The GTA 5 Rockstar Editor will turn Los Santos into a filmmakers playground
Grand Theft Auto 5 has finally landed on PC. And while we know that the wait was worth it for its glorious 4K resolutions, amazing suite of customisation options, and impressive framerates, perhaps one of the more interesting features is the arrival of the PC-exclusive Rockstar Editor.
To celebrate the arrival of the video making suite, Rockstar has put together this video of what is possible with the new in-game video editing tool.
While it glosses over the many, many intricate possibilities of the video editor, it does showcase some of the incredible options on offer for turning Los Santos into a virtual film studio.
Running, Man
As an indication of the power of the video editor, our friends over at PC Gamer have shown us the first video made using it.Created for Rockstar by gaming channel 8-bit Bastard, the short film – titled "Running, Man" – is noticeably short on narrative or features, but cleverly showcases the strength of the Los Santos sandbox and the powerful features of the Rockstar Editor.
Undoubtedly it will only take hours for YouTube to explode with amazingly crafted films following the game's PC launch, but as an indicator of the strength of the tools on offer, this one is pretty good.
- Find out why GTA 5 on PC was worth the wait
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Hands-on review: Sony WX500
Like the Sony HX90 and Sony HX90V announced at the same time, the Sony WX500 is a 'travel compact' camera aimed at people who want a relatively small, light camera with a large lens zoom range. In fact the WX500 shares much of the specification of the HX90, which means that it has a Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* f/3.5-6.4 lens with an optical focal length range equivalent to 24-720mm. That's an incredibly versatile range that could make many photographers with interchangeable lens cameras extremely envious, especially as the WX500 has 5-axis image stabilization too.
Part of the reason that this huge zoom is possible, of course, is that the WX500 has a sensor that is quite a bit smaller than the average device inside an interchangeable lens camera. Nevertheless, the 18.2-million effective pixel 1/2.3-inch type Exmor R CMOS sensor inside the WX500 has a pretty good track record because it's the same one found inside the popular Sony HX60 (as well as the new HX90). Our tests found that the HX60 is capable of producing high quality images that look great at normal viewing sizes. At 100%, however, the level of smoothing to hide noise made the image look less attractive, but Sony has adjusted the processing that is applied by the Bionz X engine in the WX500 and HX900 to retain more detail. This is likely to mean that you'll see more noise in images at 100%, but it shouldn't be a huge problem. We'll know more when we get a full production sample in for testing.
As a more affordable version of the HX90, there are naturally going be a few compromises with the WX500. The most significant is that it doesn't have the pop-up viewfinder. When you're shooting indoors or in low-light this is unlikely to be a major issue, but in the bright sunny conditions that we all hope to experience during the vacations that the WX500 is designed to be taken on, it can make composing images tricky. That said, the screen on the pre-production WX500 that I tried shortly before the camera was announced seemed very good, but I've yet to use it in the type of conditions that cause reflections.
Like the HX90, the WX500 is designed to meet the requirements of novice photographers and offers a collection of automatic shooting options, but there are also exposure modes to suit more experienced photographers: shutter priority, aperture priority and manual. Like the HX90, though, stills can only be recorded in JPEG format as there's no raw format shooting option. Videos, however, can be shot in Full-HD at 8 bit and 4:2:0 at up to 50Mbps in AVCHS, MP4 or the new XAVC S format at 50/60p.
Build and handling
The WX500 could slip in unnoticed amongst Sony's more advanced RX100-series of high-end compacts, although of course it doesn't have the pop-up viewfinder of the RX100 III. It also lacks the small grip that graces the front of the HX90 and the control ring around the lens. Some may not miss these two refinements, but the grip makes the HX90 feel just a little more secure in your hand and the lens-ring provides a quick and convenient means of changing exposure.Nevertheless, the WX500 is a very smart, tidy camera and thanks to its mode dial it's easy to switch between shooting modes. It also feels well made and all the controls are within easy reach.
Further good news is that the 3-inch screen tilts up through 180 degrees to make shooting selfies easier. This is also handy when you're shooting from especially high or low angles.
Performance
As yet we haven't been able to examine any images that we've shot with the WX500. However, I'm reasonably confident that it will produce decent images, at least at normal viewing sizes. I'm looking forward to checking a few at 100% to see exactly how much detail and noise is visible as a result of the new processing regime that Sony has employed.In my brief time with a pre-production sample of the WX500, I was able to ascertain that its autofocus system is pretty snappy even in quite low light and that it does a decent job of handling colours in a fairly well-lit meeting room. Naturally, we'll use a production sample in a much wider range of conditions to test this more fully as soon as one becomes available.
Early verdict
While the WX500 is an attractive camera with a solid specification, it goes on sale for £280 (about US$410/AU$540), only £50/US$73/AU$95 less than the HX90, which brings all the same features plus an electronic viewfinder. This should make it much easier to shoot photographs in the type of conditions that the WX500 is designed to be used – bright sunlight. Consequently, provided that the HX90 fares well in our full test, I'd recommend saving for a little longer to buy the HX90 if you can.
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Hands-on review: Sony HX90/HX90V
Introduction and features
Travel-zoom compact cameras are now an extremely important segment of the camera market with cameras like the Panasonic TZ70 and TZ57 proving popular with people who want a small, highly portable camera with a huge zoom range and plenty of control.Sony has also fared pretty well in this area with the likes of the HX60, but it is clearly looking to steal Panasonic's crown with the new Sony HX90 (and HX90V, which has GPS technology).
For many, the most significant difference between the HX90 and the HX60 will be the addition of an electronic viewfinder. This is a similar OLED Tru-finder to the one found in Sony's RX100 III high-end compact camera and it collapses into the camera body to maintain the small size and clean lines of the camera during transport. The new finder, however, has a slightly wider viewing angle (23.8 degrees) than the older model and rubber seal to keep out dust.
While the HX90 has a 30x zoom like the HX60, it's been upgraded from a G-lens to a Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* f/3.5-6.4 optic with an optical focal length range equivalent to 24-720mm. Sony has managed to reduce the size of the lens in comparison with the HX60's by about 30%. It achieved this by using an Advanced Aspherical (AA) lens and using a sliding shaft rather than gears to move the fifth lens (to keep the image plane flat) and thus allow the other groups to be used to obtain the correct focal length.
The HX90 has the same 1/2.3-inch type Exmor R CMOS sensor with 18.2-million effective pixels as the HX60. As before, Sony has coupled this sensor with its Bionz X processing engine, which uses both area-specific noise reduction and diffraction reducing technologyto help produce sharper, more detailed images.
This processor also enables the HX90 to record Full-HD 8 bit 4:2:0 video footage at up to 50Mbps in AVCHS, MP4 or the new XAVC S format at 50/60p.
Like the HX60, the HX90 has Sony's SteadyShot system, but the stabilization has been extended from 3-axis to 5-axis, which should mean blur is avoided in a wider range of situations – and this stabilization operates for stills and video recording.
Other differences from the HX60 include the addition of Expand Flexible Spot AF to help with focus tracking (the system uses a larger spot to track the subject if it is momentarily lost), the ability to adjust the speed to lens zooming and the ability to bracket exposures when using self-timer mode.
Sony produces two versions of the HX90, the CyberShot HX90 and the CyberShot HX90V. The only difference between the two models is that the V-version has GPS technology inside whereas the HX90 doesn't. Both versions have Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity built-in and are compatible with some of the apps available via Sony's PlayMemories scheme.
Build and handling
Sony has designed the HX90 along the same lines as its popular RX100-series of compacts and the new camera looks similar to the RX100 III. It's also about the same size and Sony claims that the HX90 is the world's smallest 30x zoom compact camera with a viewfinder.Unlike the RX100 III, the front of the HX90 has a slim, triangular grip on the front which makes the camera feel a little more secure in your hand.
Helpfully, the camera can be powered-up by releasing the electronic viewfinder (EVF). The main EVF unit pops-up smartly enough when the dedicate control is used but, as with the RX100 III's finder, the rear element needs to be extended manually, which seems rather unsophisticated. If the rear element isn't pulled into place the image looks very blurred.
One of the benefits of Sony's OLED Tru-finder design is that the three constituent colours (red, green and blue) are shown at the same time, so you don't see the colours break to give the rainbow effect that can trouble viewfinders that show the colours in a sequence – for example in the Panasonic TZ70.
On the back of the camera is a 3-inch 921,000-dot screen which can be tilted through 180 degrees for shooting selfies. When the screen is tilted up, the camera automatically switches to Face Detection mode and a countdown starts once the shutter release is depressed to give you time to get your smile right.
The screen can only be tilted up fully if the EVF rear element is pushed back into the main housing. It also makes sense to push the finder back inside the camera body so that it doesn't obscure part of the screen.
Unlike the Panasonic TZ70, which has a 16:9 screen, the HX90's screen is a 4:3 unit, which fills most of the back of the camera, and this means that standard 4:3 full-resolution images are shown larger because they match the screen's aspect ratio.
Like the RX100 III, there's a control ring around the lens which, in the default set-up, is used to select shutter speed in shutter priority mode and aperture in aperture priority mode. However, its use can be customised and there are a variety of possible uses, including focal length adjustment.
There's also a customisable Function menu, which is accessed by pressing the Fn button on the back of the camera. This provides a quick route to your most commonly used features.
Performance and verdict
As it has the same sensor and processing engine as the HX60 we might expect the HX90 produce similar quality images. However, Sony has used a higher quality lens which should improve detail resolution. Also, in response to criticism that the HX60 applied too much noise smoothing, especially at high sensitivity values, the manufacturer has adjusted the image processing to allow a little more noise to be visible so that detail is better preserved. It will be very interesting to see the impact of these changes when we get a full production sample in for testing.We found that the HX60 produces images that generally look great when they are examined at normal viewing sizes, but they looked rather off-putting at 100%. It seems likely that the HX90 will go some way to correcting this and perhaps widen its appeal.
I've only been able to use a pre-production sample of the HX90 indoors, but its autofocus system seemed fast even in quite dim light and its selfie system worked a treat.
Early verdict
On paper and in looks the Sony HX90 appears to be a really good competitor for the highly rated Panasonic TZ70. The lens zoom range is wide, but not excessive, making the camera pretty versatile, yet the camera is small and neat enough to be slipped into a jacket pocket. It's heartening that Sony has taken on board the criticisms that were made about the HX60's image quality and I'm looking forward to seeing what the HX90 is capable of.As the HX90 is aimed at holidaymakers and travellers who are likely to want to shoot in bright conditions, the presence of a viewfinder is a major bonus. The only real disappointment is that there's no raw file recording.
The HX90 will go on sale at £330 (about US$484/AU$620), while the GPS-enabled HX90V will cost £340 (about US$500/AU$660).
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Old Windows security flaw resurfaces to steal your login
Security firm Cylance uncovered a security flaw that leaves any device running Windows 8.1 or earlier vulnerable. The Windows vulnerability exposes the user's Windows username and password automatically when a user clicks on a malicious link or URL.
Dubbed "Redirect to SMB," the vulnerability is a variant of a flaw discovered by researcher Aaron Spangler in 1997. Cyclance claims that the flaw was never patched by Microsoft, and the new hack targets the SMB file sharing protocol.
When a victim enters a URL that starts with 'file://' or clicks on a malicious link, Windows is tricked into believing that the user is trying to access a file on a server. Because of this flaw, Windows will try to authenticate itself on the server, revealing the user's login credentials.
Although the username is exposed, the password is encrypted. However, Cyclance claims that any hacker with a high-end GPU can decode the encryption. Cracking an eight-character password can be done in less than half a day.
Microsoft's response
Microsoft officials are downplaying the seriousness of the threat, stating that multiple things have to happen to create the perfect storm."We don't agree with Cylance's claims of a new attack type. Cybercriminals continue to be engaged in a number of nefarious tactics," a Microsoft spokesperson told CNET. "However, several factors would need to come together for this type of cyberattack to work, such as success in luring a person to enter information into a fake website. We encourage people to avoid opening links in emails from senders that they don't recognize or visiting unsecure sites."
Microsoft has not stated if or when a patch would arrive.
Cyclance claims that 31 programs are susceptible to the SMB flaw, including commonly used software like the preloaded Internet Explorer browser as well as Microsoft Excel 2010, Adobe Acrobat Reader and even Symantec's Norton Security Scan.
- Read our Windows 10 review
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Worn Out: What I learned about the Microsoft Band and Moto 360 during laser tag
Who says wearables can't be fun?
When wearables first showed up to the tech party, I thought they'd be gone within six months, a passing fad to be forever forgotten in the land of an industry infamous for vaporware.Boy, was I wrong. Android Wear is still alive and kicking, working hard at perfecting its operating system for the army of smartwatches that support it, like the Moto 360 and LG G Watch R. With the Apple Watch almost here and many other companies like Fitbit and Jawbone already on third and fourth generation fitness trackers, wearables aren't going away anytime soon.
I've also used enough smartwatches and fitness trackers to see they are slowly but surely getting better. Still, after reviewing a bunch of wrist-ware, I feel like I haven't given you, dear reader, a chance to see what it's like to actually use one "in real life." In fact, I think there are still a lot of unanswered questions about this very thing.
For example, how sweaty will my wrist get after a five-hour hike? Does a wearable get super dirty while camping? What's my heart rate like after a roller coaster ride? How many steps would it take to walk across San Francisco in one day? How handy are notifications while adventuring in the great outdoors? Can I even get notifications in the middle of the woods? I think you get the idea.
That's why every two weeks for the next two months, whether it's hiking, rock climbing, camping, kayaking or full-day city excursions or trips to amusement parks, I'll chronicle my experience with a smartwatch and fitness tracker to see what it's really like being tethered to yet another gadget.
I also won't bore you with the metrics. Instead I'll focus on the experience as a whole, though I will throw in numbers if they are relevant and interesting. Ready? Let's go!
Wearables, meet laser tag
I decided on laser tag with the Microsoft Band and Moto 360 for my first wearable IRL experience. I know, it's not exactly the great outdoors I mentioned above, but there's plenty of physical exertion involved, especially for someone as out of shape as myself.A Microsoft Band and Moto 360 on each wrist seems silly but they were actually a good combo since neither can be used during water activities.
My day-to-day handset is an iPhone 5S, which can pair up to the Microsoft Band without issue. They're practically best friends at this point with the amount of testing I've done on the fitness tracker. The Moto 360, however, was a different story.
I realized I'd have to pack along my massive, not-pocket-friendly Samsung Galaxy Note 4 just for the 360. You see, the Moto 360 only works with Android devices like the Note 4, Galaxy S5, Nexus 6 and so forth.
This was already annoying since I would be running around shooting fools up and didn't want to be hampered by two phones. I brought along both the Note 4 and Moto 360 but ended up leaving both of them behind, opting for mobility rather than worrying about a giant phone falling out of my pocket in a dark room with lots of people running around.
With one wearable out for the count, I thought my experiment had failed before it even began. It wasn't really the Moto 360's fault: cross-platform compatibility would be nice, but the real problem for me is how some phones are like tablets in my small hands.
Still, the Moto 360 was already losing a war before the first shot was fired, and this time it was its own fault. The drive from my house to the laser tag arena took about an hour and in that time, the smartwatch's battery depleted down to 80% and counting despite being fully charged in the morning. I also only paired it to the Note 4 via Bluetooth beforehand. Motorola claims the Moto 360 battery life lasts about two days with average usage, but it was far from that, I found out.
Fortunately, the Microsoft Band was still at maximum capacity and working with a reasonably sized phone that fit in my jeans.
Once inside the cramped, black-lit room, I realized there wouldn't be much running around - we also weren't allowed to run. Rather, most of it was spent hiding from blood thirsty children hunting me down.
I couldn't feel a single phone vibration moving corner to corner, but I saw plenty of (distracting, life ending) text messages on the Band. Despite the flashes of light - which weren't bright enough to attract would-be enemies - the alerts were actually useful since they were texts from friends telling me they couldn't make it to laser tag.
I didn't have time to respond via my phone, but if I was equipped with a Windows Phone, Cortana probably could have helped dictate a quick reply. With my iPhone, I had to make do with ignoring the messages.
Round one, done
Since I didn't use the Moto 360, the experiment wasn't really complete. However, the reasons I decided not to bring this wearable into the laser tag arena speaks volumes for its practicality and daily usability.Clearly, it's best for people with Android devices (which is obvious since that's the only OS it works with), and if you are able to charge it frequently. The Moto 360 is also a nicer looking smartwatch that fits better in the office than during physical activity.
The Microsoft Band remains a good fitness tracker that could be much more useful if it allowed wider compatibility, among other things.
It wasn't obtrusive and gave me notifications I was able to quickly read while hunting friends down with a laser tag gun in both hands. Very useful, indeed.
I also briskly walked around 4000 steps during both games which is only about 65-75 calories burned. Sadly, even including the hopping around, that's pretty much nothing.
The whole experience wasn't didn't provide earth-shattering revelations as I'd hoped but it was a fun test run. I think next time, I'll kick up the intensity levels to reveal more about the wearable adventure. Here's hoping I don't keel over.
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iOS 8.4 beta reveals complete Music app overhaul
There's been lots of talk lately about what Apple plans to do with its various music offerings, including iTunes and Beats.
Will it merge iTunes and Beats and do away with Beats entirely? Or will it simply overhaul iTunes as it launches a new streaming service?
- Is the iPad Pro still happening?
New interface and more
The iOS update comes with a totally revamped version of Apple's Music app with a completely redesigned interface and "powerful new features," according to the official description.These run the gamut. You can add custom images and descriptions to playlists, for example, and there's a new "recently added" section. There's also a new MiniPlayer that displays what's playing even as you browse your library.
And iTunes Radio has been "streamlined," perhaps a sign of things to come.
The most recent iOS update, iOS 8.3, most notably added greater emoji diversity. We've heard previously that iOS 8.4 will feature the debut of the new Beats Music service, and that may yet be unveiled.
- The iPhone 6 is bigger, better, faster and sleeker
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The Moto 360 is now cheaper than ever
Easily the prettiest face of the Android Wear bunch, you can now pick up the Moto 360 smartwatch for just $165 (about £112, AU$217).
Google's even tacked on free shipping to make the deal more enticing, not that it wasn't already.
Previously $249.99 (£200, AU$205), the wearable won the hearts of many and sold out almost immediately when it was first announced.
There are customization options available through Moto Maker for the watch, but the low pricing model only offers up the black and stone watches.
Limited color choices, if you're curious about the wearable craze and don't feel like plopping down $350 for an Apple Watch, best pick up the Moto 360 today before it disappears again.
- Your other options for a new Android Wear gadget? Waiting for the Moto 360 2.0
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Review: UPDATED: Roku Streaming Stick
The Roku Streaming Stick combines over 1,000 apps (including Sling TV and Plex) with an HDMI dongle design that's the size of a thumb drive, and this time it fits into the back of any modern TV. Recent advancements in home entertainment technology have granted the power of HDMI compatibility, making it the more app-inclusive alternative to the Google Chromecast or Amazon Fire TV Stick.
That's important because Roku has been down this road before with a similar streaming stick that only worked with MLH-compatible TVs. It's an idea that pre-dated Chromecast as an affordable way to instantly project apps onto a big-screen television by nine months. But Roku's MHL requirement meant consumers had to buy or already own a "Roku Ready" TV with this special HDMI slot.
Now, the company is taking cues from Google with the Roku Streaming Stick 2014 that delivers apps to any TV when it's plugged into an HDMI port. It comes with a handy remote and sports a familiar interface that has made past Roku devices so easy to use.
At $49/£49, It costs a little more than Chromecast and doesn't have all of the special features like mirroring an entire computer to the TV, but that's the price of having more than 50 times as many compatible apps and a physical remote control. (2,000 at last count.)
Design
The Roku Streaming Stick is small, but its designers managed to bathe almost every inch of it in the company's familiar purple hues. It's a bit obnoxious to have what appears to be an oversized purple thumb drive jutting out of a black or gray television, as much as we appreciate Roku for sticking to its guns with the color choice.The good news is that the Roku Streaming Stick dimensions allow it to easily hide behind a TV set - in most cases. It's 3.1 in x 1.1 in x .5 in, which is a tad larger than the Chromecast at 2.8 in x 1.4 in x .47 in. While the Roku stick is a lot lighter at 18 grams vs Chromecast's condensed 34 grams, the more important factor is the size.
These extra tenths of an inch could make the Roku Streaming Stick a tight squeeze in the back of a television set, depending on where the HDMI ports are located. We weren't able to slide it into HDMI 1 of the TV we tested it on because there wasn't enough room. Remember, these HDMI slots are designed to accommodate HDMI cables with flexible cords beyond a inch. The Roku? It can't be bent.
Google solved this problem by boxing Chromecast with an HDMI extender, an optional adapter with a flexible body. It's an extra accessory just in case your HDMI ports are too close together or the open HDMI slots are inconveniently on the rear of a wall-mounted TV. It's also supposed to boost WiFi reception. The Roku Streaming Stick includes none of this, even though it costs more.
Once the Roku is securely in an HDMI slot, it works as advertised as long as you have a way to power it. There's a micro USB cable included that's 6 feet long - the same length as the Chromecast micro USB cable - and a power adapter. They can be plugged into any power outlet or a USB port with enough wattage. Roku says that the streaming stick typically takes less than 2W when streaming HD video, so it's green-planet friendly and not overly demanding if your TV does have a nearby USB port .
The vents that line the sides of this HDMI stick ensure the hardware on the inside runs silently, and the dual-band wireless N antennas keeps the WiFi connectivity fast enough for all of the HD video thrown at it. We didn't experience slowdown from the single-band Chromecast once videos got started, but because Roku has dual-band antennas, it supports both the overcrowded 2.4 GHz frequency and the less trafficked 5 GHz frequency. Of course, this only matters if your router supports the 5 GHz variety.
Apps
Roku always confidently boasts that it has more apps than all of its competitors combined. With over 2,000 apps that statement is true, even if a large chunk of them are niche apps no one has ever heard of.What's important is that all of the major apps or "Roku channels" are here. Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Vudu and HBO Go all stream movies and TV shows without a hitch.
For US users, there's also a clutch Time Warner Cable app, but it's requirements aren't as subscriber-friendly. It not only needs the name and password of a TWC TV subscriber, it forces streaming to happen in the home using a Timer Warner cable modem. There's no HBO Go-style password sharing possible here.
On the other hand, if you're ready to cut the cord you'll find the excellent option Sling TV available to download on the Roku Channel Store. Sling TV made a splash on the Roku Streaming Stick by offering a free $49.99 streamer to new subscribers who prepay for three months of service. Overall the service works really well on the device, with only small amounts of hiccups to interfere with your cost-saving cable service alternative.
The Roku Streaming stick ecosystem also has your music streaming playlists on demand with Pandora, Spotify, Rdio, iHeart Radio, Plex and so on. Google Music and the newer Beat Music are the only major music streaming services you won't find on this or any Roku device.
There are over 50 apps for kids, including PBS Kids and four separate Disney stations, and 66 apps for sports fans. WatchESPN is the most popular, while MLB.TV, WWE Network, MLS Live and NHL GameCenter make the top 10 list among sports apps. Each requires a subscription or pay-per-view for live streaming. There's an NBA GameTime app, but it only offers live score updates. Still, these 66 sports apps are 66 more than non-athletic Chromecast offers right now.
Other channel genres include News & Weather, Science & Technology and the niche among niche apps, Special Interest. QVC is the No. 1 app here followed by the Aliens and UFOs Channel, and it just gets weirder from there. You can fall for the dedicated Pranks channel or spend time checking out the bizarre Occult Network Channel. It's also nice to see the Liquidation channel is still hanging in there like an "everything must go sale" that never seems to end.
Remote
The Roku Streaming Stick remote control is just larger than the palm of your hand. It's size and pill-shaped form factor make it easy to hold with one hand and still reach all of the buttons. A two-handed approach to this small remote makes you look ridiculous. That's when you know a company got its TV remote design right.Intuitive buttons for going back and home are up top, followed by the traditional Roku directional pad. Below that are skip backward, an OK button and the options key. Rewind, play/pause and fast forward are the only other media playback buttons. It's just the essentials and sometimes that's all you need.
The bottom portion of the remote is dedicated to four apps. The logos of M-Go, Amazon Instant Video, Netflix and Blockbuster, adorn these four shortcuts and make navigation a bit easier and less confusing. In fact, pretty much the only confusing about the remote is why Blockbuster was included as one of the shortcuts. HBO Go, Hulu Plus or, heck, even QVC wouldn't been a better choice.
As easy as it is to use the Roku Streaming Stick remote, it's not as advanced as the Roku 3 version. That's the one that includes a headphone jack for a unique "private listening" mode. It's one of those ideas that you haven't seen anywhere else before, so it's curious as to why Roku didn't it in this Roku model.
Motion control sensors for games are also absent. Fans of Angry Birds Space are going to have to bow out of the remote wagging fun when using the Roku Streaming Stick version. Of course, if it's games you're after, the Amazon Fire TV is shaping up to be the best choice. It has a dedicated gamepad sold separately and promises 1,000 games by the end of April.
Losing this Roku remote doesn't spell the end of streaming. There's a Roku remote app offered in the iOS and Google Play app stores, and it goes beyond simple on-screen controls. It boasts a QWERTY keyboard for a much quicker method of searching through content. You'll never want to hunt and peck with the remote's direction pad again after using the app.
Interface
The Roku Streaming Stick interface is decked out in purple, which helps emphasize the colorful logos of its apps. After all, the 1,000-plus apps are rightfully the main focus of every Roku.Sorting through them is just as clear cut. The default My Channels menu arranges your favorite apps into a easy-to-navigate grid layout that can be customized with a few clicks of the remote. Do you want Netflix in the top row of this 3 x infinity grid? You got it. Want to demote Blockbuster to the very bottom or even delete it? That's just as simple. You just can't get rid of its permanent shortcut button on the remote.
Below My Channels are separate sections for movies and TV shows. Unfortunately, both menus are dedicated to the on-demand video service M-Go. As tempting as its "two free movies for signing up" deal is, it would've been nice to see a more fleshed-out pair of sub-sections. Ones that catalogued new and interesting video content from all apps installed, not just M-Go, would've done the trick.
The comprehensive search menu actually does just that if you do some of the heavy-lifting. It offers a deep dive through all apps installed when typing in the name of a movie, TV show, actor or director. Simply typing in "Wolf of Wall Street" lists four entries, all in HD, with Amazon Instant Video and Vuvu displaying cheaper rental prices. M-Go and Redbox Instant are more expensive. Save a dollar, earn a dollar, and eventually this Roku will pay for itself.
Searching through the Roku ecosystem is only matched by the Amazon Fire TV, which lets you perform voice searches via a built-in mic on the remote. There's no hunting-and-pecking with the remote or even a need to pick up a smartphone to activate the on-screen QWERTY keyboard. Saying "Wolf of Wall Street" aloud is a whole lot easier than typing it out with the remote's directional pad.
Last but not least is the new ability to download themes from the Roku Store. So far HBO has released a free premium theme for Game of Thrones, while Netflix has offered up some of its House of Cards concept art.
Roku Streaming Stick vs Chromecast
The Roku Streaming Stick is the instant winner over Chromecast right now if you're looking for apps like Amazon Instant Video, Time Warner Cable or niche content that isn't available Google's device just yet.However, the Roku Streaming Stick costs $50 (£50, about AU$54), which is half the price of a Roku 3, but more expensive than the Chromecast. Google undercuts the price of all streaming players at $35 (£30, about AU$39).
This Roku is also missing the ability to mirror a computer display onto a big screen. That's the standout feature of Chromecast and its clutch Chrome tab browser extension. All Roku devices can beam photos and music from iOS and select Android devices, but it's clunky software that isn't worth the buffering time.
Roku is clearly charging a premium for its more expansive ecosystem. It's going to be some time before Google is able to catch up to the 1,000 apps that are available right now on Rokus.
Roku Streaming Stick vs Amazon Fire TV Stick
The Roku Streaming Stick is the agnostic older brother to the Amazon Fire TV Stick. If you can't decide which e-tailer to give your money to, and would rather give it to the services themselves, this is the streamer for you. It also has the most content than any other platform. However just be prepared to wait a bit longer for it to load, speed really isn't Roku's strong suit.Amazon Fire TV, on the other hand, is lightning-quick and is best suited for those people who have really sunk their teeth into the Amazon ecosphere. It has better specs than anything in that form-factor and is $10 cheaper than the Roku Streaming Stick. Amazon Fire TV feels like a device specifically engineered for Amazon Prime subscribers and while everyone else is welcome, you'll have a hard time finding something to watch without ponying up a $99 per year subscription fee.
- Want to know more? Check out our handy Amazon Fire TV Stick vs Roku Streaming Stick vs Chromecast free-for all!
We liked
The Roku Streaming Stick slims down Roku's popular app delivery system and halves the price of the Roku 3. There are over 2,000 apps and yet the grid is easy to customize. Its interface ties everything together and the remote is small enough for one-handed navigation. Those are two things missing from Chromecast. It requires you to go into individual apps on a phone or tablet to beam them to a TV and it is only compatible with iOS and Android devices.This Roku platform is the remedy for people who want ditch the smartphone and tablet and, instead, press the "easy button" on a physical remote to be entertained.
We disliked
The size of this streaming stick is larger than the head of any HDMI cable, and some TVs tuck their HDMI ports into the frame of the television. That can make the Roku Streaming Stick a tight fit. Roku its all about its apps, but not much else. There's no computer or mobile device mirroring going on here, and its remote doesn't think outside the set-top box like the Amazon Fire TV does with its innovative voice search.The Roku Streaming Stick isn't necessarily better than Roku 3. In fact, it's missing the unique headphone jack in the remote for its private listening mode. It just happens to be cheaper, but not as inexpensive as Google's Chromecast.
Verdict
The Roku Streaming Stick is a cinch to plug into any spacious enough HDMI port now that it doesn't require an MHL-compatible TV. From now on a "Roku Ready" HDTV just means having a TV with an ordinary HDMI port thanks to this more compatible version of the device.It's not quite as affordable as the Chromecast, but it has more of the apps that people want right now, including Amazon Instant Video. That's significant because Amazon often has cheaper HD movie rentals than other services. It's an app you won't find on either Chromecast or Apple TV.
There are a number of new streaming devices out right now, but the the Roku Streaming Stick stands as the most efficient way to make a normal HDTV into a smart TV without springing for a pricier set-top box. At least until the Google Chromecast app list is able to catch up.
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IBM's Watson Health begins mining HealthKit data
In its latest push into the healthcare industry, IBM is creating a new business unit to analyze and store data for the healthcare sector. Based in Boston, IBM's Watson Health unit will aggregate health data from providers and devices to offer insights to healthcare companies like Johnson & Johnson and Metronic.
Additionally, IBM is expanding its existing partnership with Apple. Originally, IBM would work with Apple to develop enterprise apps as part of the MobileFirst deal, but with Watson Health, IBM is also working with Apple on its health initiative.
"The move, which complements IBM's new Watson Health business unit, will arm medical researchers with a secure, open data storage solution, as well as access to IBM's most sophisticated data analytics capabilities," the company said in a statement.
The partnership will help Apple analyze and understand data collected from its latest foray into the healthcare sector with apps such as HealthKit and ResearchKit. The former collects user data from fitness devices and wearables, while the latter allows universities and research centers to efficiently conduct medical experiments with the participation of iPhone users.
"IBM will de-identify and store health data in a secure, scalable cloud system that enables researchers to access and share data in an open ecosystem environment, as well as have access to IBM's data-mining and predictive analytics capabilities," IBM said. IBM will store data on its Health Cloud. "Health and fitness app developers and medical researchers will be able to draw on data at a scale that until now has never been available."
New partnerships
Watson Health will analyze the anonymous data for meaningful trends.With Johnson & Johnson, IBM will help create a mobile coaching system to help patients before and after surgery. IBM will also help Johnson & Johnson create new apps to help people with chronic conditions.
Medtronics hopes to leverage the insights from Watson Health to create personalized care plans for people with diabetes.
In addition to launching Watson Health, IBM also announced that it is acquiring two smaller health-related startups to boost its efforts in health data analytics. IBM acquired Explorys and Phytel, firms that provided data and business intelligence services, predictive analytics, and automated patient outreach tools.
IBM did not disclose the terms of the deals.
These deals are the latest in IBM's push into the health segment. Last month, IBM acquired AlchemyAPI.
- Read our review of the Apple Watch
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Panasonic's rugged Toughpad 4K tablet gets an Intel Broadwell refresh
Panasonic is giving its Toughpad 4K tablet a refresh with the addition of Intel's 5th Generation Broadwell processor. The Toughpad 4K was first introduced in 2013 as the world's first rugged 20-inch tablet with a high resolution 4K display.
Panasonic is targeting video professionals with the latest refresh by adding an HDMI 2.0 input that will allow users to view content from other sources on the tablet.
"The new HDMI 2.0 input, alongside other connectivity options such as USB 3.0, Intel Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0 (class 1), Ethernet and Mini DisplayPort output, allow professionals to connect a greater range of peripherals and tools directly to the tablet for more efficient workflows," Panasonic said in a statement.
Availability
In spite of the enhancements, the Intel Core i5-powered Toughpad 4K will launch in July at $2,999 (£2,050, AU$3,955), or half of the $5,999 (£4,090, AU$7,910) cost of the first generation model.Panasonic has not revealed what battery life improvements Broadwell brings to the Toughpad 4K, but the stated battery life on the first generation model is rated at two hours. Intel claims that Broadwell chips provide 30% more efficiency than prior generation processors, so users should expect to squeeze additional battery life out of the new Toughpad 4K.
In our early hands-on with the first generation model, a downside with the 4K display is that icons appear tiny given the high resolution screen. Using the touchscreen became problematic because of this, as it means users had to tap on small icons. Hopefully, Panasonic addressed the screen scaling issue on the new generation.
Enterprise use
Although the Toughpad 4K has a large 20-inch IPS Alpha LCD display, the rugged tablet can handle tumbles.The magnesium alloy frame and reinforced glass fiber case construction mean that the Toughpad 4K can survive 30-inch drops on its back while powered on. With the device turned off, Panasonic says that the Toughpad can survive 12-inch drops to 26 angles. Video professionals who take the Toughpad 4K into the field for use as a display won't have to worry too much about accidental drops.
For those who prefer to use the Toughpad 4K at a desk, there will be an optional desktop cradle to convert the tablet into an all-in-one (AIO). The result would be similar to Dell's consumer-grade XPS 18 with FHD display and Lenovo Horizon 2s. The Toughpad 4K also has a VESA-compatible mounting adapter.
- Read our picks of the best business tablets
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Vizio is selling 4K TVs for $600
Vizio addressed the myth that there's nothing to watch in 4K last year when it announced the most affordable 4K TVs ever, and now that nobody thinks that anymore they're going even cheaper.
The company today announced the Vizio M-Series 4K Ultra HD TVs, starting at just $600.
That's for the 43-inch version, while the largest - at 80 inches - costs $4,000. There are seven other models in the middle, too, including a 55-inch for $1,000.
That's five more inches for the same price compared with last year's P models, a trend we'd like to see continue.
Compromises
The M-Series sets also consume less power than last year's P-Series, although their overall quality is slightly inferior in a variety of specific ways, like dynamic contrast ratio and speakers.But while they may still be pricy, it's a fact that 4K sets in 2015 are selling for what 1080p TVs cost just a few years ago. That's progress!
Vizio's 4K Ultra HD M-Series TVs are "rolling out now" to a variety of online and brick-and-mortar retailers, the company said.
- Check out TechRadar's TV reviews
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Review: Acer Aspire R13
Introduction and design
Like other PC manufacturers, Acer has been experimenting with the convertible Ultrabook form factor. That journey started with last year's Aspire R7, a multimodal laptop with an easel stand and a 15-inch display that makes it look and feel more like a transforming all-in-one desktop than a convertible notebook. This year's Aspire R13 shows Acer has been listening to user feedback in slimming its multimodal design.Starting at just $899 (£610, AU$1,170) with the latest Intel Broadwell processors and a 13-inch touchscreen display, the Acer Aspire R13 challenges convertibles including the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro ($1,249, £850, AU$1,625), HP Spectre x360 ($1,149, £780, AU$1,495), and detachable 2-in-1s like the Surface Pro 3 ($799, £545, AU$1,040) and the Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000 series ($749, £510, AU$975).
These convertibles offer users the flexibility of using at least two different form factors - tablet or notebook - and the 360-degree swiveling hinges of the Spectre x360 and Yoga 3 Pro allow these hybrids to offer additional usage modes that compete with the swiveling screen on the Aspire R13.
However, given its Ultrabook heritage, the Acer Aspire R13 also competes in the traditional thin and powerful laptop category. Some strong competitors in this space include the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air, Dell XPS 13, and Asus Zenbook UX305.
Design
Like the more traditional Aspire S7, Acer uses a glass lid on the Aspire R13, giving it a more premium design. The glass lid design was originally pioneered by HP to give a nice sheen to premium Ultrabooks and an alternative to aluminum-clad offerings. Like the Envy 14 Spectre from early 2012, the drawback is that the black glass top is a fingerprint magnet on the Aspire R13 and could make the laptop more fragile than an aluminum or plastic lid design.With the lid closed, the Aspire R13 looks unfinished with missing parts. That's because the frame that houses the swiveling screen only covers the bottom half of the screen, leaving the top part open, unlike the full frame used on Dell's XPS 12's swiveling screen.
It's this unique hinged screen design that gives the Aspire R13 a larger footprint than traditional 13-inch laptops. For comparison, measuring 13.54 x 9.07 x 0.71 inches (34.39 x 23.04 x 1.80cm), the Aspire R13 is wider and longer, but slimmer, than the 14-inch Lenovo ThinkPad T450s, which comes in at 13.03 x 8.90 x 0.83 inches (33.10 x 22.61 x 2.11cm). Even though the Aspire R13 is the same thickness as the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, it takes up more desk space than the 12.35 x 8.62-inch (31.37 x 21.89cm) base dimensions of Apple's laptop.
Coming in at 3.31 pounds (1.50kg), the Aspire R13's weight is heavier than some consumer Ultrabooks. Apple's MacBook Air with a similar screen size weighs only 2.97 pounds (1.35kg) while the MacBook Pro with Retina display comes in at 3.48 pounds (1.58kg), but has a more solid unibody aluminum construction. Dell's sleek XPS 13 is 2.8 pounds (1.27kg) with a touchscreen.
Another downside to the unique Ezel hinge is that the lid is difficult to open because there isn't much surface to grip with the open top design. Once the lid is open, you'll find the screen can be positioned in up to six different modes - two more modes than on the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro.
You can use the Aspire R13 in Notebook, Ezel, Stand, Pad (tablet), Tent, or Display modes. Despite the number of multi-modes for the screen, it's doubtful that users will regularly use all the modes available. For example, unless I am using the optional stylus, Ezel mode is very similar to notebook mode, and I found myself mainly using the traditional notebook form factor after the novelty of the swiveling display ran out.
All the usage modes highlight the bright IPS display, which presents images with good saturation, vivid colors, and wide viewing angles.
For those who prefer typing, the Notebook mode will offer a traditional Ultrabook experience. The matte, dark grey plastic keyboard deck houses full-sized chicklet keys.
I found that the keyboard backlight emits an odd aqua-green hue, and it isn't bright so you'll likely find it useful only in the darkest of workspaces. Additionally, key travel is shallow, so typing doesn't feel too comfortable, despite the keys being responsive and springy.
Given the large footprint of the Aspire R13 compared to Ultrabooks with a similar display size, Acer hasn't made the most of the space available. There isn't a dedicated row of function keys, which isn't too big of a deal. The problem is that Acer moved a few of the lesser used symbol keys around on the keyboard, leading to extremely shrunken Caps Lock and Esc keys.
Although the keyboard could be improved to offer more key travel, I found the wide, clickable trackpad comfortable to use. The trackpad is sensitive and accurate, offering great cursor tracking precision.
The left side of the Aspire R13 houses two USB ports along with a full-size HDMI port, while the right side houses the memory card slot and a third USB port.
The Aspire R13 has stereo bottom-firing speakers on the undercarriage, which itself is made up of soft-touch plastic. Advertised with what Acer dubs as "cinematic surround sound," the built-in Dolby Digital Plus Home Theater speakers are crisp, even at high volumes, but lack bass, an understandable compromise given the slim body of the notebook.
Specifications and usage modes
If you're looking for a stylish Ultrabook that will grow with you, the base $899 (£610, AU$1,170) configuration for the Aspire R13 probably represents the best value. At that price, the Aspire R13 will compete with notebooks with a traditional clamshell form factor, like the $1,299 (£885, AU$1,690) configuration of the Dell XPS 13 with its bezel-less infinity display, $1,149 (£780, AU$1,495) Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro, and the $999 (£680, AU$1,300) Apple MacBook Air with a 13-inch display.The main difference between the Aspire R13 and more traditional notebooks is that it can readily convert into a tablet - among other form factors - so you don't need to travel with both a laptop and a tablet.
Here's how the unit sent to TechRadar for review was configured:
Spec sheet
- Processor: 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i7-5500U
- Graphics: Intel HD 5000 with shared memory
- Memory: 8GB RAM (DDR3L, 1,600Mhz)
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Screen: 13.3-inch WQHD, 2,560 x 1,440 touchscreen
- Camera: 720p webcam
- Wireless: Bluetooth 4.0; 802.11ac (B/G/N), dual-band Wi-Fi
- Ports: HDMI, 2x USB 3.0 (one always-on charging port), 1x USB 2.0, memory card reader, 3.5mm combo jack
- Battery: Four-cell
- OS: Windows 8.1
Usage modes
With six usage modes, the Aspire R13 also improves on the design of the Aspire R7. Rather than having the touchpad above the keyboard deck, the Aspire R13 reverts to a more traditional design with the trackpad below the keyboard deck. Not only is this more familiar, but with the screen tilted and angled in "Ezel," or easel, mode, the display no longer covers the touchpad.
In the more traditional notebook mode, I found that the Aspire R13 is comfortable to use, despite its larger footprint than a traditional notebook with the same screen size. The WQHD resolution display is a joy to use.
In notebook mode, just tilting the screen using the side hinges will engage the Ezel mode. The result is similar to an artist's ease. This mode still provides access to the keyboard and touchpad, but brings the screen closer to the user.
Stand mode is similar to Ezel mode, but gives the screen a lower profile. This mode is similar to opening the kickstand to its wider settings on the Surface Pro 3, and provides for an angled canvas, similar to what digital artists have with a Wacom Cintiq tablet. When used with the optional Active Stylus, stand mode provides for a comfortable position to sketch and draw.
I prefer the hinge mechanism on the Surface Pro 3 over the Ezel hinge on the Aspire R13 when using either the Ezel mode or stand mode. The Surface Pro 3 has a stiffer hinge that makes it harder to accidentally tilt the screen when pressure is applied, a trait that's useful when resting my hand or palm on the screen when using a digital stylus for inking or drawing.
Pad mode converts the notebook into a tablet. Given the heavier 3.31-pound weight of the Aspire R13 over the 1.75-pound (0.79kg) Surface Pro 3 without the keyboard or a 0.96-pound (0.44kg) iPad Air 2, I found myself not using pad mode all too often.
In the kitchen, when cooking, I prefer using the Epicurious Windows app and tent mode. This mode keeps the keyboard away from the hazards of the kitchen - like splashes of water, liquids and flour.
The last mode, display mode, will probably be used most by students and business professionals. For students, it brings the screen forward and hides the keyboard, giving a clear view for movies, photos, and media. For business users, the mode is great for small, casual presentations.
Performance and benchmarks
Equipped with Intel's latest Broadwell processors and integrated graphics, the performance of the Aspire R13 is consistent with the Ultrabook category, posting similar results to the Dell XPS 13 and the Zenbook UX305.Benchmarks
- PCMark 8: Home: 2,258; Work: 2,190
- PCMark 8 Battery Life: 3 hour and fifteen minutes (50% screen brightness)
- 3DMark: Fire Strike: 656; Cloud Gate: 3,716; Sky Diver: 2,248
- Cinebench: GPU: 26.22 fps; CPU: 207
Performance
Although within range, the results show that in many of the categories, the Aspire R13 fared slightly worse than the Ultrabook average. The higher WQHD resolution display, compared to a standard full HD display on standard Ultrabook, may be a culprit of the slightly degraded performance numbers.Despite having a weaker Intel Core i5 processor and the same Intel HD 5500 integrated graphics, the Dell XPS 13 with QHD+ display fared better than the Aspire 13 in graphics tests.
Dell's XPS 13 posted better performance in all three 3DMark benchmarks than the Aspire R13, scoring 4,935, 2,745 and 739 for the Cloud Gate, Sky Diver and Fire Strike tests respectively. The Aspire R13 performed better in the PCMark Home test, posting a score of 2,258, compared to the 2,104 on the XPS 13. Processor performance using the Cinebench tool is also higher on the XPS 13, with a score of 258 compared to the 207 on the Aspire R13.
Similarly, despite an even weaker Intel Core M processor on our Asus Zenbook UX305 review and lesser HD 5300 graphics, the performance difference compared to the Aspire R13 is negligible. It's unclear why the Aspire R13 didn't post stronger numbers given its Broadwell Core i7 processor.
The Zenbook UX305 posted similar CPU scores to the Aspire R13 with the Cinebench test, but the GPU performance is weaker with a score of 21.28 fps compared to the 26.22 fps on the Aspire R13.
In my real-world usage, despite degraded numbers, the Aspire R13 had no issues opening multiple apps, running multiple Chrome tabs, working with Adobe Photoshop and basic video editing with Adobe Premiere.
The problem I had with the Aspire R13 is that the Ultrabook runs warmer than competitors like the MacBook Air and the ThinkPad T450s. With heat output being high, though not overly hot that the Aspire R13 couldn't be used on a lap, the fan would kick in, and fan noise became an issue.
Another issue with noise is that unless the Aspire R13 is fully shut down, I found that my review unit emitted a high pitch buzz when it is put to sleep. Unless you have sensitive ears, most users likely wouldn't notice this high pitch buzz.
Battery life is commendable, but not great. The Aspire R13 managed just under seven hours of continuous usage with screen brightness set to 50% performing various tasks as occasional photo cropping in Photoshop, streaming YouTube videos, browsing the internet on multiple Chrome windows and running the Pidgin messaging client in the background.
Digital inking
Unlike the Surface Pro 3, digital inking is more of a bonus afterthought on the Aspire R13. The Acer Active Stylus is an optional $50 (£35, AU$65) accessory, and one that is usable, but lacks the sensitivity and precision of the Surface Pen.Despite Acer's claim of 255 levels of pressure sensitivity, I found that pressure sensitivity is not as precise as the pens for the Surface Pro 2 or Surface Pro 3, when used for drawing and painting. Additionally, palm rejection is a mixed bag on the Aspire R13. For taking notes, I found that the unit would sometimes not recognize and reject my palm when I am using the pen, resulting in my hand registering errant inputs on the screen.
The pen seems more suited for casual use than for creative professionals and digital artists. It's fine to mark up a PDF for edits and comments, sign digital documents, or the occasional sketches, but creative professionals likely may want to look at other options for more precise work.
Verdict
As an Ultrabook, Acer has delivered a solid, if not slightly larger, offering in the Aspire R13. Acer's transforming convertible is more affordably priced than many traditional Ultrabooks, yet delivers more form factors and usage modes for consumers to interact with, consume, and create content. Solid, if not average, specs and performance make this a great choice for those needing a touchscreen convertible.We liked
The converting Ezel hinge makes for a versatile computing experience with six usage modes, highlighting a great IPS display. At its base configuration, this device offers a great value for its performance.Solid build quality and a unique design also give the Aspire R13 plenty of desk appeal, but at this time it's unclear how well the glass lid will hold up over time.
We disliked
Given that most people wouldn't use all of the modes enabled by the Ezel hinge, it can sometimes feel like you're paying for unnecessary features. In my review of the Aspire R13, I find myself using only a few modes - tent mode in bed watching videos, display mode on my desk showcasing pictures and previewing presentations, notebook mode in my lap for a more traditional computing experience, and pad mode when reviewing documents for edits.In fact, these commonly used modes are already found on Acer's competitors, like the Lenovo Yoga Pro 3 and the HP Spectre x360, making Ezel and stand mode seem like superfluous additions on the Aspire R13.
The major pitfall with the Aspire R13 is that despite its weaker benchmarked performance compared to systems with similar specifications, the unit runs warm and the fan is almost constantly on, leading to a rather distracting computing experience if you're hoping to use the Aspire R13 in a library or quiet room.
Final verdict
It's hard not to like Acer's interpretation of convertible notebooks. The Aspire R13 packs in a whopping six usage modes with a unique Ezel hinge, a design that as an Ultrabook makes the Aspire R13 feel unfinished with a partial frame. Even though real-world performance is on par with most Ultrabooks, the Aspire R13's benchmark scores were considerably lower than the business-class Lenovo ThinkPad T450s with a lesser processor.While the base configuration delivers great price to performance value, what makes the Aspire R13 unique is its multimodal design. With more expensive configurations of the Aspire R13 - unless you need the multimodal computing experience Acer is selling - you may find better value in a fully configured Dell XPS 13 or Surface Pro 3, the former offering a more compact frame while the latter delivers a lighter body for use as a tablet with an optional keyboard to transform it into an Ultrabook.
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Holographic protesters take to the streets in Spain
Thousands gathered outside of Spain's lower house of parliament over the weekend to lambast recent efforts by the country's government to crack down on citizens' freedoms. It's not an uncommon scene in regions across the globe, except this protest was different in one major way: the protesters were all holograms.
Dubbed the Holograms for Freedom movement and run by the group No Somos Delito, which means We Are Not Crime, organizers projected ghostly images of participants from around the world in front of the parliament building in Madrid.
The "first hologram protest in history" served not only as a demonstration of dissent but also as a powerful reminder of what Spanish citizens could lose July 1.
It's then that a new set of laws are scheduled to go into effect banning certain forms of protest, including gathering outside of parliament. According to Fusion, the new laws would create 45 new infractions that mainly deal with dissent.
"Ultimately, if you are a person, you won't be allowed to express yourself freely," a woman says on the Holograms for Freedom website. As she transforms into a pale digital image, she adds, "You will only be able to do it if you become a hologram."
Participants could submit their likenesses using a webcam on the Holograms for Freedom site, making the demonstration a truly global and technologically savvy undertaking.
- Meet HoloLens, Microsoft's AR visor
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Asus's next watch could last 10 times longer than Apple Watch
There's been plenty of talk about the Apple Watch's battery, which lasts about a day on a full charge. Some consider that a weakness, and it's one that Asus may intend to exploit.
The Asus ZenWatch is not the most advanced or glamorous smartwatch, and it's certainly no true Apple Watch rival, but the next Asus smartwatch could be a different story.
Apparently called the Asus VivoWatch, it will pack a 10-day battery life, reports Engadget.
The Asus VivoWatch will be fitness-focused, the site says, and it could have other bells and whistles like sleep and heart rate tracking and GPS.
How does it do it?
But its true selling point will be that extra long life, a direct counter to the Apple Watch's perceived weakness.It might achieve that significant battery life with an efficient black and white display/colored LED light combo, which you can see in the picture above. It also might not use Android Wear.
We're expecting to learn more - possibly including the Asus VivoWatch's price - this week, so stay tuned.
- Apple Watch pre-orders are open now
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Linux 4.0: little fanfare for a tiny new release
Linux 4.0 is here. Linux head honcho Linus Torvalds sent out an update to the Linux Kernel Mailing List on Sunday that explained the "pretty small" release fits in with an earlier agreed schedule as opposed to there being any big changes to the Linux Kernel.
"Feature-wise, 4.0 doesn't have all that much special. Much has been made of the new kernel patching infrastructure, but realistically that wasn't the only reason for the version number change. We've had much bigger changes in other versions. So this is very much a 'solid code progress' release," explained Linus Torvalds in the update.
What's been improved?
Even so, there are still upwards of 10,000 non-merge commits included, yet this number pales compared to past "bigger releases," according to Torvalds and linux-next v4.1 is expected to be the next whopper to come out of the Linux camp.Among the improvements in Linux 4.0 is the addition of support for Intel's Quark SoCs, increased support for the Z13 that powers IBM mainframes, non-disruptive patching, various ARM chips are now supported and the usual tweaks to graphics and sounds are along for the ride.
- Check it out: Which Linux distro is right for you?
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In Depth: Thank Phonebloks for Google's Project Ara
Pushing for change
Google is making great strides in the modularity movement with its customizable smartphone, Project Ara. But the search giant has but one man to thank for getting the tiled phone off the ground.Creating "a phone worth keeping" was a personal project for Helmond, Netherlands-based designer Dave Hakkens. His initiative, Phonebloks, shaped up as a smartphone with swappable components, but the original idea worked modules into washing machines, coffee makers and refrigerators too.
"When I started this project, IoT [Internet of Things] was the focus. Everything will be connected, so my vision was that everything in your house would eventually be based on modules.
I quickly realized that this was an enormous plan that felt too big, so I started to work on just the phone because not only is it smaller in scale, but it's something that we all use a lot."
Hakkens quipped that his "big dream was a good starting point," but at the time, he had no clue that Phonebloks would be the start of an amazing journey alongside Google.
Every problem has a solution
The inspiration for the modularity project came from an unlikely source: a broken camera. The good news was his point-and-shoot was salvageable. The bad news? It would cost more to repair the camera than it would take just to buy a new one.
This dilemma presents the crux of Hakkens' argument with Phonebloks: if tech products are built in such a way so that users could easily and affordably swap out components without any technical know-how, they'd be less likely to resort to tossing them in the garbage.
Thus, the goal of Phonebloks was twofold: to paint a crystal-clear picture of the worsening state of electronic waste around the globe and to help get a modular smartphone to market.
Based on modules, or "bloks" as Hakkens usually refers to them, the Phonebloks concept earns the slogan "a phone worth keeping" for a reason.
Rather than being built into the phone, components like the camera and speaker are served up as individual, Lego-like modules that can be replaced should they break or if you want an upgrade. With this setup, you'll never have to throw your phone away when one part stops working.
Putting Phonebloks on the map
A good idea won't make it very far if no one hears about it. Fortunately for Hakkens, along with his small team, there was little trouble cooking up interest in Phonebloks.Their introductory YouTube video scored one million views in just under a day's time. Capitalizing on this viral success, a follow-up social media campaign gained another one million supporters.
At this point, the tech world was abuzz and even writers at TechRadar got pretty excited. Companies also took notice of the initiative and were eager to meet with Hakkens and the rest of the Phonebloks team to discuss plans for bringing a modular smartphone to fruition.
Of those that took interest, Phonebloks landed on Motorola as the right fit to make that happen. However, Hakkens was unaware that work was already well underway in Motorola's labs on a modular smartphone before Phonebloks even entered the picture.
"They were working on something secretly in their labs," Hakkens told me "It was very much still in the brainstorming process, but it was something that they wanted to get started on immediately. Once they saw the splash that we made with the Phonebloks video, they realized that making a modular phone would be a bigger undertaking than it seemed at first."
The fruits of the collaboration between the Phonebloks community and the brains at Motorola resulted in Project Ara, a vibrant, Android-powered prototype with modular architecture on full display.
"From that point, it really became much more serious. It went public and things really started to accelerate," Hakkens said. "The people who were working on it saw that there was a need for this phone to exist. Phonebloks boosted their project from where they were to something much bigger."
- Lead photo credit: Facebook
The modular future has (sort of) arrived
Since its unveiling in late 2013, Project Ara, now overseen by Google, has drastically improved in operability and has matured into the sleek appearance with the newest prototype, dubbed "Spiral 2".What's more, time has allowed for some innovative module ideas to be thought up. At Project Ara's developer conferences, established tech firms like Sennheiser and Toshiba have shown off plans for jumping into the modularity ring. But the real promise comes from the developers, who are creating more out-of-the-box modules. Particularly, ones geared toward healthcare solutions.
"It's in the interest of many to create modules aimed at healthcare. A lot of people don't really care about having a camera on their phone, but they'd rather have a blood glucose meter."
These ideas aside, Hakkens thinks the surface of potential has barely been cracked. Because of the phone's inherent openness, however, this could quickly change.
"Modularity in phones right now is like the App Store when it launched," he said "At first, you couldn't possibly imagine all of the unique applications that developers would create, but … you can already see it now with companies brainstorming and producing prototype modules … This is a huge, untapped market."
Different paths
Phonebloks deserves recognition for building a massive amount of interest for modular smartphones. But with Project Ara, the rest of the cards are in Google's hands.Hakkens outlined the Android maker's plan for the modular phone: "Google set a timeline of two years [from 2013-2015] to see if it's actually possible to launch a modular phone. Then, they'll do a test run somewhere to see if people understand the modular concept and see how it sticks, if it runs well, etc."
Google is, in fact, looking to do a trial run of Project Ara in Puerto Rico at some point in 2015. How that turns out will likely determine when (or if) a widespread release of the modular phone will happen.
Hakkens has been thrilled to be a part of making his dream into a reality, but he's accepted that during its transformation, the "phone worth keeping" has taken a direction he hadn't planned.
"The main reason that Phonebloks exists is to reduce waste, but this alone doesn't totally align with Google's interests," he said. "In the end, some of our ideas aligned, but not all of them."
I asked Hakkens to expand on this misalignment. He offered a clue as to why Project Ara ditched the Phonebloks's eco-centric focus in favor of customization, or what Hakkens called the "sexier" pitch, that Google has pursued while building the phone "designed exclusively for 6 billion people".
"The roots of the personalization [of Project Ara] could be because the project began at Motorola," he said. "They were primarily interested in how they could make a truly 'personal' phone. That's always been their side of the story. That's why they started the project - I just helped."
Hakkens stays busy working on new design projects, but he and his core team are constantly collaborating with the Phonebloks community to refine their hopes for modular phone of the future.
"One of the main things we do is give people insights, share updates and videos on our progress," he said.
Regarding future involvement with Project Ara, Hakken stated, "We [Phonebloks] are independent from Ara, but we really like what they're doing with the homebrew community, so we are still close partners.
In the end, we really like what they're doing regardless of whether their emphasis was on personalization or not. Either way, they are developing a modular phone."
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Review: Updated: Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Introduction and design
Update: This is our review of the Surface Pro 3. If you like the look of Microsoft's tablet but wish it came at a lower cost, the recently unveiled Surface 3 has many of the Surface Pro 3's qualities but will hit the shelves soon with a lower price tag.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.
Adobe launched major updates to two of its classic design applications in March. Called Touch Workspace, the apps are available now free of charge to existing Creative Cloud subscribers and Surface Pro 3 owners with the latest versions of Adobe Illustrator CC 2014 and Adobe Photoshop CC 2014 installed. The apps feature a streamlined design user interface that makes it more responsive to fingertips, while optimizing a number of new or existing software tools with touch interaction in mind.
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.OneNote's inclusion makes for a particularly attractive package since Microsoft opted to make the note-taking app's previously paid-for features free for all. It means that you can now password protect sections of notebooks, track changes to notes using page history and better manage files by searching for words in video or audio recordings.
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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Updated: Surface Pro 4 release date, news and rumours
Update: We may get to see the Surface Pro 4 before the end of the month if the latest rumour is correct.
Each Surface Pro has arguably been better than the last, and there's good reason to believe that the Surface Pro 4 could turn out to be something special.
While the Surface Pro 2 was marketed as a tablet that could do more than other tablets (particularly Apple's iPad), Microsoft switched tact to try and make the Surface Pro 3 an all-out MacBook Air killer.
Touted "the tablet that can replace your laptop", it was lighter than Apple's popular machine, had a sharp display and excellent handwriting capabilities - but it was far from perfect. Battery life was so-so, you had to shell out for a (still pretty flimsy) Type Cover and it sometimes became uncomfortably warm under use. Can the Surface Pro 4 go one better than its impressive, but imperfect predecessor?
With Intel's Core M 'Broadwell' CPU out (and Skylake on the horizon), in addition to Windows 10 later in the year, Microsoft has all the ingredients to make the Surface Pro 4 the 2-in-1 that could kick both your laptop and tablet into touch.
Microsoft has a tough job on its hands following the launch of Apple's new MacBook, but if the rumours are on the money the Surface Pro 4 could well notch a victory on the portable notebook battleground.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? A brand new Surface Pro
- When is it out? Could be as soon as March, as late as October
- What will it cost? From around £575 to more than £1,300
Surface Pro 4 release date
Microsoft has launched its brand new Surface tablet, the Surface 3, meaning a summer launch for the Surface Pro 4 is a little less likely than before. Preorders for the Surface 3 started on March 31, and from May 5 you will be able to buy one along with any accessories both online and in physical Microsoft stores.Speculation has it that Microsoft will unveil the Surface Pro 4 at its Build 2015 conference at the end of April. According to DigiTimes, which spoke to a source in the know, Microsoft is planning to "unveil its next-generation Surface Pro 4 tablet aduring the upcoming Build developer conference in April", before putting it into production at some point in June.
Other rumours are pointing a little later in the year to October, the time that Windows 10 is expected to drop (Microsoft has tentatively teased "early fall"). It's thought that the Surface Pro 4 will be one of the first to ship with Microsoft's upcoming OS pre-loaded.
According to a report by VCpost, cited by the International Business Times, the Surface Pro 4 will launch in July 2015 and will come with a 2K screen sporting a 2,160 x 1,440 pixel-resolution. Inside, it's rumoured to come with an Intel Core-i5 and Core-i7 processor, in addition to a stylus pen like the Surface Pro 3. If true, that would place just two months between the Surface 3 becoming available and the Surface 4 launching, two dates that are a little too close together in our eyes.
Surface Pro 4 design
At 12 inches, the Surface Pro 3 is Microsoft's biggest Surface tablet (not counting the giant Surface Hub). According to Design & Trend, which points to Chinese news website cnBeta, the Surface Pro 4 will launch in two different sizes - one with a 12-inch display and a larger version with a 14-inch display (possibly to compete with the iPad Pro and other rumoured monster tablets). That report notes that the tablet will likely feature Intel's Core M Broadwell CPU, which has been used in a number of Windows machines and more recently Apple's new MacBook.
Microsoft's Surface tablets have always been praised for their design, so it's hard to see the company deviating too much from what has gone before. That seems to be the case judging by a company blog post by general manager for Microsoft's Surface line Brian Hall, which says that the Surface Pro 3's accessories will be compatible with "the next generation of the 'Pro' line of Surface".
He wrote: "We are pleased to share that the following Surface Pro 3 accessories are designed with our product roadmap in mind and will be compatible with the next generation of the "Pro" line of Surface:
- Today's Surface Pro 3 Type Covers
- Our "infrastructure" accessories such as our power adapter, Ethernet adapter, and more
- The Surface Pro 3 Docking Station
On the other hand, now that Intel's fifth-generation Core M chips are available, Microsoft could use Intel's Broadwell-Y CPU to make the Surface Pro 4 thinner than its predecessor as well as fanless while retaining compatibility with accessories.
The Surface Pro 4 could launch alongside Microsoft's long-rumoured Surface Mini tablet, which is expected to feature an 8-inch display and will be positioned to take on the likes of the iPad Mini 2 and Google Nexus tablets.
Surface Pro 4 specs
The Surface Pro 4 could offer similar storage options to the Surface Pro 3, starting at 64GB and rising to 128GB, 256GB and 500GB. It wouldn't be surprising if Microsoft introduced a Surface Pro 4 with a 1TB storage option for the first time.According to the Design & Trend report, the Surface Pro 4 will run Windows 10 and will come with a 2,160 x 1,440 pixel-resolution display, up to 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM. It will also apparently come with Xbox game streaming.
As mentioned, it is expected that the Surface Pro 4 will come with Intel's Core M 'Broadwell' CPU, which was made available to device makers in January. In TechRadar's analysis piece, we argue that the powerful Intel Core M 5Y70 is the perfect CPU for Microsoft's upcoming tablet.
The Surface Pro 4 could also come with new accessories following Microsoft's acquisition of N-Trig, the Israel-based company behind its Surface tablets' pressure-sensitive stylus technology.
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Kaspersky Lab snares Simda botnet with international help
Kaspersky Lab and a group of IT companies including Microsoft and Trend Micro have worked together to reduce the scope of the Simda botnet.
The action taken by the group, which was formed by INTERPOL's Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, saw law enforcement agencies seize 10 command and control servers in the Netherlands and take down other servers in the US, Russia, Luxembourg and Poland.
Law enforcement agencies including the Dutch National High Tech Crime Unit, Police Grand-Ducale Section Nouvelles Technologies in Luxembourg, the FBI and Russian Ministry of the Interior's Cybercrime Department "K" took part in the operation on April 9.
Simda is a pay-per-install malware that can easily issue illicit software and other malware that can pilfer sensitive financial information. Distributors generate money by selling access to infected PCs to other criminals who can then install additional programs.
Attackers distribute the malware by breaking in to legitimate websites or servers and then inserting malicious code into those sites. This means that users visiting the pages are served up the illicit content, it infects their PC and information can then be stolen.
770,000 machines in 190 countries have been infected with most of the instances taking place in the US. Kaspersky added that the UK, Canada, Russia and Turkey were also hit hard.
Is my PC infected?
Simda has been active for years and exploit artists have worked hard to refine it to exploit literally any vulnerability present in a targeted site. This has meant that new versions have continually shown up and Kaspersky Lab's virus collection has caught over 260,000 executable files belonging to different versions of Simda.Even though Kaspersky Lab has taken down a significant part of the Simda botnet network, it is still out there and to that end Kaspersky has provided a CheckIP site where you can find out if your PC is affected. If your address does show up Kaspersky points out that, even though it could be another machine on your network, you should make sure your anti-malware software is up to date.
- Check it out: The best free anti-virus software of 2015
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