Why the next version of Windows Server will be a two-faced beast
Microsoft hasn't released as many details about the next version of Windows Server, which it now says will be available in 2016, as it has about Windows 10. Windows Server architect and creator of PowerShell, Jeffrey Snover, gave more details in a recent Microsoft UK event, noting how Azure initially used a version of Windows Server that had been rewritten to suit the very different needs of running a cloud.
Since then, Windows Server has itself been reworked to support running cloud services like Azure better, and if you want a private cloud, Microsoft offers both the Windows Azure Pack to give you IaaS hosting with cloud-style subscriptions and fast VM deployment, and the cloud-in-a-box Cloud Platform System which gives you an "Azure-consistent" mix of Window Server, System Centre and the WAP portal all preconfigured on Dell hardware – everything from the servers to the SSDs to the network cables are set up and ready to go.
PowerShell and DSC
That's all done with PowerShell scripts and Desired State Configuration (DSC), a PowerShell system that lets you write configurations once and have them automatically deploy and stay consistent across multiple machines.With the next version of Windows Server, DSC scales up to running an entire cloud data centre with software-defined networking features that go from discovering and managing the new topology, to monitoring the network and guaranteeing network Quality of Service. Not to mention the kind of fabric network management that you usually buy expensive network hardware to achieve – but you'll be able to do it all with commodity network hardware (as long as it supports current standards like RDMA and SMB 3).
Because Azure runs on Windows Server, Microsoft can use Azure for prototyping new features for Windows Server. That's what's happening with Docker support and Microsoft is doubtless prototyping the software-defined networking improvements there too.
Deep refactoring
But not everyone wants to run a cloud, so the "deep refactoring" that Snover says has gone on for Windows Server vNext (which we expect will be called Windows Server 2016) is delivering a layered architecture that takes the current concept of server roles right down into the OS itself, making it more modular. (This is also an extension of the refactoring that's been happening in the Windows client under names like MinWin, organising the spaghetti of API calls into more logical layers that are easier to isolate and update.)At the lowest layer is a cloud-optimised server that Azure (and private cloud systems) will run on. On top of that is the 'full' server that you'll use for an on-premise Windows Server system. "There will be two APIs, for server and for the cloud-optimised server," he explained. You'll be able to "just take the components you need."
Container support is at this level, with two containers: one container system for the cloud-optimised server (which we expect includes the Docker engine support that will be native in the kernel) and another container for the 'full' version of Windows Server. "We will have two flavours of compute containers – one for application compatibility," Snover said, as well as "containers optimised for the cloud".
The Windows client team has already talked about using containers in Windows 10 as Virtual Security Modules to make sure the user authentication service runs in a separate VM. Snover didn't go into details about similar security features in Windows Server for "assurance," but he did suggest preparing by buying servers that have the same Trusted Protection Module all PCs now include.
"With TPMs we're not quite there yet," he said. "Some vendors have them and some don't. You should be demanding them, because a bunch of assurance investments going forward are going to require TPM on the server."
Layer cake
Snover also showed another layer in Windows Server, for situations when you're running a client experience on a server, which has stopped some server applications being fully automated. Automation is key for running a cloud and it makes running any server far simpler and more reliable – that's why it's such a big focus for Microsoft in Windows Server now. "For a modern data centre," Snover points out, "remote management is non-negotiable.""People who wrote server applications wrote a local GUI for admin tools," he explains. "But they would put a bunch of business logic in the GUI and call private APIs because that's easier [for them to build], but then they didn't have formal remote management APIs so you couldn't automate things."
So the next version of Windows Server will let them write a client that runs on the server, so it's possible to work with it in the Windows shell, and see it alongside the browser they're looking at documentation in or logging into Azure with – but that uses Windows Server APIs that can be automated and managed remotely. "You can put a client on top of a server, but use the server APIs." That way, the applications you run on a server won't stop you being able to manage that server without ever going near it.
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Versus: HTC One M9 vs iPhone 6
HTC One M9 vs iPhone 6: Intro
While HTC's sales are dwarfed by Apple's, its flagships are met with critical acclaim and a loyal following, drawn to the brand's eye for design, then married to slick performance and genuinely useful features.
The same could be said about Apple, albeit with a much larger fan base, and its latest phone has pushed the iPhone forward in so many ways.
But now HTC's latest, the One M9, is here and it's a vast improvement on the HTC One (M8). You're probably wondering whether this is the phone for you, right?
You're probably also ruminating on how it stacks up against the iPhone 6, as HTC has so much in common with Apple in terms of design.
To get the answer to that all you need to do is keep reading, as we've compared these two bastions of style in full.
HTC One M9 vs iPhone 6: Power
Tucked deep within the HTC One M9's metal shell there's a Snapdragon 810 humming away. It's a 64-bit octa-core processor with four cores clocked at 2GHz and the other four at 1.5GHz, which, combined with 3GB of RAM, means the M9 is a real powerhouse.
The iPhone 6 doesn't sound quite so good with its 64-bit 1.4GHz dual-core A8 processor and 1GB of RAM, but Apple's handsets have always punched above their weight, thanks to the unity between hardware and software.
In practice these phones both have power to spare, but the HTC One M9 is likely to storm to victory when it comes to raw grunt thanks to the double power of two quad core brains.
HTC One M9 vs iPhone 6: Design
For the last few years HTC has been building some of the most beautiful phones on the planet and the HTC One M9 is the most refined version of its vision yet, with a full-metal body that curves comfortably into the hand. It's chunky yet elegant and feels incredibly well made.
The iPhone 6 is a similar story. It's all metal too, but while the edges are curved the back isn't, leaving it far slimmer than HTC's flagship. It oozes quality and there's little doubt in our minds that these are the two best put together phones on Earth, but you definitely get the feeling that the HTC One M9 has a higher level of craftmanship inside.
It's absolutely subjective of course - you might like the superthin iPhone - but holding both and you get a real sense HTC's challenger is, well, a more grown up phone in terms of construction.
HTC One M9 vs iPhone 6: Operating system
The HTC One M9 runs Android Lollipop, but HTC has put its Sense 7 interface over the top. That's no bad thing, as it's a stylish offering and includes thoughtful additions like a theme creator and BlinkFeed.
Lollipop itself meanwhile is the most efficient version of Android yet and includes handy features like Google Now, with enhanced notifications and less overt intrusions.
The iPhone 6 runs iOS 8 of course and it's no different here than on any other iOS device. So expect a slick, intuitive interface, bolstered by Siri, a wide selection of premium apps and an attractive design. It's not quite as customisable as Android though.
HTC One M9 vs iPhone 6: Screen
HTC was obviously happy with the M8's screen as it packed the same one into the HTC One M9. So you get a 5-inch 1080 x 1920 display with a pixel density of 441 pixels per inch. It's disappointing that there's no real upgrade but other than a slight green tint it's a fine screen, with rich, bright colours.
The iPhone 6's screen on the other hand was a big change for Apple, boosting its flagship up to 4.7 inches for its 750 x 1334 display with 326 pixels per inch. So it's not the sharpest screen around, but the contrast ratio is sublime and it sports great colour reproduction too, so it's certainly a strong competitor to the HTC One M9.
HTC One M9 vs iPhone 6: Camera
After making a big deal about UltraPixels for the last couple of years HTC has seemingly lost faith in the technology, as the rear camera on the M9 has a standard 20.7MP sensor which based on our first impressions we're not that thrilled by.
That said, the company hasn't totally ditched UltraPixels, instead sticking them in the 4MP front-facing snapper, which does impress as selfie cams go.
The iPhone 6 only has an 8MP camera, but Apple has really made the most of those pixels as it can take some great photos, helped along a little by Focus Pixels, which allow for faster autofocus and improved clarity.
It's almost certainly better than HTC's snapper in terms of picture quality, but its 1.2MP front-facing camera loses out to the selfie-proud One M9's Ultrapixel option, which excels in low light and therefore key when there's not front flash.
HTC One M9 vs iPhone 6: Battery
HTC has never gone big on battery size, but at 2800mAh the unit in the HTC One M9 isn't a bad size at all. In practice based on our early impressions the M9 holds on to battery well, so it shouldn't be a phone that you'll have to plug in every night.
The Apple iPhone 6 has a far smaller 1810mAh battery and while it makes the most of its limited capacity it's still not up to the standards of the longest-lasting Android phones, which the HTC One M9 is shaping up to be among.
Apple still hasn't solved its battery woes (there are questions over whether it even wants to - after all, the promise of longer time between charges will always keep people upgrading) and is almost certain to last for a shorter time than HTC's finest.
HTC One M9 vs iPhone 6: Key features
HTC hasn't added a huge amount in the way of features to the One M9, but software additions like its theme creator are welcome and its BoomSound speakers now have virtual surround sound powered by Dolby, so they should be better than ever. The HTC One M9 also supports 24-bit audio, so it's put a real focus on music.
The big feature on the iPhone 6, other than a bigger screen than its predecessor, is arguably its upgraded Touch ID fingerprint scanner, giving you a convenient way to keep your phone secured and coupled with Apple Pay it's a futuristic way to spend money too.
HTC One M9 vs iPhone 6: Storage
The HTC One M9 comes with 32GB of storage, which isn't bad but it's not a huge capacity for a flagship either. Fortunately it also has a microSD card slot with support for cards of up to 128GB, so invest in one of those bad boys and you shouldn't be in danger of running low.
The iPhone 6 can come with far more built in storage, as there are 16, 64 and 128GB varieties, but with no microSD card slot that's necessary and unfortunately it also means you might have to shell out extra for more capacity up front, rather than waiting till you hit the storage ceiling.
HTC One M9 vs iPhone 6: Verdict
The HTC One M9 and the Apple iPhone 6 are both undeniably true flagships. They're also two of the most beautiful phones we've ever laid eyes on.
But they're not equal in all areas. The One M9 has more power, a sharper screen and a bigger battery, while the iPhone 6 almost certainly has a superior camera and a display with more natural colours, alongside eye-catching features like its Touch ID fingerprint scanner.
And we can't forget the age-old Android vs iOS debate... everyone has a vague idea of which is best, and the internet is a perfect forum to tell us just why.
In terms of working out which phone is for you, well, we urge you to head down to your local phone shop to hold them both before buying. HTC's charm is in its premium finish, the clear attention to premium materials and quality manufacture, where Apple has made a lighter and more toy-like device in comparison.
That's not a bad thing, but make sure you give yourself all the info you need before shelling out a large wedge of cash each month.
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GDC 2015: Valve is not secretly showing Portal 3 on the HTC Vive
Sorry folks, no ninja game releases from Valve have been released this GDC.
It's easy to mistake the HTC Vive demo for Portal 3 - after all, where else can you find those familiar robots?
But nope, it's just a demo cooked up by the talented Seattle staff called Aperture Science.
We attended a Valve panel called "Advanced VR Rendering" which showed off a soundless example demoing the technical aspects behind the VR graphics used to make the demo.
If you need more proof, Valve director of marketing Doug Lombardi told our friends at PC Gamer the same story.
So there you have it. No new games with "3" in the title, but maybe this demo is foreshadowing the future of Steam games? Or perhaps the company is too busy with its Steam Machines.
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iPad Pro release looking less likely for 2015
While we're sure the iPad Pro will arrive one day, when that day will come is looking less and less clear.
Sources in the know told Bloomberg that Apple is stalling production of the larger iPad until sometime in September. The 12.9-inch tablet was originally slated to begin rolling off the assembly line this quarter, but delays in the display panel supply chain forced a change of plans.
Starting production now would presumably have set Apple up nicely for its usual end-of-year iPad release push, but beginning production in September calls into question whether Cupertino can pull off a 2015 release. Even if the tablet did make it out before 2016, inventory may be a serious issue if the tablet proves popular.
iPad sales have sagged in recent quarters, and the introduction of larger iPhones with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus aren't helping the tablet's chances. The iPad Pro is likely going to be aimed at business users and will, Apple hopes, give its tablet arm the jolt it needs to catch up with the iPhone.
- Is the iPad Air 2 the best tablet available?
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GDC 2015: HTC's Vive won't be the only SteamVR headset
When HTC announced Vive, the virtual reality headset it built with Valve, we suspected that it wouldn't be the last manufacturer to announce a visor running the SteamVR platform.
We've been hearing mumblings from sources that more are being worked on from different manufacturers. Further to that, this week Bossa Studios, who have been developing on HTC's headset since last year, told us that while HTC is building the Lighthouse technology (that's Valve's room-tracking system) using Valve's patents, it's open for other people to make their own peripherals.
Valve also just confirmed as much to Engadget, saying that there are "more headsets to come."
"You should think of the Vive as the first in the same way there are multiple Steam Machines," said Valve head Gabe Newell. "We're building tools and hopefully they're valuable to hardware partners who want to do it. In some cases, we'll take the leadership role in shipping stuff. But we're really just building tools for other people to continue. So you'll see more headsets."
It's hardly a surprise when you consider Valve is a company that likes sharing its tools as widely as possible. Trust us when we say Vive is amazing, but we expect there will be plenty more SteamVR headsets to come soon.
This week we also got to see the final lineup of Steam Machines as well as Valve's finalised Steam Controller. The plan is to ship these in November and the HTC Vive around the same time. Will we see more Steam VR headsets then, too? Here's hoping.
- Hands on with the HTC Vive
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GDC 2015: This is the final Steam Controller
Valve's spoiled us at this year's GDC, with Steam Machines, HTC Vive and Source 2 getting us more than a little excited. The company also promised us a look at the final version of the Steam Controller, and while it wasn't flaunting itself on the show floor, we were invited behind closed doors to give the new pad a whirl.
This is meant to be the final version, although Valve hinted that there might be a couple of tiny tweaks made before now and launch.
But this is pretty much the real deal, and will ship alongside the Steam Machines in November.
As you can see, Valve has kept its haptic feedback pads intact, while a more traditional thumbstick remains on the left hand side, adjacent to the face buttons. Then you've got two shoulder buttons, two buttons and then two "paddle" buttons on the inside of each wing.
Valve's idea is that its controller emulates a mouse and keyboard. You'll use the right pad almost like a mouse track ball - it even feels like one as you scroll your thumb across it - but Valve wants you to customise the controller as you wish.
Those pads take a little bit of getting used to. The left one has a D-pad indent, which, again, you'll be able to map commands to.
The Steam Controller has been through a number of changes since it first showed up in 2013. We're not yet entirely convinced the haptic pads will be the viable mouse replacement we've been hoping for, but we're looking forward to being proven wrong when the controller lands later in the year.
- Source 2! Vive! Morpheus! All the other news from GDC 2015
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GDC 2015: These are the Steam Machines landing later this year
Steam Machines at GDC
We've been waiting for a long time now, but Steam Machines are finally beginning to appear.These living room PCs come from a variety of manufacturers, but they all share one thing: they use SteamOS to give gamers a streamlined way to play PC games on the big screen.
And at GDC 2015, Steam Machines are stealing all the headlines, from individual announcements to big plans from Valve itself.
The biggest news? That Steam Machines will start arriving this fall. Here are the ones we've seen and heard about so far this week.
Syber
Syber is a division of CyberPowerPC, one of the 13 Steam Machine partners Valve announced back in January 2014.At GDC 2015 this week they finally showed off what they have in store, including a half dozen different varieties of Steam Machine.
These include the Steam Machine-Mini, Steam Machine-Mercury and Steam Machine-Switch, all of which Syber is showing off at the show.
On the low end of the six is the $450 (about £290, AU$575) Syber Steam Machine-E, with a quad-core AMD processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics. The high end is occupied by the $1,400 (about £910, AU$1,780) Steam Machine-X, the orange beast pictured here.
Asus
Asus's interesting-looking Steam Machine first appeared last summer, but at the time the company said it wouldn't be fully ready until 2015.Well guess what year it is, and what Asus has been showing off at GDC 2015.
The slightly renamed Asus GR8S Steam Machine sports Intel i5 or i7 processors, GeForce 9-series graphics, between 4 and 6GB of DDR3 memory, and either 500GB-1TB of HDD space or 128GB-512GB of solid state storage.
It's launching at $700 (about £460, AU$900) and up.
iBuyPower
iBuyPower was really early to reveal its Steam Machine, showing off a concept all the way back in November 2013.At the time we noted that it would cost the same as an Xbox One - this was, obviously, before the Xbox One's price drops, since at the time it iBuyPower said its SBX Steam Machine would cost $500 (about £330, AU$640).
Zotac
Zotac announced a single Steam Machine at GDC: the ZOTAC SN970.It's an evolution of the ZBOX E-Series EN760 gaming PC, which the company points out already made a decent DIY Steam Machine for users who didn't mind installing SteamOS manually.
But for those who prefer the out-of-the-box experience, the SN970 Steam Machine will come with discrete NVIDIA GTX 970M graphics, a 6th-gen Intel chip and a Steam Controller this fall.
Maingear
Maingear skipped GDC and took its new Steam Machine, the simply named DRIFT, to PAX East, the Boston fan convention also taking place this week.The Maingear DRIFT packs an Intel Core i7-4790K CPU and a choice between NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 or AMD Radeon R9 290X graphics, plus up to 16GB of DDR memory and 2 1TB solid state drives or a single 6TB HDD.
It's also "whisper quiet," according to Maingear's announcement, and 4K gaming-capable - although the best part might be Maingear's "true automotive paint finish" that's apparently available in any color.
Some versions of the DRIFT are available now, but the SteamOS-equipped DRIFT Super Stock edition will launch in November.
Digital Storm
When Digital Storm launched its Eclipse gaming PC last year, it was another DIY Steam Machine, but now it's joined the official ranks.The Digital Storm Eclipse Steam Machine shown off at GDC has an Intel Pentium G3220 processor, Nvidia GTX 960 2GB graphics, 8GB of DDR3 memory, and a 1TB HDD.
It's launching in the fall for $700 (about £460, AU$890).
Materiel.net
French retailer Materiel.net revealed its own Fractal Design-housed Steam Machine first during CES in January, and it showed it off again at GDC this week.The Materiel Steam Machine i working with an Intel Core i5 4440 chip, Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 OC graphics and a 1TB SSHD.
It's launching at $899 (about £590, AU$1,150).
Scan Computers
Scan Computers' 3XS ST Steam Machine can come in a few different loadouts, with an Intel Core i3 or i5 CPU, Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti, 960 or 970 graphics, and between 8 and 16 GB of DDR3 memory.It also comes with a minimum of 120GB of SSD space, though you'll be able to opt for more - and it's unclear what the upper limit will be.
Scan Computers' Steam Machine will run between $1,000 (about £650, AU$1,280) and $1,300 (about £850, AU$1,660).
Webhallen
Another Steam Machine that was revealed first at CES, Webhallen's Steam OS-running S15-01 comes with an Intel Core i5-4460, Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 graphics, 8GB of DDR3 memory, and a 1TB SSHD.If these are all starting to sound the same to you, that's because they are very, very similar to one another.
Then again, a year ago we didn't even know what a Steam Machine was, so it could definitely be worse.
The Webhallen S15-01 will launch at $950 (about £620, AU$1,200).
Gigabyte
With an Intel Iris Pro 5200 GPU instead of the Nvidia or AMD graphics most of its competitors are rocking, the Gigabyte BRIX Pro Steam Machine stands a little bit apart.The practical difference is that it's on the low end of the price spectrum at $600 (about £390, AU$770).
The BRIX also rocks an Intel Core i7 chip, two SO-DIMM DDR3L memory slots, and a 2.5-inch hard drive of your choice.
Falcon Northwest
The FalconNW Tiki Steam Machine takes the cake easily as the most expensive Steam Machine we know of.It starts - starts - at $2,000 (about £1,300, AU$2,550), and the highest-end version costs a full $5,000 (about £3,275, AU$6,390).
For that you get an Intel Core i7-4790K, multiple options from Nvidia's GeForce 900 series including Titan and Titan-Z class GPUs, up to 16GB of DDR3 memory, and up to 8TB of solid state/HDD drive space.
Seems like $5K might be a lot to spend for that, but that's why there will be plenty of options come this fall.
Now it's just $460 (about £300, AU$590), though, with an AMD processor and Radeon R7 graphics, 4 to 8GB of memory and between 500GB and 1TB of HDD space.
That puts it on the low end, but when the high end is as expensive as Falcon Northwest's machine (above) or Origin's (below), that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Alienware
Don't call it the Alpha - the Alienware Steam Machine the company is showing off at GDC looks similar, but lacks the Alpha branding.It's full-fledged, people!
Starting at $480 (about £315, AU$610), the new Alienware Steam Machine will launch with an Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX GPU, 4 to 8GB of DDR3 memory, and between 500GB and 2TB of storage.
Origin
Origin, too, is showing off a Steam Machine at GDC, although this isn't one that we'd heard about until very recently.The high performance PC maker said in February that it would support SteamOS on an Omega PC when the operating system launches, and at the show this week it showed it's willing to follow through on that.
The Origin Omega Steam Machine starts at $900 (about £590, AU$1,150) and goes up to $5,000 (about £3,275, AU$6,390) - and beyond, according to Origin.
For that money you get an Intel chip up to i7 4770k, up to 3-way Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 graphics, up to 32GB of memory, and up to 14TB of storage.
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GDC 2015: Soon, all wireless Xbox accessories will work with Windows 10
Microsoft wants you to know it's very serious about this "oneness" thing it's doing, even down to the accessories you use to game.
The Redmond firm revealed during GDC 2015 that all wireless Xbox gaming accessories will be designed for and supported on Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs from now on. Not only does this save users some bank, it creates a continuous experience, whether playing on a console or PC.
A wireless adapter for the Xbox One controller to work with Windows PCs is due out later this year, too.
There's more good news headed to users' way as ID@Xbox, Microsoft's self-publishing game arm, will now let developers create for all Windows 10 devices. Yes, that includes HoloLens.
An Xbox Live SDK for Windows 10 has hit select developers (Microsoft plans to broaden that corps at some point), meaning the vast majority Xbox Live's services are headed to a Windows 10 machine near you. And with its universal apps push, more content will be available across Microsoft's device platforms.
- PS4 vs Xbox One - which is better?
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'HBO Now' streaming service launch date and pricing revealed?
HBO has been silent regarding its highly anticipated standalone streaming service ever since first announcing it, but new details may have finally broken today.
The HBO streaming service will be called "HBO Now," and it will launch in April for $15 (about £10, AU$20) per month, according to the International Business Times.
this report also reinforces earlier rumors - and common sense - that HBO will launch the service to coincide with the premiere of the new Game of Thrones season.
The only reason HBO might hesitate is to avoid a messy launch caused by a massive surge of Thrones viewers - the same crowd that breaks HBO Go during premieres and finales every year.
Interestingly HBO Now might launch on Apple TV, likely among other platforms, with a standalone app that probably won't look too different from HBO Go.
- The Roku Streaming Stick is a decent Chromecast alternative
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Paperspace gives you access to a better personal computer in the cloud
Rather than buy a new PC today that may become obsolete or underpowered for your needs in a few years, Paperspace is an inexpensive zero-client device that gives you access to a powerful computer. Paperspace lives in the cloud instead of physically on your desk, and all you need to access this new cloud-based computer is a web browser and internet access.
The idea is not dissimilar to enterprise virtualization solutions such as those offered by Citrix and VMWare, but Paperspace is targeting consumers, small businesses and enterprises.
Where Paperpace shines is its simplicity. The solution doesn't require much technical knowledge, and consumers can plug a small Paperweight receiver with a microprocessor to a display, attach a keyboard and mouse, and connect to their Paperspace PC over the internet.
Paperspace frees up your desk
If you haven't invested in a powerful workstation yet, you can buy a Paperweight, which is a puck-sized receiver. Your Paperweight will connect you to the Paperspace cloud PC. All you need to do now is attach your keyboard, mouse and display.
If you have an existing computer, all you really need to access your new cloud-based Windows or Linux PC on Paperspace's servers is a web browser.
The Paperspace cloud computer is like a regular computer. You can access all your files, documents and applications from any internet-connected terminal. When you travel, your whole Paperspace PC comes with you, so you don't need to manage files or make sure that your work laptop has the proper apps and licenses installed for the programs you need that are on your desktop.
For consumers and small businesses, the idea of Paperspace is similar to Chrome OS. While Google allows users to run Chrome apps from either the Chrome browser on an existing system, or from a Chromebook or Chromebox, Paperspace lets you run your favorite Windows or Linux programs from a browser or from Paperweight. The difference is that Paperspace gives you access to powerful programs for 3D rendering and photo editing, the full power of Windows and Linux, and powerful processing and graphics power.
Simplifying collaboration
As everything lives in the cloud, Paperspace makes sharing and collaborating easier. Sharing is instantaneous since all your files are already in the cloud, so you won't need to worry about uploading.Paperspace runs Windows or Linux so you can install all your favorite programs. You can install processor- and graphics-taxing programs like 3D CAD, simulations and photo and video editing software.
For enterprise users, Paperspace promises predictable costs, access to shared drives, security features and encryption, and 24/7 monitoring in case things break down. There is even a control panel for administrators to easily manage multiple systems.
If you work in multiple offices, Paperspace could eliminate the need to carry around a heavy laptop. You can log into your Paperspace PC from any office terminal and have access to your same desktop, files and documents. You won't have to worry about transferring files, copying presentations to flash drives to take with you, or synchronizing the latest version of your sales proposals.
Pricing
Right now Paperweight, the hardware puck that gives you access to Paperspace, is available for pre-order for $50 (£35, AU$65).Paperspace's cloud-based PC access starts at $10 (£7, AU$15) per month, with different tiers based on the performance you need. Users can choose from a Windows 7, Windows 8 or Ubuntu configuration, and Paperspace intends on offering other OSes in the future, including Mac OS X.
You can visit the Paperspace site for more information on Paperweight.
- Follow the latest news on Windows 10
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GDC 2015: Xbox One is bringing games to HoloLens
Today at GDC 2015, Microsoft pledged the future of HoloLens to gaming as it confirmed that it will be bringing games to the headset through Xbox One.
"Gaming and entertainment is going to be critical" for HoloLens, said Xbox boss Phil Spencer. Microsoft considers HoloLens as a massive platform for games that will be built across Xbox One and Windows 10.
"We see this as a full Windows 10 device with holographic capability," added Spencer, who also mentioned that the HoloLens APIs will be made available with Windows 10 gaming SDK.
As far as what we'll end up seeing available on HoloLens through the Xbox One, it's anyone's guess. However, Spencer did make it clear that some hefty first-party muscle is behind the initiative. It's very possible that we could see the likes of Master Chief through the AR headset in the future.
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GDC 2015: Expect Gear VR 2 to launch at the end of the year
During an Oculus panel at GDC, John Carmack revealed we can expect the Galaxy Gear VR at the end of this year, during Samsung's next release cycle. There aren't specific dates attached to his announcement but he seems determined to stick to the schedule.
"We've got a plan now, we've got a date, you can mark this in the calendars," Carmack said. "Oculus is going forward as hard as we can, trying to sell as many units as possible with the next Gear VR."
Carmack said that he couldn't discuss all the details but because Samsung typically launches two big products a year, the next big launch will take place around the holidays. This falls into line with Samsung's recent unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S6 during the MWC 2015 phones rodeo in Spain.
The next VR headset will apparently be much better than the current iteration of Gear VR and see a wider release complete with all the "Samsung [marketing] blitz."
Gear VR versus Gear VR
Carmack also spent time comparing the Innovator's Edition of the current Gear VR with the newest Galaxy Gear VR model which uses the freshly announced Galaxy S6 instead of the Note 4.System software like notifications have changed because, "notifications have destroyed the experience on the Note 4."
There won't be radical changes made to the S6 Gear VR, but the newer phone is definitely more powerful than the Note 4 so we can expect a better experience.
- Keep up with the rest of our GDC 2015 coverage
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GDC 2015: John Carmack answers 'why mobile VR' during GDC
During the Oculus panel "The Dawn of Mobile VR," Oculus CTO John Carmack decided to answer a popular question he's received: "Why mobile VR?"
Despite the lack of content on virtual reality devices, mobile VR has him the most excited about the future of VR.
Carmack says this is especially true after Gear VR turned out better than everyone expected, even surprising the internal Oculus team.
He took it one step further and stated, "Virtual reality is bigger than gaming." Visions of grandeur aren't typically his thing, but he adds that he, "honestly sees a world with a billion people using virtual reality."
What about AR?
Despite being firmly in the virtual reality camp, Carmack is still a fan of augmented reality.He says, "In the long run, augmented reality is going to be something ... absolutely everyone in the world will want it ... in its final form," but then adds, "it's still a long ways from that."
Carmack brought up how he's excited about a lot of the technology surrounding augmented reality, like HoloLens and using a collective we likely including the Oculus team, wished them luck noting "it's not a competitive position."
Devs will be able to make AR apps for VR but issues like how there isn't a wide field of view and how it's not immersive "by intention" will generally prevent crossover between the two areas.
In the end, the novelty behind AR will remain secondary to Carmack and co., where he says, "immersive virtual reality is what we do first."
- See what else is happening at GDC 2015!
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GDC 2015: Nvidia announces Titan X, the 'most advanced GPU' ever built
Nvidia decided an Unreal presentation at GDC 2015 was the perfect place to announce its new Titan X graphics card, what it calls the world's most advanced GPU ever.
Nvidia CEO Jen-Husn Huang took to the stage to announce the new card, which packs in 12 GB of RAM and 8 billion transistors.
Nvidia will reveal more at its GTC event in a couple of weeks time, but Huang said the Titan X will be available soon. Watch this space.
- Everything else going down at GDC 2015
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MWC 2015: Motorola: 'Fingerprint scanning isn't ready for prime time'
Fingerprint scanners in smartphones are starting to gain traction with Apple, Huawei, HTC and Samsung just a few of the big names implementing the technology in their handsets. But not Motorola.
TechRadar sat down with Motorola's President Rick Osterloh at MWC 2015, where he explained the reasons why his company's devices are currently void of the digit reading tech.
"Fingerprint scanners are not ready for prime time," Osterloh said in response to a question about the technology for smartphones.
His reasoning is two fold, firstly Osterloh claims that most of the time you can enter a pin at almost the same speed as having your finger scanned.
Secondly, he highlights the high error rate of some scanners, forcing people to have more than one attempt and wasting more time trying to unlock their phone.
He concluded that the process isn't at a point where it provides a genuine advantage for users, although many will argue the opposite.
Just plain wrong
Osterloh also fired shots at rival smartphone manufacturers, stating "people increase prices for things which are pretty incremental, and I think that's wrong."No names were mentioned, but it's clear the statement was directed at some of the biggest brands in the mobile market.
For now then we're unlikely to see biometrics in Motorola handsets this year, and the likelihood is the firm will continue to drive its value propositions in its E, G and X ranges.
- Check out the rest of our MWC 2015 coverage
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MWC 2015: HTC Vive Edges Samsung to win MWC Best in Show
It's always tricky choosing the winners at a show like MWC, as there's always a glut of immensely beautiful, powerful and innovative phones to check out.
It certainly wasn't any easier this year, as improved design from Samsung, more power from HTC and a couple of new polished smartwatches from LG showed the big players were still really active at the year's biggest phone launchpad.
On top of that there was some cool stuff from Nokia, loads of new virtual reality headsets and a bundle of new fitness gadgets to check out. In short, a busy, sleepless time for the intrepid bunch of TR journalists trekking around the Barcelona halls, but some great contenders for the TechRadar Phone Awards 2015.
Best Wearable
The contenders:
Winner: HTC Vive
What the judges said: "While it was great to see loads more wearables than just smartwatches at the show this year, they still made a big splash with improved design and specs. However, the sheer awesomeness of the HTC Vive makes it a clear winner for this category."Best Smartwatch
The contenders:- Huawei Watch
- LG Watch Urbane
- Pebble Time Steel
- Pebble Time
- LG Watch Urbane LTE
Winner: Pebble Time Steel
Highly commended: LG Watch UrbaneWhat the judges said: "It's tough to separate the smartwatches, as many of those in this nascent category are rather similar. However, the Pebble Time Steel's improved design, great battery life and more open compatibility saw it edge ahead of the LG Watch Urbane, which came close thanks to a beautiful new frame for Android Wear."
Best Tablet
The contenders:
Winner: Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
Highly commended: Nokia N1What the judges said: "The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet was the clear winner here, providing a credible threat to the iPad Air 2 thanks to a big upgrade in weight, power and screen resolution – plus a nifty 'laptop mode' too. That said, the Nokia N1 was a dark horse in this category (backed up by Deputy Editor John McCann's piece proclaiming it to be his favourite tablet) combining Android with Apple-worthy design.
Best phone
The contenders:- Samsung Galaxy S6
- HTC One M9
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
- Lumia 640XL
- Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
- Meizu MX4 (Ubuntu)
- BlackBerry Leap
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Highly commended: HTC One M9, Sony Xperia M4 AquaWhat the judges said: "The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge was an easy winner in this category, offering the best fusion of design, specs and performance the South Korean brand has ever managed, and Editor Gareth Beavis describing it as a 'Spacephone', such were its futuristic leanings.
However, the One M9 impressed with its raw power and refined style, and the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua manages to masquerade well as a flagship-looking phone with a mid-tier price.
People's Choice
The contenders:- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
- HTC One M9
- HTC Vive
- HTC Grip
- Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Highly Commended: HTC One M9What the judges said: "The public was pretty clear in what it liked the look of here at MWC: the Samsung Galaxy Edge, with barely any love for the regular version. However, the HTC One M9 also picked up a lot of interest, with the iterative design change still proving enough to attract many.
Best in show
The contenders:- HTC Vive
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
- Pebble Time Steel
- Nokia N1
- HTC One M9
- Sony Xperia Tablet Z4
- LG Watch Urbane
- Ikea Wireless charging furniture
- Qualcom Snapdragon Sense ID
- HP Spectre
Winner: HTC Vive
Highly commended: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, Qualcomm Sense ID, Ikea wireless charging furnitureWhat the judges said: "The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge should have had a simple run to a hat trick of titles, but the sheer impressiveness of HTC and Valve's VR partnership meant a phone wasn't the most exciting thing at the show this year.
"It has to be experienced to be truly believed, but the 3D movement in space – combined with improved clarity and interactivity – means the HTC Vive has pushed VR onto the next level.
"Qualcomm's Sense ID deserves plaudits for its ability to make fingerprint scanning more accurate and easy to use, and Ikea's plan to Trojan Horse wireless charging into homes bodes well for the futuristic phone charging method."
- Read more of our MWC 2015 coverage.
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Hands-on review: Nvidia Shield
If the Nvidia Shield already sounds like a familiar name, that's because it is. Nvidia has used the Shield moniker across a couple of its other products - Shield Portable, Shield Tablet - but the Shield, revealed this week at GDC 2015, is the missing piece of the puzzle.
An Android TV and high-end gaming console in one, Nvidia Shield is a set-top box box that wants to be the hub of your living room.
This is a product that's been five years in the making, according to Nvidia, and from what I've seen so far the company has every right to feel proud of what it's achieved. This isn't just taking on the likes of Apple TV, it's also gunning for your big living room console.
Design and hardware
For all that it does, the Shield remains pleasingly thin with an interesting angular design and - of course - a green V-shaped light that glows when the device is switched on.It's quite long, but the box can be stood upright if that TV cabinet is looking crowded enough already. However, we doubt Nvidia's design will prove too intrusive.
I'm also rather fond of the varying matte and gloss panels Nvidia has built this thing with - it's certainly a lot quirkier than the likes of Amazon Fire TV.
The size is especially impressive when you consider what's inside: a Tegra X1 processor with 256-core Maxwell GPU, 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, which can be boosted up via MicroSD.
As for ports, you've got two USBs, ethernet, HDMI 2.2, a power port and one micro-USB. Nvidia also confirmed that the Shield supports both Dolby 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound output.
Content and streaming
So how does it work as a streaming device? Pretty damn well so far. You'll have to wait for our full review until we can really give into the guts of this thing, but first impressions were good.In terms of TV content, those of you who have used Android TV before will be familiar with what's on offer here. You've got a range of apps and content to browse through, which can be done a bit faster using the device's voice search that comes built into both the bundled gamepad and the remote.
But more importantly, the gaming - so far - works great too, and is where the Shield outdoes rivals like Apple TV and Amazon's Fire TV. Nvidia is opening up its Grid streaming platform to Shield come the May launch, letting you beam 1080p 60fps games to your living room for a (as yet unconfirmed) subscription fee. Obviously the quality of streaming is going to depend on if your home connection is up to scratch.
My hands on time so far has been brief, but both locally stored and streamed games ran smoothly. Doom 3 has been touched up for Android and ran impeccably (and quite beautifully) during my time playing it from local storage.
Doom 3 has been ported to Android for launch, and Nvidia will be bringing a number of other AAA titles to its console, such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel to Shield, for launch day. It will be interesting to see how more meaty games stream over the Grid.
What I've seen so far, however, ran with little sign of any lag, but I'll need to test this in my own home before I know just how well the service holds up under varying connection speeds. Nvidia was particularly proud to announce that, yes, Shield can play Crysis 3 - a game that has become somewhat of a barometer for game machine power.
Nvidia told us that you'll also get a Steam code of any game bought on the Shield Store, which is an excellent added bonus. Oh, and speaking of the Shield Store, Nvidia plans to have just over 50 games available on it for launch day, promising to have more than 100 by the end of the year.
With games like Batman: Arkham Knight and Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes already on the lineup of available titles, it's clear that Nvidia wants the shield to be a high-end console that can compete with the likes of the PS4 and Xbox One.
The upper hand it has is price - just $199 (around £130, AU$255, but global prices are yet to be announced).
Early verdict
So far the Shield looks great and plays great, and combined with Nvidia's Grid service this could turn out to be a really big core product for the company. I look forward to putting one properly through its paces to see if my first impressions of the device are spot on. So far, Nvidia has every right to feel proud of its work over the past five years.
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Hands-on review: MWC 2015: Honor 4X
The Honor 4X will be landing in Europe sometime between April and June this year with a strong spec list and attractive price tag.
It's a tier below the Chinese firm's Honor 6 and 6 Plus smartphones, yet the 4X still sports a large 5.5-inch display.
The resolution isn't full HD, rather it's 720p, but Honor has crammed in an octa-core processor and 2GB of RAM into the handset's plastic body.
Basically you're getting a phablet sized screen and a load of power for not very much money. It's just £149.99 (around $230, AU$290) in fact. So far, so good then.
Honor has managed to keep the bezels round the screen to a minimum, making the 4X slightly easier to hold but there's no getting away from its phablet proportions.
I was able to hold it in one hand, and I could easily access the physical buttons on the right side of the device - although some in-hand shuffling was required to get to certain areas of the display.
The display is actually rather nice, even though it's a 720p resolution stretched across 5.5 inches, with strong viewing angles and some decent colour.
The all plastic body feels solid, and the textured rear cover provides an extra bit of grip while also looking quite nice. At 170g it risks being too heavy, but I actually found it surprisingly lightweight.
You'll find the Android navigation keys below the display, and while Honor as used the symbols found in Lollipop the 4X is actually running KitKat.
Honor has confirmed that the Android Lollipop update will land on the phone this summer, so at least it will all make a bit more sense in a few months.
It's not stock Android on the Honor 4X, as it also sports parent company Huawei's questionable Emotion UI 3.0.
I'm not a huge fan of the interface, with childish icons and an inconsistent theme, but it's not the worst I've used and it is at least simpler for first time users with the removal of the app tray.
As I've already mentioned there's plenty of power inside the Honor 4X and while the interface is relatively smooth it's not as slick as I was expecting.
Apps sometimes took a couple of seconds to load, and the camera application was a little sticky with a slow shutter key.
The Honor 4X is capable of capturing some nice shots as it's been equipped with a 13MP rear facing camera - and decent feature for such a low cost device. Up front a 5MP camera will have you snapping selfies by the second.
Honor is promising two days battery life with moderate use from the sizable 3000mAh power pack inside the 4X.
I'd be surprised if real world usage did see it stretch to 48 hours, but hopefully it'll offering better life than many of its peers.
As with all of Honor's devices apart from the 6 Plus, the 4X will only be available online, so you won't be able to pop into a store and try before you buy.
Early verdict
Phablets appeal to a smaller audience than your standard size smartphones, so the Honor 4X certainly won't be for everyone.What it offers is a big screen and a decent amount of power for a low price, and it manages to pull it off pretty well. It may struggle to sell being online only, but it's another promising effort from the breakaway brand.
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