You want the Bluetooth? Apple TV can handle the Bluetooth
No doubt inspired by the Amazon Fire TV and Roku 3, Apple is adding more Bluetooth functionality to the new Apple TV by extending the technology’s usage beyond its fancy new remote and supported controllers and into wireless audio devices.
Users will be able to pair wireless headphones to their next-gen Apple TV, allowing them to stay up late and watch TV at a reasonable volume without waking up the entire house.
It’s not just about headphones, though – users will also be able to crank things up a notch by pairing their Apple TV to a Bluetooth speaker or sound system.
And, while not related to Bluetooth, the new Apple TV will also feature a nifty ‘night mode’ that lowers the volume of everything but speech in the content you’re watching, so you can put the remote down stop worrying about sudden loud music or explosions disturbing your significant other’s slumber.
The updated Apple TV is expected to arrive in over 80 countries worldwide in late October.
Read More ...
Bose brings Bluetooth back to TV theatre tech
Bose has announced its new Solo 15 series II TV sound system, bringing wireless music streaming and an updated remote to its pedestal sound system.
The update introduces Bluetooth connectivity, enabling the speaker to double as a wireless music streaming device when it's not tackling explosions, romantic monologues, or whatever your preferred brand of cinema tends to deliver.
Now you don't need to worry about getting out your favourite portable Bluetooth speaker and making sure it's charged, as Bose's Solo 15 series II will be sitting there under your TV, ready to go.
What did he say?
The system also comes with an advanced universal remote that'll control your system, TV, and other connected sources from one device, along with a bass control function that lets you adjust the depth of your audio.The system features five drivers, and has a dedicated centre speaker that's designed to make dialogue easier to understand – no rewinding to find out exactly what was said.
With measurements of 62.9cm x 35.6cm x 7.6cm, the Solo 15 series II will fit discreetly under TVs with screens up to 50 inches. It retails for US$499.95 / AUD$649.
- If you'd rather a more portable Bose Bluetooth option, check out our Bose SoundLink Color review.
Read More ...
Samsung's new TV takes inspiration from an unlikely source
Samsung has a new TV, but this time, it's not about the tech inside it - it's all about the design.
Design firm Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec are behind Samsung's Serif TV, which takes both its name and looks from the font Serif, and in particular the letter 'i' when viewed in profile.
"Serif TV's shapes and colors break away from the usual theme of masculine, cutting-edge technology and extra-large dimensions," Samsung wrote on its website, saying instead it is made to fit in the world we live in.
The TV can stand on a table on its own or on legs that comes with it, making it look like something from the 50s with its thick frame.
"What we were looking for was a solid presence that would sit naturally in any environment, just like a piece of furniture," Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec explained.
And to keep it stylish, the back of the TV is covered with fabric that hides the ports.
The design firm has also revamped Samsung's Smart TV with a new 'curtain mode', which applies a filter over the screen while the user accesses things like a clock, Bluetooth speakers, apps or photo gallery.
The Serif TV will be available in three models, including a 40-inch UHD model, a 30-inch Full-HD set and a 24-inch model, with all three to come with built-in wi-fi and Bluetooth.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Serif TV will only be available in the UK, France, Denmark and Sweden.
Image credit: Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
Read More ...
Snoop Dogg launches a lifestyle site for pot lovers
Rapper Snoop Dog has launched a new lifestyle website, MerryJane.com, and he says it's going to to become the online encyclopedia of everything related to cannabis.
"There are so many people in the closet, and we are giving them an opportunity to come out of the closet and just admit they like to smoke," the rapper said.
"I'm a smoker, my name is Snoop Dogg, and I'm a stoner."
Speaking at the TechCrunch Disrupt SF event, Snoop Dogg and Merry Jane co-founder Ted Chung explained that the site will include a database of curated dispensaries and the various strains of cannabis that users will be able to search.
The website will also focus on news associated with the business and politics of the cannabis industry, including developments in legislations and policies.
"I wanted to create a platform that will take this [pro-marijuana] movement further by creating a destination where people could find fresh content," Snoop said.
A whole pot platform
Merry Jane will also play host to a range of its own web series' through it's YouTube channel, like cooking shows, celebrity interviews (including Seth Rogen and Miley Cyrus) and a show that focuses on a person's first time smoking weed, called Deflowered.It's a pretty massive undertaking for a site that's dedicated to all things marjiuanna, but Chung says the demand for such a site is already there.
The website has launched today, but is currently only be open to beta testers, with full public access to open in the coming weeks.
According to a tweet posted by Snoop Dogg, 420 people will be granted a sneak peek daily if they sign up for early access on the website.
- Meanwhile in the land of tech, the Apple Car could end up on our streets by 2019
Read More ...
iOS Tips: iOS 9 Maps: Access public transit directions and more
At last, public transit routes have been added to Apple's Maps app. Maps has come a long way since its introduction a few years ago, but with the app's iOS 9 upgrade, the missing piece of the puzzle - public transit options - has finally fallen into place. We'll take a look at the upgraded Maps app and show you how to get the most from its new features.
First, the bad news: Maps only features public transit routes for a handful of select locales. If you're in New York City, San Francisco, Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Mexico City, Toronto, London, Berlin, or China, then you're in luck. If not, you'll have to wait a bit longer to put the public transic features to use.
If you are in one of those lucky locations, however, getting public transit info is pretty easy. Simply enter your destination (and starting point if necessary) as usual, then tap the small arrow to get directions. You'll immediately see options for drive, walk, or transit - obviously, transit is the one you want to select in this case. You'll see the recommended route toward the bottom of your screen (tap it to see the steps involved), but if you're not happy with it or just want to see more options, hit the More Routes button to see what else is out there.
After tapping More Routes, you can select another public transit option that's more to your liking. You'll also find the Options button on this screen - tap it and you'll be able to make refinements based on your departure or arrival time, and also decide which means of transportation are included in public transit directions. If you want to avoid the subway, for example, you can tap that option to remove it from your route suggestions. Once you're finished refining the details hit the Done button, then when you've returned to the map, tap Start to receive complete step-by-step directions.
Public Transit isn't the only new feature in the iOS 9 version of Maps. There's also an addition called Nearby, which shows you places and services in the vicinity. Simply type an address into the search field in the Maps app, then tap the search field to be taken the the Nearby page, which lets you select from categories such as food, drinks and shopping, all broken down into further subcategories. Click on one to see what's in the area, and how it's been reviewed on Yelp. And if the search field is empty, you'll be shown places that are near your current location.
Read More ...
Snowden: Encryption may make it more difficult to find signs of alien life
While scientists are preparing to begin a massive search for alien life, Edward Snowden has said that an increase in encrypted communications could mean that if there is any extraterrestrial life out there, they may never find us.
Appearing on Neil deGrasse Tyson's StarTalk podcast, Snowden explained that as we continue to encrypt more and more of our data and communications, any alien life trying to contact us may end up overlooking our radio signals as nothing more than background noise.
"Let's say all societies that have open communications... eventually discover they need to encrypt their communications to protect them," he told deGrasse Tyson.
And if the communication is properly encrypted, you wouldn't actually be able to tell that there even is an encryption, which would mean that you wouldn't be able to "distinguish a properly encrypted communication from random behaviour."
"So if you have an alien civilization trying to listen for other civilizations, or our civilization trying to listen for aliens, there's only one small period in the development of their society when all of their communication will be sent via the most primitive and most unprotected means," Snowden said.
What we may end up hearing, whether it be an alien TV show or a phone, would be "indistinguishable to us from cosmic microwave background radiation."
In response, deGrasse Tyson pointed out that encryption would only be a problem for an extraterrestrial society if you assume "they have the same security problems as us."
Encryption may not end up being an issue, however, as the scientist-led Breakthrough Initiative aims to send out messages (which we assume will be unencrypted) via two of the world's most powerful telescopes in hopes of making contact with extraterrestrial life.
Read More ...
Apple Car reportedly revving its electric engine for a 2019 release date
Apple's oft-rumored electric car might be flying off the test track sooner than we thought.
Hearing from sources in the know, The Wall Street Journal reports the Cupertino us committed to shipping an automotive project by 2019. People familiar with the electric car, internally referred to as Project Titan, claim Apple has given permission to triple the size of its existing 600-man team.
What's more, Apple has reportedly has spent more than a year researching the feasibility of a self-branded car and met with Californian governmental officials on at least two occasions.
Although, the iPhone maker has supposedly hired on driverless car experts, sources close to the matter claim it's a feature that could come later. Apple first electric vehicle will more than likely not be fully autonomous.
The evidence towards the possibility of an Apple Car has been mounting from the high-profile hires in the auto industry to investing in a newly built testing grounds for automobiles. This, however, is the first time a possible date for the Apple electric car's completion has been even rumored.
- What is it like to roll with Apple CarPlay?
Read More ...
Updated: Apple Watch OS 2: everything you need to know
watchOS 2 release date and more
Update: The update is finally out. The big bug Apple couldn't squash seems to be gone and the download should be rolling out right now for your Apple Watch.- In fact, here's how you can download and install watchOS 2.
Apple Watch OS 2 release date
The Watch OS 2 update is finally here (after a five day delay). Just like past major Apple OS updates, the Apple Watch's software upgrade is free.
New apps
We've heard about a lot of the forthcoming apps that Watch OS 2 will enable, but it seems that most still aren't available at launch.The Facebook Messenger app for Watch will finally be able to text, send audio files and share locations right from the wrist.
GoPro will let you use the Apple Watch as a viewfinder so no matter where your camera is mounted, you'll always know where it's pointed.
iTranslate will let you see, hear and translate over 90 languages by speaking to your Watch. What's more, this will apparently be a 'complication' for the modular Watch face that will present you with relevant phrases at the right time of day.
Since devs now have access to the smartwatch's sensors and controls like the Taptic Engine, Digital Crown and more, we'll get native apps opposed to ones that are simply ported over. Native apps allow faster run time and greater app capabilities.
Airstrip is a native app that was demoed as a tool doctors can use to better communicate with patients.
Sensors and controls
The Digital Crown provides functionality beyond zooming in and out. Rotating the crown lets you 'Time Travel' showing various events up to 72 hours into the future or past events, right on the watch face. Weather and news headlines are also other complications that Time Travel will work with.While this is set to be a big part of the Watch, in our time with it we didn't notice much use really. It's cool seeing what the weather will be like, and if you've got your calendar set up perfectly it's neat to see what appointments are coming up.
But until more third part apps offer complications for this section, we can't say we're enamoured.
The microphone is accessible to other apps now, which means developers will also be able to use your voice in their builds.
Developers now have access to the accelerometer too so you can expect future apps to utilise this feature. Apple demoed golf app Ping that measured a person's swing.
Watch display settings
Previously capped at 15 seconds, the Apple Watch is now able to stay on for a whopping 70 seconds - why you'd need this, we've not quite worked out, but that option is nice to have.
Tetherless Wi-Fi
Yes, this sounds exactly like what you think. The Apple Watch is able to connect to open Wi-Fi networks without needing to connect to your iPhone first. You'll can leave your phone in another room and your wrist will be a perfectly suitable alternative. Android Wear's latest update already supports this feature, so it's nice to see the iOS device receiving it as well.
It's been hard to find a time to put this into practice though - most houses allow you to keep the Watch connection alive thanks to being close enough.
We can't even find this mode available in the Watch itself - so perhaps it auto mirrors from the phone to learn the connected Wi-Fi locations.
Watch faces
There were 10 customizable Apple Watch faces at launch and as we expected, we've now got more to play with.
Modular looks much nicer with more colors to play with (along with the extra complications to check out).
Time Lapse - Hong Kong, London, Mack Lake, New York and Shanghai are the five cities Apple shot time-lapse videos over 24 hours to create the new faces. Paris was just recently added to the mix. This is one that we're really into as it adds an element of dynamism to the Watch, offering movement every time you lift your wrist.
It would be brilliant if you could film your own time lapse here and code it to the correct time stamps - given the iPhone 6S is going to have stabilised time lapse mode, this could be awesome.
Photo and Album modes- Just like iPhone backgrounds, your collection of pictures are now fodder for your smartwatch faces. This takes some specific work to get the right photos on there (you have to choose a specific folder to use and then sync it to the Watch) but it adds a really personal touch to the wrist.
It's hard to work out how to get a single photo on the background though - you'll need to fiddle around a lot to make it work.
Live Photos, enabled from the iPhone 6S by taking a 1.5 second video before and after the shot, will be able to play automatically on the Watch. So if you're thinking of getting a joint bundle of Apple products, you'll like this dynamic new feature.
Apple Watch Music
The interface for the Music looks a bit different after the update as it's been redesigned with new features included. Quick Play has been added to let you shuffle music easier while there will be a volume level indicator displayed and the source of the audio file will also show up.
Complications
New 'complications' or information in the various watch faces will be able to display third party apps -although we've currently not seen much from apps that can be added in here.Flight times, home controlled systems with Homekit devices will be accessed from your wrist, your electric car charge information and more should show up soon. The complications can be changed on the Modular face along with the majority of the other faces.
Nightstand
Nightstand mode flips your Apple Watch face to show horizontally while it's charging. The Digital Crown becomes a snooze button and the side button turns off alarms. If you're not a fan of lights, the display screen won't show unless you touch it or one of the buttons.It also begins to light up as you get closer to your alarm time - while it's never woken us up with the gentle glow, it's a nice mini alarm clock to have by your side.
Email replies
One option that has been sorely missing will finally make it onto the Apple Watch: email replies. Just like text messages, you're now able to reply directly from your wrist with voice dictation, emojis and smart responses. However you can't edit your messages - this is more being able to archive or flag messages from the wrist, rather than them being locked into your phone.
watchOS 2 videos, Siri and more
Videos
Tiny videos and itty bitty FaceTime also make it onto watchOS 2 but only short form videos like Vines can be watched. Apple promises the quality of the videos will look great despite the small size because of the watch's OLED that sits behind the Ion-X and sapphire glass screens.
Fitness, Siri and Maps
Workouts are more useful with the OS 2 update. HealthKit has more metrics shown on the watch and a real-time heart rate monitor that will be able to stream from your wrist, which means medical professionals are now able to use the data.
Saying the "Hey Siri" lets you start a workout now, and can be as specific as "Hey Siri, start a 30 minute run" or "Hey Siri start a 300 calorie walk" all without needing to open the app.
Other apps, like 7 Minute Fitness, can contribute to the rings on your Activity bar too, letting you keep all those valuable calories burned in one place.
Speaking of Siri, the little AI assistant can provide Glances by saying "Hey Siri, show me the Instagram glance" and it will pop up in the little voice search window. Siri is now able to control HomeKit devices and give you transit directions - we were only able to try the latter, and it needed to be told explicitly 'Hey Siri, navigate me home using public transport' otherwise it'll think you want to use the car.
Apple Maps' new transit directions will show up on your wrist with train, bus and subway schedules. However like Google Maps' updated service, only select cities around the world will provide the information. Though previously available with Apple Maps, walking directions to and from transit stops will be part of watchOS 2.
Wallet and Apple Pay
Wallet, or the freshly re-dubbed Passbook, has been updated and all the new options you can use in iOS 9 with Wallet are available on the wrist as well.
For those who enjoy the convenience of using Apple Pay on the smartwatch, OS 2 will allow more credit cards and reward cards stored on the device for better access - found with a double tap of the side button (used to pointlessly store friends).
Friends and Digital Touch
For the popular folks who have more than 12 friends, you're able to add more people to your Apple inner circle right from the watch instead of adding from the app. They now categorized into different sets that show up on different screens for better organization.
Your tiny sketching experience will also be improved as Digital Touch will let you use more than one colour so people can be more creative, although this just led to panic as we tried to draw a phallic object using more than one color and worried it would send half finished as we tried to work out what to do with yellow.
Read More ...
Samsung may take a page from Apple, let you lease your next Galaxy
Apple recently announced that it would be launching a handset leasing program, called the iPhone Upgrade Program, which lets you walk into an Apple store and walk out with a new iPhone once a year - and now, Samsung may soon follow suit.
According to Forbes, an 'industry executive with knowledge of Samsung's plans' has revealed that Samsung is planning on launching its own leasing program in the US within the next few months.
"It's a no brainer why they wouldn't do this," the industry executive said.
Taking back from the carriers
Handset leasing has so far been the domain of carriers, where users would be able to get a new handset with subsidized monthly repayments added onto their plan's monthly bill.Sometimes, if the plan pricing was high enough, some carriers would give mid-to-low range phones or older phones for free with certain plans.
Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program pretty much cuts out the carriers for the handset, and lets users upgrade their iPhone every 12 months through the Apple Retail Store, with pricing starting at $32 per month for 24 months.
Currently, it's still unclear what kind of pricing Samsung will have for it's leasing program, nor do we know when it plans on launching the program or which of its handsets,
But in the coming months, we won't be surprised to see more handset makers begin offering similar programs.
- Here's how in-depth look into the Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Read More ...
Updated: How to install watchOS 2 on Apple Watch
Update: The bug that caused a delay to watchOS 2 has been squashed. Read on to find out how to update your Apple Watch.
Original article below...
At long last, the watchOS 2 update for Apple Watch is nearly here. Announced during WWDC earlier this year, the new operating system brings major changes to the smartwatch.
By opening the whole Watch up to developers and allowing them to access sensors and the Digital Crown, third-party Watch apps should provide a more fluid experience.
Apple's own improvements to the wearable are just as exciting. We'll get to choose more watch faces, reply to emails and Facebook messages, view quick videos and so much more.
While it all sounds great in theory, we'll be testing out the whole shebang in full and letting you know if watchOS 2 really does transform the Apple Watch into a worthy wearable.
In the meantime, the update will be rolling out all day on September 16. Here's how to download and install watchOS 2 on your own Apple Watch when it hits.
1. Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and is at least 50% charged. You'll also need your charger on hand for the installation process.
2. If you haven't already done so, download and install iOS 9. This is required in order to upgrade your Apple Watch. Here's how to download and install iOS 9.
3. Select the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
4. Select General.
5. Select Software Update. If it loads and says you're up to date with with Watch OS 1.0.1, check back again later.
6. Tap Download and Install if the update is ready.
7. The next screen will ask for your passcode. Enter it here on your phone.
8. Choose yes to agree to the Terms and Conditions.
9. Tap install on both your iPhone and Apple Watch. Once complete, watchOS 2 should be ready to use! Have fun turning your Watch into an alarm clock with nightstand mode, use even more cards through Apple Pay and start translating with iTranslate.
Read More ...
Apple Watch OS 2 update finally ready to download
The big watchOS 2 update for the Apple Watch was supposed to come out on September 16 but was delayed due to a major bug - however it looks like you can download it today.
Apple hasn't released the details of the problem it was trying to fix - and likely won't tell us - so hopefully everything will run smoothly after installation.
Your iPhone will need to update to iOS 9 before you can update your Watch. After this is done, it's simply a matter of heading to the Apple Watch app and checking to see if the software is available. Don't fret if it's not there just yet - it's still rolling out.
Read More ...
Updated: Skype suffered an outage across the world today, but a fix is on its way
Update 9.36am (PST): It looks like Skype should soon be up and running again.
"We're pleased to say we've found and are now rectifying the Skype problem you may have had today," Skype tweeted.
And while the tweet also linked to its status page on its website, which explained that it has identified the issue, it didn't say when the issue will be completely resolved, just that it is in the process of restoring full service.
"We have identified the network issue which prevented users from logging in and using Skype today," the website reads.
"We're in the process of reconnecting our users, and focused on restoring full service."
It added that the issue did not affect Skype for Business users.
Original story...
If you're trying to Skype your boss or your grandma this lunchtime, it's likely that you're going to be running into problems: the platform is down all over the world.
It's a problem Skype has confirmed on its Twitter feed and its official support page.
Calls and status updates are affected, but instant messages should still work. Microsoft says all of your contacts are going to appear offline until it can work out a fix for the problem.
Down and out
The party line suggests "an issue with the status settings of Skype" is to blame.A Microsoft spokesperson told techradar, "We are working hard to fix an issue which is preventing some users from logging in and using Skype. We apologise for any inconvenience and will keep our users updated."
One workaround is to use the recently launched web version of Skype, which was still working fine at the time of publication. Or there is always FaceTime or Google Hangouts.
Read More ...
Updated: 24 best PC games: the must-play titles you can't afford to miss
Introduction
The PC is either making a comeback or never went away in the first place, depending on who you ask.
Whichever camp you're in, a deluge of triple-A titles, virtual reality and (whisper it) decent console ports make picking the PC over the Xbox One or PS4 a no-brainer. Thanks to the popularity of Valve's Steam platform, finding and downloading the best PC games is easier than ever before.
Whether you're a mouse-and-keyboard diehard who mutters "boom, headshot!" in their sleep, or a joypad-wielding adrenaline junkie, the PC has no shortage of blockbuster and indie titles to help you waste away the hours.
We've rounded up the best PC games out there today. If you don't agree, let us know in the comments below..
PC games on our radar
XCOM 2
Following up from 2012's XCOM: Enemy Unknown, which reimagined the 1994 cult classic UFO: Enemy Unknown, XCOM 2 is shaping up to deliver everything we could want in a sequel. Bigger, deeper, faster and even easier on the eyes, the turn-based tactics game takes place 20 years after its predecessor. It pits you in control of the Avenger, a converted alien ship that serves as your mobile base of operations used to devise strategy and execute fight plans against otherworldly enemies. With a greater focus of stealth, more intelligent alien AI and deeper customization options, XCOM 2 is one to watch for the discerning tactician.
Torment: Tides of Numanera
If Pillars of Eternity (which currently sits fourth in our list of Best PC Games) whet your appetite for old-school RPGs, Torment: Tides of Numenera looks set to continue the nostalgia-fest. The spiritual successor to Planescape Tournament (it's being written by that game's designer, Colin McComb), Tides broke the then-Kickstarter record for surpassing a million dollars in funding in just seven hours. Based on the pen-and-paper game Numenera, which is set a billion years in the future, expect Tides to be heavily story-driven and terrific to look at thanks to its living and breathing environments set in the Ninth World.
Expected: 2015
Star Wars: Battlefront
"Next-gen Star Wars": four words that never fail to get gamers with even the vaguest interest in George Lucas's universe quivering like an excited Wookiee. That the studio behind the Star Wars: Battlefront reboot is Dice, the developer behind the Battlefield series, is even more reason for celebration. Though it's sensible to be wary of the scripted (albeit stunning) gameplay footage shown off at E3, players who dived into the recent Closed Alpha have reported a game very close in feeling to Battlefield 4 - though much faster-paced - and with lightsabers. Obviously.
Expected: 2015
Fallout: 4
Heading to PC and consoles on November 10, Bethesda's Fallout 4 swaps Fallout 3's post-nuclear wasteland for, er, a post-nuclear Boston. Screenshots of the game from E3 featured robots, massive guns, a dodgily rendered dog, jetpacks, and what appears to be a weapon modding system. Speaking of which, PC modders are already planning ahead: Fallout 3 mod creator Zealotlee has announced his intention to import the Rail Rifle into Fallout 4. Sure, Fallout mods are coming to consoles this time around, but it's one of many areas where the PC is going to lead the way.
Expected: 2015
Cuphead
Few games are unique these days, but Studio MDHR's charming run and gun title Cuphead just might be deserving of the label. Featuring a visual art style borrowed from 1930s Disney cartoons (think Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie), it's a romantic blend of old and new-era entertainment. Adorable and even a bit disturbing due to its screen-filling bosses (most of which are drawn with deranged facial expressions), Cuphead has us thirsty for more.Expected: 2015
DOOM
Bethesda's upcoming DOOM reboot is taking id Software's classic FPS back to its frenetic roots. Shown off at E3, early gameplay footage running on id Tech 6's game engine was nothing short of gore-tactic. Enemies can be blown into chunks with the regular assortment of high-powered shotguns, rifles and laser-powered weapons, and the chainsaw has made a particularly grusome return.Expected: 2016
Unreal Tournament
One of the most celebrated arena-shooters of all time, Unreal Tournament brushed Quake 3 aside to claim the online shooter crown back in 1999. It's remained a firm favourite with FPS fans ever since, leading to a remake being announced in 2014. Developed in Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4, Unreal Tournament brings back classic weapons including the Flak Canon, Pulse Rifle and Mini-Gun. The first high-resolution map, Outpost 23, looks nothing short of stunning and is sure to give UT die-hards m-m-m-m-monster thrills.Expected: Out now (Pre-alpha), Final TBC
1. Cities: Skylines
Cities: Skylines is SimCity updated for the modern era, proving a breath of fresh air for would-be mayors. Its core gameplay lets you dig deep into the various aspects of running a sprawling virtual city - from economics to macro and micro management and land planning. But Cities: Skylines really shines when it comes to mods, which allow you to create custom maps, assets and tools to share with other online players.
2. Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition places you in the heart of a huge, vibrant world on a far greater scale than its predecessors, and it does an excellent job of making you feel in command. Packing in a huge 90 hours (and the rest) of gameplay into its storyline, Inquisition's smart dialogue, compelling plot, savvy progression system and massive sandbox world will have you engrossed for months on end. Think the Elder Scrolls games meets the Diablo franchise and you're halfway there.
3. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
A card game from the makers of World of Warcraft, Hearthstone is easy to learn, but hard to master. Like Blizzard's famous MMO, Hearthstone combines classes, characters and a bit of tactical luck when throwing you into battle against computerised or online opponents. Stick with it and you'll be rewarded by its tactical, deep gameplay. Though available on iOS and Android, its low system requirements, excellent presentation and great sound effects mean it's best experienced on the PC.
4. Pillars of Eternity
Pillars of Eternity is a sprawling RPG in the vein of Baldaur's Gate or Icewind Dale that combines highly detailed technical combat with hundreds of hours of gameplay. It has refreshingly low system requirements on the PC but still looks incredible thanks to its simple but effective art style, which harks back to those aforementioned isometric fantasy RPGs of the 2000s. But it's not all about nostalgia: Pillars of Eternity has enough interesting characters, baddies and clever writing to make it a modern classic of its own.
5. Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most anticipated console ports to ever hit the PC. You probably didn't need telling twice to head back into Los Santos's hugely detailed and interactive world, but it's ten times more fun with the PC's richer graphics and smooth 60 frames per second gameplay. Once you're done with its 31-hour storyline or had your fill blazing around the city causing chaos, an ever expanding list of GTA V mods - from fine tuning cars or throwing vehicles around with a Gravity Gun - are bound to keep you entertained for some time.
6. Alien: Isolation
Set 15 years after the events of the first Alien film from 1979, Alien: Isolation is the suspense-packed game that fans of the franchise have been crying out for. Playing the role of Amanda Ripley, daughter of Alien protagonist Ellen Ripley, your mission is to track down and recover the flight recorder of the Nostromo spacecraft from the first Alien film which has been located aboard the Sevastopol space station. First and foremost a stealth game, Isolation ramps up the tension by providing you with minimal weaponry. Its excellent graphics shine on high-end PCs and clever AI helps ramp up the dread, leaving you to quiver when turning every corner.
7. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive remains a fantastic update to a timeless classic that continues to live on thanks to its vast online communities. A well-rounded tactical shooter that builds on the simple Terrorists vs Counter-Terrorists gameplay mechanics of Counter-Strike 1.6 and Counter-Strike: Source, CS: GO updates classic maps such as Italy and Dust while keeping adding new modes in Arms Race and Demolition. Simpler than Battlefield but more nuanced than the Call of Duty franchise, it's a shooter for those who like to run, gun and think - if only a little bit.
8. Far Cry 4
Ubisoft's latest shooter marks Far Cry's most beautiful outing yet. Its graphically-rich world is eye-popping on high-end PCs, and you'll see plenty of it thanks to a 30+ hour-long campaign. Aside from the main campaign, there are plenty of things to do in Kyrat - from hostage rescue and assassination missions to escort quests, resource collecting and, of course, avoiding being killed by bullets or rampaging animals. Whether you're tearing across the savanna in a rickety car or slinging grenades around like tennis balls, survival has never been such a blast.
9. FTL: Faster Than Light
FTL (Faster Than Light) puts you command of running a spaceship and looking after its crew. Featuring a complex game mechanism that involves maintaining weapons, engines, shields and other areas, in addition to tactical combat, FTL can get extremely in-depth over time. Whether you're ordering your crew to quite literally put out fires on deck in the heat of battle, or are navigating through asteroid fields, FTL is as much about long-term progression and satisfaction as it is quick fixes. Don't let its indie stylings fool you: this is game with untold depth and scary levels of addictiveness.
10. Grim Fandango Remastered
A 90s classic brought back to life (unlike its main protagonist), Grim Fandango Remastered is a successful attempt at reviving one of the PC's best adventure games of all time. Combining writing that matches the funniest dark comedies with clever puzzles and a still-impressive art style, Grim Fandango was the most entertaining work of art to take place in a Mexican setting for years until Breaking Bad came along. Now with updated graphics, sound and better controls, Manna Calavera's adventure has never looked so good.
11. Skyrim
Four years after its initial release, Skyrim is going as strong as ever thanks to a vast selection of mods and high-resolution texture packs. Even if you're only interested in playing the vanilla version of the RPG, it offers more than 100 hours of gameplay.
Throw in three action packs DLC expansion packs (Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn), and it lasts even longer. That Skyrim has been compared to graphically superior but similar RPG blockbuster The Witcher 3 is testament to its enduring popularity. Step into Skyrim and you too can be an adventurer - just try not to take an arrow in the knee.
12. DayZ
Originally launched as an Arma II mod, DayZ is a standalone zombie shooter with a difference. Not only do you have to mind the undead when wandering around its sprawling maps, but other online players too. Armed with a lead pipe and carrying nothing but a backpack and a flashlight, you'll need wits and guile to survive.
Pretty much the opposite of adrenaline-packed zombie fests such as Left4Dead, you'll spent half of the time evading the undead and the other using a shovel to fend off any humans who are bent on trying to steal your last box of matches. And take it from us - they will try.
13. Minecraft
The phrase "build it, and they will come" quite literally rings true when it comes to Minecraft, the game that has been bought by more than 19 million people. The survival-themed sandbox RPG lets players build their own worlds or explore others, using the game's multiple block types to construct anything from small huts to extravagant castles and beyond.
Minecraft's ultimate appeal revolves around its open-ended nature. Creative types can build and destroy to their hearts' content, while solo players can concentrate on not being eaten by the zombie hordes that emerge at night. A modern-day classic that has spawned its own genre, it's not to be missed.
14. The Orange Box
The Orange Box may be showing its age, but it remains a must-play collection of games - particularly for FPS fans. Half-Life 2, technically still the most recent game in Valve's franchise (excluding its Episode 1 and 2 add-ons), remains a modern masterpiece and is famed for being the first game to intelligently apply physics to its puzzles and combat set-pieces.
The collection's other titles aren't too shabby either: Portal takes gravity-based puzzles to the extreme by equipping the player with the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device (also known as the Portal Gun), which places two portals for objects to pass through, while Team Fortress 2 continues to go from strength-to-strength thanks to the introduction of custom gear and well-balanced team combat.
15. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Gorgeous graphics? Check. Huge explorable environments? Check. Enthralling combat? Of course. The Witcher 3 stands tall as one of the most ambitious open-world RPGs yet, combining Skyrim's unrestrained epicness with Grand Theft Auto 5's scale. While the game has been criticised for its inventory niggles, less-than-enthralling plot and not quite matching the graphics shown in its promo materials, it's so ambitious and jam-packed with detail that the package lives up to the hype. Huge, beautiful and an absolute time-sink, you'll want to scour every inch of The Witcher 3's glorious world.
16. Project CARS
Project CARS is a racing simulator that guns for realism without leaving excitement back in the pit stop, as some racers tend to do. Slightly Mad Studios' graphically-stunning title has enough car customisation and handling options to keep the keenest of petrol heads happy. Car types on show range from F1 to road, retro, kart, Le Mans, GT and more. Throw in realistic weather effects and driving assistance by Le Mans driver Ben Collins - formerly BBC Top Gear's Stig - and the smell of burning rubber will be floating up your nostrils in no time.
17. Elite: Dangerous
Modelled after the 1984 game Elite, Elite: Dangerous is one of the most ambitious space sims around. Featuring an in-game galaxy based on the real Milky Way (how's 400 billion stars for depth?), the ultimate goal is to advance your rankings to Elite status by levelling up combat, trading and exploration.
Starting out with a rickety ship and 1,000 credits in your space suit's back pocket, you'll need to turn to piracy, trading, exploring, mining or bounty hunting to rise through the intergalactic ranks. Doing so takes time and requires serious graft, but the experience provides a level of satisfaction that few other titles can match. And then there's the Oculus Rift...
18. Frozen Cortex
Frozen Cortex is a tactical future sports game with oodles of depth and heaps of style. Players take turns to commandeer teams of five robots across randomly generated maps, scoring points by successfully carrying or passing the ball to the end line. Tactically demanding and Chess-like in execution, it can be exhilarating to watch the action unfold as robots play out defensive or offensive runs depending on their commander's style of play.
There's more than a shade of American Football to it, with online bouts providing the biggest thrills as you bluff and double bluff your way through human opponents to earn new robots (and new abilities) as you progress. As stylish as it is clever, Frozen Cortex's art style makes it a particular delight for anyone old enough to remember the Amiga classic, Speedball 2.
19. Ori and the Blind Forest
Described as "achingly beautiful" by Unity Engine boss John Riccitiello, Ori and the Blind Forest borrows its game mechanics from old-school 2D games such as Metroid and Castlevania while adding a modern twist. If any word can describe Ori's atmospheric world, it's alive. You'll have to think fast and use new abilities gained along the way to bash, stop and manoeuvre your way through its gorgeous locations, and with no automatic saving system or easy difficulty level, it's no walk in the park. As satisfying to master as it is to look at, Ori and the Blind Forest will re-open your eyes to what 2D games still have to offer.
20. Grow Home
Grow Home is an experimental PC platformer that looks like an "indie" game but is in fact the latest release from Rayman developer Ubisoft. Similarly charming thanks to its distinctive 3D art style, you play as BUD, the game's robot protagonist, whose main job is harvest seeds and grow a beanstalk-like 'Star Plant' by grabbing its branches and connecting them to nearby floating islands in the sky.
There's a fair bit of trial-and-error involved, and while having to climb all the way back up again after a fall is frustrating, grabbing a passing vine at the last minute by the tips of your fingers can be equally as exhilarating. The ability to move BUD's arms and legs independently helps put you in control - just try not to get them tangled up. Because you will - a lot.
21. Sunless Sea
A 2D exploration game set on a boat can't be that creepy, right? Wrong. More gothic than a Cradle of Filth concert, Sunless Sea throws all manners of joyless themes your way: death, insanity and cannibalism to name a few. Sailing from port-to-port in the monster-filled underworld of Fallen London, you'll have to manage fuel and supplies while battling sentient icebergs, Zee-beasts and other water-dwelling nasties to remain afloat. Top-notch writing gives Sunless Sea an absorbing storyline that's up there with history's best text-based adventures.
22. Rocket League
Already familiar to millions before they've played a played a second of it, Rocket League turns the age old game of football (or soccer, depending) on its head. Played with rocket-propelled cars in futuristic low-gravity environments, the aim is simple: knock the ball into the opposing team's goal. Doing so is harder said than done because there could be up to three cars on the opposing team trying to steal the ball off you - or ram you into submission - at any one time. Gorgeous to look, simple to learn but difficult to master, Rocket League is the surprise smash hit of 2015 - and a wonderfully addictive one at that.
Read: 8 real-life footballers in Rocket League: which one are you?
23. Heroes of the Storm
As inevitable as sandals in summer, Blizzard finally launched its first MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game in June. Featuring a ton of characters from Blizzard games such as Warcraft, World of Warcraft and Starcraft 2, Heroes of the Storm sees two teams of five attempt to destroy the other's base. When not sounding out enemy units to destroy, its expansive maps give you room to take on secondary objectives such as finding skulls or unlocking special siege units to help your team.
Accessible to newcomers while packing plenty of depth, Heroes' finely balanced gameplay mechanics, shorter matches (compared to League of Legends) and ability-based levelling system make it a refreshing alternative to established MOBA titles and a fine game in its own right.
24. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
The new Metal Gear, which is likely Hideo Kojima's final game in the series, is a hugely ambitious title. Its massive open world setting lets you tackle missions using stealth, but it won't punish you for going in guns blazing - which is often the most tempting option. Set nine years after the events of Ground Zeroes, The Phantom Pain's story unravels through its main missions and more than 100 Side Ops tasks. The action is interspersed with gorgeous cutscenes, and while you sometimes have to decode annoying military-babble to understand what's going on, TPP's fast pacing and gorgeous Afghanistan settings never make the game feel like a chore.
Read More ...
Fifty percent of iPhone and iPad owners are using iOS 9
If you haven’t updated your iPhone or iPad to iOS 9 you’ll soon be in the minority.
Half of Apple mobile device users have already updated their operating system, only five days after it was made available to the general public.
The new software has been adopted quicker than any other Apple mobile operating system and will likely be downloaded more times than its predecessors, said Philip Schiller, Apple’s SVP of Worldwide Marketing, in a statement.
What’s new?
With iOS 9 comes new applications and features, including a more intelligent and helpful Siri, a redesigned Notes app, a new News app and multitasking capabilities on the iPad.We thoroughly enjoyed testing out the new operating system, and found it to be pretty terrfici. However, we were a bit perturbed by the inability to divide your screen between two apps on the iPhone, a capability recently introduced to the iPad.
We still don’t think Apple has solved its Maps riddle, Siri is still programmed to open only default apps and iPhones and iPads are still jam-packed with bloatware that can’t be deleted. Although these issues are annoying (and lingering), they don’t ruin what is an enjoyable system to use.
Judging by the quick rate of iOS 9 adoption, you all seem to agree too.
- Read our iOS 9 review
Read More ...
Pentax full frame DSLR put back to early 2016
We first reported on the planned Pentax full-frame DSLR back in February 2014, and a mock-up was showcased at The Photography Show a month later. But since then the camera giant has been tight-lipped about the specification, and we've been told by Pentax UK that this is not because the camera is simply a concept but because Pentax wants everything in place before the big announcement.
This means that almost nothing is known about the new camera, beyond the fact that it uses a full-frame sensor. This is big news in itself because, until now, Canon and Nikon have cornered the market in professional full-frame DSLRs.
Why full frame matters
The key point about full frame sensors is that they are twice the size of the APS-C sensors used in consumer DSLRs and compact system cameras. The larger sensor produces a more three-dimensional look to images with shallower depth of field, a by-product of the longer focal lengths used to give the same angle of view on the larger sensor area.For the same megapixel rating, full-frame sensors will also have larger photosites, and hence less noise at higher ISOs and better dynamic range.
However, the larger sensor can instead be used to cram in more pixels without losing image quality. The 50-megapixel Canon EOS 5DS has twice the resolution of any APS-C camera, and the brand new Sony A7R II is not far behind at 42.5 megapixels. The past resolution record-holder, the 36-megapixel Nikon D810, still easily outperforms cameras with smaller sensors.
Possible sensor specs
This has led to much speculation about the sensor Pentax will use in its new full-frame camera, with most pundits expecting it to be a version of the Nikon or Sony sensors. It will also be interesting to see whether Pentax can scale up its excellent Shake Reduction (SR) image stabilization technology to fit the new camera. This has already been used in the smaller Pentax K-3 II to capture full-color image data at each photosite for improved color rendition and resolution.Called Pixel Shift Resolution mode, this overcomes one of the principal weaknesses of conventional sensors, that they can only capture red, green or blue light at each photosite and the data has to be 'demosaiced' (mathematically interpolated) to produce full-color pixels.
Pentax's Pixel Shift Resolution mode can currently be used only on static subjects, but if this were to be available on the new Pentax full frame DSLR it would immediately give it a small but significant technical advantage over its Canon and Nikon rivals.
What this means for the market
Sony is also emerging as a major player in the full frame market, of course, and its latest A7R II compact system camera is an interesting alternative to regular full-frame DSLRs, particularly for film-makers.The arrival of the Pentax full frame DSLR should shake the pro market up even more, and it's good to see one of photographic industry's oldest brands coming to the fore again. It's worth pointing out, too, that with the arrival of this new camera, Pentax will be the only maker to offer interchangeable lens cameras across three sensor sizes (and three markets), with APS-C, full frame and medium format DSLRs – the Pentax 645Z is already one of our favorite medium format cameras.
Read More ...
Hands-on review: Updated: Moto X Style
Motorola has announced two versions of its flagship Moto X handset this year, the Moto X Style and the Moto X Play.
The Moto X Style is more expensive than the Moto X Play, but offers a slightly better spec than its sibling.
Motorola has clearly taken inspiration from its previous work on the Nexus 6 – I put one next to it during my hands-on time and it's very similar in look and feel, especially size wise.
It has dimensions of 153 x 76 x 11mm and a weight of 179g. That may seem like a thick smartphone, but that's the thickest part. It has a curved back and the thinnest point comes in at 6.1mm.
Design wise, the name of the game is customisation. The Moto Maker website is back, allowing you to choose different materials for the back, accent colours for the camera and the phone's overall colour.
There are 18 different backs to choose from and colour wise you've got seven options for accents. You really can make it your own design.
Choices of material are silicone plastic, leather or wood. I had a bit of time trying them all out and it's a similar affair as before. The leather feels really good on the palm of the hand and gives fantastic grip. Wood looks great from afar, but doesn't offer great grip and looks like it could easily be damaged.
The plastic also feels quite nice on the back of the phone, but it doesn't look particularly nice when laying face down.
The left hand side of the phone is free from buttons while the right-hand side has the lock button within easy thumb reach alongside the volume rocker.
Going from using an LG G4, I did keep finding myself trying to unlock the phone with the indented Motorola logo on the rear – you'd get used to that after a bit of use though.
The headphone jack sits in the middle at the top once again – an annoying position I find - while the same position at the bottom is home to the microUSB port.
On the front is a 5.7-inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 equalling 520ppi. That's the largest Quad HD display we've seen so far on a big phone and it looks beautiful when you hold it in your hand.
I got to watch a little video from the phone's storage and it looks supremely sharp and clear. The new Moto X Style has a great screen to body ratio at 76%, meaning the bezels are particularly slim and that not a lot of space is wasted.
Under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor clocked at 1.8GHz paired with 3GB of RAM. Storage options are either 32GB or 64GB and then there's 128GB microSD support on top of that.
I didn't have time to play around with the camera that muchm but the images I saw taken with it look fantastic. It has a 21MP sensor that can film in both 4K and full HD as well as all the features you'd usually expect, like burst mode, auto HD and panorama.
The front facing camera has a 5MP sensor with a dedicated flash and a wide-angle selfie mode so you can fit even more people into your shots.
In terms of software, it'll be launching on the latest and greatest Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and it has all the connectivity options you'd expect to be packed in, including 4G LTE, NFC and Bluetooth 4.1.
The battery is a 3,000mAh cell that Motorola claims will last the day. The most exciting part is Turbo Charging that can charge your phone for 10 hours of use from just a 15-minute charge.
In the US, the Moto X Style will be known as the Moto X Pure Edition, and will start at $399 unlocked on Amazon, BestBuy.com and Motorola's own online store. However, Moto's been mum on a specific release date, saying merely "September".
That the Moto X Pure will be completely unlocked in the states – as in, zero plans for carrier subsidies – is an important distinction. Selling phones purely online or in stores without contracts has been a growing trend in the US for some time now, and Motorola is undoubtedly the biggest player to give the strategy a shot. It helps that the phone's universal LTE banding feature will allow to operate on virtually any carrier.
As for the UK, Motorola has outright said the Style is set to cost £359 and will be available from September. Motorola didn't announce pricing for Australia, but did confirm the phone would launch there in September, too.
Let's talk a little about the Moto X Style's sibling - the Moto X Play. The Play is already out there in the wild and we've managed to give the phone a full review.
It comes in a bit cheaper than the Moto X Style, but the Style doesn't exactly cost much for a flagship handset. It's a little more durable than this phone and has some impressive battery life - we recommend checking out our review before you decide on what phone to buy.
Early verdict
All in all, the Moto X Style is a very impressive phone. You've got high-end specs such as the stunning display, an impressive processor set-up and a great looking camera to top it off.Throw the fully customisable design in the pot with wood and leather seasoning, and you're onto a real winner.
It's all there for not quite much money either and that's always a bonus. It's quite far behind the main competition making the Moto X Style an affordable yet high-end option for your next smartphone.
To make the decision harder though, Motorola has thrown the slightly cheaper Moto X Play your way as well. It'll cost a bit less at £299 (around $466, AU$638) and still offers a strong display and stock Android.
Read More ...
Dell brings enterprise support to Wyse thin clients
Dell announced that its enterprise class services and support is available for the company's virtual desktop infrastructure solutions. Dell Deployment Services, ProSupport and Accidental Damage Services are now available for Dell Wyse thin clients.
Dell executives claim that bringing these services to Dell Wyse will open up VDI solutions to SMBs, making it easier to adopt, deploy and manage thin and zero clients.
"Organizations that are using Dell solutions today can now extend this valuable support across their VDI infrastructure, and those that are considering VDI can be assured that they will have the deployment and management services they need to be successful," said Jeff McNaught, Executive Director, Marketing and Chief Strategy Officer, Cloud Client-computing at Dell, in a statement.
The services
Dell claims that the support and services make it easier for IT administrators and small and medium business owners to deploy and support thin and zero clients. The service comes with asset tagging out of the box. Additionally, there's technical support, even for third-party software, rapid repair options and assistance with image loading and BIOS configurations.It's curious why Dell didn't bundle Accidental Damage Service and ProSupport into a more comprehensive package that the company currently makes available as ProSupport Plus. When probed about the issue, Jim Roth, Executive Director of the Support and Deployment Product Group, said that ProSupport Plus is not something that is offered at this time, but is something that Dell is exploring.
An additional component of ProSupport Plus, which is a higher tier support offering, is predictive support. With ProSupport Plus, Dell can notify users in advance of device failures to avoid down time and loss data. For example, Pro Support can notify owners of business laptops like the Dell Latitude 12 7000 Series (E7250) before their hard drive, memory or keyboard fails, allowing them to migrate and back up their data before the incident occurs. Dell will ship the component for replacement for next business day delivery.
- Read about Dell ProSupport and Premium Support
Read More ...
Updated: Samsung Galaxy S7 release date, news and rumors
Samsung Galaxy S7: news and rumors
Samsung's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge reinvigorated the flailing smartphone brand giving it a new lease of life with a fresh design and some brand new features.Samsung is going to have to do a lot of work to be able to repeat the trick again, but there's much more that can be improved upon in the new phone.
We don't expect to see the new handset until early 2016 though – usually Samsung takes time out in early March to announce its flagships at MWC in Barcelona, so we expect it to be the same again this year.
However, rumors are already beginning to roll in for the new phone so here's everything we've heard so far.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next flagship phone from Samsung's Galaxy S line.
- When is it out? We expect early in 2016, potentially MWC in late February
- What will it cost? Expect expensive – it's bound to be one of the more costly phones to buy next year.
Samsung Galaxy S7: The techradar concept
What we want now is something innovative, something that pushes the boundaries and takes into account all the awesome technology Samsung keeps promising.
So here's how we think it should shake down – techradar's Galaxy S7, complete with all the technology Samsung has talked about… and some of our own desires too.
The main difference is, again, the screen. If Samsung is going to make a success of the Gear VR, it needs a better screen, and leaping forward to 8K will make shoving the phone on your face a pin sharp experience.
The other big thing we're hoping to finally see is the iris scanning technology that supersedes the fingerprint scanners we're seeing everywhere. With dual hi-res scanning cameras on the front, with enhanced aperture, simply turning the phone screen on will prove who you are.
The edges of the super sharp screen are now properly pushed to the side of the phone, with the notifications now showing properly either side – the S6 Edge has the curves as decoration, but now they're actually going to be used.
And bass-rich speakers on the top and bottom will utilise Samsung's omni-sound technology to make the phone a true media marvel – no more backwards-facing tinny sound here.
Of course, TouchWiz still remains… but hey, there's only so much we can hope for…
Samsung Galaxy S7 release date
A rumor from the South Korean website Newsis apparently cites insider sources who claim that Samsung started work on the Galaxy S7 about 2 to 3 months ahead of its usual schedule.If this is true (and that's a big if, as the sources of this rumor are unclear and unverified), it could just mean that Samsung is eager to start work on the S7 as soon as possible to give it a longer development period.
However some people are getting excited because it could mean that Samsung is gearing up to launch the Galaxy S7 early, we might see a second Galaxy S flagship handset in 2015. In fact December has already been mooted as a potential Samsung Galaxy S7 release date, while another source points to a more vague late 2015 date - although we reckon that's highly unlikely.
Traditionally, Samsung usually releases one Galaxy S and one Galaxy Note flagship device a year, so it would be a big departure if it released the S7 in 2015. This rumor could just be a case of getting lost in translation, so we'd recommend caution when taking it at face value.
Samsung Galaxy S7 design
Given that Samsung has only just overhauled its flagship design for the Galaxy S6 we're not expecting massive changes in the Samsung Galaxy S7.One rumour has suggested it's going to be much bigger than the Galaxy S6 with a 5.7-inch screen - we're taking that with a big pinch of salt though as it sounds quite out there.
On top of that the Galaxy S7 may be built of a different type of metal. Sources claim the company is experimenting with magnesium based alloy that will make the phone stronger whilst keeping it light and allows the heat out when the processor is working hard.
A slim metal and glass build seems likely and whatever we get it's likely to be premium, especially as there's a rumor that the battery won't be removable specifically because making it so would compromise the design.
Samsung Galaxy S7 screen
Interestingly there's talk that Samsung could offer the Galaxy S7 in two different sizes. One with a 5.2-inch screen and one with a 5.8-inch one and supposedly at least one of them will have a 4K display. Given there's already the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ though we wouldn't hold our breath for a phablet version of the S7.Then again a benchmark believed to be for the Samsung Galaxy S7 claims it has a 5.7-inch display, so maybe it will be growing. It lists a 1440 x 2560 QHD one though rather than 4K.
Another rumor states that the Galaxy S7 may be coming with a curved screen. According to supply chain sources the phone will be launching with a flexible display after Samsung put in some big orders with Taiwanese manufacturers. It may end up being a separate version of the Galaxy S7 much like with the Galaxy S6 Edge, but it's interesting all the same.
A new trademark filing suggests Samsung is working on its own new super-strong display technology called Turtle Glass. It's set to replace Corning's Gorilla Glass 3 and we may see it launch on the Galaxy S7.
There's even talk that Samsung will go further and deliver a foldable phone, but this seems incredibly unlikely. Even if the technology is in place (which is a big if) it's doubtful that Samsung would risk something so new and untested on its flagship.
Samsung Galaxy S7 rivals
In recent years HTC has been a significant rival to Samsung, launching similarly impressive phones at around the same time, so we'd expect the HTC One M10 could be a Samsung Galaxy S7 rival. Very little is known about it yet but it's sure to be stylish and likely to be very powerful.Other than that there's the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, which are likely to still be selling very well by early 2016, while the Sony Xperia Z6 or whatever Sony's cooking up next could steal some attention away from Samsung too.
Samsung Galaxy S7 camera and battery
An AnTuTu benchmark shows a phone believed to be the Samsung Galaxy S7 as having a 16MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing one. Those are the same camera specs as the Galaxy S6, but that has one of the best smartphone snappers around so that wouldn't be such a bad thing.Another AnTuTu benchmark has also leaked showing a duo-camera on the phone in a similar vein to the HTC One M8.
There's no word on what size the battery will be yet but according to one rumor it won't be removable as it's apparently not possible to have a removable juice pack without compromising the design. Given that the Samsung Galaxy S6 has a sealed battery this doesn't really come as any surprise.
Samsung Galaxy S7 OS and power
The Samsung Galaxy S7 will almost certainly launch with Android Marshmallow. In fact snaps of supposed internal Samsung documents regarding its Android Marshmallow update have made their way onto social networking site Weibo, and appear to confirm the rumored Galaxy S7 codename 'Jungfrau' and a key spec of the upcoming flagship.That spec is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor, which is expected to launch later this year and is set to feature in some of the biggest phones of 2016. That Snapdragon 820 rumor has since been echoed by other sources and in a benchmark.
The fact the Snapdragon 820 chip is being linked to the Galaxy S7 is interesting, as Samsung ditched Qualcomm's offering for the Galaxy S6, instead exclusively using its own Exynos processor. Samsung didn't disclose the reasoning as to why it opted to do this, but the current top-tier Qualcomm chip - the Snapdragon 810 - has been plagued by reports of overheating and patchy performance.
Perhaps this is a sign of Qualcomm's return to form in the chipset market, although it's too early to confirm either way. However while Qualcomm has been touted as the maker of the Galaxy S7's chip, other benchmark results have leaked onto the internet that claim to show Samsung's next SoC, the Exynos M1, could potentially power the new Galaxy.
These benchmarks show the hardware used to make the Exynos M1, and it looks like it uses a series of custom ARM cores. Intriguingly the benchmarks also show that the Exynos M1 is much more powerful than the Snapdragon 820 in almost every aspect.
While we'd advise taking these benchmarks with a pinch of salt it would mean that the Samsung Galaxy S7 could be a more powerful handset if it again shuns Qualcomm's hardware. Whatever processor we get we're expecting to see 4GB of RAM, not least because the Galaxy S6 Edge+ has that already.
Samsung Galaxy S7 other features
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is bound to have a fingerprint scanner, just like the Galaxy S6. There's also a rumor that Samsung will add a microSD card slot to next year's phone, but internal storage may take a hit, with only 32GB and 64GB models currently rumored.Samsung Galaxy S7 cost
There's no word yet on what the Samsung Galaxy S7 will cost but we can tell you right now that it will be very expensive. While a price cut would be nice we'd be surprised if Samsung launched it for any less than it initially charged for the Galaxy S6. If we had to guess we'd say it could start at up to around £600 / $650 / AU$1,100.Samsung Galaxy S7: what we want to see
What we want to see
1. Better battery life
Our biggest gripe with the Galaxy S6 was the battery – we found with moderate usage you could get between 17 and 18 hours. That is the average day if you're on a normal sleep pattern but do you really want to be walking that tight rope thinking if I watch a film my phone it's not going to last the whole day?Samsung need to do better than this with the Galaxy S7; even sacrificing a little of its new found design credentials to thicken up the handset and stick in a bigger cell would have been worth the extra life. Next time let's hope it understands functionality takes precedence over design.
2. Bring us to the Edge
We want the same again, but maybe something completely off the bat. If the rumors of the flexible display handset turn out to be true we could end up seeing something similar to the S6 Edge come Q1 2016.
3. Another step into VR
Next time around we want Samsung to keep focusing on VR but up its game even further for the Galaxy S7 – whether it be more sensors, more games or a new way of doing it altogether we just want more of a focus on VR.
Samsung is one of the few companies doing Virtual Reality right at the moment and there's no better way to keep that going than innovating on an already good product.
4. A price drop
Samsung's devices aren't the cheapest on the market. One of our criticisms of the latest handset came at the price tag attached to the phone and it'd be nice to see it drop down a little as soon as possible. At the moment Samsung's devices are even in a similar price bracket to Apple.It may mean we lose a couple of the superfluous features on the phone but taking it down a little would be really nice. Come on Samsung, you can buck the trend and do it with the Galaxy S7.
5. Drop the fingerprint magnet
The white option is the best for avoiding this but we shouldn't expect our phones to be covered in grubby marks within a matter of minutes. Let's sort it out ready for the Samsung Galaxy S7.
6. Something brand new
The S6 Edge really showed us something different and we want to see that same inspiration again from the South Korean company.In the meantime we may not actually know what we want to see, but something to change up the phone market a little and give it a little kick up the bum it needs.
7. More robust design
Fingers crossed Samsung will see fit to return it to the Galaxy S7, but this time in a much nicer design.
8. Slight camera tweaks
Slow motion video can look a little sketchy on the handset so we'd love to see some improvements there to see it compete with the glory of the iPhone 6's slow-mo mode.
It'd also be nice to get a few more downloadable camera modes thrown in on top as well - we love the fact they're not clogging up the device with useless modes but there's not enough of them right now to justify the store Samsung has created.
9. Even more power
Not that the Galaxy S6 wasn't powerful enough, but in a year we're going to have a bunch of new processors doing the rounds and we want to see the biggest and best in the Samsung Galaxy S7.Whether it be an in house created Exynos processor or a jump back to Qualcomm, we don't mind, we just want the best the company can find. Is that too much to ask?
Read More ...
Available Tags:Apple TV , Apple , TV , iOS , iOS , everything , Samsung , Galaxy , download , Skype , iPhone , iPad , Dell , rumors ,
No comments:
Post a Comment