game every single day.
The Last of Us, hailed as the greatest game of the last console generation, has now sold over 6 million copies on PS3. Diablo III on PC sold more than 6 million... in its first week of release.
The usual response from many at this point is that "PCs cost way more" and "you have to upgrade once a year and it's too expensive". And while that was true once, it hasn't been so for a long time and that's super exciting in itself.
"Building a PC capable of throwing the latest games around at the full 1080p resolution of your TV for less than the money you'd spend on a new console seemed beyond the realms of home possibility," says Dave James in the latest edition of PC Format magazine. "But recent PC advances have made it a reality".
Check out the latest PCF and you'll find plenty of options for putting together an excellent gaming PC for less than the price of a PS4 or Xbox One. Barrier to entry? There is no such thing (check back with TechRadar soon for our guide to building your own affordable Steam Machine).
Living the dream
Once you're up and running with a PC, things couldn't be more glorious. As an engaged gamer you're in a dreamland of infinite opportunity.Any PC game ever made? You can play it on your rig. Backwards compatibility is not something PC gamers have to worry about... ever. So while Sony and Microsoft effectively bins its entire customer base with every generation, the PC will always be there. Bought a new PC? It's cool, your games are waiting for you, you don't have to pay for them again - oh and they're a lot prettier than the console versions too.
Want to play downstairs on your TV with a control pad instead of upstairs on your rig? Steam In-Home Streaming is your friend. With home streaming and the forthcoming influx of Steam Machines connected to living room TVs, the PC is not only drawing gamers away from consoles it's about to threaten their very existence. Because while consoles are popular for their all-in-one, plug-and-play convenience - PCs are getting smaller and they're coming to living rooms - believe it.
All the innovation in virtual reality is going to happen on the PC, too, with Oculus and its competitors. I'm sure Project Morpheus will work well with the PS4, but the PC is simply more nimble, flexible and accessible - the perfect staging ground for a VR revolution.
The price of gaming
And if all that isn't enough to convince you, how about the fact that games are also much cheaper on PC?Choose wisely as a PC gamer, time your purchases and you can pick up brilliant titles for utterly bonkers prices. New games are cheaper on PC anyway, but the Steam Summer sale yields blockbuster games for as little as $3. I bought Tomb Raider for $4. At the same time, the Xbox One version cost ten times as much. Ten times.
The cash you'll save by not having to shell out these crazy console prices for big games will more than make up for the price of a GPU upgrade after a couple of years.
And even without the thousands of legacy titles available to play, there are more new titles coming out on PC than any other platform. By far. And they're exciting and they're diverse and originality abounds.
Why? Because games are just infinitely easier to develop for PC these days. Install Steam today and for a small monthly fee you can download a game engine like the CryEngine and start creating immediately.
And that's no crappy indie engine, that's the engine Crysis 3 was built in, the best looking game ever created.
You can easily publish your game through Steam as well, no publishing deal required. And with Early Access you can even make your game playable prior to release and get keen gamers to fund your development. Literally anyone can sit at home, build a game and release it for others to play. It's amazing and has yielded some truly innovative gaming experiences.
And you don't even need to pay for many of the most popular PC games. The F2P model is still evolving but the overwhelming number of PC gamers currently enjoying League of Legends and others like DOTA 2, Planetside 2, Hearthstone, FIFA World - I could go on but I won't - speak for themselves. It's hundreds of millions of people.
This is not to say that I'm against the PS4 or Xbox One. I reviewed both and I liked each on its own terms. And do I really think console gaming is dead? No.
But hardware needs software to breathe, and consoles are so far behind at the moment it's hard to imagine a future world where this will no longer be so.
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LG G3 Stylus shows up to challenge the Galaxy Note 4
Watch out Samsung, you're not the boss of phablet town anymore - the LG G3 Stylus has just been teased in a brand new video.
We don't know a lot about it, but LG's phablet appears at the end of a promotional video for the LG G3 Beat, so it seems more of a question of when, not if, we'll see an official announcement.
The phablet is rumoured to have a 5.9-inch display - 0.4 inches than the LG G3 - and seeing it stood near the flagship, we'd say that looks about right. And living up to the name there is, of course, also a stylus included.
This town is probably big enough for the both of us
So back to the question of "when". It seems a good bet would be IFA 2014, where Samsung is expected to reveal the Galaxy Note 4 at a September 3 press event.That would also get in ahead of Apple, which is believed to be planning a 5.5-inch iPhone 6 as its own stake in the phablet arena.
- IFA 2014: what to expect
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11 enterprise content management solutions to consider
ECM solutions overview
Enterprise content management (ECM) systems are ideal for paper-intensive businesses that are looking for a cost-effective way to eliminate their paper-based filing systems.Companies using ECM tools to communicate and collaborate more easily find that they are able to share information and make it easier to locate because all the information is based in a central location.
Vendors are addressing increased demands for better mobile and cloud capabilities, as well as more rigorous expectations for vertically specific needs. According to the Association of Information and Image Management, ECM software is meant to enable companies to "capture, manage, store, preserve and deliver content and documents related to organizational process."
So which systems out in the IT marketplace actually achieve these ends? Can one solution cover all organizational needs? We've pulled together a roundup of 11 systems you should evaluate when choosing an ECM vendor.
1. Alfresco
Alfresco is touted for being one of the most portable enterprise CMS products on the market. You can access this solution on your mobile phone or tablet and have access to cloud storage. This is extremely valuable in fast-paced, multi-screen environments.Unfortunately, there is a lack of support resources including live chat (like many other systems) and FAQs. Another concern is the lack of a backup system. Users of this system need to weigh the importance of portability and cloud storage versus a support system.
2. Dokmee
Dokmee is one of the most seamless solutions to begin using - easy to setup, easy to use. The system is very scalable, allowing for additional upgraded features as an organization grows and matures.The downside: This solution only allows one proprietary user at a time, which can make collaboration problematic. This is a perfect introductory solution to ECM software as it isn't overly complicated or expensive. This product is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, but likely isn't complete or advanced enough for large enterprises.
3. FileNet Content Manager
FileNet Content Manager comes from the IBM camp and provides an extensive audit trail and version control system, as well as full-text search capabilities. However, this is one of the few ECM systems that lacks a cloud storage option, as well as backup capabilities.As for customer service, users haven't touted IBM's support team for its help much, which can be expected for a small sect of a large tech behemoth with many functioning arms. Luckily, a saving grace is the seamless, effortless integration with Microsoft systems like Office and SharePoint to help increase productivity.
4. Huddle
Huddle has recently made a pivot from simply a cloud-based collaboration tool to a project management software for enterprise-level collaboration. Huddle is web-based, providing tools for sharing files and seamlessly collaborating with partners and colleagues with features that ensure version control management, and workflows that give different levels of restrictions across varying users.The system has changed from being free to providing baseline prices of $20/month for small businesses, with increasing prices for larger businesses. While this tool is fantastic for online collaboration across organizations, it will not be your Swiss Army knife tool - in other words, you'll need supplemental solutions to get the full suite of ECM capabilities.
5. LaserFiche
LaserFiche has some great routing, import and export tools, as well as reporting features to enhance a company's workflow. Like Alfresco, the system is lacking FAQs for additional support and backup capabilities.Laserfiche has separate solutions for varying business sizes: Laserfiche Rio for large organizations, providing tiered pricing with significant volume discounts and unlimited servers and repositories; Laserfiche Avante is for small to medium organizations with fewer than 100 users, providing a simple and affordable pricing structure with individually sold servers.
This is a great starter platform for companies not looking for a complicated solution - it has all of the basic tools that would help manage a corporation's documents but does lack some tools that would enhance this system.
ECM vendors 6-11
6. MaxxVault
MaxxVault allows users to create a direct route for documents to flow, easily integrating with Microsoft Office and offering full-text search capabilities. While there is a range of integration options, the system doesn't have compatibility with many applications, including Lotus Notes and AutoCAD.MaxxVault is a very secure solution that provides options for editing, viewing and securing an organization's most important files. This solution is perfect for small, medium, and large businesses, with features tailored to needs (departmental or cross-organizational).
7. M-Files
M-Files, a Microsoft partner, offers cloud storage, backup capabilities and document imaging. Users tout this as one of the most user-friendly systems available on the market. Unfortunately, they rely heavily on its user experience and intuitive interface, as the company offers no live chat support systems.M-Files recently announced several new enhancements to its mobile apps, available for free on iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Phone devices. New features include enabling users to quickly and securely create new documents while on the go from their smartphones and tablet. This flexibility is a top priority for ECM platform buyers.
8. OpenText ECM Suite
OpenText ECM Suite is supported by Open Text Content Services and facilitates agile information governance strategy designed to reduce risk and mitigate the cost of growing volumes of content in the enterprise. The system provides extensive ECM functionality for managing content and integrating it with business systems from Oracle, Microsoft and SAP for document management, records management, Web content management, digital asset and email management, and information life-cycle management.This platform has one of the stronger team collaboration systems with wikis, blogs, forums and instant messaging available for maximum connectivity. This is one of the more complex systems which will require some extensive on-boarding and training, but it is likely one of the most comprehensive solutions on the market.
9. OnBase
OnBase was developed by Hyland more than 20 years ago with the specific focus of transactional content management abilities that deploy incrementally, but are scalable to the enterprise. This continues today as the platform has developed product document imaging capabilities, a variety of production-oriented content ingestion methods, eForms, automated record retention, CD/DVD authoring, and more.This system is great for optimizing and reducing risk in business processes that are case-oriented or transactional in behavior.
10. Perceptive Software
Perceptive Software provides a powerful workflow process that simplifies reviewing and approving documents, delivering a useful auditing trail and cloud storage. While this enterprise CMS does not provide online resources such as FAQs and whitepapers - which seems to be a trend with these types of platforms - this isn't a huge problem as the offering is relatively basic.Perceptive Software, like LaserFiche, isn't as advanced as some of its competitors, but it does provide everything you would need for version control, permissions and full-text search capabilities.
11. SmartSearch
SmartSearch by Square9 is arguably the most scalable solution, offering both departmental and enterprise-class document management solutions. It provides mobile access and 24/7 availability to all documents. Added benefits include a detailed auditing trail and email notifications. Like M-Files, the system doesn't offer live chat support, nor does it offer cloud storage.The solution comes prepackaged with a unique tool for OCR-assisted data entry called KeyFree Indexing, as well as Data XChange for internal ODBC data updates. This solution is fully comprehensive for businesses of many different sizes.
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Analysis: Take stock: saving film is about preserving movies, not fighting against digital
The bid to save film
The rise of digital projection in movies marks one of the speediest changes in any industry. In fewer than 15 years we have seen a business that dealt purely in celluloid engulfed by ones and zeroes.Digital has overtaken film projection the world over, with the promise of offering up cheaper ways to distribute movies complete with a crisp palette that is, arguably, on a par with film stock.
While many filmmakers have embraced this change, there's a minority that is battling against progression. This group isn't made up of indie filmmakers looking to get headline space but some of the biggest names in the business.
Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, Judd Apatow, JJ Abrams, Martin Scorsese... these are the filmmakers that hope to become stakeholders in Kodak film stock.
They have struck a deal to make sure Kodak film continues to be a viable option in making movies and made it their job to preserve the use of celluloid on the big screen.
Film fanatics
Most of the people on this list will come as no surprise to those who have been following the rise of digital filmmaking.JJ Abrams proved to the the world the new Star Wars was his franchise when he announced he would be shooting Star Wars: Episode VII on film. Given that George Lucas was a poster boy for digital moviemaking throughout the making of Episodes I-III, this was a massive statement by Abrams.
Christopher Nolan has never used digital and it is doubtful he ever will. Preferring to push IMAX as his filmmaking tool of choice, Nolan is a staunch believer in film and rarely has a good word to say about digital.
Of the rest of the list, Martin Scorsese's inclusion is the most interesting. Scorsese has always been a proponent of shooting on film but went fully digital for his 3D movie Hugo. Then came Wolf Of Wall Street which was initially meant to be shot digitally but this changed in pre-production.
Wolf will always been seen as a turning point for digital, however, as it was the first movie distributed entirely digitally to theatres.
This delicate balancing act between using digital and film is highlighted further in his recent statement about joining the 'film for filmmakers' (my words) group.
"It seems like we're always being reminded that film is, after all, a business. But film is also an art form, and young people who are driven to make films should have access to the tools and materials that were the building blocks of that art form," writes Scorsese.
"Would anyone dream of telling young artists to throw away their paints and canvases because iPads are so much easier to carry? Of course not. In the history of motion pictures, only a minuscule percentage of the works comprising our art form was not shot on film."
Movie preservation society
Alongside Scorsese's view is another that believes that the push to save film stock is as much about preservation as it is about rallying against the new. Film vs digital is an easy headline to get behind, but this shouldn't be a 'whose side are you on?' debate. It should be something more.There is a real worry in the industry that movies made on digital won't survive in the future because of the archival process. The fear is that digital is not a stable archiving system - data will have to be carefully transferred when a format is surpassed.
Film stock, on the other hand, has survived for over 100 years and if kept in the right way will survive a lot longer.
Most technological advancements do one of two things: simplify processes or cheapen processes. Neither of these are conducive when it comes to art.
As Scorsese says, making movies is an art form that shouldn't be restricted by the tools you use. So putting the future of film into the hands of the filmmakers is the boldest and best step to saving not just the format but the future of cinema.
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Oh joy, Twitter may start spamming our feeds with more unwanted tweets
Twitter's always playing with new ideas, but the latest one might get more than a few people inflamed.
The latest experiment, it seems, is to display tweets from people you don't follow, but your friends do.
@aleefbaypay was the first to flag it up. He doesn't follow Buzzfeed, yet a tweet from the Buzzfeed account made it into his feed. A notification above said tweet states that the account is followed by one of @aleefbaypay's followees, but they hadn't retweeted it.
Unfollowed
The problem is obvious: if you don't follow someone then it's probably because you don't want to. Twitter has already introduced advertisements so there's enough noise as it is.But as we said, Twitter's always testing new things, so it may never implement this new feature. We certainly hope not - can't say we're exactly wild about the idea.
We're chasing this up with Twitter to find out more, and will update as soon as we hear anything.
- Opinion: Twitter's mute feature is for chump
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BlackBerry eyes growth and acquisitions following end of restructuring process
Blackberry has come to the end of a three-year restructuring notification process and is once again eyeing growth, according to an internal memo addressed to its employees.
Obtained by Reuters, the memo, penned by BlackBerry CEO John Chen, confirmed that the company's restructuring efforts are now complete and that the sale of assets and layoffs have come to a halt.
It read: "We have completed the restructuring notification process, and the workforce reduction that began three years ago is now behind us.
"More importantly, barring any unexpected downturns in the market, we will be adding headcount in certain areas such as product development, sales and customer service, beginning in modest numbers."
Big chop
The Waterloo, Ontario-based company has axed around 60% of its workforce over the last three years as it ceded market share to Apple's iPhone and numerous devices powered by Google's Android OS.The company now has 7,000 employees, according to Chen, down from a peak of more than 17,500 in 2011. The BlackBerry chief added that the company, which is once again in a position to make strategic acquisitions to boost future sales, is well on its way to recovery and is aiming to be cash flow positive by the end of 2014.
BlackBerry recently acquired Germany enterprise mobility management firm Secusmart, which makes a microSD card-sized computer that allows electronics manufacturers to add voice and data encryption to devices.
Chen, who joined the firm around eight months ago, has a reputation for turning around tech companies ailing fortunes and was responsible for lifting software vendor Sybase out of the red in the late 90s.
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Updated: iPad Air 2 release date, news and rumors
iPad Air 2 release date, news and rumors
The iPad Air 2, the obvious follow up to the iPad Air, is set to be an iterative update to the current best tablet on the market right now.While its name is likely to be in the iPad Air 2 region, this will actually be Apple's sixth generation full size (9.7-inch) tablet - and the Cupertino based firm will be looking to continue its domination at the top end of the market.
Many rival manufacturers have attempted to ape the iPad's success, but numerous Android and Windows devices have tried and failed to match the premium build quality, consumer lust and ultimately the sales figures that Apple has enjoyed.
Apple is going to have a tough job topping the iPad Air, after it gained a coveted 5 star TechRadar review and it currently sits proudly at number 1 in our "Best Tablets in the World" top 10.
- Read our in-depth iPad Air review
The launch of iOS 7.1 contained some mentions of two newer models of iPads, according to 9to5Mac, noting iPad 4.3 and 4.6 models, which could reference the new iPad Air and iPad Mini 3.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The sequel to the iPad Air
- When is it out? The current best guess is a November 2014 launch
- What will it cost? The iPad Air 2 will likely start at £479 / $500 / AU$600
iPad Air 2 release date
The iPad Air 2 release date is likely to be the beginning of November, with the launch happening at the start of the month or the week after.Why November? Well that's when the iPad Air made an appearance last year, and Apple does like to stick to its annual produce cycle - if you overlook the whole iPad 4 thing.
iPad Air 2 rumors
The iPad Air 2 is not going to drop in cost if Apple's past performance is anything to go by, and we can't see the design changing that much either given the recent change in the larger iPad's chassis last year.There are some analyst rumors buzzing around and KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the new iPad Air will come with an Apple A8 processor, as well as sporting an 8MP rear camera and inheriting Touch ID from the iPhone 5S.
This theory which is given extra credence by the mention of iPad's in the Biometric Kit for iOS 7.1. Kuo added that he expects the new slate to ship towards the end of the third quarter.
Obviously an analyst is just that, so these theories are unlikely to be based on hard evidence, but Kuo has a better track record than some, as among other things he correctly predicted the inclusion of a fingerprint scanner in the iPhone 5S.
iPad Air 2 design
Kuo's theories are looking increasingly believable, as according to sources speaking to ETNews the iPad Air 2 will have an A8 chip, which is expected to improve efficiency and increase battery life, and its main camera will be boosted from 5 to 8MP, while the front-facing snapper will be increased to 1.5MP.However they went on to say that the design is going to be similar to that of the original iPad Air and its screen will stick at a resolution of 2048 x 1536.
We've also caught a glimpse of what might be the new iPad Air's front panel and it appears that the display is integrated into the panel, which would allow it to be slimmer than the iPad Air, which has a separate display and panel.
A more comprehensive leak claiming to show off a prototype iPad Air 2 in pretty much all its glory has also hit the web, revealing subtle design changes rather than a total overhaul.
Something worth noting in this series of images is the fact the TouchID button from the iPhone 5S appears to be on the iPad Air 2, backing up Kuo's claim that the biometric tech will land on the slate.
TouchID seems to be the feature of choice surrounding most of the next-gen iPad rumors, as another image claiming to show the iPhone 6, iPad Mini 3 and iPad Air 2 highlights the fingerprint scanner on all three devices.
While another recent leak mentions that Touch ID will be included in the new iPad Air and that it's going to be more durable than the current incarnation.
We've also seen yet another photo of the iPad Air 2, this time alongside an iPhone 5S and with Touch ID just as much of a focus as it has been in previous images.
It appears the iPad Air 2 just can't stay away from cameras, as a series of shots appeared on ASCII Plus showing off the front, rear and sizes of a tablet which looks very similar to the ones appearing in previous leaks.
The report does state that the device next to the current iPad Air in the shots is a mock up of Apple's tablet, so it has to be taken with a pince of salt - but again it's more of the same with no slider switch above the slightly redesigned volume keys.
Yet another set of images has emerged, this time supposedly showing the rear cover and they largely line up with what we've seen so far. It's evident from them that the volume controls have been recessed into the frame, while the speaker grille is now a single line of holes and there appears to be a microphone next to the rear camera.
While we loved the iPad Air, there's always room for improvement. Head over to page two to see what we'd love to see on the iPad Air 2.
iPad Air 2: What we want to see
The iPad Air is a great device but even brilliance can be built upon, so there's room for improvement for Apple's sixth generation slate - aka the iPad Air 2.Since the Air shares much of its design and many of its components with the latest iPad mini, some of this list overlaps with what we want to see for the iPad mini 3. But given the new iPad Air will be the flagship model, there are a few other things Apple could do.
A bigger screen
There's always a tradeoff between portability and screen size, but the success of some competing tablets shows that there is a market for devices larger than the iPad.And before you dismiss the idea, remember this is the company that said it wouldn't build a smaller iPad and then went on to design the wildly successful iPad mini.
Recent rumours have raised the spectre of a 12.9-inch iPad, significantly larger than the current 9.7-inch screen and running at 2K or even 4K resolution.
While the current Retina display running at 2,048 x 1,536 pixels could arguably already be described as 2K or very close, having a physically larger screen would be good for movies and photo editing, and Apple likes to boast about statistics when it suits.
Of course, this could actually be the much-vaunted iPad Pro, which would mean the iPad Air would stay the same - and if that's the only way to maintain portability, we're all for it.
Current rumors are pointing to a more 'pressure sensitive' display, which would allow for better reception of prods from your digits and even that much-fabled iStylus that could do everything but make the tea for you.
Bluetooth mouse support
As the iPad gets more powerful it becomes a more realistic proposition as a work machine, with current models inching closer to being dubbed true laptop replacements. The only problem is that touch input just isn't as accurate as mouse input for some tasks.Adding support for mice or graphics pen-style devices over Bluetooth could make the iPad a more usable device for more complex tasks, especially when it comes to graphics apps.
This would be quite a step for Apple since it touts touch as easy and intuitive, but it would nonetheless be welcomed by some users.
Facial recognition
iPads have had a front-facing camera for ages, and the Camera app is already able to detect faces when focusing.So it would be nice to have some means to unlock or authenticate your device by simply holding it up as you normally do and having the camera recognise you. However, there's a big caveat here: Apple needs to do what it did with Touch ID and make the system work instantly, and be very hard to spoof.
There are other possibilities instread, such as eye tracking, scrolling pages depending on your eye movements, or pausing movies when you look away. Again, we've seen these already, so we'd be looking to Apple to make the system flawless.
Touch ID
Like the Mini, the iPad Air still lacks the Touch ID sensor found in the new iPhone 5S. This seems a little odd for an expensive flagship device, and in future you can expect to see fingerprint sensing used for more than just unlocking a device, so putting it in the iPad would enable easier downloads, logins and even user switching.
Its current omission may be a cost issue, in the sense that Apple wants to protect its profit margins, but over time all technology tends to become cheaper so it would be a welcome inclusion.
A card slot
Look, we know that a lot of people reading this will laugh in our faces, but hear us out. We know there's no way Apple will put a card slot in its sleek, machine-tooled surfaces of its iPad but there's no doubt that a way to bring content more easily on and off the tablet is needed.With games and bigger music and video apps easily eating up 1GB or more, the base 16GB iPad can quickly fill up, especially if you're going to be away from your computer and unable to re-sync new content easily.
So if it's not a card slot (which it won't be, unless the moon suddenly turns into a banana and gravity inverts) then some other ability to sync content - be it a digital locker, a Lightning port connector with card slot that can do more than just photos, or some other idea that multiple intelligent bods can dream up.
Come on Apple, we're not doing all the work for you.
A haptic screen
Touch is pretty amazing though we all take it for granted now. An interesting way for Apple to go could be to use a pressure-sensitive haptic screen in its iPad lineup.
As well as providing better interaction for painting and drawing apps, it could surely leverage the extra input information for other purposes like pressing hard on a link to open it in a new tab.
A file browser
This is more of an iOS wish than specifically an iPad one, but iOS currently provides no real access to a file storage or manipulation area.Sure, third party apps do this, each in their own way but if Apple implemented it at a system level it could standardize the process of downloading files (not currently supported by Safari), saving documents and storing stuff so that all developers could provide a better overall experience - and would facilitate expandable storage in some form, as we mentioned earlier.
Apple wants you to use iCloud to sync all this kind of stuff but that presumes that you always have a network connection and that users will happily pay to upgrade the measly 5GB of standard iCloud storage associated with each Apple ID.
A quad core CPU
It's true that Apple's dual core A7 performs better than most quad core mobile CPUs in everyday use and this is down to the fact that by making the processor and the software and tightly controlling both, it can optimize everything very well.But just imagine that level of expertise being applied to a quad core CPU. Track counts and frame rates would go up, render and load times would go down - it's going to happen at some point, and the boon in creativity, already one of Apple's taglines to buying it tablets, would be immense.
So a quad core iPad seems likely, though the timing is less clear. The physically larger battery available would mean the Air likely went quad core before the iPad Mini ever could - but would Apple really want to switch out its strategy?.
A better camera
The iPad's two cameras are good, but there's no real limit on how good people would like them to be.It's not just about screen sizes, since the Air already shoots in HD, but improving the quality of the image, the zoom and stills performance would all be welcome and seem likely contenders for inclusion in future versions of the iPad, since camera technology is constantly improving.
And by the way, we don't mean the rear camera. That can go down to 2MP if it would make the design better, as it might discourage the scourge of tablet photography. We mean the front camera, improving it for use as a video conferencing tool and taking self portraits for social networks.
Live multitasking
By live,we mean the ability to have two apps on screen at the same time. Imagine streaming iPlayer while checking your email, and not having to switch out of one to see the other.There would have to be limits, like not allowing two apps to play sound at the same time, but it seems plausible enough on the larger screen of the Air, and with its significant processing power.
Again some other manufacturers have tried this with limited success, so it would be up to Apple to show them how to do it right - ideally it would be contextual or even Siri-driven, allowing you to be working on a spreadsheet or watching a movie and say 'Siri, is my train delayed?' and have what you were doing staying front and center with the information subtly popping up.
- We're expecting a new iPad Mini 3 later this year too.
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Aldi's first smartphone sucks, but it's just the start
Low-cost supermarket Aldi has announced it will start selling its first smartphone from August 7, in the form of the Medion Life E4001.
At just £79.99 SIM-free the handset is certainly affordable, but it looks less appealing when you check out the specs.
The 4-inch 480 x 800 display is the bare minimum we expect from phones these days, while the 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB internal storage, 2MP camera and 1300mAh are nothing to write home about.
Rather more disappointingly is the fact the Life E4001 is stuck on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich - an operating system that's been usurped not once, but twice - and will be another generation older come September/October with the arrival of Android L.
For around the same price you can get the Lumia 520 or Lumia 630 - two Windows Phone with newer operating systems and better feature sets - the Moto E, the excellent Moto G or the 4G-enabled EE Kestrel. In short, you're spoilt for choice at this price point.
Only the start
While Aldi's first foray into the smartphone market may not make many waves, it does show intent from the supermarket chain - imagine if it struck a deal with the likes Oppo, OnePlus or even Motorola - the latter of which is owned by the same outfit as Medion, Lenovo.Suddenly low cost phones from Asia could flood the UK market, making it a lot easier for consumers to get hold of high-spec, yet affordable handsets, giving Samsung, Sony, HTC and LG something to really think about.
Of course this is all speculation, but while we recommend you skip this particular handset it's probably worth keeping an eye on Aldi for the future.
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BT Business partners with EE to make 4G free for SMBs
If you're looking to snag your small business faster mobile connectivity without breaking the bank, BT's latest offer might make your ears prick up.
In a company blog post, the UK's incumbent telco announced that it's offering 4G for free to all business customers that take up a BT Business Mobile connection.
The 4G service in question runs over the BT Business national mobile service, which was facilitated by an agreement signed with EE earlier this year.
And should you run into an area without 4G coverage, BT will let you log onto one of its 5 million Wi-Fi hotspots scattered across the UK - for free.
Compared with 3G, 4G mobile connectivity allows businesses to do more on the move, whether that's connecting to cloud services, streaming HD video or downloading large presentations or files.
On the move
Graham Sutherland, CEO, BT Business, highlighted BT research that showed that 24% of employees now regularly work out of the office.He said: "As part of our strategy to offer a portfolio that provides value for money and meets the changing needs of businesses, we've designed our new mobile plans to cater for this.
"Our new plans give customers the connectivity they need to help them stay productive when out and about, along with the flexibility to choose a plan that suits their way of working."
How safe is your data in the cloud?
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Updated: Samsung Galaxy F release date, news and rumors
Release date, price and display
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a top smartphone with a lot to shout about, but with increased pressure from HTC, Sony and LG, there are suggestions that Samsung is looking to give its flagship another boost.Compare the build quality of the Galaxy S5 to the HTC One M8, Sony Xperia Z2 or iPhone 5S and the Samsung flagship feels cheap in comparison, while the full HD display isn't a match for the QHD offering in the LG G3.
To tackle these two points head-on, the Samsung Galaxy Alpha is apparently being readied in South Korea - with a bumped up screen and shiny new chassis.
It's unclear what the final name of the handset will be, because as well as Galaxy Alpha we're also seeing a lot of reports referring to the Samsung Galaxy F and the Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime, as have two variants on these- the Samsung Galaxy S5 F and the Samsung Galaxy S5 Alpha.
Samsung CEO JK Shin has said it isn't working on a premium Galaxy S5, but the rumor mill is refusing to slow down on the Galaxy F chatter. We've even seen suggestions that the Galaxy S5 Prime and the Galaxy F could be two different handsets - it's properly crazy.
Apparently there's a HTC One M8 Prime in the works too, so the QHD smartphone market could be about to really hot up.
Here's everything we know so far regarding the Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? A premium version of the Galaxy S5
- When is it out? Sometime in 2014
- What will it cost? At lot - more than the current S5
Samsung Galaxy F release date
The Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime release date was tipped for mid-June, but with time having run out this information was clearly off the mark. July has almost slipped away too, so we won't be seeing the Galaxy Alpha before August.One report suggests the Galaxy S5 Prime may be pretty tricky to get hold of, as complications in the production of the QHD display mean Samsung will only make a limited number of units.
Similar reports suggest that Samsung is struggling to manufacture large quantities of metal cases for it sprouting concerns that it could be limited edition or even exclusive to South Korea.
Given these problems we reckon that it might slip to September. Twitter leaker @evleaks received a tip claiming as much. Or more specifically claiming that the Samsung Galaxy F (which is believed to be one and the same as the Galaxy S Prime / Galaxy Alpha) will be launching then.
If it does then it will likely be going head to head with the iPhone 6, but that could be the whole point. While most manufacturers get out of the way of an Apple launch, Samsung is perhaps the only one which has the muscle to compete, so it may be a tactical move to steal away some would-be iPhone buyers.
Samsung certainly seems to be ramping up for a release in any case, as the handset has just passed through the FCC, while G4Games reports that it's been certified by the equivalent company in South Korea.
- Read our in depth Samsung Galaxy S5 review
Samsung Galaxy F price
When it comes to the Galaxy S5 Prime price you won't be surprised when we tell you it's going to be expensive (that's if it actually exists, of course).According to information garnered by Naver.com, the Galaxy S5 Prime will have a SIM-free launch price of KRW 900,000 (about US$880, £523, AU$940).
While more recently Mobile Fun in the UK has listed it for pre-order at £549 ($926 / AU$991) SIM-free. That puts it at around the same price as the Galaxy S5 launched at, which is slightly surprising given that it's now looking like a lower end phone.
Samsung Galaxy F display
One of the major upgrades rumored for the Galaxy S5 Prime is the screen, with Samsung initially tipped to equip the handset with a 5.2-inch, 2,560 x 1,440 display.With multiple sources all pointing towards the QHD display, it seemed for a while that this would be the likely option.
The reasoning behind this decision is questionable, as the current Galaxy S5 has an eye-popping display which has been dubbed the best performing smartphone screen by independent benchmarkers.
A key factor in the S5 Prime potentially sporting a QHD display is what's happening over at Samsung's fierce Korean rival.
LG has slapped a QHD screen on its latest flagship - the LG G3 - and the S5 Prime could be Samsung's response in an attempt to stay relevant in its national market.
That said it looks like our QHD dreams have been dashed, as more recently a handful of videos from TK Tech News have appeared on YouTube apparently showing a pre-production version of the S5 Prime with a full HD, 1080p display - matching that of the original S5.
A report from Holland also claims that the Galaxy S5 Prime (not the Galaxy F - that may be a separate device) only had a 1080p display when it appeared at a network event.
We've also now heard reports from the Korea Herald that the Galaxy F might only have a 4.7 inch Super AMOLED screen, which would seem odd in itself but would explain why it could be sticking with a 1080p display. A 4.7 inch screen is small for Samsung, but it would match the rumored iPhone 6 screen size and thereby make it more of an alternative to Apple's handset, which might be Samsung's plan.
Worryingly though it's now looking like it probably won't even get a 1080p display, with an unnamed source claiming that it will match the Samsung Galaxy S3's screen. That phone had a 4.8-inch 720p Super AMOLED display. At the time it wasn't clear whether the source was referring to the size, resolution, technology or some combination, but it now looks like they were referring to all three aspects.
A leak from SamMobile suggests a 4.8-inch 720p display, while both a retailer and a tipster point to the same. Specifically a 4.8-inch 1280 x 720 Super AMOLED display with a pixel density of 320 pixels per inch. As all the most recent rumors are pointing in this direction it looks like this will be what we get.
Chassis, power, OS and more
Samsung Galaxy F chassis
The second major upgrade which could find its way onto the Galaxy S5 Prime is the all metal chassis, as Samsung looks to bring the same appeal to its flagship smartphone as the likes of the iPhone 5S and HTC One M8.Originally touted in the leak for the 'SM-G906K' Galaxy S5 Plus model, this rumor has developed into the S5 Prime, while an image posted on Reddit appears to show a metal clad-handset.
We've also seen the model IDs SM-G870A and SM-G850F pop up in various places recently, although these are though to be linked to the Galaxy S5 Active, rather than the S5 Prime.
Interestingly TK Tech News claims to have of a pre-production version of the SM-G870A which it's billing as the S5 Prime due to its aluminium rear cover.
The site has posted several YouTube videos showing off the handset in question, and although it is referred to as the Prime, the thicker dimensions and more heavy-duty seal around the rear plate all seem to suggest it's actually the rumored S5 Active.
PhoneArena also reckons it's got some details on the Galaxy S5 Prime frame, with a set of images showing a dimpled back just like the S5 - although the site claims that the handset in these shots sports a metal rear.
It's difficult to tell from the photos what material is in use, but it appears the internal speaker may be moved from the rear of the Galaxy S5 to the base of the S5 Prime - a better position if you ask us.
And PhoneArena isn't stopping there, with yet another leak allegedly showing off a pre-production model of the Galaxy F which the site claims it's been sent.
The rear plate is said to be metallic, and while the smartphone in question is running a Snapdragon 801 processor the source it came from reckons the Galaxy F will ship with the newer 805 chip.
However SamMobile has got hold of some clearer and more recent shots purportedly showing the handset and it's evident from them that while the frame is metal the back is plastic.
For a while it looked like the Galaxy Alpha might have the same dimensions as the Galaxy S5, or the same height and width anyway. An FCC filing believed to be for Samsung's new phone includes a diagram listing the dimensions as 72.5 x 142mm, which is identical to the Galaxy S5.
But with rumors emerging of the handset having just a 4.7 inch screen that seems unlikely. Sadly the diagram didn't reveal the thickness of the handset, but the Korea Herald reports that it's just 6mm thick, which would make it a lot slimmer than the 8.1mm Galaxy S5.
Supporting the idea of an edge-to-edge display, PhoneArena has also uncovered an image of the Galaxy F side by side with the Galaxy S5. It's clear that while the devices are of a similar overall size the Galaxy F has far smaller bezels.
But that image has been called into question, as a more recent photo supposedly showing the phones side by side reveals that the Galaxy Alpha could be smaller, making it more in line with the 4.7 inch rumors we've been hearing. That image also matches another recent shot, obtained by Tinhte, so it could be the real deal.
Samsung has been more adventurous in terms of colored variants of its handsets in recent years, and if the latest press image leak from @evleaks is correct the Galaxy F looks set to sport a gold hue.
The serial leaker posted the image along with the words "Samsung Galaxy F, in 'perfect golden' hue, 2014" - again teasing us of its arrival this year, while the brushed metal back could well just be an effect on plastic rather than the real deal.
But @evleaks isn't finished there, as he's posted a second and third image claiming to be of the Galaxy F, but this time the gold color is referred to as "glowing gold."
In the first of these more recent leaks the tipster wrote: "Samsung Galaxy F (which is /not/ the S5 LTE-A), in glowing gold (yes, a different shade, apparently), 2014" while the latter simply read "Samsung Galaxy F, in glowing gold." Though it's worth taking all of these with a grain of salt as they don't line up with the recent spy shots that have been popping up.
The same Twitter account has also leaked what appears to be a black version of the Galaxy F "in the wild", although the pixelated shot is tricky to authenticate.
Meanwhile an image claiming to show the top portion of the device reveals an iPhone-esque metal band running round the edge of the handset, which is along the lines of the recent spy shots we've seen.
Sent by an anonymous tipster the validity of the shot can't be proven, but the source states that only the edges will be metal with the removable rear plate being made of polycarbonate.
It's looking like almost a dead-cert that the edge, will be metal with the back sticking to plastic as a bunch of new, highly convincing shots have emerged showing as much. First up there's some images of the phone in white, which were posted to Weibo.
Next we saw some photos from @culeaks, this time in black but otherwise very similar.
In both cases it looks convincing and like a finished handset, so unless something arrives to change our mind this is what we expect the Galaxy Alpha will look like.
Samsung Galaxy F power
The Galaxy S5 sports a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, but the Galaxy S5 Prime may be in for a bit of a treat.Some reports are suggesting the S5 Prime will pack the newer 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 chip, which would make it one of the first smartphones to do so.
Alternatively, SamMobile reckons the Galaxy F might come with the new Exynos 5433 processor, which would also be a smartphone first. The Korea Herald seems to echo this, claiming that it will be equipped with an Exynos 5 Octa processor.
That Exynos processor is looking the most likely, as both a retailer and the Twitter tipster @culeaks claim it will have an octa-core Exynos processor.
As well as the improved processor, the Galaxy F was originally tipped to come with 3GB of RAM and an Adreno 420 GPU (or Adreno 405 depending on who you want to believe) - up from 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 330 GPU on the S5.
However it's now looking more likely that it will have just 2GB of RAM and while there's no new information on the GPU we'd be surprised if that got an upgrade, given the more modest specs overall that we're expecting.
Samsung Galaxy F operating system
The Galaxy S5 Prime could go one better than the S5 again, with the currently unreleased Android 4.4.4 KitKat platform leaked as the version apparently coming with the handset.That's a slight step up from Android 4.4.2 which comes on the Galaxy S5, and you can expect Samsung to slap its TouchWiz UI over the top of 4.4.3 on the S5 Prime.
Samsung Galaxy F battery
The rumored Snapdragon 805 chip should provide some additional power efficiency, but reports also point towards a 3000mAh battery which is slightly larger than the 2800mAh offering in the S5.However other reports point to just an 1850mAh juice pack, which if it has a smaller screen than the S5 would make sense.
We also saw Samsung include an extreme power saving mode on the Galaxy S5, and we expect the same function to appear on the S5 Prime to help battle the drain from that screen.
Samsung Galaxy F more specs
In terms of cameras the Galaxy S5 Prime looks set to adopt the same 16MP rear and 2MP front snapper of the S5 with 4K video recording on board and a host of options and effects we've become accustomed too on Samsung's high-end devices. Though more recent rumors suggest it might just be a 12 megapixel camera on the back.The heart rate monitor on the back and fingerprint scanner under the home key will apparently also make the jump. However while it will apparently come with 32GB of storage, it's rumored that there won't be a microSD card slot.
It will also apparently pack Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy, if a listing on Bluetooth SIG is to be believed, although it does come with yet another model ID: SM-G906L.
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Updated: White Xbox One set for launch this year
Update: A Microsoft spokesperson has told TechRadar that the company has "nothing to announce at this time".
However, Polygon reports that an Microsoft bod confirmed the white Xbox One will be available with Sunset Overdrive "later this year". The game launches on October 28, so there's a good chance that we'll see the lighter-toned console become available.
Original story below...
The pale Xbox One may get its day in the sun(set) this October.
A French retailer has listed - and then removed - a white Xbox One console and Sunset Overdrive bundle, priced at €399, sparking suspicions that a more official announcement may be nigh.
The white Xbox One was initially an exclusive for Microsoft employees (though a couple did pop up on eBay) but French site Micromania has listed the console for an October 28 release.
Microsoft's not confirmed anything yet, so hold tight. But what would you know, it's Gamescom in a few days. Wonderful timing.
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Samsung Galaxy Alpha specs leaked by retailer and tipster
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha may still be the stuff of rumours, but that hasn't stopped one retailer from putting it up for pre-order, complete with a list of alleged specs.
Mobile Fun is the online store in question -although the listing already seems to have been taken down - but not before The Inquirer managed to grab all the juicy details.
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha was listed at a flagship-worthy £549, for which you'd apparently get a 4.7-inch 1280 x 720 Super AMOLED display with a pixel density of 320ppi, an octa-core Exynos processor, a 12MP camera with 'super-fast autofocus' and a 2.1MP front-facing snapper.
It's also said to come with 32GB of storage, 4G capabilities and a fingerprint scanner, though there's no mention of the heart rate monitor found on the Samsung Galaxy S5.
Metal mention
As for the build of the Galaxy Alpha, there's no image included but it's described as having a 'metallic design.' As with any pre-announcement listing we'd advise a healthy helping of salt with this, but it's a fairly detailed listing, so if it is guess work they're some quite comprehensive guesses.In fact the specs match up with another leak that appeared shortly after, this time from @culeaks, which claims the device will have a 4.7-inch 720p display, an Exynos octa-core processor and a 12MP camera, as well as mentioning a few things which Mobile Fun didn't, specifically that it will have an 1850mAh battery, 2GB of RAM and run Android 4.4.4.
The new Twitter tipster also revealed some more images of the phone, giving us a good look at the metal edges and matching up with other recent images.
This is a new account, so it doesn't have any sort of track record, but the images look convincing and the specs line up with Mobile Fun's listing, so we may well be on to something.
- The Samsung Galaxy Alpha could be with us very soon.
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