Facebook has found a new spot in your News Feed for auto-play video ads
Joyous news from the Facebook front today as the social network announces its plans to serve up even more auto-play video ads.
The last we heard was that Facebook intended to cover our News Feeds in even more video ads earlier this year, but now it seems that wasn't enough.
The latest announcement is that Facebook will start nestling these auto-playing videos inside another certain type of ad that prompts users to download apps directly from their News Feeds.
These "app install ads" have been around for a while, but until now they've been separate from the auto-playing video ads that appear elsewhere on the social network.
"As more and more people upload, share and discover video on Facebook, marketers are realizing the value of video at every stage of the buying cycle, from awareness to conversion," Facebook said today. Great.
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The double-sided YotaPhone 2 is finally getting released
First spotted at Mobile World Congress 2014, the YotaPhone 2 is an odd duck of a smartphone with a double-sided display that makes for some unique features.
And now it's finally launching, first in Europe and then worldwide, YotaPhone told Sputnik News.
The YotaPhone 2 will be released in Europe this month, followed by other regions - including the US - in early in 2015.
The two-faced phone isn't quite on schedule - it was initially promised for a full fourth-quarter release this year - but late is better than never, as they say.
Has two screens, this phone
The YotaPhone 2 features a 5-inch AMOLED display on its front side and a slightly smaller 4.7-inch e-ink screen on the back.The rear display works with essential apps like Google Maps, calendar, calling, texts, and others, and displays the time and other alerts in a less battery-intensive format - adding up to 50 hours of extra juice if you use it smartly.
No word yet on exactly how much it will cost in the US, UK and other regions, though it should come at around $650 (about £415, AU$770). No doubt we'll find out for sure soon.
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Amazon CEO admits the Fire Phone fell flat
The Amazon Fire Phone has not exactly been the hit that Amazon was no doubt hoping for, but at least CEO Jeff Bezos isn't shying away from that fact.
He categorized the Fire Phone as a "smart failure" today during Business Insider's Ignition conference, reports NBC.
"People love to focus on things that aren't working. That's fine, but it's incredibly hard to get people to take bold bets. And if you push people to take bold bets, there will be experiments … that don't work," he said.
Amazon's Web Services, Kindle tablets and Prime subscription service are bold bets that paid off, he said, whereas the Fire Phone - though apparently cut from the same ingenious cloth - simply didn't.
Smarty-phone
One might argue that the Fire Phone wouldn't have failed at all if it was such a "smart" idea, but Bezos apparently disagrees.When asked about future Amazon smartphones, though, the CEO said to ask again "in some number of years."
"It's going to take many iterations," he admitted.
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Google recruits Austin residents to fight for their right to fast Fiber internet
Google Fiber is coming to Austin, Texas, but residents who yearn for the fastest internet have a daunting task ahead: to convince their neighbors they want it just as badly.
Google can't roll Fiber out everyone all at once, unfortunately, and only neighborhoods with enough interested households will get access.
Residents and businesses in South and Southeast Austin can sign up as of this week, and the neighborhoods with the most concentrated interest will be converted to what Google calls "fiberhoods" first.
A better way
Google says Fiber internet is up to 100 times faster than existing internet services.There are a variety of plans, including basic service, faster Gigabit service, and Gigabit + TV service, plus deals for small businesses - but there's also a deadline to sign up if you want your neighborhood to be considered, so don't waste any time.
Google has also opened a "Fiber Space" in downtown Austin for Austinites to try the service out and sign up in person.
With TV part of the package as well the terror-filled reign of cable companies might finally come to an end.
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Review: Updated: Amazon Fire Phone
Introduction, hardware and software
Update: Amazon Fire Phone's new unlocked version, price drop in the US and recent UK launch are now considered. Neither has changed our stance on the phone's performance and strict on-contract AT&T and O2 availability.Jumping into a highly competitive space, like the smartphone market, is risky. But if there's a company out there that could do it with a chance of success, it's Amazon. Its Fire Phone is the company's first stab at it, and we're going to find out how well it fares against the competition.
In order to have any measure of success, Amazon has to differentiate its smartphone from everyone else, namely Android and iOS 8 smartphones.
There have been rumors of an Amazon smartphone for years, but because of the insane success of Android smartphones from Samsung, HTC and LG, the Amazon smartphone hype never reached the heights that future iPhone iterations would.
Of course, Amazon is no stranger to the mobile device market. Aside from the Amazon apps and Kindle apps, Amazon also has the Kindle Fire HDX, which succeeded the Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire.
It's important to note its tablet efforts, because many of the features found on Amazon's tablets are also on the Fire Phone. However, the Fire Phone is loaded with things you won't find on Amazon's tablets, so it's not just a shrunken version of the Kindle Fire HDX.
It's also important to consider the Amazon phone's initial price and current availability. It cost $199 (about £127, AU$232) for the 16GB model that Amazon itself admitted to poorly pricing. Now it's free in the US and UK on-contract, but still through one exclusive carrier in each region, AT&T and O2. There's also an new GSM unlocked version as of November at its original $199.
So, how does Amazon's phone stack up to today's smartphone market? Does it hold its own, or is it just another vehicle for Amazon to sell you more of its products and services? Or does it fall somewhere in between? And will the fact that it's only available on AT&T in the US and O2 in the UK hurt it? Let's find out.
Hardware
The Fire Phone reminds me very much of the Nexus 4 due to its glass front and back, and its soft plastic edges. It feels like a nice device, but it certainly doesn't have the same high-end, premium feel of the HTC One M8 or iPhone 6, for example.The display measures 4.7 inches with a resolution of 1280 x 720. While it's nowhere near the resolution or pixel density of displays we're seeing today - the LG G3 comes in at a whopping 2560 x 1440 - it's not terrible. It's just not that great.
You'll have 32GB and 64GB memory options for the Fire Phone, with 2GB RAM all powered by a Snapdragon 800 chipset and 2.2GHz CPU and Adreno 330 GPU. Again, not the highest end hardware available on the market, a little old, but just about sufficient. It's the older Lumia way of doing things.
Around the phone, you'll find a power button at top, volume keys and camera button on the left side, and a microUSB port at the bottom.
The back is layered with glass, emblazoned with the Amazon logo, along with a 13MP camera and an LED flash. The camera up front is a 2.1MP shooter, and both cameras are capable of recording 1080p video at 30FPS.
There are also cameras on each corner of the phone that enable Dynamic Perspective, a software feature that gives the display a 3D effect when you tilt the phone.
If you're interested in the exact dimensions of the device, it measures 139.2 x 66.5 x 8.9 mm. It's not the slimmest or leanest device, but it's not bulky, either. And at 160g, it's a nice balance between heft and lightness. I don't like phones that are paper light, nor do I like them brick heavy.
In comparison to the HTC One M8, iPhone 6 and LG G3, it's hard to call the Amazon Fire Phone a high-end or premium device. In fact, in terms of specs, we could've expected a phone like this back in 2012, and hardly in the second half of 2014.
That's already a strike against the Fire Phone in terms of competing with the best out there, which is exactly what Amazon should be doing if it's going to fight for space where Samsung, HTC, Apple and LG live.
Software
Here's where the real meat and potatoes lie, in Amazon's Fire OS. It's based on Android, but if you've ever seen or used Android before, you'll notice immediately that Fire OS looks and feels nothing like Android.When you fire up the Amazon Fire Phone, you'll be greeted with a 5-minute tutorial on how to use the phone, along with the key features of the device - namely Firefly and Dynamic Perspective.
It's a nice introduction into using your phone, because as you'll find with the Fire Phone, it's not very intuitive. One example is the lack of a menu button and back button, which are things you'd normally find on an Android device.
For many things you'd want to do or access, you'll have to get used to using gestures. It's frustrating and confusing at first, and it's still a nuisance even when you get used to it. For example, instead of a back button, you have to swipe up on the display from the bottom near the home button. It's not naturally intuitive, and sometimes easy to forget even after doing it so many times.
If you're familiar with the Kindle HDX, or any other Amazon devices using Fire OS, you may feel at home with the Fire Phone. Many elements remain the same, such as the carousel home page where your most recent apps live.
On the home page carousel, your recently used apps will also show contextual or relevant info, such as notifications and message previews. It's nice for at-a-glance information, but if you have snooping eyes nearby it's not so pleasant.
It can also be frustrating to have to flip through so many apps to get to the one you want, and it would be nice if you could get rid of the apps with a quick swipe upward, like the old webOS (remember those days?) or the multitasking feature on iOS 8.
There is a notification panel, like Android and iOS, when you swipe down from the top, although it's a strange animation that takes you there. Rather than seeing the panel drop down, the screen fades into the notification center when you swipe downward.
If you swipe from the left of the display, you'll get a quick list of shortcuts, like for apps, photos, videos and more. Swipe in from the right of the display, and you'll have daily contextual info, like calendar entries and weather.
To access your panel of apps, simply press the home button when you're at the home screen carousel, and a list of app icons will appear.
I'm not here to write a tutorial or instruction manual on how to use the phone and every little feature Amazon decided to include in the Fire Phone. However, I will say that it takes time to get acquainted with the platform and to find everything you need.
Firefly and Dynamic Perspective
Firefly
Don't get this confused with the science fiction show by the same name, as Amazon's version helps you do one thing and one thing only: buy more Amazon stuff.To use Firefly, you open the app and it fires up the camera. Point your camera at anything, like a set of headphones or even a can of sardines, and it will attempt to link it to a product page on Amazon.
However, in testing this didn't really seem to work most of the time, if at all. This notion was OK in the US, it seems, but the UK version just wanted to look at barcodes.
Firefly doesn't just work on physical, tangible items that you can identify with the camera (in theory). When the app is fired up, it can also recognize music, movies and TV shows. As long as the phone can hear sound from your radio or TV, and it can pair it with something in Amazon's store, it will be recognized.
For example, if you're watching an episode of Friday Night Lights and you point the phone toward the TV and allow Firefly to see and hear the TV, it will tell you what you're watching along with a link to buy or watch episodes of Friday Night Lights on Amazon Prime.
The same goes for music. If you're itching to find the name of a song you're listening to, simply open up the Firefly app and place your phone near the sound source. If it's in Amazon's massive library, the song will pop up with an accompanying link to download or listen to the song.
There are other big things that the service can supposedly do - for instance, recognise URLs. Due to being locked to a network, I had the Fire phone along as my secondary device while reviewing, ready to snap a poster of something I wanted to see.
This never happened. I had the phone at the ready for a couple of weeks, but never wanted to use Firefly for posters.
Except one time on the London Underground when going past one on an escalator... which didn't give me enough time to fire up the button. Even if it had, I wouldn't have had the connection needed to search for it.
Firefly is useful, in a sense, because you can identify a lot of things you don't recognize. If you've ever encountered an object, song or movie and wondered, "What on earth is this?" there's a good chance that Firefly could identify it for you.
But when have you ever not known what movie or TV show you were watching? And even then, when have you thought 'I'm going to buy that... or save it to Amazon Instant Video if it luckily appears to be on there'?
The music recognition is good and simple to use, plus the prices generally good on Amazon. But that's basically the only thing to buy this phone for if you're into Firefly, and that's not really a good enough reason.
And of course, like pesky ads in a free game, those little Amazon pop-ups poke you, begging, "BUY ME!"
Dynamic Perspective
I'm tempted to say that you can file Dynamic Perspective in the Useless Folder, but such a folder would be ironically living up to its own name.It's a trick, a gimmick. Sure, it's neat to see stuff move around on your display when you tilt the Fire Phone, and it does give it a little bit of a 3D effect, but it's hardly functional.
Amazon argues that you open up a whole new world of stuff within the display, and you can dive a little deeper into content by peeking around or behind things. But there is absolutely no reason why you need to stuff four front-facing cameras to do this when you can do the same with finger gestures.
It also feels unnatural to tilt the phone around in my hand. I almost want to follow it around with my face, which would defeat the purpose of Dynamic Perspective.
As you can imagine, the degree to which you can tilt the device is very limited - start tilting it too much and your entire perspective is going to be nothing but bezel.
There are a few tricks that Amazon stuffed into Dynamic Perspective. One of those is in maps. If you have several pins or areas of interest that come up in a search, a slight tilt of the phone will reveal the names and/or ratings of each of those places.
Again, most of what you can do with Dynamic Perspective, which isn't much, can really be done with just your fingers. But if this is the best Amazon can come up with to distinguish itself and be unique, it isn't helping much.
Or if you're browsing Amazon - an oddly hard thing to do on the phone - you can tilt left and right to get more information or see a larger picture of the thing you're thinking about buying. It's not intuitive as using your fingers makes more sense... it's akin to 'smart scroll' from Samsung on the Galaxy S4 where you have to tilt your head instead of using the easier fingers.
It's not even that accurate, with the shifting and scrolling juddery and unresponsive. For something that requires FOUR cameras to achieve, it seems a complete waste of time.
In short, Dynamic Perspective is hardly a reason to buy the Amazon Fire Phone. Neither is Firefly. Both features are OK tricks, but that's as far as they go. In terms of usefulness and practicality in daily use, it varies dramatically, but I'm going to err on the side of being able to live without both.
Camera
The camera is somewhat admirable on the Amazon Fire Phone. I'm also a fan of the fact that it has a dedicated camera button to fire up the camera and to snap photos. When you long-press the camera button, it quickly opens up Firefly.
You'll quickly notice that the Fire Phone's camera software doesn't offer a lot of latitude and flexibility when it comes to exposure settings. Unlike many other Android phones, the Fire Phone is devoid of ISO, exposure compensation, white balance and scene settings.
You're basically limited to HDR, turning image review on and off, and the choice to go between two other camera modes: Panorama and Lenticular, the latter being like an animated gif maker.
There's also an option to switch to the front-facing camera and set your flash to on, auto or off.
That's about it as far as camera settings go. It's very basic.
Now if we're talking image quality, I'd give the Fire Phone a 3.5 out of 5. It's not spectacular or amazing, but it's not terrible, either. It's a little better than average when it comes to color reproduction and sharpness.
One thing that impressed me is the low light performance on this 13MP camera. It can shoot in relatively dark scenes and retain good color and detail. Images aren't terribly noisy, but photos don't become too smudged because of the camera's noise reduction.
In low light, the camera does a good job managing noise reduction and sharpness, and if your hands are more stable than my shaky paws, there is very little motion blur. Most of my low-light photos were sharp.
The only downside to the camera in dim scenes is that it is painfully slow to focus, taking nearly two to three seconds to focus, and sometimes it missed focus entirely.
In many instances, especially in low light, the camera software will recommend that you switch to HDR mode. My gripe with that is that HDR mode takes significantly longer to snap photos. If you're trying to capture a good moment, don't take it in HDR mode or you'll miss it or get a blurry photo.
The rear camera is also capable of recording 1080p video at 30FPS. It's also quick to adjust exposure if you move from a bright scene to a dark one, and vice versa. However, if there are bright highlights in your scene, the camera will tend to expose for that.
Battery life and performance
Battery life on the Amazon Fire Phone has been impressive. It has a 2,400 mAh battery in it, and given the specs on this phone, that easily lasts through an entire day - sometimes it even goes a day and a half.Thanks to a 720p display and software that isn't so power hungry, you really won't have to worry about this thing dying on you at the end of the day if you've unplugged in the morning.
Almost not surprisingly, along with good battery life, the Fire Phone has pretty good performance, too. Of course, the software seems really bare bones, and again the display resolution isn't as high as what you'd find on most flagship phones today.
During my long period of review, I can't recall a single instance when an app stalled or crashed. That's impressive for any smartphone. And with gimmicks like Firefly and Dynamic Perspective, it's even more impressive.
The downside is that many of those apps don't get updated in a timely manner, or there are strange update features that you can't take care of because of the ecosystem. What I mean by that is these are Android apps that will occasionally give you a pop-up or in-app notification telling you an update is available. However, you can't update because you don't have access to the Google Play Store.
Still, this hardly affects performance, but you will have to wait until those issues get sorted.
When opening up the camera, swiping around and performing other actions, the Fire Phone doesn't ever slow down. There wasn't a single time when the phone suffered from a hiccup or lag.
For a midrange phone, I'd say this is rather impressive. Again, you're paying for it with scant features, lower resolution and a lack of customization options.
As far as call quality goes, remember this is exclusive to O2. It performs well in terms of O2 coverage, but make sure you're not already in a blackspot as this phone isn't going to help a lot in those situations.
Verdict
Don't buy the Amazon Fire Phone. It's very rare that I'll say that to kick off a verdict, but that's the bottom line with this device. We don't need wax philosophical about its implications and its competition. We don't need to talk about Amazon's strategy in depth.First, though it's now free, it's not much more than the deals you'll find for the HTC One M8, LG G3 or Galaxy S5, and you can't even buy it off contract. The Fire Phone is closer to a midrange device than a high end one.
Second, its midrange parts and display will feel incredibly outdated in just a few short months. One can argue that the Fire Phone is already outdated, but when most smartphones start adopting insane QHD displays, blazing fast CPU speeds and monster batteries, the Fire Phone will look antiquated. It already does. This phone is not future-proof.
Third, one of its two gimmicky features, Firefly, is essentially a tool to help you buy more stuff on Amazon. It's disguised as a useful search and identification app, but that's hardly a new concept. Shazam and the like have existed for some time, and Google Goggles was doing the same thing identifying objects.
Fourth, the software is so light on features. It's based on Android, yet looks and feels and functions nothing like Android. Fire OS is not very intuitive, and the Amazon app store isn't nearly as rich and varied as the Google Play Store. You'll miss out on cool new Android apps and timely updates.
Finally, we aren't too keen on the fact that this smartphone is nothing more than a vehicle for Amazon to sell more of its products and services. It's exactly like the Kindle Fire HDX in that sense, and the Fire OS tablets that preceded it.
Sure, Amazon is now selling the phone for free or nearly free in the US and UK, but you're stuck in a lengthy contract with this device. There's no hiding the fact that this phone is intended to make Amazon more money in the long run by locking you into its ecosystem.
I can picture Amazon executives sitting in a conference room asking themselves, "How do we get people to spend even more time and money in the Amazon marketplace? I know! Let's shove into their lives where they're already immersed--smartphones!"
Don't fall into that trap.
We liked
Battery life was good. Call quality was decent. If you're blind to all other smartphones, then this isn't a bad choice as you can get some good things in there, with items like App of the Day a good freebie scheme for bulking up your library.It's also strong for Instant Video, and coming with Prime membership for a year is a worthy reason to buy it as well. Not enough of a reason, though.
We disliked
The Amazon Fire Phone is hardly an honest effort in breaking into the smartphone market and keeping its footing. It's a device for Jeff Bezos and Company to make more money in selling other goods and services. It's not a device that will help simplify and supplement your life with usefulness and customizability.Its specs - and I understand specs never tell the whole story - are paltry at best. It already feels outdated, which ought to make one worry about its shelf life at the pace of Android's progress.
Fire OS is, and has been, half baked. It's just enough to do enough, if that makes sense, which is to say that it won't do much more. You can check e-mail, browse the web, use Facebook and watch some videos. But forget about having powerful widgets and access to better apps.
The two standout features are more gimmicky than they are buying factors. And if we're honest with ourselves, most of the new tricks up the Fire Phone's sleeve didn't have to be added into the phone - they could have been standalone apps.
Verdict
Amazon's Fire Phone is a decent attempt at selling more Amazon goods and services, but it's hardly a smartphone worth considering if you're not already invested in Amazon's ecosystem.If you're looking for flexibility in an operating system (customization, great apps, etc.) and you want top-end specs to boot, consider an Android flagship smartphone or older iPhone. You can nab them for free with the same on-contract commitment as the Fire Phone.
However, if you already spend your life devoted to Amazon's Kindle products, Prime benefits and music and media, you may enjoy this phone. Then again, you can still enjoy all those benefits on Android or iOS with the Kindle and Amazon apps.
The strategy of making a low cost tablet worked for the Kindle Fire HDX range. However, with the Fire Phone, the trick wasn't repeated and as such we're left with a phone on old specs, a confusing new OS to those migrating, and an initially high price. Not one we recommend.
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Review: UPDATED: Moto X
Introduction, display and design
Update: Moto X 2014 has been updated to Android Lollipop on a few carriers, and its prices is cheaper. Our review reflects these changes for December.The Moto X name hasn't changed in 2014, but rest assured, this updated Android smartphone packs enough new specs to deserve its own Moto X+1 or Moto X2 title.
With a larger screen, a better but not perfect camera, surprisingly useful first-party apps and, of course deeper customization, the original Moto Maker returns with a competitive price.
It's just $99 on-contract and on sale for as little as $1, or $499 (£419.99, AU$534). Don't let Motorola's low ball price fool you either. Like its low-key name, the Moto X 2014 has a deceptive asking price.
Motorola's flagship phone is slightly bigger in every sense, enough to make it one of the best Android premium phones next to the more expensive Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8.
Availability and price
The Moto X 2nd generation launched on September 16, but that was the AT&T release date in the US. It came out for Verizon on September 26. Both carriers sold the 16GB phone on-contract for $100 and 32GB version for $150.On sale, it's been reduced to $1 during the holidays. However, Motorola's Moto Maker website still lists the phone for the starting price of $99 and unlocked beginning at $500.
In the UK, the new Moto X GSM unlocked edition became available at the end of September for £420 through Motorola's official website. Bumping the internal storage from 16GB to 32GB takes it to £460.
Wood and leather adds to the price. Moto X 2014 with a premium back costs $425 and £439.99 for the 16GB version and $175 and £479.99 for the 32GB edition, based on the original pricing.
Android 5.0 Lollipop, announced alongside the Motorola-made Nexus 6, has arrived on Moto X, at least from some carriers. Both the unlocked version and Verizon variant benefit from this early upgrade. AT&T customers with Moto X 2nd generation have to wait for the Android Lollipop update.
Nexus 6, by comparison, has a larger 6-inch screen, a camera with optical image stabilization, dual front-facing speakers and a bigger battery. But it's also much more expensive at $650 (likely around £520) and loses that one-handed appeal.
Display
There's more to the Moto X 2014 now that the display literally measures up to its competition. It's 5.2 inches, the same size as the new Sony Xperia Z3 and a hair larger than the 5.1-inch Galaxy S5.That's up half an inch from last year's 4.7-inch Moto X, a size that Motorola left to the likes of Apple and its, by comparison, pint-sized iPhone 6 display.
With a little reach and large enough fingers, the new Moto X is still a one-handed phone that almost ventures into two-handed territory. Yet it doesn't compromise much on the display when compared to a phablet.
It's again protected by Corning Gorilla Glass with the same AMOLED technology behind it, but the 1080p Full HD resolution makes for a much crisper screen with 423 pixels per inch. You won't want to go back to the original's 720p and 316 ppi display specs.
This sharper display is put to the test as soon as the new Moto X is booted up thanks to the bright and colorful default wallpapers that Motorola included with the handset. It really sets the tone for this premium smartphone experience, especially next to the still 720p Moto G 2014.
It stands bezel-to-bezel with the Samsung Galaxy S5 in this regard, though it lacks the Super AMOLED display. In a few cases, we found the Moto X screen harder to read outdoors. But keep in mind that Motorola has made its smartphone much cheaper than anything in its class.
The Moto X 2014 makes up for its direct sunlight shortcomings with a better way to conserve battery life by default. The return of the extremely efficient Motorola Active Display means that waving your hand over the phone or taking it out of your pocket brings up the current time and simple notification icons in white. The rest of the screen remains off. The popular, always-on microphone is here as well, giving you a way to cut to the chase with voice commands.
Tapping an Active Display icon reveals more information about the notification, like the gist of your latest emails or Hangout messages. It's a great use of AMOLED's ability to selectively light up individual pixels and it sure beats an ambiguous blinking status light on a phone.
Design
An all-new aluminum metal frame means that Moto X 2nd generation is stronger than its predecessor, not just bigger than before. Plastic is no longer binding together Motorola's flagship device. It's closer to the build material of the iPhone 5S, sturdier than the pliable iPhone 6 Plus and, most importantly, doesn't feel as cheap as the metal-looking polycarbonate Samsung Galaxy S5.What's surprising is that despite the Moto X's naturally larger size care of the 5.2-inch display, Motorola once again used tricks to minimize the overall dimensions, and it worked in its favor. For example, there's very little bezel around the edges and the soft buttons are on-screen, as opposed to the capacitive buttons used by Samsung devices.
This makes the Moto X 2014 roughly the same size as the Galaxy S5 and, remarkably, even the iPhone 6. Its official measurements are 2.9 in (72.4 mm) x 5.5 in (140.8 mm) with a sloped 0.2 in (3.8 mm) to 0.4 in (9.9 mm) curve.
The S5's width and height are 2.9 in (72.5 mm) x 5.5 in (142 mm) with a narrower overall depth of 0.3 in (8.1 mm). iPhone 6 is nearly as big: 2.64 in (67.0 mm) x 5.44 in (138.1 mm) x 0.27 in (6.9 mm). As much as I appreciate the iPhone's home button and Touch ID, it has half an inch less screen real estate to show for its almost-as-tall dimensions.
Moto
X's premium frame thins out along the corners, but forms a fairly thick
bow shape at the center for a curved back. This leaves plenty of room
for a top-center 3.5mm headphone jack, an adjacent nano-SIM card slot
and bottom-placed micro USB port. Along the thinned-out sides, there's
just enough depth for a volume rocker that's smooth and power button
that's accented with ridges. This makes it easier to tell the two
stainless steel buttons apart in your pocket.Moto Maker returns with additional customizations to match the now-premium Moto X with even more personalization. Leather, for example, is now among the choices that can back your phone in one of four colors. It joins last year's four wood options and 17 plastic colors. Black or white fronts and 10 accent colors for the front-facing speaker grills and rear Motorola logo dimple round out the most pressing Moto Maker decisions.
Cradling the Moto X backed in soft leather is a delight, but it's also the most delicate material within Moto Maker. Yes, the Moto 360 smartwatch uses the same genuine leather sourced from Horween Leather Company, but the supple material bruised more easily in our pockets than on our wrists. That's what's great about Moto Maker, though. It's filled with more options than your standard one-size-fits-all smartphone in case that doesn't work for you.
Moto X weighs in at 144 grams vs last year's 139 grams. Considering the aluminum metal frame and 5.2-inch screen, that's a worthy trade-off. Of course, there are beefier specs too.
Specs, performance and interface
Moto X 2014's specs, like its larger display size, complement the fact that it's no longer the runt of the Android litter. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor is identical to the 2.5GHz quad-core chip that's found at the heart of the LTE-equipped Galaxy S5.
Motorola also answers Samsung's graphics performance with the same Adreno 330 GPU at 578 MHz and its memory with a healthy 2GB of RAM. The new Moto X isn't an also-ran when it comes to the most important specs. It's snappy performance backs this up even when all of our favorite apps, photos and video are clogging the internal storage.
There's a caveat: you can only fill up the Moto X so much because you won't find a micro SD card slot anywhere. Expandable storage isn't a part of the Moto X like it is on the Moto G 2014 and the earlier Moto G 4G model. You'll have to contend with the 16GB and Moto Maker-exclusive 32GB internal configurations.
Also missing is any sort of fingerprint sensor, heart rate monitor (not that you really need that) and waterproof seal. It doesn't measure up to the IP67 rating of many Android smartphones, so it's not water resistant up to 30 meters for an hour. Instead, it's just "splashproof." It's more than the leather back that's delicate in wet conditions.
Moto X did get the speakers right where others often fail. Its front-facing bottom grill projected music the right way - forward - not down at the ground, and its four microphones for voice calls and noise canceling reduced background noise to appropriate levels in all our test calls.
Interface and apps
Google may have sold Motorola to Lenovo, but the company is still dedicated to providing a pure Android experience that helps its phone contrast with devices from Samsung and HTC. You won't find TouchWiz or Sense changing the experience with a wonky overlay.
Moto X's Android KitKat 4.4 interface is much the same as last year save for the Google Now Launcher, a few fresh Motorola-branded apps and some carrier-loaded bloatware depending on your provider. Once again, the aforementioned Moto Display shows up when the display is off, providing a discreet and battery-saving method of peeking at notification icons.
Moto Assist takes driving seriously by reading text messages aloud while you're on the road. It also knows when to keep quiet without disruptive noises during meetings or when you're ready for bed. The next day, it wakes up when you wake up, according to your schedule.
Moto Actions takes advantage of the Moto X's IR emitters that resemble the sensor-spotted Amazon Fire Phone. The built-in app recognizes hand motions from all directions to turn on the Moto Active Display, silence calls and a snooze alarms with a simple wave. Just hop out of the shower and want to know the time? Look no further than Moto Actions. That's really convenient for a phone that's only splashproof.
Moto Voice builds upon Google Now by letting you change the always-listening voice prompt. Instead of the "Okay Google Now" command that seemed futuristic in 2013, the new Moto X lets you use custom phrases - everything from "You there Moto X?" to "Wake up buddy!" were among the Motorola-suggested examples. But I preferred the Motorola staffer / X-Men fan who used the prompt, "Okay Professor X" to get things started. And, again, unlike Siri, there's no need to hold down a button or have the phone plugged in to get the attention of Moto Voice.
Outside of the main Moto suite is Connect, a way to bridge the messaging gap between your Moto X smartphone and computer. It delivers text messages to a Chrome browser extension, though not as reliably as third-party apps like MightyText. I'm still hoping that Google one day brings SMS to Hangouts on a PC. Apple aced this with iMessages among its device owners two years ago and is further building upon it (by relaying all texts) with Mac OS X Yosemite and iOS 8. Connect is hopefully a stopover to something broader from Google.
Everything else about Motorola's Android KitKat 4.4 setup is untouched next to the Nexus 5, and for the most part, this pure interface is really appealing. It does mean that Google's quick settings for brightness, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are buried behind one and two extra steps compared to what Samsung's pull-down menu. I really hate having to adjust the brightness outside with an swipe down, a poke at the left quick settings button, a stab in the dark at the brightness grid label and a feel for the brightness slider. Even with this, pure Android a lighter and cleaner alternative in all other cases.
Camera
Moto X 2014 can't pull off "premium" without a vastly improved camera considering last year's middling snapper. Motorola bumps the specs to 13 megapixels, up from the 10-megapixel rear camera that proved extremely inconsistent 12 months ago.
With a 13MP sensor that's identical to many of today's Android smartphones, the new Moto X took much sharper pictures than its predecessor. It also put the autofocus in the right place more times than not. That's not to say that its performance was flawless or as responsive as the speedier LG G3, but I walked away with higher-resolution photos and subjects in focus without the need to plead for retakes. It's a step in the right direction for Motorola.
The default camera app is simple and straightforward like last year, offering a tap-to-snap touchscreen shutter button, Auto HDR and Panorama. The controls are hidden to the left, while swiping right explores the gallery. What's interesting here is that Motorola's software tries to pick out the best pictures via its Highlight Reel functionality. It's not always perfect, but it does weed out blurry shots and handily group images for a quick comparison.
Keep in mind that Moto X's stripped-down manual focus and exposure options may make you leap for third-party alternatives in the Google Play Store, but Motorola's camera app is the only one that opens with two twists of a the wrist. Even if you don't use the default app all of the time, this shortcut makes for easy to capture photos in a minimal amount of time.
The 13-megapixel camera is accompanied by a unique-sounding ring flash, which essentially means the lens is flanked by two LED flash bulbs. The right and left lights do an admirable job brightening up subjects to balance shots, but approaching subjects too closely still results in overblown pictures.
When the Moto X gets things right colors temperature are oversaturated and pushed to the extreme on the equally saturated AMOLED. It's vibrate-looking, though not true to life in all cases. Selfies are best shot with the front-facing camera that's 2 megapixels and doesn't have a flash even if you want one.
Both cameras can shoot 1080p HD video, but only the rear-facing camera is capable of slow motion video at 120fps and Ultra HD video quality at 30fps. The pixels extend to 2160p, which means Motorola is now welcomed into the 4K smartphone capture club. Whether or not you really want to use up your limited internal storage for such video files is up to you.
Camera samples
Battery life
The new Moto X has a 2300 mAh battery backing up its larger screen, which is bigger than the 2200mAh battery found in last year's model. That seems better on paper until you realize that the 5.2-inch screen requires more power throughout the day. Throughout our testing the new Moto X lasted us 24 hours with mixed use.That's enough to plug it in at night without fail, but not as long-lasting as something like the Galaxy S5 with a 2800mAh battery. Motorola does benefit from the AMOLED Active Display because checking the time and notifications doesn't light up the entire screen. It also doesn't accidentally light up in this mode when face down or in a pocket.
The company's Moto 360 smartwatch has a significantly shorter battery life of less than a day and it's yet another thing to charge. However, also shored up our notification-checking addiction on the Moto X 2014 and ultimately helped the battery last even longer than 24 hours some days.
When battery life is critical, though, it's Samsung that swoops in with its Ultra Power Saving mode. It can be a real battery life-saver. Motorola's 10% is the same as its 90%. You also won't find a backward compatible micro USB 3.0 connection on the Moto X for faster charging and transfers, as seen in the Note 3 and S5.
Motorola does sell a Turbo Charger that can add an impressive eight hours of battery life in just 15 minutes thanks to Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology. Its ideal for juicing up during work breaks in the day and layovers at the airport, but it's not something you'll get out of the box.
It costs $35 (about £21, AU$40) through Motorola's Moto Maker store, unlike the Nexus 6 and Droid Turbo that come with the larger power brick.
Verdict
Moto X 2014's display size jumped half an inch, but the overall quality leapt a full foot from its also-ran origins. That's not to say that it was a terrible mid-range device the first time around. Motorola has just updated the design and specs enough to make it a high-end contender in 12 short months.It takes on the "premium" label without sacrificing the low price point in most regions. In fact, the US price is actually a lot cheaper: $99 on contract, making it half the price of its leading competitors. SIM-free it's still a deal: $499 (£419.99, AU$534).
We liked
The 5.2-inch display gives us more screen real estate without verging on phablet territory. It's still a one-handed device for people with large enough fingers and coupled with the AMOLED Moto Active Display that we wish all smartphone manufacturers would blatantly copy already.A metal frame makes it feel as good as the screen looks, while Moto Maker combinations now total in the thousands. The pure Android OS is thankfully only supplemented by Motorola's useful apps and the price makes it Android's hidden treasure. X truely does mark the spot.
We disliked
It's premium, but it's not without pitfalls. Moto X 2014 doesn't have a micro SD card slot, so you're either stuck with 16GB or 32GB of internal storage. You can also forget about taking it in any sort of water. It's not IP67 waterproof like many other Androids so hold onto it tight.Wait, don't hold onto it too tightly. That all-new premium leather back cost more, but bruised on us rather easily. The 13-megapixel rear camera takes better photos than before - not much of an accomplishment. We're still not convinced it'll ever take the shot we want every time.
Final Verdict
Don't think that just because the Moto X 2014 name didn't get much of a change that the phone is just a basic specs bump. Motorola's new flagship smartphone proves that the reinvented company is listening to customer feedback with a bigger screen and aluminum metal frame, all for a price that's better than its competition. It only half-listened the requests for a superior camera and didn't pay attention to pleas for a micro SD slot.The good news is that Motorola continuing with its popular Moto Maker customization policies. That means personalized backs including new soft leather and trim accents on the front and around the camera lense. And yet the firm doesn't tinker with the pure Android experience set forth by Google. The specs are more robust while the software stays minimal, the opposite of other Android phones out there. That's just the way Motorola rolls, and we rather enjoy it.
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Epson introduces two new heavy-duty printers for small and medium businesses
Epson first introduced its "game-changing" WorkForce Pro printers in March, and today's it's added two new printers to the family: the WF-8590 and WF-8090.
Aimed at small and medium businesses (SMBs), the multifunction WF-8590 and single function WF-8090 use Epson's "next-gen" PrecisionCore printing tech to crank out a duty cycle of 75,000 pages at up to 24 pages per minute.
The machines' "ultra-high yield cartridges" can produce up to 7,000 total color pages, while they hold 1,830 sheets with optional paper trays. They can print sizes up to 13 by 19 inches.
Not so fast
According to Epson the new WorkForce printers offer cost savings of up to 40% compared with color laser printers.But "these new Epson models are designed to augment traditional 'big iron' machines - not replace them," Epson America Business Imaging Director Larry Trevarthen said in a press release.
Epson's WorkForce Pro WF-8590 and WF-8090 will be available in January next year, but don't think you'll be able to walk into Staples and carry one out to your minivan - they'll be sold only to Epson ImageWaySM channel partners and through certain commercial channel resellers.
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Updated: Best Verizon phone 2014: 8 smartphone upgrades
Best Verizon phone: No. 5-8
Verizon is arguably the biggest carriers in the United States with the largest 4G LTE network and some of the fastest data speeds in North America. Big red's mobile plans are often also the most expensive in the country - especially with the extinction of unlimited data plans - but that's a trade off for one of the most reliable networks.Of course, you'll also want to get the most out of your service by getting a great phone to go with it. But with so many choices in the mobile space, it can be hard to parse the champs from the chaff. Well sit back and we'll give you the lowdown on the best Verizon handsets that will include iPhones of course, some Android devices and even Windows phones.
LG G3
We're starting our tour of the best Verizon phone with the often forgotten LG G3. Despite being made with a faux metal body without the slightest bit of waterproofing as some other Android flagship devices, the LG G3 is still a solid and attractive handset.
What's more, it was also one of the first handsets to start the QHD craze with a 2,560 x 1,440 display. It's a new display resolution we're starting to see on more phablets, but the LG G3 comes with a slightly more restraint and less pocket bulging 5.5-inch sized screen.
The LG G3 also has some notable signature features including a back button for unlocking the device and triggering the shutter. Speaking of the camera, it also quick on focusing and has an optically image stabilized lens to boot.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Samsung's Galaxy Note has been a go to smartphone for phablets users for years. After seeing very littler iteration between the Note 2 and Note 3, the new Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is one the best and most powerful handsets around.
Firstly, the phablet comes with a 2,560 x 1,440 pixel screen as more handsets are beginning to push the display resolution beyond the 1080p envelope. Plus it's equipped with a blazing fast 2.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor and 3GB of RAM.
The Galaxy Note 4 is also one of the Samsung most well built handsets. The South Korean handset maker has been recently introducing new devices with a metal-rimmed body since introducing the Galaxy Alpha.
Moto G
In case you're shopping for a new handset on a budget you're best bet will be a Moto G. It comes at a very affordable $99 price but don't think that mean you're settling for a subpar device. The original Moto G was an excellent handset and the 2014 model is even better with a bigger 5-inch screen as well as an improved camera. That all said, the Moto G also has it fair share of issues including a chunky design and disappointingly short battery life.
Moto X
You knew it was coming (be honest), but the Moto X is a very good and noteworthy handset to include in our round up. Similar to the Moto G, Motorola has also bumped up the screen size a bigger 5.2-inches. This adds a little more screen real estate for web browsing and watching movies along with makes it a fair competitor amongst the flagship smartphone crowd.
The new Moto X has also been improved with an all-new aluminum metal frame, which adds some rigidity and a high-end feel to the handset. Some of our favorite features of the Moto X also return including customizable backs, an active display to efficiently display notifications as well as Motorola's patented always on-microphone to access the voice commands.
Best Verizon phone: No. 1-4
iPhone 6 (and iPhone 6 Plus)
The iPhone 6 marks one of the biggest shakeups for Apple's iconic handset in years. The latest comes with biggest screen ever used on an iPhone with a 4.7-inch display at the base model. Don't forget about the gargantuan 5.5-inch display on the Cupertino company's first phablet, the iPhone 6 Plus. These are also some of the thinnest iPhones Apple has ever made with a new design that closely mimics the iPad Mini's frame.
External aesthetics aside, Apple has also made some major internal updates on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus by adding NFC for the first time. It's what makes Apple Pay function. The camera has seen a major overhaul with the addition of phase detect autofocus as well as an optical image stabilized lens for the Apple phablet.
It's safe to say if you love smartphone photography, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is the best handset to get. Especially given all the new image editing features packed into iOS 8. But even if you're not iPhoneographer, the iPhone 6 is a great handset you'll love for its build quality, speedy performance and just because it's a generally great device.
Nexus 6
Speaking of big shakeups, the Nexus 6 is one of the most premium handsets Google has ever commissioned in a very long time. And we mean top of the line; the Nexus 6 comes with a pocket-busting 5.9-inch screen with a screen resolution of 2560 x 1440, the fastest Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor and a big old 3220mAh battery.
Overall it's a bigger, more feature rich version of the Moto X, from which the Nexus 6 has inherited a metal frame and a curved back that fits nicely in the hand. This isn't all to surprising considering both handsets are Motorola made.
For the last few years the Nexus line has represented the baseline of what an Android phone can be while being a very affordable devices. Now with the Nexus 6, Google has created a monster of a handset that's very well equipped and one of the most expensive Android smartphones on the market. It might seem like a reversal for the Nexus line, but Google is actually going back to its high-end roots that it started with the Nexus One.
Motorola Droid Turbo
Motorola does not just make devices for Google, it's also a big an exclusive partner with Verizon. Meet the Motorola Droid Turbo, it's practically another variant of the Moto X except super sized. It's equipped with a large 3900mAh battery, which allows the device to run up to 48 hours. In case that still isn't enough battery life, plugging in the Motorola Turbo for just 15 minutes (with the proper charger) allows it to run for yet another 8 hours.
Aside from the extended battery life, the Motorola Turbo is an amped handset in every way with a Qualcomm 5.2-inch 1440p display and Snapdragon 805 processor. Meanwhile, the camera sensor has been boosted all the way to 21MP when most smartphone equipped with a 16MP camera already seemed a bit excessive.
From our own short time with the Verizon exclusive handset we loved the top of the line hardware but missed many of the excellent design cues of the Moto X. Users should also note this handset comes at an expensive $200 (on contract) premium.
HTC One M8 for Windows Phone
Verizon does not have a wide selection of Windows Phone 8.1 devices, but phone Microsoft fans will want to pick up is the HTC One M8 for Windows. The handset came as a mid-year surprise when HTC decided put out a new version of its flagship device that swaps Android for Microsoft's mobile OS.
The two versions of the HTC One M8 are exactly the same from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor to the dual-cameras. HTC has also ported all of the same software features including double taping to wake the smartphone and that specialized depth camera.
Of course, we're not complaining about any of this. There are hardly any handsets running Windows Phone 8.1 that come with a fully metal body or as well equipped the HTC One M8. Sadly this is the only Windows phone worth noting on Verizon. The selection of devices running Microsoft's mobile OS have otherwise gone stale with a year-old Lumia 928 and a two-year-old HTC 8x rounding out the other options – though the Lumia 830 is expected to come to come to Big Red's network some time in the future.
…And the winner is
Like highlanders, there can be only one and we've chosen the Moto X is as the best Verizon Phone. You might be scratching your head at this as why its not the iPhone 6 with its extremely thin body, the Nexus 6 for its top of the line specs or the Droid Turbo's extended battery life - but the Moto X is just a plain-old good, inexpensive smartphone.
It has some of the best build quality we've seen with any phone thanks to an aluminum frame, plus you can change out the back of your device to have a bit of wood or leather. It does not come with bleeding edge specs, but the Moto X packs plenty of power and an excellent 1080p, 5.2-inch screen.
Perhaps the biggest thing you'll love about the Moto X is it comes at a great bargain for just $99 (on contract) and on sale for $1 at some stores. The affordable price point seals the deal, and makes the Motorola Moto X the best Verizon phone in our book.
- Just in case you're not on Verizon here's the best smartphones in the United States
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Sprint will cut your bill in half if you switch from AT&T or Verizon
T-Mobile has so far done the best job incentivizing subscribers to ditch its competitors, but Sprint is giving the un-carrier a run for its money with a new ploy.
It's like this: Sprint has promised to cut your bill in half if you switch from Verizon or AT&T (though, notably, not T-Mobile).
The carrier will choose a plan that best matches your current deal on AT&T or Verizon, then offer it to you for half what you currently pay, while at the same time covering up to $350 of your cancellation fees for you.
You are, however, required to trade in your existing phone and buy a new one form Sprint, whether on a lease, in monthly installments using Sprint Easy Pay, or at full price up front.
You can sign up for a Sprint plan at half your current bill online or in stores starting December 5, and you'll keep that rate as long as your plan stays the same.
If there's a catch here, we can't find it.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Android Lollipop update pictured in latest leak
Android 5.0 Lollipop has been rolling out here and there, on Nexus devices like the Nexus 6, the LG G3 and others - but there's been little word of Lollipop for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
These new pictures change that, and provide a glimpse at what the Note 4's UI will look like with the new Android update on board.
We've also caught a glimpse of the Note 3's Lollipop update, and it's worth noting that it looks pretty similar to what we're seeing in these two images.
It's not much, but it does indicate that while the Samsung Galaxy S5 might get its Lollipop update this month, the Note 4 probably won't be far behind.
- And now you're wondering: when can I get Android 5.0 Lollipop?
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Review: UPDATED: Roku Streaming Stick
The new Roku Streaming Stick has been granted the power of HDMI compatibility, making it the more app-inclusive alternative to the Google Chromecast, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. It combines over 1,000 apps with an HDMI dongle design that's the size of a thumb drive, and this time it fits into the back of any modern TV.
That's important because Roku has been down this road before with a similar streaming stick that only worked with MLH-compatible TVs. It's an idea that pre-dated Chromecast as an affordable way to instantly project apps onto a big-screen television by nine months. But Roku's MHL requirement meant consumers had to buy or already own a "Roku Ready" TV with this special HDMI slot.
- But how does the Roku Streaming Stick hold up against the new Amazon Fire TV Stick?
It costs a little more than Chromecast and doesn't have all of the special features like mirroring an entire computer to the TV, but that's the price of having more than 50 times as many compatible apps and a physical remote control.
Design
The Roku Streaming Stick is small, but its designers managed to bathe almost every inch of it in the company's familiar purple hues. It's a bit obnoxious to have what appears to be an oversized purple thumb drive jutting out of a black or gray television, as much as we appreciate Roku for sticking to its guns with the color choice.The good news is that the Roku Streaming Stick dimensions allow it to easily hide behind a TV set - in most cases. It's 3.1 in x 1.1 in x .5 in, which is a tad larger than the Chromecast at 2.8 in x 1.4 in x .47 in. While the Roku stick is a lot lighter at 18 grams vs Chromecast's condensed 34 grams, the more important factor is the size.
These extra tenths of an inch could make the Roku Streaming Stick a tight squeeze in the back of a television set, depending on where the HDMI ports are located. We weren't able to slide it into HDMI 1 of the TV we tested it on because there wasn't enough room. Remember, these HDMI slots are designed to accommodate HDMI cables with flexible cords beyond a inch. The Roku? It can't be bent.
Google solved this problem by boxing Chromecast with an HDMI extender, an optional adapter with a flexible body. It's an extra accessory just in case your HDMI ports are too close together or the open HDMI slots are inconveniently on the rear of a wall-mounted TV. It's also supposed to boost WiFi reception. The Roku Streaming Stick includes none of this, even though it costs more.
Once the Roku is securely in an HDMI slot, it works as advertised as long as you have a way to power it. There's a micro USB cable included that's 6 feet long - the same length as the Chromecast micro USB cable - and a power adapter. They can be plugged into any power outlet or a USB port with enough wattage. Roku says that the streaming stick typically takes less than 2W when streaming HD video, so it's green-planet friendly and not overly demanding if your TV does have a nearby USB port .
The vents that line the sides of this HDMI stick ensure the hardware on the inside runs silently, and the dual-band wireless N antennas keeps the WiFi connectivity fast enough for all of the HD video thrown at it. We didn't experience slowdown from the single-band Chromecast once videos got started, but because Roku has dual-band antennas, it supports both the overcrowded 2.4 GHz frequency and the less trafficked 5 GHz frequency. Of course, this only matters if your router supports the 5 GHz variety.
Apps
Roku always confidently boasts that it has more apps than all of its competitors combined. With over 1,000 apps that statement is true, even if a large chunk of them are niche apps no one has ever heard of.What's important is that all of the major apps or "Roku channels" are here. Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Vudu and HBO Go all stream movies and TV shows without a hitch.
Amazon Instant Video is significant because only Roku and the new Amazon Fire TV support this vast library of free Prime content and often-cheaper movie rentals. There's no sign of it coming natively to Chromecast or Apple TV any time soon.
There's also a clutch Time Warner Cable app, but it's requirements aren't as subscriber-friendly. It not only needs the name and password of a TWC TV subscriber, it forces streaming to happen in the home using a Timer Warner cable modem. There's no HBO Go-style password sharing possible here.
The Roku Streaming stick ecosystem also has your music streaming playlists on demand with Pandora, Spotify, Rdio, iHeart Radio, Plex and so on. Google Music and the newer Beat Music are the only major music streaming services you won't find on this or any Roku device.
There are over 50 apps for kids, including PBS Kids and four separate Disney stations, and 66 apps for sports fans. WatchESPN is the most popular, while MLB.TV, WWE Network, MLS Live and NHL GameCenter make the top 10 list among sports apps. Each requires a subscription or pay-per-view for live streaming. There's an NBA GameTime app, but it only offers live score updates. Still, these 66 sports apps are 66 more than non-athletic Chromecast offers right now.
Other channel genres include News & Weather, Science & Technology and the niche among niche apps, Special Interest. QVC is the No. 1 app here followed by the Aliens and UFOs Channel, and it just gets weirder from there. You can fall for the dedicated Pranks channel or spend time checking out the bizarre Occult Network Channel. It's also nice to see the Liquidation channel is still hanging in there like an "everything must go sale" that never seems to end.
Remote
The Roku Streaming Stick remote control is just larger than the palm of your hand. It's size and pill-shaped form factor make it easy to hold with one hand and still reach all of the buttons. A two-handed approach to this small remote makes you look ridiculous. That's when you know a company got its TV remote design right.Intuitive buttons for going back and home are up top, followed by the traditional Roku directional pad. Below that are skip backward, an OK button and the options key. Rewind, play/pause and fast forward are the only other media playback buttons. It's just the essentials and sometimes that's all you need.
The bottom portion of the remote is dedicated to four apps. The logos of M-Go, Amazon Instant Video, Netflix and Blockbuster, adorn these four shortcuts and make navigation a bit easier and less confusing. In fact, pretty much the only confusing about the remote is why Blockbuster was included as one of the shortcuts. HBO Go, Hulu Plus or, heck, even QVC wouldn't been a better choice.
As easy as it is to use the Roku Streaming Stick remote, it's not as advanced as the Roku 3 version. That's the one that includes a headphone jack for a unique "private listening" mode. It's one of those ideas that you haven't seen anywhere else before, so it's curious as to why Roku didn't it in this Roku model.
Motion control sensors for games are also absent. Fans of Angry Birds Space are going to have to bow out of the remote wagging fun when using the Roku Streaming Stick version. Of course, if it's games you're after, the Amazon Fire TV is shaping up to be the best choice. It has a dedicated gamepad sold separately and promises 1,000 games by the end of April.
Losing this Roku remote doesn't spell the end of streaming. There's a Roku remote app offered in the iOS and Google Play app stores, and it goes beyond simple on-screen controls. It boasts a QWERTY keyboard for a much quicker method of searching through content. You'll never want to hunt and peck with the remote's direction pad again after using the app.
Interface
The Roku Streaming Stick interface is decked out in purple, which helps emphasize the colorful logos of its apps. After all, the 1,000-plus apps are rightfully the main focus of every Roku.Sorting through them is just as clear cut. The default My Channels menu arranges your favorite apps into a easy-to-navigate grid layout that can be customized with a few clicks of the remote. Do you want Netflix in the top row of this 3 x infinity grid? You got it. Want to demote Blockbuster to the very bottom or even delete it? That's just as simple. You just can't get rid of its permanent shortcut button on the remote.
Below My Channels are separate sections for movies and TV shows. Unfortunately, both menus are dedicated to the on-demand video service M-Go. As tempting as its "two free movies for signing up" deal is, it would've been nice to see a more fleshed-out pair of sub-sections. Ones that catalogued new and interesting video content from all apps installed, not just M-Go, would've done the trick.
The comprehensive search menu actually does just that if you do some of the heavy-lifting. It offers a deep dive through all apps installed when typing in the name of a movie, TV show, actor or director. Simply typing in "Wolf of Wall Street" lists four entries, all in HD, with Amazon Instant Video and Vuvu displaying cheaper rental prices. M-Go and Redbox Instant are more expensive. Save a dollar, earn a dollar, and eventually this Roku will pay for itself.
Searching through the Roku ecosystem is only matched by the Amazon Fire TV, which lets you perform voice searches. There's no hunting-and-pecking with the remote or even a need to pick up a smartphone to activate the on-screen QWERTY keyboard. Saying "Wolf of Wall Street" aloud is a whole lot easier than typing it out with the remote's directional pad.
Roku Streaming Stick vs Chromecast
The Roku Streaming Stick is the instant winner over Chromecast right now if you're looking for apps like Amazon Instant Video, Time Warner Cable or niche content that isn't available Google's device just yet.However, the Roku Streaming Stick costs $50 (£50, about AU$54), which is half the price of a Roku 3, but more expensive than the Chromecast. Google undercuts the price of all streaming players at $35 (£30, about AU$39).
This Roku is also missing the ability to mirror a computer display onto a big screen. That's the standout feature of Chromecast and its clutch Chrome tab browser extension. All Roku devices can beam photos and music from iOS and select Android devices, but it's clunky software that isn't worth the buffering time.
Roku is clearly charging a premium for its more expansive ecosystem. It's going to be some time before Google is able to catch up to the 1,000 apps that are available right now on Rokus.
We liked
The Roku Streaming Stick slims down Roku's popular app delivery system and halves the price of the Roku 3. There are over 1,000 apps and yet the grid is easy to customize. Its interface ties everything together and the remote is small enough for one-handed navigation. Those are two things missing from Chromecast. It requires you to go into individual apps on a phone or tablet to beam them to a TV and it is only compatible with iOS and Android devices.This Roku platform is the remedy for people who want ditch the smartphone and tablet and, instead, press the "easy button" on a physical remote to be entertained.
We disliked
The size of this streaming stick is larger than the head of any HDMI cable, and some TVs tuck their HDMI ports into the frame of the television. That can make the Roku Streaming Stick a tight fit. Roku its all about its apps, but not much else. There's no computer or mobile device mirroring going on here, and its remote doesn't think outside the set-top box like the Amazon Fire TV does with its innovative voice search.The Roku Streaming Stick isn't necessarily better than Roku 3. In fact, it's missing the unique headphone jack in the remote for its private listening mode. It just happens to be cheaper, but not as inexpensive as Google's Chromecast.
Verdict
The Roku Streaming Stick is a cinch to plug into any spacious enough HDMI port now that it doesn't require an MHL-compatible TV. From now on a "Roku Ready" HDTV just means having a TV with an ordinary HDMI port thanks to this more compatible version of the device.It's not quite as affordable as the Chromecast, but it has more of the apps that people want right now, including Amazon Instant Video. That's significant because Amazon often has cheaper HD movie rentals than other services. It's an app you won't find on either Chromecast or Apple TV.
There are a number of new streaming devices out right now, but the the Roku Streaming Stick stands as the most efficient way to make a normal HDTV into a smart TV without springing for a pricier set-top box. At least until the Google Chromecast app list is able to catch up.
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Review: Updated: Roku 3
Introduction
For those looking to ditch their cable boxes, Roku 3 is the current gold standard in streaming media boxes. That doesn't mean it's a perfect device, nor does it mean that it does everything that its competitors do. Rather, it's the box that currently does the best job of delivering the widest array of video streams with the least hassle.Roku is the exception among its primary competitors - Amazon Fire TV and Nexus Player - in that it is not subtly selling its own content platform. It's in Apple's interest for your to buy content on iTunes, just as it's in Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Sony's interest for you to buy from their services. Not caring about the promotion or survival of any given channel has liberated Roku to create a more egalitarian box, and Roku's offerings are some of the most open on the market, boasting more than 1,000 possible channels, including Aereo, and adds more every week. It also gives users the ability to customize the layout of their channels, something not all boxes allow. Bear in mind that most of these channels are obscure or extremely specific (Depressing Prospects Films, Life Without Limbs TV), but it's nice to know that if a streaming channel exists, you can probably get it on Roku.
The Roku does have its share of extras, such as games, social media and other options. Its games selection is limited and its Facebook implementation is laughable, but the interface does a good job of hiding them where they won't get in your way. Most users aren't buying this box for those features, and they do no harm, especially given the panoply of entertainment it provides. In terms of pure video content delivery, it's the most flexible streaming set top box going at the moment.
Hardware and Setup
Roku 3 is a boxy black puck with gently rounded corners about the size of four Altoids tins stacked two by two. It carries the same basic design language Roku has been using for its past several TV streaming boxes, while it has a similar footprint to the Roku 2, it stands slightly taller than its predecessor. Its back houses HDMI, Ethernet and power ports along with a microSD card slot. The only other input is a USB slot on the right side that allows you to view content from USB hard drives. The WiFi antenna pulls in 802.11a, b, g and n.
Roku 3's remote is a friendly black lozenge that sits comfortably in the hand and provides just enough buttons for control without confusion. The Roku 2 introduced an audio jack on the remote that lets you plug in a set of headphones and listen to TV audio without disturbing others, and that smart feature has been retained. The sound through the remote is fairly compressed, but it'll do in a pinch for those moments when your child can't live without something that makes you want to stab hot pokers into your ears. The remote uses WiFi Direct to connect with the box, so you don't need to point it and the box can be stashed out of sight without any issues. Other versions of Roku's remotes have featured dedicated buttons for Netflix, Pandora and Crackle, but those thankfully do not make an appearance here.
Basic physical setup can be accomplished in under a minute. Just plug in power, HDMI and optional Ethernet. If you opt to connect wirelessly, the box will walk you through the process of identifying your network and providing a password. From there, it's a matter of logging into (or creating accounts with) the various services you're interested in using. I recommend using Roku's free mobile app (available for iOS and Android) for this process as it provides keyboard support instead of making you hunt and peck through a lettergrid.
Performance and Functionality
Roku 3's processor handily keeps up with all of its primary tasks. Moving through menus happens without noticeable lag, and apps open speedily. The dual-band WiFi does a good job feeding it Internet (your mileage will vary based on your connection, of course), and the optional wired Ethernet port is an excellent option.Roku has made it their mission to make their box as easy to get onto for content providers as possible. Thus, the platform features more than 200 content sources in its Channel Store, with many more available as "private channels" that anyone can create at will. Most users will probably stick to the store channels, and use only a handful at that. Nevertheless, this content breadth and flexibility is quite impressive when compared with Amazon and Apple's boxes. Plus it means that Roku 3 can access services such as Aereo (available as a private channel), which might have trouble striking official partnerships with the likes of Amazon or Apple due to its regulatory controversies.
The amount of content available on Roku's boxes is shockingly broad, but as with all things in life, the majority of the options are either worthless (Facebook's inane implementation) or irrelevant (local news stations from the other side of the country). It's likely that most users will spend the lion's share of their time in Netflix, Hulu Plus or Amazon's apps and never venture too far afield. Still, for those that care, the additional options don't hurt, and the ability to customize the items and order of your My Channels section means you only ever have to see the channels you want to see.
Roku devotes two of its top-level menu items to Movies and TV, both of which link into the M-Go service's library of content. Roku must have had their reasons for doing this (or were paid to find some) but privileging this one service feels a bit strange on a device that in general feels more egalitarian than its competitors. It's a minor point, but we would have rather seen it as an equal channel along with all the others and kept the top-level menu a bit cleaner.
Roku 3 does have rudimentary video game apps available, but they're not much to speak of. It's clear that gaming was not a priority when designing the device or the UI, which is just as well, as the processor in the Roku 3 would likely have a hard time competing with other big-screen gaming options.
The simple but effective free Roku mobile app (iOS and Android) allows you to navigate the system without the remote, jump directly to channels and seamlessly cast photos, music and videos from your device to the Roku 3. Consider it a must for any Roku owner. Owners can plug in external hard drives via USB and play music, view photos or watch videos, with most major media types supported. These are viewed through the Roku Media Player channel, which feels a little clunky and requires some digging to find, I'd like to see these functions highlighted more strongly in the system's UI, but once you set them up, they work as advertised.
While there's no screen mirroring functionality (a la Chromecast), there are several methods for streaming content from your network or PC to Roku 3, all involving third party apps such as Plex or MyMedia. We had differing levels of success with them. In addition, many of these services duplicate channels or content available through other apps on the system. For streaming media, they're probably more trouble than they're worth, but if you have a significant amount of content stored on your computer or a NAS, they can provide some interesting flexibility.
Verdict
Today's leading streaming device options break down into three main categories: $35 sticks (Google Chromecast, Roku Stick, Amazon Fire TV Stick) $100 boxes (Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku 3, Nexus Player) and game consoles (PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360). At the $100 level, the Roku 3 is your best option, unless you're significantly bought-in to Amazon or Apple's proprietary content ecosystems. It's responsive, simple and not beholden to a proprietary content library (system-level emphasis on M-Go notwithstanding). Whether you're looking for a streaming box to help you cut the cord, or augment your cable subscription, the Roku 3 has the features, build quality and simplicity you're looking for.We liked
It's a well-made box whose simplicity of setup and interface allows customers to get right to their content without having to struggle with technology. The ability to customize the My Channels area is very welcome.We disliked
While video games exist on the device, the functionality seems to have been implemented as an afterthought. That said, we weren't looking to get games out of this system in the first place and they don't get in the way. Local network sharing is a touch finicky, but that's more about the media-serving apps that run on your computer, not the Roku 3. The main peeve we have with Roku 3 is that the company devoted two of its top menu items to the proprietary M-Go service. It's a strange misstep, but not one that should keep you away.Verdict
Roku 3 is simple, intuitive and easy to use. Anyone looking to get rid of cable, or augment their video diet with streaming services would do well to pick one up.
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In depth: I just played catch with an invisible baseball, but it felt like it was real
Remember the Nintendo Power Glove? Remember how stupid it looked? Fast forward to 2014 and the thing on my hand right now might actually look worse. But this is just a prototype of the Glove1, a wearable designed to produce haptic feedback, and the technology inside is far more exciting than Nintendo's ill-fated attempt at a wearable.
Right now the Glove1 is exactly that - one white glove - but on the back is a glowing chip of a brain that makes me look like Michael Jackson's cyborg twin, and it's letting me touch things that don't exist. The aim is to use this alongside virtual reality in order to create a much more natural input.
Haptic feedback certainly isn't a new technology but it has seen some significant improvements in recent years. Now, fitted inside this glove via small touch sensors in each finger, I'm able to poke, prod, press and squeeze objects on the screen in front of me. Holding my arm out, the Leap Motion sensor on the table detects my position and a virtual arm mirrors my actions on the screen - it's pleasingly accurate as the slowly curling fist on the screen apes my own.
My virtual limb is floating in a room filled with random objects. Touching the desk surface, it certainly feels like I can feel it as the vibrations work their magic, but it's hardly impressive yet. I feel something's there but I wouldn't be able to tell you what it was if you'd blindfolded me beforehand.
However, when I run my finger to the square of bamboo in the middle, the surface is noticeably different to the desk, each bump fed back as a tiny vibration that convinces the brain I'm now touching something that's much bumpier.
Just above the bamboo is a purple flower in a pot. Luis Castillo, CEO of Neurodigital Technologies, tells me to start pulling at its petals. I pinch at one and begin to pull it away from the stigma, the more I pull the more resistance I feel. This is where things start to get a bit more impressive. It's not that I can feel the rubbery consistency of the flower, but as I slowly pinch each petal and pull at it the increased intensity of the vibration really makes it seem like there's a physicality.
For the next trick I'm told to press a big red button which causes a baseball to fall from the sky. Catching it in my hand makes it feel like I'm holding an object of that very shape, and though there's no added weight, the vibrations trick me into believing I'm holding something of an identical mass.
But the best bit comes when I press the button again, only this time for a small beach ball to fall instead. Holding it in my hand, it feels lighter, just like it was indeed filled with air as I tenderly grope the ghost ball.
One of the final things I do is pull a lever that's placed at the far right of the desk. As I do I feel each notch resist my pull and then click, triggering another "this is actually pretty cool" moment in my brain. The lack of resistance is once again noted, but that will probably demand a change in the basic laws of physics rather than technology. Still, it feels like that lever is gripped in my right hand.
Pre-orders for the Glove1 are set to go live in January 2015, and once orders have hit 700, production and shipping will begin. For now it works with Leap Motion and Xbox Kinect, but the second dev kit (and the final product) will use onboard motion sensors using the in place of cameras. Combine this with an Oculus Rift and we may have already solved virtual reality's input problem.
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Updated: iPhone 7: 10 things we'd like to see
What we want to see in the next iPhones
What do you think of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus? Apple's biggest (and bendiest) phones are pretty great, but there are still some things we'd like to change. Ten things in fact. These are the top features we think Apple should add to the iPhone 6S and iPhone 7.Update: The iPhone 6S might be here sooner than expected and it may even have a sapphire screen.
What would you like to see in the iPhone 6S and iPhone 7? Do let us know in the comments.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? Apple's next flagship
- When is it out? Probably September 2015 but possibly as soon as spring
- What will it cost? A lot, at least £539 / $649 / AU$869
News and rumors
We're still almost a year away from the iPhone 6S / iPhone 7 in all likelihood yet the first rumors are already emerging, such is the fervour around Apple's brand.There's not much to go on yet but it's been suggested by Daring Fireball's John Gruber that the next iPhone will have "the biggest camera jump ever", featuring a two-lens system which apparently brings it up to DSLR quality.
We can even speculate what that camera might be, as Sony has just announced a 21MP stacked CMOS sensor which might fit the bill, especially as Sony currently supplies Apple with camera modules. It's designed to be better able to focus on fast moving objects and includes HDR for 4K video and high-resolution photos.
There's even an outside chance that the camera might feature a lens swap feature, making it even more like a DSLR, as earlier in the year an Apple patent for swappable lenses was uncovered. Though patents don't always turn into products.
There are in fact numerous Apple patents in the wild which haven't yet come to anything, such as one for a phone with a curved display, a little like the Galaxy Note Edge. It's possible that we'll see that in the iPhone 6S, but we'd be very surprised.
Not only would it be a risky move to bring something so untested to market but Apple has just redesigned its handsets with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, so in all likelihood next year's models will stick to roughly the same design, albeit with beefed up innards, such as a faster A9 processor.
While the design probably won't change much the screen might, as new rumors suggest that Apple has teamed with Foxconn to produce sapphire displays for the iPhone 6S. Such screens were rumored for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, but production difficulties seemingly got in the way. Hopefully this time we actually will get them
Apple iPhone 6S / iPhone 7 release date
We can take an educated guess that the iPhone 6S will launch in September 2015 as previous models have launched in September.On the other hand a source speaking to StableyTimes claims that Apple might bring the release of the iPhone 6S forward to coincide with the Apple Watch in the spring. After which the iPhone 7 might either be released in September- leading to two models in one year, or Apple might bring it out in spring 2016, moving away from its normal release window.
We're not entirely convinced that we'll see a new iPhone that quickly, but it would make some sense to launch a handset alongside the Apple Watch and it wouldn't be the first time Apple's made a quick turnaround with new hardware, as it did similar with the iPad 4.
Either way we've still got a while to wait, so in the meantime, here's what we want to see:
1. A smaller screen
For many people the iPhone 5S is the perfect size, big enough for apps but not so big you need a friend to help you carry it. If you tend to use your phone as a phone, bigger screens can be counterproductive, especially if you have small hands or just don't like holding something enormous to the side of your head.
We think an iPhone 6S or iPhone 7 with the same screen size as the 5S would be a winner, not instead of the larger models, but alongside them.
2. Wireless charging
Wireless charging remains one of the most frustrating technologies around, because while it's here, it works and it feels like living in the future, it isn't as widely supported as we'd like.
It's rather like Google Wallet's NFC payments in that respect: the idea's sound but maybe it needs a fruit-themed firm from Cupertino to get on board before it'll really take off. An iPhone 6S or iPhone 7 with wireless charging would be great, especially if the same charger worked for next year's Apple Watch too.
3. Lightning cables that don't die
Some members of the Ephemeroptera family, such as mayflies, have a lifespan of just one day. That means they last approximately eleventy billion times longer than Lightning cables.
We know that spontaneously self-harming cables should be covered by the warranty, but if the iPhone 6S and iPhone 7 Lightning cables could be toughened up to save us those trips to the Genius Bar we'd be delighted. If Apple won't give us wireless charging, it could at least eliminate the weakness in its chargers.
4. No more 16GB models
iOS 8 adoption has stalled, and we reckon it's largely because people with 16GB iPhones don't have enough free space for the 5.7GB over-the-air update and don't want to use iTunes because, well, iTunes.When your software updates are too big for your entry level products, your entry level products clearly don't come with enough storage. How about starting at 32GB for the iPhone 6S and 64GB for the iPhone 7? We can't store everything in iCloud, even when it's working properly.
5. The same camera as the iPhone 6 Plus
The iPhone 6 Plus camera takes better photos than the iPhone 6 camera because it's stabilised.
The necessary bits and pieces add a whopping 0.2mm to the thickness of the device, and we can promise Apple that the number of people who wouldn't buy an iPhone 6S or iPhone 7 because it was 7.1mm instead of 6.9mm is as insignificant as that 0.2mm difference.
More of what we want from the next iPhones
6. More RAM
The current iPhones are perfectly nippy, but Safari's need to reload web pages when you've only a few tabs open is a big clue that iOS would really like some more RAM to play with. The more stuff your phone does, such as tracking your health or communicating with your Apple watch, the more RAM it can use.64-bit apps need more RAM than 32-bit apps anyway, and if it's true that the next iPad has 2GB on board then you can be certain that iOS 9 or 10 will run like a dog in iPhones with just 1GB on board.
7. An alternative to super SuperSlipOMinium
The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are made from a metal that appears to be SuperSlipOMinium, a substance so slippery that human hands simply can't grip it. That's great news for the screen replacement and third party protective case industries, but it'd be nice if holding our phones was easier than gripping a wet eel.
8. A higher resolution screen
The screens of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus deliver 326ppi and 401ppi respectively. That's pretty good, but the higher density of rival devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S5's 432ppi and the Nexus 6's reported 498ppi is better still. If you like big phones and tend to hold them close, you'd want that kind of pixel density in your iPhone 6S or iPhone 7.
9. Better battery life
You could make this point in the wish list for any smartphone, of course, but while the iPhone 6 Plus is comfortably ahead of its rivals in the stamina stakes the iPhone 6 isn't. That's because the Plus has more room for a significantly bigger battery, but once again we'd be willing to trade slimness for power: a 4.7-inch iPhone 6S or iPhone 7 that was slightly thicker but lasted longer would be an easy sell.The big problem with battery life, of course, is that all the other stuff on your wish list tends to affect it. Higher pixel densities can negatively effect battery life, as can using more RAM. Such changes don't necessarily have a huge impact individually, but smartphones are very tricky balancing acts: you can have extraordinary performance, incredible displays and astonishing battery life, but you can't have all three at the same time just yet.
10. Flexible displays
Never mind fighting against accusations of bendy phones. Apple should embrace them and make the iPhone 6S or iPhone 7 the bendiest smartphone the world has ever seen. We're talking flexible screens printed on plastic instead of glass, iPhones that you can bend and twist and sit on to your heart's content without any unpleasant consequences. If nothing else Apple should do it purely to annoy Samsung, who have been promising bendable smartphones for years.
iPhone 7 concepts
We're a long way from the launch of the new iPhone, people. If you can't wait to find out what it's going to look like, well, the internet never disappoints.OK - it does if you're looking for actual accurate visuals on the next iPhone, but the concept artists have already been grinding their digital looms into action to start showing us how they think the next version should look:
Bring back the Nano!
A slightly older look to things, this concept by Jackson Chung uses new technology to bring the size of the iPhone back down.
With the touch sensitive panels on the side, the phone will enable a lot power display to show message or app notifications without needing to waste batter firing up the battery-guzzling screen.
Plus the side controls allow for all new gaming abilities for your digits - that's an idea we can get on board with.
Sharpen up
Apparently Apple's subtle curves got it all wrong. What we need is to drop the home button (but keep the space as an homage to the logo) and then make it grippably industrial again.
The always-popular edge to edge display is out in force once more, and Jan-Willem Reusink's idea is still all about the metal. But what about the radio signal eh? That's one for Apple to work out, apparently.
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Industry voice: Agile or Waterfall? How to successfully manage mixed methodologies
There is a battle going on in the project management ranks: Agile vs. Waterfall. Agile loyalists see the benefit of empowering individuals and teams in a bottom-up approach that produces a faster, more responsive way of working. Meanwhile, traditionalists prefer a top-down Waterfall approach that neatly outlines all the steps in the project and defines the scope, budget, and schedule upfront—erasing risk and uncertainty. Which is the better way?
The truth is, organisations with successful development cycles appear to employ a hybrid approach, taking a little bit from each methodology. Even Amazon, an Agile powerhouse, could not have built its core web services product without some top-down dictation of standards.
The real difficulty for organisations therefore, lies not in choosing one methodology over the other, but in successfully mixing methodologies. Whether your organisation is already juggling multiple methodologies or is considering adding Agile into the project management mix, here are some tips on how to hybridise without sacrificing the visibility and productivity you need.
1. Transition Slowly
The biggest issue organisations face in adopting or expanding Agile is the cultural transition that is required. Change is always difficult, and moving from a top-down culture of command and control to a bottom-up approach where workers self-organise and self-prioritise is even more so. It's a cultural transition that many people in an organisation feel is disruptive and too much of a challenge to the established culture.To make the transition smoother and improve adoption, slow down changing the processes. One way to do this is to "Agile-fall." Coined by eBay's Jon Bach, "Agile-fall" is the process of applying Agile practices in Waterfall-like steps. For example, teams working in sprints or iterations can still structure these in measured steps:
- Sprint 1: Gather requirements.
- Sprint 2: Design your tests.
- Sprint 3: Run those tests.
- Sprint 4: Fix bugs.
- Sprint 5: Regress those bugs.
In addition, developing a culture of respect and appreciation for both methodologies within the organisation is important. Acknowledge what works well with Waterfall and when it is most appropriate to use. Likewise, define upfront what you are trying to accomplish with Agile so everyone can understand the benefit.
This extra effort will build trust; make people more open and resilient to trying new methods to change what is not working; increase buy-in from management and individual team members; and ensure that everyone is on the same page, as they try to accomplish the same goals.
2. Provide Professional Training
Agile is complex, with dozens of different aspects and processes. One of the biggest strategic mistakes organisations make is not getting professional training at the start."Sending people to (at least) Scrum training, bringing in advisement consultants for the first few projects and then having a plan for moving it all out systematically—that's where people really find the business value in Agile," says Barbee Davis, author of Agile Practices for Waterfall Projects.
In particular, it is crucial that middle management participates in training. "Middle management really holds the keys to the success of Agile adoption. They create all of the procedures and policies. If middle is not on board, transformation will be shunned," says Dean Leffingwell and creator of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe).
When middle management is properly trained, not only do they understand the value of Agile for themselves, they can be influential in mentoring the team and in demonstrating the value of Agile to the leadership.
3. Allow Teams to Communicate Across Methodologies
In many organisations, Agile teams often become sealed off from the rest of the organisation. They work in a kind of a bubble, not interfacing much with other teams or departments. However, communication and collaboration are two of the most critical elements of an effective mixed-methodology enterprise.Finding a way to allow visibility and communication across distributed teams, such as developing standard processes for organising requirements and cross-team development, ensuring comprehensive release visibility for both upstream and downstream stakeholders, and managing the entire lifecycle of work within one tool, will make hybrid organisations much more productive.
4. Speak a Language Everyone Understands
There is a lot of terminology associated with Agile and often it is an area ripe for miscommunication. In addition to making sure everyone understands the terminology and is speaking the same language, it's important to identify key data points, such as what the team is working on, where the team is in the process, and when the team will complete the task. Then, translate the data points into either methodology.For example, you can convert story point-based estimates to planned hours, stories to tasks, and iteration or sprint dates to task completion dates. When everyone can see at a high level, in the language they best understand, how the project is moving and what the commitments are that teams are making, it's then much easier to blend methodologies.
5. Use the Right Tool
Tool selection is not the only factor in making a mixed-methodology environment run smoothly, but it is a critical one. To get the most visibility and productivity, look for a single-tool solution that can capture and manage all work. Find that one tool that can identify, plan, execute, and measure the outputs of multiple projects, people, and schedules, quickly and easily—all in real time and all in one centralised place—for both Waterfall and Agile frameworks.In addition, find the tool that's designed to let the data flow back and forth between the methodologies or integrate with other tools in a way that lets the organisation see exactly what's going on so it makes the right strategic decisions.
Moving to a mixed management style will always present challenges. Adoption may happen in baby steps, rather than leaps and bounds. But, following these tips can make implementation much more successful and allow you to structure projects in a more productive manner to achieve your business goals.
Bryan Nielson is the work management evangelist at AtTask.
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Updated: Sony Xperia Z4: what we want to see
The Sony Xperia Z3 has only recently arrived on shop shelves but with Sony now in a pattern of releasing two flagships a year we're surely only a matter of months away from the Sony Xperia Z4, so it's not too early to make a wish list of what we want to see.
In fact we're even starting to hear rumors about Sony's next flagship, including one report which reckons the Japanese firm will return to an annual launch of its top device, ditching the recent trend of every six months, though not until after the Z4 launches.
Updates: New rumors point to a substantial but believable upgrade over the Xperia Z3 and we might see the phone as soon as January.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? Sony's next flagship smartphone
- When is it out? Likely to be on shelves in April but it could be announced as early as January
- What will it cost? A lot - this will be a high-end device
News and rumors
The Xperia Z3 hasn't been out for long, but already there's chatter on the web about its successor, the Sony Xperia Z4.In fact we could be in for something quite special as initial claims include specs which would make the Xperia Z4 the most powerful smartphone around.
A 5.5-inch QHD 1440 x 2560 display, 64-bit 2.8GHz octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM, Adreno 430 GPU, 32GB of storage and a Exmor RS CMOS sensor have all been touted for the Xperia Z4.
But more recent rumors are a little more humble. The latest we've heard still includes a QHD display, but at 5.4 inches rather than 5.5. The latest set of rumors also includes 4GB of RAM, but just a 32-bit Snapdragon 805 processor.
The camera is said to have a 20.7MP resolution, just like the Xperia Z3, but with a new sensor capable of taking in more light, along with an upgraded 4.8MP front-facing snapper.
The battery is pegged at 3420mAh, which is a slight boost over the 3100mAh Xperia Z3 and in news which should surprise absolutely no-one the Z4 will apparently run Android 5.0 Lollipop.
All in all while not quite as impressive as the initial spec rumors, that would still make for a big improvement over the Xperia Z3. Oh and there's also a brief mention of the design, from the same source, saying that it will have thinner top and bottom bezels as well as more rounded corners as you can sort of see in the accompanying image.
Sony Xperia Z4 release date
We can also take a guess as to when the Xperia Z4 will launch. Sony announced the Xperia Z2 at MWC 2014 on February 24, so there's a fair chance that the Xperia Z4 will arrive at MWC 2015, which next year is set to happen on March 2-5.That will put almost six months between the Xperia Z3 and the Xperia Z4, so it would make sense if Sony is sticking to two flagships a year.
But we're now hearing that it might be announced even earlier, as Sony has confirmed that it will be holding a press conference at CES on January 5, though it might have something other than the Xperia Z4 planned.
Either way it probably won't hit stores until around April, as Sony is set to release its new Exmor RS IMX230 image sensor in April 2015 and the Xperia Z4 is likely to sport the new sensor. As for what we want to see, read on for all our thoughts.
4K video that actually works
Sony's been trumpeting its phones 4K video capabilities since the Xperia Z2, yet neither that nor the Xperia Z3 can actually record for more than around five minutes without heating up and shutting down the video.
That's obviously a major problem and while it doesn't quite render the 4K feature redundant it does severely limit it. The fact that Sony has left it unfixed in the Xperia Z3 is perplexing, presumably there isn't an easy fix, but if longer videos were possible it could be a genuinely useful feature, whereas right now it's just kind of an embarrassment.
So hopefully it will be fixed for the Sony Xperia Z4. You never know, some people might even have 4K televisions by then too.
A QHD display
The Sony Xperia Z, Z1 and Z2 all had 1080p displays and that was fine as that was the best any smartphone had at the time and the screen size was at least being increased.But then the Xperia Z3 also launched with a 1080p screen and that was slightly more disappointing, since the size remained the same and other than increased brightness there wasn't much of an upgrade, plus some other phones, such as the LG G3, have started including QHD displays.
We want the Xperia Z4 to wow us and a 1080p display for the fifth time in a row won't do that, so we're hoping its QHD.
Smaller bezels
The Sony Xperia Z3 looks great, but the bezels above and below the screen are off-puttingly large. Presumably there's a reason for their size, they're likely housing vital components required to make the phone actually work, but they're unsightly and we hope they're smaller next time around.
Improved low-light performance
For the most part the Xperia Z3 has a perfectly capable and even impressive camera, but its low-light performance could still use some work.Sony made some strides with the Xperia Z3, improving it over the Z2, but seemingly more with software than hardware as its low-light photos tend to come out over-processed, leaving it trailing behind the likes of the iPhone 6 and the HTC One M8 in darker scenes.
Clearly Sony is aware of the problem given that it made some improvements on the Xperia Z3, but it didn't go far enough. We want proper hardware improvements, rather than awkward software fixes.
Sony is due to release a flagship mobile image sensor, the Exmor RS IMX230 in April 2015 and it is likely that the Xperia Z4 will come with the new sensor.
More power
With a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor and 3GB of RAM you might not think the Xperia Z3 was lacking for power, yet in some ways it is. For one thing all that power seemingly hasn't translated into performance, as surprisingly we found a little bit of lag in use, especially when switching between apps.
It's not a big deal but it does feel less snappy than most other recent flagships despite the specs, which on paper should be more than up to the task. So we're more after increased performance than an actual boost in specs, if it takes improved specs to do that then fine, but if the same thing can be achieved with a bit more optimisation that's fine too.
Having said that superior specs wouldn't be a bad thing either way, as the Snapdragon 801 is starting to look a bit long in the tooth with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using a Snapdragon 805 chip and the Snapdragon 810 expected to start arriving in phones soon.
Fewer bugs
Another surprising aspect of the Xperia Z3 was just how buggy it seemed, with the keyboard sometimes bouncing or proving unresponsive and the notifications bar occasionally getting stuck half way down.Hopefully Sony will patch those bugs out of the Xperia Z3 anyway but we'd really rather it makes sure the Xperia Z4 is bug-free before launching it.
Faster camera and autofocus
As long as the light's good the Xperia Z3 can take some exceptional snaps, but one problem with it is actually getting to the point of being able to take a photo, as both launching the camera and the autofocus are a little slower than we'd like.We're talking milliseconds here, but that can still mean the difference between capturing a moment and missing it, so hopefully the Xperia Z4 will have a snappier snapper.
The new Exmor RS IMX230, which the Xperia Z4 is likely to come with, is claimed by Sony to be the industry's first CMOS image sensor built for smartphones which can track fast-moving subjects thanks to built-in image plane phase detection autofocus.
This new sensor would make the Xperia Z4's camera much better at photographing fast moving subjects.
A new design
We've mentioned that we want smaller bezels but what we'd really like to see is a totally new design. Sony has done a good job of refining its OmniBalance design but there's only so much you can do and with handset after handset sporting fundamentally the same look it's starting to get a bit boring.
Not to mention the fact that for our money both the iPhone 6 and the HTC One M8 look better. So hopefully Sony will do something new and exciting with the Xperia Z4.
Make it metal, give it curves, make it triangular. Ok, maybe not that last one, but we're sure Sony can come up with something, oh and get rid of all those annoying flaps! Most likely it will stick with OmniBalance, but we can dream.
Better Lifelogging
Sony's Lifelogging app is an interesting idea, as it goes beyond just counting steps to also tell you how much running, cycling and sleeping you do and even how long you spend listening to music or watching videos (as long as you do it on your phone).Essentially as the name suggests it's designed to log your life, but it could do with some improvements. The biggest issue is that it's just not accurate enough, but there are also quirks like the fact that it counts all apps as games, so even if you've never touched a game on your smartphone it will likely peg you as a big mobile gamer.
Plus, while all this information is interesting it doesn't really lead to anything or give you any insights based on the data. If Sony can work on all those things for its Z4 implementation then it could become genuinely useful.
Innovation
Asking for innovation might seem a bit vague, but with smartphones increasingly levelling out when it comes to specs it's innovation that can really help them stand out, so it would be great if the Sony Xperia Z4 had one or more innovative new features.What those might be is anyone's guess, maybe a scratch proof body, maybe a virtual reality display, probably not a virtual reality display, but something and ideally something that's more than just a gimmick.
Come on Sony, give us a new feature that even Z3 owners will consider upgrading for.
- We have ideas for the LG G4 as well.
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Updated: Buying guide: best SLR for enthusiasts
Introduction, Canon 70D, Canon 7D Mark II,
While compact system (mirrorless) cameras have eaten into their market share to an extent, SLRs remain the weapon of choice for many enthusiast photographers. It's not hard to understand why; enthusiast-level SLRs offer near pro-levels of performance at an affordable price, are relatively to easy to use, and give access to a massive range of lenses and accessories. Indeed, some enthusiast SLRs rival pro-spec models, blurring the boundary between the two.Many photographers prefer the reassuringly chunky feel and build quality of SLRs, as well as the more traditional optical viewfinder and fast, phase-detection autofocusing. Enthusiast-level SLRs include both APS-C and full-frame sensors; to recap, a full frame sensor is the same size as 35mm film negative 'frame.' This means that its light sensitive photosites (pixels) can be larger than those on APS-C format sensors, so more light can enter them – which can mean better dynamic range and less noise in low-light shooting. APS-C sensors are physically smaller and are subject to a focal length multiplication factor (the so-called 'crop factor) in comparison to full-frame cameras.
That said, APS-C sensors in the best enthusiast SLRs still offer high resolution, and lenses for APS-C cameras are cheaper than their full-frame equivalents.
Here are some of our favourite enthusiast-level SLRs.
Canon 70D
Sensor size: APS-C | Pixel count: 20.2 Mp | Screen type: 3-inch fully articulated LCD touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 7fps | Maximum video resolution: 1080p
This well-regarded – and well-rounded – enthusiast-level SLR features a 20.2Mp APS-C format sensor, and enables 'Dual Pixel' phase-detection focusing for both Live View and video mode.
Both Live View and movie focusing are fast and decisive, and work well with the touchscreen (a welcome addition). There are also plenty of physical controls for traditionalists.
Other highlights of this enthusiast-friendly SLR include an impressive maximum continuous shooting rate of 7 frames per second (for 65 JPEGs or 16 raw files) and a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-12,800 (expandable to ISO 25,600). Wi-fi is built-in too.
So, is this the perfect enthusiast SLR? It does have some downsides, but not many. There is a good range of Creative Filters, but these can only be used on JPEG images, not raw. Also, the viewfinder level can be difficult to see, and you have to be careful with the otherwise excellent metering system in high contrast scenes. Some photographers might find the 19 point AF system somewhat limited compared to the 51-point system on the Nikon D7100, too. Otherwise this is a great example of a well-priced yet powerful enthusiast SLR.
Read our full Canon 70D review
Canon 7D Mark II
Sensor size: APS-C | Pixel count: 20.2 Mp | Screen type: 3-inch, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 10fps | Maximum video resolution: 1080p
Enthusiast photographers tend to shoot a bit of everything and they need a versatile camera that can cope with a wide range of subjects and conditions. The EOS 7D Mark II's weatherproofing means that it can be used in harsher conditions than all of Canon's other current SLRs apart from the pro-level EOS-1DX.
Its autofocus system can also get moving subjects sharp quickly, and keep them sharp as they move around the frame or towards/away from the camera. The metering system with its new 150,000-pixel RGB and infrared sensor is also extremely capable and delivers correctly exposed images in a wide range of conditions.
Noise is controlled well, colours are pleasantly rendered and images have an impressive amount of detail for the camera's pixel count.
Canon also seems to have thought quite a bit about how enthusiast photographers like to use their camera, giving them the ability to produce an in-camera HDR image while capturing a sequence of raw files with different exposures for post-capture merging. There's also the Creative Photo Button, Image Comparison capability and the Intervalometer along with the Rate button that makes chimping worthwhile.
All things considered, the 7D Mark II is an excellent camera, it's Canon's best APS-C format model to date. It's not often that we recommend making a direct upgrade from the model immediately proceeds a camera, but this case is an exception. The 7D Mark II makes a great upgrade from the original 7D.
• Canon 7D Mark II review
Canon 6D
Sensor size: Full frame | Pixel count: 20.2Mp | Screen type: 3-inch LCD, 1,040,000 dot | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 4.5fps | Maximum video resolution: 1080p
The Canon EOS 6D is a great example of a compact full-frame camera, weighing in at almost 200g less than its bulkier big brother, the Canon 5D Mk III. It's built to last though, with front and back sections made from sturdy magnesium alloy. In many ways, the handling and build quality is similar to the APS-C format Canon 60D, but there are some significant differences.
As with the 5D Mk III, the 6D lacks a pop-up flash; while most serious photographers would only use a flashgun anyway, built-in flash can come in handy for wirelessly triggering off-camera flash units or basic fill-in flash in strong sunshine. The 6D also lacks a vari-angle/touchscreen LCD, which is a frustrating omission.
What the 6D lacks in mod cons it makes up for in resolution, and it packs a 20.2Mp full-frame sensor that's almost the match of the one in the 5D Mk III. It's got the same Digic 5+ image processor, too. Compromises have been made with the autofocus, however. The 6D gets by with only 11 AF points, and only the centre point is cross type.
Connectivity is good, with both onboard Wi-Fi and GPS (though the latter quickly drains the battery). High ISO performance is impressive and there's a good range of advanced shooting features, but if the restricted AF options are a worry, you might be better off stumping up for the full-fat 5D Mark III.
Read our full Canon 6D review
Nikon D7100, Nikon D610, Nikon D750, Pentax K-3
Nikon D7100
Sensor size: APS-C DX | Pixel count: 24.1Mp | Screen type: 3.2-inch LCD, 1,228,800 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 6fps DX mode, 7fps in 1.3x crop mode | Maximum video resolution: 1080p
This is an interesting camera, not so much for what it has – an 24.1Mp APS-C sensor is not particularly earth-shattering – but for what it lacks, namely an anti-aliasing filter. By removing this 'low pass' filter, Nikon claims that sharper images are possible straight from the camera. While there is a greater risk of 'moire' interference patterns as a result, Nikon claims the pixel density of the D7100's sensor means there will be few occasions when this is a problem – and that it's a trade-off are most users are happy to make in return for extra sharpness. Certainly, our test images were crisp and detailed, and noise is well controlled up to ISO 6400.
The D7100 is Nikon's flagship enthusiast SLR, and offers a continuous shooting rate of 6 frames per second (this can be pushed to 7fps if you use the 1.3x crop mode). There is also a generous 51 point autofocus system. One thing to watch out for is the tendency of the D7100's matrix metering system to underexpose, particularly with bright skies.
As with the D610 there is no built-in Wi-Fi or articulated screen/touchscreen, but the optical viewfinder shows approximately 100% of the image, which aids accurate composition.
To sum up, the D7100 is a very practical enthusiast-level SLR, with weatherproof seals for shooting in the rain and excellent ergonomics.
Read our full Nikon D7100 review
Nikon D610
Sensor size: Full frame | Pixel count: 24.3 Mp | Screen type: 3.2 inch LCD, 921,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 6fps | Maximum video resolution: 1080p
Nikon's D600 was initially welcomed as a cheaper and in many ways more practical alternative to the 36Mp behemoth that is the D800/D800E, but dirty sensor issues soon rained on its parade.
The updated version, the D610, is very much the camera that the D600 should have been. An updated shutter mechanism seems to have stopped the mystery gunge appearing, and you're getting all the benefits of full frame – detailed wide-angle shots and fine depth of field control – at a reasonable price.
The larger photosites on its sensor give the 610 greater dynamic range and cleaner images at higher ISOs than the D7100, even though it can't resolve more detail. With a part-magnesium alloy body, the D610 is tough enough for demanding use, and weather seals mean you can keep shooting when the heavens open.
As with the D800, there are plenty of direct control buttons, which make adjusting key settings a lot easier. The downsides are the lack of onboard Wi-Fi, and the absence of a touchscreen/vari-angle screen is also disappointing on a camera at this price. Still, the D610 has become significantly cheaper since it launched, making it a very attractive first full-frame SLR for Nikon fans.
Read our full Nikon D610 review.
Nikon D750
Sensor size: Full frame | Pixel count: 24.3 Mp | Screen type: 3.2 inch tilting LCD, 1,229,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 6.5fps | Maximum video resolution: 1080p
The D750 has a monocoque construction and is as weatherproof as Nikon's professional D810 model, which means it feels solid in the hand and can be used in less than perfect conditions.
It also has plenty of creative control and a tilting screen that makes it easier to compose images from unusually high or low angles. The addition of a Zebra display is also a bonus for regular Live View users and videographers.
One of the D750's biggest selling points, however, is its 51 AF points system, which has 15 cross-type points with 11 that operate down to f/8. There's also an array of AF modes and customisation options to tailor the system to the photographer and the subject. It affords professional-level control.
Some enthusiast sports photographers, however, may have been hoping that the maximum continuous shooting rate might have been a bit higher, perhaps 8 frames per second (fps).
Nikon has produced a well-rounded, enthusiast-level SLR. It has the majority of the features that an enthusiast would want, along with a few modern niceties like Wi-Fi connectivity. There are a few inclusions that seem more aimed at less experienced photographers that could perhaps have been better thought out for the enthusiast, but all the essentials that an enthusiast want are there and based upon proven systems.
It's also good to see the introduction of a tilting screen on a full-frame camera – it's a shame it's not fully articulating, but it's a move in the right direction and on a weatherproof system.
• Nikon D750 review
Pentax K-3
Sensor size: APS-C |Pixel count: 24.4Mp | Screen type: 3.2-inch LCD, 1,037,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 8.3fps | Maximum video resolution: 1080p
Here's another weatherproofed enthusiast-level SLR, again with a 24Mp sensor and again lacking an anti-aliasing filter, with the promise of sharper images from the camera. Unlike the Nikon D7100, however, there is an anti-aliasing simulator if moire pattern interference becomes an issue.
As Pentax's flagship enthusiast SLR, the K-3 features a PRIME III imaging engine that supports a brisk 8.3 frames per second continuous shooting. You can record up to 22 images in raw format at a time, or 60 JPEGs. Meanwhile the AF system has 27 autofocus points, 25 of which are cross type for increased accuracy, and the AF module is sensitive down as far as -3EV.
Image performance is generally good, with impressive detail and sharpness, and colours are nicely saturated without looking garish. The 100% viewfinder is a bonus, too. Sadly, the K-3 is dogged by chromatic aberration; this appears to be in issue inside the camera, as it appeared even when we changed lenses, and also cropped up on a fresh review sample. How much of a problem this will be depends on what you shoot and how you print it, but the bigger you print, the more likely you are to notice the aberration. As with the Nikon D7100, the Pentax lacks an articulated screen/touchscreen.
Read our full Pentax K-3 review
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