IT News Head Lines (Techradar) 7/9/2015

Report suggests the Apple Watch is failing

Apart from the odd setback like MobileMe or casting Ashton Kutcher in Jobs, Apple is generally synonymous with success. But the times may be a-changin' as a Palo Alto research company claims Apple Watch sales have become disastrous.
Using e-receipts from 2.5 million online shoppers in the US, the analytics company Slice Intelligence has tweeted a graph estimating that the number of Apple Watch sales has plummeted to under 5,000 units per day. A stark comparison from the 30,000 to 35,000 units per day the company was pushing in the weeks after its launch.
At the ReCode conference in May, Apple's senior vice president of operations, Jeff Williams, said that the Apple watch was selling "a lot, but not enough.
The Slice Intelligence data compares sales at the time Williams said this to now, which shows Apple was selling around seven times more watches on average than it has in the past month.

Rumor has it

Apple hasn't publicly commented on the sales of the Apple Watch and though these statistics are an estimate, they seem to back up last week's reigned in sales estimate from Wall Street securities analytics firm Pacific Crest.
Slice Intelligence claims that the company's data correlates with both Amazon's and the US Department of Commerce's sales figures by more than 97 percent, which does lend it some credence.
There's a chance the company may put the issue to rest and release sales figures in for the Watch when it releases its Q3 results later this month, although it could also lump the numbers in with the company's 'other' products.

• Check out the Apple Music review

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Minecraft's "digital Lego" recommended for the classroom

Video games are often criticised in the media for their violent content, or for potential negative effects stemming from an overindulgence, such as childhood obesity and poor relationships.
But gaming can be beneficial, too, keeping gamers sharp and, now, helping out in the classroom.
Researchers from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia have started urging educators to embrace the extremely popular Minecraft game as a teaching assistant.
Associate Professor Michael Dezuanni likens Minecraft to digital Lego, saying it helps students to better engage with maths, design, art and geography.

Build 'em up

"We've seen some real success with engagement, problem solving students, with design and their creative work," says Dezuanni.
"The teachers working with those students have been quite impressed by the way students work with the game as well."
Dezuanni also explains that the game has proven particularly successful in engaging students who haven't responded to more traditional teaching methods.
"One of the things that teachers were most excited about, was that it involved students who weren't traditionally successful in the classroom, so suddenly these students were successful, the other students saw them as leaders in the classroom."

• The game is even more fit for the classroom now that users can play Minecraft as girls.

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Rdio launches new curated stations to take on Apple Music

With the recent launch Apple Music providing the entire world with a live, 24-hour streaming radio station called Beats 1, rival streaming service Rdio had to do something drastic to keep its name in the game, which is why it has launched a bunch of curated radio stations in several new territories around the globe.
Rdio already had stations available to users in the United States, Canada, and UK, but now its reach has expanded to Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
Unlike Beats 1, the stations won’t be live, and won’t feature celebrity hosts like Zane Lowe, but there will be more listening variety on offer, with label-curated options from the likes of from Arts & Crafts, DFA, Blue Note, Glassnote Records, and XL to choose from, among others that were already available.
Listeners will also be able to enjoy curated content from various key-local and social ‘influencers’, such as Hype Machine, Consequence of Sound, A.V.Club and Country Weekly, among others.
Best of all, Rdio’s new radio stations, like Beats 1, are completely free to all users.

• Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Rdio… which one should you pick?

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NBA basketball player blames iPhone 6 for elbow injury

This may be a literal stretch, but NBA star Matt Bonner seems to think that his new iPhone is so big that it resulted in "tennis below" that affected his basketball season.
The San Antonio Spurs player, now a free agent waiting to be signed again, saw a sharp drop in his shooting percent, from a 11-year NBA average of 41.4% to last year's 36.5%.
"I hate to make excuses," Bonner told the Concord Monitor. "I was raised to never make excuses." And with that, he gave us an excuse.
"When the new iPhone came out it was way bigger than the last one, and I think because I got that new phone it was a strain to use it, you have to stretch further to hit the buttons.
"I honestly think that's how I ended up developing it," he said.

Hope is on the way

Whether or not Matt "the Red Mamba" Bonner is able to rejoin his again remains to be seen, but help may be on the way when the iPhone 6S launches.
Apple is rumored to also be readying a smaller iPhone 6C, with dimensions closer to the 4-inch iPhone 5S and plastic iPhone 5C.
There are plenty of people we have talked to that refuse to upgrade to the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, even with the helpful reachability software features.
While all of the best phones and most popular phones are even bigger than the iPhone 6, not everyone is appreciates phablets like the 5.1-inch Samsung Galaxy S6.

• Advice to Bonner? Don't wait for the even bigger Galaxy Note 5

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Your next Qantas flight could be a Game of Thrones marathon

For the first time ever you may find yourself wishing that your international flight could be a little longer, with the announcement that Qantas will be screening HBO's best shows on flights from this month.
Qantas has announced it will be adding four new channels to its in-flight entertainment system, with one dedicated to HBO's uniquely addictive approach to television.
The lineup features current HBO programs like Game of Thrones, True Detective and Silicon Valley, as well as older shows like The Sopranos and Sex and the City for anyone who has some serious catching up to do.

The next episode

Qantas' HBO offering is due to a multi-channel deal the airline has struck with Foxtel, Australia's exclusive HBO reseller, which will see the three remaining new channels allocated to Entertainment by Foxtel, National Geographic and Lifestyle by Foxtel.
Qantas will be adding 20 hours of HBO programming to its in-flight entertainment every month, with 120 hours set to be rolled out in total.
So the next time you're being invited to disembark your flight, you may find yourself pleading with the airline staff: "Just one more episode, please?"

• Would you rather access Foxtel's content at home? Then check out our Foxtel Play review.

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Review: Updated: Amazon Fire TV

Introduction

Update #1: Check out the "Music, photos and games" section below to read our thoughts on the Fire TV-exclusive GameFly game streaming app.
Update #2: Music streaming service Rdio is coming to Amazon Fire TV.
Original review below...
With the introduction of Fire TV, behemoth online retailer Amazon has entered the streaming set-top box battle that may ultimately determine the future of how we get content into our TVs. The device is competitive on both price and performance with Roku 3, Apple TV and Google Chromecast and seems squarely aimed at overthrowing those established players.
More competition has come along since its launch in 2014 (like the Nexus Player), but Amazon's stalwart box still holds one of the top two spots on our shelves. Why? The product, like Amazon itself, is friendly, powerful, and innovative and tackles some of the critical consumer complaints associated with the current streaming boxes.
Amazon explicitly stated that it wanted to address three problem areas about the consumer streaming experience: poor performance, closed ecosystems and cumbersome search.

In terms of performance they have a clear winner on their hands. Fire TV is consistently snappy and responsive, thanks to some relatively beefy silicon inside.
It's a fairly open platform too (you'll find Netflix and HBO Go here), but its interface consistently tilts toward Amazon's offerings.
It can't access content from iTunes or Google Play (no surprise), but does support a wide array of third party services - including the highly coveted Sling TV app - and will presumably be adding more as time goes on. Third-party services, however, are relegated to second-class status within Fire TV's user interface. They sit in the system's "Apps" tab, while the system's prominent Movies, TV, Watchlist and My Library tabs all feed directly to Amazon's offerings.
The system's first-party offerings are always in plain view and accessible directly from the home screen. Third-party offerings tend to take some clicking and scrolling to get to.
While Amazon may overemphasize its own offerings, it's worth noting that the company has been putting serious work into beefing up its Amazon Prime Unlimited Streaming library. Along with a slate of well-produced original content, the company made a deal that will fold HBO's original programming (for shows more than 3 years old) into Prime Unlimited Streaming. They may not have Netflix's numbers yet, but Amazon is clearly becoming a serious player in the ongoing streaming services war.
In addition, Amazon recently launched its Prime Music service on the Fire TV that gives Amazon Prime users streaming access to an extensive library of top-tier music across a panoply of genres.
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm5BGZ8t7uE
Other recent additions to the platform include Bluetooth headphone support, as well as expanded memory via USB - something users have been clamoring for since launch.
Search has been addressed with a slick voice recognition feature that uses a microphone on the remote to allow consumers to speak their searches instead of hunting and pecking across an on-screen letter grid. With access to cloud processing to handle the heavy lifting of voice recognition, the system does an excellent job of understanding what you're trying to tell it. However, voice searches only scan for Amazon and Vevo content, an unfortunate decision that significantly undercuts the utility of this breakthrough feature. Amazon has announced that it will be adding support for searching the catalogs of Hulu Plus, Crackle and Showtime Anytime. However, even with these additions, the device's tantalizing voice search function remains deeply underpowered.
Amazon has included some compelling extras, including the ability to view photos users have stored on Amazon Cloud Drive, and playback for Music purchased through its MP3 store. It's also put special focus on games with this system and thanks to a more powerful processor and Amazon's optional dedicated game controller ($40) Kindle Fire's gaming options surpass the Angry Birds-level options offered on similar devices. Still, most games are ports of existing Android titles that already run on the Kindle HDX, so while the games look and play well on the system, it doesn't have a patch on dedicated gaming consoles (which, to be fair, are typically far more expensive).
One potential differentiator for families is Amazon's integration of its FreeTime area, which allows parents to precisely proscribe the content kids access and their time on the system. It's an interesting offering that's not available on most other streaming boxes, however, it has its own set of drawbacks as well (see FreeTime section for further details).

Hardware and design

The box itself is about the size of a small external hard drive, or two CD jewel cases stacked on top of one another. Think of a tiny, squared-off version of the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey lying flat. Its exterior is sleek and minimalist, with the only contrast coming from glossy black lettering on a matte black background. At 0.7 inches thick, all of its visual cues seem to be telling you, "Don't see me." Its rear side is devoted to the essential ports: power, HDMI, optical audio, Ethernet and USB.

Under the hood, Fire TV is quite powerful compared to its competitors, sporting a quad-core processor, a discrete GPU and 2GB of RAM. Amazon claims it has three times the processing power of Apple TV, Chromecast or Roku 3, and says it can process 57 billion floating point operations per second. You can wire it into your router via Ethernet, but if that's inconvenient, Fire TV also packs two dual-band Wi-Fi antennas. All of this adds up to notably snappy menu performance. Movie titles fly by in the interface, transitioning between services is fast and the system handles itself well when tasked with rendering games.
The Fire TV's minimalist matte black remote is similar in functionality to Roku's, with seven glossy black buttons and a directional selector. It uses Bluetooth to communicate, eliminating line-of sight issues and allowing you to stash the box inside a cabinet or behind a TV. There are buttons for back, home, menu, rewind play/pause and fast forward. Topping the remote on its own is the microphone button that may one day be Fire TV's secret weapon (but not now, for more on this see the Interface and Search section).

Setup

As with Roku 3 and Apple TV, Fire TV's setup is eerily simple, and consists of connecting two or three wires (power, HDMI and an optional ethernet cable). If you don't have it wired to your router, the system will walk you through forging a WiFi connection. As with the Kindle Fire, when you order a Fire TV, Amazon pre-links it to your Amazon account, so after a quick (unskippable) tutorial video you're immediately able to browse Amazon Instant and Amazon Prime videos along with any photos in your cloud drive. Third party apps must be downloaded and set up separately with their own credentials. In terms of simplicity, the setup process is a win, but its lack of customization options leaves you at the mercy of the one-size-fits-all menu hierarchy Amazon has created (more on this later).

Movies and TV

Naturally, the system provides full-spectrum access to Amazon's cloud video services, and Amazon Instant and Amazon Prime Video are both well (if not over) represented. At launch, Fire TV offered 40 third-party channels, a far cry from the hundreds available on Roku and Chromecast, but more are slowly-but-surely trickling in. Predictably however, iTunes and Google Play are not available on the system, nor are they likely to be.
Amazon is touting Fire TV's innards as a competitive advantage in terms of movie performance, but while menus move quickly, our tests didn't uncover much difference in terms of speed to open third party apps or start playing videos as compared with Roku 3 or AppleTV.

Amazon's native offerings, on the other hand, clearly get a boost from living on their home hardware. First off, all of Amazon's content is accessible from the main menu of the system's OS and can start playing without first launching an app. Secondly, Amazon is introducing a feature called ASAP, which is designed to pre-cache video content for you based on your habits and preferences. I saw this in action when I watched the 11th episode of Alpha House (I had previously watched the first 10 episodes, but not on the Fire TV). Impressively, playback began instantaneously when I clicked, with no load time or buffering. Supposedly the system will make more inferences over time as it monitors my actions. It's a smart, effective system, but as only Amazon's offerings can use it, it's one more way the playing field inside Fire TV is tilted to the home team's advantage.

Music, photos and gaming

Amazon's added a music channel post-launch that allows consumers to access any music stored in their cloud drive (all MP3s bought through Amazon are stored in your Cloud Drive for free), as well as support for its Prime Music service, which offers access to a large library of quality music tracks organized into curated playlists. Fire TV also supports third party music services such as iHeartRadio, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn and, most recently, Rdio.
The photo channel provides a way to access any photos or videos you have stored in Amazon Cloud Drive. Amazon provides a free 5GB of storage for all accounts, and more can be purchased via subscription. The system works simply and seamlessly. You can upload photos from your computer, or use Amazon's iOS or Android apps to automatically put any photos you take up on the cloud. In addition to letting you page through slide shows, Fire TV can be set to use your images as a screensaver when the system is idle.
It's clear Amazon sees games as a key piece of their strategy with this box. The idea here seems to be to capture casual gamers who aren't sufficiently invested to buy a $400 to $500 dedicated games console, not a bad bet in a time when mobile gaming is reaching more consumers than ever. Since Fire TV runs the latest version of Amazon's Fire OS ("Mojito"), which is based on Android, it's relatively easy for existing Android games to be ported to work on the system and developers I spoke with from Telltale Games (The Walking Dead) and Mojang (Minecraft) both emphasized how easy it was to move their games onto the platform from their existing games, both of which already run on the Kindle Fire HDX.

Amazon's seriousness about gaming is best exemplified by its creation of a dedicated game controller for the system (sold separately, $40). While serviceable, the controller doesn't show the same polish as the rest of the system. Looking like a cross between an Xbox 360 controller and the Ouya controller, the feel of the face buttons and sticks is solid, but its shoulder buttons are a bit stiff and the triggers have a shallow travel that feels unsatisfying. It's worth noting that many of the games on the system (primarily those with simple tablet-type controls) are playable with only the remote.
Standout titles include Minecraft, The Walking Dead Seasons 1 and 2, Telltale's Game of Thrones, Terraria, Zen Pinball, You Don't Know Jack, Crossy Road, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and the original Sonic The Hedgehog games.

The controller also sports all the buttons on the remote (including play/pause, fwd and rew), allowing you to easily manipulate the system's media options via the controller.
But the newest and most impressive capability of the box and its gamepad is the ability to stream games via GameFly's Fire TV-exclusive app. The app itself is free to download and currently supports 36 titles ranging from triple-A titles like Batman: Arkham City, Sleeping Dogs, Hitman: Absolution and Darksiders 2 to lesser known titles like Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams and Blaz Blue: Continuum.
The app streams at a solid 720p resolution and hovers around 30 frames per second. It firmly requires a wired ethernet connection however, and can't be used over Wi-Fi.
Overall performance was solid, but couldn't quite rival that of PlayStation Now or Nvidia Grid, the latter of which is free to owners of the competing Nvidia Shield Android TV set-top box. At around $10 for one month's access to 16 titles, the pricing is fair but might provide just enough of a barrier to entry to stop some users from investing in the service.

Interface and search

Amazon has built an amazingly elegant solution to search in this device, thanks to a microphone embedded in the remote and cloud-powered voice recognition. Unfortunately, the way they have implemented this breakthrough feature is deeply anti-consumer. Voice recognition is accurate and solves the aggravating problem of tapping in your searches in via an on-screen letter grid. However, Amazon has destroyed most of the value of searching this way as voice searches scan only Amazon's native content library.

This search myopia isn't only limited to the voice feature though. Indeed there is currently no way to search across services on the device. When I search Roku for a film it tells me if it's on Netflix, Crackle and others as well as if it's on Amazon. I ran into several scenarios where I searched for content I know is on another service (that I'm already paying for) and was only presented the option of buying or renting it from Amazon. It's the device's most serious flaw and Amazon should address if they want their device to be as consumer-friendly as they claim.
Amazon's self-bias is even more striking in the menu structure it has created. Of the 10 top-level tabs on its home screen (Search, Home, Movies, TV, Watchlist, Video Library, Games, Apps, Photos, Settings), all but three (Home, Games and Apps) are for Amazon services. Third party apps are relegated to the "Apps" tab. Thus, four of the highest-level menu items are devoted to different aspects of Amazon's video services, while a single menu item at the bottom of the page houses 40-plus third party apps. Certain high-profile apps (Netflix, Hulu) are profiled on the Home tab under Featured Apps and Games (which sits just below the "Recently Added To Prime" area). To make matters worse, the Apps tab is populated by games as well as apps (the Games tab only has games in it), making that area even more cluttered than it has to be.
In short, Amazon seems to be going out of its way to bury third-party apps on the system. It's not a dealbreaker, as most consumers will be aware of the services they want on their device and figure out how to find them, but it's irksome that these services require several extra clicks to access and can't be customized. Tip: Voice search can be used to navigate to apps you have installed and is often the fastest and easiest way to find a given app.

Freetime

FreeTime, FireTV's most ironically named feature, is there to make 100% sure your children are not free to watch whatever they would like. In addition, the service costs $5 per month, making it the opposite of both meanings of the word "free" (though Amazon does offer a 1-month free trial of the service).
The idea behind FreeTime is a solid one. We're sure many parents would appreciate the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your children are only accessing content from trusted and age-appropriate sources. In practice, however, FreeTime has a long way to go before we can recommend paying extra money to access it (let alone recommend it as a reason to buy the system).
The service operates by having parents create profiles for each child in the household, then white-list specific apps and video content they want that child to have access to. In addition, the system lets parents specify how much time each child is allowed to spend on the system per day in increments of 15 minutes, as well as blocking off certain times. For example, I could allow one child an hour of FireTV time between 4pm and 8pm. And if I were feeling especially mean, I could allow another child four hours of screen time, but only between 2am and 6am. Parents can also set whether a child's time spent on apps, video or either.
The primary flaw in the system is its selection of video content. Currently FreeTime only allows parents to white-list individual videos that has been either purchased from Amazon or are available via Amazon Prime Instant Video. Netflix and other apps are available, but if you give your kid access, they can see every movie on that service (meaning that adding them to your child's library undermines the entire point of FreeTime). Given how open FireTV's ecosystem is and how much wonderful children's content is available on Hulu Plus, Netflix and others, it feels ridiculous (and possibly manipulative) to allow parent's to only proscribe choices that only come from Amazon's libraries.
In addition, FreeTime must be activated for it to work. Once the system is signed into FreeTime mode for a given kid, the countdown timer starts and it's impossible to exit to the main menu without entering a PIN. However, if an unsupervised kid is tech-savvy enough to get the system turned on by themselves (and newsflash, most are) they'll have full access to everything until FreeTime is activated. Also, when the PIN is entered (as it must be to change content choices), the magic numbers are plainly visible on screen, not even obscured by asterisks. And this is all assuming that the FireTV is the only source of content connected to the TV. The idea of this being a serious impediment to any media-hungry kid over age six is a little absurd.
The idea behind FreeTime is sound, but in its current half-executed form, it's largely useless, primarily due to its lack of hooks into the other video apps on the system. FreeTime is not yet a compelling reason to buy FireTV, even for those with small children they want to safely park in front of the flatscreen. Thankfully for FireTV, FreeTime is not its only trick and the box is compelling enough on its other merits to justify purchase. We hope to see Amazon work to improve this feature down the road.

Amazon Fire TV vs the Amazon Fire TV Stick

The Amazon Fire TV Stick packs everything we love about the full-size box into a petite, powerful form factor. For better or worse the interfaces are identical and lean heavily on Prime content.
The big differences between the two streamers are the remotes (the Stick's stick doesn't have a built-in mic), and the silicon inside the machines. By and large the Amazon Fire TV proper has better internals and therefore can play games like the gorgeously addicting Crossy Road and Zen Pinball without a problem. The Amazon Fire TV Stick has gaming capabilities too, however, you're more apt to find Solitaire and Threes than you are anything more complex.
If you're just looking for a streamer and don't mind a bit more lag time when starting a show or film, then save yourself some cash and check out the pint-sized stick instead.

Verdict

Amazon is entering the set top box wars at a very interesting time and with a very compelling product, especially for heavy users of Amazon's digital services. At $100 it's priced competitively with Roku 3 and Apple TV, and we expect the gaps in its channel lineup to be filled in the coming months. It's clear now that the retailer was not waiting, it was watching. Almost every aspect of the Fire TV attempts to improve or refine the aspects of the Roku, Apple TV and Chromecast that currently vex consumers. And as a powerhouse retailer, it's certain Amazon put the reams of customer data to which it is privy to heavy use.

We liked

It's a beefy box with processing capacity to spare. Amazon services are quick and easy to access and its ASAP feature pre-caches Amazon content for you so you can watch instantly. Voice search is the kind of breakthrough you wonder why we didn't see earlier in these devices. It's an open system with most of the must-have apps and channels. Photos were a very pleasant surprise and Amazon seems to be attacking gaming with a diligence we have not seen from their competition.

We disliked

It's hard to escape the fact that Fire TV's interface tilts toward Amazon's offerings. We would like to see more visibility for third-party apps in the main menu, as well as customization offerings. The inability of its search function to scan across all of its services (as Roku does) makes the feature worthless unless you are only interested in Amazon's offerings. Customers who aren't sure where to find a particular piece of content will be forced back to searching the web for information.

Verdict

This device is simple to use and works well. If you are significantly bought in to Amazon's services, it's hard to go wrong with this box. However, if you are not an Amazon customer or even an Amazon customer who doesn't have or want Amazon Prime, then you might think twice. The device is clearly tilted toward Amazon customers, and nothing short of a full UI overhaul is going to change that. We'd like to at least see Amazon allow some kind of user customization in the interface. Until then, we're calling this device great, but not perfect.











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New Virgin America in-flight Wi-Fi will put others to shame

Virgin America is taking on the woes of snail-like in-flight Wi-Fi, announcing that it will begin trialing new tech that could give passengers connectivity fast enough to stream videos from services like Netflix, YouTube and Hulu.
A new partnership with ViaSat will allow the airline to leverage ViaSat's Ku/Ka-band antenna, which, according to Virgin America, includes "the highest capacity Ka-band satellite in the world offering 140 gigabits-per-second."
"ViaSat's technology will deliver internet speeds that are typically 8- to 10-times faster than any other in-flight WiFi system - allowing travelers to experience internet speeds similar to what they have at home, with the freedom to watch, stream video and shop directly on any connected device when in-flight," Virgin America said in its announcement.
ViaSat's VP and GM for Commercial Mobility said that with the company's technology, passengers could get "an in-flight, online experience just like they'd get on the ground - including streaming high-quality video."

Trails for speed

Virgin America will begin trails with one aircraft starting in September, while the roll-out will continue next year on 10 of the airline's new A320 aircrafts scheduled for Hawaiian routes.
Virgin America hasn't yet decided if it will eventually roll-out the new tech to the rest of its fleet.
During trials, the airline will offer free Wi-Fi to passengers on the first ViaSat-equipped aircraft, with pricing to be introduced next year with the final roll-out.
Hopefully, all of this signals of a time where we won't be stuck on loading pages and dropped connections while traveling across the world.

• In-flight Wi-Fi: where is it and why is it taking so long?

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OnePlus 2 RAM revealed ahead of launch

The OnePlus 2 looks like it'll be one powerful phone, with OnePlus taking to its blog to announce one more spec for the upcoming handset: staggering 4GB LPDDR4 RAM.
"With LPDDR4, you'll see faster loading times, smoother gameplay, and never-before-seen energy saving features," OnePlus wrote on its blog.
"Not only will the experience on the OnePlus 2 be smoother and sleeker, but your battery life will benefit as well."
Observers will note this is one more GB of RAM than the OnePlus 2's predecessor, the OnePlus One.

OnePlus power

The OnePlus 2 is already set to come sporting a Snapdragon 810 SoC processor, which will be powerful enough to utilize the 4GB of RAM at its fullest.
The only other specs confirmed (in slow, almost weekly trickles) include the new reversible USB Type-C port, a fingerprint scanner equipped with Android Pay and a price tag lower than $450 (about £291, AU$604).
Set to launch on July 27 (with a VR stream), it'll be a couple weeks more before we find out all the details of the OnePlus 2.

• Read our Sony Xperia Z3 review

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Amazon Prime Instant Video TV shows and movies: What's new for July 2015

Amazon Prime Instant Video

Real talk: Maybe you didn't buy a subscription to Amazon Prime for its accompanying video streaming service, Amazon Prime Instant Video. It could've been a complete afterthought, and, if we're being honest, you might've considered overlooking the service completely in favor of Netflix, the staple service for streaming video.
First off, be glad you didn't pass up on Amazon's video service. Just because Amazon's Prime Instant Video library isn't as extensive as Netflix doesn't mean it lacks its own stable of quality content. From original content like Transparent, Alpha House and Mozart in the Jungle to HBO favorites like True Blood and The Wire, and new shows and movies added every month, there are plenty of excellent series to watch after you finish ordering that last-minute birthday gift from Amazon.
But before we divulge our favorite new shows and the best new films, let's talk about what Amazon Prime Instant video is, how to get it and how much it's going to cost.

Prime Instant Video price and how to get it

Amazon, the major online retailer that sells everything under the sun and can ship almost anything in under 24 hours, has two video streaming services, Amazon Instant Video and Prime Instant Video.
The former is a video rental and purchasing platform implemented a few years back to sell digital copies of movies and TV shows directly to consumers without the need for physical copies. You're able to rent content for a few hours for a couple of bucks or, if you'd rather own it indefinitely, purchase the content outright.
The latter, Prime Instant Video, is a bit smaller than Amazon's digital marketplace, but works like an all-you-can-eat buffet for Amazon Prime subscribers. Essentially, as long as you shell out the $99/£79 per year asking price, you'll get a front-row seat to hundreds of TV shows and movies all without ever worrying about how much it's going to cost.
So how do you start? Head over to Amazon Prime and sign up for the 30-day free trial to see if the service fits your need. After 30 days, you'll start an annual subscription at full price.
Now, if you're new to Prime Instant Video, skip down to the "best shows and movies" sections found below. If you're a veteran binge-watcher, however, and are just looking for something new, here's every new show and movie coming to Amazon this month.

New TV shows and movies (updated for July)

Here's all the shows and movies coming to Amazon Prime Instant Video in the month of July, sorted by chronological order:
July 1

• Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)
• Downton Abbey (Season 5)
• Drive Me Crazy (1999)
• The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)
• Thumbelina (1994)
• Bulworth (1998)
• Heidi (2005)
• Wayne's World 2 (1993)
• 48 HRS. (1982)
• The Bad News Bears (1976)
• The Brady Bunch Movie (1995)
• The Butcher's Wife (1991)
• Cadillac Radio
• Dirty Dancing (1987)
• Dragonslayer (1981)
• Flashdance (1983)
• Friends & Lovers (2005)
• Harlem Nights (1989)
• Heaven Can Wait (1978)
• King Kong (2005)
• The Odd Couple (1968)
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
• Stuart Saves His Family (1995)
• UHF (1989)
• The Warriors (1979)

July 2

• Annedroids (Season 2)
• Glory (1989)
• Underworld Evolution (2006)

July 3

• Gandhi (1982)
• Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

July 5

• Extant (Season 2)

July 10

• The Expendables 3 (2014)

July 11

• Two Men in Town (2015)

July 16

• Boardwalk Empire (Season 3)
• True Blood (Season 5)

July 18

• Glee (Season 6)

July 23

• The Newsroom (Season 1 and Season 2)
• Jim Norton: Contextually Inadequate (2015)

Best TV shows on Amazon Prime Instant Video

There's no shortage of great series on Amazon. There are so many in fact, we've even written a whole article about it. (See: The Best Amazon Prime Instant TV series.)
But to save you a few clicks and some precious seconds, here are the top three shows you absolutely need to watch the second you subscribe to Amazon Prime Instant Video.

Transparent (Season 1)
Transparent is everything you want in a TV show. It's funny, it's heartfelt and, most importantly, it tackles an issue that doesn't get a lot of attention: transgenderism. As likely to make you cry as it is to make you laugh, this excellent drama follows a divorced man (played by Jeffrey Tambor) as he attempts to tell his conceited children about the emotional anguish of feeling like a woman in a man's body.

The Wire (Seasons 1-5)
Following the "infrequently seen, but needs to be discussed" category is The Wire, a show that premiered on HBO in 2002 that cut its teeth on the topics of race and racism in the eyes of the law. Even though the show's last credits rolled seven years ago, there's a level of pertinence that echoes in the Zeitgeist of police shootings that pop-up all-too-often in the news.

Alpha House (Seasons 1-2)
While we love TV with real purpose, craftsmanship and a philosophical undertone, sometimes it's nice to sit back, relax and watch John Goodman do a near-perfect interpretation of a Southern congressman dealing with the red-tape and dirty politics on Capitol Hill. Need permission to binge-watch both seasons? Motion granted.

Best movies on Amazon Prime Instant Video

Amazon Instant's video library is an immense place filled with amazing classic films from the golden days of the silver screen and topped off with a splash of modern-day masterpieces. While there's not enough time to dive into the deep-end with Amazon's library, here are three of the best films you can find on Prime Instant Video that you can't miss.

Blade Runner
"What makes a man human?" While Descartes may have summarized it the most eloquently in his five-word declaration "I think therefore I am," it wasn't until director Ridley Scott took Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" that a work of art so skillfully took a crack at the question.

Apocalypse Now
A riddle, wrapped up in a mystery, inside an enigma, Apocalypse Now poses questions that have no answers, and while it may come off as a bit heady it absolutely remains one of the best films on war, power and humanity ever made.

Annie Hall
Sometimes soliloquy has no place in films. It's pandering. Spoonfeeding. But there are scenes in Annie Hall that Woodie Allen's soliloquy feels more natural than the already great acting. It adds an extra layer of thought to the deep musings of what it means to fall in and out of love and ultimately makes this a more of a relatable film than a stereotypical romantic comedy could ever hope be.
Want even more streaming shows? Check out our list of the best online video streaming services, Hulu and Hulu Plus: the latest TV shows and movies to stream and list of new shows and movies on Netflix.











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PlayStation Now update makes getting in the game even faster

When PlayStation Now launched on PS4 back in January, we had our reservations.
The service charged an exorbitant amount of money for short rental periods, lacked any sort of subscription option and, perhaps most egregious of all, made finding the service's best content a task not even Solid Snake himself could undertake.
Today Sony announced that the last of these issues will finally be fixed. PlayStation will launch an updated version of the rental app today to all owners.
"We've completely redesigned the PS Now subscription app on PS4 to create a richer, more visual experience that makes it even easier for you to browse the catalog of 125+ games available," a representative from Sony said in an email to TechRadar. "In the new app, you'll see curated categories of games organized by theme, as well as more detailed game pages with descriptions, images and videos."

PlayStation Now's library has grown exponentially since our hands on time with it earlier this year, and additions like a Netflix-style subscription option and reduced pricing have only sweetened the pot in the past six months. An updated, graphics-heavy interface chock-full of searchable information can only add to the momentum of the streaming service's comeback.
The new-and-improved PlayStation Now app is rolling out to PS4 in North America starting today.

• These are the best games on the PS4!

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Microsoft to hike enterprise cloud pricing

With price increases set for Microsoft's business cloud products, including Azure, Office 365, CRM Online and Enterprise Mobility Suite, in a number of regions, Microsoft has remained quiet about its pricing strategy for the US. The price increase will affect customers in much of Europe, Canada and Australia starting August 1.
Email correspondence between Microsoft and Aidan Finn, Hyper-V MVP and Technical Sales Lead for a Dublin distributor, reveals that Microsoft plans on increasing prices by as much as 26% for some of its products.
"Microsoft periodically assesses our pricing to ensure there is reasonable alignment with the market. In light of the rapid evolution of the market for cloud services and evolving local dynamics, we can confirm that as of August 1, 2015, we will adjust prices for most enterprise cloud products within the EU/EFTA region," Microsoft told ZDNet, confirming that UK pricing remains unaffected.

Who is affected

The changes will apply to cloud products under new or renewing contracts, Microsoft said. These price changes won't affect customers under existing annuity volume licensing agreements.
Azure pricing will increase by 11% in the European Union and European Free Trade Association countries. Australian Azure customers will be hit with a 26% hike. Finn said that Office 365 pricing will go up by 8% to 10%, CRM Online by 10% and Enterprise Mobility Suite by 26%.
Microsoft cites currency fluctuations as cause for the price increase. Given this reasoning, and a stronger US dollar compared to the Euro, US pricing may not be immediately affected.
Coincidentally, August 1 is also when Microsoft's client-access licensing price will go up by 13% for on-premise products.
The rate increase comes at a time when Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is placing renewed focus on the cloud as part of his "cloud first, mobile first" strategy.

Windows 10

The rate increase will come just after the consumer debut of Windows 10 on July 29. Microsoft announced that Windows 10 Home will be priced at $129. European pricing is £99 or €135. With currency conversion, that amounts to $155 for UK customers and $151 for Eurozone countries.
Windows 10 will be a free upgrade during the first year of release for customers upgrading from Windows 7, 8 or 8.1, so these prices only apply if you're upgrading from an older version of Windows or if your PC doesn't come with Windows pre-installed.
Windows 10 Enterprise is not expected to arrive this month.

Office 365

Office 365 customers will be treated to a new version of the Office suite later this year. Microsoft is currently previewing Office 2016, which features better collaboration tools with real-time presence and editing, new charts, improved performance, simplified file sharing and more.
Combined with Continuum in Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile, once your tablet or smartphone is attached to a larger display, Office will scale to fit the larger screen to allow for a better, more productive user experience.

• Read our review of Office 2016

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Updated: Best printer: our recommendations for inkjets and lasers

Overview and inkjets #1-5

This article was recently updated.
In choosing the right printer, your first decision should be whether to go for a standard printer, or a multi-function device that includes a scanner and that can also work as a standalone copier.
These aren't much larger than regular printers, but they're a whole lot more versatile, especially when you need to keep a copy of a letter, a bill or any other important document.
You should also think carefully about whether to invest in an inkjet or a laser. Lasers are usually associated with office environments, where they produce sharp, smudge-free printouts quickly, quietly and economically, but this can be just as useful at home or in a home office.
With that being said, here are our picks for the best printers in each class.

Inkjet printers

1. Canon Pixma MG7520

Great for offices and amateur photographers

Print speed: 15 black ipm | Nozzles: 5,632 | Print resolution: 9600 x 2400 dpi | Paper sizes: Up to Legal | Paper capacity: 145 | Dimensions: 17.2" (W) x 14.6" (D) x 5.9" (H) | Weight: 17.4 lbs.

See more Canon Pixma MG7520 deals

Photo prints

Prine

Print speeds

Dust collection

The Canon Pixma MG7520 is a steal for photography enthusiasts who don't need to print large documents or in high-volume. This 17.4 pound printer is only 17.2" wide and 5.9" tall, so it isn't exactly compact, but it is pound-for-pound a solid device. The prints it produces are exact replicas of their digital files. You'll spend hours printing photos and loving every minute of it.
Read the full review: Canon Pixma MG7520

2. Brother MFC-J4620DW

A bulldog that does it all

Print speed: 35 black ipm | Print resolution: 6000 x 1200 dpi | Paper sizes: Up to 11" x 17" | Paper capacity: 150 | Dimensions: 18.9" x 11.4" x 7.4" | Weight: 20.6

See more Brother MFC-J4620DW deals

Compatibility and connectivity

Easy to use

Slow on max settings

Mediocre design

Brother has packed a lot of features into this device, and it has also managed to keep the price low. Ink prices aren't too frightening if you go for the high capacity cartridges, and like Brother's other inkjets it can perform at very high speeds if you're not too bothered about print quality, or produce high quality output if you're willing to be patient.
Read the full review: Brother MFC-J4620DW

3. Epson WorkForce WF-100

Tiny, but all you really need

Print speed: 6.7 black ipm | Print resolution: 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi | Paper sizes: Up to A6 | Paper capacity: 20 sheets | Dimensions: 12.2" x 9.1" x 8.5" (W x D x H) | Weight: 3.5lbs.

See more Epson WorkForce WF-100 deals

Small

Light

Slow

Low capacity

The Epson WorkForce WF-100 is perfect for the user who travels, or even for the space-conscious or low-printing consumer. The built-in WiFi makes it easy to print on multiple devices and the built-in rechargeable battery is very impressive.
Read the full review: Epson WorkForce WF-100

4. Canon Maxify MB5320 review

The only All-in-One you'll need

Print speed: 23 black ipm | Nozzles: 3,072 | Print resolution: 600 x 1200 dpi | Paper sizes: Up to Legal | Paper capacity: 250 | Dimensions: 18.3" (W) x 18.1" (D) x 13.9" (H) | Weight: 28.8

See more Canon Maxify MB5320 deals

High paper volume

Connectivity

Photo & graphic printing

Awful resolution

The MB5320 is a wireless inkjet all-in-one printer that is available in the US only for $399.99. It comes with a stacked feature set and robust paper handling that should limit paper jams and spills. The price is a bit steep for the target market (small businesses), and users looking to get high-quality graphic and photo creation, might be disappointed by the quality.
However, the Canon MB5320 would be a sound addition to any small or home office looking for an efficient printer that can handle large volumes of paper without a ton of maintenance.
Read the full review: Canon Maxify MB5320

5. Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4630

Economical print costs for volume printing

Print speed: 20 black ipm | Print resolution: 4800 x 1200 optimized dpi | Paper sizes: value | Paper capacity: 330 sheets | Dimensions: 18.1" x 25.8" x 15.1" (W x D x H) | Weight: 31.3

See more Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4630 deals

Fast print speeds

Cloud-connected

Loud

Uninspiring design

There's a lot to love about this multifunction printer - it superbly handles office print jobs, and print quality rivals those of color laser printers. The automatic document feeder can handle double-sided scans and copies, and a specialty rear paper tray offers added convenience to the front-loading 250-sheet tray.
Read the full review: Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4630

Laser printers

Laser printers

1. Sharp MX-C301W

The best of the best

Print speed: 30 black ipm | Print resolution: 600 x 600 dpi | Paper sizes: Up to A6 | Paper capacity: 300 sheets | Dimensions: 16 57/64" x 22 13/32" x 18 21/32" | Weight: 72.8lbs.

See more Sharp MX-C301W deals

Speed

Security

Giant

Expensive

This compact unit is a great, multi-purpose device for small-to-medium-sized enterprise use. With a straightforward out of the box set up, quick and easy color printing, speedy scanning, and standard copying features, the Sharp MX-C301W is a competitive addition to the enterprise market.
It might be a little too much to handle for the home office user, but if you're interested in bulk printing and speed, this is a safe bet.
Read the full review: Sharp MX-C301W

2. HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M553X

Print speed: 40 black ipm | Print resolution: 3600 x 3600 dpi | Paper sizes: Up to A6 | Paper capacity: 1100 sheets | Dimensions: 18 x 18.9 x 22.9 in | Weight: 73.6

See more HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M553X deals

Superb print quality

Fast performance

Pricey

Rather large

This is a big printer for small businesses with big ideas – it's great for producing striking marketing materials, brochures and other colorful documents without making the finance director cry. It isn't cheap, but its support for all kinds of wired and wireless printing, its cavernous paper trays and low running costs make the 553X an investment you're unlikely to regret. Just don't drop it on your foot.
Read the full review: HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M553X

3. Samsung Multifunction Xpress C460FW

A dominant laser printer

Print speed: 19 black ipm | Print resolution: 600 x 600 dpi | Paper sizes: Up to 8.5" x 14" | Paper capacity: 40 sheets | Dimensions: 16" x 14.3" x 13.1" | Weight: 30.82

See more Samsung Multifunction Xpress C460FW deals

Great mobile printing options

Very good text printing

Great mobile printing options

Very good text printing

If you're after a high-quality text printer that can do the odd image too, the Samsung Multifunction Xpress C460FW won't disappoint, but its photo printing lets it down. There's a lot to like about this low-cost all-in-one laser printer, but we don't think it will be the model to crack the home market.
Read the full review: Samsung Multifunction Xpress C460FW

4. Brother HL-L9200CDWT

Print speed: 32 black ipm | Print resolution: 2400 x 600 dpi | Paper sizes: Up to B6 | Paper capacity: 750 sheets | Dimensions: 16.1" x 19.5" x 17.5" | Weight: 61.6

See more Brother HL-L9200CDWT deals

Good performance

Easy setup and operation

Big, bulky and very heavy

Some software issues

The HL-L92000CDWT is a capable, affordable option for everyday home of heavy office use. It's wireless functionality, including AirPrint and Cloud Print, and high capacity toners make for excellent performance no matter how and what you're printing. Unfortunately, it's a giant beast of a machine, so make sure you have the room for it before you make a purchase.
Read the full review: Brother HL-L9200CDWT











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Updated: 9 best 2-in-1 laptops 2015: top hybrid laptops reviewed

Best 2-in-1 laptops

Hybrid laptops, or 2-in-1s, are devices that are able to serve as both a laptop and a tablet, either in a detachable design that sees the touchscreen doubling as a tablet, or a convertible approach in which the notebook's hinge rotates 360 degrees for a similar effect.
Hybrid laptops are generally priced in a range between $700 (about £450, AU$800) and $2,000 (around £1,169, AU$2,131). However, some manufacturers, like Acer, make budget hybrids, and there are even 2-in-1s designed specifically for the business user, like the Dell Venue 7000 series.
These are sleek, powerful devices that look good and serve multiple use cases. As Microsoft's release of Windows 10 draws near, expect an even greater selection of these devices to pop up.
With that, here are the best 2-in-1 laptops that we've reviewed:

1. Microsoft Surface Pro 3

The best of the best

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 | Optical drive: none | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: Two 5MP webcams (1080p HD video) | Weight: 1.76 pounds Dimensions: 7.93 x 11.5 x 0.36 inches (W x D x H)

See more Microsoft Surface Pro 3 deals

Sharp display

Perfect as laptop and tablet

Mediocre battery life

Runs hot at times

This 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.
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. If you're not concerned about a downgraded performance, consider the new Surface 3, which doesn't provide as much kick as the Pro, but is lighter and a lot cheaper.
Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 3

2. HP Spectre x360

Sublime. Near-perfect.

CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-5200 (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.7GHz with Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5500 | RAM: 8GB DDR3 (1600Mhz) | Screen: 13.3-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 FHD Radiance LED-backlit touchscreen | Storage: 256GB SSD | Connectivity: 802.11ac (2x2) and Bluetooth 4.0 combo | Camera: HP TrueVision Full HD WVA Webcam (front-facing) | Weight: 3.26 pounds | Dimensions: 12.79 x 8.6 x 0.63 inches (W x D x H)

See more HP Spectre x360 deals

Superbly thin

Vibrant, bright display

Excellent performance and battery life

Too heavy to use as a tablet

Weird, wide trackpad

Buy the HP Spectre x360. It easily comes as one of my most recommended machines, with an excellent 1080p screen, solid performance, good battery life, and sturdy build quality; all for an excellent deal at $999 (£899, AU$1,899).
If it weren't for a few missteps with the trackpad and being too hefty for tablet use, this laptop would have easily stood amongst the most highly rated laptops TechRadar has ever reviewed. Despite its flaws, though, the Spectre x360 is one of the best-looking and powerful devices HP has ever produced and well worth a look over many, many other 2-in-1 laptops.
Read the full review: HP Spectre x360

3. Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 12

A versatile hybrid ideal for those who work as hard as they play

CPU: Intel Core i5-5300U (2C, 2.30/2.90GHz, 3.0MB, 1600Mhz) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5500 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 1920x1080 | Storage: 180GB SSD OPAL2 | Optical drive: None | Connectivity: Intel Dual-Band Wireless – AC 7265 + Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: HD 720p | Weight: 3.48 pounds (1.5kg) Dimensions: 12..44" x 8.70" x 0.74" (31 x 22 x 1.8 cm)

See more Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 12 deals

Solid performance

Versatile design

Slightly heavy

No ethernet port

The Yoga 12 is a versatile bulldog of a device. You can use it as your work laptop. You can use it for play. It won't be the best pick for either of these tasks, but it won't stray too far from the upper tier either. At 3.4 pounds and 0.74 inches thick, it's just light and slim enough to claim portability. With more than seven hours of video playback, its battery is good enough to get through a workday, and it's affordably priced starting at just $845.
Packing a full HD display that can bend into four different modes, you'll enjoy this device's flexibility, even though it isn't the lightest or sexiest device on the planet. With that being said, it performs on par or better than any of the devices on this list.
Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 12

4. Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro

Lenovo's former-flagship Ultrabook is a real stunner

CPU: 1.6GHz Core i5 4200U | Graphics: Intel HD 4400 | RAM: 4GB of DDR3 | Screen: 3,200 x 1,800 IPS multi-touch display | Storage: 128GB SSD | Optical drive: None | Connectivity: Intel Wireless-N 7260 Wi-Fi | Camera: 720P front-facing camera | Weight: 3.06 pounds Dimensions: 13 x 8.66 x 0.61 inches

See more Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro deals

Unique flexible design

Top-notch QHD IPS display

No 802.11ac wireless adapter

Keyboard complicates tablet mode

With the Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro (starting at $1,099, £999, AU$1,599), we can now confirm that 3,200 x 1,800 pixels is delicious indeed. On top of the winning Yoga form factor, we loved the solid performance, backlit keyboard, and the snappy SSD, creating mobile device-like response times.
At the $1,000 price point, you could put the Yoga 2 Pro in just about anyone's hands and make them quite pleased.
For those of you who crave portability more than anything, Lenovo recently unveiled the new LaVie Z, which the company claims is the lightest convertible on the market. For those who want more power and don't mind a little heft, you could also check out the Lenovo Yoga 3 2014.
Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro

5. Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S

The laptop that will bend over backwards for you

CPU: 1.5 GHz Intel Core i7-3689Y | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000 (integrated) | RAM: 8GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz SODIMM | Screen: 11.6" HD LED Multitouch 1366x768 | Storage: 128GB DDR SSD | Optical drive: none | Connectivity: Lenovo 802.11 b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 1.0MP 720p HD integrated webcam | Weight: 3.10 lbs Dimensions: 11.73" x 8.03" x 0.67"

See more Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S deals

Extremely portable

Strong hinges

USB 2.0 not 3.0

Tablet mode leaves keys exposed

Yes, another Lenovo hybrid! The 11.6-inch Lenovo Yoga 11S (starting at around $799, £599, AU$1,299) laptop is a flexible machine that can fold over from a typical laptop stance to a stand position, to a position with the keyboard behind the screen, ready for delivering presentations.
It comes with HDMI, SD card and USB ports, and boasts a surprisingly impressive Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for storage. The screen is sharp and bright, though not full HD, and works well with Windows 8. It's also nicely light and small for portability. You can easily use the Yoga 11S as you would any other laptop, replete with a full QWERTY keyboard.
Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S

6. Asus Transformer Book T200

Another excellent transforming tablet-laptop from Asus

CPU: 1.46GHz Intel® Bay Trail-T Quad Core Z3775 | Graphics: Integrated Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 2 GB LPDDR3 | Screen: 11.-inch 16:9 IPS HD (1366 x 768) with multi-touch screen | Storage: 32GB eMMC With 500 GB HDD | Optical drive: None | Connectivity: Integrated 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth V4.0 | Camera: Front 2 Mp and rear 5 MP | Weight: 1.71 pounds Dimensions: 12 x 7.6 x 0.47 inches (W x D x H)

See more Asus Transformer Book T200 deals

Great value hybrid

Good connectivity

Low resolution screen

Fairly bulky

If you are looking for a combination of Windows laptop and tablet, the Asus Transformer Book T200 is a very appealing option that offers a fair amount for only $539 (£349, or AU$690).
The T200 is quiet, light, well built and feels responsive during normal usage. Battery life is excellent, so you won't find yourself hunting obsessively for charging points throughout the day. Its "smart" hard drive bay adds plenty of storage space alongside the speedy 32GB SSD, and despite having a disappointing resolution, the IPS display is at least vibrant with good viewing angles. Good connectivity in the form of USB 3.0 and RJ45 ports are welcome additions, with a reasonable pre-loaded software set finishing off the package nicely.
Read the full review: Asus Transformer Book T200

7. Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000

A powerful, small tablet that wants to play in the big leagues

CPU: Intel Core M-5Y71 vPro | Graphics: Intel Gen7 graphics | RAM: 8 GB | Screen: 10.8-inch FHD 1920 X 1080 IPS display | Storage: 128 GB SSD | Optical drive: None | Connectivity: Intel 7265 dual-band 2X2 802.11 ac WiFi & Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 2-megapixel webcam; 8-megapixel rear camera | Weight: 1.6 pounds (0.72kg) Dimensions: 11.01 x 6.95 x .42 inches (27.97 X 17.65 X 1.07 cm)

See more Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000 deals

Performance

Battery life

Cramped screen

Modest battery gains over i5 model

At the $700 (£437 and AU$800) entry price, the Venue Pro 7000 offers a nice balance of performance and portability in a travel-friendly size. However, unless you find yourself accessing CPU and GPU taxing apps, you might find more value in an Atom-based convertible. Going with Atom will lower your cost and give you better battery life.
For those who need power and performance, the confines of a 10.8-inch display may be too rigid to maximize productivity. Opening more than a few tabs or windows on the small display will trigger claustrophobia. If you need to be more productive, there are bigger convertible options, like the Surface Pro 3, to choose from that may fit that need better.
Read the full review: Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000

8. Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi

This 2-in-1 laptop takes thinness to a new level

CPU: 1.2GHz Intel Core M 5Y71 processor (dual-core, 4MB cache, up to 2.9GHz with turbo boost) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5300 | RAM: 8GB DDR3L (1600MHz) | Screen: 12.5-inch, 2,560 x 1,440 (WQHD) capacitive multi-touch IPS display | Storage: 128GB SSD | Optical drive: None | Connectivity: Intel Dual Band Wireless-N 7265 + Bluetooth 4.0 LE | Camera: 2MP 720p webcam | Weight: 3.14 pounds Dimensions: 12.5 x 7.5 x 0.65 inches (W x D x H)

See more Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi deals

Vibrant display made for media

Flexible use cases

Colors a touch too saturated

Unimpressive battery life

The Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi is one of the first laptops to finally get the hybrid form factor right. Thanks to the use of a magnet latching system and Intel's fanless Core M processor, Asus has been able to produce a lighter tablet-laptop hybrid that's thin to boot.
The detachable Bluetooth keyboard also opens up a few alternative ways to use the device. Over the last few weeks, I propped up the screen while I used the keyboard as a remote for Netflix and stood the screen on its side, using it as a makeshift vertical screen. The best thing about all this is it's entirely seamless, letting you easily switch between tablet and laptop modes with ease.
Read the full review: Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi

9. Lenovo ThinkPad Helix (2015)

Steep price, great performance

CPU: Intel Core M-5Y71 | Graphics: Intel HD5300 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 11.6-inch 1920 x 1080 Multitouch | Storage: 128GB SSD | Connectivity: Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 5MP front, 2MP rear | Weight: 1.75 lbs. | Dimensions: 11.85" x 7.57" x 0.37"

See more Lenovo ThinkPad Helix (2015) deals

Excellent battery life

Great screen

Expensive

Slightly outperformed by other laptops

One more Lenovo! With a well-built dock featuring physical buttons and a large trackpad, very good performance, superb battery life and lashings of storage, memory and connectivity options, the Helix goes a long way towards justifying its considerable price.
Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad Helix (2015)
Joe Osborne and Kevin Lee contributed to this article











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How to set up Family Sharing on an iPhone, iPad or Mac

In the dark days before iOS 8 introduced Family Sharing, one parent couldn't access the other's go-to playlist when the kids got cranky in the car. Now, up to six people can share purchases made in iTunes, the App Store, and iBooks, plus family photo libraries, calendars and more. Setup is simple if you avoid a couple snags - here's all you need to know.

How Family Sharing works

Everyone in the group can share the content purchased through their individual accounts, but each person retains authority over their account as an Organizer. An Organizer can grant someone a kind of second-in-command status within their account by designating them as a Parent/Guardian. A child's account is the lowest on the totem pole: it can't be directly associated with a credit card, so all purchases are made through the Organizer's account. If the Ask to Buy feature is toggled on for a child's account, then the group's Organizer and anyone designated as a Parent/Guardian will receive an alert on their own devices when a child tries to buy something, allowing those in charge to approve or disapprove the purchase before it goes through.

Getting started

Family Sharing on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch requires iOS 8. To set up an iOS device, go to Settings > iCloud > Set Up Family Sharing. You'll get a brief overview of the feature; when you're done reading, tap Get Started. A couple of screens explain your role as Organizer, then you're asked to add a credit card to your Apple ID if you haven't done so already. If you plan to add a child to Family Sharing, a debit card won't do - since those can be given to minors, Apple requires a credit card to prove you're a grown-up. BUT! If you prefer, you can switch to a debit card after adding the child to the group.
To set up Family Sharing using a Mac, first make sure you're using OS X Yosemite, then open System Preferences and click iCloud. Next, click the Set Up Family button in the left column and follow the on-screen instructions. (Note: The Set Up Family button will change to Manage Family once you've gone through the initial process.)

Adding members

In iOS 8, the list of family members you share with can be easily managed in Settings > iCloud > Family. A new member can be added by simply tapping Add Family Member and typing in their email address. If you're adding any children, tap Create an Apple ID for a child to set up set up an iCloud email account and password for them. On a Mac, go to Settings > iCloud > Manage Family and click the + button in the lower-left corner.

And that's it!

You've now set up a group for Family Sharing. You may want to consider putting restrictions on any children's devices to prohibit them from accessing any objectionable content, such as rated-R movies or songs with explicit lyrics. (To do so, visit Settings > General > Restrictions on the child's device). It's also possible to hide purchases made through iTunes, iBooks, or the App Store so they aren't even visible to the people you share with. For more information on everything Family Sharing allows you to do, check out Apple's official page.
Have fun accessing all your family's content without having to buy anything more than once!











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How to choose a tablet for work

Introduction

If you're in the market for a tablet that will suit your business needs, picking one out can sometimes be a daunting task. Even if you have a preferred operating system - whether it be Windows, Android or iOS - there are likely multiple suitable models through which to wade.
While committing to a tablet for a year or two may be less of a harrowing decision than, say, your next laptop purchase, it's still important to consider how the specs of each option line up with your needs. With that in mind, we've taken a deep look at the important specs you should be considering before pulling the trigger on your next tablet purchase.
If you would prefer our direct recommendations, feel free to check out our Best Business Tablets buying guide.

Storage

Storage is probably one of the biggest points you should consider before taking the leap on that next tablet. We're all fairly used to being a slave to device storage in the smartphone age; but where you may be able to skimp and save on this aspect of your smartphone, tablets deserve a little extra consideration.
While it's true that cloud storage has been a godsend for freeing up some precious device space, this only really helps out with documents, and even then only if you're absolutely comfortable without a local copy. Ideally, you should be looking to spend a little extra on 32GB or higher of built-in storage for Android and iOS.
If you're looking at Windows tablets, you may want to bump that up to 64GB on an Intel Atom processor, or 128GB on an Intel Core processor simply because you have more horsepower to get more done. This should give you plenty of breathing room for loading up your essential apps, and even a movie or two for those long business flights.

Screen

Arguably just as important as storage is screen size. The biggest consideration to be made here is whether you're more interested in portability or ample work space. In each case, screen sizes, as well as how many pixels are crammed into those sizes, are important to consider.
Smaller tablets in the 7-8 inch range are ideal for portability, but may feel a bit cramped for heavy work tasks. On the other end of the spectrum, there are a number of large tablets between 10 and 12 inches that are perfect for work tasks, and could even make decent laptop replacements if you're brave enough to go that route.
Fortunately there's a bit of crossover here that may be able to serve both purposes. Apple's iPad line, with its wide array of screen sizes, is always worth a look. The 7.9-inch iPad mini 3 is great from a portability standpoint and comes with a fantastically pixel-dense screen.
A good middle-ground would be the 9.7-inch iPad Air 2 or the 8.9-inch Nexus 9, both of which feature crisp screens with 4:3 aspect ratios, which are easier on the eyes during extended work sessions. Finally, if you don't mind spending a little extra and want to stay in the Windows universe, Microsoft's 12-inch Surface Pro 3 and 10.8-inch Surface 3 both feature 3:2 aspect ratios that go well with their larger screen sizes, and, as a bonus, can double as laptop replacements.
On the other end of the spectrum, you'll want to avoid tablets like the Acer Iconia One 7. While it scores points for its budget price and portability, it suffers from a somewhat low-resolution 7-inch 1280 x 800 display that doesn't feel quite as crisp as the tablets mentioned above, and may end up causing a bit of extra eye strain.

Battery life

As great as storage and screen size are to consider, that new tablet isn't going to do you any good if you're constantly scoping out the nearest power outlet.
While a lot of tablet manufacturers will list the estimated battery life on a spec sheet, you'll also be looking for the size of the battery each is packing. Battery capacity can vary quite a bit depending on the size of the device, but you're generally going to be looking for sizes that range between 6000mAh (milli Amp hour) and 8000mAh, sometimes dipping into the 3000mAh range for smaller devices. For comparison, the iPhone 6 packs a 1810mAh battery, so tablet batteries are obviously quite a bit larger.
A battery's capacity won't tell the whole story, however, which is why you'll want to combine that knowledge with the estimated battery life to make a well-rounded decision. Keeping all of that in mind, however, as long as you can survive an extended session of spreadsheet or document editing or a presentation, you should be fine. The Nexus 9 and iPad Air are rated for 9.5 hours and 10 hours of use, respectively, and should be ideal targets to aim for.
As for what to avoid, the Acer Iconia One 7 provides another example of what to watch out for. The tablet packs a relatively small 3,420mAh battery and is rated for just 7 hours of life on a charge. In our tests, we found that the tablet chewed through its battery unsettlingly quickly during intense tasks, and it may not hold up to long work sessions.

Performance

To get a decent idea of how your chosen tablet will perform, you'll want to check out two main specs: processor and RAM. We're probably all fairly used to looking at these specs on our PCs, but they can be a bit harder to put into context when it comes to tablets.
The processor is like the brain of your tablet. When it comes to evaluating the chips that appear on each spec list, you're mainly going to be concerned with the speed (measured in GHz) and the number of cores. Speed is fairly easy to understand, with a higher speed dictating how fast your processor will be compared to others.
Where things get a little murkier is the number of cores. Essentially, each core is a separate processor capable of taking on its own task. The higher the number of cores, the more your tablet will be able to "spread the load," so to speak, divvying up different tasks to individual cores.
Where the processor is like the brains of your tablet, directing all of its tasks, RAM (random access memory) is basically your device's short term memory. Put simply, the more RAM that is available, the better your tablet will be at multitasking. There are certain exceptions to this, but the general rule is the more RAM the better.
Generally speaking, you'll want to aim for 2-3GB of RAM standard for Android tablets, and 4-8GB for a Windows tablet. The exception here is Apple's iPad line, where you don't really have much choice on either the processor or amount of RAM. However, iOS is made for these setups, and should run just fine.
For Android tablets, some good options based on processor speed alone are the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact with its 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor, or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S with its Exynos octa-core processor that combines 1.9Ghz and 1.3GHz quad-core processors into one beast.
Finally, perhaps where you'll get the most choice in one range is Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 line, which offers up your choice of the more familiar desktop-class processors, ranging from the 1.5GHz Intel Core i3 with 4GB of RAM to the 1.7GHz Intel Core i7 with 8GB of RAM. For most tasks, you'll be fine somewhere in the middle, but you'll want to aim for the higher-end if you plan on doing some heavy video or photo editing. Also worth considering is the relatively new Surface 3, which comes in a little cheaper and offers up a few different configurations with Intel's fanless Atom processor - though you'll be sacrificing some performance for a cooler, quieter device.
A good example of a tablet with specs to avoid would be the Dell Venue Pro 10 5055. While the tablet is fairly priced and features decent battery life, we found its 1.3GHZ processor with Intel HD graphics performed poorly on our benchmarks, and it may not hold up under the pressure of heavy multitasking or graphically intense tasks.

Operating system

Ultimately this one boils down to your preference (or your company's). There are a few differences to be considered, however. Historically speaking, Apple's iOS has harbored a greater number of apps that are optimized for tablet viewing. Android had a bit of a rough start in this area, and some may argue it hasn't ever really caught up. However, Android tablets can offer up some interesting manufacturer additions and customization options if that's your thing.
Windows tablets, on the other hand, benefit from what Microsoft calls "universal apps." These are apps that are built to run on all Windows-based devices, and can easily scale and adapt to different device types and sizes. While this is great, and is set to get even better moving into Windows 10, the app ecosystem on Windows is still lacking, and you might find yourself missing out on several key apps that iOS and Android users both have access to.
If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, or perhaps just enjoy Android more, you'll get a bit more variety and some interesting extras. Samsung, for example, has added multi-window support to its tablets, making the Galaxy Tab S an excellent choice for multi-taskers. Additionally, if your company utilizes Google's Android for Work platform, you'll be able to use one device for both work and personal tasks while keeping everything separate for a secure work environment.
If you're dead-set on staying in the Apple ecosystem, both the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 make excellent choices. Apple's partnership with IBM to create business-centric apps for iOS is also a boon if your company happens to take advantage of them. And if Samsung's multi-window support has you feeling a little green with envy, you'll be happy to know that option is set to arrive with iOS 9 later this fall. Lastly, iOS boasts a number of enterprise-level security features which, combined with TouchID, make for a compelling work tablet.
If you're on board with Windows and Microsoft's vision for Windows 10, the Surface Pro 3, Surface 3, and Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140 are all worthy options that can also act as laptop replacements. While your traditional mobile app options will be a bit limited, you'll be gaining the ability to run practically any desktop application built for Windows. This is a pretty powerful idea for anyone who relies on getting work done in the Windows environment.
Finally, Windows packs some impressive security features. Between basic encryption, Trusted Platform Module (TPM), and Microsoft's upcoming biometric efforts with "Windows Hello" in Windows 10, you have numerous options for keeping your data secure on a Windows tablet.











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Showtime's streaming service just landed on Apple TV

While Showtime's standalone-streaming service was announced a month ago, it's officially launching today.
Taking on HBO's own cable-free service, HBO Now, Showtime's offering will be available on Apple TV, Hulu, Roku TV and PlayStation Vue starting today, ahead of a number of the network's series' premieres slated for July 12.
The service is available for $10.99 per month, which is cheaper than HBO's $15 per month subscription.
Showtime does have a special deal with Hulu, which means Hulu subscribers will get the service for $8.99 per month, though keep in mind that's on top of Hulu's $7.99 monthly prescription.
Showtime is offering a 30-day free trial, and will show live content as well as the network's back catalog on demand.

• Read our Roku 3 review

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Facebook's new floating videos let you lurk and watch at the same time

Watching videos have always been a pain on Facebook. Hover over one and it starts playing silently requiring you to unmute them every time. Try to scroll away and it stops running altogether forcing you to stick around for the whole thing.
Well no more.
Facebook has introduced a new feature that lets users detach videos from their news feed and move them about anywhere within the constraints of the browser window. Users can activate the new feature by hitting the newly added pop out button located on the video navigation bar, just between the high-definition toggle and full screen switch.

Slight issue

Unfortunately, there are a few limitations including the fact that the floating window shrinks to a much smaller size compared to original video on newsfeeds.
Similarly, the controls reduced to a single play/pause button with a Like and Share button. At the same time users will lose the options to change the volume or your place in the video. Any floating video windows will also disappear as soon as you leave the newsfeed for another section of the social network such as your messages or a friend's profile page.
So far, Facebook has confirmed it is rolling out the new feature quietly for a small group of users.
"We've heard from some people that they'd like to watch videos while they scroll through News Feed," a Facebook spokesperson confirmed with TechRadar. "We're running a small test where you can create a smaller floating screen, which continues playing the video while you scroll through your News Feed."
While TechRadar staffers didn't have the floating feature yet, we created a composite for the lead image to simulate what a floating video would look like next to the Facebook newsfeed.

• Twitter wants to send you ads on your birthday

Via Mashable











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Mac Tips: How to clean up the Mac Launchpad in OS X

Launchpad - a built-in feature of OS X for Mac - is a way to easily organize, manage and access your apps in a manner similar to that found on iOS. If you use Launchpad a lot, however, it can become messy and cluttered if, for example, you've created too many folders or forgotten where you stored specific apps. When Launchpad becomes a little too disorganized, you can use this quick trick to reset the layout of Launchpad to its default settings, just as if you reinstalled OS X.
To do so, open the Terminal app (located in Applications/Utilities), and then type the following command:
defaults write com.apple.dock ResetLaunchPad -bool true; killall Dock

When you enter this command (followed by the return key on your keyboard) then relaunch Launchpad, you'll notice that the layout has been restored to the original defaults: Apple apps on the first screen, then third-party apps on the second screen onward. Your custom folders will be gone as well when you do this.
Note that this will not remove your apps from Launchpad. It will only reset to the initial folder structure and remove your custom folders for app organization.
You can now choose to keep Launchpad as a clean slate, or you can reorganize it to your liking, placing apps inside of folders and on different screens by clicking and holding on an app icon until the icons begin shaking - similar to how you organize apps within iOS.

• Is the New MacBook 2015 everything it's cracked up to be?

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Google's self-driving car finds itself in Austin, Texas

Google has a self-driving white Lexus SUV driving around in Austin, Texas, marking the first time the tech-giant is testing its autonomous cars outside of California.
The roads of Mountain View have been subject to Google's koala-looking car models for the last couple of weeks, though the company has tested its fleet of self-driving cars on test tracks for much longer.
Now, Google will test its self-driving Lexus SUV in a new environment, with different roads and traffic conditions.

Autonomous in downtown

Google has said that the SUV in Austin will have safety drivers aboard, while the car itself will only drive a few square miles in the north and northeast areas of the city's downtown.
"It's important for us to get experience testing our software in different driving environments, traffic patterns and road conditions - so we're ready to take on Austin's pedicabs, pickup trucks, and everything in between," Google wrote in a Google+ post.
"Keep it weird for us, Austin, and visit our website to let us know how we're driving."

• Every Google self-driving car accident was caused by human error

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UPDATED: Every single home appliance that works with Apple HomeKit

What is Apple HomeKit?

Update: Nest isn't the only HomeKit-enabled thermostat in town. Hardware manufacturer ecobee announced that its new thermostat, ecobee 3, is now available in select Apple retail stores across North America.
Announced alongside iOS 8 at last year's Worldwide Developer Conference, Apple's HomeKit software aims to put its own spin on home automation. Using HomeKit as a framework, developers can link up iOS products to communicate with home appliances, such as thermostats, light bulbs and garage openers.
While the initial framework of HomeKit was unveiled alongside the release of iOS in September 2014, manufacturers have been waiting to bring out HomeKit-enabled products to consumers over the course of this spring.
Not sure what home appliances will be compatible with your iPhone, iPad or, one day, the Apple Watch? Fear not, as we've rounded up a list of upcoming (and a few already-released) products expected - or are already confirmed - to bring Apple connectivity to a home near you.

Ecobee3 Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat

While Nest was the company to become synonymous with the term "smart thermometer," it wasn't the first one to the market with the technology. That honor belongs to a small Canadian company called Ecobee.
Ecobee's third foray into smart-home temperature control is its best one yet, and now includes support for Apple HomeKit. What sets it apart from the competition? Additional sensors measure temperature and occupancy in multiple locations and can be purchased in packages of two for $79.
How much does it cost? $249
Where can I get it? Ecobee, Apple, Amazon, Best Buy and Home Depot (North America only).

Schlage Sense Door Lock

The Schlage Sense lock system, designed with Apple HomeKit in mind, hopes to do away with keys by allowing you to access your home with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod using Bluetooth technology.
The Schlage Sense allows cutting-edge home owners to set and change entry codes using a dedicated app as well as use an illuminated touchscreen keypad for those of us who are still prone to locking ourselves out of the house at 1 o'clock in the morning.
How much does it cost? TBA
Where can I get it? Schlage has stated that select stores will begin selling the Sense later this year (US only).

Honeywell Lyric Thermostat

The Honeywell Lyric has been out for nearly a year, but is expected to receive an update in 2015 that will allow you to turn your iDevice into a smart remote via HomeKit.
The Lyric's smart technology allows it to adjust temperatures to household activity, controlling energy usage without occupants ever having to leave their beds or set complicated schedules for when they leave the house.
How much does it cost? $279.99. Though, at the time of writing, Honeywell is selling the Lyric for a discounted $249.99 through their website.
Where can I get it? You can order the Lyric online through Honeywell's webpage, or through various home improvement retailers (US and Canada only).

Hue Automated Lighting System

While the Hue lighting system has yet to confirm HomeKit support, manufacturer Philips' past support of iOS devices would suggest that an upcoming crossover is likely.
Philips' Hue high-tech lightbulbs can be controlled with a dedicated app and an electronic hub that can manage up to 50 individual light sources at a time. You can customize color, timing and brightness for each bulb, and by setting and saving various "scenes" smartphone users can simulate a sunrise in the morning or a turquoise-and-hot-pink '80s themed party in the evening.

How much does it cost? Starter Kit is $199.95 (£174.99), with additional standard bulbs starting at $60 (£50).
Where can I get it? Hue products can be found on Amazon and most electronics retailers, though Apple features the product in its own store.

MyQ Garage Opener

The MyQ is an sensor for your garage that includes a Wi-Fi hub and door sensor which can transform a smartphone into a functional garage door opener as well as sync up any pre-existing remotes, should you wish to avoid swapping out your entire garage-opener setup.
In addition to being using a smartphone as a key, the MyQ application, in conjunction with HomeKit, can also send notifications that detail when the garage has been in use, thereby foiling teenagers nationwide hoping to "borrow" Dad's Mustang.
How much does it cost? $129.99
Where can I get it? Chamberlain sells the MyQ through their store, as well as offers a free companion app via the App Store (US and Canada only).

Insteon Hub Pro

Insteon is no stranger to the home automation game, with over 200 different products ranging from thermostats to light switches available to outfit your walls with smart tech.
Several of Insteon's products already talk with each other over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but with the HomeKit-compatible Hub Pro, the company's long list of products can be consolidated and controlled with a single iPhone or iPad, synchronizing lights, temperature, smoke detectors and more in one place when it launches later this year.
How much does it cost? $149.99
Where can I get it? Preorder online through SmartHome (US, UK and AU included)

Incipio Power Strips, Outlets, and Adapters

Incipio's series of 'smart plugs' give you complete control over your outlets using Siri commands (i.e., "Siri, turn off the lights") as well as offer proximity detection for when you want certain electronics to turn on when a person enters the room.
Insteon's 2015 lineup of smart plugs is comprised of The Direct Smart Outlet, which plugs directly into a wall socket, a Direct Wireless Smart Lamp Adapter, for attaching to lightbulbs, and a 4-Port Direct Powerstrip, for control over multiple devices.
How much does it cost? $24.99 for Direct Wireless Smart Outlet (pictured left), $24.99 for Direct Wireless Smart Lamp Adapter (pictured bottom-center), and $59.99 for 4-Port Direct Powerstrip (pictured top-right)
Where can I get it? All three products are displayed and priced on Incipio's webpage but have yet to go on sale (US, UK and AU included).

Eve Home Monitoring by Elgato

The Eve home monitoring system by Elgato isn't really a single product. Rather, it's more along the lines of an entire monitoring ecosystem, with a full arsenal of various remote sensors that can detect a range of statistics, from air quality to water use.
Sitting at the top of the range is Eve Room, it's an interesting device that will monitor air quality, temperature and humidity. Eve Door and Window, as the name suggests will allow you to check the current state of your entrances and exits. This is particularly useful if you're forgetful and frequently leave the house open to criminals.
Eve Weather is, as the name suggests, a little box that monitors the weather outside your home. It'll record temperature, humidity, and air pressure. Finally, there's Eve Energy, which will record how much energy your appliances are using, and allow you to switch them on or off remotely. Again, great if your forgetful and frequently leave lights or even worst - hair straighteners turned on.
While this isn't the first line of home quality products, what makes Eve unique is that the various sensors will be able to connect to an iPhone or iPad using the HomeKit framework to give you a status report of your home, which can be a boon for the environmentally conscientious looking to reduce resource consumption or improve their quality of life.
How much does it cost? Pricing of the Eve range begins at £34.95 ($39.95 US) for the Door and Windows, and rises to £69.95 ($79.95 US) for Eve Room.
Where can I get it? They will appear in Apple's Online Store this July (US, UK and AU included).

The Withings Home

The Home by Withings is a stationary camera that toes the line between security monitor and user-friendly webcam. It features a high-quality camera that works during the night with time-lapse video recording, a motion sensor, two microphones and even air quality tracking.
Utilizing HomeKit support, the Home can send data based on what it picks up to the user's iPhone, making it as useful for home security as much as monitoring your toddler or pet.
How much does it cost? $200 (£169.95)
Where can I get it? Order online through Withings

iHome SmartPlug

Much like the previous Incipio line, iHome's upcoming SmartPlug intends to put Siri to work by giving HomeKit users voice control over their outlets.
In order to achieve that, the SmartPlug utilizes an application called iHome Control (a new addition to iHome's suite of apps designed for use in concert with their list of audio products) that will lets users group multiple plugs together and control electronics en masse.
How much does it cost? $39.99
Where can I get it? iHome reportedly plans to release the SmartPlug later this Spring. (US and Canada only)

Tempo Environment Monitor

The Tempo by Blue Maestro is a versatile, lightweight device designed to track environmental conditions in a number of personal and commercial situations.
Utilizing either HomeKit or a Bluetooth connection via a dedicated app, Tempo allows you to track the humidity, barometric pressure, temperature and other metrics for a wide range of environments, from your pet lizard habitat to your humidor for questionably-obtained cigars.
How much does it cost? $72.00 (£45.00)
Where can I get it? Order online through Blue Maestro

iDevices Switch

Another contender in the brewing smart plug battle, the Switch by iDevices features similar HomeKit-enabled connectivity between your home and iPhone, utilizing Siri support and a dedicated app that can control multiple electronics remotely without the need for a central hub.
The Switch changes up the formula by featuring a stackable design, customizable light strip, and planned integration with other products that have been featured on this list, such as the Chamberlain MyQ and Schlage door lock.
How much does it cost? $49.99
Where can I get it? iDevices has yet to announce when it will release the Switch (US, UK and AU included).

ConnectSense Smart Outlet

While there are a handful of other uses, it seems most developers are really hooked on the idea of using Homekit as a smart outlet, with ConnectSense bringing its own rendition to the table.
Much like its competitors, the Smart Outlet claims that it will have Siri connectivity, multiple device control, and easy setup. The Smart Outlet also boasts features such as alerts for energy usage, USB ports for simplified charging and ZigBee technology that gives it the ability to communicate freely with other smart devices in the home.
How much does it cost? $79.95
Where can I get it? Pre-order online through ConnectSense (US only)

Velvetwire PowerSlayer Blu

Having your home hooked up to your phone is only convenient if your battery doesn't die before lunchtime. The Powerslayer Blu, while sounding like a late-'70s heavy metal band, is actually a quite contemporary charger from Velvetwire that connects to your device in more ways than one.
The device alerts you when your iPhone battery is fully charged, offers power surge protection and sends reminders if the phone is due for a charge or gets separated from the device, the latter being a godsend for travelers prone to leaving their cables at home before a long trip.
How much does it cost? $59.95
Where can I get it? The PowerSlayer is listed as 'coming out soon' on Velvetwire's site, though its current iteration is built to work only in the US, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, and other countries with similar 110v outlets.











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