Electric highway: Tesla unveils Australian superchargers
It's all well and good owning an electric car, but it won't get you far if you don't have anywhere to charge it.
Fortunately, those clever chaps at Tesla have recognised this, so Sydney now has two locations for Tesla Model S owners to top up their juice via the company's superchargers. The charging service is free of charge and there's a promise of more locations to come.
This unveiling of the superchargers coincides with the opening of Tesla's first Australian showroom this week, in the northern Sydney suburb of Artarmon.
Taking charge
The showroom acts as the first of the two charging locations, while the second is the underground car park at Sydney's Star Casino. Each location offers five supercharger stations.The chargers are capable of supplying a 50 per cent charge in 20 minutes, while a complete top up takes just under an hour.
Tesla claims this is just the start of a much bigger roll out, reassuring customers a network of superchargers is on the way.
The end of 2015 could see Tesla's superchargers connecting Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, with a further expansion to Brisbane in 2016.
- Think Tesla's supercharger network is amazing? Check out what the Tesla Model D has in store.
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Industry Voice: Managing growth: how tech companies position millennial managers for success
In the Bay Area and other tech hubs around the world, successful tech companies have grown from small, tight-knit startups with a handful of employees crammed into an office or shared space into companies with hundreds of employees distributed around the globe. Whereas a startup with eight employees might have had almost everyone sitting in the same room, when companies grow larger, it almost always means multiple offices, remote workers and a much more diverse set of employees.
With such a cycle of rapid growth and change now the norm, how do companies ensure that they maintain the level of quality and innovation that first fueled their growth? As companies scale their teams to keep up with aggressive growth goals, a new challenge arises: companies are increasingly forced to promote technical developers, engineers and other specialist individual contributors into managerial roles in order to manage the influx of additional team members. Someone has to be the manager, right? And you can’t have dozens of developers or specialists all reporting to one person, let alone even ten.
This presents what may be the single biggest employee management challenge facing growth companies today, as specialists with zero management experience or training are now foisted into leadership roles - but without the skills. And usually, with no structured training or guidance provided to them, and no concern for the importance of “soft skills” or best practices to help them quickly become effective in such new manager roles. It’s a recipe for disaster.
Particularly at technology-fueled growth companies, it’s the technical or specialist teams that are impacted the most by lack of manager training and soft skills. And, increasingly, the most vital technical individual contributors are also Millennials just getting their feet wet in the working world. The transition into management is almost always tricky, especially when Millennials find themselves managing former colleagues who are older or more experienced. The importance of focused training, best practices and soft skills is suddenly no longer a nice-to-have; it becomes vital to the bottom line.
So how can companies set their new, more junior managers up for success? Here are five ways to shape a successful millennial manager:
1. Set clear expectations
Different companies stress different types of management duties. A new manager can be responsible for setting priorities that drive toward company goals, giving feedback, helping employees stay motivated, knowing company policy, addressing performance issues, reporting results, and much more. Make it clear what they are responsible for so they can prioritize their time.
2. Train right away, and check in regularly
Make sure to establish a consistent training program right away so that it is an expected part of the role. It may seem like training takes too much time away from other important tasks, but a great training program will save time in the long run. Training courses or workshops should be offered to all new managers, and regular check-ins should happen to ensure managers are getting what they need to grow and improve. It also helps to schedule recurring one month, three month and six month check-ins. New managers don’t know what they don’t know, so they need the ongoing dialogue.
3. Pair new managers with seasoned managers
Training only goes so far and the value of mentors cannot be understated. New questions arise constantly for new managers. Make sure your new manager has a dedicated mentor, who can help them navigate the ins and outs of their role. Learning from example is a tried and true practice and even if the mentor is someone from a different department, having that resource is crucial.
4. Know their limits
Great managers know their product and operations, but they aren’t a “know-it-all.” Setting up new managers for success requires knowing their strengths and pain points. Educate your managers on the resources available to them. This will enable new managers to flex the muscle of their good judgment but also know when it may be time to bring someone else into the fold.
5. Culture of management
As we’ve seen in recent headlines, corporate culture can make or break a company. Emphasizing the corporate culture as a guidepost for management style will keep problems at bay. Managers should embody a consistent set of values that extend right up the chain of command.
Companies need to put both the processes and technology in place to make it possible for people to become great managers. Startups move incredibly quickly and managers need to do their own work on top of managing others. If building good management skills isn't a priority, and tools for building skills aren’t accessible, people won’t do it. Investing in new manager training is even more important in fast-moving growth companies. Management training may seem like a nice to have, but strong management is one of the essential ingredients for scaling quickly and staying competitive.
- Paul Sebastien is VP and GM at Udemy
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Bells and whistles: 2015 Ford Focus crammed with tech
While Ford's been busy learning that email is a thing, the motoring behemoth hasn't forgotten to give one of its most popular models a facelift.
Ford's new Focus made its Asia-Pacific debut in Melbourne this week, and its launch in 2015 will see the Australian debut of Ford's EcoBoost technology.
EcoBoost is designed to increase economy and see an approximate 20 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions, but it has remained absent from Ford's range in Australia, despite being around since 2012.
You talkin' to me?
The new Focus will change that, and will also boast the next generation of Ford's SYNC voice control system, imaginatively named SYNC2.This system gives the driver voice control of audio, navigation, mobile phones, and in-car temperature, although a slight turn of the temperature dial seems like an easier option to us than all of that button-holdin', voice-commandin' malarky. Still, SYNC2's new eight-inch colour touch screen is a nice addition.
The new Focus also ups the ante with an upgrade to its hands-free parking tech on higher series models. The new tech adds a pair of sensors to the rear of the car enabling perpendicular parking in addition to the regular parallel offering.
Judgement Day
If we're not careful, parking will become a lost skill left to the machines, and anyone who's seen a Terminator film will know where that road leads us.Ford is also refreshing its MyKey technology for the 2015 Focus. The next generation of road users will be horrified to learn their Focus-purchasing parents can program a key that restricts top speed, reduces the maximum volume of the audio system, and can disable the system altogether when seat belts are not being worn.
And kids probably will want to drive it. There's no denying the visual appeal of the new Focus, with its Aston Martin-esque grill adding to its sporty flair.
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HBO's solo service could launch with next Game of Thrones season
HBO will reportedly launch its new standalone service in April to coincide with the season 5 premiere of Game of Thrones on April 6.
That's what Fortune is saying, in a report that documents some alleged internal drama at HBO that may see the tech behind its standalone service outsourced rather than handled in-house.
That means the standalone HBO platform will likely be separate from HBO Go, and not simply a version of that service untethered from cable subscriptions, and it also muddies the future of HBO Go itself.
Apparently HBO had been working internally on a service codenamed "Maui," but that's reportedly been cancelled, with the job outsourced to MLB Advanced, a provider of streaming technology for companies like the WWE and others.
HBO Go experienced some outages during key times this past year, particularly related to Game of Thrones and True Detectives, and HBO reportedly wants to refocus on being a media company and not a technology company.
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Android Lollipop update for Android Wear to bring new faces soon?
Android 5.0 Lollipop isn't limited to just smartphones and tablets, as Android Wear devices are slated to get their own version eventually as well.
There's been no concrete word on when it might arrive or what new features it will bring, but rumors today say it's coming tomorrow, Wednesday, December 10.
That comes from a tipster on Reddit as well as a source that spoke with Phandroid, although granted this may be the same individual.
The reports say that Android 5.0.1 Lollipop be go out over-the-air to Android Wear smartwatches starting tomorrow, and with it a slew of brand new watch faces.
This first Lollipop release for Android Wear will reportedly also add new features to Android Wear's companion app, new quick options on the watches themselves, some UI shuffling, and the Material Design aesthetic.
Watch out for it tomorrow if you have an Android Wear device on your wrist right now.
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Microsoft is rethinking how to charge users for Windows 10
Paying for Windows has always been relatively straightforward, but with Apple and Google introducing new monetization models for operating systems it looks like Microsoft is being forced to follow suit.
Windows 10 garnered a healthy amount of buzz when Microsoft unveiled it in September, as it looks like a return to form for the OS, but what it won't be a return to is Microsoft's old business model.
"We've got to monetize it differently," Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner said at the Credit Suisse Technology Conference in early December, according to Wind8apps.com.
"And there are services involved," he continued. "There are additional opportunities for us to bring additional services to the product and do it in a creative way. And through the course of the summer and spring we'll be announcing what that business model looks like."
There are no details beyond that, but it seems likely that Microsoft will either offer Windows up for free and hope app and software sales and subscriptions make up the difference, or make Windows - or some versions of Windows - into a subscription service with recurring fees. And it sounds like we'll know by next summer either way.
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Review: Citrix GoToMeeting
Overview and specs
At a certain point, teams and companies outgrow used consumer-grade solutions for conferencing online. Products like Skype, Hangouts, and Facetime aren't meant for heavy usage, and often balk once you get an hour into a conversation. This is where solutions for the enterprise have filled an important gap.Citrix's GoToMeeting is a video conferencing client available on desktop and mobile, as well as some wearable devices. Adobe has their Connect service, and Microsoft has Lync Server 2013 (prices vary for both), but GoToMeeting's closest competitor is Cisco's WebEx solution, which is slightly more expensive, with a very similar set of features.
GoToMeeting is free for up to three attendees, $39/month (about £30/AU$55) billed annually for up to 25 attendees, and $56/month (about £40/AU$70) billed annually) for up to 100 attendees.
WebEx on the other hand has the same free-for-three offer, but costs $19 per month/annually (about £12/AU$23 $24 (about £15/AU$29) for eight users , $39 (about £25/AU$47 per month/annually for up to 25 users and $69 (about about £44/AU$83) per month/annually for up to 100 users.
For larger teams, Citrix offers GoToWebinar, which prices at $79/month (about £50/AU$95) billed annually for up to 100 attendees, $319/month (about £203/AU$382) billed annually for up to 500 attendees, and $399/month (about £254/AU$478) billed annually for up to 1000 attendees.
For interactive training for teams Citrix offers GoToTraining, which prices at $119/month (about £76/AU$143) billed annually for up to 25 attendees, and $279/month (about £178/AU$334) billed annually for up to 200 attendees.
Those price-structured packages are not only per month, but per organizer - the account that manages and schedules events. Attendees who don't need to make accounts or sign up are sent a link to join a meeting, which happens through either a web browser, the GoToMeeting client, or by calling in to a toll-free number. Of course, GoToMeeting allows for the call audio to go through its client, thanks to VoIP integration.
Cisco may have name recognition, but Citrix competes through feature parity and being better on your bottom line. With an in-app text chat room, screen sharing, and their always evolving labs features, Citrix, which acquired this platform in 2003, is continuing to adapt video conferencing to today's technology. Functional across a diverse array of devices, GoToMeeting is a solution very much worth considering.
Specs and features
Reviewing GoToMeeting, I was able to test the platform on a wide range of devices, a standard in the industry designed to leave no team member with an excuse for missing out. It didn't matter which web browser I used, GoToMeeting was built around Flash, and now supports HTML5. While the market for this solution is based around PCs in the enterprise, I was able to present and attend meetings from both my Macbook Pro and my iOS devices.Also, it's available on Android including any Android smartwatches that support Android Wear. Of all the options, the PC is the best for presenting, thanks to the white-board presentation app Sightboard, as well as an ever-expanding set of Labs features.
Starting a meeting and sending out invitations was a quick and easy process thanks to integration with Outlook and Google Calendar. After starting a meeting with a single click, GoToMeeting gave me a simple invitation to send out. Up to six computers, including my own as the presenter, are allowed to stream from their webcams simultaneously.
Over the years, having sat through stuttering Google Hangouts meetings and Skype calls that repeatedly freeze and lose image quality, I have to credit GoToMeeting for making a very strong case for a paid solution. In one of my tests, I had an hour long conference on GoToMeeting that went by without any snags or drops in quality.
While I was impressed with the A/V quality, GoToMeeting lets me share my screen with the attendees. If someone I was working with wanted to share their content, I could pass the presenter baton to them, and if someone had an idea for a change they wanted to make, I was able to give them remote access to my mouse and keyboard.
I was also able to test out GoToMeet.Me, their new product for personal GoToMeeting rooms. I filled in simple forms to create my profile page with a distinct vanity URL, GoToMeet.Me/henrytcasey. Then I was able to place that in my email signature, so that my correspondents have an easy way to jump into a meeting room with me.
When I used the iOS client, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I could stay on a call even after having locked my screens, just like when you're on a speakerphone call. A necessary feature for someone in a meeting while on the move. Additionally, GoToMeeting's one of the first products I've found that supports the brand new Handoff protocol introduced this fall in iOS 8 & OS X Yosemite, which allows attendees on the go to easily transfer their attendance from their device to their desktop.
Issues and verdict
As great as the screen-sharing feature is, it suffered from an all-or-nothing problem. The only option available was to share my entire screen, which is optimized for presenting a Powerpoint deck (a primary use case for video conferencing). If you're using any other kind of file, though, that same dynamic integration is missing.Without a way to integrate files, other than sharing one's screen, I had a problem with available screen-space. I was juggling the audience's video streams, the GoToMeeting control panel, and tmy screen's contents underneath all of that. Since you can reduce the size of your audience video streams and the powerpoint, it can be made to work, especially with a large monitor, but a more streamlined solution would make for a better experience. Therefore, a decent sized monitor is recommended for presenters who want to keep an eyes on their audience, as a laptop won't quite do it justice.
Even though GoToMeeting's iOS app works very well, and they support the latest Apple protocols, their Mac client looks outdated. From the button & menu design to the lack of a full-screen option, it feels very much like something from the earlier days of OS X. That's not a problem on the PC, though, where all of the user elements are collected and organized in one window, making it a much more coherent and organized experience.
We liked
To borrow a phrase, GoToMeeting just works, and that's a fantastic feature. If you've used consumer grade solutions like Skype, you know that this isn't the easiest thing to do. My test calls showed very clear video and audio, and remote access for the keyboard and mouse on my presenter's computer was seamless. The ability to rearrange, shrink, or enlarge all of the video streams, based on preference, is also a nice touch.We disliked
Having optimized for the most standard uses (PCs and slide decks) the other uses aren't at that same level of quality. The design of the OS X app needs to be brought to the same modern standards seen on their iOS app. One would hope that future versions will integrate that look, as the two platforms continue to share design ideas. Citrix has informed us that an upcoming version will modernize the OS X client, but this modern interface wasn't available in the version that I tested.Verdict
Those looking for a video conferencing solution can't really go wrong with GoToMeeting. It's feature-rich, cheaper than its competition, and works without a hiccup. The flexible options for collaborating work well, and if you have a PC, there are a wealth of interesting things going on in their Labs section. The user interface holdovers on the Mac give it a slight learning curve, but since the market is mostly on PCs, every competitor in the industry has left Mac users out in the cold when looking for a native solution for web conferencing.
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Retina MacBook Air: 5 things we want to see
For fans of Apple and notebooks in general, the wait for a Retina MacBook Air has gone on for what feels like an eternity. Apple held an event in October that was accompanied by the tag line "It's been way too long", which some people quietly hoped referred to the MacBook Air getting a long-overdue Retina upgrade. It didn't. (Sob.)
As it turned out, the iMac 5K received a pixel-packing panel instead, joining the Cupertino-company's fleet of Retina products that now includes the iMac 5K, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 and MacBook Pro with Retina.
Since then, Retina MacBook Air rumours have come thick and fast, and each tidbit of information sent down the wires has made us think about what we would like to see on Apple's popular ultraportable. While we're changing our mind more often than the tide goes out, here are a few things that we're hoping make the grade.
1. A Retina display with a roomy resolution
We're going to go out on a limb here and assume that the Retina MacBook Air is going to get a Retina display (daring, right?), but how much space on the desktop will it offer?The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina's 2560 x 1600 pixel-resolution display looked fantastic, but to make it "Retina", Apple effectively stuck to the MacBook Pro's 1280 x 800 and doubled the pixel count, meaning it offered no more desktop space over its predecessor.
That left it too cramped for some people, who either had to up the resolution to the "looks like 1680 x 1050" option or use a third-party tool like SwitchResX to go even higher. The problem with doing so is that each step up in resolution made image quality very slightly (but noticeably) worse.
Apple managed to fit a huge 5K display on the new iMac 5K, which has the same desktop space as a 2560 x 1440 monitor (the pixels are once again doubled to make it 'Retina'), so the technology exists.
We would love to see pixel-doubled "Retina" display that has the same amount of room as a 1680 x 1050 pixel-resolution monitor, or even better, 1920 x 1080.
2. A lighter, slimmer design
The MacBook Air set the standard for notebook design when it slipped out of an envelop into Steve Jobs's palm in 2008.Its aluminium unibody design went on to inspire a wide range of Ultrabooks in the coming years, and while its stylish, minimal approach has undoubtedly played a big part in the MacBook Air's success, it has grown more than a little stale.
The bezel surrounding its screen is thick by today's standards, and Ultrabooks, such as the HP Folio 1020 and Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro are both slimmer and lighter than Apple's offering.
Intel's Core M processor is expected to feature in the Retina MacBook Air, which will give the company the opportunity to slim down the machine by making it fanless. That's because the CPU is extremely energy efficient, running with a low TDP of 4.5 watts, meaning that the space usually reserved for a fan can be used for other components or shaved off altogether.
3. A new charging method
Apple redesigned the power connector for its MacBook models in 2012, giving birth to MagSafe 2 in 2012. It's worked well ever since, but that hasn't stopped us from yearning for a more innovative charging method such as inductive (or "wireless") charging, a technology that has brought added flexibility to wearables and smartphones.
Smartphones such as the Nokia 920 and LG Nexus 4 have shown that there's no easier way of charging a device than dropping it on a charging mat. Laptops such as Dell's Latitude Z have attempted inductive charging in the past to varying effect, and if Apple were to nail it with its next MacBook, it could spark a trend for others follow.
Another rumour doing the rounds is that Apple will introduce solar charging in its new Retina MaBook Air, which would come in handy for when you're writing up that all-important report in the garden. It wouldn't be so useful indoors, obviously. Or if you live in Norway.
4. Dedicated graphics
OK - so this one may be something of an optimistic request (to put it mildly), but a dedicated graphics card in a Retina MacBook Air would have us salivating like a Basset Hound in a butcher's shop.
Apple has used Intel's integrated HD 5000 solution for its recent MacBook Air systems, but with discrete GPU-packing gaming laptops such as the Razer Blade 14 and Gigabyte's Aorus X3 showing that power is coming in increasingly thin packages, we're not yet ready to give up hope.
If Apple did launch one, it would probably cost you an arm, leg, kidney and your first-born child to afford it. (And it would be probably be worth it too.)
5. The same great battery life
Since Haswell came along, Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air systems have all had best-in-class battery life, reaching up to 12 hours on a single charge under some use cases.The 11-inch MacBook Air has lagged behind ever so slightly, going for around nine hours before giving up the ghost. Both are impressive stats, but should the Retina MacBook Air come with a high-resolution display, and in the smaller 11.8-inch form factor as it is rumoured to, those could prove two big drains on battery life.
The MacBook Pro with Retina managed to go for around nine hours, and we'd be happy if the Retina MacBook Air lasted the same. Switching to Intel's battery-sipping Core M processor and making it fanless (lending it more room for a bigger battery) are two major factors that could help it achieve that goal.
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Acer could get back on board with Windows Phone in a big way
Acer said in March 2014 that it won't make another Windows Phone until the operating system's app ecosystem and user experience improve.
But according to a site called Gizbot that time may have already arrived, as Acer is reportedly prepping a 'slew' of new Windows Phone handsets to launch in 2015.
Acer did launch one Windows Phone smartphone, the Acer W4, but that was three years ago and it wasn't exactly a showstopper.
The Windows Phone situation has no doubt improved since then, though Microsoft's mobile OS is definitely due for a shake-up.
Gizbot says its sources believe Acer will begin next year's parade of new Windows Phone handsets in the first half of the year, and by that time we very well may know more about Microsoft's plans for Windows Phone. If Acer knows something we don't, there may be some good news incoming.
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Samsung may launch a new Note 4 with the superior Snapdragon 810
Qualcomm made headlines in early December when a report said troubles with the company's upcoming Snapdragon 810 chip might cause delays in upcoming phones ranging from the Samsung Galaxy S6 to the LG G4.
The chip maker came right out to deny it, but either way the rumor apparently hasn't stopped Samsung from allegedly testing the new Snapdragon out in an updated version of its Galaxy Note 4 phablet, Sammobile reports.
There are already two variants of the Note 4 available, one with a Samsung Exynos chip and the other with a Snapdragon 805, so it's not too far-fetched to imagine Samsung might want to top those off with a more powerful third.
Balancing act
The Snapdragon 810-equipped Note 4 is reportedly being tested in South Korea, where it might launch some time in the next few months.A release elsewhere is unlikely, though, as by the time the Snapdragon 810 is ready for global production Samsung may well be prepping its next generation of handsets for release.
But then again, given that Samsung is expected to launch fewer phones in 2015, an update to the Note 4 might be a good way for it to breathe new life into an existing one while still slimming down its portfolio overall. So you never know.
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Twitch on Xbox One update makes it easier to find what you want
For some users Twitch's deep-rooted Xbox One integration is a major selling point for Microsoft's current game console, and that integration just got better.
A new update to Twitch on Xbox One adds a number of improvements, chief among them advanced filters that let you find what you want.
Users can now filter live streams with criteria ranging from specific player stats like kill/death ratios in Call of Duty to what maps are being played or what car streamers are driving.
Microsoft said in an Xbox Wire post that that means viewers can be more specific about what kind of broadcasts they want to watch, and broadcasters can more easily find the audience that wants to see their content.
Other changes include the addition of archived video on demand videos to Xbox One, revamped broadcaster profiles, improved search that lets you find specific people, manual stream quality select, and the ability follow whole games as well as specific channels.
The Twitch Xbox One update launched today and is available to all for free.
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Uber's brash moves get it sued in Oregon and kicked out of Spain
If you've ever tried to catch a cab in Portland, Oregon, whether on a busy Friday night or a lazy afternoon, then you understand that the city desperately needs a disruptive service like Uber to come in and light a fire under the old guard.
City officials in Portland disagree, however, and they've filed a lawsuit against Uber over the company's apparently "illegal" launch there.
Uber began operating in Portland in early December despite the city's objections over the company's prices, its lack of services for disabled customers, and its lack of insurance and background check standards for its drivers. Now the Portland Bureau of Transportation has issued a cease-and-desist to all Uber drivers operating in the city.
"Our main concern is public health and safety, because the state invested in the cities the responsibility to do that," Mayor Charlie Hales said in a statement. "Beyond that, though, is the issue of fairness. Taxi cab companies follow rules on public health and safety. So do hotels and restaurants and construction companies and scores of other service providers. Because everyone agrees: good regulations make for a safer community. Uber disagrees, so we're seeking a court injunction."
Troubles 'round the world
Uber's troubles stretch far beyond Portland, though. In the wake of privacy and safety concerns, not helped by a rape allegation in India, lots of cities and countries around the world are taking a close look at the company.Indian officials banned the service from Delhi, while Thailand has taken separate issue with Uber's use of private cars rather than licensed taxis.
And a judge in Spain has ordered Uber to cease all services in the country because Uber drivers lack the official authorization that's required to operate taxis there.
The list goes on and on. It's a shame that Uber's services have become so controversial, because it really is useful in metropolitan areas, particularly ones without robust public transportation, or where traditional cab companies have free reign to charge whatever they want for terrible service.
At least the company, perhaps in a big to get some positive attention for once, has announced a partnership to accept charitable donations for No Kid Hungry through its app. Well done Uber?
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How the Met Office's new supercomputer could save the UK £2 billion
What sits in three buildings, weighs over 140 tonnes and can perform more than 16,000 trillion calculations a second? The Met Office has announced that it has commissioned a new Cray XC40 supercomputer that upon its completion in March 2017 is likely to be the largest in the UK and Europe, and among the world's Top 20. Capable of 23 petaflops, the Cray XC40 will straddle three sites in Exeter, including the Met Office's HQ and the Exeter Science Park.
Why does the Met Office need a supercomputer?
"We want to add new parameters and increase the resolution with which we forecast, so that we can discern finer detail within the phenomena to get a greater understanding of how specific weather events could affect the UK economy," says Dave Underwood, Deputy Director for High Performance Computing Programme at the Met Office in Exeter."For many years forecasting has been based on the science of numerical weather prediction where we have mathematical models that represent the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere and the hydrosphere."
Using observations from radar, satellites, soundings from space, and information from ships and aircraft, for forecasters it's all about getting as good an understanding as possible of the starting state of the Earth's atmosphere. However, even with hundreds of millions of observations coming into the Met Office each day, there are gaps in its knowledge.
"There are many places in the world for which we don't have accurate observations," says Underwood, "so there's some imprecision about the starting state." The Cray XC40 will change all that.
So this is about modelling weather systems globally?
"To deliver a good forecast for the UK which has global interests, especially in the aviation, maritime and defence sectors, we need to represent the weather structures of the whole Earth system," says Underwood. "If you only model the weather for your country you're still going to need to know about the weather round about you." With a model of the entire planet's weather system in place, all the local observations made in the UK are set in proper context."The XC40 promises to be a rock star," adds George K. Thiruvathukal, Member of the IEEE Computer Society, professor of Computer Science at Loyola University Chicago. "Meteorological simulations and predictions require large-scale computational resources, the more computational power you have at your disposal, the better your forecasts will be." The Met Office will thus be able to run simulations continuously to get updated forecasts as new observed data comes in.
What does the Met use now?
The Met Office currently uses an IBM POWER7, which is about a 1.2 petaflop machine. "We are operating it to the maximum of its ability in excess of 98% all day, every day doing operational weather forecasting, and climate research and forecasting," says Underwood. "We could do more science if we had more computational power available to us."The swap to an upgraded supercomputer is largely about increasing the UK's resilience to extreme weather events, with the outlay of £97 million by the government destined to bring £2 billion in socio-economic benefits between 2016 and 2020. Underwood calls that figure conservative, saying that better forecasting will mean better mitigation of the impacts of flooding and severe weather on winter road travel, airports and food security.
The new forecasting techniques will also be used to better evaluate wind farm sites, the siting of power stations on coasts, and the specifications of expensive new anti-flooding infrastructure projects like the Thames Barrier.
How did the Met choose the Cray XC40?
The XC40 is the very latest generation of Cray supercomputer, the present version (the XC30) of which can be found at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMRWF) in Reading."We wanted to act like an intelligent customer and to make sure the specifications in the tender were challenging, but realistic," says Underwood, "so we went to the various super-computing conferences to get a good understanding of the state of the industry, who the major players were, what the technologies are on offer and what the likely levels of performance might be." From seven manufacturers, it was whittled down to four, then three, finally arriving at Cray becoming the preferred bidder.
What is the lifecycle of the Cray XC40?
Supercomputers aren't an off-the-shelf product, with the Met Office's latest due to be implemented in three phases. "The first phase will be operational by September 2015 when in terms of performance it will be a like-for-like replacement of the current IBM POWER7, and based on the Intel Haswell chip," says Underwood. By February or March 2016 the Met Office will have upgraded to 1B machines using the Intel Broadwell chip, with the final stage in March 2017 hoped to feature the Intel Skylake processor."At each stage of the process we're going to use ever more capable processor technology," says Underwood. "We expect the XC40 to last four to five years. It's not the system itself that wears out, but the rate at which it performs becomes no longer state of the art, so it slows-up the rate at which we can bring new science into our services."
Why do we need supercomputers?
"Across a huge spectrum of human endeavour, High Performance Computing (HPC) is the engine and primary tool humanity is using to advance what we value in society," says Jason Cori, Director EMEA/APAC at SGI, which has just been chosen by NASA to upgrade the Discover supercomputer at the NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland."Supercomputers' incredible processing speeds – as much as quadrillions upon quadrillions of calculations per second at peak performance – can gain insights from data that it would take humans many years to do. They also assist in providing a key mechanism for collaborations, both within scientific communities and across scientific disciplines."
What's NASA doing?
The Discover supercomputer at the NCCS conducts weather and climate simulations that span time scales from seasons to centuries. It's being upgraded with 1.9 petaflops of SGI Rackable clusters featuring an Intel Xeon E5-2696 v3 processor so it can handle more data and develop higher-resolution weather and climate simulations."In just a couple of years we have seen the science industry explode with data, enabling ground-breaking insights we couldn't imagine before," says Jorge Titinger, president and CEO of SGI. "High performance computing is a fundamental part of ensuring researchers have the tools to access all the data at their fingertips."
Only 1.9 petaflops? It may not compare to the Met Office's new supercomputer, but in the US weather forecasting is split between myriad agencies, so it's pointless to compare by the petaflop.
In what other industries are supercomputers used?
"There are a number of select industries that rely more on computing horsepower than others," says Cori, citing Earth Science as one of the. "In addition to weather and atmospheric research around the world, oil and gas is also a major consumer of HPC," he says, citing Total's supercomputer Pangea, which is helping engineers run simulations at 10 times the resolution of existing oil and gas reservoir models."Ultimately this new research should provide a clearer picture of what is happening beneath Earth's surface, and provide better direction to the decision makers at Total on where to place their valuable resources."
Supercomputers are also being used in computational biology and bioinformatics. "In my own work with a group at Argonne National Laboratory, science is accelerating advances well beyond its initial applications in the physical sciences," says Thiruvathukal.
"For example, computational biology and bioinformatics are emerging to understand the data coming from next-generation sequencing devices [and] it is likely that high performance computing will help us to understand virus mutation and evolution in real-time, and identify emerging threats."
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Review: Updated: Nokia Lumia 630
Introduction
Update: The Nokia Lumia 630 has become even cheaper since its launch and new phones have arrived to challenge it. Our review now reflects this.With the Nokia Lumia 520 now the world's top-selling Windows Phone 8 handset, it's no surprise that Nokia and Microsoft are concentrating on strengthening their low-budget range as it tries to dominate an area of the market.
The Nokia Lumia 630 was the first Windows Phone to arrive straight out of the box with Windows Phone 8.1.
Price-wise the Lumia 630 slots into the bottom end of the range just above the Lumia 520 and the newer Nokia Lumia 530, but it comes jam-packed with features thanks to the upgraded operating system, therefore you get a lot more bang for your buck.
Windows Phone 8.1 offers a lot more upgrades and additions than you would expect from the usual 'point upgrade', it's almost a complete overhaul of its predecessor.
All of the desirable features of Windows Phone 8 remain, however the upgrade pushes the OS closer to its competitors iOS and Android, replicating their existing features with the likes of the new Word Flow Keyboard and Action Centre.
Other additions to the new Windows Phone system are all focused on putting the smart back into smartphone as it focuses on getting you the most out of your features.
Data Sense and Wi-Fi Sense look to take the hassle out of data usage and Wi-Fi connection. The new ClearBlack screen allows you to enjoy the new entertainment features and apps available, including Xbox games.
The Nokia Lumia 630 also has new internal hardware ready to take advantage of the SensorCore SDK announced at Build 2014 so it can essentially act as your personal pedometer and measurement tool, because who doesn't take their phone everywhere they go.
The operating system isn't the only upgrade on the Lumia 630; it also has a generous 4.5-inch ClearBlack, 480 x 854 display, 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor and 512MB of RAM, beating out both the Lumia 530 and 620.
All that is not too shabby considering you can pick up the Nokia Lumia 630 for £99.95 SIM-free, £79.99 locked on pay as you go, or free if you buy it on a pay monthly deal from £9.50 per month. A dual-SIM variant is also available from around £120 SIM-free.
Although it's certainly an improvement on previous low-end Lumia's, there are still some features missing that you might expect. The Nokia Lumia 630 still doesn't have NFC, a camera flash or a front-facing snapper so if those are must-haves then this isn't the phone for you.
However, if you can live without those then it's not bad for the bargain price.
Statement colour is the cornerstone of the Nokia Lumia range and the Lumia 630 is no exception. The Nokia Lumia 630 has a removable, and therefore interchangeable, case so you can switch from the outspoken and fun bright green, bright yellow and bright orange to a more understated and professional black or white case.
The removable case also allows for easier access to the battery and SIM card so you won't be scrambling for a safety pin to get to the SIM (let's face it, you'll inevitably lose the actual tool for the job).
It also makes the Lumia 630 feel lighter and less bulky and allows for a larger screen than previous designs due to a smaller bezel.
The Nokia Lumia 630 is more rectangular and less smoothly finished than most of its competitors, however it has a strong and eye-catching design that follows the line of the higher-end Nokia's like the Lumia 920.
Its change in design makes it slimmer than the Lumia 620, 530 and 520 at just 9.2mm. Yet the increased screen size makes it heavier at 134g and wider at 129.5 x 66.7mm. This alongside the rectangular design does mean it feels quite wide in the hand, so I wouldn't recommend it if you have small, delicate hands.
Although the shell is removable, as with other Lumias it is a strong enough case that you don't need anything in addition. You can still customise the design to an extent – case manufacturers are bound to already be beavering away on alternative designs.
The front of the Nokia Lumia 630 is mostly screen and a good sized one at that for such a low-priced design. At 271 pixels per inch it's certainly not the best quality screen you'll find out there but for the price, what more can you expect?
You can also use gloves with it, which is becoming more common but it's a great selling point, or it will be in the winter at least.
Although the screen is sizeable, it isn't edge-to-edge. There's a black border running the entire way around it. The border becomes wider at the top to allow for the Nokia logo, ear and mouth pieces and at the bottom where you'll find the start, back and search soft-keys.
The back of the Nokia Lumia 630 is very simple with just a small loudspeaker, the 5MP camera lens near the top and of course the small Nokia logo in the centre.
The right edge of the handset houses all of the phone's physical buttons, with a volume rocker and the power button just below it. The signature camera button has been removed which is a shame as it was an added bonus on previous Nokia devices.
The left edge is completely free of any features, ports or buttons at all. The top is home only to a 3.5mm headphone port on the left-hand side and the bottom edge has a micro USB port in the centre, which is used for charging or connecting the Nokia Lumia 630 to a computer.
The back cover is easy to remove – you simply use your nails to peel it away at each corner. The cover is suitably strong enough and therefore unlikely to snap even if you're changing it every five minutes.
Once that has been removed, you'll have access to the 1830mAh battery, which is bigger than the Lumia 520 and 620.
Beneath the battery there are two slots – one for a micro SIM card and one for a microSD card. The Nokia Lumia 630 supports up to 128GB cards, which is useful for extending the fairly limited 8GB of on-board memory and 7GB OneDrive cloud storage.
Key Features
One of the long awaited additions to Windows Phone is 'Cortana', Microsoft's equivalent to Siri and Google Voice Search and I'm pleased to say it doesn't disappoint.Cortana, with her lovely soothing tone works well for a first attempt. Speech recognition is fast and accurate and it is well integrated with the core functions – however, it is currently only available for the Lumia 630 in the US.
Purchase your Nokia Lumia 630 outside the States and you won't initially benefit from this feature, but the UK release of Cortana is scheduled to arrive on the Lumia 630 by the end of the year, so it should be here any day now.
There are a number of built-in entertainment features to the Nokia Lumia 630 including Mix Radio which is a nice alternative to Last.fm or Spotify.
Available both online and offline, Mix Radio offers a number of playlists compiled by Microsoft's music experts, or allows you to search and compile your own playlists.
As with Spotify, Mix Radio also offers radio stations based on your music tastes and you can also share your mixes with your friends via Facebook and Twitter.
Another nice addition is the introduction of the Wordflow Keyboard. The swipe typing works well but I found it doesn't quite have the smart prediction and smoothness of other more established alternatives such as Swiftkey.
Windows Phone 8.1 also comes with Skype pre-installed and is set to automatically connect whenever and wherever possible allowing for greater connectivity with contacts.
All the features of Skype are available and you can switch from a regular call to a Skype call, great for when you lose signal but are on Wi-Fi. However, it does seem strange to have Skype pre-installed on a phone with no front-facing camera.
One surprising addition for a cheap phone is the ability to support motion data collection, meaning your phone will track and record your movement and location.
It's a great feature for fitness fans and can be used in conjunction with a number of apps including the pre-installed Bing Health and Fitness app.
I had a go with the app and was pleasantly surprised with the results. The pedometer function was relatively accurate and it monitors various types of exercise. The app also recommends exercises and diets and keeps a track record of all your exercises so you can map your progress.
As with all other Nokia Lumia devices, the Lumia 630 comes with Microsoft Office and OneNote, great additions, especially with such a bargain phone.
Business is always at the front of Microsoft's mind and as a result the Nokia Lumia 630 comes with dual-SIM capability, so now you can use just one device for two purposes. I can't see the Nokia Lumia 630 being the business phone of choice for large corporations but it's certainly an option for small-medium sized businesses.
Interface and performance
Operating the Nokia Lumia 630 is similar, if not identical to previous Lumia generations and the upgrade to Windows Phone 8.1 has made very few changes.Nevertheless, swiping around the various screens is smoother and more responsive than Windows Phone 8 and the bigger screen means it's plenty big enough to do most things easily.
Although the 4.5-inch display doesn't have the best resolution, it's plenty good enough to make sure the tiles and menus are sharp and clear.
The screen, though responsive, does stick to the finger a little and isn't as smooth as the likes of the iPhone 5S or HTC One. It also seems to smudge easily and gets messy more quickly than others.
The interface on the Nokia Lumia 630 appears the same as on Windows Phone 8 phones.
Once switched on you start on the lockscreen, which shows the time and date as well as an overview of any unopened messages or emails and any useful reminders pulled from your calendar or Facebook. Behind that is a standard wallpaper which you can customise using Facebook to display random images from your account.
Swiping up takes you to the start screen which a variety of live tiles for apps and menus, which you can scroll through vertically.
Pressing and holding on to a tile lets you move, resize or unpin it from the screen. The colour scheme is also as interchangeable as the case; this can be changed in the settings menu.
Something new on Windows Phone 8.1 however is the ability to add another column of times to your homescreen, taking it from two up to three. Now this works well on larger handsets such as the 5-inch Lumia 930, but things can get a little crowded on the Lumia 630.
You don't have to have this third column, and it can be easily toggled in the settings - but it's nice to have the option if you are really live-tile crazy.
You can organise the live tiles in folders on your start screen and also create folders that can be pinned to the start screen, making your files much more organised and easy to find.
This is a feature which has been added by Nokia rather than coming direct from Microsoft - and it's an extremely welcome one.
To see the full list of apps you can swipe left and they are displayed in alphabetical order. Long-pressing an app on the list lets you bring it to the start screen or delete it to save memory. You will find the settings screen in here, and from there you can change sounds, ringtones, set-up Wi-Fi etc.
The biggest addition to the interface that has been included in Windows Phone 8.1 is the Action Centre. Anyone who is familiar with iOS or Android will know this as the notification area.
From the start screen or app list you can swipe down from the top of the phone, allowing you easy access to any new notifications as well as toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, camera access and screen brightness.
You can go to the wider settings categories from here and the Action Centre also displays your remaining battery.
The Nokia Lumia 630 features an upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor running a 1.2GHz and backed by 512MB of RAM.
As a result, it outperforms both the Nokia Lumia 520 and 620. It's certainly plenty for day-to-day usage and keeps the new Windows Phone 8.1 OS running smoothly. Previously frustrating loading times have also improved – although it's still not the best. I'd recommend sticking to mobile sites if you want to cut down on waiting times.
I also tested the processor against its predecessors with the help of AnTuTu and WP Bench and the scores are pretty good for a lower end Windows Phone. It's certainly outperforming the Nokia Lumia 520 amongst others – although that should be the case with the added quad-core processor.
Equipped with an Adreno 305 GPU the Nokia Lumia 630 can handle 3D games from the Xbox section, however don't be expecting outstanding quality. Don't forget the phone is cheap - it's certainly not a mobile games console for the hard-core gamers out there.
As you'd expect at that price, the Nokia Lumia isn't 4G enabled but it comes with the standard Wi-Fi and 3G and the token web browser of choice is of course, Internet Explorer.
However, the new Windows Phone 8.1 does come with the upgraded Internet Explorer 11. Whilst this is an upgrade, it hasn't got anything spectacular that you wouldn't expect from competing browsers.
Battery and the essentials
The Nokia Lumia 630 has a 1830mAh battery at the heart of it, a significant boost over the 1430mAh found in the Nokia Lumia 520 and the 1300mAh battery found in the Nokia Lumia 620.This much needed improvement in battery power has resulted in a significant improvement in performance over previous iterations. The Nokia Lumia 630 can now make it through the day with no problems, as long as you're not constantly glued to it for 24 hours.
The Nokia Lumia 630 also fared well in TechRadar's battery test – running a 90-minute video from a fully charged handset with Wi-Fi on, social networks and emails set to push notifications and the screen turned up to full brightness.
The battery dropped to 77% by the end. Not too shabby and the Nokia Lumia 630 fared even better when performing standard every day functions like making calls and playing music.
Nokia claims the Lumia 630 provides up to 25 days of standby time over 3G, 16.4 of talk-time over GSM and maximum 3G talk time of up to 13.1 hours. It also claims over 58 hours of music playback time and 7 hours for video.
If this doesn't live up to your expectations there is a battery saver, which prevents apps from syncing in the background.
The essentials
Although Windows Phone 8.1 has changed a lot, or at least added a lot as a new and improved OS, one thing that has stayed the same is the essential phone usage – making calls and texting.
Everything you need to make a call is listed in the 'Phone' app at the top left of the start screen. When you open it you'll see a history of your recent calls, made, received and missed alongside the date and time of each call.
It's a little odd that this is the default screen as, 'who was it that called me earlier?' isn't exactly what springs to mind when I'm going to call home and find out what's for tea. However, everything you need is well within reach and you have shortcuts to your contacts, voicemail and search.
Your contacts are displayed alphabetically in the same way that apps are on the second start screen, so they are easy enough to find.
Nonetheless, one thing that has always bugged me with Windows Phone is the duplication of contacts. If you've connected via Facebook, all your contacts are transferred so you end up with your dad in there twice.
The keypad is nothing to write home about as there's no smart dialling so you'll likely only use it to call new numbers or add to contacts. Calls on the other hand are great, the quality is above average and I've not had any problems hearing people or dropping calls.
You have the usual options on-screen during a call – mute, on hold, loudspeaker or to add additional callers and the phone also displays the contact's name, number and the call duration.
One thing I will reiterate is that I wouldn't recommend the phone for the dainty handed as the phone feels quite wide and could be uncomfortable during long calls.
Texting on the Nokia Lumia 630 now has the added bonus of the Wordflow keyboard, which, although it is a nice addition, isn't the most accurate thanks to the slightly sticky and slow screen.
This has complicated things and to be honest I think I preferred the simple QWERTY keyboard option, it felt more in keeping with Nokia's brand. Text is clear, sharp and easily read on the 4.5-inch screen.
Finally apps, and what does Windows Phone 8.1 have to offer? Always seen as lagging behind iTunes and Google Play, the Windows Store has upped its game.
Don't get me wrong, there are still favourites missing but your main or popular apps are easy to find and use. Microsoft has also secured some unique offerings and integrating Xbox Live was a genius move.
Camera
The camera on the Nokia Lumia 630 is probably the biggest let down as it's quite basic. You get a 5MP sensor on the back but there's no flash and no front facing camera so selfies are more difficult and video chatting impossible.If that puts you off then I'd most likely recommend the Nokia Lumia 620 as a respectable alternative.
The options are also limited on the Nokia Lumia 630. You can adjust the white balance, aspect ratio, exposure value and the ISO and you can also choose between three modes: night, sports or automatic, all of which you can change from the camera directly rather than having to come out of the app.
Aside from that, the camera is basically just point and shoot. I was disappointed to see the external camera button go as it now means you have to hold the camera in one hand to take a photo and I found that this means the camera takes more time to focus.
There is a smart shoot option that takes several photos quickly and lets you pick the best ones. This helps as it allows the camera time to focus so even if your first couple are a little blurry, there's bound to be a good one in there.
As you will see in the camera sample shots, the automatic mode isn't bad for landscape photos and even up close shots. However the lack of flash means dark or night-time shots aren't great. Even with the night mode I didn't see any noticeable differences.
Having said all that, it's still not bad for a budget camera-phone and there are Nokia apps available for expanding your photographic options such as Cinemagraph and Panorama.
The video camera on the Nokia Lumia 630 is also quite basic, it shoots in 720p at 30fps (the same as the Nokia Lumia 620) and as such the performance is similar to that of its predecessor.
Options for shooting videos are even more limited than when taking still shots, you can still adjust the white balance as well as turning continuous focus on and off. In terms of the quality you can change that but you can only choose between 720p and WVGA.
The video camera works exactly how you'd expect, simply press the shutter button to start and again to stop filming. Sadly because of the lack of video lamp, the quality isn't great in poorly lit places but if you stick to well-lit areas then it's not too bad.
Click here for the full res image
Click here for the full res image
Click here for the full res image
Click here for the full res image
Click here for the full res image
Click here for the full res image
Media
Whereas Windows Phone 8 would cover off all your media needs in just one app, the Music + Videos app to be precise, Windows Phone 8.1 has separated out the various media elements so you have an app for each.As you can imagine, each app does exactly what it says on the tin. Your music is in the Music app, videos in the Video app and that's right, you've guessed it, your photos are in the Photos app and they are all quite standard.
Music
The music player works as
you'd expect, you can create custom playlists or filter your library by
artist, song, album or genre. Once a song is playing, you can view the
album artwork, favourite it and repeat or shuffle it with the in-app
options.
There are a few strange elements to the music player that I thought might have been addressed; there's no start screen controls for music but you can pause or skip songs from the lock screen. You also have to go into the main settings screen to change the equalizer settings, it can't be done in the app.
All that aside, the sound quality is quite good, though without speakers the sound can get a little tinny when the volume is up high.
In addition to the Music app you can also listen to music through Mix Radio or you can copy songs directly from your laptop to your phone.
Video
There are two options for video viewing on the Nokia Lumia 630. Firstly, images that you have taken yourself, these are stored in the camera roll. Simply select one of the thumbnails and tap one to view it. Once in you can pause it, skip ahead or skip to the next video but that is it, it's quite basic.
The Video app also allows you to purchase or rent video content and thanks to the partnership with Xbox live there is an excellent selection to choose from.
Although the screen and the sound isn't the best quality it certainly does what you'd expect and a little bit more for the price, the colours are bright and the image is clear.
As with the music though, I'd recommend headphones because the sound quality isn't great, although it is loud. It's also a decent size for videos, of course there are bigger and better quality phones for viewing video but then you'll be paying bigger prices.
The Nokia Lumia 630 does support all major audio and video formats, including MP3, WAV, eAAC+, WMA, MP4, H.264, H.263 and WMV.
Photos
Aside from music and video, there's also a standard Photo app. Your photos can also be viewed in the camera roll alongside the videos but this app is dedicated purely to your still images. It's a straight-forward app that does what you need it to.You can view your pictures, favourite them, upload them to SkyDrive or set them as lock screen wallpaper. It's also easy to share your photos from here via social media channels.
There are a handful of editing options but these are quite limited, simply cropping, rotating or 'fixing' the picture.
Windows Phone 8.1 now organises your photos with the new Storyteller function. This organises them by the date that they were taken – I'm not sure I like this new format, I was perfectly happy with seeing all my photos in one go.
Ultimately there's not that much to media on the Nokia Lumia 630, but what there is works pretty well.
The internal storage could have been a bit limiting for big media moguls, but with an additional 128GB available with a microSD card slot, there should be plenty of room. In fact more than some of the higher end phones.
With the screen size and low pixel density it doesn't pack a strong punch if media is a big deal for you, however if it's just an added bonus then the Nokia Lumia 630 does a good job.
Comparisons
Motorola Moto E
The Motorola Moto E follows up the highly successful Moto G released last year. It comes in at around £80, making it marginally cheaper than the Nokia Lumia 630 and it has a number of similarities including the 5MP rear-facing only camera with no flash.However there are a number of noticeable differences so it really depends what it is you're after for your money. The Moto E boasts an impressive 1980mAh battery so if long-lasting power is your cup of tea then the Moto E will most likely trump the Nokia Lumia 630.
In addition, although the screen is smaller it does impress with a surprisingly sharp 540 x 960 resolution, with 256ppi it's the sharpest display in its category.
Where the Nokia Lumia 630 does win out is with its quad-core processor and internal storage. The Motorola Moto E runs on a 1.2GHz dual-core processor with only 4GB of internal storage.
Some would say the Motorola Moto E is more aesthetically pleasing but that is a personal preference and I think that's what this might come down to. Not the design but the preference in OS. If you don't want to move across to Windows Phone then this Android equivalent is spot on.
Nokia Lumia 520
There have already been a number of comparisons with the Nokia Lumia 520 in this review. That's due to its stature as the best-selling Windows Phone on the market and its stalwart performance for a budget device.Having said that, in every aspect of comparison throughout the review, the Nokia Lumia 630 has outshined the Nokia Lumia 520 – it has a faster processor, more expandable storage and a longer-lasting battery, alongside that it's also slimmer although a little heavier.
Nevertheless, the Nokia Lumia 520 is still a solid entry-level smartphone and also comes in slightly cheaper, which could make a difference when making that first foray into the smartphone world.
The Nokia Lumia 630 does come with Windows Phone 8.1 straight out of the box, which is an improvement, but the new OS version is now available for the Lumia 520 too.
On spec alone I'd suggest the Nokia Lumia 630 is the better phone; however the Nokia Lumia 520 still remains a firm favourite.
Vodafone Smart 4 Mini
Coming in even cheaper again, the Vodafone Smart 4 Mini at just £40 is an interesting addition to the market; however the price isn't the only thing that is noticeably lower.There are numerous differences in spec on the Smart 4 Mini in comparison to the Nokia Lumia 630. The camera, for example, takes us back in time to the days where 3.2MP was a good quality phone camera, whereas we all know now that it's not going to cut it nowadays.
The design also isn't something to envy, in comparison to the Nokia Lumia 630 and the Moto E, the Smart 4 Mini looks like a budget phone from the get go.
On the plus side it does have a good battery life and expandable storage, two things you wouldn't necessarily expect for £40, however with a dual-core processor, the poor camera quality and a low UI I would recommend forking out the extra £40 for the Moto E or upgrading to the Nokia Lumia 630 if you're not intimidated by the prospect of Windows Phone.
Don't write the Smart 4 Mini off altogether though, as it would be a good investment as a second handset or an emergency stopgap between models.
Nokia Lumia 635
Since the Nokia Lumia 630 launched, a tweaked version dubbed the Nokia Lumia 635 has also arrived. So what do those five extra little numbers get you? Not a lot to be honest. The main addition is 4G, which if you have or want a 4G contract is actually pretty handy, but other than that the only real change is that the finish on the 635 is glossy, while on the 630 it's matte.
It's subjective as to which looks better, but what's undeniable is that the finish on the Lumia 635 can make it a little clammy to hold, which is unfortunate. However while the Lumia 635 is slightly more expensive than its older sibling on contract, if you shop around you can actually get it for around the same price SIM-free, with many retailers charging just £99.99.
So if you can live with the gloss it's probably the better buy, since you get 4G and everything else from the screen to the processor is much the same.
Nokia Lumia 530
The Nokia Lumia 530 is one step down from the Lumia 630, with a smaller screen, an inferior processor and worse battery life. But it's still a snappy little handset and SIM free prices start at under £70, so it's a good bit cheaper than the Lumia 630.
Given that the Lumia 630 doesn't have the best battery life to begin with and this is even worse it's hard to recommend if you can afford to spend an extra £30, but if not the Lumia 530 is a decent entry-level smartphone.
The low price also makes it a better fit as a secondary phone or a festival phone than the Lumia 630, but it's undeniably an inferior choice as your main everyday handset.
Verdict
The Nokia Lumia 630 is a no nonsense phone with a no nonsense price tag. It was never going to take on the mighty iPhones or the HTC One M8's of this world but that's not what it's there for.What it does, it does well and it's a suitable upgrade on the ridiculously popular Nokia Lumia 520.
We liked
As the first phone with Windows Phone 8.1 straight out of the box, the Nokia Lumia 630 is a great draw and not just because of that but its price point as well.Microsoft and Nokia have taken everything I liked from the Nokia Lumia 520 and improved it in some way. The battery is more powerful and lasts longer and the quad-core processor is a much-needed upgrade to cope with the increased choice in apps, games and entertainment.
The extension of the additional memory is a plus, as is the Dual-SIM functionality. It's a great phone for small-medium sized businesses. With built in Microsoft Office and OneNote you have everything you need for both a personal and professional device.
We disliked
One thing to improve upon for the Nokia Lumia 520 is the camera. Although you wouldn't expect much more for that money, it clearly needed a bit of work and with the flash still missing it does let an otherwise stellar phone down. I also miss the external camera button – bring it back Nokia please, I beg of you.As with other Nokia Lumia devices, the screen does tend to stick a little and attract dirt, fingerprints and marks quite easily which is a real shame as the rest of the phone looks quite appealing, although a little cheap.
Verdict
I'd like to take my hat off to Microsoft and Nokia who have built on the success of the Nokia Lumia 520 brilliantly to design and build yet another respectable budget phone in the Nokia Lumia 630.For a low price it does all the basics and does them well but also offers a decent battery, solid quad-core processor and a whole host of new features in Windows Phone 8.1.
Don't get me wrong; it's not the perfect phone, but for a bargainous £79.99 on pay as you go it's a brilliant addition to the market and I foresee it becoming even more popular than the Nokia Lumia 520.
First reviewed: June 2014
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Review: EE TV
Introduction
Since Freeview launched back in 2002, there has been no shortage of set-top-boxes on which to record your favourite TV shows.Once upon a time, particularly before on-demand viewing and streaming took hold, this was a much more necessary, but these days people can forget about making recordings and catch up online in their own time.
So what EE TV aims to give people is an experience where everything is built in to one box.
The technical feature worth mentioning here is that it supports HTML5, which allows the box to connect with all manner of online services without the need for complicated and bespoke apps.
The BBC's iPlayer, for example, works on this system and that's one of the reasons it's so prevalent. Expect much more support for this in the future, and thus, more potential for the EE TV box.
Set-up
The first thing the EE TV asks you for is the password for your Wi-Fi. There are a few reasons for this, but once you've finished the setup you will be presented with a short video that explains the box and its features. This is really nice, and a very good way to get to know your new device.
The box is also supposed to have a crack at tuning in channels while you're tapping in your password. In my tests, this didn't work, but perhaps yours will. No matter though, once you've given it your password, it will hunt for channels. This doesn't take long, and the list will scroll before you so you can see what you'll be getting.
Once you're tuned, the box will ask you to nominate some channels, six in fact, which will be recorded constantly. The idea here is that if you miss the start of a programme on one of your favourite channels, you can simply return to the start.
Because this is always happening in the background, it's really simple to use. The restriction on the number of channels that can be buffered is about the number of tuners in the box.
Hardware
The EE TV is very well equipped. There are six tuners built in here, which are needed for the box to be able to constantly record your favourite channels, as well as stream to phones and tablets.At times, you might feel the need for more than six tuners, but the way Freeview works means that you can use one tuner to record a couple of channels on the same multiplex at the same time. So it's an efficient system.
Around the back there's a HDMI output, as you'd expect. The good news here is that the EE TV box can output at 1080p50/60 or 1080i50/60.
Although the UK doesn't use either 1080 lines or 60 frames on broadcast TV, you might find it preferable for the user interface and internet streaming, potentially, which could offer much higher rates in the future.
On the 1080i50 or 60 setting I get a green bar down the right side of my screen, noticeable in the 1:1 pixel mapping mode on my TV. Switching to the progressive output at 1080 worked much better though.
It's also worth mentioning that this box is capable of supporting DLNA. EE told me that, at launch, it didn't want to include it unless it could make it work within the interface. Adding in DLNA, or working with a company like Plex to develop a streaming app for home media might add a lot of extra value to EE TV.
Restart and Replay
There are two features that make EE TV interesting to traditional timeshifters. I've touched on 'restart' already, but in short it allows you to skip back to the beginning of a currently airing programme at the touch of a button.The channel choice that this option is available on is defined by you at setup, and I stuck with the BBC channels and Channel 4. I added ITV too, but I last watched a programme on that network in the early 90s.
Replay allows you to jump back through one of your defined channels and catch up on any show over the last 24 hours. Again, it does this by constantly recording your pre-selected channels. It takes up a bit of space on the box, as you can imagine, but the provision of 1TB of storage is generous enough for that not to be much of a problem.
Picture quality and sound
You might think that the picture quality of a HD box is a given. In fact it's not, but the quality of the EE TV box is very good indeed. HD channels have a lot more detail than you might expect for over-the-air broadcasts. SD channels look softer of course, and have higher compression which makes the picture look less than stellar, but this is not a problem with the box.HD quality from iPlayer is very good too, although it takes a decent amount of time to start the app and get to a HD stream. Again, this is more down to your internet connection than it is the box itself. You can set a preference to always use HD though, which is worth doing if your network can handle that.
Sound quality is good too, the box can pass Dolby Digital out to an amp, or you can opt to send regular stereo if you're just using a TV, especially one that can't handle Dolby Digital. It sounds good, as you'd expect, but I find that as a rule surround sound support on British TV is a bit lacking. If we get Dolby Digital at all, it's too often stereo, rather than surround sound. With that said though, everything here sounds nice through my Onkyo AVR.
Truly excellent app support
EE TV can stream to your phone, something I've only seen this on a handful of devices before, and I don't think I've ever seen it done quite as well as the EE box manages it.
EE's success here is firstly in the largely problem-free video streams, which run smoothly and in good quality under most conditions. I used 802.11n Wi-Fi to connect the EE box, and the same on my Android phone, and streaming looked magnificent. Apple devices can get HD channels, while Android phones tend not to be able to handle the video streams for that. This is a hardware issue, and not something that EE can do much about.
The next reason it works so well is how the app is designed. It's a very close mirror of what you see on the EE box itself, when you're using it connected to a TV. You can access the full EPG, see the other channels in a graphical way, with programme image previews and you can see what's coming up next on your current channel. The mobile apps feel like mini versions of the box, and that's a really likeable user experience.
It's also possible to stream recordings to your phone, and a feature I really liked was the option to "flick" a video from the phone to the TV, which then stops it playing on the mobile and carries on where you left off on the TV. It's partly the feature I like here, but it's also how slick it feels to use, and how little messing around there is.
User interface
If you object to EE's green and yellow branding then you're going to have something of a fit when you see the EE TV user interface. It looks exactly like EE's other products, and while I do respect that continuity, it could also be seen as a bit much. That said though, this is aimed at EE customers in the first instance, and they won't be paying for the box up-front, so EE does have some right to get its brand message out there.
For all that though, the consistency is very good. I love the fact that there's a clock in the top right for a few seconds when you jump into live TV, and I also like the way it tells you if you're watching live, or a replay or restart programme. This makes a lot of sense, but it's strange how infrequently that sort of clear messaging gets forgotten on set-top boxes.
While EE has made this box clearly branded, it's also put a load of effort into making it work well. So while everything is turquoise and yellow, but it's also very graphical too, there are images for everything, and generic shows like "news" have their own graphics. The presentation is very nice indeed.
Tap the left direction key, and you'll see a graphical banner that shows what's coming up on the channel. You can scroll through other channels too, to see what else is on. Pressing the down direction key does similar, but this time on the left of the screen, and shows you a channel list that's scrollable, and displays the currently airing programme on a selection of channels. Again, you can scroll here to see all the tuned channels.
What's next?
EE sees this box as an entry to the home, and also as a platform. It says that it's not getting into the content game, so it wants companies like Netflix and Amazon to use its box as a basis for their services. This is an excellent idea, and staying away from content could make EE TV one of the first boxes to have every service.
Of course there are lots of issues around this, and there are some things that the EE box could do, but broadcasters won't allow. For example, you could sync recordings to your phone or watch them over 4G, but this sort of thing is against the rules.
It seems reasonable that more and more services will need to join EE TV to keep interest up. If EE can persuade companies to bring their services to the platform, then it should see a boost in interest. The hardware and interface are great, but more services will make it even more attractive.
Price
Here's where things get a bit interesting. If you're an EE broadband customer you can get EE TV for free. This isn't without condition, as you might imagine. You'll need to be on EE's services paying £9.95 per month minimum, and you'll have to agree to an 18 month contract.The box has a RRP of £300, which is pretty much comparable with other boxes on the market, plus there's the benefit that EE TV has a 1TB hard drive, which is more than most other boxes you'll buy.
Verdict
There are plans to extend the service to non-EE customers at some point in the future, but that has yet to be properly confirmed or detailed. The service doesn't really rely on EE's broadband in any noticeable way, so there aren't many reasons for them to stop non-customers buying one. And I could also see them extending the offer to those on EE mobile contracts as well, and perhaps stream via 4G if the broadcasters can be persuaded.We liked
EE TV is really nicely designed. The hardware is small, and while the box doesn't feel especially high-end, for something that sits under your TV it's absolutely fine. The interface is where EE TV shines, and while it's a very corporate looking box, a lot of care has gone into making it feel like an EE product, while still offering a slick and easy to understand user experience.We disliked
The restriction on using EE TV on EE Broadband is somewhat understandable, we have been told that in the futre this restriction might not apply for those who are prepared to pay to own the box - rather than enjoy EE's 100% subsidy. There are some little things that would make EE TV better, like more streaming services, but there's no reason these can't be added. The only question will be if EE can get other providers interested enough in the product to develop apps for it.Final verdict
EE TV is a great piece of kit for anyone who wants one of the most flexible PVRs on the market. It's incredibly rare to be able to stream recordings and live TV to tablets and smartphones, and it's even rarer to see it done with an app that works as advertised and looks brilliant. I loved the way you can flick live TV show, or recording from a tablet or phone back onto the TV too, it's a smart idea and makes watching TV super-flexible.For anyone happy with their EE broadband service, and wants to stay, the EE TV box is a no-brainer. It has loads to offer and it's easily one of the better Freeview recorders on the market, with the potential to outdo even YouView if it can attract more app support and streaming services.
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Amazon Instant Video is now streaming TV and movies in 4K
Following in the footsteps of Netflix - and getting in the door just in time for festive viewing - Amazon has launched 4K streaming for Instant Video.
The service has gone live in the US, while a spokesperson told TechRadar: "Today's news is US-only. We don't comment on future plans, please stay tuned."
Amazon's Ultra HD streams are available through Instant Video app or on any compatible smart TVs. As you'd expect, the selection is limited for now, with BBC's Orphan Black joining Amazon's originals and a handful of titles from Sony.
But the best news is that customers won't be asked to pay anything on top of their current Prime fee should they want to enjoy some 4K.
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Download of the day: Free Studio
Free Studio is a great solution if you want to work with video in pretty much any way, whether that's downloading, converting, recording, editing or uploading. And did I mention it's free?
Why you need it
Normally with our Download of the Day you get one program, but not today – not by a long shot. Instead, Free Studio offers a huge suite of programs that help you download, upload, convert, record and edit video, all packaged in one convenient bundle. It's fair to say that if you need to work with video in pretty much any way, Free Studio has a solution for you.So if you want to download a YouTube video then convert it to an audio podcast that's compatible with your iPad, Free Studio has your back. You can record gameplay, Skype calls or simply your desktop interactions using Free Studio, and then manage a batch upload to YouTube when you're done.
Free Studio is there for every stage of the video creation journey, from recording and editing to uploading. If you just want to enjoy videos from a host of websites on your devices, then Free Studio is there for you too.
Key features
- Works on: PC
- Versions: Free
- Download: Free Studio can download files from some of the world's most popular video sites, such as YouTube, Daily Motion and Instagram
- Convert: Whether you need to convert your video ready your device, your phone, for any computer or into an audio file, this program can do it
- Edit: Perform basic video and audio editing
- Upload: When you're done, Free Studio can streamline and automate the upload of single or multiple videos
You'll also like
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Review: Pentax K-S1
Introduction
Despite the fact that Pentax does indeed make some very good DSLRs, it always plays second fiddle to the big names of Canon and Nikon.It's possibly for this reason that in recent years, the company has tended towards gimmicks to try and shift units. Here with the K-S1, it's available in an array of bewildering colours, including a new "sweets" collection (yipee).
There's also a panel of lights on the front of the camera, which are supposedly designed to "guide" operations.
Ignoring the aesthetics, at its heart, the K-S1 actually has some very decent specifications and interesting technologies – especially for an amateur level camera. At its heart is a 20 million pixel CMOS sensor with a sensor-based shake reduction system. In principle, this will provide an image stabilising effect with any lens, and it does actually work very well.
This system is also used for the Pentax's unique 'anti-alias simulation' modes. The sensor itself has no anti-aliasing filter, which means slightly sharper fine detail but the risk (rare in practice) of moiré, or interference effects with very fine patterns and textures.
This is why most D-SLRs still use anti-aliasing, or 'low-pass' filters in front of the sensor. But the Pentax can simulate this effect with microscopic vibrations of the sensor during the exposure. You might never need it, but it's an interesting solution nonetheless.
Specifications
The K-S1's other specs are good too. It can shoot continuously at 5.4 frames per second and it has a maximum shutter speed of 1/6000sec. It has a proper pentaprism viewfinder with 100% coverage, where some rivals use a cheaper pentamirror design. The K-S1 also offers a selection of effects modes and a large array of digital filters – you can use these as you shoot, or apply them later using the camera's in-built raw conversion and image-editing tools.There are 11 autofocus points, of which the nine in the centre are the more sensitive cross type points. On the back of the camera is a fixed 3 inch TFT LCD monitor, with a 921k dot resolution.
You can shoot in raw format, and one particularly useful thing about Pentax cameras is that its raw format is DNG, rather than a proprietary to the camera/manufacturer format, meaning that your software, whether that's Photoshop or another alternative, should already be able to read the files it outputs rather than having to wait for an upgrade.
As well as manual control, there's also aperture priority and shutter priority modes, scene modes and an effects mode which applies digital filters to your image, such as Bold Monochrome and Vintage Color.
A built-in flash is included with a Guide Number of 10, while the camera is also capable of Full HD 1080p video recording. You can edit photos within the camera, with the power to correct for moire patterning, resize and crop images.
There's no inbuilt Wi-Fi here, a feature which is becoming more and more common on other cameras. If you want to, you could purchase an additional Wi-Fi card for the memory card slot. Speaking of which, there's just one slot, and the camera accepts SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.
As Pentax has been making SLRs for quite some time, there's a huge range of lenses available, so those who had an old Pentax film camera might be tempted in by this digital version. It goes head to head with the likes of the Nikon D5300 and the Canon EOS 700D, both of which sit at the top end of their respective company's beginner ranges.
Build Quality and Handling
The K-S1 has quite a boxy and utilitarian look to it, with squared off edges compared with the rounder, softer edges you might find on a Canon or Nikon DSLR. There's a pretty hefty grip on the right hand side of the camera, but your fingers don't sit all that comfortably on it – there's also no recess where your forefinger might sit a bit more flush with the camera.There's a strip of lights built into the grip of the camera, which glows when the camera is first switched on. If you're using the self-timer mode, the strip will flash in different sections to indicate when the shutter is about to be released.
On the top of the camera is an on/off switch with the shutter release sitting in the middle. A light encircles the shutter release button and pulsates slowly when the camera is on but not currently being used, or is on constantly when the camera is active. If you switch to video record mode, the light will turn red.
Also on top of the camera, there's an exposure compensation button and a green button which is used to reset certain parameters to their defaults quickly and easily. For instance, if you adjust the exposure compensation, tapping the green button will return you to 0EV.
A fairly large dial on the top of the camera can be used to alter the aperture or shutter speed, depending on the shooting mode that you're in. This dial is easily reached with your thumb and is stiff enough to not accidentally slip out of place, but not too stiff to be difficult to turn. You also use this dial to adjust exposure compensation after you've pressed the exposure compensation button.
In order to change the shooting mode, you move a bigger dial on the back of the camera which surrounds the four way navigational pad and is marked with modes such as "Av" (aperture priority) and Effect. There are more lights to be found here – the selected mode shows a green light behind the lettering.
Directional buttons
Each of the directional keys gives you an access to a dedicated function, such as ISO (up) and white balance (down). In the middle of the navigational pad is a large OK button, which, you guessed it, lights up. Hold this down to switch between using the directional keys to set the autofocus point and using the directional keys for their dedicated functions. This makes it a bit of a slow process when you want to quickly change a setting, but it's something you soon get used to. As the four directional buttons and the OK button sit fairly flush to the camera, it they're not easy to navigate by touch alone, such as when you're holding the camera up to your eye.
To quickly change other settings, you can hit an info button just underneath the mode dial. Here you'll find common settings such as AF mode, metering and image quality. Simply scroll around to the setting you want to change, then use the large dial on the top of the camera to alter the setting.
Just behind the lens mount is a switch for moving between manual focus and automatic focus. It's a fairly loose dial so it is reasonably easy to accidentally knock it out of place while in a bag or something. This can leave you wondering why it's no longer focusing any more.
Live view is activated by a button on the left hand side of the camera, just next to the viewfinder. When you're in live view you can use the green button on the top of the camera to return the focus point to the centre of the screen.
Sadly, the kit lens is a real let-down. Both Canon and Nikon have super-smooth, near-silent AF motors built into the lens, but this one is driven by a focusing screw in the lens mount. It's quick enough, but it's coarse, noisy and in some situations it will hunt and hesitate.
Performance
Colours directly from the camera in JPEG images are bright and punchy, showing a nice level of saturation without being unrealistic. Comparing colours in the DNG (raw format) files shows a more muted palette, which gives you good scope for working with the files to get exactly the look you need.
Meanwhile, the camera's 20 million pixel sensor is capable of resolving a good amount of fine detail, probably a direct result of not having an anti-aliasing filter. If you're finding moire patterning is becoming a problem – I didn't during my testing – you can activate the anti-aliasing filter simulator to combat that. If you can, switching to a better lens than the kit optic provided is recommended for even finer details.
Other Pentax cameras we have tested have suffered a little from underexposure in some conditions, but the K-S1 performs a lot better in this area, providing well exposed images in a variety of situations. If it's a very high contrast scene, you may still need to dial in some exposure compensation, but that's not particularly unusual.
The automatic white balance system does a pretty good job in the most conditions, providing accurate colours directly from the camera. It errs ever so slightly towards yellow or orange tones under artificial lighting, but if you're finding this to be a problem you can switch to a more appropriate white balance preset.
Noise control
Images taken in low light at high sensitivity display a good level of noise control – right up to around ISO 3200 noise is barely visible at all, even when you're examining an image at 100%. Even at ISO 6400, there's barely any noise apparent, and at normal printing and web sizes (such as A4 or below) the overall impression of detail is excellent.
If you open the raw format DNG files, you'll see that there's a lot more noise when examined at 100% compared with the JPEG images, demonstrating how much smoothing goes on with the JPEGs. This gives you the option to apply your own amount of image smoothing depending on whether you want to favour noise reduction or detail reproduction.
Autofocus – when you're using something other than the kit lens – is pretty quick and generally accurate. If you're using the kit lens, you'll notice some backwards and forwards movement as the lens tries to acquire focus, but it's not too bad in bright lighting conditions. There's an autofocusing light to help with focusing in darker conditions, and although it's a little slower, it's effective enough.
Special effects
There are lot of different digital effects to experiment with when in Effects mode. Some of these are better than others, and of course it will be down to personal preference, but they can be a fun addition to your photos. The good thing is that they can be shot in raw format, so if you decide that actually you'd prefer a clean version of the image you can go back to it later down the line.Alternatively, you can shoot with "Custom Images" for a slightly less dramatic look, such as "Natural" or "Landscape" - these are very useful if you want to change the look of your image without going over the top. You'll also find a couple of film simulation modes here too, such as Bleach Bypass, Reversal Film and Monochrome. Again, these can be shot in raw format.
Image quality and resolution
As part of our image quality testing for the Pentax K-S1, we've shot our resolution chart.Click here to see a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean.
Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100:
Full ISO 100 image. See 100% crops below:
JPEG
ISO 100: 24. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 200: 24. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 400: 22. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 800: 24. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 1600: 24. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 3200: 22. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 6400: 22. Click here for full resolution image.
ISO 12800: 16. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 25600: 14. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 51200: 12. Click here for full resolution version.
RAW (converted to TIFF)
ISO 100: 28. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 200: 28. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 400: 28. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 800: 28. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 1600: 28. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 3200: 26. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 6400: 24. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 12800: 20. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 25600: 16. Click here for full resolution version.
ISO 51200: 14. Click here for full resolution version.
Noise and dynamic range
We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using DXO Analyzer software to generate the data to produce the graphs below.The four rival cameras we chose for this comparison are the Nikon D3300, Canon 700D and Panasonic G6.
A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image.
For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests.
JPEG dynamic range
Analysis: The Pentax falls roughly in the middle of the group for JPEG dynamic range, though it's worth noting that it does have an opitonal 200% dynamic range option which works alongside the ISO adjustment.
RAW (converted to TIFF) dynamic range
Analysis: The raw dynamic range results are more impressive, placing the Pentax K-S1 right at the top of the group, closely matching the results of the Canon 700D.
JPEG signal to noise ratio
Analysis: The Pentax shows very good noise control in JPEG images, beating both the Nikon D3300 and Canon 700D and closely matching the Panasonic G6.
RAW (converted to TIFF) signal to noise ratio
Analysis: The Pentax's signal to noise ratio is equally impressive in its raw files. It's at the top of the charts again, this time matched by the Canon 700D.
Sensitivity and noise images
Full ISO 100 image. See 100% crops below:
JPEG
ISO 100. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 200. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 400. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 800. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 1600. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 3200. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 6400. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 12800. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 25600. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 51200. Click here to see a full resolution version.
RAW (converted to TIFF)
ISO 100. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 200. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 400. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 800. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 1600. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 3200. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 6400. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 12800. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 25600. Click here to see a full resolution version.
ISO 51200. Click here to see a full resolution version.
Sample images
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Effects
Use these digital filters for maximum creative effect.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Click here to see a full resolution version.
Sample images 2
The K-S1's Vivid mode produces good contrast and dense but natural-looking colours. Click here for a full resolution version.
This bold black and white effect gives monochromatic images some real punch. It's almost like using black and white film! Click here for a full resolution version.
The sensor-shift anti-shake system works really well. This was shot handheld at 1/4sec to blur the spinning wheel but keep the centre sharp. Click here for a full resolution version.
You can combine filter effects when you're using the in-camera editing tools. This was produced by combining the bold black and white effect with a subtle, rich sepia tone. Click here for a full resolution version.
The 18-55mm kit lens feels cheap and delivers lots of chromatic aberration (left) – but the camera has in-built distortion and chromatic aberration options which work pretty well (right). Click here for a larger version.
Another rich and punchy shot from the Pentax K-S1's Vivid mode. The meter didn't need any help getting the exposure exactly right, either. Click here for a full resolution image.
Verdict
If you are keen to step away from the Canon and Nikon fold, or perhaps you have a lot of Pentax legacy lenses, then the K-S1 seems like quite an appealing prospect on paper. It's easy to see why the company goes for all the gimmicks of different colours and flashing lights when it has to compete against the behemoths of the others in the industry, but at the same time, this can make what is otherwise a decent camera feel a little cheap and tacky.
However, if you like that kind of thing, and we can only assume that there must be plenty of people who do, then the K-S1 could be a good investment.
It's a rather boxy design, but using the camera is easy enough, if a little slow in some places (such as having to switch between using the directional keys by holding down the central OK button) – but you get used to how it works reasonably quickly.
Image quality is good, and low light shooting is particularly impressive, with barely any noise apparent in JPEG images shot at ISO 3200 and ISO 6400. There's also the universal DNG raw format which means you can use whichever photo editor you like without having to wait for compatibility updates and so on – always handy.
There's a decent range of effects, so if creativity is your thing, this is another reason to choose the Pentax over Nikon and Canon cameras, which don't have anywhere near the number of digital filters on offer here. You can shoot them in raw format too, so you don't have to worry about being stuck with a filter you don't like later on.
The screen and viewfinder are good - and it's nice to see a 100% viewfinder on a camera at this level. It's a shame that the screen is neither tilting, articulating or touch sensitive, but this may have bumped up the price a bit - and at the moment it represents good value for money compared with its closest rivals.
We liked
Image quality is the best thing about this camera, and of course that's arguably the most important thing. Images are bright and punchy directly from the camera, while the quality in low light is particularly impressive. Detail is resolved well by the anti-aliasing filterless sensor, too.We disliked
It's really time that Pentax did something about its standard kit lens. It's noisy, hunts around for focus and there are much better examples on the market. If you're buying this camera then be prepared to invest additional money in a different lens to get the most from it.Final Verdict
Overall, this camera is a decent purchase for people who are looking for their first DSLR. Some will be put off by the design choices on offer here from Pentax, while others will welcome them – if you buy from a camera shop you can handle the camera first to see what you think.Factor in some budget for replacing the kit lens and you'll no doubt be pretty happy with the camera, but if you can't do that, then you're probably better looking at the alternatives from Canon or Nikon, which come with much better kit lenses.
Good image quality and reasonable handling, however, make the Pentax K-S1 appealing if you already have some Pentax gear.
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