Updated: Best tablet 2014: Our top 10 ranking
Best tablets: 10-6
What's the best tablet for 2014? Today's latest tablets compared and rated - constantly updatedTablets are taking the world by storm. Just a few years ago they were an unknown for many people, but nowadays you've got more choice than you can shake a mildly agitated koala at.
And with choice comes decisions - difficult decisions. Do you eschew Apple's high prices, join the Android brigade and find the best iPad alternative? Or jump on board Apple's lovetrain, and use one of the most popular tablets on the planet?
Remember – the iPad Air 2 is nearly available to buy, as is the new iPad Mini 3 (or iPad mini with Retina 2, if you're getting really picky) so perhaps hold off that new tablet purchase for the next few weeks to check out what's on offer – or if the new Apple slates will force the cost of Android options down.
It's a difficult process divining which place each of these excellent tablets should occupy in our list, so we take into account multiple elements including performance, battery life, screen quality and more.
Price plays a minor part, as does age: a tablet that's been replaced by a sequel will tumble down the rankings as you can get all the great features on a better slate.
If none of the top 10 tablets here take your fancy then head on over to our tablet reviews pages, where you'll find in-depth reviews for many more models.
Let us know your thoughts on the top 10 (and whether you think we've got the order wrong) in the comment box below.
10. iPad mini
Apple's former CEO Steve Jobs famously slammed small tablets a few years back, leading many to believe the Cupertino-based firm would never dabble in the budget end of the market, but this model proved that wrong.
In terms of consistency in the tablet market Apple cannot be matched, as it still lays claim to the the top spot in our top 10, although the iPad mini is no longer the jewel in an already glistening crown - it's already been usurped by the upgraded Google Nexus 7 and its successor.
However, the new iPad mini 3 is nearly here. Don't buy this one now - it will probably go off sale really soon. If you must have it, the price will drop quickly at other retailers if you wait.
Quick verdict
When it landed we dubbed the iPad mini "the best iPad Apple has ever created", and while the iPad Air now claims that title now, this pint sized slate is still an OK choice on a budget - but don't buy it right now.9. Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7
Leaner, meaner and more powerful than its predecessor, Amazon has stepped its game up with the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 as it looks to keep pace with the new Nexus 7.
On paper Amazon's latest 7-inch tablet is more than up to the job with a 2.2GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, full HD display, up to 64GB of storage and prices starting at $US268 (but which jumps up to $499 if you buy through local retailer Dick Smith).
In reality however it's not the complete offering the Nexus 7 is, with Amazon's heavily modified Fire OS 3.0 stripping out a lot of the functionality of Android and putting the retailer's services front and centre.
There's also a number of features that simply aren't available for Australian users, like Amazon Prime, for example.
Quick verdict
For the customisation you give up, you gain simplicity and ease of use on the Kindle Fire HDX 7. We'd like to call this the sort of tablet you give to someone who is less than tech savvy, but those devices don't usually have such good hardware.For those who want a little more functionality reach for a Nexus 7, or if you have deeper pockets check out the iPad mini 2.
8. Microsoft Surface Pro 3
With every iteration of its Surface Pro lineup, Microsoft gets one step closer to achieving its goal of becoming as good at hardware as Apple.
The Surface Pro 3 is by far the best piece of kit that Redmond has ever released, with its boost to screen performance and its thinner and lighter magnesium frame.
It's a shining light on exactly what a hybrid tablet/laptop can be, although it still needs a bit of work on battery life and heat dissipation. Oh, and price... This thing is mighty expensive for a tablet.
Quick verdict
It may be the most striking and impressive product Microsoft has ever released, but it still has its flaws.For one, its battery life performance is much more in line with a laptop than a tablet, and while it straddles the two categories, in the world of the iPad Air, that's just not going to cut it.
If you enjoy your tablets with Windows and hate the prospect of carrying around a laptop and a tablet, this is by far the best example of what a hybrid device can do.
7. LG G Pad 8.3
Well, when you make an Android tablet with a design language like this one, perhaps it's time to quietly worry at Samsung. In place of plastic, it's got a lovely aluminium shell, and connectivity with other Android phones makes it a viable option for a wider range of users.
Some might question whether the Snapdragon 600 chip is too low-power for a tablet that costs around $400, but it allows for a sleeker design according to the Korean brand.
Quick verdict
We really liked the G Pad 8.3, and it was only lower down in our list thanks to a slightly higher battery drain than we were expecting - plus the overlay can take some getting used to.But its one of the closest competitors to the iPad Mini out there in terms of design, and it's a tablet we're not ashamed to pull out of a stylishly slim bag.
6. Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2
Never one to leave a tablet niche unexplored, Samsung pushed screen sizes up to new heights with the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2.
Thankfully that's not all it has going for it, as the Note Pro 12.2's 3GB of RAM and quad-core processor give it superior performance, while the S Pen becomes truly useful in combination with the slates large, bright screen.
It's an obvious choice for digital artists or anyone else who wants a device they can be productive on, but the bigger screen makes it great just for web browsing and watching videos too.
On the flip side the increased size makes it a little unwieldy and the build quality is a touch creaky thanks to the larger chassis, but is offset by the sheer expanse of screen to play with.
Quick verdict
Its big screen and S Pen support make the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 an extremely useful productivity tool - if you're a fan of the Note range, there's very little better on the market and Samsung seems to be successfully convincing the world that the stylu... sorry, S Pen is still relevant to today's gadget fans.Number 5: Google Nexus 7
5. Google Nexus 7
The new Nexus 7 takes over from the original 7-inch effort from Google in 2012, and packs a 1.5Ghz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and comes with either 16GB or 32GB of storage
Offered up at just 260g, it's the perfect tablet for slinging in a bag and hurtling down to the local supermarket, or is equally adept at being a long-haul saviour, with reams of apps, a decent slug of battery life and that all-new high-res 7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 display with 323 ppi.
It's a little more expensive than the previous model was at launch, with prices beginning at $299 for the 16GB option and $339 for the 32GB variant - and it's worth remembering that the OS takes a portion of that storage too, to allow for Android 4.3 to thrive.
It's also about to get the 4.4 KitKat update in the very near future soon, so you know you'll be getting the latest version of Android with this all-new tablet.
Plus there's a 4G option from the outset, offering 32GB of storage for $439.
Overall, this has some top end features, a low-risk update policy and is built in a way that makes it feel both premium and robust enough to chuck around the house. That's a good mix in our eyes.
Quick verdict
If you're considering a tablet now and are already dabbling in the Android ecosystem, we see no reason why shouldn't take the plunge with a Nexus 7.The new iPad mini 2 however has jumped back to second spot by beating everything the new Nexus 7 has, bar the price, but this new Nexus is a worthy competitor.
Number 4: Apple iPad mini 2 with Retina Display
4. Apple iPad mini 2 with Retina Display
Look at that - Apple's taken the two of the top five spots in our tablet round up. You'll either love or hate that decision, but we can't deny that Apple has the best slates on the market right now.
The iPad Air is ahead of the Mini 2, thanks to being more competitive on price and having a larger screen for all those iPad-friendly apps.
But this is far from a poor device. It's got reams of style from the aluminium back, a superfast A7 chip and that screen... well, it's what we should have had last year, but it still looks the business.
Don't forget that this model is about to be usurped by a new iPad Mini 3 - best to wait until that lands on shelves before deciding to buy.
Quick verdict
The iPad mini 2 doesn't actually seem that much smaller than it's big brother because of the change to the Air's design - and the larger tablet is now encroaching on the 'portable tablet' space.But with the new display, the Mini 2 has as many pixels in a smaller space, leading to greater sharpness for text and pics - plus there's no loss in power or battery life, which is a marvel in itself.
But with the price only just cheaper than the Air, the mini 2 doesn't get the five star label that the Air does. Still, if you're looking for a brilliant tablet in the smaller category (and aren't too worried about cost, you wealthy little so-and-so) then the mini 2 is without compare.
Number 3: Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
3. Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
Sony's done it again in the tablet world, making an amazing large-screened device, and while it hasn't nabbed the top spot, it's still given us a jolly good tablet.
The Xperia Z2 Tablet - so named to tie in more neatly with the phone version - brings a massively uprated Snapdragon 801 CPU, 3GB of RAM and an all-new Live Color LED screen that brings vibrancy and contrast to what you're watching.
Video is also improved thanks to the dual front-facing speakers, meaning you can ditch the headphones when watching in a hotel room and still get a decent experience.
Like its predecessor it's also water and dust resistant, so kitchen-based misdemeanours and reading an ebook in the bath are all on offer for you.
Quick verdict
If you're invested in the Sony ecosystem, you could do a lot worse than the Xperia Z2 Tablet, as it comes fully-loaded with access to Sony's music, movies and Playstation platforms. Well, you have to download an app to properly get gaming, but we'll overlook that for now.There's an IR blaster on top to make this a great tablet for controlling the TV, and the speed and sheer weight (or lack thereof) make this a real sofa-friendly choice.
The screen could do with being sharper and you'll still be paying top dollar for this 10.1-inch tablet, but what you're getting is a really nifty, well-packaged slate.
Number 2: Samsung Galaxy Tab S
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S
Samsung has been pouring a lot of effort into making a really decent iPad rival, and that strategy has seen some hare-brained decisions (such as launching the Tab Pro in January, and then replacing it a few months later with the Galaxy Tab S).
But, apart from annoying anyone that's already bought into the Tab Pro range, this strategy has finally yielded a brilliant tablet in the shape of this Super AMOLED-shorn Tab S duo. Available in both 8.4- and 10.5-inch screen sizes, Samsung has taken the best of its OS and technology ability, fused them with the best display on a tablet and created something pretty special.
The battery life is great, the screen has to be seen to be believed (and is excellent for media and internet viewing, which is really the point of a tablet) and the price is on a par with the rest of the industry. Well done, Samsung.
Quick verdict
Why isn't the Tab S at the top of the tree? Samsung's eternal problem returns to bite it: the design is still too flimsy, although having two sizes does help mitigate this problem.Android still struggles to be a truly powerful tablet OS yet as well, which means the apps are still poor compared to iOS on larger screens, although when Android L pops up we're hopeful of a big step forward.
The difference between the Tab S and the Xperia Z2 Tablet is minimal - it really comes down to design and extra features, but if you're not wedded to the idea of owning an Apple tablet these two are the choices you should be looking at.
Number 1: Apple iPad Air
1. Apple iPad Air
If you've already read our iPad Air review this will come as no surprise, as Apple's latest slate is the first tablet ever to gain a five star rating on TechRadar.
People scoffed when Apple launched the first iPad, but the sector has grown exponentially since the first generation device landed and with the Air the Cupertino firm has finally nailed the formula.
Impressive design coupled with a thinner, lighter chassis makes for a premium and quite frankly beautiful tablet, and Apple's powerful A7 and M7 chips under the hood means it chews through even the toughest tasks in next to no time.
Of course the price tag is still high, but it's comparable to the likes of the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet, finally making it a contender on an even playing field.... and with that in mind, there's no competition.
And we're about to get a new one in the shape of the iPad Air 2 - so probably best to hold on if you're thinking of buying a new Apple tablet.
Quick verdict
"It's not just Apple's best tablet, it's the only tablet you should be considering if you're keen on a larger screen." That's what we said in the verdict of our in-depth iPad Air review. While the Xperia Tablet Z is a brilliant tablet, the Air just takes things to the next level.If you want the best tablet on the market then look no further. The iPad Air has reclaimed top spot for Apple and it's going to take some beating.
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Skype just got an exclusive feature on Windows Phone
While many apps - including Microsoft's own OneDrive and Skype itself - are getting updated with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus support, Microsoft has granted the Windows Phone version of Skype an exclusive feature.
Skype for Windows Phone is now the only version of the service that lets users draw and doodle, then send their creations to friends and other unwitting recipients, the Skype blog reveals.
To access the new Skype drawing tool in the WP app tap the "+" symbol in a chat window, followed by "drawing."
It looks like a very simple tool - maybe even a stripped-down MS Paint - but there's nothing wrong with that. However it does let you draw on top of images and Bing maps.
Getting high (res)
The Skype app for Windows Phone also gained HD screen support in this latest update.Skype reports that the app is now faster on Windows Phone 8.1 as well, with improved resume time, and that you can now sign in automatically using the Microsoft account linked to your WP device.
Finally Skype is also now letting users sign in with their native Skype accounts instead of having to link them to their Microsoft Accounts, though they still encourage you to do so.
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ZTE sharpening its portfolio with the Blade Vec in Australia
After years of OEM products for Telstra and Optus, ZTE initially tried to crack the Aussie market with its own device, the ZTE V969, back in May.
That lineup is getting expanded in the lead up to Christmas, with the company announcing it will be launching the ZTE Blade Vec in JB Hi-Fi stores from early November.
With an asking price of $249 outright, the handset is destined to go head to head with the likes of the Moto G and Lumia 630.
Dual wielding SIMs
From a specs perspective, the Blade Vec is packed with dual Micro-SIM card slots, a quad core 1.3GHz processor with 1GB RAM and a 5-inch 1280 x 720 pixel TFT display.Running Android 4.4 and with a 2300mAh battery, the Blade Vec actually comes in both a 3G and a 4G version internationally, but ZTE has opted to initially launch the 3G version in Australia.
Fortunately, it's HSPA+ compliant, meaning (theoretical) 21Mbps download speeds, and works on the 850, 900 and 2100MHz 3G networks, plus quad-band GSM, so it will happily work on all the local carriers.
There's 8GB of on board storage, although you only get about 5GB once you take out the OS. Fortunately, you can upgrade to 32GB via the MicroSD card slot.
The phone measures in at 139.3 x 69.8 x 7.8mm and weighs just 125 grams. There's an 8MP snapper on the back and a 5MP front-facing camera too.
- After a cheap handset? Why not check out our list of the best budget phones you can buy?
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Samsung's massive Galaxy Mega 2 hits the US on AT&T this week
The Samsung Galaxy Mega 2 was revealed unceremoniously in August, when it spontaneously went on sale in Malaysia and Thailand.
Now the Samsung phablet that isn't the Galaxy Note 4 is launching in the US this week through AT&T.
The Galaxy Mega 2 will arrive at the carrier October 24 for $475 off-contract, $150 with a two-year agreement, or $19.80/$23.75 on a 24- or 20-month AT&T Next plan.
Mega in size only
The Samsung Galaxy Mega stretches the definition of portable, but in truth its "Mega" descriptor only applies to its 6-inch size.The phablet's other specs, including a 1.5GHz quad-core Exynos processor, 1.5GB of memory, an 8-megapixel camera, a 2800mAh battery, and Android KitKat, are less impressive.
At least it has the Galaxy Note 3's faux-leather backing - a plus, if you're into that sort of thing.
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Apple boasts of record earnings in fourth quarter report
Apple has divulged its fourth quarter 2014 financials, revealing what the iPhone maker calls "record September quarter revenue and earnings."
The company posted total revenue of $42.1 billion (about £26b, AU$47.9b) for the quarter that ended September 27. Quarterly net profit reached $8.5 billion (about £5.26b, AU$9.7b).
Compare that to revenue and net profit of $37.5 billion (about £23.2b, AU$42.6b) and $7.5 billion (about £4.6b, AU$8.5b) respectively during the same period last year, and it's easy to see why Apple is pleased with itself.
Gross margin rose from 37% to 38% compared with last year as well.
Higher and higher
Apple attributed 60% of all its revenue in Q4 2014 to international sales.The company's announcement cites CEO Tim Cook reiterating that the September release of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus was Apple's biggest iPhone launch ever.
Apple also attributed its success in this quarter to strong Mac and App Store sales.
Apple Chief Financial Operator Luca Maestri reported 20% EPS growth and $13.3 billion (about £8.22b, AU$15.1b) in cash flow from operations, another record for the company. Apple spent $20 billion (about £12.4b, AU$22.8b) in the quarter, with cumulative returns of $94 billion (about £58.2b, AU$106.9b).
For Q1 of fiscal 2015 Apple predicts revenue between $63.5 billion (about £39.3b, AU$72.3b) and $66.5 billion (about £41.1b, AU$75.7b), gross margin between 37.5% and 38.5%, operating expenses between $5.4 billion (about £3.3b, AU$6.1b) and $5.5 billion (about £3.4b, AU$6.3b), other expense of $325 million (about £200m, AU$370m), and a tax rate of 26.5%.
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Dropbox is the latest app to gain Touch ID on iPhone 6
Dropbox had a rough first date with iOS 8, but it looks like it's smoothed things over - and added an important new security feature.
The cloud storage service is the latest to gain TouchID support in its iOS app's most recent update.
Like other recent updates to iOS apps including Facebook, Chrome and YouTube, OneDrive, Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, and Skype, Dropbox's version 3.5 update also adds compatibility with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Touch and feel
Thankfully the app's fingerprint security features aren't limited to the newest Apple iPhones, but they are exclusive to devices with iOS 8.Lastly the Dropbox update also includes performance, stability and bug fixes, including a fix for an issue with previewing RTF files in iOS 8.
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In Depth: Microsoft's Azure enhancements will resonate much louder than another price reduction
Amazon, Google and Microsoft have fiercely battled one another to be the cloud storage provider of choice for enterprises. The competition has forced the three tech behemoths to dramatically reduce prices, most notably Google's latest 10% reduction, which followed the company's previously announced 68% reduction.
Research firm IDC recently warned that these price cuts could drive smaller vendors out of business. But Microsoft's (and to a lesser extent Google and Amazon's) immediate and impressive responses to customer demand are really the driving force behind the near-monopolization of the enterprise cloud storage arena.
The price reductions could ultimately hurt all three vendors, especially as margins crumble away, but because Microsoft has allowed innovation and not price to dictate its cloud mission, it should ultimately remain among the enterprise cloud leaders when the dust settles.
Azure as it stands
Microsoft is currently the most far-reaching of the three services, with Azure to be made available in 19 regions by the end of the year (six times more than Google and twice Amazon's regions), and more than $4.5 billion invested in data-centers (also six times more than Google and double Amazon's investments).Azure registers 10,000 new customers each week. The service hosts 1.2 million SQL databases and more than 30 trillion objects (a huge coup for CEO Satya Nadella who has staked the Internet of Things as one of his main focuses at Microsoft).
Microsoft, which has relied more on Azure-related product and function upgrades than it has on price reductions in order to draw in customers (although it has reduced cloud prices more than 50% in the past year and is now offering hourly billing), took this tactic a step further today by introducing several new options for Azure prospects and clients.
G-series, Cloud Platform and Azure Marketplace
Today, Microsoft announced the G-series of virtual machines. The new lineup, which follows the D-series, is powered by Intel Xeon processors. The D-Series provided users with up to 112 GB in memory and 800 GB of local SSD disk. The G-series features 32 CPU cores, 450GB of RAM and 6.5 terabytes of local SSD storage. This quadruples the memory of Google's largest virtual machine and double's Amazon's largest.Additionally, Microsoft unveiled the Microsoft Cloud Platform System (CPS), a tool that offers a hybrid environment for Azure deployments. Users will be able to leverage Azure services on Dell hardware in exchange for more security thanks to on-premise storage. Microsoft clients will be banking on receiving the protection without having to sacrifice much Azure and Windows Server functionality.
Microsoft also launched the Azure Marketplace. Now companies can browse, search and sell applications, operating systems and servers within the Microsoft ecosystem.
Recent upgrades
Earlier in the year, Microsoft launched ExpressRoute, a service that allows organizations to connect servers directly to Azure through MPLS providers rather than through the public internet. It also launched reserved IP addresses, and the Azure file storage service, which lets you leverage cloud storage on your local network.Azure isn't without its flaws. It recently experienced an outage that lasted for five hours, which didn't sit well with Azure customers who are used to steady disruptions.
Not to mention it follows in the shadow of Amazon, which practically invented the space and continues to deliver dramatic innovation, especially in terms of content delivery and networking.
Why Microsoft will remain competitive
Within a week of the Azure disruption, Microsoft created an enhanced service-level agreement that promised 99.99% availability, which translates into a maximum annual downtime of just under 53 minutes. It's these kinds of quick adjustments and unprecedented levels of investment that will propel Microsoft ahead of the game in terms of the enterprise cloud.Although Google and Amazon have made cloud ubiquitous among the consumer market, Microsoft has focused its efforts on listening to developers and IT departments to build out functionality that resonates behind-the-scenes.
Additionally, Nadella has planted his flag in the ground as the CEO who will make Microsoft the owner of the cloud market. When he sent an email to his employees detailing Microsoft's future and its focus on cloud, mobility and the Internet of Things, he was essentially saying his success (or failure) would follow Azure's course in the market.
And, other than a comically poorly-timed boneheaded remark, Nadella has given himself a head-start on the future in terms of how the cloud will process and simplify storage in order to transmit the data created by the Internet of Things.
Today's announcements further this mission and will resonate much louder with enterprises than another 10% price reduction.
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Updated: Surface 3: what we want to see
What do we want to see on the Surface 3? Many of the qualities we would expect from a new Surface tablet - namely slimmer dimensions, a lighter chassis and longer battery life - arrived on Microsoft's capable Surface Pro 3, making it a little harder for any potential new tablet to stand out from the crowd.
Release date
Until recently, details of a successor to the Surface 2 have been thin on the ground. The quiet was shattered by a DigiTimes report that claimed a new 10.6-inch Surface was gearing up to enter production in August ahead of an October release.There's been no news since then and we're now in October so it's not looking likely, though with the Surface 2 launching in October of last year it's still a possibility.
In any case, according to the report, the new device will be thinner and lighter than the 12-inch Surface Pro 3 and will possess more sales and performance clout than competing devices released in 2014.
The question is: being a Surface device, will it once again run Microsoft's much-maligned Windows RT 8.1, or could it be the first to feature full-fat Windows 8.1? And with Microsoft having axed the Surface Mini, is a smaller Surface out of the question?
As we ponder the possibilities, here are some of the features we would like to see on the Surface 3.
A pixel-packing, roomy display
The Surface Pro 3's display made the switch from the Surface Pro 2's 16:9 aspect ratio to 3:2, which did wonders for productivity by ramping up screen real-estate. For that reason, whatever size the Surface 3 arrives in, we hope it follows suit.
A high-resolution display would only sweeten the deal. The Surface Pro 3's 216-ppi display dazzles, and even though you could say that 16:9 is the preferred option for viewing movies, playing games and viewing other multimedia, some find 3:2 is better suited for handling both tablet and desktop-oriented tasks.
Should the Surface 3 feature a display smaller than nine inches, it would have the opportunity to join a very short list of small Windows 8.1 tablets with high-pixel-density displays. Lenovo's ThinkPad 8 (with a display resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels) stands out for being the only one, with most 8-inch slates featuring a comparatively lacklustre 1200 x 800 pixel-resolution.
That sturdier kickstand and keyboard cover design
We were big fans of the new hinge touted on the Surface Pro 3's kickstand. No longer locked to three distinct angles, the new kickstand proves to be a boon for a number of activities. What immediately comes to mind is how digital artists have made use of the new kickstand.
But its lap-side entertainment capability has turned out to be fantastic as well. Playing touch-controlled games in front of the TV feels better than ever, with the kickstand bent all the back. Not to mention how the kickstand has improved lap typing.
Speaking of which, we hope the new keyboard cover design appears alongside the would-be Surface 3. That, coupled with the magnetized bottom bezel, has vastly improved typing on Microsoft's pro-bent tablet. Frankly, both features seem like shoo-ins, given their critical reception.
And with Intel's Core M processors out in the wild, Microsoft has an opportunity to cook up the thinnest Surface tablet ever. We'd love nothing more than to see a super slim (and potentially fanless) version that you could slip into a bag for easy transportation.
Full-fat Windows 8
Windows RT's concept was sound: as an alternative to full Windows 8, it would be driven by touch-sensitive Windows 8 apps (Office aside) and run on ARM-based hardware, allowing devices to be thinner and cheaper while offering longer battery life.
Unfortunately for Microsoft, RT's inability to run legacy Windows programs and confusion around the platform have seen it shunned by many. Moreover, thinner, lighter and cheaper Intel-powered devices running full-fat Windows 8.1 have arrived on the scene toting near all-day battery life, meaning that it simply doesn't make sense for anybody to put up with Windows RT's limitations any more.
Should the Surface 3 turn out to be nine inches or under, it's likely that Microsoft will offer it with Windows 8.1 with Bing, a tailored version of full-fat Windows 8.1 that's being offered to its hardware partners at a reduced cost. Which brings us onto...
Specs to suit a wallet-friendly price point
Although the entry-level Surface Pro 3 comes in at a lower price point than previous Surface Pro devices, it's still seen as a premium device, topping out at $1,949 for the Core i7 model with 8GB and a 512GB SSD.
Microsoft's Surface RT-powered tablets have always come in at a lower price point than those in its Pro range, and we're hoping that, with the introduction of Windows 8.1 with Bing, the Surface 3 will be the first to feature Windows 8.1 while remaining affordable. As such, we reckon it'll have to pack an Intel Atom processor to keep the costs down while providing enough beef to run both Windows 8 apps and legacy desktop programs without a wheeze.
So, how cheap is cheap? We'd like to see the Surface 3 come in at under £200 (around US$337, or AU$361) to differentiate from the Surface Pro 3 and give it a real chance in the market.
Built-in 4G
The original version of the Surface 2 missed out on 4G, which was baked into a new model - the Surface 2 4G - six months after the original device's release.
The Surface Pro 3 doesn't feature 4G LTE (or GPS), presenting two opportunities for the Surface 3 to get one over its elder cousin from the outset. With rumours pointing to a thinner and lighter Surface, the need for faster mobile connectivity is a given - even if it exists as an optional nice-to-have.
Touch-sensitive Office
According to rumours, the Surface Mini was initially delayed so that it could be launched at the same time as Microsoft's touch-friendly version of Office for Windows, codenamed "Gemini". With the Surface Mini canned (for now), the Surface 3 is the frontrunner to launch with Microsoft's long-awaited tactile productivity suite.
The arrival of touch-friendly Office would finally give you the best of both worlds: full-sized desktop Office for keyboard and mouse users, and touch-sensitive Gemini apps for those who prefer a tablet-like experience when being productive. What's not to like?
More crazy keyboard covers
Microsoft successfully iterated on what had gone before when it came to the Surface 2's optional keyboard covers. Its Touch 2 and Type 2 covers benefited from a backlight (and came in more colours), allowing you to work in the dark without hitting the wrong keys.
Further innovation was to be found in its Surface Remix cover, which snapped to the Surface 2 and allowed you to interact with a Gargeband-style DJ app. Are you listening, Microsoft? We want more crazy covers (sold at a non-crazy price).
We'd also like to see any new covers take cues from the Surface Pro 3's new Type Keyboard cover, which made it easier to type on your lap by adding a magnetic strip that attaches it to the screen, improving balance.
A smaller bezel
Microsoft's Surface tablets haven't been the worst offenders for bezel size, but there's a clear opportunity to reduce the size of the black border surrounding the screen. Apple's iPad Air managed to slim down its left and right-hand bezels, and it would be pretty cool if Microsoft could do the same.
Additional reporting provided by Joe Osborne
- Can't wait for Surface 3? Read our Surface Pro 3 review!
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Android Lollipop's Gmail app might handle non-Google emails too
Android Lollipop is the biggest Android update in a very long time, and it brings with it a bevy of welcome changes, large and small.
But one of the best might be something that Google hasn't even officially mentioned yet: much greater flexibility for Android's native Gmail app.
In all versions of Android so far the Gmail app has only handled Gmail emails, which to be fair makes sense.
But with Android L it looks like Google is turning the Android Gmail app into a universal email hub where all your accounts will live.
Ain't it grand
This video allegedly shows the new Lollipop Gmail app in action, complete with its Material Design makeover.As you can see, switching between email accounts is as easy as swiping to the left or right.
The source of the video is unclear, but we'll be damned if it doesn't look official.
Android Lollipop, which brings the OS to version 5.0, will roll out first on various Nexus devices first beginning in early November.
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Updated: iPad Pro release date, news and rumors
Release date, rumors and design
Update: Bloomberg claims to have concrete information from unnamed sources on when the iPad Pro will release. More details below.With Apple's thinner, lighter iPad Air (and now iPad Air 2) and Retina display-equipped iPad mini 3 out in the open, what's left for Apple to do?
Rumor has it that the Mac maker is working on an even larger iPad, commonly referred to as the "iPad Pro." We've combed through all of the rumors and scuttlebutt to bring you everything we've heard so far about this alleged iPad Pro.
Apple invited the press to a "special event" October 24, but the iPad Pro was nowhere to be found, with the company instead choosing to launch the iPad Air 2 and OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
Apple did something interesting with the launch of the latest full-sized iPad (aside from a total hardware revamp): Gave it a new name. The iPad Air alludes to the Cupertino, Calif. company adopting the naming convention of its laptop lines, the MacBook Air and Pro series, for its premiere range of tablets.
Logic would dictate, then, that if Apple were to release an even more sizable iPad, it would be with a professional bent and named the iPad Pro. So, we're looking at 2014 for a newer, bigger iPad entering a product category that has seen little success thus far. Will Apple be the one to legitimize the "professional's tablet?"
Cut to the chase
What is it? A brand new, larger iPad
When will it release? Either spring or fall 2014, we expect, possibly 2015
What will it cost? Likely somewhere between the iPad Air and MacBook Air
What is it? A brand new, larger iPad
When will it release? Either spring or fall 2014, we expect, possibly 2015
What will it cost? Likely somewhere between the iPad Air and MacBook Air
iPad Pro release date
The iPad Pro release date might be in 2014, following the iPad Air, which released November 1, 2013. However, there are many rumors regarding the tablet's firm release date.The latest rumour is that the iPhone 6 was to blame for the iPad Pro delay. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple's suppliers struggled to keep up with demand for its latest smartphone, which had a knock-on effect by pushing the iPad Pro back to 2015.
Another rumour, which stems from the supply chain cited by Digitismes, reckons that Apple has a 12.9-inch iPad Pro in the works that will arrive in early 2015. If true, it could be worth the wait, as that report claims that the slate will run a hybrid OS X and iOS-integrated operating system.
If that happens, reports from Taiwan that point to the iPad Pro as housing a more powerful version of the A8 chipset found in the iPhone 6 start to make a bit more sense.
One of the most credible updates – reports of a larger iPad release - peg it as right on track for a 2015 release date, Bloomberg reports, citing "people with knowledge of the matter," that an iPad Pro will enter production early next year. (The whole gamut of rumors and reports follow.)
Unnamed Foxconn sources have told Chinese news site Pad News that Apple plans either a late winter/spring or October 2014 release date. To further confuse things, these sources also claim that Apple is working on two versions of the pro-level slate.
According to Pad News, an iPad Pro with a 4K display will land in October. Korea Times's sources at a "local first-tier display supplier" report that a single version will launch "sometime early next year" with a nearly UHD resolution.
Even more sources reporting to China's United Daily News, point to another iPad Pro manufacturing partner entirely: Quanta Computer. DigiTimes's sources (hit-and-miss with rumors) recently backed up this report, claiming that Apple expected the manufacturer to have either a 12.9 or 13.3-inch model ready. Now, the Taiwanese outlet's sources say that Apple is leaning toward the smaller screen.
As if to mix things up even more, International Business Times reports that Apple is aiming for winter or even a spring 2015 release, according to its Foxconn sources.
Computer World points out that most US school districts determine their budgets in January or February each year. So, a fall or winter 2014 launch would make the most sense.
However, Rhoda Alexander, an analyst for market research firm IHS, isn't convinced that we'll see an iPad Pro in 2014 if at all. Alexander told CNET that, while she's aware that many manufacturers are looking at sample panels at various sizes–12.85 inches being one of them–it's still early days for the potential pad.
"We have not seen volume shipments yet of any panels," Alexander told CNET. "We have to get a lot further down the line in terms of seeing really strong indicators from Apple that such a product exists, and we're just not at that point."
Thanks to an analyst with KGI Securities, whether Apple will get to the iPad Pro in 2014 at all is a question we're all asking. According to a report published by the firm, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo doesn't expect that Apple will be ready to launch the pro-grade tablet until 2015.
As of March 17th, the latest from the rumor mill is that Apple has canceled its iPad Pro project altogether. DigitTimes – take that grain of salt – reports that the larger iPad has been shelved, anticipating a lack of support from developers and the overall ecosystem.
Has Apple already backed off out of fear of crowding the market? We hope you like your salt, because DigitTimes backpedaled a bit and reported on March 26th that the larger iPad project is still a go, with a projected late 2014 release date.
Reported on April 9th, the latest again pegs the fabled 12-inch plus slate for sometime in 2015, rather than fall or winter of 2014, KGI analyst Kuo reiterated as much in notes obtained by AppleInsider. But now, Kuo has a reason: Apple is allegedly still working on figuring out the best means of usability for such a large tablet.
"With the 12.9" iPad, we think Apple will come up with a new user interface that's more innovative and intuitive, so that input will be as efficient as a device with keyboard," Kuo said, according to AppleInsider.
Apple teams up with IBM
In order to further its lead in the enterprise space through BYOD, Apple partnered up with IBM to create new business-focused apps for iOS. This includes exclusive apps created by Apple and IBM in tandem ranging from data and analytics to device management and security.While this move is currently just to increase the amount of existing iOS devices in the office, is there a better way to grease the wheels for a pro-centric iOS device? Not without spending a ton more cash, that's for sure.
Apple tries to quash the rumors
On the Macintosh computer's 30th birthday, Apple executives responded to rumors that the company was looking to merge Mac OS X and iOS into a single operating system. The retort? No chance in hell."We don't waste time thinking, 'But it should be one [interface].' How do you make these [operating systems] merge together?' What a waste of energy that would be," Apple SVP of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller told Macworld.
Craig Federighi, Apple's SVP of Software Engineering, echoed Schiller's statement with some rather sensible logic. Regardless, neither does this mean that an even larger iPad isn't in the works nor that iOS could become more professional-friendly to support such a device. Basically, if Apple were to release an iPad Pro, it wouldn't pull a Microsoft.
The competition already heats up
Samsung beat Apple to the punch in unveiling its 12.2-inch Galaxy Note Pro and Galaxy Tab Pro tablets during CES 2014. With that, DigiTimes expects Apple "to release its competitor by the end of the third quarter at the earliest."iPad Pro design
It's doubtful that Apple would do much to change the shape of the iPad Pro in its leap to 12.9 inches, the supposed size most rumors point to. The iPad Air's design was applauded by critics (us included), and early sales projections say that consumers are into it. However, an Evercore Partners analyst suspects the size to be a smaller 12 inches to align itself closer to the 11.6-inch MacBook Air, AppleInsider reports.
An image supposedly showing an iPad Pro dummy unit has made its way into the wild and it certainly looks closer to 13 inches than 12.
It should go without saying that the iPad Pro will inevitably be heavier than the iPad Air. To even meet the iPad Air's feathery 453.6 g at 12.9 inches would be a miracle of modern engineering. That said, not much should stop Apple from meeting the Air's super svelte profile at 7.5 mm thin.
The concept designers at SET Solution seem to disagree. In the video above, SET Solution dreams of a device with an even narrower bezel with sharper edges, a camera with the dual LED flash found on the iPhone 5s, Touch ID and a textured aluminum backing.
iOS 8, iPen and iPad Pro keyboard case
iPad Pro keyboard case
Back before the iPad Air unveiling, former Apple fellow Jamie Ryan claimed to have heard from current Apple employees that an iPad keyboard case was in the prototyping stage. Ryan went on to say that the keyboard case mimicked the Microsoft Surface Touch Cover.While it didn't make the latest iPad debut, the iPad Pro would provide the perfect stage for the reveal of Apple's proprietary iPad keyboard case. Ideally, this keyboard would connect physically to the tablet much like the Smart Cover does today, but use Bluetooth for the interaction. Plus, an included keyboard would all but be a must for a professional-grade tablet.
Ask and ye shall receive! As of March 27th, Apple has released a patent detailing a keyboard cover, combed over by none other than AppleInsider. The patent illustration paints the picture of something similar to the existing iPad Smart Cover, but with a detachable portion replete with touch-sensitive keys. Now, you tell me what a keyboard cover would be ideal for.
What would an iPad Pro be with an iPen?
Despite late Apple chief Steve Jobs's derisive comments on styluses before, rumor has it that the Mac maker just might go through with creating a stylus for the would-be iPad Pro. The above image comes from one of Apple's alleged 20 patent filings regarding a potential iPen, Patenly Apple reports.While it might sound silly for Apple to head down this road, it might be a necessary move. Lacking a stylus could be a ding against a potential iPad Pro when the business-minded Galaxy Note Pro line rocks Samsung's S-Pen.
Patently Apple strikes again, unveiling even more Apple patents for a possible iPen accessory. This time, details include potential features like a laser pointer, the ability to project images and scanning capabilities among other. If Apple really is to make an iPen, it will be more than just any old smart stylus.
iPad Pro, meet iOS 8
While no rumors specifically point to this, it's pretty much a given that the iPad Pro will run the latest iOS. If the pro-level pad launches in October 2014, then this is almost a certainty, as we expect iOS 8 to launch alongside the awaited iPhone 6 in September. However, our friends at MacLife seem to disagree.The latest rumor, as of May 13th, surrounding iOS 8 makes it sound as if the refreshed operating system will be crafted with larger screens in mind across the board. 9to5Mac recently reported that iOS 8 will ape split-screen multitasking from devices like Microsoft's Surface. That would definitely be an iPad Pro-ductivity booster. Get it? I'm here all week, try the veal.
iPad Pro storage
This is Apple's chance to differentiate the iPad Pro from the iPad Air even further. Professionals expect lots of space from their computing platform of choice, and while the current 128GB iPad maximum is nice, it might not be enough.Of course, a 256GB, 12.9-inch iPad would cost a small fortune, but what does the end user care when it's on company dollar?
iPad Pro home button
You can bet the farm that Apple will include its TouchID technology into the iPad Pro home button. Fingerprint security has become all but a must-have feature on enterprise laptops, and this professional iPad will have to meet that standard to gain better traction.Rumors point to an iPhone 6 prototype having no home button, according to Business Insider. But that seems an unlikely fate for both devices, given that the iDevice form factor is minimalist enough as is.
2K (or 4K) screen, processor and more
iPad Pro screen
This is where things get way interesting. First, the Korea Times reported, citing Apple's "local first-tier display supplier," that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will sport an almost-UHD resolution when it arrives in early 2014.A later rumor, this time from China's Pad News, pointed to both 2K and 4K resolution iPad Pro models in the works. Per the story, Apple is prototyping a 2K model that would likely exceed that of the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9's 2560 x 1600 (339 pixels per inch) and blow away the iPad Air's 2048 x 1536 (264 ppi).
A 4K iPad Pro would likely come in around 4096 x 3072, beating the 4K TVs available today. Pad News also claims that Apple intends to launch both of these prototypes in 2014, with a 2K version to come in April and a 4K model to launch in October. It seems unlikely to us that Apple would release two models in the same year. No, wait, that's already happened.
iPad Pro processor
Again, this shouldn't be a major shocker. The iPad Pro will almost undoubtedly use a beefier version of of Apple's 64-bit A7 chip, if not an all-new A8 processor.That said, it looks like Apple intends to drop the amount of Samsung-made A8 chips in 2014, thanks to its increasingly intense rivalry with the Korean handset maker. At any rate, expect even further gains in power and battery life from Apple's latest processor.
DigiTimes recently reported that Amkor Technology, STATS ChipPAC and Advanced Semiconductor Engineering–all with facilities in Taiwain–will produce 60% of Apple's A8 processors for 2014. According to the Taiwanese outlet's sources, the A8 system-on-a-chip will use the same package-on-package design to incorporate both the processor cores and mobile DRAM on a single, even smaller chip.
It will be interesting to see whether 64-bit processing has an effect on the iPad Pro's enterprise capabilities. But what will be even more important is Intel's response to such a product, given its long-standing relationship with Apple on the MacBook line, Daily Finance suggests.
iPad Pro camera
Not much, if anything, has been said of the iPad Pro's shooter. Given that this tablet will be as large as (although lighter than) a number of laptops, we wouldn't be concerned too much with what kind of photos the tablet can take.More important will be the iPad Pro's front-facing webcam. Will we see a higher resolution snapper on the front for quality video conferencing? Well, we sure hope so. A truly HD webcam would get heavy travelers more jazzed about an iPad than ever.
iPad Pro eye tracking
To put an even finer point on the importance of the iPad Pro's webcam, Apple would be remiss not to include eye tracking technology. The company has already seen startups like uMoove interested in providing the tech, and IBT's sources claim that this will be a key feature.The iPhone 6 is expected to come with eye tracking. Now, all that's left is to implement them in a way that makes sense on an iPad Pro. Sharing with others what we're looking at on our own screens in conference calls immediately comes to mind.
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Updated: Surface Mini release date, news and rumors
Introduction and release date
Does Microsoft have a Surface Mini in the works? If so, it's certainly living up to its name as after all the hype, rumors and guesswork, the company's elusive smaller slate is still nowhere to be found.That said, we wouldn't bet against one rearing its head soon. According to Microsoft's latest financial report, the company's Surface revenue increased more than 50 per cent during the first quarter of 2014. More than half a year has passed since then, and it would make sense to build on the Surface Pro 3's momentum by launching a smaller Surface before the momentum completely fades.
But no new Surface is guaranteed success: Microsoft is still sore from writing off $900 million of unmoved Surface RT stock back in 2012, and new CEO Satya Nadella will be keen to avoid repeating Ballmer's missteps.
One area where a Surface Mini could excel that's been central to the product line's appeal is productivity. From the start, all Surface tablets have come with excellent keyboard accessories, a chunk of free OneDrive cloud storage and a free copy of Office Home & 2013, giving any new product a solid base to build on.
No small task
But let's not get carried away: even with the Surface Pro 3 let loose into the wild, Microsoft still has its work cut out - and then some. A need to diversify the Surface product line to include devices smaller than the 10.6-inch category is still important for the company to remain competitive.Apple has enjoyed a lengthy head start with its iPad mini, iPad mini 2 with Retina and iPad mini 3 tablets, which now run Microsoft's capable Office for iPad suite. Even Microsoft's own hardware partners including Acer, Toshiba and Dell and Lenovo have been putting out 8-inch devices running full-fat Windows 8 for almost a year at a price that by far undercut even the cheapest Surface on the market.
The question is: what areas will Microsoft focus the Surface Mini's strengths? Will it go down the predicted productivity route, or could it throw a curveball by outing a miniature rottweiler of a gaming and entertainment machine?
Surface Mini release date
Microsoft invited guests to a "small gathering" back in May, prompting many to think that the Surface Mini was about to land. It was, in fact, something of a curveball, as the event was used to unveil the Surface Pro 3.So what happened to it? When Microsoft released its financials for the second quarter of 2014, it offered an admission that it axed the Surface Mini. "Current year cost of revenue included Surface inventory adjustments resulting from our transition to newer generation devices and a decision to not ship a new form factor," read the illuminating item under a section titled "Computer and Gaming Hardware."
Other rumours paint a brighter future for the device that nearly was. A source that spoke to Neowin claims that Microsoft is waiting for a touch-enabled version of Office (codenamed Gemini) to arrive, which some say is expected to launch in late 2014.
It's more than likely that Microsoft has a Surface Mini and it's waiting for the best time to let it loose upon the world. Neowin journalist Brad Sams even claims that he's seen the Surface Mini, which he says unsurprisingly looks just like a Surface Pro 3 - only smaller.
Surface Mini specs
Microsoft's more powerful Surface tablet, the Surface Pro 2, is a little thicker than the Surface 2 due to housing higher-powered Intel Core-series chips, so it would take some feat of engineering to pack similar power into an even smaller, more portable Surface.As such, it's more likely that the Surface Mini will pack an less powerful Intel Bay Trail CPU, which would allow it to run full-fat Windows 8.1 without being a bloater. That's a likely possibility in the view of Chinese website WPDang, which reckons an ARM-based version running Windows RT may also be in the works.
Surface head Panos Panay kept us guessing by saying that the division is working on devices with "multiple aspect ratios and sizes".
Until the Surface Pro 3 rocked the boat with its 3:2 aspect ratio, previous Surface devices came with 16:9, so it's possible that a Surface Mini could follow suit. Neowin, on the other hand, reckons that it'll feature a 7-inch, 1440 x 1080 pixel-resolution display toting the 4:3 aspect ratio that's found on Apple's iPads.
Surface Mini software
In term of software, will the Surface Mini run full-fat Windows 8, or its much-maligned cousin, Windows RT? Many will be hoping for the former, but we're not brave enough to completely rule out a return of the operating system that seemingly refuses to die. (Hey there, Nokia Lumia 2520.)It's possible that the Surface Mini could feature the same digital pen technology as the Surface Pro 3, which uses technology by N-Trig and is as close to drawing on paper as you wiil experience on glass, according to Microsoft. It can also launch the OneNote Metro app within a second of touching the display, a feature that would make even more sense on a smaller Surface due to its portability.
On the other hand, it may take advantage of the Xbox's Kinect motion capture tech. Sure, Windows 8's Charms and touch-sensitive commands work better on smaller devices, but they're no substitute for a keyboard and mouse, and the ability to control the OS using your limbs may go some way to helping out.
According to WPDang, the Suface Mini will track face and hand movements using gesture-based controls similar to those found on the Samsung Galaxy S4, which will let you swipe through screens using your hand movements and dims the screen when not being looked at.
Surface Mini price
It would make sense for Microsoft to follow Apple's lead by pricing the Surface Mini at a lower cost than its larger Surface models, much as the Cupertino-based company did with the iPad Mini.Eight-inch tablets running Windows 8 initially hovered around the £340 mark but have dropped considerably in the past year. Acer's Iconia W4 now costs in the region of £240, and Dell's Venue 8 Pro starts at £249, and Lenovo's Miix 2 starts at the same.
The good news is that even if Microsoft does load Windows 8 onto the Surface Mini, it won't likely be doing so at a premium (compared with Windows RT). The company announced in April that it'll be offering Windows 8.1 with devices under nine inches for free, which means you won't be paying a premium to experience full-fat Windows.
Cheaper seems to be the way Microsoft is leaning with Windows devices anyway (Surface Pro 3 aside). In early June, during Computex 2014, Microsoft Vice President of OEM Partners Nick Parker told the Wall Street Journal consumers should prepare for the firm to "reach price points there are very industry competitive" for 7-, 8- and 10-inch devices. Though Parker was certainly speaking to Microsoft's OEM partners, we wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft's next device is a truly affordable Surface Mini.
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Nadella: Women paid equally at Microsoft, but there's work to be done
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella found himself in boiling water last week when he suggested women shouldn't ask for raises and instead trust in karma that equal pay would come their way. He's spent the subsequent days trying to make amends for his remarks, and today during an event focused on the cloud he once again addressed the seething issue.
During a Q&A session following revelations on Azure, Nadella called the last week "a humbling and learning experience for me."
He said at Microsoft, women and men are paid equally for equal work. However, where he sees a need for improvement is in making sure there are equal opportunities for women to be hired for equal work, and he said Microsoft will "continue to work as a company to make progress" in that area.
When asked what concrete steps Microsoft is taking to achieve a more gender-balanced workforce, especially in engineering, Nadella pointed to mentoring and "returnship," or making it easier for women to come back to work after taking time off. While he pointed to executives like Julie Larson-Green (chief experience officer of Microsoft's "My Life & Work" team) and Bonnie Ross (head of 343 Studios, makers of Halo) as women who hold senior engineering positions, Nadella assured Microsoft is actively seeking ways to bring more women into its workforce.
"We have a lot more to do," he said. "We have made some progress, but we need to look at what are the key obstacles."
- Windows 10 - this is what it's all about
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Apple might actually slash Beats Music subscription price in half
We've heard already that Apple wants to slash the price of a Beats Music subscription, but we hadn't heard by how much until now.
Apparently the iPhone maker wants to cut Beats Music subscription prices in half, charging $5 a month for streaming music.
That's what Re/code is reporting, citing general "industry scuttlebutt" and "people who've heard the pitch secondhand."
Golden invitations
"The pitch" is Apple's argument to music industry companies who would see less revenue per user in the event of a price cut: that the best iTunes customers spend about $5 a month on iTunes, so lowering Beats subscription prices that far and thereby enticing those users who are still buying digital files actually wouldn't decrease the revenue the industry receives from them.Plus it would obviously increase the potential user base for these services, with the potential to raise revenue in the long run.
There's no guarantee that the music labels will see Apple's logic, of course, even they did just let Spotify announce family package discounts.
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New Azure VMs and Marketplace lead Microsoft's push for the cloud
Microsoft hit hard at competitors like Amazon and Google with a slew of announcements centered on enterprise and the cloud during an event in San Francisco today.
CEO Satya Nadella and Executive VP, Cloud and Enterprise Scott Guthrie were on hand to deliver the news, which focused heavily on Azure and the company's claim it makes the "most complete cloud" of anyone in the game.
Microsoft unveiled new Azure G-series virtual machines, the largest VMs available in the public cloud, according to the Surface Pro 3 maker. The machines are powered by Intel Xeon processors and boast the company's new Azure Premium Storage, amounting to up to 32GB of storage for each machine plus 50,000 IOPS per VM. Read latency is less than 1ms, Guthrie said.
Guthrie said the G-series offer three times the memory of a Google Compute machine, and backed by 450GB of RAM and 6.5 TB local SSD, the G-series is something for businesses to consider.
And more may do just that; Microsoft boasted that by the end of the year, Azure will be operational in 19 regions around the globe, making Microsoft the most ubiquitous public cloud provider.
To the cloud ... system
Also on the docket was the new Microsoft Cloud Platform System. Now customers will have Azure, Windows Server and Microsoft System Center brought together in one "Azure-consistent cloud in a box," as described by the firm"Bring Azure to your datacenter, fully integrated hardware and software and adopt the cloud with even greater control," as Guthrie put it.
Backed by hardware from Dell, the CPS will deliver Azure learnings through an on-site appliance. It's headed out the door on November 3.
Azure Marketplace
Guthrie also introduced the Azure Marketplace, a collection of VMs, apps and services accessible to anyone, using any device, OS or programming language.He was keen to point out the new Azure Marketplace will help accelerate ISVs and startups connecting with enterprises. One theory circulating around why Microsoft returned to San Francisco after its Windows 10 reveal was that it wanted to pitch itself to the area's startup community. It seems there was some validity to the thought after all.
Two partners walking through the new Marketplace's doors are Cloudera, an enterprise analytics and data management firm, and CoreOS, a container-based Linux OS. CoreOS will be available to all Azure customers, and Azure customers can deploy CoreOS images starting Monday.
- Windows 10 - it's the TechRadar hands on!
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Review: Updated: Samsung Galaxy Tab S
Introduction and key features
Update October 20, 2014: If you're considering either the 8.4 or 10.5 Samsung Galaxy Tab S, it's worth noting that the Nexus 9 is now available for preorder. If you can wait about two weeks, it will ship and become available for general purchase on November 3.The benefit of having the Nexus 9 will be Android 5.0 Lollipop right out of the box, and the fact that you'll get timely Android updates from Google as they become available. It's also a nice piece of hardware with the latest and greatest in Android specs, like the Nvidia Tegra K1 SOC with a 2.3GHz processor and 2GB RAM.
The Nexus 9 is also a nice in-between size compared to the Galaxy Tab S. If you wanted slightly bigger than 8.4, but didn't want to go all the way to 10.5, the Nexus 9's 8.9-inch display with 4:3 ratio might suit you nicely. And at $399, it won't break the bank. So, if you don't need Samsung's TouchWiz UI and its multitasking tricks, the Nexus 9 is just something to consider.
The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and 10.5 are Samsung's latest flagship devices, built to show off the very best of the company's hardware and software prowess.
They're designed as upgrades to the Tab Pros we saw earlier this year, with some spec bumps, a slightly evolved look and, of course, different screen sizes, just in case you were foolishly expecting Samsung to follow any kind of pattern as far as display dimensions are concerned.
Apart from the screen sizes there's very little difference between the Tab S models, so this review combines the two tablets into one. I'll talk primarily about the 8.4-inch model and include additional observations about the 10.5-inch version where necessary.
It's a brutal battle down at the budget end of the tablet market — one that Apple refuses to get involved in — but here we're very much at the premium end of the scale. The Galaxy Tab S devices have been built to go toe-to-toe with Apple's slates, a brave and perhaps foolhardy undertaking.
First impressions are good, though: these devices feel like they're made by a company that has perfected its art. Both models have a 2560 x 1600 pixel WQXGA Super AMOLED screen, which works out at 287 pixels-per-inch on the larger model and 360ppi on the smaller one.
The internals are identical, comprising 3GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, an 8MP rear camera and 2.1MP front-facing camera. The Samsung Exynos 5 Octa CPU inside these tablets combines 1.9 and 1.3GHz quad-core processors with the faster taking over from the slower when required at the expense of some battery life.
Those are some eye-popping specs when you consider that the iPad Air gets by on a mere 1GB of RAM, for example, or that the 2013 Nexus 7 offers a resolution of just 323ppi on its 7-inch screen. There's much more to a device than raw specs of course, but on paper at least Samsung has produced a true champion.
The pricing of these slates matches Apple's iPad line. The Wi-Fi Tab S 8.4-inch will set you back £319 (US$399.99, AU$479.00) the same as the 16GB Wi-Fi iPad mini and the Wi-Fi Tab S 10.5-inch comes in at £399 (US$499.99, AU$599.00) the same as the 16GB Wi-Fi iPad Air.
3G/4G versions of the tablets that can access mobile networks with a SIM card are also on the way, as are 32GB models.
Aside from the iPads and the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2,, the Galaxy Tab S doesn't have much competition. You could put it up against the likes of the Nexus 10 (though it's starting to show its age) but really with most other Android tablets going for less powerful innards and lower prices, Samsung has the premium end largely to itself. Has it produced an iPad rival that Android users can be proud of?
Key features
Samsung has never been one to shy away from packing in as many bells and whistles as it can, and the Tab S is no exception. Like the Galaxy S5, the tablet boasts a fingerprint scanner that you may or may not prefer to a PIN code.It recognised my print every time, but because you need to swipe the home button rather than just put your finger on it, the process can be fiddly - especially the larger tablet, which meant some precise holding to make the function work.
Multi-faceted
There's a multi window feature for multi-tasking which works as advertised, letting you chat while browsing the web or control your music while poring over Google Maps and so on.It's of more use on the larger tablet and at this stage multi-tasking on a tablet feels kind of superfluous — once you get a keyboard up on screen as well everything starts to get really cluttered.
Tablets are built for single-tasking and there doesn't seem to be any real need to try and turn them into fully fledged computers, but if you think you're going to find the feature useful then by all means power it up.
The way that Samsung has implemented it works fairly well and managing open windows and apps is straightforward. However, only the main native apps and a few extras such as Facebook and Evernote support it, so you can't go multi-tasking crazy.
Phone and tablet together
Another Samsung extra is SideSync, enabling you to link a phone with your tablet — you can then send and receive voice calls, transfer data, send texts and more.Unfortunately, it only works with a few Samsung phones (the S5, the S4 and the Galaxy Note 3) which limits its appeal. Like Multi Window, it feels like a niche feature created just to show off rather than to meet any particular need, but to some it will be a great innovation.
There are 30 different gifts bundled with the Tab S, covering subscriptions to sites like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal to an in-flight Wi-Fi deal with Gogo and a free game or two.
None of them are particularly life-changing but they might sweeten the deal if you're sitting on the fence about picking up one of these tablets.
Design
The Tab S tablets look and feel fine, managing to be unspectacular but easy on the eye. At 294g or 465g they shave a few grams off the comparable iPad models, although they don't quite have the same 'wow' factor that Apple's slabs do.These are more functional in design, though by no means ugly, and have Samsung's fingerprints all over them - meaning solid build but if you're looking for an innovative design revolution then you've come to the wrong place.
The faux metal border that provides some variety to the all-plastic body, and the pock-marked textured back are now Samsung staples — the Tab S is essentially the Galaxy S5 writ large.
I'm not sure anyone would ever pick one over the iPad in terms of aesthetics, but the design is perfectly acceptable... in the same vein that a mid-range family car isn't bad to look at. White and brown models are available.
Superb screen
The screen, on the other hand, is exceptional — it's a joy to look at and use. Again, this is no surprise coming from Samsung, which has been making top-quality Super AMOLED displays for some time now.The screen on the Tab S is bright, vibrant, rich and crisp, perfect for photos and high-definition video clips. Stick Netflix on and you can't fail to be impressed.
Samsung's claiming a 100,000:1 contrast ratio for the screen and I can well believe it. It may be too bright and vivid for some, but to my eyes it looks great — and you can always have a play around with the settings if you want to tone it down a little.
Samsung has included a "reading mode" and a feature called Adaptive Display to tweak the screen settings but these only work with a limited number of stock apps.
Around the sides are stereo speakers, a microUSB charging/data port, a microSD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone socket and the usual power and volume buttons. There's also an infrared port so you can use the tablet to change channels on your television or set-top box from the comfort of the sofa.
The positioning of these ports and extras is worth mentioning. Held in portrait mode, the 8.4-inch model has its power button and volume controls to the top right (like the Nexus 7) and the home button, USB port and headphone socket at the bottom.
So far so obvious, but the speakers are at the top and bottom left corners, which makes sense when you turn the tablet into landscape mode for watching a film, but it still seems a little odd.
On the 10.5-inch model, meanwhile, everything changes again. Hold it in portrait mode and the power and volume buttons, as well as the charging port, are in the same place. However, the speakers have moved to the top and bottom right corners (again for landscape movie watching) and the headphone socket is up in the top right corner.
The home buttons and soft keys are placed on the left, so presumably Samsung wants you to keep it in landscape mode most of the time. That's fine, but then the power and volume controls feel oddly placed.
These design quirks aren't really major issues but they can take some getting used to if you're already comfortable with an iPad or Nexus device. They also help to distinguish the two models: the small one for single-handed operation in portrait mode, the large one for watching content in landscape mode.
The smaller model measures 125.6mm x 212.8mm x 6.6mm, with the larger one coming in at 247.3mm x 177.3mm x 6.6mm. Both are a touch thinner than the comparable iPads — the iPad Air and the latest Retina iPad mini are 7.5mm thick — so the Samsung design team deserves some credit for that.
Interface and performance
Samsung's TouchWiz interface for Android continues to be bright, breezy and packed with all kinds of extra options, screens and apps — pull down the extended settings drawer and there are 19 different settings to toggle on and off, including three connectivity modes and two power-saving modes.I prefer stock Android overall, but there's nothing major software-wise that would put me off buying a Tab S.
Taken as a whole, the Android OS still feels more awkward and clumsy on a tablet than it does on a smartphone, perhaps because many apps are simply stretched to fill the space.
The Tab S could use some dedicated tablet apps (like the best apps on the iPad) that feel more specifically configured to use the extra room.
The good news is Samsung is working with a number of vendors to create those very apps, although I doubt there will be that many in the coming months. Still, it's nice to see that the South Korean brand has noted the problem.
With so much CPU power and RAM to call upon the Tab S was able to cope very well with everything I threw at it.
Streaming a video on YouTube while browsing the web in Chrome? No problem. Listening to music and checking Facebook at the same time? Easily done.
Swipes and taps are all instantly registered no matter what app you're in and I hardly noticed any lag at all during my time with both devices.
The back of my tablet did get a little warm during extensive and heavy use, but I wouldn't say it was uncomfortable — obviously when the more powerful quad-core processor kicks into action, everything is going to heat up a little and you're going to get a more sudden drop in the battery level.
It seemed to be more noticeable on the smaller model, presumably because the components are tightly packed in.
Under the hood we have Android 4.4 KitKat and all that goes with it. If you don't like what Samsung has served up in terms of apps, then you can easily install some alternatives from Google Play (an escape route unfortunately closed off to Kindle Fire HDX tablet owners).
Geekbench 3 reported scores of 911 single-core and 2697 multi-core for the 8.4-inch Tab S and scores of 886 single-core and 2313 multi-core for its bigger brother. That means it's just about edged out in the performance stakes by the Z2 Tablet and the iPad Air, but it's a tight race.
This is a tablet that performs as well as you would expect given it's top-of-the-range components. Android 4.4 KitKat with TouchWiz is largely a pleasant experience, with the niggles that we've mentioned above, and apps are smooth and responsive.
There's still room for improvement in software terms, but there's no major black mark against the device.
If you've already nailed your colours to the mast as far as a mobile OS is concerned, I don't think the Tab S is going to change your mind one way or the other. We'll have to wait and see how well iOS 8 and Android L take to larger screen sizes further down the line.
I get the feeling that there's very little here that make me believe that Samsung is going to push the Android tablet experience forward, while iOS 8 should continue to extend Apple's lead as the most user-friendly UI on a tablet.
That's not to say iPads are automatically better than Android slates, but I really hope Android L offers a lot more to tablet makers.
Battery
Battery life on the Tab S is impressive. You can get at least a working day out of it with pretty much constant use, and more like two under regular conditions. If you didn't play with it much at all, several days wouldn't be out of the question.On the days I was testing the Tab S it had dropped to around 60% by the evening from a full charge in the morning, with the larger model having slightly more juice left in the tank.
That's a scenario that was repeated in our standard 90 minute HD video test — the 8.4-inch model dropped to 87% battery from a full charge, with the 10.5-inch model holding steady at 90%. Although the larger tablet has a bigger screen, it's working with the same number of pixels and has a larger battery installed (7,900mAh vs 4,900mAh).
The same TechRadar video test knocked the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet down to 72% and the 2013 Nexus 7 down to 80%. It's not the most scientific measuring stick but it gives you a fair idea of where the Tab S fits into the market as a whole.
The ultra power-saving mode is worth a mention, something we first saw on the Galaxy S5. It turns Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, switches to a greyscale mode and restricts you to only the most essential apps like the calendar and clock (you can add apps to this list if you want to). Should you ever go on holiday and forget your charger, it may come in handy.
With a battery level of 59% I switched on the ultra power-saving mode and was given an estimate of 30 days' worth of standby time. Even as an estimate, that's noteworthy. The technology inside the Tab S screen — where black pixels don't draw any power — certainly helps here.
That's on top of the usual power-saving mode that dims the brightness, turns off constant syncing and disables Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. You can dig into these options and fine tune them if you wish to. It's a less drastic option, but it can help when you're trying to save power as much as possible.
The essentials
With the TouchWiz software running on the Tab S, swiping left takes you not into Google Now but into Samsung's Magazine UI, designed as a one-stop shop for all the news that interests you most.It's a nicely presented app but it's no real improvement over alternative dedicated tools like Flipboard that have been around much longer. The only way to get rid of it is by installing an alternative launcher app, where it would have been nice to have more customisation options to bring a more comfortable home screen.
That said, in general use, the Tab S is a pleasure to use: comfortable in the hand at both sizes, packed with options for more advanced users and yet straightforward enough to dive straight in if you're an Android or tablet novice.
Whether the 8.4-inch or 10.5-inch model is right for you depends of course on what you intend to do with it.
Personally, it's the 7 to 8 inch models that have always made most sense to me, but if you want to sacrifice some portability for a bigger view of the web and your TV shows then that's up to you.
Keyboard docks are on the way, though the Android tablet accessory market has never taken off in the same way as the iPad one has.
Samsung has decided to ape Apple's smart cover magnets with what it calls "Simple Clickers" — buttons in the back of the Tab S that make attaching and aligning accessories much more straightforward.
In testing, these were attached very well - if anything, a little too stiffly - but give the aftermarket the chance to really claim something is for the Tab S range, rather than general sizes.
The clasp holes do make the back of the Tab S look a bit odd, but at least they hold the smart covers and keyboard docks in place really well.
If Samsung wants these tablets to take off, the quality of the accessories could be crucial — it's another area where the iPad is strong.
The smaller model is likely to have more mass market appeal, as Apple has found. The slim build and light weight of both tablets makes a big difference, meaning you can use them for longer slumped on the sofa or lying in bed without bringing on pain in your joints.
8.4 inches doesn't feel much different to the 7-inch Nexus 7 or 7.9-inch iPad mini, though if you have small hands then it might be more of an issue.
In terms of actual storage to play with (something Samsung has traditionally had a bit of a problem with), of the 16GB of storage on these models you'll only get around 9GB to play around with, which can easily be taken up with some big games and movies.
You'll probably want to make use of the microSD slot, which can accept cards up to 128GB in size. You get a charger in your nicely designed Galaxy Tab S box but there's no set of headphones unfortunately.
Camera
If you absolutely must take photos with your tablet, the Tab S will cover the basics and very little else. Images are pretty grainy and noisy in all but the most perfect lighting conditions, and video recording is only just about acceptable too.Fine for quick snaps and social networks then, but if you're going to get serious you'll still need a smartphone or a dedicated camera.
Taking photos was a sluggish experience, with the autofocus taking its leisurely time to kick into action and the results ending up pretty underwhelming. That said, 8MP is enough for plenty of detail, and some of the shots I captured ending up looking pretty good.
Maybe an overcast day in Manchester doesn't play to the strengths of the Tab S camera.
As you would expect, Samsung has its own camera app running alongside the stock one provided by Google, and as usual it's packed with modes and options to have a mess around with. I'm not sure anyone is going to bother with them most of the time, but if you need them, they're here.
They cover HDR, portrait modes and action shots where several images are automatically combined. There's also a dual camera mode where you can use the front and back camera simultaneously and add a few whimsical picture effects on top.
Most of us only need a mobile camera for taking pictures of the kids and the pets and each other, and this is about the level of the Tab S.
Don't pack it into your rucksack thinking you're going to capture some breathtaking shots of the Lake District, unless you're an absolute genius with Photoshop.
There is an LED flash around the back, something you don't often get with a tablet, which actually makes a substantial improvement on certain shots.
One feature of Samsung's camera app I do like is the one-touch button for video recording. It makes much more sense than the convoluted method used to switch modes on the stock app. Previewing the last photo taken is a little more straightforward too.
The 2.1MP camera around the front isn't particularly impressive. It'll do for your video chats, but perhaps it's a sign that we should all be taking fewer selfies and doing something more productive instead.
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Media
Media playback is one of the areas where the Tab S really excels, thanks mainly to the gorgeous screen that we've already referred to.Settle down to a high-definition YouTube clip or two and the display really shines in its crispness, vibrancy and colour. I could probably have stayed watching House of Cards all day if I didn't have a review to write.
The speakers on either side of the Tab S do a decent job of pumping out your music and movie audio. They won't win any industry awards in the near future for deep, rich bass but they created a better sound than I expected considering the svelte design of the tablet.
If you're watching a film in a hotel room or listening to your tunes in the park then they're fine.
The sound they produce doesn't have much body or depth to it, probably much like the speakers integrated in your laptop.
They're fine for movie dialogue and with good performance at high volume, but you're going to miss a bass line or two when you switch over to your music streaming service of choice.
The usual Samsung apps for music and video are here of course. If you haven't come across them before then they're functional apps that essentially let you browse through media file thumbnails on your device and then play them.
Together with the My Files app they make accessing content quick and easy, and certainly more straightforward than it is on stock Android where photos and videos are jumbled together into one app.
A lock screen widget is included for the music player but oddly there's no home screen widget. The video player offers a clever picture-in-picture option so you can keep your eyes on Family Guy while checking Twitter or tapping out an email. As for how useful this actually is in practice, see my earlier thoughts on multi-tasking.
Gaming performance is smooth and lag-free, whether you're working your way through a run-of-the-mill puzzler or tackling something a bit more strenuous.
Again, the Tab S display really shines with the most visually intense games — a quick 10 minutes on Asphalt 8 flew by and only knocked down the battery level 3% (and that's with Wi-Fi and sync on in the background).
Get a good quality game or high-definition movie up on the Tab S and you soon forget about its shortcomings.
The competition
So where does the Tab S fit in with the smorgasbord of similar tablets on the market at the moment, so how does the Tab S compete in terms of specs and price?iPad Air and Mini
With Samsung targeting the iPads directly and few other premium Android tablets to speak of, it makes sense to start with Apple's tablets.For my money, these Tab S models have a better screen, but they lack the overall aesthetic appeal of Apple's metal unibody creations. The Samsung devices are thinner and lighter, but not to an extent that it makes much difference.
Android and iOS each have their own strengths, but right now it's the Apple OS that feels like a better fit on a tablet — and that's coming from someone who uses an iPad mini and a Nexus 7 on a regular basis. At this stage the iPads have better software and better accessories, but that's not to say the Tab S is a failure.
Samsung has got closer to the iPads than I thought it ever would, and if you're a real lover of Android then it makes sense to choose one of the Tab S models rather than an iPad.
The Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
The Z2 Tablet may be a touch more austere in the looks department than the Tab S, but it has a more streamlined version of Android and boasts some useful extra features, such as a waterproof body.It manages to be thinner than the Tab S slabs, though the display, impressive as it is, doesn't quite reach the heights of what Samsung has put together.
There's no smaller Z2 Tablet of course, so we're only really comparing it with the 10.5-inch version of the Tab S. The Tab S has the better display and more power behind it, so unless you particularly need a waterproof tablet or like Sony's take on Android then I'd recommend picking up a Tab S.
Nexus 7
Google's Nexus line-up has been a huge blessing for lovers of stock Android: excellent hardware at a decent price without any software bloat. The Nexus 7 isn't as pretty as the 8.4-inch Tab S, but it's a whole lot cheaper, to the tune of £120 less for the 16GB model.
It's that price vs quality balance that you're going to have to consider when you weigh up the Tab S against virtually any other Android tablet.
The Nexus 7 can run Netflix just as well as the Samsung device, but it won't look as good. If you want the best Android slate that money can buy, the Tab S is it. If you'd rather save some money, have a look elsewhere.
Hands on gallery
Verdict
Having spent plenty of time with both variations of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S, it has to be said that these are great devices — from the eye-catching screen to the raw power under the hood, Samsung couldn't have done much better with what could be a final attempt to compete with Apple at the top-end of the market.If this doesn't make a dent in the iPad Air and iPad Mini 2 sales figures perhaps nothing will.
There are still question marks over Android which aren't all Samsung's fault. With the release of Android L in the autumn some of these problems might be ironed out, but when the Tab S will get Samsung's version of the new operating system is anyone's guess.
We liked
The exterior design of the Tab S is nothing to write home about but it's thin and it's light and that counts for a lot when it comes to tablets.It helps the frame get out of the way of the screen, which is the real winner here. It's the best screen I've seen on a tablet and the Retina iPads are the only ones that really come close.
That fabulous display is backed up by plenty of grunt and a battery that ensures you can keep going for a day or two. There's a case to be made that 7-8 inches is the sweet spot for a small tablet, but at least the Tab S offers two choices to buyers.
We disliked
Android still has the air of a square peg in a round hole when it comes to tablets. It's by no means a disaster, and it's improving all the time, but the OS and its apps don't look as comfortable as they do on smaller 4 and 5-inch screens.On top of that a lot of the extras that Samsung throws into the mix feel gimmicky and unnecessary, though you can largely avoid them.
The plastic backing and faux-chrome rim will certainly not be to everyone's tastes, but that aside this is a tablet with very few negatives.
The differing portrait and landscape button configurations kept confusing me during testing, but unless you're going to go out and buy them both I'm sure you'll quickly get used to where everything is.
Verdict
Samsung wants to best the iPads with the two Galaxy Tab S devices, and it's come close to doing just that. The screen is even more impressive than Apple's, but the overall design and the feel of the software aren't quite up to par.Nevertheless, if you're a dedicated Android user then these are the premium end tablets you've been waiting for.
Ultimately it's a whisker away from being a 5-star tablet. I'd like to see small improvements in the camera, the hardware design and the way Android fits to larger screens, but other than that it's a tablet that Samsung can be very, very proud of. Both Samsung and Google will be hoping it sells in numbers that reflect its quality.
First reviewed: July 2014
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iOS 8.1 is available for download now
iOS 8.1 is available for download now, and it's packed with some buzzworthy features.
Chief among those additions to the first major iOS 8 update is Apple Pay, which lets you use your phone to make payments at certain ahead-of-the-curve retailers.
Apple Pay has the potential to alter the landscape of physical and online commerce, and it begins today.
The service is availably only on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but thankfully it's not the only positive change coming in iOS 8.1
Squash those bugs
iOS 8.1 also includes the public beta of Apple's iCloud photo library, more connectivity features among Apple's numerous platforms, and the return of the Camera Roll.Besides the new features, Apple's aim with iOS 8.1 is twofold: to address the main sources of customer feedback, and to squash many of the bugs found in iOS 8.
Go download iOS 8.1 now if you have an iOS 8-compatible device and find out whether Apple succeeded.
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Industry voice: The Apple Watch calls time on shoddy targeting by brands
The comment that 'a smartwatch is a solution in search of a problem' has become something of a cliché in recent months. There's not necessarily anything wrong with that – clichés are profoundly useful to the media, which gets almost unbelievable mileage out of phrases like 'preaching to the choir' and 'singing from the same hymn sheet' (there's no need to ask why these are the clichés at the forefront of my mind in the days following an Apple launch event).
I like a good cliché as much as anyone who isn't the Independent's John Rentoul, but I start to worry when that cliché hardens into dogma – which seems to be what's happened when it comes to smartwatches and the idea that they are 'a solution in search of a problem'.
Solution/problem bombshell
If you Google the full phrase you'll see what I mean. In recent times I've read smartwatch discussion pieces on sites as far removed as The Register, ZDNet, Businessweek, and Digital Spy, and all of them trotted out the solution/problem dichotomy. The influence on the tech-savvy public is undoubtable: one or more commenters are now guaranteed to deploy the solution/problem bomb below the line on any page where a journalist has made the case for or against smartwatches.The idea that 'smartwatches are a solution in search of a problem' is now so widespread that it isn't being questioned as it should. Journalists, bloggers, and members of the public are simply accepting its rightness and moving onto the question of whether people are going to buy a smartwatch in order to be current/look cool/fund Tim Cook's next yacht purchase, etc.
- How good is the Apple Watch? Check our hands-on to find out more
Or I'm shopping and I miss a flash offer notification that comes up on my smartphone screen which, unfortunately, is tucked in my blazer pocket. Or I'm in the cinema, and want to know who's trying to get hold of me without having to take my phone out, activate the back-light, and disturb other cinemagoers. Or I'm in a job interview and I want to impress whoever I'm talking to with the idea that time – and timeliness – matters to me, by wearing a smart looking watch. Problems all – and problems that a smartwatch could and does solve.
Smartwatches do have purpose
So let's not let it go when someone says that smartwatches have little or no utility. Even if that was true, the launch of the Apple Watch means that smartwatches are here to stay – at least for the next tech cycle. And that means that consumer brands need to start thinking about how they're going to colonise the watch-face – in addition to the smartphone display – in the few months they've got until the official launch of the device in Q1 2015.The first port of call for those brands will be a meeting room (where they'll discuss whether they want to use the Apple Watch to extend their existing App Store play or do something entirely different). Their second port of call will no doubt be Apple's WatchKit platform, which gives developers the tools to create everything from custom watch faces to brand new bespoke Apple Watch apps.
As my list of (#firstworld) Apple Watch 'problems' above suggests, the main opportunity represented by Apple's new wearable for brands relates to notifications. Specifically, the Apple Watch will allow brands to increase the potency of their mobile notifications. This, in turn, should force them to focus on increasing the contextual relevance of those notifications – if a message is appearing on a watch it's absolutely got to appear at the right time, in the right place, and in the correct context. Consumers will unforgivingly delete apps which fail any of these tests.
Big favour
In many ways the launch of the Apple Watch will not change the way brands do business over mobile – the vast majority of brands have long-term mobile strategies and are comfortable with the speed and ways that those strategies need to evolve with the consumer hardware market. It is 2014 after all. But the existence of the Apple Watch will make it much harder for brands to get away with having a laissez-faire or hit-and-miss attitude to targeting users. For that reason alone – and whether or not you think the Apple Watch is looking for a problem to solve – Apple has done us all a big favour.As an app developer and someone involved in creating apps for brands, I'm tremendously excited by the Apple Watch – and indeed, the whole smartwatch category. It's a new, invitingly blank, easel for all of us to paint our ideas on – just as the original iPhone once was. While the press and thought-leaders say 'nay', the inventors and visionaries are already working on the apps that will define the product over the next five years.
- Sam Clark is CEO of software developer Conjure.
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From October 27 everyone will be able to buy a OnePlus One
If you've had your eye on the OnePlus One but haven't had an invite letting you order the handset then rejoice! OnePlus is just about to open up pre-orders for everyone.
OnePlus originally limited the number of people who could order the handset by sending out invites in a bid to manage global shipments.
By managing the high demand of the phone in this way, invites to order the OnePlus One became highly coveted, but now the restrictions have eased. Sort of.
Pre-pre-orders
In a blog post the details of the pre-order process are explained. Pre-orders go live on October 27 at 15:00 GMT (08:00 PST, 11:00 EST) for one hour.Because pre-orders are only open for a short amount of time, you can pre-register for the pre-order to make sure you get the best chance for obtaining a handset.
The pre-orders will be open for all 16 countries that OnePlus currently ships to: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States.
The shipping time depends on the number of pre-orders made before your own order, which will be displayed before you confirm.
So far it seems that only the 64GB version will be available for £269, $349, and each order will be limited to a maximum of two handsets.
If you miss the pre-order window OnePlus will continue to send out invitations, so you may still have to wait until you get one.
- Read our One Plus review to find out why it's so in demand.
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Competition: WIN! A Nest Protect and Thermostat bundle
We've got a fantastic Nest package to give away, which includes two Nest Protect alarms, a Nest Thermostat and a Thermostat stand.
The Nest Thermostat connects to your home Wi-Fi and adjusts your home's temperature based on your behaviour, leading to a potential 20% saving on your energy bill. It also looks pretty sleek, and should blend in nicely wherever it's placed.
The Nest Protect Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarm will alert you of danger in the house. But rather than just deafening you with a harsh sound, Nest Protect will give you a heads-up beforehand to let you know what the danger is, and where it is. Protect connects to your smartphone and will even send you a message if the batteries are starting to run low, so you won't have to put up with annoying bleeping.
In sum, this package should help you set up a more conscious home - and all you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is click here and answer the question.
Please note that this competition is only open to UK residents over 18 years of age.
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Industry voice: Apple Pay vs PayPal: the mobile payments sector is at a crossroads
Like double decker buses, two game changing announcements have arrived simultaneously to shake the future of the mobile payments industry. With eBay's decision to spin off its payments business PayPal arriving on top of Apple's unveiling and rolling out its Apple Pay system (at least in the US), it's a fascinating time for industry watchers.
The magnetic strip has been in use by shoppers' credit and debit cards for five decades, but technological developments look set to take payments into a new sphere. PayPal has laid solid ground in the mobile payments stakes, while Google Wallet has struggled to make a big impact. However, there are two solid reasons for arguing that Apple Pay will take cashless payments mainstream.
Big spenders
Firstly, Apple is one set of products, not hundreds of different ones of varying quality like the Android platform that Google Wallet currently sits on. The design and style ethos of Apple means that its products are bought by those with a higher than average income, and those people already download more and spend more on apps.Secondly, Apple has a strong history of going into stagnant markets and revamping the business model, as it did by turning illegal downloading into a successful paid-download platform at scale. With 83% of US banks on board as well as key online retailers and offline stores, retailers and financial partners seem to be backing Apple Pay in becoming a leader in mobile payment.
Certainly, with 800 million credit cards on file, all of which can be used in its virtual wallet, Apple Pay via the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch is in a great position to reinvent contactless payment as we know it.
Apple Pay works in the same way as contactless payments currently do with credit and debit cards. The phone uses NFC (Near Field Communication) to communicate wirelessly with point-of-sale NFC devices to transact a payment to the retailer from the stored cards in Passbook.
Other uses
What's more, having NFC on the Apple Watch and iPhone 6 will mean retailers can use the technology for more than just mobile payments. In the near future NFC could be used as a secure way of opening click-and-collect lockers in-store and at other locations such as train stations. Apple device owners could also use it in-store to collect orders that have been placed in advance. For example, users could order a coffee in Starbucks, a meal in a restaurant or drink in a bar in advance, and confirm payment when they reach the store or venue simply by swiping their phone or watch close to the NFC contactless reader.However, success for Apple Pay is not without its challenges. Perhaps one of the biggest barriers to achieving mainstream success will be convincing people to upgrade to an iPhone 6, or to spend upwards of £220 on a connected Apple Watch to make the iPhone 5 Apple Pay compatible. Apple has relied heavily on loyalists upgrading phones and users upgrading to the latest OS, but in an increasingly saturated Western market, can it drive new sales in sufficient enough volume to make Apple Pay adoption work?
The battle between Apple Pay and PayPal finds the mobile payments sector at a crossroads. Whether there is one winner, or whether both can coexist, mobile and cashless payments are set to be a hot priority for brands and retailers alike as we approach 2015.
- Viv Craske is head of planning and digital at Live & Breathe.
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Bat-mobile: Channel 5 and more join the Sky Go lineup
Sky's mobile TV service, Sky Go, has just been given another dollop of channels to its growing lineup.
Channel 5, 5*, 5 USA, ITVBe and British Eurosport 2 are now available for users, bringing the total of live channels up to 70.
That's especially good news for Bat fans that have been waiting to get their teeth stuck into Gotham, the series based on the Batman franchise with a particular focus on Detective James Gordon.
Or if superheroes and villains aren't your thing, we suppose there's always Neighbours.
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SAP's strong Q3 has made the company cloud cocky
SAP generated $5.43 billion (about £3.36 billion, AU$6.17 billion) in revenue during the third quarter of 2014, a 5% increase compared with the same quarter last year. The German-based software company also increase operating profits 11% to $1.48 billion (about £920 million, AU$1.68 billion).
Operating expenses increased slightly to $3.95 billion (about £2.45 billion, AU$4.5 billion), but the company is now positioning itself as “the fastest growing enterprise cloud company” in an earnings statement, after increasing cloud subscriptions and support revenue 41% to $355 million during the quarter (about £219 million, AU$404 million).
SAP HANA, the company’s cloud-based analytics engine, has more than 4,100 customers and 41 million users worldwide, the company said.
Software and support revenue increased 7% to $4.59 billion (about £2.84 billion, AU$5.22 billion). However, software licenses alone decreased 2% to $1.21 billion (about £740 million, AU$1.37 billion).
SAP’s cloud initiative
In June, SAP created a division focused on industry-specific cloud tools. The goal of the division will be to develop prescriptive, industry-based cloud road maps, SAP said. SAP intends to deliver industry-specific solutions across 25 verticals.A few weeks earlier, SAP launched a set of solutions designed to enable organizations to more quickly adopt cloud computing. The “SAP Rapid Deployment” solutions were built to help streamline the implementation experience with accelerated time to value at reduced costs.
Both moves followed SAP’s announced plan to lay off approximately 2,500 workers in software programming units in order to add more cloud computing positions.
SAP currently employs 67,000 workers across the world.
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Eight-core Alcatel Onetouch Idol X+ touches down for just £260
Alcatel Onetouch, a company known for making low cost smartphones, has launched four new budget handsets that will be sold by Amazon.
The first is the Alcatel Onetouch Idol Alpha, a 4.7-inch smartphone with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 13.1MP rear camera, 1.3MP front snapper and a 2000mAh battery wrapped up in a 7.5mm body.
The Idol Alpha's design includes translucent edges that change colour depending on what task the smartphone is performing and it carries a price tag of £285.
The second is arguably the most interesting with the Alcatel Onetouch Idol X+ sporting a 5-inch 1080p screen, 2GHz octa-core processor, 13.1MP camera and a 2500mAh battery.
Those are pretty decent specs inside its 8.1mm thick body, and at just £259.99 it sounds like a bit of a steal on paper.
Cut costs, cut corners?
The other two handsets are less interesting, with the Alcatel Onetouch Idol 2S featuring a 4.7-inch HD display, 4G connectivity, quad-core processor, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, 8MP rear camera and 1.3MP front camera for £209.99.Meanwhile the Alcatel Onetouch Pop C3 is a 3.5-inch smartphone with a 1.3GHz dual-core chip, very old Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS, 3MP rear camera, VGA front snapper and 1300mAh battery for the weirdly specific price of £63.86.
- Find out our thoughts on the Alcatel Idol X.
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