IT-Code-News: IT News Head Lines (Techradar) 5/22/2015

UPDATED: Apple Watch bands: all 38 straps, sizes and case configurations

Apple Watch bands: Sport vs Watch vs Edition

Apple Watch is on the wrists of its first wave of customers, meeting its release date, but picking one has been no easy decision. There are 38 different designs with varying bands, sizes, cases and prices.
There are three cases: the aluminum Sport, stainless steel Watch and gold Watch Edition. Where it gets complicated is in the number of interchangeable bands.
Good news for anxious early who were undecided or "iForgot" the pre-order. Although tremendous first Apple Watch sales pushed shipping estimates back to July, it'll be in Apple Stores starting in June.
With 38 iPhone compatible smartwatch versions - way more than the three colors of the iPhone 6, iPad Air 2 and new MacBook - here's every Apple Watch band and case, at least until Apple Watch 2 comes out.

Apple Watch Sport bands: Sport

Sport is the the lightest of the three Apple Watch choices thanks to its anodized aluminum case that still manages to be 60% stronger than standard alloys.
It skips out of the expensive sapphire glass in favor of what Apple calls strengthened Ion-X or aluminosilicate glass. This further reduces the weight, making it fit for active lifestyles.
Sure, the iPhone-matching matte space gray and silver aluminum case appears less shiny vs the stainless steel Watch, but Apple's 7000 Series aluminum and Ion-X glass makes it 30% lighter.
It's the least expensive Apple Watch at $349 (£299) for the 38mm size and 42mm for the $399 (£339) size. The first official sales numbers may be announced at Apple's WWDC 2015 on June 8, but early estimates indicate it was the most popular version.

Apple Watch bands: Stainless steel

Ordering the "regular" Watch puts a highly polished stainless steel case on your wrist, one that comes in glossy metal colors of either space black or stainless steel.
Protecting the precious Retina display is sapphire crystal, which is the same glass that covers the Touch ID home button of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Sapphire crystal is touted as the hardest transparent material on earth next to diamond. It stands up to dings every time your formerly-bare wrist forgets what it's like to wear a watch.
The cost jumps to $549 (£479, AU$799) for the Sport Band, while the Apple Watch price for leather and stainless steel bands go up from there.

Apple Watch bands: Watch Edition

Watch Edition is the most expensive Apple Watch pre-order starting at $10,000 (£8,000) due to its 18-karat gold case meant for VIPs. It'll reportedly be locked inside a safe at your local Apple Store.
It's been crafted by Apple's metallurgists to be twice as hard as standard gold and comes in two colors: yellow gold and rose gold. Sparing no expense, Apple throws in an exclusive charging stand. How thoughtful.
Complementing those cases are color-matching bands made of either leather or fluoroelastomer plastic. These special Apple Watch bands can't be ordered separately online.
That said, bands are the next step the Apple Watch buying process.

Apple Watch bands: 6 bands styles, 18 colors

Apple Watch is all about personalization with six band types and 18 colors, all of which are easily interchangeable thanks a unique slide-out locking mechanism.
Yes, it's a proprietary watch strap - did you expect anything less? - but the interchangeable bands are a lot easier to switch out compared to the irksome hidden pins of the Moto 360.
I'm okay with that. I ordered the Sport band to wear at the gym and the Milanese Loop for nights on the town, and I won't have the dig into the watch case with a pair of tweezers to change it up.

Apple Watch bands: Sport band

Despite its name, the Sport band is an out-of-the-box option among all three cases, not just the Apple Watch Sport.
The band is made of smooth fluoroelastomer, so it's resilient for all activities and fastens with a simple pin-and-tuck closure. And thankfully it's easier to buckle than the notoriously difficult Fitbit Charge.
The Sport band is available in the most colors on the Sport Watch: white, black, blue, green or pink. Regular Watch and Watch Edition buyers can choose between black or white.

Apple Watch bands: Link bracelet

Available with a regular Apple Watch, the Link bracelet is one of two stainless steel bands. This one matches the 316L stainless steel alloy of the case.
It has more than 100 components and the brushed metal links increase in width closer to the case. A custom butterfly closure folds neatly within the bracelet.
Best of all, you can add and remove links with a simple release button. No jeweler visits or special tools required for this stainless steel or space black-colored strap.

Apple Watch bands: Milanese Loop

One of the classiest-looking Apple Watch bands is the Milanese Loop, a stainless steel mesh strap that loops from case to clasp.
Emphasizing that woven metal design, there's hardly a clasp. Its tiny magnetic end makes the strap infinitely adjustable and tucks behind the band for a seamless look on one's wrist.
An out-of-the box option with the regular Apple Watch pre-orders, the Milanese Loop is truly one of a kind in that it only comes in a stainless steel color.

Apple Watch bands: Modern buckle (leather)

A modern buckle adorns the bottom of the first of three leather pre-orders among Apple Watches, complete with top-grain leather sourced from France.
The French tannery is said to have been established in 1803, but Apple puts a tech-savvy twist on the buckle. It's a two-piece magnetic clasp that only looks ordinary when together.
This leather option comes in black, soft pink, brown or midnight blue for the regular Watch and bright black, red or rose gray for the premium Watch Edition, all meant for the smaller 38mm watch size.

Apple Watch bands: Classic buckle (leather)

If the Apple Watch modern buckle is a normal-looking watch band with a magnetic twist, then the classic buckle is an ordinary-looking variant without one.
No tricks here. It's just a traditional and secure band that feeds through a stainless steel or an 18-karat gold loop and matches the watch case.
The classic buckle's leather is from the Netherlands and the color choices are as simple as can be: it comes in black for the regular Watch or either black or midnight blue for Watch Edition.

Apple Watch bands: Leather loop

This is the leather-equivalent of the all-metal Milanese loop because it tucks magnets into the soft, quilted leather Apple Watch band.
The more pronounced pebbled texture also stands out from the subtle finishes of the modern and classic buckle. Its Venezia leather sources from Italy, according to Apple.
Apple Watch configurations with this leather loop band have four color choices: black, stone, light brown and bright blue.

Apple Watch sizes

Less exciting than the bands, but equally important among the choices are the Apple Watch sizes. There are two case heights: 38mm and 42mm.
This opens it up to smaller and larger wrists. The 38mm size is more compact, but having that little bit extra screen space by way of the 42mm option may go a long way. It does raise the Apple Watch price.
It should be noted that a few bands appear to be exclusive to certain sizes: the modern buckle is limited to the 38mm option and leather loop the 42mm size, for example.
No right-handed and left-handed Apple Watch decisions need to be made at the Apple Store, thankfully. This smartwatch is ambidextrous because the screen can be flipped.

Apple Watch pre-order price

Now that you know everything about the design, it's time to focus on the Apple Watch price range because this is no easy purchase at any rate.
Even the entry-level Apple Watch Sport is expensive at $349 (£299, AU$499) for the 38mm version. For bigger wrists, it's $399 (£339, AU$579) for the 42mm variant.
A stainless steel Apple Watch costs $549 (£479, AU$799) or $599 (£519, AU$879) with the rubberized Sport band. Adding leather or an all-metal band costs anywhere from $649 (£559, AU$949) to $1,099 (£949, AU$1,629).
And the 18-karat gold Apple Watch price range is $10,000 (£8,000, AU$14,000) to $17,000 (£13,500, AU$24,000), complete with VIP treatment.

You can find out more in our Apple Watch price range breakdown

Apple Watch faces

There are ten different default faces from Apple, according to its official website, and likely a lot more to come from third-party developers currently testing out WatchKit.
The great thing about smartwatch faces is that none of them are permanent when you order Apple Watch, something we have been fond of when testing out Android Wear smartwatches.

Debate: Apple Watch vs Android Wear comparison

Mickey Mouse is my favorite because I never got a Mickey Mouse watch as a kid. But maybe that'll be reserved for Disneyland visits now that I'm an adult.
Analog watches like Chronograph, Color, Simple and Utility can be swapped in for a more professional look that rivals today's best smartwatch alternatives.

Customizable watch faces

Digital watch faces all have something unique to offer. Motion adds a bit of animal-inspired movement in the background, solar lets you follow the sun's path based on your location and the time of day and astronomy lets you explore space and a rotatable 3D Earth.

Faces and more: Apple Watch video tour

Modular, the grid-like ninth watch face, really defines what Apple means when it talks about complications. Most faces can be alerted to include pressing information like stock quotes, weather reports or your next calendar event.
A new addition, X-Large is an Apple Watch face that the company added after its March launch event. Hopefully truly custom watch faces come out of Apple's WWDC 2015 keynote on June 8.

Apple Watch bands wrap-up

With two sizes for most Apple Watch bands, six band types, 18 band colors and three cases with two colors each, there's a lot of choice going into every smartwatch order.
Apple Watch has launched with a lot of personalization, echoing a time when the Cupertino firm introduced variety among its iMac G3 computers and iPod successors.
The case and band combination I went with was Sport with a white rubber band, ultimately determined by the Apple Watch price.
Such a new product is bound to be outdated in several months to a year and a half by Apple Watch 2, so I played it safe.
The Milanese loop, backordered for one month, arrived sooner than Apple had expected. I began donning it just two weeks later, all in all, for less money than a stainless steel Apple Watch.

Check out the Apple Watch review for our final verdict

Netflix getting off the carousel with a redesigned interface

Netflix has begun rolling out a completely refreshed and redesigned web interface to a handful of its users today, with a full launch of the updated UI coming to the rest of us in June.
The new design has kicked Netflix’s old scrolling carousel design to the kerb, in favour of a design that’s more in line with the service’s apps across smart devices.
Users will now click to horizontally cycle through through titles, which is a much quicker process than hovering a mouse cursor at the end of a row and waiting for new titles to scroll into view.

Lookin’ good, Netflix

In addition to Netflix’s faster browsing method, it’s now easier to select specific episodes and view information about Netflix shows and movies.
Currently for most users, clicking on a title will automatically start playing it, and hovering over it will only give you a tiny bit of information about it.
In the new version, clicking on a title keeps you on the same screen, divulging movie, show and episode information specific to the title right below it.
It will also reveal an extra set of options that allow users to easily choose an episode, find similar shows or movies, add the title to their My List and more.

Check out our in-depth Netflix review

Google debuts Skrillex-designed Nexus, Samsung 'live cases'

Google has introduced smart cases for Nexus and Samsung smartphones, and the first three limited-edition "live cases" are designed by... Skrillex.
If you think the idea of an eccentric Grammy Award-winning music producer making Android phone cases is almost literally out of this world, you're absolutely right.
Space Shield, Circuit Bae and Lil Planet cost $40 each (about £62, AU$79) and come in four phone-fitting sizes for the Nexus 6, Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S5.

What makes them smart cases?

It's not just the design that makes these Skrillex-backed back covers stand out. They also wirelessly beam content to your Android phone.
Snap on the live case during the day and it takes on a live wallpaper showing the Earth's stratosphere, and these moving images update over course of the day.
Google and Skrillex actually launched a custom-designed balloon satellite, named after the musician's dog, Nanou, to pull this off. It's certainly not your average animated background.
At nighttime, the case begins showing constellations visible from your current location or, if you're in an overpopulated city, what should be visible sans all of the light pollution.

Live case, live button

Live cases also add one more way to control your Android phone thanks to a the single button on the back.
At first, it leads to Skrillex's YouTube channel, but it can be customized to become a one-touch button that launches any app or function, such as the camera.
Google has hinted that its live case idea doesn't end with these three Skrillex designs. After all, the individually numbered cases will be gone from the Google Store eventually.
The company has the leading mobile operating system with Android and is taking on wireless carriers by launching Google Project Fi with insanely cheap plans in the US. So, why not premium cases?
Is a 'live case' the price compared to a dead case? TechRadar will have a review of one of the cases as soon as it gets delivered.

Read up on Google IO for Android M and other announcements

iOS 9 may include an app just to control your HomeKit devices

In case you were worried about Siri taking over your house, Apple may be bringing a new app with iOS 9 to control its HomeKit devices, which begin shipping next month.
The new app, called Home, will cooperate with HomeKit devices and have a variety of functions, according to 9to5Mac. Those include discovering and setting up HomeKit devices wirelessly, utilizing Apple TV as a hub to connect various devices, generating virtual rooms to assist in organizing and connecting devices, and offering a series of screens to help users find more HomeKit devices and apps.
The whole HomeKit framework will reportedly be at least partially reliant on the Home app to manage devices while keeping data secure.
Although 9to5Mac reports testing on the app has gone on, it's possible the Home app is meant only for internal Apple usage. However, The Verge points out the inclusion of multiple screens suggests the app will wind up in the public's grasp.
Naturally Apple has stayed quiet on the app, but if it's real it will likely surface with the expected announcement of iOS 9 at Apple's developer conference on June 8. Until WWDC 2015 kicks off, this is all hearsay, but a centralized app for managing HomeKit devices seems like a sensible step for Cupertino to take.

Here's every device that'll work with HomeKit

UPDATED: Hulu signs big exclusives with Seinfeld and The Walking Dead spin-off

UPDATE: Hulu announced today that it will start streaming every episode of Seinfeld on June 24.
Hulu hasn't always had it easy. From struggles with Comcast to a straggling viewer base, the company has had its fair share of hurdles.
But the wind of change is blowing for the Fox and Disney-owned streaming site as a new deal with AMC over the upcoming The Walking Dead spin-off could send new subscribers running to the service faster than the undead in 28 Days Later.
Hulu announced today that it will be the only streaming website to air Fear the Walking Dead once the show premieres sometime later this summer.
And while there's probably a caveat here somewhere, the fact that Hulu is getting this exclusive one day after signing a deal for the rights to Seinfeld and one week after it announced it will stream content from Cartoon Network, Adultswim, TBS, and TNT shows a shift in the tide.
Recent numbers still show Hulu is lagging behind the competition (it has around 6 million subscribers compared to Netflix's 62), but the company seems dead set on dredging up new business in 2015.

Craving some new content to watch? Check out the Best TV shows on Netflix!

Review: Updated: Microsoft Surface Pro 3

Introduction and design

Update: One flavor of the Surface Pro 3 just received a hefty price cut in the US. Down from its $1,299 price to $1,149 on the Microsoft Store, the Intel Core i5-equipped model with 256GB of solid state storage makes this an even more attractive device. With that savings, you could pick up the $130 Type Cover and still walk away with a few bucks.
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."
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu8tvK4hCh4
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."
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

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.
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

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.
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

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.
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

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?
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

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)

This is one of the mid-range Surface Pro 3 configurations, and it'll cost you a steep $1,299 (about £772, AU$1,403). The most affordable way into the latest Surface Pro 3 goes for just $799 (around £475, AU$863). However, you'll have to work with an Intel Core i3 chip, half as much RAM and just 64GB of storage. On the other hand, you can deck out this slate with a Core i7 CPU, 8GB of memory and a whopping 512GB solid-state drive for $1,949 (about £1,158, AU$2,106).
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.
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

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.
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

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

Save for PCMark's battery life test, these results are generally in line with what I would expect from a slightly beefed up Core i5 machine. This processor and RAM combo will handle video chat, streaming and perhaps the average spreadsheet VLOOKUP with ease. Plus, your lunchtime gaming breaks should go over smoothly within reason.
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

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 Surface Pro 3 review

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?
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

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.)
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

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

According to reports, Microsoft is in talks to acquire N-Trig, signalling a bright future for those who enjoy doodling and note-taking on its Surface devices.

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.)
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

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.
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

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 Surface Pro 3 review

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.

Word up! Microsoft may be building the iPhone's next big chat app

Microsoft is reportedly working on bringing a new way to chat to the iPhone. Information on the app, called Flow, was leaked due to details posted on a publicly accessible site. (Whoops)
Flow will work in tandem with Microsoft's existing Outlook app, and will boast "fast, fluid, natural conversation," according to the leaked details from a public site marked as "Microsoft Confidential."
ZDNet believes this could be the email equivalent of Skype Qik, which is a lightweight version of Skype introduced by Microsoft last year on Android, Windows and iOS devices.
Microsoft remains tight-lipped on confirming the existence of Flow, but it's a sensible direction for Microsoft to venture into. Its Outlook app for iOS is a rebranding on the popular Accompli, and has been a big hit with Gmail users on iPhone.
If rumors prove to be true, Flow may be a big entry for Microsoft in the world of chat on the iPhone, especially by partnering with the already strong Outlook.

This racial slur leads Google Maps to the White House's doorstep

At the heart of Google Maps is its search algorithm, which can be used to virtually travel to the Eiffel Tower or find a restaurant you were looking for, but didn't know the name of. However powerful, no algorithm is perfect.
Today, users reported on a glaring loophole in the way that Google Maps associates search terms with results that it surfaces. Several US institutions, like the White House and Howard University, could be found by typing the N-word and other versions of the word alongside "house" or "university."

While no one is sure what's behind the search results, what's plausible is that Google's search algorithm learned to associate places with names that people call them around the internet, no matter how nasty.
Hopefully, Google acts soon to address how its algorithm associates landmarks with offensive racial slurs. We've asked Google for an official statement and will update this article as soon as we hear new information.
This is only the most recent issue to come across Google Maps' path. Less than a month ago, an Android logo was discovered urinating on an Apple logo. That image was put in by a user of the company's Map Maker edit tool, which has been temporarily disabled.
Update: Google has apologized for the racial slurs appearing in Maps.
"Some inappropriate slurs are surfacing in Google Maps that should not be, and we apologize for any offense this may have caused," a company spokeswoman said in a statement to CNN Money. Google is working to remedy the appearance of the slurs "quickly," the spokeswoman said.

UPDATED: Xbox One can now act like a classic bunny-ear TV

UPDATE: Starting today, all Xbox One users in the US and Canada are now able to buy a Hauppauge Digital TV Tuner to use with their systems for free over-the-air content.
Most Xbox One owners who use the console to watch live TV pay for either a cable box or a Sling TV subscription, but there's another option on its way.
Microsoft today announced a new way to watch broadcast and local channels - CBS, FOX, NBC, etc. - on Xbox One for free.

Chromecast: smart TV in a stick

Well, it's free after the upfront cost of buying a digital TV tuner - the $80 Hauppauge WinTV-955Q - and an HD antenna, which can cost around $40.
Starting today these two accessories will together let Xbox One Preview Members pick up broadcast channels and integrate them into the console's TV-watching experience, including bells and whistles like OneGuide and voice controls.
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOlkCTwduHg
It's the US and Canada's equivalent of Europe's Xbox One Digital TV Tuner, currently also in preview mode but rolling out to more and more regions.
Microsoft and Hauppauge will release a cheaper tuner, the $60 custom TV Tuner for Xbox One, to everyone in the US and Canada over the next few months.

The PS4 keeps getting better

Review: Updated: Amazon Fire TV Stick

Intro, design and setup

Update: Amazon Fire TV Stick can now access X-Ray without the aid of a tablet. X-Ray is a service from Amazon that uses IMDB to show you the actor and trivia information about the shows and movies you're watching.
The set-top box landscape is changing. It used to be a full-size battle royale where three titans – the Roku 3, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV – duked it out for control of your television. Then, in July of last year, Google released Chromecast, a set-top box built into a thumb drive form factor and fits entirely behind a TV.
In many ways the Amazon Fire TV Stick, the successor to the full-size Fire TV, looks similar to Google's impulse buy offering from last year. But whatever it may look like, its arrival onto the set-top scene can only mean one thing: The time of the titans is over, and a new age of streaming sticks is here.
The Fire TV Stick is petite and powerful, currently available in the US and shipping April 15 in the UK. It fits flush with most TV's HDMI ports and, unlike its main competitor Chromecast, comes with a fairly decent remote. In terms of content, you'll find just about everything here. Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, Showtime Anytime and more have already joined the party, while Amazon's Prime Instant Video basically sits at the head of the proverbial table. The only player missing is HBO Go, and that, Amazon has said, will be coming in the next few months.
Amazon Fire TV Stick review

Almost everything feels right about the Amazon Fire TV Stick, but most of all is its $40/£35 price tag. It's $10/£5 more than Chromecast, but $10/£10 less than the Roku Streaming Stick; it feels like a supremely good value for what you get in the box.
Where Amazon Fire TV Stick stumbles, however, is its deep-rooted attachment to its mother service, Amazon Prime. Without Prime, the set-top stick feels devoid of personality.

Yes, you can still get those great aforementioned apps, yes you'll zip around from one section of the interface to the next thanks to its powerful components, and yes you'll even get a 30-day trial for free just for buying the streaming stick – but, after the trial runs out or you choose not to commit to Amazon's service, the whole experience feels sterile without Prime.

Design, setup and performance

At this point in the game, a streaming stick is nothing new. It's a plastic, thumb drive-sized device that plugs into any HDMI port (not just MHL-equipped ports) and draws power from a USB port on the TV or from a wall outlet via the included converter. The exterior itself isn't all that exciting – it's 3.3 x 1.0 x 0.5 inches (84.9 x 25.0 x 11.5 mm) and has the Amazon logo on one side – but it's the lack of any distinct features that help the Fire TV Stick blend into the back of any TV. It even comes with an HDMI extender cable in case you've got a wall-mounted setup and no additional space to spare in the back.
Amazon Fire TV Stick review

While these extras are something the $30 Chromecast comes standard with, the more expensive, $50 Roku Streaming Stick does not. Sometimes, it's the simple things in life that really count, and Amazon scores major points for putting the consumer first.
After you've got the stick firmly seated in an HDMI port you've got to provide a power solution. You'll need to connect the micro-USB powered stick to either a USB port on the TV or, attach the adapter and plug it into the wall. If you choose the former, you'll get a warning when you boot the system up for the first time. It'll tell you that it can't draw enough power from the USB port to provide the ideal experience.
The TV I used for testing, a TCL Roku TV (ironic, I know), had more than enough power for the job and never once did the streaming stick fail due to lack of juice. If you're in a similar situation, just ignore the warning and move on.But, besides the one micro-USB port on the exterior, you won't find any other ports on the sides of the Fire TV Jr., which means there's no way to hardwire the device to your router.
Stick

In practice, this lead to a few hiccups here and there, but because it's equipped with dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO) and supports 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi networks, the Stick can handle some the diciest of connections with ease, though, without a hard-line in this is certainly a YMMV situation.

Specifications, apps and navigation

It's impressive that the Amazon Fire TV Stick requires so little energy, especially once you find out what the Fire TV Stick has going on inside the box – namely, a Broadcom dual-core processor, 1GB of memory and 8GB of storage. Comparing that to the Chromecast, which sports a single-core processor, 512MB of memory and 2GB of memory, Amazon's miniature stick comes out the clear winner.

Apps and games

Where the full-size set-top boxes like the Nexus Player and Apple TV struggle with too little content to choose from on their platforms, Amazon Fire TV has an abundance of apps at your disposal. All of the primary suspects are here and accounted for: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant, Showtime, NFL Network, Pandora, Spotify, Crackle and more. The only service that's nowhere to be seen is HBO Go, which seems to be a trend in most modern boxes.
While the Roku 3 sports over 1,000 channels (read: apps), the Fire TV Stick has a number closer to several hundred with multi-function apps and games mixed in with the entertainment channels.
Amazon Fire TV Stick review

Perusing the store, I discovered some new interesting apps like TripSmart – a travel channel that provides videos on exotic locales – and an old favorite, 2048, optimized for the big screen. Like Roku, there's a lot of shovelware mixed in with the good stuff, which means you'll have to root around the mud to find the two or three real gems in a given list.
Games are also present and accounted for on Amazon's smaller system, and for the most part the less-intensive titles play incredibly well. Disappointingly though, you won't find many graphically demanding games here like The Walking Dead Season 1 or 2.
Nor are you likely to spot Grand Theft Auto here anytime soon. That doesn't seem to be due to any fault of the hardware – the system boasts the right specs for those higher-end games – the content simply isn't there.
Tv Stick

The lack of games doesn't necessarily hurt the system, however. If you want to have a streaming system that's jam-packed with gaming goodness, consider the full-size Amazon Fire TV or Nexus Player. Both have a dedicated gamepad sold separately and have a great selection of titles.
Speaking of separate controllers, the full-size Amazon Fire controller can also be paired with the Fire TV Stick. But many of the 200-plus games available on the console don't necessarily need – or work better – with a controller instead of the standard remote. Home entertainment enthusiasts, on the other hand, will be glad to see Plex here, as it has been MIA on a few of the other systems I've tested recently. PlayStation TV: I'm looking at you.
The launch line-up of apps is as strong as it's going to be outside of a Roku product, and though I wish it were a little more AAA game-oriented and much more platform-agnostic (searches only return Amazon content. Also, a shared Google Play library would more than make up for any shortcomings in selection). That said, this is still a fairly balanced ecosystem.

Remote

One of the biggest advantages of buying the Amazon Fire TV Stick over the other guys is the remote. It weighs next to nothing and errs on the cheap side, but on it you'll find a few sparse, but powerful, buttons: back, home, menu, rewind, play/pause and fast forward. At the top you'll find a circular directional pad and a central button that does just about everything else.
TV Stick

If you're a Fire TV owner you'll notice that this remote doesn't come with the built-in mic and voice-search button. The functionality still exists if you use the accompanying Fire TV app, but it doesn't exist on the pack-in peripheral. If you really need it, though, Amazon sells the full-size remote separately for $40 or allows you to sync your old Fire TV remote to the Stick without much of a problem.
Amazon Fire TV Stick review

The remote also works over Bluetooth, which means it won't need direct line of sight to the Stick itself – a handy feature considering 95% of users will want to keep the Fire TV out of sight behind the television. It may not win the award for "most durable remote," but the remote is exactly like the Stick: simple and efficient.

Interface and navigation

The interface is a direct replica of the full-size Amazon Fire TV's menu. It's crowded and content-rich, making it a bustling, ever-evolving free-for-all for something to watch. It's may not be as clean-cut or aesthetically pleasing as some of the other menus we've seen on rival boxes, but Amazon chose to leave well enough alone and it's hard to argue against that reasoning.
The users who'll see the most benefit here are compulsive Amazon media shoppers. Anytime you buy or rent a show or movie from Amazon, it will populate automatically in the "video library" sub-menu on the home screen. By doing this, Amazon builds a positive reinforcement cycle of buying new content on its storefront then showcasing everything you own in one centralized location.
And, thankfully, zipping around from one section of the interface to the next takes no time at all. The hardware delivers responsive results in tenths of a second and, when you finally decide on what to watch, Amazon's predictive technology takes things one step further by pre-loading the first few seconds of the Amazon Instant movies you are most likely to watch.