Batman v Superman will be more brutal and violent on Blu-ray
If
the recent success of the adult-skewed superhero movie Deadpool has had
you dreaming of a more grown-up take on the Man of Steel and the Dark
Knight, your wish has come true – a
recent bulletin post by the
Classification and Rating Administration (CARA) has revealed that an R-rated 'Ultimate Edition' of
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has been classified for US audiences.
The rating, which was discovered by pop culture website
Epicstream, was given to the film "for sequences of violence," leading us to assume that
Batman's brutality is even more punishing in this version.
The
bulletin specifically points out that this rating is for an "edited
version" of the film, stating that its "content is different from PG-13
version."
Though we do not know exactly when we'll get the
Ultimate Edition of the film, the fact that this cut was submitted by
Warner Home Entertainment makes it safe to assume that it's being saved
for its eventual home entertainment release.
While this version
has yet to be rated in the UK and Australia, it's likely that this cut
will be submitted in these territories at a later date.
In the
meantime, if all you dreamers out there could start wishing for an
R-rated Lobo film to be announced, that would be just dandy.
Read More ...
Review: In Depth: Audi TT
Design, interior and infotainment
Audi's
… I love them. There's something about plush, all-wheel drive (AWD)
vehicles with understated German styling, outstanding driving dynamics,
perfectly-executed interiors and long-roof wagon options on most models
that really does it for me.
I've only owned one Audi in my life:
an '83 Coupe GT with the glorious-sounding, 5-cylinder engine and manual
transmission. It was the theoretical predecessor to the TT, at least
before the A5 was released in 2007. I owned it in 2009, and it was
wonderful to drive, despite the age and obvious need for repairs.
That
brings me to today's car: the 2016 TT Coupe 2.0t that Audi sent
techradar for review. Audi equipped the car with the technology package,
19-inch wheel package, S Sport seat package and Bang & Olufsen
sound system, which brings the price to $50,600 (approximately £45,000
when similarly equipped or AU$96,000 before options).
The
latest TT shares the same general shape as the original 1998 model, a
vehicle penned by designer Peter Schreyer, but it's a completely
different vehicle inside and out. Now on its third generation, the
latest TT sports sleeker styling that sheds the bulbousness of previous
generations for sharper, angular lines.
Audi employs LED lights
inside and out, including the bright-as-day Matrix LED headlights. The
backside features sleek, LED tail lights and finishes with a hidden
spoiler. The spoiler automatically pops up when you hit 75 mph for
aerodynamics, but my test car didn't have the flux capacitor option for
when you hit 88 mph.
I dig the look of the TT. The styling reminds me of a sinister Volkswagen Beetle – like its evil, but much more fun, twin.
Reach
for the door handle with the keyfob in your pocket, and the doors
automatically unlock. A capacitive touch button lets you lock the car.
While capacitive touch buttons look nicer on a car, I prefer physical
buttons, but maybe I'm just old school and like my buttons to click when
pressed.
Interior
Step inside, and you'll find a modern,
driver-focused interior that ignores the existence of the passenger
seat. The center vents and controls are skewed towards the driver's
seat. Every surface is soft touch or wrapped in leather, and every
switch and button has a solid click or turn – no costs were spared.
Every
vent in the TT resembles a jet engine turbine, finished with a display,
button and dial. The vent displays have differing functions: the center
displays are for climate control, while the outer ones control the seat
heaters. A twist of the inner vent dials control the fans, climate
temperature, cooling and heating modes as well as the three levels of
seat heat.
The TT offers an S Sport seat package with
diamond-stitched Nappa leather, which looks fantastic. Sitting in it is a
pleasure as well, with aggressive bolsters that keep me in place during
aggressive driving. The lumbar support helps relieve my lower back
pains, too. I spent many hours driving the TT around and found the seats
extremely comfortable.
Frankly, I wish I could turn the seat into a desk chair.
Grab
the steering wheel, and you're presented with a flat-bottom sport wheel
with thumb grips that are comfortable to grab for aggressive driving.
The wheel features a ton of buttons to control the Audi "virtual
cockpit," which also serves as the infotainment system.
Infotainment system
The
Audi MMI Navigation Plus infotainment system in the TT is simply
amazing. There's just one 12.3-inch LCD in the entire car that serves
double duty as the gauge cluster and infotainment display. A single LCD
lets Audi create a lower-flowing dashboard, making it easier to see out
of the car – not to mention it prevents the passenger from changing the
music.
My wife didn't appreciate my choice of blasting Adele's
"Hello", but there wasn't a thing she could do about it. All she could
do was sit back and enjoy my poor sing-a-long and plot her revenge for
when we got home.
Audi dubs the single-LCD approach its "virtual
cockpit," and it's the best replacement for analog gauges that I've
used. It even beats out the excellent LCD display that Lexus employs in
the IS350 F-Sport, which was my previous favorite for form and function.
The
LCD features two animated gauges that resemble an analog tachometer and
speedometer. You can have the gauges occupy the outer parts of the
screen with infotainment functions sandwiched between, or have the
gauges occupy a lower part of the screen and let the infotainment
functions take over most of it.
I prefer the techier approach,
and dedicate most of the LCD display for infotainment functions, because
the navigation maps are gorgeous. Audi uses Google Earth's map overlays
on top of the regular maps for gorgeous topography, a compelling reason
to use the infotainment system over just relying on your phone.
The
downside is that the Google Earth map overlay requires a data
connection, which needs a subscription after the initial 3-month trial.
Audi relies on AT&T's LTE network for connectivity in the US,
which was reliable during my week of testing. If you're already an
AT&T customer, you can add the Audi to your family share plan
for $10 a month.
The Audi MMI Navigation Plus system isn't just a
beautiful facade. It's easy to use once you get the hang of it. There
are two methods of control: steering wheel buttons and a control knob
with finger writing recognition.
Audi's
control knob provides direct access to the navigation, phone, radio and
media functions, with toggle switches placed below the shifter, while
the round surface recognizes drawn gestures for text input. Otherwise,
the other functions, like menu, back and the dial, are also available on
the steering wheel.
During my time with the TT, it took 20
minutes of sitting down and playing with the infotainment system to get
the gist of it. After I figured out how the menus were laid out, it was a
breeze to live with. I wouldn't recommend the infotainment system for
your grandmother, but, if you're a tech geek, it's phenomenal for daily
use.
Audio-wise, the system has a single USB port, SiriusXM and HD
Radio support. Audi ditched the CD player, which wasn't missed at all. I
spent most of my music listening time with my
iPhone 6S connected, with an
Apple Music subscription.
The
infotainment system displays cover art, which doesn't seem like a big
deal, but it's way more visually pleasing than plain text. Audi still
needs to work on the radio functions, however. It requires too many
button presses to get your presets going, because you have to navigate
sub-menus just to set one station.
It makes me miss the regular
radios, which you could hold down the preset number for a few seconds to
assign a preset. Positively, Audi lets you mix SiriusXM and HD Radio
presets, so you don't have to manually change the radio source.
Android Auto and
Apple CarPlay
are not supported, the missing ingredient that would've made the TT
infotainment system perfect. Audi supports Android Auto and Apple
CarPlay in the 2016 A4 and Q7, but those cars have separate infotainment
displays, in addition to the virtual cockpit.
After a week with
the TT, the infotainment system continues to amaze me. Every time I hop
in the car, I can't help but be amazed at how sharp everything looks.
The animations and transitions are buttery-smooth, exactly what I expect
from a luxury marque.
One
feature I can't seem to grasp is Audi Connect, which provides weather,
gas prices, travel information and news via the LCD gauge cluster. Maybe
I'm just old school, but the ambient temperature read out and my eyes
are enough confirmation for weather. Plus, I always pull into the most
convenient gas station on my drives and have no troubles seeing the
prices on their large signs.
I'm not even sure why you'd need to
see your travel information or want to read the news on the infotainment
display. The in-car display is the last place I'd want to read news,
since it's a lot slower than simply whipping out my phone and reading
Google News.
Bang & Olufsen sound and Driver assists
The
Audi TT test car came with the Bang & Olufsen (B&O)
premium sound system option box checked. My previous experience with a
factory B&O system in a $116,000 Audi A8L left me aurally
unsatisfied, so I wasn't expecting much from the TT's $950 upgrade, but
I've been proven wrong.
Bang & Olufsen loads up the TT
with 12 speakers in a 3-way front stage (individual tweeters, mids and
woofers), a 2-way center channel (tweeter and mid) and 2-way rear
speakers. There isn't a dedicated subwoofer, but I don't miss it.
All
the speakers are driven by a 14-channel digital amplifier capable of
680 watts. Now, you're probably wondering why there are more amp
channels than speakers. That's because the in-door woofers responsible
for playing all the low notes have two voice coils to receive twice the
power for solid, thump-tastic bass.
I
just discovered Lindsey Stirling when I had the TT, and spent most of
the time in the car switching between her rendition of the Pokemon theme
song and Phantom of the Opera. I enjoy the sound signature of the
B&O system with her mix of violin-based EDM. The highs are
detailed and crystal clear, the mids are warm and the low notes are
tight, but hit hard.
I switched things up with some David Guetta,
Calvin Harris and John Legend, too, and was impressed with every type
of music played in the car. I rarely say this, but I would be perfectly
happy with the B&O system in the TT, without adding any
modifications or upgrades at all.
The B&O system also
features active noise cancellation (ANC), which kept the interior of the
TT whisper quiet. ANC is a feature I sometimes forget to appreciate,
until I drive a mainstream car that is too loud to even hold a
conversation. I have no trouble conversing with my wife and kids in the
TT at a normal volume.
Driver assists
Audi doesn't offer
many driver assists on the TT. The review car only had a blind spot
monitor (BSM) and back up camera installed. The TT's BSM features a
bright cluster of LED's mounted on the side mirrors that flash bright
orange if there's a car in your blind spot. The LEDs are not mounted
behind the mirror, but on the inner mirror housing.
I don't have a
preference for the placement of the BSM indicator, as long as it's
bright enough to catch my attention. The TT's BSM has no problems with
that part and is hard to miss, unless you don't bother using your
mirrors.
The
backup camera in the TT takes some time to get used to. I'm accustomed
to backup cameras displaying on the infotainment system display mounted
high and center on the dashboard, but the TT sends the video feed to the
LCD gauge cluster. It is weird to glance down at the gauge cluster to
backup the car at first, but I adjusted quickly.
Adaptive cruise
control (ACC), automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist are not
available, unfortunately. I would've loved adaptive cruise control
because the TT would be an ideal car to take on a road trip with your
significant other. I love driving but there are many stretches on a long
road trip that's fairly boring and easier to manage with ACC,
especially city traffic.
Performance and living with it
Powering
the Audi TT is a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four cylinder engine that
produces a smooth 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque.
Peak torque is available at a low 1,600 revolutions per minute (RPM), so
the car never feels slow and accelerates strongly – just not like a
bull, that's what Lamborghini is for.
Audi pairs the turbocharged
motor with a six-speed, S Tronic dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with
paddle shifters for fast shifts. The TT is a DCT-only affair, so if you
want to row-your-own gears with three pedals, this is not the Audi
you're looking for.
In
my younger days, I would chastise Audi for not installing a proper
gearbox in the TT, but I've spent too much time in stop-and-go traffic
to be bothered by the lack of a third pedal. Plus, the DCT shifts faster
than I ever could, and the paddle shifters respond quickly.
Power
is sent to all four wheels via Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD)
system. The TT features a front-wheel-drive-based (FWD) AWD system from
Haldex that is primarily FWD until you lose traction. When front wheel
traction is lost, it can automatically divert up to 100% of power to the
rear wheels seamlessly.
All North American TT's are only
available in AWD, but our friends in Europe have the option of FWD with a
six-speed manual, if they desire. Personally, I don't know why you'd
buy an Audi without AWD – just pick up a Volkswagen – but to each their
own.
Audi's Drive Select is standard on the TT, which lets you
choose between normal, comfort, efficiency, dynamic or a customized
individual mode. I always set the Drive Select to dynamic as soon as I
start the car during most of my driving. The different Drive Select
modes alter steering and throttle response in the TT. I prefer the
quicker and precise response of dynamic mode for my aggressive driving
style.
The TT test car came with winter tires from Audi, because
winters in the Pacific Northwest are dreadfully wet and there's the
occasional snowfall. I found the TT quite enjoyable to drive. The fairly
light, 3,100-pound curb weight, short wheelbase, precise throttle and
steering and outstanding traction from the Quattro AWD system makes it a
lot of fun and competent in the rain and snow.
Even with the
winter tires and sportier suspension, the TT is quite comfortable, too.
The suspension lets you feel the imperfections in the road, but dampens
them enough so they don't hurt.
There isn't much snow where I
live, so I packed the wife and kids to head up to Mt. Rainier to find
some. The roads leading up to the mountain base were windy and wet, but
the TT didn't break a sweat or traction at any point, because Quattro is
a wonderful feature to have.
Unfortunately, the mountain roads
were mostly plowed, and the only snow I could drive on was an iced-over
parking lot. However, with Quattro and winter tires, I didn't have to
pull over and put chains on the car, which is required by 2-wheel drive
cars as soon as you enter the park.
Living with it
The
Audi TT has a back seat, but it isn't really designed to be a family car
– or have anyone in the back seat, for that matter. But that didn't
stop me from trying. Since I'm only 5 foot, 7 inches tall and my wife is
shorter, there's a little bit of legroom behind the front seats.
There
isn't enough for a grown adult, but I still managed to install a pair
of child seats in the back of the TT. The back seats have lower and
upper LATCH anchors for car seats. I usually stop by the Diono offices
for car seat fitment, but I reserve that for fitting three car seats in
the back seat.
My
first attempt installing a car seat was with a Diono Radian RXT. The
car seat physically fit, but the belt buckle and LATCH mounting
locations made it impossible to secure, unfortunately. I had to break
out my Chicco NextFit car seats, which are significantly larger than my
Radian RXT.
Let's just say it was annoying trying to shove the
Chicco NextFit into the little space available with the front seats
pushed forward. However, I was successful and managed to secure both
Chicco NextFit's in the TT using the lower LATCH anchors.
It's a
tight fit, but my 4- and 2-year-old girls fit and didn't complain about
comfort. They kept asking me to go faster, but that's a whole different
conversation altogether.
Verdict
The Audi TT isn't a
practical car by any sense, but the same could be of any sporty car with
two doors. It has a niche appeal, so I won't hold it by the same
standards as I would a mainstream mid-size car, like the
Kia Optima,
Toyota Camry or
Hyundai Elantra. No one shopping for a family car will cross shop for an Audi TT, and vice versa.
We liked
Audi's
virtual cockpit is phenomenal and by far the best use of an LCD gauge
cluster I've come across. Some companies use LCD displays to visually
replicate analog gauge clusters, which I dislike, because what's the
point of going digital if you're just going to make it look analog. It's
overcomplicating a simple part of the car for absolutely no reason.
The
virtual cockpit tosses out what we know about analog gauge clusters and
reinvents it with a modern take that looks fantastic and is easy to
adapt to. The system takes some time to get used to, but when you do, it
becomes second nature.
Part of the awesomeness of the virtual
cockpit is the Google Earth map overlays that show realistic details
instead of plain colored maps. I can look at the overlays all day long
and still be amazed by how pretty it looks. The overlays are still
shown, even with turn-by-turn navigation zoomed in all the way, too.
The
Bang & Olufsen premium sound system was just the icing on the
cake that completes the TT experience, so it looks and sounds brilliant.
I always find something to dislike about premium sound systems, whether
it's not enough bass or sounds too bright. The B&O system in
the Audi TT strikes a good balance of vocal details, punchy mids and
tight lows without causing fatigue after many hours of listening. It's
one of the few systems I'd be perfectly happy with, as is.
Most
of what I like about the TT revealed itself before I even shifted into
drive and mashed the gas pedal. Driving the TT was quite satisfying. It
feels balanced and capable with responsive steering, excellent road feel
and a comfortable suspension. But all of this is expected, considering
Audi's racing heritage and performance pedigree.
We disliked
Android
Auto and Apple CarPlay would've made the TT's infotainment system
perfect. But I don't fault Audi for this too harshly, as the third
generation TT came out last year. Audi is only starting to include
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on two 2016 model year vehicles. There's
also the issue of having a single LCD for the gauge cluster and
infotainment system, meaning neither were feasible while the TT was in
the final stages of development.
I haven't seen Android Auto or
Apple CarPlay in an LCD gauge cluster of a production car yet, but QNX
demonstrated the capability in reference demo vehicles at
CES 2016. We may have to wait until a mid-cycle refresh to see it in the TT, though.
It
always puzzles me when automakers try to integrate apps into the
infotainment system, because they're never as fast or usable as they are
on a smartphone. Audi Connect is no different. It's slow, and that's
enough for me to avoid it, especially when it's quicker to take out my
phone and swipe my Google Now cards.
My last gripe for the Audi
TT is the lack of ACC. Sure, the sporting nature of the TT demands you
to drive it, but not all drive routes are shaped like Laguna Seca. Most
of the time, you're stuck in traffic, which gets tedious and annoying.
The TT already has an electronic parking brake, Audi should offer
full-speed range ACC for those times when it's actually unpleasant to
drive.
Final verdict
If you're in the market for a small
and sporty car that can satisfy techno-lust, the Audi TT impresses with
its LCD gauge cluster infotainment system, and the car is a hoot to
drive. There's a backseat, which makes it a family car, too, or so I
keep trying to convince my wife.
The Quattro AWD system makes the
TT a fine car for those that enjoy snow sports or live in the snow belt
of the US. It's ready for all weather environments, meaning it's an
ideal daily driver, not a garage queen that you only take out in nice
weather.
Ultimately, I'm absolutely smitten with the Audi virtual
cockpit, and the TT it's attached to is OK, too. Audi shows it knows how
to design a modern infotainment system and interior without sacrificing
the main purpose of a sports car, but adding a few more driver assists
wouldn't hurt.
Read More ...
This smart typewriter lets you write in peace - for the price of an iPad
Any
swamped student, working writer, or new novelist can attest to the
ever-tempting distractions that come from writing while connected to the
internet.
The urge to browse YouTube, check email, or squeeze in a quick round of
Hearthstone
can outweigh the need to finish a thesis paper that's due tomorrow, or a
first draft of that Great American Novel™. That's where the Astrohaus
Freewrite comes in.
Claiming to be the "world's first smart
typewriter," the Freewrite hopes to eliminate 21st-century distractions
in order to bring out your inner Melville, King, Rowling or Meyer.
However, that power comes at a price - $549.99 (about £392/AU$764), to be exact.
Ironically, it's the features that you're
not paying
for that the Freewrite touts most proudly. Dubbed a "distraction-free
writing tool," the portable word processor features no apps, no
spellcheck, no notification center, nor a way to even edit. It's just
you, the keyboard, and the screen.
Originally backed on Kickstarter in 2014 as
The Hemingwrite,
the Freewrite isn't a total Luddite. It uses cloud connectivity to back
up your work as you type, syncing it to your choice of Evernote, Google
Drive, or Dropbox.
The machine also sports an e-ink screen that's
legible even in direct sunlight, a mechanical keyboard for a satisfying
retro clickety-clack, and an advertised battery life of four weeks -
all great features for those who like to vanish into the woods for a
month and emerge with a completed manuscript.
The idea of writing
sans-sidetrack sounds appealing, but we imagine shelling out $550 for a
machine that could be emulated by turning the WiFi off on your tablet
will be a high hurdle for the average consumer.
Thankfully,
Astrohaus is offering a $100 discount for the next 24 hours in
celebration of Freewrite's launch to help those on the fence teeter
towards taking the plunge and, hopefully, being able to get that
screenplay done.
Read More ...
NASA will send your artwork to an asteroid
NASA
is inviting anyone with an interest in space exploration to submit a
piece of artwork to be sent in a spacecraft on an upcoming mission to an
asteroid.
Scheduled to launch in September, the space agency's
Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification,
Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft will journey to
Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid, in hopes of collecting about 60 grams (2.1
ounces) in samples.
Scientists are expecting the samples to
include "clues to the origin of the solar system and the source of the
water and organic molecules that may have made their way to Earth,"
according to a press release.
An art capsule for the galaxy
As
this will be the first mission of its kind for NASA, the agency is
hoping to include the public by asking those interested for a piece of
art that expresses "how the mission's spirit of exploration is reflected
in their own lives."
The artwork can be a "sketch, photograph,
graphic, poem, song, short video or other creative or artistic
expression." You can submit your creation through Twitter or Instagram
by March 20, and NASA has compiled a full set of
guidelines.
Submissions
will be included on a drive to be placed on the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft.
It will also carry a chip with more than 442,000 names submitted through
the 2014 Messages to Bennu campaign.
Part of the OSIRIS-REx will
eventually make it back to Earth in 2021, though not all of it: Only the
spacecraft's sample capsule will return to our surface. The rest,
including the drive of artwork, "will stay in space for millennia,"
according to principal investigator for OSIRIS-REx, Dante Lauretta.
Read More ...
Where did the hoverboards go? Amazon pulls them from site
Amazon has pulled all hoverboards from its US site.
We
scoured Amazon's pages and found only one "electric self-balancing
scooter" left for sale, the Airwheel Q6 Self Balancing Electric
Unicycle.
Mashable
uncovered another board, the Cyncbit E-board: 2nd Generation Smart Self
Balancing Technology. Both may have gone undetected since they aren't
listed as "hoverboards," instead using "self balancing," but their time
may be limited yet.
Amazon looks to have targeted the rectangular riders with one wheel on either side -
the kind Mike Tyson ate it on - just days after the US government
deemed hoverboards unsafe.
The
US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) outlined new safety
standards Friday, urging retailers and consumers to comply. It's likely
Amazon's move is in response to the CPSC's proclamation.
The
etailer had previously pulled some hoverboards before reinstating them -
if manufacturers produced proof they were safe, that is. The company
was also lauded by the CPSC for
providing refunds for returned hoverboards.
Now, it's taken total action to get the boards off its virtual store shelves.
We've
asked Amazon for further details on its latest decision and if it plans
to sell hoverboards at any point down the line, but the company has
remained quiet on its hoverboard policies in the past, so we're not
expecting much of a response.
A
check of Amazon's UK site shows hoverboards are still on sale there,
though the boards have also come under scrutiny in the region over
safety concerns.
You can still buy hoverboard accessories, like
carrying bags, wheels and decals, but no actual, ride-able (possibly
combustible) board, save for those few stragglers, in the US. Both
Target and Toys-R-Us have also halted hoverboard sales for the time
being.
Read More ...
Review: Updated: Sony Smartwatch 3
Introduction and display
Update: The
Sony SmartWatch 4 could very well be right around the corner, but if you're in the market for a well-rounded (even though it's a square)
Android Wear smartwatch, look no further than the Sony SmartWatch 3.
Sure, competitors like the
Moto 360 and the
Huawei Watch
may have it beat when it comes to looking like a more traditional
timepiece. But, Sony's wearable boasts a few stand-out benefits over
each, and at that, most of the Android Wear device portfolio available
today, too.
Its battery can last up to two days with light to
medium use, a bar that many smartwatches struggle to reach. It offers
built-in GPS functionality, which can track your walks or jogs without
the need to carry around your phone. Finally, it's affordable as ever.
After enjoying some time on the market, it isn't too uncommon to find
its price slashed up to 40% off.
The Sony SmartWatch 3 might have
been part of the early pack of smartwatches that helped usher Android
Wear into the world, but it's still on the list to receive the latest
updates. Simply put, it was an excellent choice when it released and it
still is.
We recently got our hands on the SmartWatch 3 with the
slick stainless steel band and have included some fresh photos and
impressions.
Original review continues...
The Sony
SmartWatch 3 is more than just a smartwatch, it's also got ambitions as a
capable fitness watch, thanks to the inclusion of GPS.
It doesn't
make the most stunning first impression, especially when compared to
the more traditional circular stylings of the Moto 360 and Huawei Watch.
The Sony SmartWatch 3 rocks a square shape that's more similar to the
Pebble Time than other Android Wear devices.
But, where its appearance might fall flat, it surprises in other ways. For one thing, the mere fact that it runs
Android Wear
is a bit of a shock, given that Sony has spent the last few years
shying away from it, attempting to perfect its own system instead.
But
it's a decision that I welcome. Android Wear is still finding its
footing and with Sony jumping into the mix can only be a good thing.
Its
1.2GHz quad-core processor and 512MB of RAM pack it with power, even to
today's standards. And with GPS built in, it's a more fully-functional
fitness accessory than most other smartwatches available.
Of
course, all that power doesn't come cheap, as the Sony SmartWatch 3
retails for £189.99 (about US$250, AU$299.99). However, if you do some
digging, you can probably find yourself a big discount.
All in
all, it's not quite the most expensive smartwatch. The aforementioned
Moto 360 and Huawei Watch both edge it out, seemingly charging a premium
for a circular, fashionable styling.
Each
Android Wear watch is, functionally, very similar to the other and
Sony's SmartWatch 3 is no exception. Android Wear is far more locked
down than the version of Android found on smartphones.
In many
ways that's a good thing, as it keeps bloat down on a system which
really can't afford to be bloated, but it can also make it hard to stand
out, which could be a problem when you're asking people to pay an above
average price. Read on to find out if and how Sony's latest stands out.
Display
The
Sony SmartWatch 3 has a 1.6-inch 320 x 320 transflective display.
That's the same resolution and almost exactly the same size as the
similarly square Gear Live, as well as being the same resolution as the G
Watch R and a slightly higher resolution than the Moto 360. Fast
forward to 2016 and the resolution standard hasn't changed all that
much. The Huawei Watch reigns supreme with 400 x 400.
As
smartwatches go, it remains crisp and clear. But even on such a small
screen, there's still room for improvement, with text and images being
noticeably less sharp than on a 1080p smartphone.
Being
transflective makes it easier to read in direct sunlight than most
competing smartwatches. Or it should anyway, December in England and New
York City didn't prove the optimal time to test this, but I certainly
had no problem reading the screen when outside.
The
display has a number of brightness settings and can pump out quite a
lot of light at its brightest, but auto mode does a decent job of
regulating it. It's also always on, unless you deactivate that feature.
As standard it will dim but still be readable when not in active use,
while tapping on it, raising your wrist to your face or receiving a
notification will cause it to light up.
Unless you really want to
stretch out the battery life I can't see why you'd want to turn the
screen off completely, as it reduces its usefulness as a watch because
you can no longer see the time at a glance, but it's nice to know the
ability is there if you want it.
On
the whole the screen impressed, delivering a relatively good resolution
and a decent amount of brightness, though the colours could be richer.
And while the square shape might not be as aesthetically pleasing as a
round display it does mean more apps are compatible with it, ones that
might get chopped off with the Moto 360's flat tire.
Design and comfort
Some
of the more recent smartwatches such as the Moto 360 and the LG G Watch
R have emulated a traditional wristwatch to great effect, with a
circular display and a fetching build rich in metal and leather.
They
look less like a gadget and more like a fashion accessory, which I've
always thought is important, especially since "dumb" watches are every
bit as much about form as function.
Sadly,
the Sony SmartWatch 3 looks more like the Samsung Gear Live and the LG G
Watch from the first wave of Android Wear devices. Its face is square
rather than circular and the default band is rubber, giving it the look
of a sports watch more than something you'd wear all day every day. But
hey, you might like the look just fine.
The built-in GPS and an
IP68 certified water and dust proof build seem to indicate that Sony is
pushing the rubberized version at fitness fans. The optional stainless
steel band is now available and as you can see, looks really good. But
at the low-end, the SmartWatch 3 could, for better or worse, easily be
confused for a fitness tracker.
Looking
at the most affordable configuration, the rubber strap that it comes
with is fairly comfortable, though dust tends to stick to it.
While
it looks distinctly casual and arguably more like a sports watch than a
smartwatch, the black shade of our review unit gives it a low-key look.
There's also a yellow version on the way which risks looking a bit
garish if you're not mid-marathon.
The SmartWatch 3 uses a folding
deployment clasp which makes it easy to take on and off. Its clasp
itself is metal, which along with the metal power button on the right of
the face contrasts the plain black band nicely. The band is easy to
adjust, so it should comfortably fit on most wrists.
If you
purchase the stainless steel band, there are a few more steps involved
in adjusting the size. There are arrows on the band, which you can poke a
watch tool into to loosen the links. Just make sure to remember where
you put the spare links.
If
there's a downside to the deployment clasp it's that it could
potentially come undone if for example you bend your wrist and put
enough force on it, but that never happened in my time with the watch.
The
design of the SmartWatch 3 is interesting in that the watch itself can
actually be popped out of the band with no tools required. This makes
changing bands a breeze but, on the downside, it also means that it
doesn't support standard watch straps. You'll have to stick with those
built by Sony.
Removing
it from the strap gets you a better look at the metal back, which while
visible when wearing the watch is less obvious, sandwiched as it is
between the strap and your wrist.
The body of the Sony SmartWatch 3
is fairly large, with its 1.6-inch screen and bezels, but it doesn't
feel heavy or much bigger than a large wristwatch and certainly won't
look out of place if you have larger wrists. This is par for the course
with smartwatches anyway and almost unavoidable if you want them to be
big enough to use.
The
body is mostly featureless, except for a microUSB port on the back,
with a cover keeping it water and dust tight. This small feature is
worth highlighting, as many smartwatches use a wireless or proprietary
charger, which can be costly to replace. Plus, if you're like me, you
have at least six microUSB chargers lying around by now.
It's not a total win for the Sony SmartWatch 3 though, as actually getting at the micro USB port is a bit of a pain.
Not
only do you have to either remove the body of the watch from the strap
(which is admittedly easy) or struggle your way around the strap which
gets in the way of the port, you also have to pry off the port cover,
which can take a few attempts.
It's not a big deal and it became a
little easier with practice, but it can still get annoying given that
you have to charge it every day or two.
Interface and performance
Like most recent smartwatches the Sony SmartWatch 3 runs
Android Wear
and as this OS doesn't allow for much manufacturer added flair (aka
bloat) if you've used one of these smartwatches, you've essentially used
them all.
It's good then that Android Wear is quite an attractive
and well thought-out system in its relative infancy, though there's
always room for improvement.
The
first screen you'll see on the watch is the actual clock face. This
will dimly be shown at all times unless you un-tick the always-on option
in settings. A single tap on the screen will light it up, or you can
raise your wrist to achieve the same, while placing your palm over it or
just waiting a few seconds will cause it to dim again.
A long
press on it brings up a selection of alternate faces so you can
customize it to your own taste. If you aren't finding something you
like, the Google Play store has hundreds for you to peruse. Or you can
check out our list of the
best Android Wear watch faces.
Back
on the main screen you can swipe up to scroll through information
cards, showing traffic, weather and the like, much like Google Now does
on a phone and swipe left across any of them to get more details and
options or swipe right to clear them. If you want to recall them you
have a brief opportunity to with a swipe down.
A swipe down from
the clock face will show your remaining battery and allow you to mute
the watch, then from there a swipe left will give you access to the
settings screen and 'cinema mode', which ensures the screen stays off
unless you press the power button. Handy in cinemas and anywhere else
that needs to be dark.
Tapping
the clock face or saying 'OK Google' will bring up a screen which
allows you to give it voice commands, such as sending texts and making
notes.
I found this mostly works quite well, even in fairly loud
environments, though I did need to speak slower and more clearly than I
would in normal conversation and in a lot of cases it took longer than
just reaching for my phone would have.
If,
instead of speaking, you swipe up from this voice screen you can get a
list of possible commands you can give it, with a tap carrying that
command out, or as close to as possible. For example tapping on 'take a
note' will let it know that you want to take a note but you'll still
have to speak the note, while tapping 'show me my steps' will do just
that, with no speaking required.
If you scroll right to the bottom you'll find other options like the settings screen and the start menu.
The
former lets you adjust the screen brightness, pair Bluetooth devices,
turn on airplane mode, reset or restart the device, change the watch
face, invert the colours, increase the text size or search for software
updates, while the latter gives you a list of all compatible apps that
you can launch from the watch.
It used to be that these screens
were only accessible by digging this deep into Android Wear, but since
the update to Android 5.0 the settings screen at least can be accessed
by swiping down from the clock face and left a couple of times.
The
update also made it so that screens you've recently accessed or actions
you've recently carried out will sit at the top of the options list,
giving you easier access to things you use regularly.
It's worth
noting that while the Sony SmartWatch 3 has its own settings screen,
certain settings are only accessible from within the Android Wear app on
your phone, such as toggling whether you can tilt the watch to wake the
screen. It seems odd and unnecessary to separate features like this,
but it's not a big deal once you know where things are.
If you get
a call, message or notification then that will pop up on the main
screen of the watch and cause it to vibrate to alert you to it, at which
point you can interact with it or clear it. If it's a call you can opt
to answer or reject it, but if you choose to answer it still comes
through on your phone (or a Bluetooth headset if you have one paired).
There are no embarrassing wrist conversations here.
For
the most part this all works pretty well and I found it genuinely
useful being able to just glance at my wrist to see what an email said
or what the notification I just got was rather than having to dig my
phone out of my pocket, especially as in many cases it would be things
that I'd just as soon ignore anyway.
It also had the advantage
that I never missed a message or call, because while the vibration isn't
all that strong it's a lot more noticeable against your wrist than it
is from a bag or pocket. Its functionality is limited and as such it's
not as exciting as some gadgets but it genuinely saved me time in my day
and meant I wasn't as distracted by my phone.
It's not the most
intuitive interface and the SmartWatch 3 doesn't do a brilliant job of
explaining how everything works, but it's simple enough that it doesn't
take too long to get to grips with.
Performance seems pretty good
too. Occasionally the watch wouldn't register a tap and it can take a
while to process voice commands, for example sending texts or opening
apps on my phone.
There are times when it sits there long enough
that I wish I'd just done something by hand, but when navigating the
interface and scrolling through messages and alerts there's no
noticeable slowdown at all. But that's no surprise given the 1.2GHz
quad-core processor and 512MB of RAM that it's packing.
Battery life and connectivity
Battery
life is an even bigger issue on smartwatches than it is on smartphones,
as not only do some of them actually sport worse life than the average
handset but people are likely to be less accepting of having to give
their watch a regular juicing, when a normal watch needs charging
precisely never.
The Sony SmartWatch 3 doesn't solve this problem
but it's far from one of the worst offenders. It's got a 420mAh battery,
which is big for a watch. The
LG G Watch R for example is slightly smaller at 410mAh and the
Moto 360
has a much smaller 320mAh battery, so that's a promising start. Sony
reckons it can last for up to two days of use and I'd say that's just
about right.
With
what I'd think of as average mixed use it lasts around a day and a
half. For example on one day I unplugged it at 8:30am when it was 100%
charged and by roughly midnight it was down to 59% battery.
That
was with it connected to my phone all day, the screen always on,
regularly getting emails and notifications, many of which I read from my
wrist and on a few occasions I used the voice controls as well as using
it to control Spotify on my computer for a while.
So with light
use it can just about stretch to two days, but I can't see it ever
lasting longer than that and if you start using GPS that life begins to
plummet. Still, that's up there with the best battery life of any
smartwatch, other than the Pebble anyway, which is in a league of its
own.
When
it is time to charge it the Sony SmartWatch 3 does at least benefit
from having a microUSB port, so there's no need for the proprietary
chargers or docks that most smartwatches favour. That's handy as there's
always likely to be a microUSB cable lying around and they're small
enough that you could easily carry one with you if needed.
On the
other hand that port does add a bit of bulk to the watch and it's not
the easiest to access, so it would be nice if it supported wireless
charging as well for when you just can't be bothered to pry open a flap
and struggle to plug it in.
The
Sony SmartWatch 3 is a better connected device than most wearables, as
not only does it have the obligatory Bluetooth 4.0 along with common
features like ambient light sensors, an accelerometer, a compass and a
gyro, but also GPS and NFC.
I talk about GPS in the apps and
fitness section and NFC isn't really supported by Android Wear yet, but
it means that the SmartWatch 3 will be more future-proofed than
wearables that don't have it.
Apps and fitness
Once you've grabbed the
Android Wear
app off Google Play and paired your phone to the Sony SmartWatch 3
you'll be ready to start exploring its apps, not that there's a huge
amount to explore.
Any apps that you have on your watch can be
accessed either by navigating to the start screen, which is buried at
the bottom of a list of voice commands and actions or by actually giving
the watch a voice command and asking it to launch an app.
Out of
the box there's not much included and the Android Wear versions of apps
are mostly pretty basic, but that's probably for the best given the
small size of the screen. For example you can see your agenda for the
day but not get a full view of your calendar.
Or you can get it to navigate you to an address, complete with a map of the route, but you can't scroll the map.
Playing
music from the watch is particularly problematic, as while it has 4GB
of storage which you can fill up with songs the only way to actually get
your music on there is to upload it to Play Music, then make it
available offline on your phone and even once done you can't specify
which songs you want to add to your watch, it will just sync all the
offline songs, or as many as it can fit.
Given that there's a
handy microUSB port it would be nice if you could hook the SmartWatch 3
up to a computer and drag and drop, but no, you have to jump through a
perplexing number of hoops.
Of course even once you've got the music there you'll need a pair of Bluetooth headphones to listen to it.
You
might find that certain apps on your phone are already Android Wear
compatible, especially if you're using a Nexus, as many Google apps are
optimised for it. If you launch the Android Wear app on your handset you
can set the default app for various categories, for example you can ask
it to use RunKeeper or My Tracks when you're jogging.
You can
also change and download more clock faces from the Android Wear app,
adding to the fairly limited selection that Sony packed in.
You
can download more Android Wear compatible apps too but right now the
selection is limited. For example if you have the Google Camera you can
manually control the shutter from your watch, but many other camera apps
aren't supported.
Similarly while Hangouts lets you directly
reply to text messages from your wrist other SMS apps don't, so you
might find that to get the most out of the Sony SmartWatch 3 (or any
Android Wear device) you have to change your default apps. Hopefully
this will be remedied over time as more apps add full Android Wear
support.
The
good news is that you will at least get notifications from all your
apps, even if you can't always respond to them from your wrist and just
being able to see what a notification is can be handy, as it's not
always going to be something that needs immediate attention anyway.
And
if you dig around you should find an ever growing number of Android
Wear apps, some of which are pretty useful. For example Sony's own
TrackID service is supported, allowing you to use your watch to identify
music.
Fitness
The Sony SmartWatch 3 is a more
fitness-focused device than most smartwatches, as while it lacks a heart
rate monitor it has built in GPS, so you can leave your phone behind
when you go on a jog or even take it swimming since it's waterproof.
Right
now there aren't a huge number of apps that support its GPS function,
but there's a growing number including, unsurprisingly, Google's own My
Tracks. Simply start it up from your watch and it will tell you the
distance and duration of your workout, while once you sync it up with
the app on your phone you can see more detailed stats, including speed
and the route you took.
There are two potential problems though.
Firstly as you might imagine the battery takes a real hit when using
GPS. I found that it dropped by 10% in 24 minutes, so a two hour workout
would cut its life in half. I'm also concerned about its accuracy, as
while at one point the watch claimed I'd travelled 2.01km my phone
reckoned the same journey was 1.85km.
Now it could be the phone
that was wrong, but it's a route I'm familiar with and have tracked on
other devices in the past with results closer to what the phone claimed
than the watch.
Other than GPS the Sony SmartWatch 3 has a built
in step tracker and if you download Sony's Lifelog to your phone then it
can sync with that and give you all sorts of detailed stats from
calories burnt to hours slept and also gives non-fitness related
information, such as how long you spent listening to music. You can even
see what time you did these things.
I'm not entirely sure that
much of the information is all that useful, but seeing how long you've
spent walking or running and how many steps you've taken can be handy,
especially as you can also set daily targets.
But while you can go
back and view previous day's activities it doesn't give you a clear
breakdown of how your performance has changed over time, so while it
might remind you to stay active and give you an idea of how much
exercise you've done on a given day you can't easily track your
progress.
There
are other supported services too though, such as Google Fit, which
similarly tracks your steps as well as the overall amount of time you've
spent being active in a day and like Lifelog it allows you to set
targets.
Ultimately I'm not sure the Sony SmartWatch 3 is quite a
replacement for a running watch or fitness band, but if you
predominantly want a smartwatch yet quite like the idea of being able to
occasionally take it for a jog or a ride without your phone then this
could be the wearable for you.
The Competition
While there
aren't a huge number of smartwatches on the market there are enough
quality ones that the Sony SmartWatch 3 faces some stiff competition,
especially as some offer things that the Sony SmartWatch 3 doesn't.
So to make purchase decisions easier here's a roundup of its closest competitors and how they compare.
LG G Watch R
At
around £220 / $250 / AU$280 the LG G Watch R is slightly more expensive
than the Sony SmartWatch 3 and in some ways it's easy to see why. It's
got a round display for one and as such it looks more like a traditional
timepiece than any other smartwatch on the market.
And while it
doesn't quite have as premium a build as the Moto 360 we'd say it edges
the Sony SmartWatch 3, thanks to a leather strap rather than rubber.
It's
also got a similarly sharp screen and delivers almost lag-free
performance like the SmartWatch 3. The two watches also have similar
battery life, stretching to two days at a push.
But the Sony
SmartWatch 3 bests it in a few areas. It has a larger screen for
example, coming in at 1.6 inches to the G Watch R's 1.3 inches and it
supports microUSB charging, while the G Watch R requires a dock.
Then
of course there's the thing that the SmartWatch 3 has over almost every
smartwatch: built in GPS. It's a feature that may not play that heavily
into everyone's purchasing decision but it will surely appeal to
runners and cyclists.
Samsung Gear Live
In
some ways the Samsung Gear Live is incredibly similar to the Sony
SmartWatch 3. After all they both have square faces with a resolution of
320 x 320 and their screens are almost exactly the same size, though
for better or worse the Gear Live is slightly bigger at 1.63 inches.
But other than the presence of
Android Wear
on both of them that, for the most part, is where the similarities end.
There's a big difference in price for one thing, with the Gear Live
appearing a relative bargain at £169 ($199, AU$250).
The
Gear Live lacks GPS, but on the other hand it does have a heart rate
monitor, which the Sony SmartWatch 3 doesn't. Both are fitness
orientated so it would be nice to see both features in a single watch
but of the two I'd argue that GPS is probably more useful to more
people.
Where the Gear Live really fails is in its battery life,
coming in at around a day max and for that reason, whatever your stance
on GPS and heart rate monitors, I'd say that the Sony SmartWatch 3 is a
better buy, even with its higher price tag.
Moto 360
The
Moto 360 is a fairly expensive wearable like the Sony SmartWatch 3,
coming in at around £200 / $250 / AU$275 and for that you get arguably
the best looking smartwatch yet, with a metal body and a round face,
though there's a cut-out at the bottom so it's not quite a perfect
circle like the G Watch R.
But it's definitely a case of style
over substance, essentially making it the opposite of the Sony
SmartWatch 3, with a wireless charging cradle that looks nice but is
less practical than microUSB charging, poor battery life and an
underpowered processor. Even the screen disappoints, as at 320 x 290
it's a little lower resolution than the Sony SmartWatch 3.
I
think when it comes to smartwatches the design and build is even more
important than it is on a smartphone, since they're so visible and since
traditional watches have long been fashion accessories as much as
anything else.
As such I don't want to underestimate the
importance of the Moto 360's premium design. I'd much rather be seen
wearing it than the Sony SmartWatch 3, but with a worse screen, inferior
battery life and less power it's still a tough sell.
Moto 360 review
Verdict
The Sony SmartWatch 3 puts function ahead of form, delivering one of the best user experiences yet but with minimal style.
Sadly
that means it's still not quite the complete package and it's not cheap
either, but if you favour geek chic over high fashion this could be the
most compelling smartwatch yet.
We liked
One of the
biggest selling points that Sony SmartWatch 3 has over rivals is built
in GPS, which, coupled with being water and dust proof, makes it a handy
workout companion, allowing you to leave your phone behind.
It's
also a slick performer, with rarely any slowdown and its 1.6-inch
display is sharp enough to look good and use comfortably, while the size
is also a good balance between being useable and not looking like
you've got a phone strapped to your wrist.
Its battery life
deserves a mention too, as while you'll still be charging the Sony
SmartWatch 3 every other day you at least might not have to charge it
nightly, which gives it one-up on the likes of the
Moto 360.
Plus
while the charger is a bit fiddly it's at least microUSB, so even if
you forget your charger you can bet that someone else will have a
compatible cable.
We disliked
While I was happy to see GPS
included in the Sony SmartWatch 3 it doesn't seem entirely accurate.
It's good enough to track your route and get a vague idea of the
distance travelled but if you need real accuracy you'll probably want to
hold on to your sports watch for now.
The other problem with the
GPS is how much it drains the battery. If you use it for a long run or
ride you'll likely have to charge the watch's battery before nightfall.
Then
there's the design. It's certainly comfortable and Sony's newly
released metal strap for the SmartWatch 3 looks pretty good, but with
the default rubber one it doesn't really.
It wouldn't look out of
place if you're out on a jog or at the gym, but it definitely looks like
a sports watch rather than a fashionable one. The square face will also
limit how much it could ever look like a normal watch.
Verdict
In
many ways I really like the Sony SmartWatch 3. It's not an essential
device - no smartwatches are yet - but I'm in the camp that finds
Android Wear genuinely useful, particularly as a quick and unobtrusive way to check notifications.
The
Sony SmartWatch 3 also stands out from much of the competition through
impressive performance, a good screen and solid battery life, not to
mention the inclusion of GPS which makes it a better fitness accessory
than most smartwatches, despite an imperfect implementation.
When
it comes down to it though I don't think I'd buy one and that's mostly
because of the style, or lack thereof. It's far from an ugly device, but
it's merely passable and for me that doesn't cut it with a watch.
Give
it a metal or leather strap and ideally a round face, then we're
talking, but as it stands it's got the substance but not the style.
On
the other hand if you don't care so much about style or actually do
like the look of the Sony SmartWatch 3 then I wouldn't hesitate to
recommend it as one of the best smartwatches around, even given its
fairly high price, and as Android Wear continues to mature it will
presumably get even better.
First reviewed: December 2014
Read More ...
REVIEW: Far Cry Primal review
Far Cry Primal review
There was a moment in playing Far Cry Primal wherein everything came together.
After
my unwaveringly obedient owl ripped a spear-throwing, tribal warrior
from his ledge – and my newly-trained cave tiger went for the throat of a
beehive-throwing grenadier – I scored a crucial headshot with a longbow
I made after saving a wayward, one-armed member of my own tribe.
In
the battle that ensued, I lit an entire village on fire with a torch I
made from alderwood, animal skin and bone. (I also threw a flaming spear
into the bare chest of one of my enemies.) As I watched the desolation
below me, I heard the distant sounds of a sabertooth tiger fighting a
cave bear – for no reason other than their proximity.
The setting has definitely changed, but this is still the Far Cry I remember.
Far Cry Primal trades the scenic vistas of the Himalayan Mountains (featured in
Far Cry 4)
and dusty roads and prairies of Central Africa for a truly strange
setting: 10,000 BCE. It's here that you'll become Takkar, a heroic – if
woefully generic – caveman from the Wenja tribe tasked with reuniting
his people and preventing them from being forgotten in the
soon-to-be-written history books.
Your time is what you make of it
About
25 hours stand between your first mission and the end of the main
quest. That quest takes you from steamy rainforests to icy tundras to
fight – and ultimately usurp – two rival tribe leaders.
Around a
quarter of that time will be quite similar to the story you read above,
engaged in Primal's erratic, frenetic combat that requires you to craft
weapons in the middle of battle and use nature to its fullest
destructive potential.
The other 75% of play time is spent doing
less fun tasks: collecting the materials needed to craft said weapons,
embarking on bland escort missions to rebuild your tribe and hearing the
words "Takkar" and "Wenja" more times than you can count.
How
much you enjoy Far Cry Primal – essentially last year's Far Cry 4 set
in a different era and without a sociopathic antagonist to drive it
forward – is what you put into it. If you're deeply into exploring open
worlds, checking every nook for myriad collectibles and devising
inventive new weapons, Far Cry Primal is as good as, if not better than,
the four previous games in the series.
But, if you're more into
seeing the core story unfold (in this case, through one monotonous
mission to the next), Primal is one blast from the past that's best left
where you found it.
The origin of man
If there's one
takeaway for you here, it's that the game does an excellent job with the
setting. For instance, there's not one, but three fictional languages
that were created for the game alongside a world teeming with secrets
and collectibles.
The world is exceptionally well-built,
thematically speaking. Each area feels unique, full of different flora
and fauna. Not to mention the random, unscripted events – plenty of
fodder for explaining to friends why the game is worth playing.
I
thought I'd miss the various modes of transportation I've come to love
in open-world games set in the modern era. Grand Theft Auto V had muscle
cars, blimps and fighter jets. Just Cause 3 had motorcycles and armored
personnel transports. Even previous Far Cry games have given you
something to get around in.
Naturally, the main means of
transportation in Primal is your own two feet, which, as it turns out,
aren't so bad afterall. (Well, you can learn how to ride a tiger and a
wooly mammoth, too. But we'll get to that in a minute.)
The
worst thing you can say about Far Cry Primal's setting is that it's
gimmicky, a clever ruse to get extra mileage out of last year's product.
But, if the worst criticism of a game's setting is that it's
derivative, well, that's actually a compliment in and of itself.
Where
I take up arms against Far Cry's Stone Age successor is that the plot
is as crude as the game's characters. Admittedly, though, this might be
limited by the game's design.
Whereas previous games in the
series have strung you along on a pressing, time-sensitive quest,
Primal's story objective is one that could be never be completed and
will make little to no difference.
Your character's driving,
ahem, primal emotion is revenge. Takkar's clan has been driven to the
point of near-extinction by two stronger factions: the Neanderthal-like
Udam and Mesoamerican-esque Izila. The two initially seem different
enough in culture and appearance to vary the plot, but end up melding
into a homogenous enemy that reacts similarly to threats and falls prey
to similar tricks regardless of their ancestry.
Other
characters that you meet – like the the pelt-wearing shaman who sends
you on drug-induced trips to the spirit world – are quirky, sure. But,
after a few missions, they ultimately become one-note and forgettable.
Kickin' it old school
When
missions aren't whisking you away to brutally murder scores of
unknowing, primitive lackies, there's a softer side to Primal that
requires you to tend to your up-and-coming empire.
To that end,
you'll venture off to collect resources from the environment, like bark,
assorted plants and animal skins to upgrade your free-loading friends'
huts. In return, they'll help upgrade your arsenal of spears, bows and
clubs. Naturally, this will in turn will help you collect more resources
and repeat the process ad nauseam.
The payoff for all this
collecting and upgrading doesn't come until you get into combat. Here,
you'll craft sharper spears and more deadly clubs that kill in fewer
swings.
You'll
never unlock anything too crazy. (Spoiler: the best weapons in the game
are just stronger versions of the club, spear and bow you're given to
begin your bloodstained quest). But, the rewards are appealing enough to
get you to scour your surroundings between bouts.
When and where
you'll enjoy Primal the most is hard to predict. It might be when
you're locked in combat and something inexplicable happens, like when I
was low on health and hiding beneath a ledge while my recently-tamed
white wolf fought both a bear and an Izila warrior simultaneously. Or,
it might be when you find the fifth and final rare material to craft the
double bow that fires two arrows at once.
Like a flaming spear
to the back, it's hard to say where in Primal's elegantly crafted world
you'll be when "it just clicks." But, if you give it time, it will
happen when you least expect it.
Verdict: Play it
Far
Cry Primal satisfies the urge to explore a world before bullets,
medicine and smartphones. I equally and genuinely enjoyed both the
collection and crafting bits – as well as the blood-pumping combat later
in the game. While I won't be able to recall a single character's name
come this time next month, I thoroughly enjoyed what Primal offers –
even if I only see myself stabbing, skinning and shooting through its
world once.
This game was reviewed on PS4.
Techradar's
review system scores games as 'Don't Play It', 'Play It' and 'Play It
Now', the last of which is the highest score we can give. A 'Play It'
score suggests a solid game with some flaws, but the written review will
reveal the exact justifications.
Read More ...
Microsoft HoloLens Bluetooth Clicker is our first glimpse at a possible controller
New details have emerged in regards to the
Microsoft HoloLens experience, including a new way for users to control the augmented reality headset.
The
HoloLens Bluetooth Clicker, a miniature device that attaches to a
user's fingers via an elastic strap, looks to be aiming for simplicity -
it appears to have only one button. The controller comes to us courtesy
of a leaked quick-start guide posted by Twitter user
WalkingCat.
Compared to other wearable headsets, such as the
HTC Vive,
Oculus Rift and
PlayStation VR, the Bluetooth Clicker isn't just the simplest, but by far the smallest of the controller peripherals we've seen.
The
tiny design may mean the Clicker is intended primarily for navigation
versus precise applications, like gaming, or that HoloLens users may
rely on already-existing controller inputs, as seen with the Minecraft
demo that
captured our attention at last year's E3.
Control options
For
now, this is the sole controller we've seen for the HoloLens, but we
have a feeling a more complex controller is in the works if Microsoft
wants the headset to be taken seriously in the gaming market.
That
said, HoloLens features several built-in controls, utilizing a
combination of headtracking, vocal commands, and "air-tapping" to
control virtual objects in the user's environment.
In fact, a
video showcasing these controls also leaked today, demonstrating a
program called Actiongram. The footage was again uncovered by
WalkingCat.
Actiongram is a HoloLens app that superimposes
cartoons, text and holographic figures onto the environment, like an AR
version of
Snapchat's special lenses or those arcade photo booths that let you put stickers and other nonsense on your pictures.
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3_viBxB8Fc&feature=youtu.be
In
this video, we also finally see the debut of HoloLens' Start menu,
dubbed the "HoloShell." Terms such as "bloom" and "tile" replace more
common parlance like "open" and "icon," but navigating the system
otherwise appears the same as with a normal toolbar.
Since the
information regarding the Clicker and the Start menu didn't come from
the lips of Microsoft, we're sure more concrete details are still due
regarding HoloLens.
Read More ...
Exclusive: Motorola wants to make a shatterproof Moto G, but...
Motorola's brand new screen technology to make its phones "unbreakable" is currently only available on the
Moto X Force,
also known as the Moto Droid Turbo 2 in the US. But it looks like the
tech won't be limited to just one phone for much longer. The company
wants to bring the technology all the way down to the more affordable,
but still excellent
Moto G.
Techradar
spoke to Motorola President Rick Osterloh who said, "Our aim in the
long run is take all our tech as low as we can. We did that with the
Moto Maker on the Moto G and the little twist to activate the camera.
...however,
that unbreakable screen technology is super expensive right now and
that makes it hard to tier at the moment. But that is our aim."
Breaking new ground
Some
were confused as to why the decision was made to include
water-resistance in the latest generation of Moto G, but omit the
sought-after feature from the higher-end
Moto X Play and
Moto X Style.
Osterloh
said, "I think we felt there was an incremental need in the Moto G
space that wasn't getting met. The primary volume for that product is
outside of developed markets."
"In those markets, durability was
something that resonated high on users' lists. It was kind of an
innovation experiment for us. Could we offer more water resistance at a
lower price point without affecting the idea in a major way? I think it
worked out pretty well."
Durability is back in focus for phone manufactures in 2016, with the
Samsung Galaxy S7 and
Galaxy S7 Edge bringing back water-proofing for the first time since the Galaxy S5.
It's
interesting to see Motorola say it wants to bring its innovative,
unbreakable screen to more products. How long it will take however, is
another question.
Read More ...
This AI robot can recognize a ball from a baby
An
undergraduate at Boston University has developed a robot with
artificial intelligence that can move around without human direction
and, most impressively, recognize what obstacle is sitting in front of
it before steering around it.
The engineering student, Emily
Fitzgerald, built the two-foot-tall robot with a stack of hors d'oeuvre
trays and put it on wheels. The robot's smarts use a camera and a laptop
sitting on top of the trays, which communicates with a desktop
computer.
The system lets the robot come upon an object and determine exactly what it is, whether it be a ball, a book, or a cone.
Deep learning
Fitzgerald
explains
that the robot uses the camera to snap a range of images of the object
in front of it, and the laptop collects and sends the information to the
desktop computer.
The computer then uses a deep neural network,
an artificial intelligence model that simulates the way our brains
problem solve, to basically say, "Oh, let me think about it." It then
finds a corresponding picture to use as a reference, after which it's
able to say something along the lines of, "This is a ball."
However,
while Fitzgerald's robot has the smarts to get itself around and call
out objects, it isn't perfect, and was only a summer project for the
university student.
Still, she hopes to further pursue a career
in bioimaging and sees a future where robotic surgical devices use
neural networks to detect objects in human patients. Fitzgerald didn't
elaborate what those objects might be, but we assume she is referring to
things like tumors. Robots such as this could also be used in other
applications, like space exploration.
You can check out the rolling robot in the video below.
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhe79UiY4Sw
Read More ...
Hands-on review: MWC 2016: Epson Moverio BT-300
With
Google Glass taking a break from perching on the nose of tech
enthusiasts, there is an opening for a new smart spectacle upstart and
Epson has its eyes on the prize.
The Epson Moverio BT-300 is the
third iteration of the company's smart eyeglass lineup. It comes with a
new lightweight form factor - 20% lighter than the BT-200 range - that
has a 'Google' feel and is equipped with an OLED display, which projects
an image in front of the eyes that feels around 80 inches in size.
All of this is powered by a Intel Atom X5 processor and Android 5.1.
Using
this processor means that the Epson Moverio BT-300 is able to render 3D
a lot better and recognise more objects in its peripheral vision. All
of this makes for more realistic AR.
Look and feel
In my
time with the device, I found that the augmented reality functionality
was decent. There was a couple of demos we tried - once was of a
painting that magically came to life as we looked at it, and another was
a simulation of controlling a drone.
The drone part was really
interesting - fake piloting a drone and getting to see what it was
seeing was pretty cool, as was the flipping between first and third
person.
The
glasses were pretty comfortable, too. They are definitely light and
compared to the previous iterations of Epson's glasses, they are super
thin and actually don't look 'that' stupid.
They are very Google
Glass, though. Epson has definitely taken design ideas from Google,
while adding its own industrial twist, before the search giant decided
to put its Glass production on hold.
Battery life
Battery
life on the eyewear is a cool six hours which is plenty of time, given
that you won't want to wear the Moverios all of the time.
The
problem Epson has is its reliance on third-party augmented app makers.
It's a big problem with AR in general. It may have been around longer
than the current virtual reality headsets, but there's not been much of a
demand for software.
This is a shame, because when it works well
- map overlays for cyclists, for example - augmented reality shines but
there's just not enough reason to get AR glasses at the moment.
Epson hopes to remedy this with the inclusion of some business-focused AR ideas, including virtual instruction manuals.
There's
also camera functionality on board. So if you get bored with augmented
the world around you, you can snap away at unsuspecting bystanders - a
feature that caused quite a bit of controversy when it was introduced in
Google Glass.
Early verdict
It's
three times the charm for Epson. It has managed to create some smart
eyewear that can not only match Google Glass in the looks department,
but functionality wise as well.
The issue is: with Google
seemingly out of the augmented reality game, is there still an appetite
for this technology? Epson hopes so, but I am still not so sure.
Read More ...
MWC 2016: Meet Starship - the delivery robot that wants to carry your shopping for you
If
you thought Amazon's drone delivery scheme is too much of a
pie-in-the-sky idea, then meet Starship - the delivery bot that's a
whole lot more grounded.
Created by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla
and Janus Friis, the Starship is an autonomous vehicle that wants to be
the delivery device for 'last mile' journeys - those times when
businesses need to get goods delivered in a close proximity but don't
want to spend money on an extortionate courier.
The Starship was shown off at
MWC 2016
and we would love to say that we saw it at work, but when we went to
see the vehicle it was currently 'between battery charges'.
Starship's
makers assured me, however, that when it is fully charged it will drive
for a good two miles and trot along at around 4 miles an hour.
London
is one of the cities where Starship is being trialed, so when you are
next in Greenwich, keep an eye out for it in the confines of the Tube
station.
Greenwich is a pretty apt place for trials, given it is also the area of London where
self-driving cars are being tested.
As
for space, the Starship will hold packages up to 18kg (40lbs) in size
and there are nine cameras on board to make sure that it doesn't bump
into anyone while it is traveling. Even if it does, it will be akin to
getting attacked by a tourist's suitcase, and whoever has summoned
Starship can track its progress on an app.
The
makers of Starship are hoping that it will go into full production in
2017. When techradar asked what the reaction has been like when the
public see Starship in motion, the reply was: "No one has wanted to kick
it yet." Which is good to know.
Read More ...
MWC 2016: Oppo's new tech can fully charge a phone in 15 minutes
If
the best thing about owning a smartphone is actually using it, then
easily the worst part is when you have to stop for a charge. Powering a
phone back to good health can take hours, or if you're really lucky,
just under an hour. But Oppo wants to change that with its Super VOOC
Flash Charge technology, which is said to fully charge a 2,500mAh-packed
smartphone in just 15 minutes flat.
Unveiled at
MWC 2016
in Barcelona, Oppo detailed what makes Super VOOC Flash Charge so dang
super. By improving on the original, which offered up to two hours of
phone use after a five minute charge, the new tech can provide 10 hours
in the same amount of time. You've got a few minutes to spare, right?
Super
VOOC Flash Charge, while not the friendliest phrasing to roll off the
tongue, is said to be able to play nicely with both microUSB and USB-C
devices. In theory, this would include the
Samsung Galaxy S7 and Google
Nexus 6P alike, but it's possible that this technology might only work with Oppo phones.
Quick! Charge
It
works by feeding a custom charging algorithm to your device. The
current used is 5V and is dynamically controlled to send pulses of
electricity at a low-temperature to charge as quickly as possible.
Oppo
plans to unleash Super VOOC Flash Charge this year at some point, but
it's currently not clear exactly when and where it will be available.
Read More ...
Updated: How to use iOS 9
Getting started with iOS 9
iOS 9 is the newest version of Apple's operating system for its mobile devices. Ushered in alongside the launch of the
iPhone 6S and
iPhone 6S Plus, iOS 9 is available as a free download for most modern Apple devices.
It comes with a range of improvements and new features, so if you're still rocking
iOS 8 or earlier, then it's definitely worth upgrading to.
We've
created comprehensive guides that will show you how to download and
install iOS 9 onto your iPhone or iPad, and as well as the best tips,
tricks and tutorials to show you how to use iOS 9.
Update: We've
added a video on how to set up your new iPhone, as well as a video on
how to extend the battery life of your iPhone or iPad.
How to set up your iPhone
First
things first, if you've just got a brand new iPhone then watch our how
to set up your iPhone video below to get it up and running quickly and
easily.
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1aLpndzGNU
How to download iOS 9 onto your iPhone and iPad
If
you've got the recently released iPhone 6S or iPhone 6S Plus then
you'll already have iOS 9 installed on your device. If you have an older
iPhone or iPad however, upgrading to iOS 9 is easy and – best of all –
it's free.
If you're ready to upgrade your apple device then check out our
step-by-step guide to downloading and installing iOS 9.
How to switch from Android to iPhone
If
you've grown tired of the sweet treats of Android and are making the
leap to iOS 9 with a new iPhone, then luckily the switch is pretty
straightforward.
This is thanks to the Move to iOS app, which can
make moving to iOS 9 a pain-free experience. It's still worth getting
acquainted with the app, so check out our guide on
how to switch from Android to iPhone before you make the jump.
How to create an Apple ID
Whether
you're using just an iPhone, other iOS devices, a Mac or all of these,
your Apple ID is your key to the range of online services from Apple and
much more.
If you want to download and use apps in iOS 9, then it's essential that you have an Apple ID. In our
How to create an Apple ID
guide we'll explain what an Apple ID is, as well as show you how to
create one, as well as additional Apple IDs for the rest of your family.
By
creating special Apple IDs for your kids you can let them use your iOS 9
device safe in the knowledge that they won't be spending money on apps
and games.
How to use iCloud Keychain
If you're after more
protection for your online data - but don't want to have to remember a
host of complicated and unique passwords - then using iOS 9's iCloud
Keychain feature can help - as it keeps all of your login details (and
more) all under one universal - and secure - Keychain.
Check out our
how to use iCloud Keychain feature to find out more.
How to use iPhone widgets
Now
that you've got iOS 9 installed it's time to see what the new mobile
operating system can do. One of the first things you should check out is
how to use
iPhone widgets in iOS 9, which will make using your iOS device easier than ever before.
iOS 9: 55 tips and tricks
You should also make sure to check out our
iOS 9: 50 tips and tricks feature, which shows you how to tweak iOS 9 to make it run just the way you want it to.
Regardless of is your new to Apple's devices or a seasoned pro, you're bound to find something new to try out with our guide.
iOS 9.2 tips and tricks
iOS
9 has had an update to iOS 9.2, and even if it appears to be a minor
update, there are some significant new features. Find out how to make
the most of these new additions with our list of
iOS 9.2 tips and tricks.
How to use Maps in iOS 9
The
Maps app has been given a huge boost with iOS 9, finally bringing
public transit routes that allows you to check the timetables for buses,
trains and more.
It means you can get directions that include
instructions for what public transport to use and where to catch it
from. You can also set it to avoid public transport you'd rather not
use, such as subways.
Check out our
guide to iOS 9 Maps to find out more about all the great new features.
How to use the iOS 9 News app
RIP
Newsstand, as iOS 9 brings a brand new News app which allows you to
create a personalised newsfeed that will deliver news stories about
topics you're interested in.
There's a huge range of publications
available on the iOS 9 News app, so make sure you don't miss any
breaking stories with our guide on
using the iOS 9 News app.
How to use iOS 9 Wallet
iOS
9 hasn't just dumped Newsstand for a new app – Apple has done the same
with Passbook, which has now been retired in favour of the new Wallet
app.
Wallet brings a lot of improved features to iOS 9 that deal with
Apple Pay, the new contactless payment method that lets you buy goods and services with your iPhone or
Apple Watch.
There's a great deal you can do with the app, so make sure you check out our guide on how to use
iOS 9 Wallet – it could revolutionise the way you pay for things.
Also check out our guide on
how to use Apple Wallet from the Lock Screen, which makes using Apple Wallet even more convenient.
How to use Apple Pay
Of
course the Wallet app in iOS 9 is just the beginning of using your
Apple device to pay for things. We explain everything you need to know
about Apple Pay in our
comprehensive guide.
How to make a ringtone for your iPhone 6S
Making
your very own ringtone for your iPhone not only helps personalise your
smartphone, but it also means you can annoy people around you as well if
you want to!
OK, we don't recommend doing that, but we've got some
great tips on using both iOS 9 or Mac OSX to create your very own ringtone that you can use on your iPhone.
How to use iCloud online photo storage
If you take plenty of photos on your iOS 9 device then you'll want to make sure that they are safely backed up.
Apple's
iCloud service makes backing up your photos online quick and easy - and
you won't have to worry if you accidently lose - or wipe - your iPhone
or iPad, as you photos will be completely safe.
Check out our guide on
how to use your iPhone and iCloud online photo storage to find out more.
How to delete all photos from iPhone
The
fantastic cameras on the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, as well as older
iPhones, means we're always taking photos on our devices - but that
often results in our iPhones telling us that their storage is full.
Thankfully there's an easy way to
delete all your photos from your iPhone while making sure they are securely saved on your Mac or PC.
Productivity
With iOS 9 downloaded and installed you can now begin learning about how to make your iPhone or iPad even easier to use.
How to improve your iPhone battery life
The
more you use your iOS 9 device, the quicker you'll find the battery
depletes, so check out our how to improve your iPhone battery life video
below for some great tips and tricks on making sure your iPhone's
battery lasts as long as possible.
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObqTvd3xg-w
How to delete all email in iOS 9
Deleting lots of unwanted email on your iPhone or iPad used to be a chore, but thankfully with iOS 9 it's now easier than ever.
Just
go to your inbox, hit the Edit button in the upper-right corner of your
inbox, then hit the Trash All button in the lower-right corner.
For more tips on dealing with emails check out our
how to delete all email in iOS 9 guide.
How to add attachments to emails in iOS 9
iOS
9 has improved the Mail app, making it easier than ever to attach files
to your emails. To find out all the ways to add important documents to
your emails, check out our
how to add attachments to emails in iOS 9 guide.
How to access iCloud files with iOS 9
Apps
are getting bigger and we're storing more data than ever on our mobile
devices, so you could soon see the internal storage of your iPhone or
iPad get used up – especially if you have a 16GB version.
Using
iCloud is a good way of freeing up space, as it moves files from your
device onto the internet. You can also save documents from your Mac onto
iCloud and access them with your iOS 9 device. To do this check out our
how to access iCloud files with iOS 9 guide.
How to multitask in iOS
One of the best features of iOS 9 allows you to run two apps side by side on a modern iPad such as the
iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4 and
iPad Pro.
To make the most out of the split view and picture-in-picture modes, as well as other cool features of iOS 9 multitasking,
check out our guide.
How to use iOS 9 Notes
The
Notes app has been given an overhaul in iOS 9, and although it still
lacks features compared to competitors such as Evernote, there's now a
lot more reason to load up Apple's app.
iCloud support has been
improved, making saving and sharing notes across all your Apple devices
much easier, and you can take photos within the app to add to your
notes. Check out our
guide on using iOS 9 Notes for information on all the great new features.
How to mute Siri
Siri, Apple's virtual assistant, is present and correct in iOS 9 and it comes with more features to make it even more useful.
However you probably don't want Siri pipping up and bugging you all the time, so check out our guide on
how to shut up Siri in iOS 9 to find out how to get some peace and quiet.
Safari for iPhone & iPad: How to open tabs in the background
Reading
websites on your iOS 9-powered iPhone or iPad is probably a regular
occurrence, so make sure you're browsing smart with these handy tips for
opening tabs in the background.
How to stop iTunes automatic downloads
Hate iTunes putting music automatically onto your iOS 9 devices? Check out our guide on
how to stop iTunes automatic downloads to make sure your iOS 9 device doesn't get its storage space clogged up too fast.
How to use the iOS 9 Clock app
The Clock app in iOS 9 is capable of doing much more than just telling you the time, and our
how to use the iOS 9 Clock app takes you through some of the cooler features of the app.
How to improve autocorrect
If
you use your iOS 9 device to send messages, or write long reams of
text, then you've probably been frustrated by the auto correct feature
at some point.
Our guide to
improving autocorrect on iPhone and iPad will show you what you can do to make typing on your iOS 9 device more accurate and less annoying.
Read More ...
MWC 2016: HTC Vive Consumer Edition: here's what you'll be able to buy
There's
nothing as exciting as checking out new technology, and everyone that's
used the Vive usually becomes a child in November, feverishly wondering
when Christmas will come to deliver the new toy they desperately want.
OK,
perhaps that a bit much - this headset will cost $799 at launch, and
will need a pretty powerful PC to run - but getting up close with the
Vive Consumer Edition feels like a step closer to it becoming a reality.
The new headset is almost identical to the developer option though, with the main changes coming inside the headset.
In
the new software you'll be able to sync your phone to get messages,
take and receive calls and see other info from your handset in the
virtual world - something we've sadly not been able to check out yet.
On
the outside, things have been rebooted for comfort: the straps feature
more intelligent cutouts to sit on the head with less pressure, and the
gaskets have been retooled to let you customise things a bit more to get
the right fit.
The outer shell looks pretty similar too - aside
from losing the 'Pre' label - so if you're thinking HTC's going to
change thing too much before launch because you loathed the way the Pre
looked, you're out of luck.
The
HTC Vive Pre goes on pre-sale right at the end of February, and it'll be in consumers' hands by April 2016.
Read More ...
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is the first phone with auto brightness that actually works
The
Samsung Galaxy S7 and
S7 Edge aren't radically different in appearance from last year's
Galaxy S6 and
S6 Edge, but an in-depth analysis has concluded that the new phones have the best screens of any smartphones yet.
According to DisplayMate's
analysis,
the OLED displays used in Samsung's new flagships perform markedly
better than their predecessors and the competition, and are more
efficient than ever.
Not only that – both phones stand out as the champions for color accuracy and contrast ratio.
The
analysis found that the displays built into the two smartphones bring
several hidden improvements. The maximum brightness is now 24% higher
than the potential output last year's models were capable of.
Samsung
has also increased the pixel density of the S7 and S7 Edge displays,
packing in 577 pixels per inch (ppi,) which, again, trounces last year's
efforts, including the larger
Samsung Galaxy Note 5's 518ppi screen.
It's
also mentioned that, compared to all smartphones, TVs, and tablets that
have come before them, the S7 and S7 Edge are the first to nail
automatic brightness.
As the findings put it, most devices with
the automatic brightness feature fail to correctly compensate for the
true ambient lighting of your environment, which leads to a screen
that's either too bright or too dim.
At this point many users
just switch off the feature, thereby fixing the brightness to a constant
level, which can drain a battery quite quickly. But Samsung's latest
displays appear to be the best around at correctly balancing screen
brightness with ambient lighting.
Always-on have you worried? Nonsense
Samsung
inspired a lot of smiles by announcing that its latest Galaxy S phones
would have bigger batteries, but much of that excitement was quelled
when it was then revealed they would also have always-on screens.
But,
according to DisplayMate's research, that's nothing to worry about. The
always-on feature requires very little power to operate. It's noted
that, in a similar vein to e-ink technology, OLED displays possess a
unique quality in that they can push black pixels without using any
power.
Read More ...
Actually, the US Justice Department wants Apple to unlock at least 12 other iPhones
The
Justice Department wants Apple to unlock at least 12 iPhones that are
not connected to the San Bernardino terror attack, and it's seeking
court orders to make it happen.
Until now it was believed the DoJ
only wanted Apple to help the FBI unlock one iPhone that was connected
to last December's San Bernardino shootings – which alone is cause for
concern.
Now
The Wall Street Journal
claims the Justice Department wants court orders to access at least 12
other phones. According to the Journal, these cases "don't involve
terrorism charges", with one regarding an iPhone involved in a drug
investigation.
Last week, FBI Director James Comey
published an editorial claiming that the Bureau was not trying to "set a precedent".
'Once created, the technique could be used over and over again'
Investigators
want Apple to create a new piece of software that would enable them to
guess the phone's password without it locking them out for getting the
passcode wrong. Apple has so far refused to create said software.
"Once
created, the technique could be used over and over again, on any number
of devices," said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a letter to customers.
Speaking about the San Bernardino iPhone case,
Bill Gates took a controversial stance by saying Apple should grant FBI access to the phone, stating this was "a particular case".
In light of the latest claims, he might want to rethink that position.
56cc1551e5be274a1fdcfce5
Read More ...
Should you ever pay up to ransomware criminals?
Introduction and growth in ransomware
Ransomware
is becoming a very popular tool for criminals. Earlier this year,
Lincolnshire County Council became one of the highest profile victims of
a scam that left local authority computers encrypted and whole systems
shut down.
In the US, the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center
was hit with a cyber-attack, resulting in an internal emergency as staff
were unable to access patient files. According to a doctor at the
hospital, the system was infected with ransomware. As a result of the
attack, staff were not able to access data such as X-rays, patient
information and lab work. Some have said the ransom in this case may be
up to $3.6 million (around £2.5 million, AU$5 million).
According to IT security company Radware's annual report on
cybersecurity, 25% of firms surveyed said they had been the victim of ransomware.
Growing trend
"It's
a trend that's grown year-on-year (up from 16% last year) and that's
likely to continue as professional groups become more organised and use
Bitcoin," says Adrian Crawley, regional director for Northern EMEA at Radware.
The
defence against such attacks as most security experts will tell you is
to keep a current backup of any important data. If the worst should
happen, then a quick restore will mitigate against most of the attack.
But of course, this doesn't always happen and in some cases files remain
encrypted and the criminals have the upper hand.
"Last year
Proton Mail, a small Swiss company, had to call in Radware to help it
shore up its defences when the attack it was experiencing from The
Armada Collective became significantly worse after it paid a ransom,"
says Crawley. "Once hackers know they have your attention then there's
no going back."
It begs the question, should we ever pay
criminals a ransom to get back data? According to Chris Boyd, malware
intelligence analyst at Malwarebytes, paying up is not a good idea.
"All
too often, people say they're going to start backing up their files
after they've already lost them," he says. "It's too late by that point,
and the malware authors are under no obligation to hand over a key to
unlock the data once the ransom has been paid."
He adds that
broken decryption methods and buggy malware files muddy the waters
further, and in general by paying the ransom victims are encouraging the
attackers to continue foisting their ransomware on other hapless folks.
"We need to de-incentivise them from making their
malware, and the best way to do this is cut off their revenue stream," says Boyd.
No guarantees
Nigel
Hawthorn, chief European spokesperson, Skyhigh Networks, says that any
company that considers paying even a single pound or dollar to
blackmailing hackers needs to have a serious think about its actions.
Hawthorn
notes: "There's no guarantee that hackers won't continue to deny access
to systems, hit them with DDoS or release valuable data. It's fair to
say that if someone is willing to blackmail you, they're probably not
going to keep to their side of any 'deal'."
Sian John, chief
security strategist EMEA, Norton by Symantec, says that if crime pays,
hackers have the financial resources to find new ways to infect your
devices. "This will give them the opportunity to target more people for
larger amounts of money in the future," she says.
John adds that
instead of negotiating with the hackers holding your files hostage, you
can clean up an infected computer at home by using a tool like Norton
Power Eraser which is freely available online.
Threat avoidance
Slim chance of data recovery
Amichai
Shulman, CTO and co-founder of Imperva, says that his firm has tracked
payments to culprits through Bitcoin and this indicates that people are
actually paying in a desperate attempt to get their data back. "However,
the chances of getting your data back after paying the ransom are
slim," he warns.
Hawthorn adds that as companies utilise more
cloud services, mitigating the risk of ransomware attacks becomes more
complex. "They must remain vigilant of the applications in use across
the enterprise, ensuring that they have the relevant security features
to prevent hackers from getting their hands on sensitive data in the
first place," he says.
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Threat avoidance
As always prevention is better than cure and another way to avoid the threat is through better education of users.
Mark
James, security specialist at ESET says that emails are one of the
biggest weapons used in cyber-attacks and "ensuring your staff are aware
of the latest scam methods or subject definitions will help to keep
those to a minimum".
He adds that having tiered network access
could limit the damage of ransomware but is not always practical.
"Showing hidden file extensions can help to spot the onset of ransomware
and lastly you could consider using one of the crypto-prevent toolkits
that are available by third-parties to monitor or block access to the
most used locations that ransomware uses," says James.
The most recent file-encrypting ransomware (
CryptoLocker,
CryptoWall and TeslaCrypt) are virtually impossible to unencrypt
without the key. Steve Nice, chief technologist at Node4, says that one
tactic to avoid trouble is to do all your browsing through a virtual
machine. "If you do get infected then it's only the virtual machine that
has encrypted files," he says.
Inside-out security
Detecting
and stopping ransomware requires an inside-out security approach. Cindy
Ng, technical analyst at Varonis, says that IT security must look to
block
phishing
emails or at least educate employees about this threat, restrict access
to social media, monitor network connections to known Command and
Control (C2) URLs/IP addresses, and watch for malicious processes.
She
adds: "But the real key to fighting ransomware is to take a closer look
at what the attackers are after – these are the files and emails that
employees create and view every day. This unstructured data is the
largest data set in most organisations, often the most valuable, and,
unfortunately, the least controlled."
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