Review: Lenovo B570
Lenovo's well-equipped B570 comes in a range of incarnations. The budget model we have here sports stripped-down components, but retains the great keyboard, solid build quality and security features of the pricer models.
For business users this is perhaps the best choice here, but for someone who wants to use their laptop for play as well as work, there are better choices in the range such as the Core i5 powered version of the B570.
The plain black chassis puts function firmly before form. The tough, ridged plastic withstands scuffs, and the firm lid protects the screen from damage.
Although this isn't the heaviest laptop we've seen, at 2.4kg it's also not ideal for regular travel, although the 157-minute battery life can keep you working on short journeys.
Lenovo's ThinkPad laptops are known for their great keyboards, and this quality has trickled down to its budget range. The B570's isolation-style keyboard features well-spaced buttons that move smoothly, quietly and accurately.
The huge touchpad and mouse buttons are pleasing to use too, and the pad's textured finish makes it easy to find when typing. The wide design suits the screen's dimensions and enables you to scroll from one side to the other without removing your finger from the touchpad.
The screen is a good one, and renders photos and videos nicely. Lenovo has gone with a glossy Super-TFT coating, so the colour reproduction is sharp with excellent contrast. As ever though, this kind of shiny coating is a double-edged sword, as you'll discover if you try to use this laptop in very bright light.
Business credentials
The ageing Pentium processor still functions well, and helps to keep the price down. The CPU is backed up by 4GB of memory, which keeps programs running smoothly. It features an Intel HD Graphics card, but since it relies on the CPU the experience isn't comparable with a Sandy Bridge machine. You'll be able to manage the basics, but not 3D games or movie editing.
Benchmarks
Battery life: 175 minutesCinebench: 6561
3DMark 2006: 2777
This laptop's business credentials mean there are several useful security features to keep your files safe. A fingerprint scanner offers protection from unauthorised access, while pre-installed Lenovo software enables you to encrypt sections of the hard drive to keep files hidden. This might not be of much significance if you don't plan to use your laptop for business, but the extra security is a nice bonus.
You also get a comprehensive selection of connectivity ports, including three USB slots, HDMI and VGA connections, and an eSata port that can double as a fourth USB.
For connecting to the internet, there's the choice of Gigabit Ethernet or 802.11n Wi-Fi, plus Bluetooth connectivity.
The B570 is a well built machine, and offers good value for money in terms of usability and performance. However, it's a tailored purchase more suitable for someone looking for a business or work laptop than a general purpose machine.
This business-like approach extends to the design - jet black with sharp angles and a fantastic keyboard - perfect if you plan to be typing a lot of business reports, or using the numeric keypad for databases and spreadsheets. If those are your key buying criteria then you'll like the B570, but we feel there are better all-rounders out there.
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Samsung Galaxy S3 available worldwide by the end of June
The global roll out of the Samsung Galaxy S3 will occur by the end of June, according to a Samsung executive.
Today we saw the Galaxy S3 go on sale in 28 countries, but major markets, such as the US, were not included in this initial roll out.
Speaking exclusively to PocketLint, TJ Kang, SVP Media Services for Samsung said: "Unlike previous product launches, the time lag will be much more compressed for the Galaxy S3.
"So I think it will be available more or less globally within a month of the European release."
Good news for US
This will undoubtedly please Samsung Galaxy fans in the US, who had to endure an agonising delay of several months after the European launch for the Galaxy S2.While this may be welcome news to many around the world, those who are in one of the 28 countries the Galaxy S3 is available in from today will be a little miffed after Samsung confirmed the pebble blue version was delayed.
The Samsung Galaxy S3 is one of the biggest phones of the year, boasting a 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD display, Android Ice Cream Sandwich, 8MP camera, NFC and a host of new features. Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S3 review for the complete low-down.
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Sponsored: Open up new ways of working with BT Infinity for business
Thanks to BT Infinity for business you can now experience the new benchmark in business broadband so you can get in the internet fast lane.
BT Infinity for business means you'll be able to upload and download information at speeds more than eight times faster than the average UK broadband.
Get more done
Faster broadband can boost your productivity – everyone in your organisation will be able to work faster and more efficiently with BT Infinity for business, whether you email large documents, need to upload large images or use multiple web applications simultaneously.Work when and how you want to
Does your broadband slow at peak times? It's a thing of the past with BT Infinity for business. There'll be no more afternoon slowdowns with a guaranteed speed of 16Mb for your workplace. And with such great broadband speeds, video conferencing or Voice over IP (VoIP) is a breeze – no more buffering or stuttering.Download as much as you need
BT Infinity for business comes with a generous 100GB usage allowance, meaning you can download huge amounts of data throughout the day and night. And should you want the peace of mind provided by unlimited bandwidth, that's no problem; it's just £5 extra per month.Get connected on the move
Signing your workplace up to BT Infinity for business will enable you to get online even when you're outside of the office – you get unlimited Wi-Fi with access to 4 million hotspots around the UK as part of your broadband package.We'll install it for you
You won't need to wrestle over installing BT Infinity for business yourself – one of our engineers will pop round to install your free new BT business Hub. The new hub uses our best ever wireless signal using 'N' technology - designed to detect and avoid Wi-Fi interference and top security as standard Wi-Fi Protected Setup, making it easy to set up a secure wireless network.It's energy efficient too –running on half the power of an energy-efficient light bulb and it automatically saves power when you're not using it.
Need more help?
We provide 24 hour, 7 day freephone support for BT Infinity for business and you can rest assured you're able to call our dedicated business team at any time for help. You'll also get preferential fault handling in the unlikely case of any problem.It's time to see what BT Infinity for business can do in your workplace – click here for more information and to see if you can get it in your area.
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Facebook offers a limited boost to businesses
Facebook is doing its bit – albeit in a small way - to help small businesses in the recession with the new Business Boost programme launched today.
The Business Boost programme is a series of initiatives for British businesses to access the 30 million UK users on Facebook, and the 870 million users worldwide and has been launched by Facebook today. The key initiative is a free advertising credits programme to help small businesses reach potential new customers. British businesses will be the first in Europe to access the credits programme, with countries across Europe to follow soon.
The three-part scheme follows research published by Deloitte in January, which found that the growth of Facebook and mobile applications in recent years has already contributed an estimated £2.2 billion to UK GDP and generated 18,400 jobs in small businesses across the country.
The Boost programme will be rolled out to 50,000 businesses across Europe, starting in the UK today and following in France, Germany, Spain and Italy later this month. Businesses with over 50 fans can automatically register for £20 of credit, with the chance to apply for a further £60 as they increase their fanbase.
Facebook has also teamed up with the British Chambers of Commerce to take its expertise on the road. Marketing and growth experts are giving practical advice, face-to-face, at free breakfast workshops in six cities this summer. The roadshow has already visited Birmingham and Glasgow, with further events planned for Manchester, Sunderland, Sheffield and London.
The initiative echoes the Google AdWords free advertising initiative that has been running in the UK for some years, but unlike the Facebook initiative there's no requirements to have a fanbase first and Google offers £50 straight away.
To take part in the Boost programme, find the full British Chambers of Commerce schedule visit: facebook.com/FacebookMarketingUK
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Anonymous warns over another F1 computer attack
Hacking collective Anonymous has threatened to take down websites linked to the upcoming F1 Grand Prix in Canada.
According to Anonymous, the reasoning for the proposed computer hack is because the organisers of the F1 are to go ahead with a Grand Prix in a place that "Amnesty International and other global human rights groups have declared human rights violators".
This is to do with Quebec's use of Special Law 78, which offers up stern regulations over demonstrations in the province – meaning students who are found to be striking or demonstrating can expect heavy fines for having their say.
The Montreal Grand Prix is set for the weekend of June 8 to 10, but Anonymous is warning anyone taking part in the F1 may be subject to a hack – something it did when the F1 took place in Bahrain in April.
Party wreckers
"As we did in Bahrain - Anonymous intends to wreck Mr Eccelstone's little party," explained an Anonymous spokesperson."Beginning on June 7 and running through race day on June 10, Anonymous will take down all the F1 websites, dump the servers and databases - and wreck anything else F1 related we can find on the internet.
"We would like to remind anyone considering attending this abominable race, that last time Anonymous found all the spectators personal data, including credit card numbers - un-encrypted on F1 servers."
Anonymous will be among many protesters targetting the Grand Prix. A number of students are also set to protest, something that the F1's orginisers will be wary of, considering the race could bring around $100 million (Canadian dollars) to the area.
The statement continued: "We highly suggest that you join the boycott of the F1 in Montreal and we certainly recommend that you NOT purchase any tickets or F1 merchandise online.
"You have been warned."
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New LG IPS TVs can double as monitor and 3D TV
LG has unveiled a range of IPS TVs that can be used as a computer monitor as well as a television.
Revolutionary, we know. The LG DM2752 and M2752 both come with LG's Cinema 3D tech, so you can enjoy all the eyeball-busting tri-dimensional graphics and dual-play just as on the high-end LG big-screen TVs we saw at CES 2012.
The in-plane switching (IPS) means the two moniTVs (see what we did there) offer superior colour reproduction and reduced flickering, as well as an excellently wide 178 degree viewing angle.
Pip pip, what what
Also as standard is Picture-in-Picture (PiP) so you can keep watching and working at the same time (handy for the Euros and the Olympics, eh sports fans?), with two HDMI ports meaning that procrastination can further be aided by Blu-ray players and games consoles.Other features include Infinite Surround Sound and USB quick-view which removes the need to boot up your computer before you can watch stuff from a USB stick.
The LG DM2752 will be available in July, while the M2752 is out in select countries around Europe now, although it doesn't look like the UK is one of them. No word on UK or US pricing as yet; we'll let you know when we know.
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Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX80
Introduction
The Panasonic Lumix FX80 is an easy to use premium compact camera that boasts a bright wide angle Leica lens, Full HD video recording with stereo sound plus a 3-inch touchscreen.The 12 megapixel camera features a very slim body, optical image stabilisation, a host of creative filters and can capture 3D images for viewing on a 3D TV.
The Panasonic FX80 also has a 5x optical zoom that extends from the equivalent of a wide 24mm with a usefully large maximum aperture of f/2.5, to 120mm where the maximum aperture is a much less impressive f/6.4. However, during video filming the widest setting reduces from 24mm to 28mm.
The camera's 12 megapixel CCD sensor and processor combination is also capable of 3.7fps continuous shooting. In addition, the Panasonic Lumix FX80 features intelligent noise reduction.
Panasonic describes the Lumix FX80 as "a serious photographic proposition in a tempting wrapping, technically highly proficient, yet easy to use." Helping to make the camera simpler to use are automatic ISO control and intelligent scene selection and exposure settings.
The company adds that the Panasonic FX80 suits those who are looking to upgrade from a camera phone that retains camera phones' intuitive controls. The 3-inch touchscreen additionally enables touch autofocus and touch shooting.
However, thanks to its reliance on automatic modes, the Panasonic Lumix FX80 has little to offer photographers who want any manual control over images.
The Panasonic Lumix FX80 has a recommended retail price of £231 (around $362) in the UK and is currently available to buy online for around £190 (around $298). This puts it way below bigger, better brothers the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1, and at a similar price point as the Ricoh CX6, Pentax Optio VS20 and Olympus SZ-14.
Build quality and handling
The Panasonic Lumix FX80 features a petite but sturdy metal chassis. Despite Panasonic's claims that it is "seductively stylish," the FX80 has a fair plain, nondescript design, although it seems very well built. Due to the body's small size and smooth finish, it isn't the easiest camera to grip.
As a touchscreen camera, the Panasonic FX80's body features very few physical controls, with the on/off button positioned on the top of the camera, along with the shutter release and zoom rocker.
The only other controls are the image playback button and one-touch video record button, which sit to the right of the touchscreen.
In terms of ports, the bottom of the body houses the memory card and battery, while the side of the camera is home to an HDMI port and A/V-out port. Both port covers feel tough and more than capable of surviving everyday use.
Panasonic Lumix FX80 at a glance
Sensor: 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor
Lens: 24-120mm f2.5-f6.4 Leica DC Vario-Summarit
LCD Screen: 3-inch 230k dot LCD touchscreen
ISO range: ISO 100-1600, expandable to ISO 1600-6400 at 3MP
Dimensions: 96.3 x 56 x 19.4mm, 131g with battery and SD card
Due to its lack of physical controls, the Panasonic Lumix FX80 is heavily dependent on its touchscreen and on-screen menus, with zooming, selecting where to focus and firing the shutter all controllable through the screen.Sensor: 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor
Lens: 24-120mm f2.5-f6.4 Leica DC Vario-Summarit
LCD Screen: 3-inch 230k dot LCD touchscreen
ISO range: ISO 100-1600, expandable to ISO 1600-6400 at 3MP
Dimensions: 96.3 x 56 x 19.4mm, 131g with battery and SD card
The camera's shooting menus are split into six modes; Intelligent Auto; Normal Picture; Creative Control (offering options such as sepia and toy effect); Scene Mode, which offers 15 different modes; 3D Photo; and Cosmetic Mode, where you can alter skin tone and softness.
When in Intelligent Auto, the camera enables you to activate the flash and self-timer. Everything else is controlled by the camera, although you can use the screen to zoom in and out, select where to focus and to fire the shutter.
The Normal Picture mode adds exposure compensation and macro focusing to the on-screen options, with all other settings being hidden in the main menu. This makes the camera very easy for novices to use, but if you do want to change the default settings, you have to scroll through different screens in the main menu, which can feel convoluted.
The touchscreen panel is usefully large, at three inches, but isn't as responsive as some other panels, such as the Nikon S4300's screen, and sometimes requires several touches before reacting. It also has a low resolution of 230k dots compared to 460k and 920k panels on many similarly priced compact cameras.
Another issue is that some on-screen buttons are overly small. Allied with the touchscreen shutter, this means that clicks that aren't perfectly aimed can fire the shutter. A further annoyance is that the meaning of some on-screen icons is unclear.
However, as a camera designed for those graduating from a camera phone, the Panasonic Lumix FX80 is simple to use.
Performance
The FX80 features Panasonic's well respected Intelligent Auto mode, which proves reliable, with mostly accurate exposures and effective focusing. However, it is occasionally tricked by bright skies, producing underexposed images.This is compounded by the Panasonic Lumix FX80's slightly stunted dynamic range, which can sometimes result in blown highlights, even in overcast conditions, and underexposed shadows.
Image colour is lifelike overall but nicely saturated, although greens appear particularly vivid. Contrastingly, colours can become washed out in overcast conditions. Images on screen are also bright with zingy colours, but the screen is not hugely sharp, thanks to its low resolution.
The Panasonic Lumix FX80's white balance is mostly accurate too, although it has a tendency to produce warm colour casts on interior shots where the flash is used.
The Intelligent Macro focusing works reasonably well, though the camera doesn't focus particularly closely compared to many rivals, especially when zoomed in, and can be slow to focus.
The touchscreen autofocus and touch shutter are more effective, enabling you to choose exactly where you want the camera to focus. However, the touch shutter still fires the shutter even when the camera recognises the subject is too close, resulting in out of focus images.
Autofocus speed is average when using both the shutter release button and touch shutter, but accuracy is usually fine.
Like many compact cameras, shots from the Panasonic Lumix FX80 are affected by noise, even at its lowest sensitivity setting. The noise reduction system, however, means that is some smearing of detail and the noise itself is not visible when images are examined at 100%. Even at ISO 1600 image quality is pretty reasonable and many images are of sufficient quality for web use or making small prints.
More problematic though is the camera's decision to use high ISO settings, even on daylight shots when the flash was fired. In these cases, noise is very visible.
Due to its very wide angle lens, some distortion is visible in wide angle shots, although distortion is never severe. Ultimate image quality is low at 25mm, but quality seems much better when the lens is more zoomed in. The Leica lens is susceptible to a little fringing too, although this is mostly mild.
The Panasonic Lumix FX80 puts in a sound video performance with reasonable image quality and good audio, thanks to stereo microphones. The camera also maintains focus well, thanks to its short zoom range.
Battery life is reasonable at around 240 shots, outperforming Panasonic's claim of 210 shots per charge.
Sample images
Click here to see the full resolution image
The Panasonic Lumix FX80's very wide angle lens enables you to easily fit expansive scenes into the frame.
Click here to see the full resolution image
The Leica lens doesn't zoom in very far but maintains good sharpness levels at the telephoto end.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Minimum focusing distance is 5cm and the wide aperture lens blurs backgrounds nicely.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Several of the Panasonic Lumix FX80's creative filters provide attractive results, including Miniature Effect.
Click here to see the full resolution image
The Panasonic Lumix FX80's aggressive noise reduction means that even ISO 1600 can be usable, although many fine details are lost so prints are best kept quite small.
Click here to see the full resolution image
The camera's Expressive filter effectively jazzes up otherwise drab images.
Click here to see the full resolution image
Even at ISO 100, fine detail is very smeared, with the grass in this image taking on a watercolour look when images are viewed at 100%.
Click here to see the full resolution image
The Panasonic Lumix FX80's 24mm wide angle is great for taking landscape photos.
Click here to see the full resolution image
The lens only zooms in to 120mm, but images remain impressively sharp at this setting.
Sensitivity and noise
Full ISO image, see the cropped (100%) versions below.
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ISO 100
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ISO 200
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ISO 400
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ISO 800
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ISO 1600
Verdict
The Panasonic Lumix FX80 offers a host of photographic features in a compact camera body but is designed to be easy enough for those who are used to camera phones to use.With a 24mm wide lens, Full HD video with stereo sound, touchscreen shooting and autofocus plus a range of automatic modes, the Panasonic Lumix FX80 is perfect for those who enjoy creative photography but don't want to use manual modes. Contrastingly, anyone wanting manual control will be disappointed by the Panasonic Lumix FX80.
Despite Panasonic's claims though, the Lumix FX80 is not a "serious photographic proposition" with average autofocus, metering and image quality, limited dynamic range and an imperfect touchscreen. Thanks to small on-screen buttons, the fact it's not as responsive as it could be and that with only two buttons you have to use the touchscreen all the time, using the Panasonic Lumix FX80 can be frustrating.
We liked
The Panasonic Lumix FX80 packs an impressive level of features into a small frame and remains relatively easy to use. The camera feels built to last and offers both touchscreen shooting and touch autofocus, which generally work well, plus Full HD video filming capability.We disliked
Despite its large size, the 3-inch touchscreen can make the Panasonic Lumix FX80 frustrating to use. Ultimate image quality is also reasonable rather than great, thanks to smeared fine detail especially at the higher ISO settings. Furthermore, the camera offers no manual control for more advanced users.Final verdict
As a simple to use camera with a wide angle lens, Full HD video and a large touchscreen, the Panasonic Lumix FX80 ticks many boxes. However, less than perfect image quality makes the camera suitable for those who value features over image quality and don't want manual control over images.At times it feels like the camera would be better if it had physical controls instead of a touchscreen. However, for undemanding users who don't want manual control, aren't concerned with ultimate image quality and enjoy using a touchscreen, the Panasonic Lumix FX80 could fit the bill.
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Updated: Pebble blue Samsung Galaxy S3 delayed
The Samsung Galaxy S3 has gone on sale today in 28 countries, however anyone who is looking to get their hands on the pebble blue model could be sorely disappointed.
According to various reports and industry insiders, the pebble blue version of Samsung's latest flagship device is suffering delays due to manufacturing issues.
This has resulted in there being considerably less blue versions available on launch day, with most customers having to settle for the white clad Galaxy S3 for the time being - although there may be a day or so delay with this version too!
Update: TechRadar spoke to Samsung who said: "Samsung's GALAXY S III Pebble Blue version comes with a newly invented blue colour and special hyperglaze material.
"In order to meet the highest internal quality standards and to provide the best quality GALAXY S III to customers, a short supply of Pebble Blue version is expected in some regions in the next 2-3 weeks.
"Samsung is working hard to ensure that customers will get the Pebble Blue coloured devices as soon as possible."
Bad news for pre-orders
This news will bring disappointment to those who were organised and got in early to pre-order the blue Samsung Galaxy S3, as many of them look set to miss out – with a wait of possibly two to four weeks ahead of them.There's no clear word on when the pebble blue stock will arrive, or what pre-ordered customers will face, but for anyone who was trying to decide between a Galaxy S3 or HTC One X, the latter may have just got an extra boost.
We have contacted UK suppliers and networks to see if we can find out when the pebble blue version may make it to our shores, and we'll update this article once we hear back.
Update: O2 has said: "The Samsung Galaxy S3 is the most pre-ordered Android phone in O2's history and we want to give everyone who has pre-ordered the best possible experience.
"Samsung has said there is a worldwide shortage of blue Samsung Galaxy S3s so they will be available in extremely limited numbers. The white version will be available from all O2 channels on 30 May."
Update: A T-Mobile spokesperson also confirmed the delay: "We can confirm we have received stock of the white variant of the handset and expect to be able to fulfil all the pre-orders we've received for this device at launch.
"However, we've been advised by the manufacturer of a shipping delay on the pebble blue version.
"Although we expect to receive stock shortly, we are contacting customers who have pre-ordered this colour to let them know that there may be a slight delay, and to reassure them we will look to fulfil their order as swiftly as possible."
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Connected devices bolstering BBC iPlayer views in 2012
The BBC iPlayer has seen a surge in demand from mobile devices, Blu-ray players, Smart TVs and games consoles this year.
New stats from the Beeb show that in the first quarter of 2012 connected and mobile devices were more popular than ever before for the iPlayer.
Demand from smart TVs, games consoles and BD players was up by 11 per cent in April of this year and up a whopping 57 per cent from April 2011.
When it comes to mobile devices – smartphones and tablets – there was a 94 per cent increase from April 2011 and a 15 per cent increase in April 2012.
Couple this with the iPlayer app being the top free iPad app of all time in the UK and the BBC is reaping another year of massive success for its on-demand service.
iPlayer stats
The report excludes Virgin Media data – its results came in too late to be included in the data – but even without this significant portion of hits, the Beeb's online traffic for its TV and radio programming is huge.Since late 2011 the iPlayer has been delivering over 160 million requests per month, which equates to 120 million TV requests and around 40 million radio requests.
The most popular programme on the iPlayer in January was Sherlock Series 2 Episode 1, in February it was Top Gear, March and April saw The Voice become the most requested show.
On the radio side, the Champions League Final was the most popular programme in April.
The BBC has also crunched the numbers of men and women using the service and found it is the closest it has ever been, with 51 per cent of those watching the iPlayer being male and 49 per cent being female.
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Viewsonic set to unleash 22-inch tablet
Viewsonic is set to shock the tablet market as it prepares its 22-inch Android Smart Display VCD22 tablet-come-monitor device.
We could hardly believe it either, but the California based company will unveil the monster slate at Computex in Taipei on June 5.
We've already seen the portly Toshiba Excite 13, with its imposing 13-inch display, but that clearly isn't enough for the folks over at Viewsonic.
It's business time
The VCD22 will pack a 21.5-inch full HD display, Android Ice Cream Sandwich, a 1GHz dual-core processor from Texas Instruments, 1.2MP camera, microSD and micro HDMI ports as well as three USB slots.Touted as a 'smart business tablet monitor', the Viewsonic VCD22 is apparently "the best interactive media center for your money".
Users will be able to link up a keyboard and mouse to the tablet for a more traditional computing experiencing – which may see the VCD22 encroach on the Asus Transformer Pad territory.
There's no word on pricing to back up Viewsonic's claim of value for money, but with such a big screen we can't see it rocking up at the budget end of the market.
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Pentax teasing major launch for June 1?
A teaser has appeared on Pentax Spain's Facebook page which suggests that something new is coming on June 1 - but what could it be?
Pentax only announced its latest new DSLR last week. The K-30 features a 16.2 million pixel sensor, weather proofing, in-built art filters and leveling sensor.
However, possible suggestions for what could be unveiled on Friday range from a new medium format camera to sit alongside, or replace, the 645D to a new, cheaper mirrorless camera in the K-01 range.
Or, of course, it could just be that Spanish customers will be treated to some sort of special offer come Friday.
What's next?
A number of suggestions and rumours about what Pentax could offer have emerged in the past few months, several of which have not yet come to fruition. This includes the idea that Pentax would unveil a full-frame mirrorless camera.Pentax was bought out by Ricoh in a deal last year, while cameras produced in collaboration between the pair have been thin on the ground.
The last mirrorless offering from Pentax, the K-01, was designed by Marc Newson and had been in development since before the merger took place.
Keep following for more updates as they happen.
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Huawei Emotion for Android set to take on Sense and TouchWiz
Huawei is set to announce its new overlay for Ice Cream Sandwich next week as it looks to stamp its authority on its Android handsets.
This won't be Huawei's first attempt at an Android user interface, with the Huawei Android Platform (HAP for short) already in use on devices running Gingerbread, such as the Ascend G300.
In an image promoting the launch event on June 9, little is revealed about the Emotion UI, with just buzz words to go on; emotional, simple and smart.
Easy does it
The Emotion UI is expected to arrive in July – possibly alongside Huawei's flagship Ascend D Quad handset.There's no word on whether current Huawei handsets will see the upgrade, plus no confirmation on whether Emotion will even make it out of China, but with the firm's worldwide tagets we are pretty sure that it will.
It will be interesting to see how Huawei tackles the user interface challenge. Will it go for the deep integration which we've seen with the HTC Sense overlay, or could we see something much more refined?
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In Depth: How Windows 8 will tame power-hungry apps
How Windows 8 will tame power-hungry apps
Some Windows 8 notebooks will be just like Windows 7 PCs; when you hit the power button, whether they hibernate or go to sleep, your apps stop running – the only difference is how fast they turn back on.Windows RT tablets will be like a phone or an iPad; tap the power button and the screen turns off but not the PC. Emails and IMs and incoming calls can still arrive in this Connected Standby state, but without using up all your battery life – as long as you have a Metro app to deal with them. Tap the power button again, and the PC is on again, like a phone.
Some Windows 8 notebooks and tablets will also do Connected Standby, as long as they have the right wireless hardware, a low-power processor (both AMD and Intel plan System on Chip processors with ultra-low power usage) and an SSD as well as low-power memory, buses and devices.
Metro apps will behave in the same way as on Windows RT; if you choose to get notifications from them in Connected Standby, the right incoming message can wake the system up and either notify you or let the app do a little work and then get suspended again.
Metro apps are written to save their state when they're suspended and just start working again when they're woken up because that's what happens whenever a Metro app isn't visible on screen. But what happens to desktop apps during Connected Standby?
Desktop apps, services that run in the background (whether they're built into Windows, like the print queue or installed by an app, like the SkyDrive sync service), the desktop and Windows itself are 'suppressed' by a kernel mode driver called the Desktop Activity Moderator (DAM).
Standard desktop applications are suspended by DAM; their program threads can't run at all but the state of the application stays in memory. This is very like the S3 Sleep power state on current PCs, so if an app can carry on working after a Windows 7 PC wakes up it will work properly after Connected Standby too.
But unlike Metro apps, it won't be able to get updated in Connected Standby and it can't receive notifications that could wake the PC up.
Controlled speed
Services are throttled rather than suspended (they spend most, but not all of their time suspended and if they're doing something the system recognizes as important they could spend more time awake so they can finish it). That means they carry on running, just much more slowly. And drivers aren't suspended or throttled at all, because the devices they control are still connected.Microsoft's Pat Stemen (who's been working on power management in Windows for eight years) says that happens "to make sure they get just enough activity to make sure they don't get into trouble" without running down your battery life.
Even so, on a Connected Standby Windows 8 system, what you have installed and running on the desktop could have an impact on your battery life. It should be small, and you should be able to see in the Task Manager whether a service has been using more CPU time than you expect it to, but it's going to be worth checking out what's running and this, as much as the processor, might make a difference in battery life between Windows RT and Windows 8 tablets.
Desktop applications can't stop DAM suspending them, but developers can set their software to receive notifications from DAM when they're about to be suspended (that gives the app a few seconds to save information or close a new connection or suspend a service it won't need until it wakes up again).
They can get a message when they're unsuspended, so they can restart any services they need or take the opportunity to check for updates or do some processing straight away, in case they get suspended again.
When a Connected Standby PC wakes up to deal with an incoming notification for a Metro app, the aim is "to do as little as possible," says Stemen and the emphasis is on stopping desktop apps from having an impact on battery life.
That means a desktop app won't get woken just because an email arrives, but if you turn on your screen to check for new messages and you spend a couple of minutes reading and replying before you turn the screen off again, a desktop app would have a chance to wake up and get updates as well.
Getting a notification that you're about to be suspended or that you're awake again is nowhere near as powerful as the options for Metro developers. "If you have a scenario that you want to be alive and fresh during Connected Standby, I guarantee it will be easier to do it in Metro than in a desktop app," Stemen says.
That's why Windows RT systems get the Metro Mail and Calendar apps rather than a desktop version of Outlook to go with PowerPoint, Excel, Word and OneNote; they can receive mail and remind you about appointments without using as much battery life to do it.
But if they're written to take advantage of this, desktop programs can do more in Connected Standby than just get turned off and on again. Metro gets more new programming options than the desktop, but the Windows desktop isn't just a legacy tool that Microsoft is abandoning.
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Brother launches scanners designed for productivity
Brother has launched a new range of compact desktop and mobile scanners with a suite of software designed to speed up productivity.
The three new Brother scanners are based on the scanner technologies used in Brother's multifunction printers. The range consists of a high-speed, compact desktop scanner (ADS-2100), and two mobile scanners (the DS-600 and the DS-700D), and include software designed to quickly turn hard-copy documents into searchable, shareable digital information.
Mobile scanner with desktop functionality
Brother's new mobile scanners (the DS-600 and the DS-700D), are powered from the USB cable so there's no need to cart around yet another charger and feature "one touch" scanning. The mobile devices offer all of the features you would expect on a larger desktop scanner – the DS-700D even does double-sided scanning - and are light-weight (DS-600 0.32Kg DS-700D 0.6Kg) and small enough (DS-600 80 x 310 x 230mm DS-700D 120 x 395 x 230 mm) to not weigh you down.
The ADS-2100 desktop scanner is described as being "ideal for fast scanning of high quality documents up to A3," and is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux. The scanner is designed to overcome the difficulties of digitising a wide range of materials, and is able to scan various different types of documents at once with its built-in multipage detection. It has a 50 page auto document feeder, offers double-sided scanning in colour, black and white, and greyscale and is capable of scanning up to 24 pages per minute.
Scan directly to USB hard drives
The ADS-2100 scanner has a unique feature that enables users to scan directly to a USB host, such as a memory stick or portable disk drive, and users can also scan directly into Microsoft Office software, in order to edit documents.
All the new scanners come with a suite of bundled software, for quickly turning scans into searchable PDFs, and making it easy to find archived files using key words. The suite also includes Bizcard software, which enables users to easily scan in business cards, adding them directly into contact databases and removing the need to manually update spread sheets.
The scanners are priced (ex-VAT) at £125 for the DS-600, £195 for the DS-700D and the ADS-2100 is £450.
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Exclusive: Nikon: D800 users don't want Wi-Fi
Nikon has said that it looked into including Wi-Fi functionality for the D800, but believes that current Wi-Fi speeds are too slow for the commercial market.
Currently, there are no DSLRs on the market with WiFi technology built into them, but several adapters and add-ons are available.
Recently, Nikon launched the D3200, a beginner level camera which has an optional Wi-Fi accessory costing around £55. Presently, the W1-UA only works with the D3200 and gives photographers the opportunity to control the camera via a mobile device and share images online.
Speaking to TechRadar, James Banfield from Nikon UK said, "In the commercial environment, it's not fast enough - pros want it to work within a second."
Users
Although the D800 is pitched as a professional level camera, there will be lots of enthusiastic amateurs likely to buy the model too. "It's the kind of thing we would feedback [to Japan], what people are doing with the camera, and what they would like to see," Banfield said."Photographers can always see an application for it, but on a day-to-day basis it's not something that would appeal."
Currently, if a D800 user wants to use WiFi to transmit images, they can purchase a Nikon WT4 wireless transmitter, which costs around £550, or use an Eye-Fi SD memory card. The camera does not work with the newer WT5, which was announced with the Nikon D4.
With several camera companies now including WiFi as standard in selected models, it seems only a matter of time before DSLRs also offer such functionality, without the need for expensive additional extras.
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Dual-dock iPad prototype sells for £6,500
A prototype first-gen iPad (or the old-old-new iPad, to use Apple's latest naming rote) has sold on eBay for over $10,200 - around £6,500.
That's a pretty penny to pay for an iPad that is, in typical eBay style, "fully functional apart from the touchscreen, which may or may not be able to be fixed". A touchscreen-less iPad doesn't sound massively functional to us, to be honest.
But for their money, the buyer has got a very rare tablet – the first-gen iPad tester unit comes with two dock connectors.
One where you'd expect to find it just beneath the home button and one on the long-side – presumably Apple was mulling landscape docking but decided against it.
More money than sense
It also comes with SwitchBoard, Apple's software testing suite which the company disabled but the eBay seller has refurbished as far as possible.In a photo gallery that verges on gadget porn you can take a squint at basically every angle of the prototype iPad, inside and out.
One thing's for sure, willingness to pay £6,500 for the prototype iPad really sets the true fanboys apart from the regular Apple-loving milieu.
We can only hope that such an ardent fan won't have to worry about a visit from Apple's lawyers demanding the tablet be returned - although at least then they'd know the iPad is legit. Small compensation.
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Google Apps for Business gets ISO security approval
Security fears are one of the key reasons why businesses – particularly bigger businesses - don't adopt cloud. To allay security fears Google has announced that its Google Apps for Business productivity suite has achieved ISO 27001 standard, one of the highest international security standards.
ISO 27001 is one of the most widely recognised, and internationally accepted independent security standards, and the certificate covers all aspects of Google Apps, from the systems, through to the technology, processes and data centres serving the applications.
"Security has become a major reason businesses are moving to the cloud" Eran Feigenbaum, Director of Security, Google Enterprise
Eran Feigenbaum, Director of Security, Google Enterprise said, "Our compliance with the ISO standard was certified by Ernst & Young CertifyPoint, an ISO certification body accredited by the Dutch Accreditation Council, a member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). Certificates issued by Ernst & Young CertifyPoint are recognized as valid certificates in all countries with an IAF member."Small businesses turns to cloud to improve security
Feigenbaum, also believes that the old attitude to cloud security may be dwindling and in fact smaller businesses are turning to cloud because of the greater security that can be achieved. "In the early days of the cloud, security concerns were often at the top of business minds as they considered moving to Google Apps. More recently, though, security has become a major reason businesses are moving to the cloud. The reason for this shift is that businesses are beginning to realize that companies like Google can invest in security at a scale that's difficult for many businesses to achieve on their own. This investment has produced an infrastructure and a set of services with robust data protections for our customers."The new ISO certification is just one of many security certificates that Google Apps for Business has achieved and it joins the existing SSAE 16 / ISAE 3402 audits and FISMA certification for Google Apps for Government on Google's virtual mantelpiece.
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Updated: Pebble blue Samsung Galaxy S3 in mass shortage
The Samsung Galaxy S3 has gone on sale today in 28 countries, however anyone who is looking to get their hands on the pebble blue model could be sorely disappointed.
According to various reports and industry insiders, the pebble blue version of Samsung's latest flagship device is suffering delays due to manufacturing issues.
This has resulted in there being considerably less blue versions available on launch day, with most customers having to settle for the white clad Galaxy S3 for the time being - although there may be a day or so delay with this version too!
Update: TechRadar spoke to Samsung who said: "Samsung's GALAXY S III Pebble Blue version comes with a newly invented blue colour and special hyperglaze material.
"In order to meet the highest internal quality standards and to provide the best quality GALAXY S III to customers, a short supply of Pebble Blue version is expected in some regions in the next 2-3 weeks.
"Samsung is working hard to ensure that customers will get the Pebble Blue coloured devices as soon as possible."
Bad news for pre-orders
This news will bring disappointment to those who were organised and got in early to pre-order the blue Samsung Galaxy S3, as many of them look set to miss out – with a wait of possibly two to four weeks ahead of them.There's no clear word on when the pebble blue stock will arrive, or what pre-ordered customers will face, but for anyone who was trying to decide between a Galaxy S3 or HTC One X, the latter may have just got an extra boost.
We have contacted UK suppliers and networks to see if we can find out when the pebble blue version may make it to our shores, and we'll update this article once we hear back.
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RIM's chief legal officer quits ahead of job cuts
Karim Bawa, BlackBerry maker RIM's chief legal officer, has resigned.
This comes just days before thousands of job cuts are expected at the Canadian company.
Ms Bawa had been at the company 12 years. The company said it has been discussing her retirement for a while, but her departure still comes at a sensitive time for the company. Last week Patrick Spence, head of global sales, also stepped down.
Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mail reported over the weekend that the Waterloo-based company would cut at least 2,000 jobs this Friday, June 1. But a source told Reuters the actual figure will be closer to 6,000.
Wide-ranging cuts
The cuts are expected to "sweep across departments, ranging from senior positions in RIM's legal division to human resources, finance, sales, and marketing," according to the paper.RIM currently employs around 16,500 staff worldwide. Last summer it let go 2,000 staff.
The practice of firing junior members of staff is apparently so regular at RIM that it's become known as 'Goodbye Thursdays'.
Co-chief executives Mike Lazardis and Jim Balsillie resigned in January. Thorsten Heins took over, but things don't seem to be getting much better for the company.
It failed to launch any new handsets at BlackBerry World this month in Florida, instead pinning all its hopes on BlackBerry 10, its forthcoming operating system. It's thought this will usher in a new range of touchscreen BlackBerry handsets, and possibly revive the flagging company, but we'll have to wait and see.
Last year, the BBM outage rendered BlackBerry handsets useless all over the world.
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Samsung Galaxy S3 launches in UK today, plus 27 other countries
The Samsung Galaxy S3 goes on sale in the UK today - if you've pre-ordered that is - as well as in 27 other countries in Europe and the Middle East.
If you got your order in early, you can head down to London's Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, and pick up your handset from the Samsung store.
Everyone else will have to wait until tomorrow, when the handset will be on general sale.
You can also head down to Samsung's PIN pop-up shops, which have been popping up in London's Westfield in Shepherd's Bush and Old Spitalfield's Market. More locations will be announced soon.
Early queues
According to Reuters, customers in Germany started queuing outside a phone shop in Berlin on Monday night in anticipation.The Galaxy S3 runs Android Ice Cream Sandwich, the most recent version of Google's operating system. It has a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED screen, and new features exclusive to the S3. Pop-up Play lets you watch a video in a window floating above the browser, while S-Voice is a voice-activated personal assistant not unlike Apple's Siri.
Smart Stay, meanwhile, keeps the screen lit until you look away, so you won't have to keep prodding it when reading a long article (like our S3 review, for example) or email.
Samsung is also giving away tickets to the Olympics to the first 50 people who pre-ordered. If you're among them, head down to the Samsung store in Westfield for 5pm. The phone will go on sale an hour later, so expect plenty of buzz surrounding the launch.
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Samsung launches new Music Hub for Galaxy S3 to rival iTunes Match
Wondering what Samsung was going to do with its acquisition of mSpot? Here's your answer: taking on Apple's services.
The new Music Hub, which will initially be available on the Samsung Galaxy S3 before moving onto other devices, will come in two flavours, allowing users to access new music and mess around with their own.
The free version of the service, which will come preloaded on the S3, allows you to do the same things as on the Music Hub from the Galaxy S2, namely downloading music from 7digital.
To the cloud!
All music nabbed from that portal will be stored in the cloud and is available on all (presumably Samsung) devices you happen to be signed into.But stretch your fiscal wings a little more and you'll get a whole heap of new services; for €9.99 a month (about £8 / $12.50, but exact prices to be confirmed) you'll get access to unlimited streaming from 'millions of songs in the Music Hub'.
You'll also be able to upload your music collection to the cloud to be accessed wherever you are – but don't worry, there's very little uploading as Music Hub will scan your collection and match songs to play back in high quality.
We're assuming the similarity to any service Apple has created is entirely coincidental here.
Mixing and matching
And of course if that bootleg dubstep remix of some cat banging into a lamppost isn't on Music Hub, then the song will be uploaded for you – with a very generous 100GB of storage on offer, way more than the 5GB on offer from the service when it was just mSpot.Other fun bits? You can get recommendations on songs, albums, artists and radio stations, with the more you listen, the more the Hub will know you. Know your very soul.
You can also check out all this stuff online through musichub.com if you've signed up already via a Galaxy S3, allowing you easy access to your tunes.
Samsung only purchased mSpot earlier this month, so the speed of integration is impressive – the company also offers movies in the same way, so fingers crossed we'll be seeing the same option on our Samsung Galaxy S3 soon too.
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BBC apologises for crazy Halo / United Nations logo mix-up
The BBC has apologised after it mistook an emblem from the Halo video game franchise for the United Nations logo, during a broadcast last week.
In last Thursday's edition of News at One, the Beeb employed a graphic featuring the fictional United Nations Space Council (UNSC) logo.
The story was actually on the real-life United Nations' role in the conflict in Syria.
It's an embarrassing moment for, arguably, the world's most trusted news source, but unfortunately this is what can happen when you source pictures from Google Images.
Unfortunate mistake
In a statement provided to Eurogamer, Auntie apologised for the bloomer:The statement says: "BBC News makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all images broadcast, however very occasionally mistakes do happen. Unfortunately an incorrect logo was used during a segment on last week's News at One bulletin and we apologise to viewers for the mistake.
"The image was not broadcast in our later bulletins."
You can see the offending image in the video below.
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Microsoft Xbox 720 to feature in-game Skype integration
The next-generation Xbox console is likely to feature Skype video integration, according to a new job posting at Microsoft.
The software giant is looking for a London-based Lead Program Manager to help bring in-game video and voice services to the so-called Xbox 720, which isn't expected until at least June 2013.
The listing calls the Xbox a "fundamental lynchpin" of Skype's bid to conquer the living room and, due to the time needed to develop the new hardware, Microsoft points out that the role is time-critical.
The posting says: "Skype is working on powering real-time voice and video communications on the Xbox. Xbox is a fundamental lynchpin of Skype's living-room strategy, and we are focused on enabling amazing new in-game and in-console voice and video experiences for the next generation of Xbox.
"This is a crucial initiative for Xbox, and it is time-critical given the hardware lead times involved."
Microsoft's Skype options
Exactly what in-game video would entail isn't immediately obvious. It may mean gamers will be able to watch each other's actions when playing via Kinect or it may just enable gamers to go-large with celebrations following a particularly brutal FIFA beating on Xbox Live.Since acquiring the world's leading VoIP client for $8.5 billion (£5.42bn) the tech world has wondered what Microsoft will do with Skype.
It has belatedly launched a Windows Phone app, which, aside from the Metro interface, has offered very little in the way of new features. However, deep Skype integration is expected with Windows Phone Apollo.
Judging from today's posting, it's now obvious that the Xbox was a key factor in Microsoft's decision to fork out a fortune on Skype.
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YouView to begin public trials this week
You might want to take a seat for this: YouView is about to leave the realms of the imaginary and enter the actual as public trials begin this week.
The long-awaited internet-based TV service is set to hit 350 UK homes, each of which will receive a web-connected set top box.
These lucky 350 will be able to watch catch-up services like iPlayer via the box, as well as a few subscription apps including Lovefilm. Well, that's assuming it actually works.
YouHoo
A YouView spokesperson told the Financial Times that if this initial trial is a success, a wider test could be on its way within four weeks, involving thousands of homes. As plenty have noted, this means YouView will be unlikely to get a proper launch until after the Olympics.Not much more has been revealed about the boxes, other than that they will cost around £200 once they finally hit the UK's shop shelves.
YouView started life as Project Canvas and was intended to launch in 2010. Problem after problem led to delay after delay, prompting fears that the project would be abandoned altogether.
But now that Alan Sugar has taken hold of the reins, things do seem to be zipping along a little bit more quickly (although that didn't stop him putting the breaks on when he wasn't happy with the interface earlier this month).
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News In Brief: One More Thing: Blu-ray brings out the big guns for E.T.
E.T. in HD – In alternate universe somewhere, George Lucas has just announced the HD DVD release of E.T., a movie that's been tinkered with so much all that remains is a fuzzy CGI version of the titular alien trying to phone home by stabbing his glowing finger on to the touchscreen of a Galaxy S3.
Thankfully in our world, it's Spielberg at the helm and he's reinstated all the bits of E.T. that were missing from the DVD version of the movie. This includes the change he made to the police holding guns, which were replaced by walkie talkies a few years back when the stupid PC brigade got involved. Great stuff.
Any old Iron – The man behind the HUD (heads up display) of Iron Man's suit, 3D video effects designer Jayse Hansen, has revealed his thinking behind the display. The result is a barrage of behind-the-scenes images and a glimpse into the mind of one of Hollywood's hottest talents.
Warning: one look and you will be laughing in the face of anyone who ever buys Google Glasses, because they are not a patch on what Iron Man uses. And also because they look really stupid. [CargoCollective and The Verge]
Doing a Runner – Remember those future-focused magazines in the background shots of some scenes in Blade Runner? No, neither do we but someone who has watched the film very closely – and not just the Sean Young scenes – has and has recreated the magazine covers for fans to peruse. Amazing stuff, even if it is so geeky you will feel a little weird clicking on them. [Kotaku]
Google sued for being a verb – Google is being sued by a man who believes that the company's name is so engrained in the public consciousness that it should no longer be a trademark. According to David Elliott, the trademarks surrounding Google should disappear and he has taken Google to court to prove this.
In what should be an interesting case, the reasons for the court order are a little more suspect as Elliot currently holds 750 domain names with the word Google in them. Will Google go the way of Hoover? Probably not but we can't wait to see what the courts make of the matter. [Cnet]
Graphic nature – an archive of computer graphics from the '90s has been set up by, er, computer graphics student Werner Randelshofer, charting what computer effects used to look like on an Amiga, Atari ST and other old-school computers. The 16-bit graphics may look dated by today's standards but it's a great little look at how animation has changed in recent years. [The Verge]
Nuclear family – Robots in Japan are nothing new but one of the latest to be created has possibly the most useful and scariest job ever. The robot, named Rosemary, has been used to check out what is happening in the damaged nuclear plant in Fukushima. Using an on-board video, Rosemary can feed back in real time just what is going on with the plant. Sorry Wall-E, but when it comes to saving planets Rosemary may well have pipped you. [SlashGear]
It's the iPhone 5!!!!??!! – It's not the iPhone 5, it's a compact air conditioner that's been mocked up to look like an iPhone but is actually a USB fan thing. We don't think that even a sweaty Jobs would have approved. [Gizmodo]
Face-off – Facebook has decided that it's got far too much cash to throw around and has started to purchase services that include bits of its name in their name. First up may well be Face.com, a facial recognition site that is rumoured to be worth around $100 million.
There's no word as to whether Facebook will buy up book.com which seems to be owned by Barnes & Noble. We are hoping it snaps up ace.com, though, as it's an eBay bookmarking site that looks like it was made in 1988. Surely this is the website Zuckerberg has always wanted to own? [Slashgear]
Olympic effort – Not happy with showing all 24 HD streams of Olympic coverage, Sky has also announced that it will be offering up three new Sky channels for the Paralympics. These will showcasing Channel 4's live coverage of the games. [PR]
Another bite of the Apple – Steve Wozniak spoke to BYTE way back in 1977 about the Apple II and the article has been lovignly republished by Information Week. Even 35 years down the line, Woz speaks a lot of sense about what a PC should be – except the line about them being inexpensive may have gotten lost in translation with Apple's newer, much pricier efforts. [Information Week]
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