Review: Stan
Introduction, Setup and Interface
Now that Australians have spent some time with Stan, it's time to reflect on how well the final product has delivered in terms of its primary goal – to give Aussies the streaming video-on-demand experience that they've been clamouring for.Since Stan's Australia Day launch, Aussies (who haven't resorted to proxies and VPNs) have finally had a Netflix-like taste of what instant streaming content is all about, but is the content up to snuff? And how does Stan perform now that it's out in the open and away from its preview phase?
Then comes the big question: does Stan have what it takes to keep Australians coming back for more once Netflix arrives on our shores sometime in March?
Setting up Stan
Getting Stan up and running is a fairly straightforward process, though you will require a few things in order to view the service on your television at home.First of all, you'll need a compatible iOS or Android smartphone or tablet in order to browse Stan's content library, and then you'll need to pair it to either an Apple TV or Chromecast media streaming device in order to AirPlay or Cast the content over to your television.
Alternatively, you can use your PC or Mac to view Stan's content on most browsers and stream it with the exception of Chrome for Mac, as the Silverlight plug-in is not fully compatible with that browser.
Stan is compatible with iPads running iOS7 and above from the second generation onwards, as well as all iPad minis and iPhones from the fourth generation onwards.
Most Android phones from 4.2 onwards are supported, with the exception of the HTC Desire 610, HTC One (All models), HTC One M7 & M8, LG Fino and the Sony Xperia Z3.
In terms of tablets, most Android units running 4.2 and above will work, aside from the HP 8 G2.
Once you've selected something to watch, you can start playing it on your phone or tablet, or tap the AirPlay/Cast icon to throw it to your Apple TV or Chromecast, at which point you can put your smart device to sleep.
While this is a fairly convenient and easy system to use, we wish you could just cut out the smart device middleman and browse Stan's content on your television.
Still, these are early days for the service, and we imagine StreamCo will eventually bring out some apps for smart TVs, consoles like the PS4 or Xbox One and media players.
Get that Interface up in yo' face
Anyone who's seen Netflix's interface should know what to expect with Stan in terms of functionality. That said, Stan might just have the visual edge.Movie and TV show publicity art is all over Stan, and it looks incredibly slick – Its carousel in particular is clean and image-driven, with over half of our iPad's screen displaying some of Stan's most exciting content, like its exclusive shows Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle as well as other premium dramas like Hannibal and Fargo.
Flicking up on the screen will show you a range of genres and collections below, such as Comedy Classics, Best of Australia and World Movies, with titles and poster art laid out horizontally for you to swipe across and browse.
Tapping on a show will let you choose the season and episode you want, while tapping on a movie will give you some information screen where you can press play and jump straight in.
Options can be revealed on the left side of the screen by tapping the icon in the upper left hand corner, allowing you to switch profiles, browse TV and movie genres, kids content, your watch history or your list of saved shows (just like on Netflix), and the upper right hand contains a search bar and access to your profile (again, just like on Netflix).
That Stan sure has some nice features
Unlike its competitors, Stan gives you the option to choose the image quality of your stream via a cog icon at the bottom of your player window.You can opt to use Stan's automatic setting for an adaptive bit rate that's tailored to the quality of your connection, or choose the SD or HD constant bit rate encode, depending on whether or not you have bandwidth to spare.
Curiously missing from Stan are options to change language or apply closed captions to the content you're watching – the lack of these options in Stan could be make or break for people who are hearing impaired or have a language barrier, so their omission seems odd.
At present, Stan doesn't have the ability to recommend movies and shows to you based on your movie habits, which is one of Netflix's best features.
Hopefully, a 'recommended shows' feature is somewhere in StreamCo's future pipeline.
Content, Performance and Verdict
That Stan sure is a content fellow
Recently, we posted a comprehensive rundown of all of Stan's confirmed content library, and now that we've used the service, we can confirm that there's plenty more content available that has yet to be announced.When it came to the service's content ratio for television and movies, Stan leaned more on the television side at launch, however there have been some movie content announcements since then that have levelled the playing field somewhat.
One area where Stan is sure to shine above it's competitors, is in its Australian content, with a wide variety of quality Aussie television shows and movies on offer.
The service has quite a bit to choose from in terms of classic movies and back catalogue titles, like the entire James Bond collection, the entire Middle Earth saga (aside from the latest Hobbit film), a large range of foreign films and much more.
However, we do hope that more studios sign on, as the service could do with some more recent blockbusters like superhero movies and animated films – both of which Stan is almost entirely lacking in.
Netflix recently announced a content deal with Disney in Australia and New Zealand that gives the upcoming service access to a wide range of Marvel, Pixar and DIsney Animation Studios content, which somewhat highlights Stan's shortcomings in this area.
How does Stan perform?
Stan's buffering times will vary depending on your internet connection, however in our home and office tests, we were mostly able to start streaming HD content within 30-45 seconds of starting it.Stan requires a minimum 1.5 mbps connection speed for the ability to stream, 2.5 mbps for standard definition, 3.5 mbps for 720p HD resolution content and a 6.5 mbps connection speed for full 1080p HD resolution.
The real test however, came with Stan's much-anticipated, fast-tracked streaming of Breaking Bad spin-off, Better Call Saul.
Obviously, Stan has a lot banking on the successful delivery of this hugely publicised new series, as much of its marketing has centred around its exclusivity to the service.
Tested only an hour or so after being put up on the service, the first episode of Better Call Saul started immediately in HD, playing almost flawlessly with the exception of a single moment of buffering around two thirds of the way into the episode.
One thing worth noting – while this is just speculation, we did encounter some fluctuating bit rate quality on an episode of Community that we were watching just before we moved on to Better Call Saul.
Whether or not Stan was prioritising its quality of service around Better Call Saul for its debut is uncertain, though we will continue to investigate the matter.
Since launch, we have encountered bugs from time to time – one occasion saw Stan continue to try and buffer The Wolf of Wall Street in the Safari browser for several minutes until we gave up and refreshed the window, at which point it worked fine on its second attempt.
Another occasion saw The Terminator randomly start again from the beginning after having already been on for a few minutes.
Also, Stan would sometimes forget where we were up to in an episode or movie when switching between our Mac browser window and iPad.
Switching between episodes on the computer would also cause each episode to go back to the beginning again, and episodes do not have progress bars when viewed in a computer browser window.
Finally, we did experience an instance where a paused episode of a TV show crashed, giving us an A11 error code, which Stan promises will be rectified in its next software update.
While these are by no means frequent occurrences, we hope to see wrinkles like these ironed out by Stan's development team in the near future.
Stan requires a minimum 1.5 mbps connection speed for the ability to stream, 2.5 mbps for standard definition, 3.5 mbps for 720p HD resolution content and a 6.5 mbps connection speed for full 1080p HD resolution.
We even managed to stream HD over our iPad's 4G connection during a train ride, though we wouldn't recommend doing this very often – two 22 minute episodes of Community in HD used up around 935 mb of cellular data.
One thing worth noting, is that Stan would sometimes forget where we were up to in an episode or movie when switching between our Mac browser window and iPad.
Switching between episodes on a computer would also cause each episode to go back to the beginning again.
Verdict
Now that we've spent some real time with Stan, we've come away largely impressed with what the service has to offer, though we do have a couple of reservations.Stan's interface is immediately impressive, with an image-driven layout that's easy to navigate and aesthetically pleasing, however certain bugs have marred the experience on a few occasions.
Content-wise, Stan impresses with its big library of quality television content and back catalogue of films, however it could still do with more animated films and recent tentpole films.
Stan's recent content licensing deal with Roadshow is a step in the right direction, though Netflix's recent Disney announcement shows that Stan still has some way to go in terms of providing the kind of popular content that people want to see.
The question of whether Stan will hold up well as a Netflix substitute in an important one, and as we've had some experience with overseas Netflix accounts, we can say that Stan is certainly heading in the right direction, especially when it comes to its $10 a month subscription fee.
So long as StreamCo keeps working hard to fix its bugs and expand its content library, we can say that Netflix's local launch will have itself a worthy competitor, as Stan is easily the best local streaming media service Australians have had to date.
Read More ...
Updated: LG and Google just launched their own virtual reality headset
Update: We reached out to LG and though it's still unclear when the actual product will launch, we can expect to see promotions starting this month.
Andrew Nartker, Product Manager for Google Cardboard noted in the LG press release:
"With Google Cardboard, we wanted to create more immersive and delightful experiences for anyone on their mobile devices. We are excited about VR for G3, and the rich ecosystem of developers and manufacturers who are innovating with Google Cardboard and making VR more easily accessible."
Original article below ...
LG and Google have announced their very own Samsung Gear VR competitor: the VR for G3.
It's a Cardboard-inspired headset that turns the LG G3 into a virtual reality display, much like what Gear VR does for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
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The VR for G3 will launch in "selected markets" and come free with the LG G3, but it's not yet clear where it will be available or how much it will cost by itself.
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Microsoft opens Office 2016 preview to the public
All that's standing between you and Microsoft's Consumer Technical Preview for Office 2016 is an NDA. After launching an early, limited preview of the touch-optimized Office 2016 suite, Microsoft is opening up its program to allow anyone who agrees to a non-disclosure agreement the ability to download the software and test it before it goes on sale.
"Anyone can access the bits under the terms of the NDA," Microsoft said in a response to an inquiry from ZDNet. "And what people are currently accessing is very early NDA preview."
The productivity suite, a staple of many businesses for creating Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations, is slated to release in the latter half of this year. On smaller devices, like phones and sub-8-inch tablets, Office 2016 will be available for free.
What's new
It may take a while for Microsoft to announce all the new Office 2016 features. Right now, the two notable new features for Office 2016 include a new Tell Me tool to help users get acquainted with Office and an automatic image-rotation feature.Tell Me is already available on Office Online and Office for iPad, and it's headed for Office 2016 for Windows. With Tell Me, users can ask the help assistant how to perform a task in Office.
"There's also an automatic image-rotation feature to help users correctly position images in Office documents, the screenshots indicate, as well as a new 'black' theme option for Office users (in addition to the current light gray, dark gray and white themes)," ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley reported.
Additionally, InfoPath will drop from the Office suite, making InfoPath 2013 the last release of the client. Microsoft, however, is extending support for InfoPath Forms Services to 2016.
How to download
If you're interested in previewing Office 2016, you can head over to Microsoft's Connect site and sign up. The sign-up process asks you to enter the email where you'd like to receive an invitation to participate in the beta, but as Foley confirmed earlier, any email address will work. Just remember that what you're seeing and testing is under NDA.After entering your email address, you'll be able to download the necessary bits to install the preview on your system.
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iOS 8.4 update may feature Beats-based music service
Apple is constantly working to improve iOS, but a forthcoming update may bring more than just bug fixes.
Mark Gurman at 9to5Mac has it from sources that Apple is working on iOS 8.4 (duh) and may use the update to launch its Beats-based streaming music service. Plans are subject to change, but this is the course Apple is apparently considering at the moment.
iOS 8.3 was seeded to developers earlier today, bringing wireless CarPlay support, new emojis and other improvements. With iOS 9 likely releasing in the fall, there's a good chance iOS 8.4 - and the new music service - will land sometime in the spring.
Word broke last week that Apple was working on a new paid streaming service with Beats, one that could challenge Spotify and Google Play Music. The cloud-based service would live as a new app and replace the current Music app on iOS devices.
- Next up: iOS 8 review
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8K notebooks to become a reality next year
Your next workstation could pack as many pixels as today's leading 8K televisions. The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has approved a new Embedded DisplayPort (eDP) 1.4a standard that will support 8K resolution screens. New all-in-one computers and mobile devices, including laptops, will start supporting the higher resolution as early as 2016.
The new eDP 1.4a standard will replace the 1.4 standard that was released in early 2013. eDP 1.4a enables a "higher video data transfer rate for increased panel resolution, greater color depth and higher refresh rates."
8K displays will support a resolution of 7680 X 4320 pixels. For comparison, Apple's current iMac with 5K Display currently drives more than 14.7 million pixels on its 5120 X 2880 screen on the iMac's 27-inch panel. That gives the iMac with 5K Display a pixel density of 218ppi. For comparison, a similar sized panel 8K display will give you a 326 ppi while a standard 1080p display offers just 82 ppi.
More pixels mean more power
There is a lot to get excited about with an 8K panel on a high-end laptop, a business mobile workstation, or a portable gaming rig. More pixels will make images and videos that are optimized for the resolution look crisper, and the better color depth and higher refresh rates will bring more vibrant, lifelike imagery to your screen.The downside is in order to power all that pixels, 8K displays can come at a cost to battery life. Huawei handset product line president Kevin Ho told TechRadar that in mobile devices, like smartphones, the biggest drawback of a high resolution display is battery life, and that's the reason why we're seeing 2K panels on phones instead of 4K.
"4K requires a lot of power, so if you use it you need to make compromises," Ho said of phone displays. "A 4K display on a smartphone will give you half a day of battery life, but a 2K display can give you over a day of usage from a single charge."
To combat against high power drain, eDP 1.4a employs a partial update mechanism for Panel Self Refresh that was introduced on the 1.4 standard.
"Partial update enables the system video processor, or GPU, to update only the portion of the display that has changed since the video frame update, further saving system power," VESA said.
Similarly, on laptops, mobile workstations, and even tablets for those who prefer a hybrid two-in-one form factor device, having an 8K panel could increase battery drain. For general business computing where you don't need the performance that an 8K panel delivers, especially if you're primarily living inside Microsoft Office and a browser window all day, an 8K panel could inhibit mobility as you'll have to recharge frequently or remain tethered to a power outlet.
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Review: Updated: Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Introduction and design
Update: Intel has launched a new driver for the Surface Pro 3 that promises to boost 4K video playback and playing videos using Google Chrome.Knock it for the Windows 8 launch. Lay into it for how it debuted the Xbox One. But, when it comes to its latest product, the Surface Pro 3, don't pull out the torches and pitchforks just yet – Microsoft is onto something here.
Over the past few years, the Redmond, Wash. Windows maker has proved to be one of the bolder technology companies, for better or worse. Microsoft clearly isn't afraid to fall on its face in the hope of landing on what in the world tech users want next in this turbulent market, and the Surface Pro 3 is – well, it just might be an exception.
The company has been hammering away at what it considers is a problem with tablets for years. Since the launch of the Surface Pro, Microsoft has sought after the ultimate mobile computing device, one that could replace the laptop with a tablet-first approach.
All five versions of the Surface Pro are available now in the US, UK and Australia. They are: 64GB / Intel Core-i3 ($799), 128GB / Core-i5 ($999), 256GB / Core-i5 ($1,299), 256GB / Core-i7 ($1,549) and 512GB / Core-i7 ($1,949).
It's also available in many more countries, including 25 new markets for the first time. According to Microsoft, the device has proved such a popular debutant in those markets that it's struggled to meet demand. "For those of you waiting for Surface Pro 3 (or for the specific version that is just right for you): hang tight, we are shipping in new products as fast as we can," Microsoft wrote in a blog post on September 12. "We should be in a much better position in the next week or two."
The Surface Pro 3 is closer than Microsoft has ever been to making good on its mobile computing vision. After over a week with the slate, I'd go so far as to say that the Pro 3 is closer than any laptop-tablet hybrid released yet.
Microsoft was so sure of itself that not only did it directly compare the Pro 3 to Apple's iPad Air and 13-inch MacBook Air, it gave members of the press pre-release Surface Pro 3 units during an announcement event in New York. Sure, the units have bugs as of this review, but who cares?
"I forced the giving away of the device, just so you're aware," Surface team lead Panos Panay told me just after the reveal. "I said, 'You know what? I want the product in people's hands.' 'But the bugs are still there. They're not all done until June 20, until it's on market.' I don't care. The purity of the device is still true, and on June 20 there will be more drops."
One look at the thing might explain Panay's eagerness to get the Surface Pro 3. It's no iPad Air, that's for sure, but the iPad Air isn't packing a 12-inch display.
Design
Yes, Microsoft bumped the Surface Pro touchscreen from a tiny 10.6 inches to a far roomier 12 inches. In the process, the pixel count has been upped from 1920 x 1080 to 2160 x 1440 The result is a modest boost in pixels per inch – 207 ppi to 216 ppi – given the increase in screen real estate.More important is Microsoft's interesting choice in aspect ratio. Rather than sticking with the Pro 2's 16:9 or glomming onto the iPad's 4:3, the firm went with a 3:2 aspect ratio. The company claims that, with this aspect ratio, this 12-inch screen can actually display more content than the MacBook Air's 13.3-inch panel at 16:10. The move was also made to make the tablet feel more like your average notepad when held in portrait orientation.
Wrapped in a bright, silver-colored magnesium shell that's cool and smooth to the touch, the Surface Pro 3 feels premium in every regard. The tablet keeps the trapezoidal shape of its predecessors, but manages to come in both thinner and lighter than before. Plus, the tablet's upper half is beset by vents on its edges to better dissipate heat pushed out by its fan.
Microsoft also moved the Windows home button to the device's left side of its silky smooth – though, rather thick – glass bezel. This way, it appears on the bottom of the slate while held upright, calling out, 'Hey, hold it this way now.' While it's no doubt the lightest Surface Pro yet, I'm not sure whether I could hold onto it for an entire subway ride home.
Adorning both sides of the Pro 3 are 5MP cameras capable of 1080p video recording. While stills on either shooter won't blow you away, the front-facing lens should do just fine for Skype and the weekly video meeting over VPN.
This Surface isn't without its sidekick(s)
A tablet wouldn't be much of a laptop replacement without a keyboard, and the Surface Pro keyboard was in desperate need of a boost. Luckily, Microsoft sent the Type Cover back to the drawing board, and what came back is the best version yet. From keys with deeper travel and stronger feedback to a wider glass trackpad that actually clicks, nothing was off the table.But the most important improvement is the brand new double hinge. Equipped with a strong magnet that latches onto the Pro 3's lower bezel, the Type Cover can now rest with just a portion of it touching your lap or desk. This proved to make writing on my lap much more stable than with previous Surface devices. (Plus, the plush cover comes in five colors: red, blue, cyan, black and purple.)
Tucked beside the Type Cover is also the newly improved Surface Pen. Microsoft made a point of calling its stylus that, because the firm wants it to be seen as and feel like the writing instrument we've all grown up with. With an aluminum finish and a useful clicker up top, the Surface Pen is weighted to better feel like a pen. Using Bluetooth and powered by N-trig, the stylus tracks closer to its physical position than ever before, thanks to some major improvements to the Surface screen.
The new Surface Pro 3 unarguably has the look and feel of a premium product, so it only deserves to be stacked up against the most luxuriously built tablet and laptop around.
Specifications
The Surface Pro 3 improves upon the previous model in just about every which way – Microsoft has checked all of its boxes. The company was even so brash as to compare this hybrid of sorts to both Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air and its tablet atop the mountain, the iPad Air.At least on the outside, the Surface Pro 3 falls somewhere smack in the middle. Measuring 7.93 x 11.5 x 0.36 inches (W x D x H), the 1.76-pound tablet isn't quite as thin and light as the iPad Air, but beats the MacBook Air in both respects easily.
And that's pretty much the point: a device that offers enough of both to replace both. The Pro 3 is a light enough tablet – but not the absolute lightest – and arguably one of the thinnest and lightest laptops around. But dimensions aren't even half of it. Does the Pro 3 offer comparable power to both, not to mention for a competitive price?
Here is the Surface Pro 3 configuration given to TechRadar:
Spec sheet
- CPU: 1.9GHz Intel Core i5-4300U (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.9GHz with Turbo Boost)
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR3
- Screen: 12-inch, 2160 x 1440 multi-touch (ClearType, 3:2 aspect ratio)
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Ports: One USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, microSDXC card reader (up to 128GB), headphone/mic jack
- Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
- Camera: Two 5MP webcams (1080p HD video)
- Weight: 1.76 pounds
- Size: 7.93 x 11.5 x 0.36 inches (W x D x H)
It's worth noting that various deals to snag the Surface Pro 3 at a lower price are kicking about. In the US, for example, you can pick up the device with a $150 discount if you're a student. If you opt for the higher-end Core i7 model, you can get an even better 10% off the retail price, which amounts to $195.
Returning to the device at hand, Microsoft says that it's essentially two devices in one, and has priced it accordingly, not to mention with Apple squarely in mind. So, starting with the latest iPad, it would cost $799 -- the Pro 3's starting price -- to only reach half of this Microsoft tablet's storage. And this is Apple's most premium configuration.
That price also gets you a 1.3GHz processor, a 9.7-inch display at 2048 x 1536 resolution, 802.11a/b/g/n dual-channel Wi-Fi with MIMO and Bluetooth 4.0. While it's tough to compare these displays given their difference in size, the iPad Air has a tough time competing with the Surface Pro 3 on paper.
The MacBook Air comparison is, surprisingly, an easier one to make, spec for spec. For $1,299, Apple's 13-inch thin-and-light laptop meets the Pro 3 head on in terms of storage and memory. However, that 1440 x 900 screen looks just dull in comparison. And while this notebook sports Intel's far superior HD Graphics 5000, the Core i5 chip behind them is much slower at 1.4GHz.
At first glance, it looks like the Surface Pro 3 can dance around both of Apple's machines at the same time. However, that's assuming you purchased the optional Type Cover. That's right: the one tool that enables this tablet to truly replace the laptop does not come with the device. In fact, it costs a cool $130 (around £77, AU$140). Even so, this Surface Pro 3 configuration, with Type Cover included, still costs less than Apple's entry level tablet and laptop combined. Microsoft may have made good on its goal of replacing the laptop in terms of price, but what about performance?
Performance
With a product designed to be two things at once, it's tough to quantify its performance with synthetic tests designed to typically test just one type of device. Regardless, the Surface Pro 3 performed just slightly better than the average Core i5-4200U-packing Ultrabook, which isn't terribly shocking.Benchmarks
- 3DMark: Ice Storm: 30,264; Cloud Gate: 2,617; Fire Strike: 347
- Cinebench CPU: 208 points; Graphics: 25.14 fps
- PCMark 8 Home: 2,190 points
- PCMark 8 Battery Life: 2 hours, 38 minutes
For instance, I played a round of Hearthstone with just a bit a sluggishness before I turned down the graphics detail. However, the upper right portion of the tablet's magnesium frame reached scorching levels of heat during that single session.
The same happened every time I went to watch an HD video over YouTube. Neither bode well for couch cruisers, though that redesigned hinge will come in mighty handy for this. Nothing will save this tablet from the sound its fan produces, however, which is noticeable but not disruptive or distracting.
Beaten by the battery
Back to that battery result, it frankly isn't even close to the best I've seen from a tablet. In my own use of the Pro 3 – over 10 Google Chrome tabs, Spotify streaming high bitrate audio, TweetDeck running and HipChat active with the keyboard backlit – the slate lasted 3 hours and 55 minutes. Both tests were run at max brightness on the "Balanced" power setting.
Microsoft claims that the Surface Pro 3 can hold out for up to 9 hours of web browsing before kicking the can. Considering that both PCMark 8 and my own test are plenty more strenuous than that simple task, perhaps the device could last longer under lighter loads.
Lowering the brightness will undoubtedly boost endurance, and I noticed that the tablet can last for days on standby. Regardless, this is a device meant to handle relatively heavy work loads. If it can't match the market-leading laptop in terms of longevity, then can it truly replace it?
It's true: both the 13-inch MacBook Air and iPad Air outlast the Surface Pro 3 in our tests. Under more intense loads, it wouldn't be surprising to see either maintain their lead over Microsoft's tablet. Perhaps it's Windows 8.1, or more likely that QHD screen – regardless, there's room for improvement here.
The Surface Pen points ahead
When Surface team lead Panos Panay showed off the new Surface Pen's Bluetooth feature that "magically" summoned OneNote with a click of its top button, it looked like a neat gimmick. As it turns out, that's exactly the case, but this kind of use of Bluetooth shows vast potential for the future.At any rate, what's important here is the actual writing experience. While I personally wouldn't use the Surface Pen for much in my day-to-day work, tracking proved to be super smooth. Not to mention that the digital lines of ink were as thin as the tip of the stylus as I jotted down notes in near-perfect cursive. (Well, near-perfect in replicating my chicken scratch.)
Part of this is thanks in part to that complete redesign of the N-trig powered pen, this time to better emulate the feeling of a traditional writing instrument. And while its two face buttons could be positioned lower toward the tip, they click with ease.
The other half working toward an improved pen experience is what Microsoft claims is the thinnest optical stack in the industry. (The actual optics of the screen are closer to the glass face than ever.) This helps reduce the drag between your physical position with the stylus and its digital representation. Finally, some solid solid palm rejection only enhances that notepad-like feel.
Following the Surface Pro 3's release, in July N-Trig released a list of compatible applications that have been tested with its latest drivers. They are:
- Anime Studio Debut 9.5 Version 9.5 build 9768
- Crayola PhotoFx studio 1 Version 1.5.0.42, 1.5.0.46
- Flash Professional CC Version 13.1.0.226
- Adobe Flash Professional CS6 Version CS6
- Corel Painter Version 12.2.0.703
- Sculptris
- MyPaint Version 1.0.0
- Mischief Version 1.12
- Zbrush Version 4R6
- Adobe DreamWeaverCS6 Version CS6
- Adobe Photoshop Elements 12 Version 12.0.20130925
- Krita Version 2.8.3
- Substance Painter Version 0.5.0
Surface Hub only scratches the – you know...
In early October, Microsoft released a new app exclusively for its latest tablet, dubbed the Surface Hub, on the Windows Store. Frankly, however, it's not much a hub just yet. As of this writing, the Surface Hub only serves to adjust the sensitivity of the Surface Pen and change the function of the Bluetooth-enabled purple button up top.Your options: either launch the touch-centric version of OneNote like before or the standard desktop variety, which is available for free to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. The sensitivity adjustment tool works well enough, and allows you to test your adjustments in a tiny window before committing to the change.
Finally, the app provides details about your Surface that will be needed for troubleshooting, as well as providing a quick feedback form. And ... that's basically it. Not really a "hub", if you ask me, but nevertheless a useful, nicely designed tool. Here's to hoping for more comprehensive updates to the app in the future.
Type Cover rises up; kickstand leans back
Microsoft has upped its game in almost every way with the Surface Pro 3, but most crucial is the new and improved Type Cover. The upgrades to this accessory were essential to what Microsoft's mission to eliminate the laptop. (The improvements were so vital that keeping it an accessory was a clear misstep.)
For one, the typing on this cover has been massively improved, with deeper travel and speedier, more powerful pushback than ever from the keys. The larger clickpad – yes, "clickpad" – now clicks with the force you'd expect from a laptop. Though, I did have to be rather deliberate in scrolling through web pages.
That the new Type Cover now snaps to the Pro 3's lower bezel might sound like a silly addition. But it makes for a far more sturdy and comfortable typing experience on your lap.
Lastly, the Redmond, Wash. company finally went and bent that kickstand nearly all the way back, allowing users to fully adjust its angle. This proved to be a boon while balancing the device on my lap for typing, as well as for just browsing my favorite websites while watching TV at the widest angle.
The hinges are incredibly stiff, requiring considerable force before they begin to give way. You should want that kind of rigidity from a device you're to use essentially for any and every computing task.
Microsoft also has a docking station for the Surface Pro 3 in the works that replaces the current Surface Pro dock. It measures 12.9 x 3.8 x 4.4 inches and provides access to a multitude of peripherals - from your speakers and printer to a keyboard and mouse. It can also drive an external monitor too (4K, if you like your visuals crisp) from MiniDisplayPort, providing a dual display setup for apps such as Photoshop or Illustrator.
With a larger shape to accommodate the device's dimensions, it manages to house three USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports, bringing the total to six if you include the ones on the Surface Pro 3. That's in addition to a a Gigabit Ethernet port and a 3.5mm audio connection jack, and there's also a Kensington security lock for warding off thieves.
Weighing 650g, it's plenty portable too. So, when can you get your hands on it? It's already available to you if you live in the US, where it retails for $199, and it's out now in the UK too, where it retails for £164.99. Writing in a post on its Surface blog, Microsoft announced plans to ship the docking station to 26 more markets around the world starting on Friday September 12, around one month after it first went on sale in the US and Canada.
Bundled software
In addition to the standard Microsoft apps and free trials, the firm includes OneNote with every Surface Pro 3 in addition to Flipboard and Fresh Paint among a few light casual games. In short, Microsoft keeps it incredibly light on the bloatware, as it should being a first-party vendor.The Windows Store has come a long way since its launch, but still trails behind Apple and Google's app marketplaces in terms of volume and quality. Windows 8 devices are still generally the last to receive major apps and app updates. This would be a more serious issue if the Pro 3 weren't packing Windows 8.1 Pro, but it's nevertheless a problem.
Surface Pro 3 game controller
OK, we'll come clean, we haven't tested Microsoft's game controller in our Surface Pro 3 review - because it doesn't exist. But it's interesting to note a Microsoft patent that shows that the company may have been thinking about releasing a funky handheld gaming accessory in the style of Nvidia's Edge for the Surface Pro 3 at one point, which would've taken the device in a very different direction.Appearing to be cut down the middle, the controller would allow you to place each half to the left and right to use the tablet like an Xbox-style controller. Could something similar make an appearance in the future? Stranger things have happened - and we've seen a few of them.
Surface Pro 3 updates
Microsoft has released a steady flow of updates to the Surface Pro 3 since its release to improve stability and performance. The most recent was released in late January, bringing a slew of bug fixes and stability tweaks, in addition to a new graphics driver that promised to boost 4K video playback and playing videos using Google Chrome.Numbered Version 15.36.14.4080, it was the first driver to support Intel's fifth-generation Broadwell processors - including the Intel HD Graphics 5500, HD Graphics 6000 and Iris Graphics 6100 cores. According to Intel, it also brought hardware acceleration of the VP9 video format that's used in Chrome video playback and Google Hangouts.
Inconsistent Wi-Fi, the most niggling issue reported by Surface Pro 3 owners for some time, was fixed in an patch in November called the Wireless Network Controller and Bluetooth driver update. It focused on improving performance when waking from sleep and connecting to a 802.11ac Wi-Fi network. That update also brought improvements around behaviour of the device when waking up from sleep mode using the Home Button or the Surface Pen.
Verdict
The Surface Pro 3 is, without question, the most attractive and capable device that Microsoft has ever produced. As a result, it's not only the closest to realizing the company's vision for replacing the laptop, but closer than any hybrid device to date. This thing can honestly serve as both your tablet and laptop in nearly equal measure.Of course, the tablet isn't without compromise. Limited app creator support, subpar battery life and a dearth of hard connections are clear hurdles for the Pro 3. Plus, leaving the much-improved Type Cover as an accessory means that this is no laptop replacement out of the box.
We liked
Everything about the Surface Pro 3 design screams style and thoughtfulness. Microsoft took the entire Surface Pro 2 back to the drawing board with this revision. Between its bigger, sharper screen and thinner, lighter magnesium frame, nearly every box has been checked in crafting a superior product.The same goes for the Type Cover, kickstand and Surface Pen, all of which received marquee improvements and rethinks. The redesigned Type Cover has resulted in the best typing experience I've had on a tablet keyboard, while the new, wider-angle kickstand in tandem with the new stylus makes for more use cases that simply make sense.
What resulted was a device that I was reliably able to use as both a laptop and a tablet. I jumped from writing this very review to flicking cards in Hearthstone on the couch and back to writing with just a flick of the kickstand and a snap of the keyboard cover. If that's not a measure of a all-in-one device, I don't know what is.
We disliked
But make no mistake, there is still room for improvement with the Surface Pro 3. For one, selling the Type Cover as an optional accessory not only inflates the price of this product, but only serves to diminish Microsoft's mission statement to replace the laptop.Another knock against the tablet is that it's quite quick to burn up. Whether it was an HD video over Netflix or YouTube, a casual game or even system updates, the upper right portion of the metallic shell would grow almost uncomfortable to hold. Thankfully for the kickstand, there are many situations in which you need to hold the slate while sitting.
Finally, just under 4 hours of battery life might be suitable for the average Ultrabook, but not for your everyday tablet. And for Microsoft to position the Surface Pro 3 against the iPad Air and 13-inch MacBook Air, which both set the endurance standards in their categories, only makes this point look worse.
Final verdict
It's worth reiterating the point that the Surface Pro 3 is not only Microsoft's most striking and versatile device to date, but the most convincing poster child for the hybrid category yet. And this ringing endorsement comes from a long-time skeptic of such devices.That said, the Pro 3 is hamstrung by flaws that cannot be ignored. Namely, the battery life might be in line with most Ultrabooks, but it doesn't come close to what Apple's leading laptop and top tablet have shown. And the Type Cover being billed as an accessory doesn't help Microsoft's cause in the slightest – it's quite pricey to boot.
At any rate, this version of the tablet comes in cheaper than the most affordable iPad Air and 13-inch MacBook Air combined, even with the Type Cover, and that's the point. On paper, this slate is more powerful than either Apple device, not to mention most other comparably priced laptops and tablets. The Surface Pro 3 might not be perfect, but it's far and wide the brightest shining example of a potential tablet takeover.
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HTC Desire 626 stakes claim of the middle lane
When rumors of the HTC Desire 626 began popping up in January, most sources speculated that it might be revealed during MWC 2015.
Turns out HTC had a different plan, though, as the Taiwanese company today made the Desire 626 official, reports Desire 626.
Just as the original reports said, the HTC Desire 626 is a true middle-of-the-road handset, like HTC's equivalent to the iPhone 5C.
Two sides
In fact, the phone's back bears no small resemblance to the iPhone 6's clean, minimal look, while the front's dual speaker grills - while not exactly similar to the BoomSound apertures found on other HTC devices - make it look somewhat like HTC's flagship HTC One line.
The Desire 626 has a 5-inch 1280x720 display, a 64-bit Snapdragon 410 chip, 1GB of memory, 13- and 5-megapixel cameras, 16GB of storage, LTE support, and a 2,000mAh battery.
There's apparently also a Mediatek octacore version that will be sold only in China.
It's unclear whether the Desire 626 will launch in the US or elsewhere, but in Taiwan it costs the equivalent of $190 (about £125, AU$240).
- Is the Surface Pro 3 a laptop killer?
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Review: Acer Aspire V15 Nitro
Introduction and design
If gaming is your main driver for buying a new laptop, prepare to break the bank. The Razer Blade seems to have it all, but it's also pushing a $2000+ price tag. What if you want to spend only half of that and still have a capable rig?The V15 Nitro Black Edition (VN7-591G-74LK) is one attempt to answer that question, packing a solidly powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M GPU with 2GB RAM, a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, and 8GB of RAM. And that's all had for $1,029 (about £672, AU$1313) from NewEgg for the version we reviewed.
But for all its potential, the V15 Nitro also comes up short in a couple of key areas: the battery life is poor, the 15.6-inch 1080p display isn't great, and the lack of an SSD means it's not the fastest laptop around for day-to-day use. However, does this Acer laptop have enough raw performance to compensate for those concessions?
Design
Compared to some of its entry-level gaming laptop contemporaries, the V15 Nitro is decidedly subdued in its design. Sure, it has the red backlight subtly pouring out from beneath the keys, but you won't find any aggressive branding like on the Asus GL551, nor does it have exaggerated angles and curves like the Lenovo Y50. That's a matter of preference, of course, but I like a simpler build that doesn't try to shout, "Hey, I'm a gamer!"
The laptop has a black plastic shell that is lined with hundreds of ultra-thin ridges spanning the entire height of the laptop, with a glossy silver Acer logo plastered on the left-center. The screen is attached to a glossy, silver hinge on either edge, leaving a gap for the middle chunk, which is also silver and has "Aspire V Nitro" etched into the plastic.
That shiny silver part extends to the bottom of the device and is where all of the hot air is blown out. And it's effective, since the laptop never got alarmingly warm during use - however, the fans can get a little loud during peak usage). The black plastic bottom is otherwise rounded at the edges to create a bulging effect, and you'll find additional ventilation as well as four speakers behind grates on the right and left sides.
The screen takes a bit of force to pull up, and the resulting creaking sound/feeling didn't fill me with a lot of confidence. But once open, there's a lot of space with a large rubberized palm rest surrounding the touchpad to do what you need to do. I'm disappointed that gently removing a large sticker detailing the V15's features left some discoloration behind, however.
The keyboard itself is great - quiet, responsive keys and the lighting effect isn't overbearing. I'm less impressed with the touchpad; my fingers dragged on the surface (which has "Black Edition" written in the upper left), and it bends easily under pressure, which feels a little clunky in practice. But it's a gaming laptop, right? You'll want an external mouse for most games, anyway.
Everything's all right
Looking for the ports? Nearly all of them are concentrated on the right side of the V15 Nitro. You'll find three USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, a headphone jack, and a fold down Gigabyte Ethernet jack, and the power plug is neatly aligned towards the back of the unit. The only exception is an SD card reader slot covertly tucked along the front edge of the laptop, which makes it quite easy to miss.
Having most of the ports all in one cluster on the right side isn't the friendliest design for anyone planning lots of peripheral plug-ins. With everything on one side, you may need to run cords around the back for anything you're using to the left of the laptop. Plus the USB ports are so closely aligned that a bulky cord or flash drive can block access to the other.
Specifications and performance
The V15 Nitro has a thin construction for a gaming notebook, considering all of the power found within. It has some heft, coming in at 5.29 pounds, and has a wide frame to accommodate its 15.6-inch display, measuring 15.3 x 10.1 x 0.9 inches. It has the exact same weight as the Lenovo Y50, as well as very similar dimensions. Both the Acer and Lenovo laptops are slimmer and lighter than the Asus GL551, due its optical drive.
Here is the Acer V15 Nitro Black Edition configuration given to TechRadar for review:
Spec Sheet
- CPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-4710HQ (quad-core, 6MB cache)
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M (2GB GDDR5 RAM), Intel HD Graphics 4600
- RAM: 8GB DDR3L
- Screen: 15.6-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 TFT Color LCD
- Storage: 1TB HDD (5,400 RPM)
- Ports: 3 x USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, Headphone jack, Ethernet, SD Card reader
- Connectivity: Dual Wireless Antennas, Acer Nplify 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0
- Camera: 720p webcam
- Weight: 5.29 pounds
- Size: 15.3 x 10.1 x 0.9 inches
You won't find a comparable model available from UK shops. However, there is a single VN7-591G option that switches up some of the specs: it appears to have a 2.9Ghz Intel Core i5-4210H dual-core processor with a bump up to 12GB RAM. That laptop sells for £899 (about $1,373, AU$1,760). A version of this laptop also does not seem to be available for the Australian market.
In some respects, with the model we reviewed, it seems like you get a little bit less bang for your buck with the Acer V15 Nitro compared to its aforementioned rivals. For example, for $999 (about £657, AU$1279), you get twice the RAM on the Asus GL551, not to mention a DVD drive - although that could be an unwanted addition for some.
And when it comes to the $1,000 (£999, AU$2,199) Lenovo Y50, you again get double the RAM, as well as an 8GB SSD cache in the 1TB HDD, although that laptop has a slightly weaker processor. But what really matters, of course, is how the device works as a whole.
Performance
With the Nvidia GTX 860M within, the Acer V15 Nitro is equipped to handle modern games at high - although typically not maximum - settings with a playable frame rate. Running at ultra settings, BioShock Infinite's frame rate suffered, dipping well enough below 60 frames per second to diminish the fun. But sacrificing a negligible amount of texture detail and dropping down to high settings resulted in a smooth, beautiful experience.Switching over to newer games like Far Cry 4 and Dying Light, the performance at high settings was consistent most of the time, but frame rate dips and occasional momentary freeze-ups were more common.
Here's how the Acer V15 Nitro fared in our benchmark tests:
Benchmarks
- 3DMark: Ice Storm: 105,529; Cloud Gate: 16,069; Fire Strike: 3,733
- Cinebench Graphics: 85.08 fps, CPU: 632 points
- PCMark 8 (Home Test): 2,826
- PCMark 8 Battery Life: 1 hour and 48 minutes
- BioShock Infinite (1080p, Ultra): 41 fps; (1080p, Low): 126 fps
- Metro: Last Light (1080p, Ultra): 16 fps; (1080p, Low): 61 fps
That's especially evident with Metro: Last Light, which has a habit of showing gaming laptops in their weakest moments. Here, with every setting maxed out, I saw an average frame rate of just 16 fps. Amazingly, that's an improvement over both the Asus GL551, which averaged less than 12 fps, and the Lenovo Y50, which didn't even hit double digits with its average frame rate.
In terms of the 3DMark tests, the V15 Nitro handily beat the Lenovo with all three scores (and by a wide margin in two cases), while the Asus is a lot more comparable with smaller deviances between the figures. Of course, the Lenovo laptop has a weaker processor than the Acer and Asus models, and that came through very clearly in the testing.
The drain game
If there's one stat in the benchmarks listing that's frankly stunning - and not in a good way - it's the battery life result. Indeed, our test generated results of just 1 hour and 48 minutes, and while gaming laptops are generally understood to sacrifice battery life in favor of performance, that's dismal even by those standards.
By comparison, the Asus gave us 2 hours and 23 minutes, while the Lenovo lasted a full hour longer, at 2 hours and 49 minutes. Granted, the benchmark tests push the computer harder and more consistently than you will during typical use, but this is still a meager battery. With streaming video or a mix of web browsing and word processing, the battery typically topped out at just less than 3 hours.
Whatever the case, the result is the same: this isn't a machine designed for extensive use away from a wall charger, and the battery life proves the biggest weakness with Acer's V15 Nitro. It's just not built for the long haul.
I can't see clearly now
I also had an inconsistent experience with the 15.6-inch 1080p display included on the Acer V15 Nitro. On one hand, it is a very high-resolution screen, and certain games look downright amazing on it - particularly the gorgeous art direction of BioShock Infinite.
But those were the rare, ideal moments. Elsewhere, I struggled to find a consistently great viewing angle that gave full illumination of the screen. From an angled view, the display loses some clarity and contrast - so it's definitely not the best pick for a screen to share with someone else nearby. The matte finish also seems to wash out the image just slightly, and I could never get the screen to be as bright as I wanted. It's not a terrible display at all, but it can be finicky.
Inversely, I was really impressed by the speakers on the V15 Nitro. The four speakers found on the bottom of the device deliver clear, quality sound that even has a decent (but still light) touch of bass. It exceeded my expectations for music and video playback alike from a laptop.
Bundled software
The Aspire V15 Nitro is unfortunately very heavy on third-party software, the majority of which can be considered bloatware. You'll find a number of apps that aren't standard on Windows, and many that users probably won't want or need - but you can remove them manually if you don't want them clogging up your menus and hard drive. Here are a few examples:- Booking.com – The travel website has its own dedicated app preinstalled on the Aspire V15. That seems really unnecessary.
- Next Issue – This app allows access to more than 100 digital magazines (like Sports Illustrated and Esquire) for one monthly fee. It's useful, but niche.
- McAfee LiveSafe – Internet security software that comes bundled with the V15 Nitro, but Windows has its own built-in Windows Defender, and McAfee will keep bugging you to register. It's annoying.
- WildTangent Games – It's not a collection of free games, but rather a storefront that directs you towards games you can buy. That's disappointing.
- Acer Portal – You'll see a number of Acer apps like "abDocs" and "abFiles" - they're all part of Acer's "Build Your Own Cloud" initiative, which lets you access local files from other devices. The portal acts like a hub for all of that.
Verdict
The Aspire V15 Nitro doesn't have the obvious "gamer attitude" kind of branding seen on other gaming-centric laptops, but it has the horsepower and the GPU to run top games at high settings - all while being reasonably affordable for this kind of device. But are the trade-offs for hitting that price point reasonable?We liked
Most games look awesome running at high settings on the V15 Nitro, still maintaining fluid frame rates at 1080p resolution. You probably won't be able to run the latest and greatest at ultra settings without hitting some rough patches, but dial back the detail just a bit and you should have a great laptop gaming experience.The V15 Nitro turned in impressive benchmark scores, slightly edging out the Asus GL551 and handily trumping the Lenovo Y50 in many categories. It's a pretty powerful laptop, considering the price, which should hopefully keep you running strong for some time to come.
I also like the more subdued design, along with the ample space for your wrists beneath the solid keyboard. I don't need a gaming laptop with an aggressive aesthetic - just something with the right amount of kick inside, and a cool, calm exterior.
We disliked
The battery life is a real problem if you expect to be away from your charger for any notable stretch of time. The benchmark test clocked in at less than two hours, and while real-world testing pushed usage closer to the three-hour mark, that's still a rather small tally.While the 1080p display is capable of showing off some amazing sights in games, I didn't always have a great experience using it elsewhere. Tricky viewing angles were frustrating at times, and the matte-finished screen doesn't get as bright as I'd like it to be.
There's so much extra software preloaded on the V15 Nitro. Some of it, like Acer's own "local cloud" apps, could be useful, but we don't need Booking.com, eBay and multiple magazine storefronts preinstalled. It's a chore to have to remove this much junk.
Final verdict
Acer's Aspire V15 Nitro provides another mostly solid gaming laptop option to choose from near the $1000 mark. It's a capable machine, with a very good GPU and a speedy processor that work in tandem to display flashy 3D games with strong detail and fluid motion. Granted, it's not a top-tier device, and the performance in more recent games like Far Cry 4 shows how more demanding games are starting to push it to the limit with higher graphics settings.If performance is your primary consideration, than the V15 Nitro is nearly even with the strong Asus GL551 in most of the tested categories. Either machine will deliver a quality gaming experience without tying you to a desktop. However, the Asus has other advantages, namely comparatively longer battery life, and is still our overall pick for an entry-level gaming laptop.
But if you dig the subdued build style and don't mind rocking a wall charger most of the time, the Acer is worth considering on the budget end of the gaming laptop pool.
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Apple apparently doesn't want iOS 9 to be an unstable mess like iOS 8
When iOS 8 launched users everywhere complained of what a buggy mess it was, and Apple apparently is hoping not to repeat that mistake.
That may seem obvious, but this rumor is more specific than vague: Apple is focusing all its efforts on making sure iOS 9 is stable rather than adding major new features, reports 9to5Mac.
The sites compares it to 2009's OS X Snow Leopard update, which at the time focused successfully on stabilizing Apple's desktop and laptop platform.
Stability first
The last two iOS versions added a ton of new UI elements and features, from Apple Pay to the control center, but Apple isn't blind to the toll that's taken on the operating system, the site's sources said.As a result, iOS 9 will have a "huge" focus on bug fixes, stability improvements and performance boosts, they said, while Apple also tries to keep its size in GB down.
The new iOS will still have some new features, but stability and performance will reportedly be the main selling points. And there probably aren't many Apple fans who will be too upset about that.
- Is Apple working on the iPad Pro?
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Review: Epson WorkForce WF-100
Introduction, specs and performance
Despite near-ubiquitous mobility among business professionals, there are still aspects of the professional world that are still stationary - like printers. Epson decided, by their own words, to expand the portfolio of business printing solutions by creating the Epson WorkForce WF-100 ($349, £229.14, AU$449.25), the world's lightest and smallest mobile printer.Epson designed the WorkForce WF-100 printer with the professional in mind, as the WorkForce WF-100 comes with built-in wireless connectivity, WiFi Direct, and an integrated rechargeable lithium-ion battery that allows you to print at anytime and anywhere. The WorkForce WF-100 provides the ease and mobility of a fully functional printer without requiring a USB cable.
Specs
The WorkForce WF-100 weighs 3.5lbs (1.59 Kg) and the dimensions are 12.2" x 9.1" x 8.5" (30.99 cm x 23.11 cm x 21.59 cm) in the printing state and 12.2" x 6.1" x 2.4" (30.99 cm x 15.49 cm x 6.1 cm) in its storage setting. Built into this compact size is a Micro-USB (for charging and direct input into the computer) and an AC port. Charging on this device is simple, the AC Adapter provides 100-240V whereas the USB adapter provides 5V (based on USB 2.0).
Charging times vary between the two inputs, and more so with USB, but to fully charge the Epson WorkForce WF-100 over AC takes 2.5 hours, on a USB connection with 0.5A takes 10 hours, and on an USB connection with 1.5A takes 2.5 hours. On a single charge the battery life lasts for approximately 100 B&W pages or 50 Color pages.
The Epson WorkForce WF-100 printer uses a 4-color (CMYK) drop-on demand MicroPlezo inkjet technology. Printing speeds vary depending on the use of color or if the WorkForce WF-100 is plugged in or using the battery. When using the AC Adapter, the WF-100 can print B&W at 6.7 ISO ppm and Color at 3.8 ISO ppm. When using battery power, the WF-100 is only able to print B&W at 3.5 ISO ppm and Color at 2.0 ISO ppm.
Since the WF-100 is geared towards the working professional, it can only handle more traditional printing sizes ranging from 8.5" x 14" to No. 10 envelope plain paper. So, if you're looking for bigger size or more paper to hold, then this printer might not be the one for you.
Performance
Setting this printer up via USB is traditionally simple and straightforward. Setting up the WorkForce WF-100 printer up via WiFi is similarly simple with a few very minor drawbacks. To connect the printer to an existing WiFi access point - say your home router - the WF-100 will scan existing WiFi access points.The navigation is simple and seamless until you have to put in the WiFi password. Now, for those who have auto-generated WiFi passwords from your Internet Service Providers or those (like myself) who have challenging passphrases for security, scrolling through A-Z a-z 1-0 !-= options is monotonous and annoying. When you do select the correct keys to connect the Epson WorkForce WF-100, it presents you the passcode in plain text.
Once this is done, the Epson WorkForce WF-100 will remember the SSID and Password of the WiFi but if you change WiFi modes (switch from WiFi to WiFi Direct) then you will have to go through this process again. Setting up WiFi direct is fairly easier as the SSID is autogenerated, but creating the password is, again, done by autoscrolling with the D-PAD function. And, again, once it's set up you connect your computer to the WorkForce WF-100 AP (directions on LCD) and it is really simple.
When the Epson WorkForce WF-100 is connected to your WiFi network, setting the printer up on your computer or mobile device is easy. AirPrint and Google Print are straight forward, as the apps will automatically detect the device. Mac OS X and Windows-based computers have an installer, which only takes a minute or two to do, and they automatically connect.
Printing to this printer with basic print jobs, text, resumes, articles on the web, are very easy. Hit print, choose the Epson WorkForce WF-100 option and that's it. Printing color is just as easy, though it does slow the print job up quite noticeably. While this is a mobile printer and is not inherently designed for printing color jobs, or photos, it does it quite well.
Walk away from the Epson WorkForce WF-100? Well, the WF-100 has an auto-sleep function. You can continue your work, deck, business report and hit print and the WorkForce WF-100 will come alive and print directly.
Verdict
When printing color on 8.5" x 11" paper, everything is fine. The picture print quality is decent, not amazing, not awful. But, if you print on, say, glossy 4" x 6" I found it insanely difficult to get the contrast correct in the photos, as they were either too light or too dark, and I found that printing on 4" x 6" on any device resulted in a cut-off or un-resized print.Secondly, setting a password on this device for WiFi is annoying. I understand why Epson chose this as the best option, and don't get me wrong, it isn't awful. But it is reminiscent of an AM/FM clock radio from the late 80s and 90s.
We liked
This machine is incredibly easy to set up and use. It's ridiculously lightweight and portable. It's an almost-perfect printer for the traveling business professional or anyone who needs a printer that doesn't take up much space.We disliked
Color quality on prints took a bit to figure out via contrast and color saturation. Also, printing photos on 4" x 6" high gloss paper was inconsistent across devices. I tested this on an iPhone, Macbook, Windows 7 PC, and an Android and the prints all came out different.Final verdict
The Epson WorkForce WF-100 is perfect for the user who travels, or even for the space-conscious or low-printing consumer. The built-in WiFi makes it easy to print on multiple devices and the built-in rechargeable battery is very impressive.
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Review: Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000
Introduction and design
When it debuted last year, the Atom-powered Venue 11 Pro impressed with strong battery life, a great 1080p display, and adequate performance to get most business tasks done. The pricier Intel Core i5 model in comparison was lackluster with weaker stamina and a chunkier body that housed a loud whirling fan. This year, the Venue 11 Pro 7000 joins the series, balancing portability and performance with Intel's Broadwell-based Core M processor at an entry price of $700 (£437 and AU$800).Retaining the same form factor as last year, most of the improvements to the Venue 11 Pro 7000 are found under the hood. Dell is iterating on the success of the Venue 11 Pro series, and the evolutionary changes are akin to what Microsoft made when it transitioned from the Surface Pro to the Surface Pro 2. With the Core M processor delivering mainstream performance in a low-powered package, the Venue 11 Pro 7000 series combines the best of both the Atom and the Core i5 model.
For business users looking for a two-in-one convertible hybrid with an active digitizer for inking, the Venue 11 Pro 7000 competes in the same space as the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition, Microsoft Surface Pro 2, Surface Pro 3, and the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2. Of these options, only Microsoft's tablets come with Windows whereas both Samsung models run Google's Android operating system.
For those who do not require an active stylus, the iPad Air 2 with third-party keyboard covers is also a great choice for mobile executives given its strong battery life and robust ecosystem of apps.
Design
Thanks to the Intel Core M 5Y71 CPU's low thermal design, the 7000 series is able to shed the girth and heft from the Core i5. The chip's better heat management means that the Venue 11 Pro 7000 no longer needs extra space for a fan and Dell was able to reduce some of the thickness from the Core i5 model.
Weighing in at 1.6 pounds (0.72kg) and measuring 11.01 X 6.95 X 0.42 inches (27.97 X 17.65 X 1.07 cm), the 7000 shares the same weight and dimensions as the Atom model, and the overall design is relatively unchanged from last year.
Compared to the iPad Air 2's 0.96-pound (437g) weight and 9.4 X 6.67 X 0.24-inch size, the Venue 11 Pro 7000 is not only bigger, but comes in at nearly double the heft of Apple's tablet. The Dell weighs nearly as much as the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2, though Samsung's tablet gives you a much larger display and the 1.66-pound Surface Pro 3 feels a lot more premium with a multi-angle kickstand and all-metal construction.
Both the Atom and the Core M Venue 11 Pro models share the same soft-touch black plastic construction, magnesium sides, and a 10.8-inch full HD display on the front. Thanks to a consistency in design, tablet accessories purchased from last year, like the two keyboard dock options, digital stylus, and the optional desktop dock accessories, will continue to work on the 7000 series. IT departments can upgrade the tablet without having to re-purchase the optional accessories.
Despite the dense build and having a solid weight, the soft-touch finish attracts dirt and grease, making the tablet feel cheap and marring the clean design. After the Venue 11 Pro is deployed in the field for a day, the dirt and grime on the soft-touch finish, combined with fingerprints trapped on the glass display, gives the tablet an aged look, especially when compared to the clean all-metal and angular design of the competing Surface Pro 2.
Despite the choice of materials, the Venue 11 Pro 7000 is a well-constructed machine. When using the system as a laptop with the optional keyboard dock, the tablet slid off my lap and landed back-first on my carpeted floors from a height of approximately three feet and survived unscathed.
Moving to this year's model, Dell made one change that makes the tablet less appealing to mobile workers. The rear panel is no longer removable; now you cannot swap a dead battery in the field with a fresh spare if more power is needed.
To increase the Venue 11 Pro's versatility, the keyboard dock accessory gives users access to a mini clickable trackpad and full-sized physical keys, but at the cost of reduced key spacing to fit the small profile. Key travel on the laptop dock accessory is good.
Power users will appreciate the addition of a spare battery inside the keyboard dock that almost doubles the Venue 11 Pro's run time. However, despite its added weight to the overall package of the Venue 11 Pro, the keyboard dock does not provide for any additional ports nor does it come with backlighting to see the keys in a dark room.
All of the inputs are found on the left and right sides of the Venue 11 Pro. If you're looking at a single computing device that can convert between tablet, desktop, and laptop, you'll likely want to invest in either a desktop dock or a USB hub, as the number of ports remain limited. The Venue 11 Pro gives you a micro HDMI port, full-sized USB 3.0, micro USB for charging, a Kensington lock port, headphone jack, and sealed micro SD card slot.
The sealed SD card slot helps to keep the Venue 11 Pro 7000 more durable against accidental spills and it's far easier to access than the locked SD card slot on last year's Venue 11 Pro series, requiring a small pin to pop out the SD tray.
There are also side-oriented stereo speakers. For a business-class convertible, the speakers pump out ample sound, and at higher volumes there is minimal distortion.
Thankfully, it appears that Dell has resolved the weak spot from last year's Venue 11 Pro by reinforcing the micro USB charging port so it doesn't break, an issue found on early Atom-powered Venue 11 Pros that prevented proper charging.
An issue we continue to experience with the tablet this year is that sometimes it does not go to sleep properly when you close the laptop lid when docked to the keyboard. When we stowed the tablet inside a briefcase or bag, the tablet continued to run and exhaust the battery and overheated. When this happens, the tablet has to cool down before it will accept a charge, making it unusable for thirty minutes or so.
It's unclear if this is a software issue, or if the power button on the side of the tablet is being inadvertently activated in a briefcase that prevents the tablet from sleeping properly. This has occurred twice in the week we've had the Venue 11 Pro 7000.
Specs and performance
The Venue 11 Pro 7000 competes most closely against Microsoft's Surface Pro series in form factor, but with added features that make it attractive for business adoption. With its enterprise focus, the Venue 11 Pro comes with security features such as Dell encryption, a TPM module, and certification to meet FIPS and HIPAA requirements, making it suitable for use in government and healthcare industries.Running the full version of Windows 8 (upgradeable to Windows 8.1 and later Windows 10), the Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000 has an optional Slim Keyboard Cover, similar to the Surface Pro's Touch Cover. Though the Slim Keyboard Cover has physical keys unlike the capacitive touch-based Microsoft cover, the keys do not have much travel so they don't move as far in as a laptop or desktop keyboard.
A second travel keyboard dock is also available for the Dell tablet with full-sized chiclet keys but with reduced spacing between each key. The travel keyboard feels more like a laptop keyboard and packs in a secondary battery.
Other accessories include an optional stylus using technology from Synaptics for digital inking, and a desktop dock lets you connect more USB peripherals like keyboard, mouse, and hard drives, along with an HDMI-powered display, to turn the Venue 11 Pro into a desktop.
The versatility in form factors makes the Venue 11 Pro an appealing option to enterprise users who prefer to carry one computing device. Unlike having separate devices, you won't have to manage, transfer, or synchronize files between your tablet, laptop, and desktop.
Spec Sheet
- Processor: Intel Core M-5Y71 vPro
- Display: 10.8-inch FHD 1920 X 1080 IPS display with 400 nits brightness
- Memory: 8 GB
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 5300
- Storage: 128 GB SSD
- Wireless: Intel 7265 dual-band 2X2 802.11 ac WiFi & Bluetooth 4.0
- Camera: 2-megapixel webcam; 8-megapixel rear camera
- Ports: USB 3.0 full size,micro HDMI, BT 4.0, micro SD card slot
- Weight: 1.6 pounds (0.72kg)
- Size: 11.01 x 6.95 x .42 inches (27.97 X 17.65 X 1.07 cm)
Performance
The Venue 11 Pro fluidly handles most computing tasks you throw at it. Opening documents, editing spreadsheets, checking email, browsing the web, and making Skype calls feel snappier than the Atom version. The Core M processor and updated Intel HD Graphics 5300 provide enough horsepower to do light video work and quick Photoshop edits.Given its powerful performance, the compact 11-inch form factor is as much a liability as it is a benefit. The Venue 11 Pro 7000's small stature means that it could fit comfortably on an airplane tray table, even if the person in front reclines their seat, and its compact size makes it easily portable.
However, the small size makes it feel cramped when you're juggling two windows or more at the same time.
When I had a Word document open to type this review and Internet Explorer to research Dell's website, I found myself switching between the two tasks rather than having two windows open side-by-side. If you're at a desk, you'll likely want to connect an external display, keyboard, and mouse to make things more comfortable.
In tablet mode, the 16:9 aspect display feels too narrow when trying to read a digital PDF or magazine. Inking on the tablet also feels cramped in portrait. If you're taking notes using a digital stylus in the same portrait orientation, the page width could feel constrained as well.
When paired to the optional keyboard dock that transforms the Venue 11 Pro into a notebook, the laptop's display doesn't recline far enough back. In laptop mode, the Venue 11 Pro's angle of recline doesn't go as far back as the second stage hinge on the Surface Pro 2, meaning that the screen is more upright on the Dell.
The limited angle of tilt creates poor ergonomics. Rather than tilting your neck slightly downward to look at a more opened clamshell display on your lap, you're instead looking down into the screen. This requires your neck to be tucked down further, and after a few hours of using the Venue 11 Pro as a laptop, my neck experienced more strain than using a device like the MacBook Air 11 or the Dell XPS 13.
The saving grace of the limited screen recline is the IPS display. Even though you may be looking down into the laptop, rather than directly at the screen, you'll still be able to see the content on your display thanks to the wide viewing angles of an IPS screen.
Also, the display comes in a bit brighter than both models last year. Whereas the Atom Venue 11 Pro has a 150-nit display brightness, the Core M model comes with a 400-nit display. Confusingly, you'll have to adjust the brightness on Windows 8 in two different areas to avoid Windows' aggressive auto brightness adjustments.
First, you'll want to swipe from the right panel to activate the Charms menu, go to Settings, and then choose Change PC Settings. After that, you'll go into the PC and Devices menu and go to Power and Sleep where you'll turn off the auto brightness adjustment. After adjusting this setting, you should have better control over brightness adjustments.
Benchmarks
- 3D Mark: Cloud Gate: 3706; Sky Driver: 1862; Fire Strike: 512
- PCMark 8 Home Test: 3.0, 2141; PCMark 8 Business Test: 2.0, 2634
- PCMark Battery Life: 4:01
- Cinebench: OpenGL: 21.46 fps, double the performance of the Intel HD Graphics 4000 GPU of a comparable Core i5 model. CPU: 182 cb, just slightly slower than an Intel Core i5-3317U processor
Though the Venue 11 Pro 7000 readily bests the i5 in the graphics department thanks to Intel's newer integrated HD Graphics 5300, CPU performance is slightly worse than that of the i5 and much improved over the Atom model.
The improved performance over the Atom-powered Venue 11 Pro is reflected in the device's battery life. I get between seven and eight hours of computing time on the power-conservative Atom model with the screen brightness set to medium; this year's more agile tablet comes in at just 4:01 using PCMark's battery test. Battery performance is far short of the approximately ten hours you get on leading consumer tablets like Apple's iPad Air and the Wacom digitizer-equipped Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2.
In real world performance using the browser, email, and opening documents and spreadsheets, I averaged around four to five hours before depleting the battery, and I got between three to four extra hours using the Venue 11 Pro 7000 with the keyboard dock that houses a secondary battery. For comparison, I squeezed between five to seven hours in real world usage on a Surface Pro 2 and about three to four hours on a Core i5 Venue 11 Pro.
Bundled Software
Fortunately, the Venue 11 Pro 7000 doesn't come pre-loaded with bloatware. Users can install the software they need right out of the box without having to spend time uninstalling unnecessary software or be left with annoying antivirus software subscription popup notices.The Venue 11 Pro comes with a trial for Microsoft Office along with a suite of MSN Modern apps, including Money to track your stocks, Health and Fitness for the latest diet and exercise tips, Travel for inspiration for your next vacation, Food and Drink for recipe recommendations and restaurant reviews, Sports for the latest team scores and news, News, and Weather.
OneNote is also included and should work with an optional Dell Active Stylus.
Business users will find Skype preinstalled along with a simple Mail client and People app for contacts.
Verdict
We Liked
The Venue 11 Pro 7000 offers a lot of power in a compact and portable form factor. The 10.8-inch IPS screen with full HD resolution is quite good, and on maximum brightness it is even usable outdoors.Dell offers a number of different optional accessories that extends the utility of the tablet. Two separate keyboard docks, a desktop dock, and special cases for healthcare and a retail case to swipe credit cards show that Dell is targeting enterprise and vertical markets.
In daily use, the Venue 11 Pro could become a relatively affordable tablet that replaces a laptop, tablet, and desktop and allows enterprises to focus on the task at hand rather than having to manage files, synchronize documents, and track changes to files if they were to use different computing devices.
We disliked
While the Venue 11 Pro delivers great performance in both tablet and laptop mode, usage as a tablet, especially when the Pro 11 is held in portrait orientation is a little awkward. Because of the 16:9 aspect ratio, portrait orientation made the tablet a little too long to be comfortable. In this view, reading letter-sized PDFs, magazines, and digital books left black letterboxing at the top and bottom of the screen.Additionally, the 10.8-inch display feels a lot more cramped than the 12.2-inch 3:2 aspect ratio of the newer Surface Pro 3. Personally, I wish Dell had gone with a larger screen and with either the Surface pro 3's 3:2 or the iPad Air's 4:3 aspect ratio, which feels more comfortable to ink on.
With the 16:9 aspect ratio in portrait, I felt like I was quickly running out of line space and had to shift to a new line every time I inked with a Stylus whereas the 4:3 and 3:2 ratios feel more akin to writing on letter paper.
Final verdict
At the $700 (£437 and AU$800) entry price, the Venue Pro 7000 offers a nice balance of performance and portability in a travel-friendly size. However, unless you find yourself accessing CPU and GPU taxing apps, you might find more value in an Atom-based convertible. Going with Atom will lower your cost and give you better battery life.For those who need power and performance, the confines of a 10.8-inch display may be too rigid to maximize productivity. Opening more than a few tabs or windows on the small display will trigger claustrophobia. If you need to be more productive, there are bigger convertible options, like the Surface Pro 3, to choose from that may fit that need better.
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Buying Guide: Best monitor: the top displays on the market
Introduction
Ten years ago, monitors were nothing more than necessary accessories. Today, they can be luxury items that dramatically improve all aspects of computing and content consumption. There are so many types of monitors that suit so many different needs.Screen resolution, response time, panel weight: everything should be considered when choosing a personal device or an enterprise fleet. Unfortunately, all of these specs can be confusing. We've compiled this roundup to help you sort through the abundance of options available.
We break down the best of the best to help you get started.
Viewsonic VP2772
The Viewsonic VP2772 ($1,019, £599, AUS$1096) is a 27-inch SuperClear IPS panel that boasts a 2560x1440 QHD resolution that covers 99% of the Adobe RGB color space. Viewsonic created the perfect monitor for working professionals in the creative space, for video editors, design professionals, and print departments.The size of this monitor is perfect for those who want a bigger screen, comparable to the Apple Thunderbolt Display, but without paying a high price. The VP2772 weighs 19.84 lbs (9Kg) without its base, and its dimensions are: 25.3" x 18.5" x 13.7" (64.26cm x 46.99cm x 34.80cm). Viewsonic put multiple ports into the VP2772 including a Dual-Link DVI port, an HDMI 1.4 port, a mini-DisplayPort, and four USB 3.0 ports.
- Read our Viewsonic Vp2772 review
Dell UltraSharp UP2414Q
Although it's only a 24-inch monitor, the Dell UltraSharp UP2414Q ($830, £545, AUS$1062) has a beautiful Ultra HD 3840 x 2160 (4K) resolution that packs in four times the resolution of Full HD. This IPS UltraSharp panel provides true color accuracy as well as 99% AdobeRGB and 100% sRGB coverage.The Dell UltraSharp UP2414Q dimensions are as follows: 13.33" (338.5 mm) x 22.40" (569.0 mm) x 2.22" (56.3 mm) and weighs 4.8 kg (10.58 lbs). The UP2414Q has an HDMI connector, one Mini DisplayPort, one DisplayPort (version 1.2), four USB 3.0 ports, and a card reader.
The UP2414Q has a PPI of 185 and the contrast ratio has the capability of achieving 2 million:1, which is awesome. Viewing content on the Dell UltraSharp UP2414Q is incredible, and the built-in card reader will allow professionals in the digital field the ability to work efficiently.
- Read our Dell UltraSharp UP2414Q review
LG 34UM95
LG hits the ball out of the park with this 34-inch monitor. The LG34UM95 ($1,289, £800, AUS$1,389) boasts a 3440x1440 (21:9) resolution screen. This larger working area is the equivalent of running two 20-inch monitors side-by-side with resolutions of 1720x1440 (6:5). The LG 34UM95 is not just about size, as it has multiple reasons to invest in a bigger working monitor.For starters the LG 34UM95 is a wonderful option for those who do not want to buy an Apple Thunderbolt Display. LG put two Thunderbolt connections into this monitor, along with two HDMI and one DisplayPort which allows this monitor to be used by both Apple and PC users.
The 34UM95 has a viewability of 23.8" (60.47 cm), it weighs 16.98 lbs (7.7Kg), and the full product dimensions are 33.7" x 18.5" x 6.8" (85.60cm x 47cm x 17.27cm).
- Read our LG 34UM95 review
BenQ BL2710PT
BenQ took a 27" monitor, gave it a 2560x1440 Wide Quad HD (WQHD) resolution, which allows the BL2710PT to deliver four times the number of pixels of HD resolution screens, which ensure you a crisper image than your traditional 1080p resolution.BenQ's BL2710PT ($642, £390, AU$688) dimensions are 20.67" x 25.16" x 10.2" (52.50cm x 63.9cm x 25.91cm) and it weighs 18.0lbs (8.2Kg). The BL2710 has a ton of connectivity ports with two USB 3.0 ports sitting on the left-hand side of the monitor and two USB 2.0 ports on the backside, it has an HDMI port, DVI-D port, VGA port, and an audio-in port.
- Read our BenQ BL2710PT review
Acer B326HUL
The Acer B326HUL ($777, £462, AU$836) is ideal for use in office environments or computer labs. It delivers dynamic visuals due to the high display resolution and vibrant colors. But, the Acer B326HUL is more than just that.The 32-inch B326HUL has a 2560x1440 pixel resolution, a refresh rate of 6ms, a 100,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and 16:9 aspect ratio. Acer put one DVI connection, one DisplayPort connection, one HDMI Cable connection, and one USB 3.0 Cable into the B326HUL monitor.
The B326HUL is a wonderful monitor. It has all the things a basic user needs but comes with a high quality image that anyone in a design or digital background will be happy as well.
- Read our Acer B326HUL review
Samsung UD590
Gamers, media and digital consumers, and the productive-worker have a monitor built for them. Samsung, with the aforementioned in mind, built the UD590 ($679, £429, AUS$782) monitor with a 3,840 x 2,160 pixel resolution, which is four times greater than a 1080p monitor. The UD590 has a 28inch 4K display that includes two HDMI ports, a DisplayPort, and a headphone jack.The UD590 can tilt 15 degrees up and down but can not swivel horizontally, the UD590 stand is not height-adjustable, nor does the monitor have vesa mount holes on the back, lending it to a basic monitor with beautiful color
The UD590 has a TN Panel, so it has noticeable difference if right next to a monitor with an IPS panel. Upon opening, the UD590 may need to be calibrated but Samsung placed a wonderful joystick menu button on the panel that makes changing monitor settings easy as pie.
- Read our Samsung UD590 review
Samsung UD970
Samsung's UD970 ($1,999.99, £1,200 or AU$2,150) was built with the professional in mind as each monitor is individually calibrated at the factory with incredible accuracy to ensure unified color across the entire screen, and accurate greyscale color gradation. Samsung exclusively developed an embedded chipset and a 16-bit look-up table into the UD970 to allow more precise colors across the entirety of the screen than other monitors.The UD970 is a 31.5-inch monitor, it supports a 3840x2160 resolution, and comes with the following ports: a Dual Link DVI, two DisplayPort 1.2 ports, an HDMI 1.4 port, four USB 3.0 ports, a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort connector, and a headphone jack.
This monitor, by factory calibration, offers a 10-bit color depth screen that is capable of displaying more than one billion colors, 100% of the sRGB color spectrum and 99.5% of Adobe RGB. Work in CAD or Design? Think about this monitor for color precision in the market. As a basic gamer who wants to go into the 4K world, this monitor might be of interest though note that the 8ms refresh rate is not as fast as a hardcore gamer may be looking for.
- Read our Samsung UD970 review
Asus PB287Q
With the Asus PB287Q ($649, £599, AU$799) you can see every detail in its 28-inch true 4K display that has a resolution power of 3840 x 2160 UHD, 157 pixels per inch, and real 10-bit color. This is a monitor for the designer, the photographer, and possibly even the gamer.Asus provides you with the fastest 4K experience possible with 1ms GTG response time and 60Hz refresh rate in the PB287Q monitor. Amazing. The PB287Q has a natural 16:9 aspect ratio that allows eight million pixels and more than one billion colors to come out of this vivid beautiful monitor.
Connect what you want when you want as Asus put almost every type of connection into this monitor: HDMI, HDMI/MHL, DisplayPort, and two audio ports (in and out).
The video quality is high with this monitor. Have a good Vid card? Then this monitor is for you.
- Read our Asus PB287Q review
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Download of the day: Vivaldi
Web browsers are a dime a dozen with so many browser add-ons and extensions slowing down how long it takes to get you onto webpages, something that Vivaldi eliminates.
Why you need it
With security concerns and performance at the top of the agenda for most web users, downloading the likes Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox and their plethora of add-ons that place speed and battery life at a premium isn'y always the best plan.Vivaldi aims to minimise the need for extensions that can increase security risks and slow down performance by providing a number of nifty sidebar widgets that allow you to keep your contacts, email and notes all in one place.
Making notes is one of the most revolutionary features that Vivaldi lays on as it allows you to make notes alongside the webpage you're reading and take a screenshot so that either can be copied into another program at a later stage.
Another unique feature of Vivaldi is the way that it allows you to organise tabs. Users can choose to position tabs in the natural position at the top, along either side or at the bottom to the page. Tabs can also be stacked on top of one another so that you can stay in one browser window and benefit from a situation where it won't matter how many tabs are open as they will be neatly organised.
Vivaldi is built on some of the newest web technologies around with a user interface created using JavaScript and React plus help from Node.js, Browserify and a range of other NPM modules to bring a browser that looks good and runs flawlessly.
Like its rivals in the browser space, Vivaldi is completely free and is only currently available as a technical preview with a range of features such as mail, cross-device syncing, spatial navigation and a small number of extensions coming soon.
Key features
Works on: PC, Mac, and LinuxVersions: Free technical preview
Tab stacks: Vivaldi's best feature is that it allows you to stack tabs on top of one another to tidy up all those open tabs and place them into easy-to-manage groups according to certain subjects.
Notes: Take notes and screenshots on any webpage without having to leave Vivaldi itself before copying and pasting them elsewhere once you are done.
Speed dial: Organise your favourite tabs into groups and then add groups to the speed dial screen to access your favourite web pages as quickly as possible.
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The next iPhone camera might have the same megapixels as the iPhone 4S
Every iPhone since the iPhone 4S - including the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus - has used an 8-megapixel sensor in its camera.
And according to the latest reports, the next iPhone - be it the iPhone 6S, iPhone 7 or something else - will continue that tradition.
- Apple's latest iPad Air set the bar
This isn't to say that iPhones' cameras haven't improved since the 4S, as they certainly have - just not in the megapixels department.
The latest rumors specifically regarding the iPhone 6S's camera said in January that the next iPhone will pack a dual-lens camera with optical zoom and a 3D pressure sensor.
That report, too, came from Taiwanese media sources, so make of it what you will.
- Samsung's Galaxy S5 was an evolution, not a revolution
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Now with AMC, Sling TV is out of beta and launching nationwide
As tempting as Sling TV may have seemed up to now, who in their right mind would have canceled their cable and signed up for the Dish service when they couldn't watch Mad Men or Better Call Saul on it?
Luckily Dish announced today that, in addition to Sling TV graduating from beta and launching nationwide for the first time, the service now also supports AMC. And that isn't the only new addition.
- We're expecting big announcements at MWC 2015
With the no-frills live TV service now available across the US, Dish has added AMC (and AMC Networks channels including BBC America, BBC World News, IFC, Sundance TV, and WE tv) and WatchESPN to the basic $20 lineup, and launched a new "Sports Extra" package with nine additional channels for $5 per month.
Still suffering
Sling TV is still suffering from a dearth of channels overall, but there's no denying that it's growing.Dish says Maker Studios' Polaris+ channel is coming soon, as well as support for Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick "in the coming days."
Unfortunately there's no word yet of the promised Sling TV Chromecast support, but hopefully we hear more soon.
- Roku Streaming Stick is another great option
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Industry voice: Is a lack of security understanding placing UK businesses at a disadvantage?
It is well documented that UK businesses are at an increased risk of suffering from a cyber-security breach. The overarching suggestion is that this is down to a lack of education about the threats organisations are facing, reinforced by the recent Global State of Information Security report by Pricewaterhouse Cooper. According to the report, 69% admitted to having succumbed to a security breach. In fact, businesses in the UK suffered 10% more attacks than companies elsewhere in the world in the last 12 months.
There is good news, which is that 55% of companies plan to increase their spending on IT security in 2015. With this in mind, it is important to consider where this budget will be spent. Will companies look to invest in their own IT infrastructure and systems, or will they look to cloud-based services that would provide viable alternatives to the traditional approach?
Spending money in the right places
There are two steps to effectively using cloud services that companies should take. Firstly, businesses should engage with Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) that specialise in delivering security solutions via the cloud.Many antivirus companies provide cloud-based enterprise solutions as well as their traditional on-premise options. This enables easier management and distribution of security services to all users no matter where they are located. Other cloud-based security services include Mobile Device Management solutions, security monitoring of log files and alerts, vulnerability management, and data leakage prevention.
Secondly, companies should consider moving key business applications to the cloud to enhance security. There are a number of cloud-based solutions for enterprise class email, as well as Customer Relationship Management systems and accounting solutions. By using cloud-based infrastructure or Platform-as-a-Service solutions, companies should also look to migrate their own legacy applications to the cloud.
This would provide many advantages to businesses, including performance, scalability and availability. In many cases the providers offering these solutions can probably do so more securely than companies can from their own in-house data centres.
Security is still a top concern
A recent survey conducted by Databarracks found that 81% of respondents identified security as one of their top concerns for engaging with the cloud. Interestingly, the survey went on to state that of the companies which do engage with CSPs, only 44% continue to cite security as an issue, with the reputation of the provider becoming a greater issue.Even with more businesses engaging with the cloud and citing the CSP's reputation as a key issue, security remains a cause for concern. These findings reflect that before engaging with a CSP, there is an element of the unknown and a certain amount of trepidation in trusting data or part of an organisation's IT infrastructure to a third-party. Once that fear has been overcome and the engagement is ongoing, the element of uncertainty and mistrust dissipates.
Bitdefender's experience is that UK businesses are often more risk-conscious than their European and US counterparts. Many are slow to adopt new technologies, preferring to wait and see how others may fare using new solutions. However, given the growing cyber-threat facing many UK businesses, the fear of the unknown of using a CSP should trump the fear of the likelihood of suffering from a security breach.
- Alexandru Catalin Cosoi is Chief Security Strategist at Bitdefender
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Watch out Tidal, there's a new hi-res audio player in town
We've seen a lot of high-resolution and lossless music services launch in the UK recently. Last year brought Tidal to our shores, and Sony has been on something of a high-resolution bent, of late, launching a range of music players and headphones that are badged as being "high resolution ready".
Now Onkyo, a company mostly known in the UK for AV receivers, but with a long history of stereo and music hardware to its name in Japan, has launched a service in the UK, US and Germany.
Onkyo Music is powered by 7Digital's music store, and offers high-resolution albums for about £12 ($18US). Music ranges in quality from lossless, CD quality tracks, all the way up to stuff that's 24-bit with a sample rate of 96khz.
Onkyo says that some music is also 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz or 192kHz too. Tracks are delivered in the FLAC format, which offers some compression, but without compromising quality.
Emperor's new clothes?
There are, of course, questions about the value of high-resolution audio, with some critics arguing that it's not possible to hear the quality difference in much above CD quality - 16-bit, 44.1kHz.Audiophiles point out that quality is somewhat difficult to measure scientifically, and that the way one audio component interacts with another will have a huge impact on the overall sound quality.
However you look at it though, these new services are welcome if they boost the quality of audio downloads, which can sometimes be enormously disappointing.
It's also nice to be able to access recordings that offer the same quality as a CD, because technology should, after all, move forwards, not backwards.
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