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Techradar |
- Facebook iPad app finally set to be unleashed
- RIM posts £430 million Q1 profit, ships 500,000 PlayBooks
- Microsoft releases Kinect for Windows SDK
- Yahoo App discovery tools for Android and iOS launched
- Lomo launches new 'sardine can' camera
- Review: Canon EOS 600D
- Review: ASRock Z68 Pro 3
- Review: Cooler Master CM Storm Enforcer
- Review: Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3
- BlackBerry PlayBook launched without O2's support
- HP Pre 3 UK release date announced
- Review: TomTom Go Live 825
- Updated: 10 best Linux distros for 2011
- Updated: 10 best Linux bistros for 2011
- HTC will have to cut apps for Desire 2.3 update
- Gary Marshall: Happy 100th birthday, IBM
- Microsoft suggests 20% in UK have had IT phishing call
- Buying Guide: Best Nikon Coolpix 2011: current cameras by price and specs
- Updated: Top 10 new camera rumours for 2011
- Canon EOS 6D / 5D Mark III rumours: what you need to know
- Vodafone, O2, Orange and T-Mobile team up for NFC
- Sony S1 and S2 UK release date leaked
- Exclusive: Windows 8 UI was being planned before Apple's iPad launched
- In Depth: Microsoft: We know where we're going with Windows 8 tablets
- Review: Philips PicoPix Mini Projector
| Facebook iPad app finally set to be unleashed Posted: 16 Jun 2011 08:09 PM PDT Facebook is finally preparing to release its official application for the Apple iPad after almost a year in development, according to reports. The New York Times claims that the app has been through several different design iterations, but is now nearly ready to go, with founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg heavily involved in the process. The app, which has been meticulously optimised for the the Apple tablet, completely revamps the Facebook Chat and Facebook Groups portions of the site, according to the NYT's inside source. Photos will also appear full-screen and in high-resolution and iPad 2 owners will be able to use the device's camera in order to take and upload pictures directly to their profiles. Nothing to see here Facebook has refused to comment on the report, but was keen to play up its strong relationship with Apple. "We have a great relationship with Apple that is exemplified by our iPhone application, but with regards to an iPad application we have nothing to announce now, and cannot comment on future Facebook products," said communications manager Jamie Schopflin. Friendly iPad owners have had to rely on third-party apps like the decent-but-unreliable Friendly, while also accessing Facebook through the Safari browser on the iPad. The BlackBerry Playbook was the first device to boast a tablet-optimised official Facebook app and it now looks as though Apple fans will get their wish sooner rather than later. 
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| RIM posts £430 million Q1 profit, ships 500,000 PlayBooks Posted: 16 Jun 2011 07:35 PM PDT RIM has announced one of its worst financial showings in years, propped up by respectable sales of its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. The Canadian smartphone giant took in a $4.9 billion (£3.03 billion) in revenue, which is up 16 per cent from the corresponding quarter of last year. Profits for the quarter were posted at $695 million (£430 million), which are slightly down on last year's sum of $769 million (£475 million) and below the company's expectations. The figures, which also saw RIM sell 13.2m BlackBerrys during the period, offer a bleak outlook for the company, which it says will cost jobs. PlayBook boost However, in cheerier news, RIM is claiming that it has shipped 500,000 BlackBerry PlayBook's since its release less than two months ago. The device officially went on sale in the UK on Thursday, although suffered the launch day indignity of being dropped by O2 due to end-to-end user issues. Many prospective users have been swayed from diving in due to the lack of a native email client, no BBM, a distinct lack of apps and the absence of the promised-but-not-yet-delivered Android app player. During the earnings call RIM said that those features will be forthcoming, as well as the 4G version of the PlayBook in the United States. 
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| Microsoft releases Kinect for Windows SDK Posted: 16 Jun 2011 10:34 AM PDT Microsoft has launched the official Kinect SDK for Windows, making the technology behind the Xbox 360 motion-gaming peripheral available for all to download from today. Announced live, via its web video channel, the company is encouraging developers to use the software development kit to create new PC software using the motion-sensing technology. The SDK was initially announced at the MIX 2011 expo back in April and now the company has officially launched the non-commercial, Beta version via Microsoft's research website. Non-commercial Because this build of the SDK is non-commercial, it is initially aimed at hobbyists, researches and enthusiasts. The company is planning to launch a commercial SDK in the future, which will allow developers to bring their creations to market. The SDK includes access to the raw sensors for the camera and microphones and also the skeletal-tracing technology which will allow anyone to create gesture based apps, featuring up to three people Microsoft says it has also included access to audio elements integrated with Microsoft's speech API. 'Impact hundreds of millions' Microsoft Research Distinguished Scientist Anoop Gupta said: "Kinect has amazed tens of millions of people, with what you can do by making the body the controller for video games. "What gets me excited today is that with this SDK is that we can take these new creations creations and impact hundreds of millions of people who have a PC. "While you were waiting for the SDK, I am now waiting for the magic that people are going to create. "I know you'll surprise us with your insights and imagination as we extend Kinect to impact robotics, education, healthcare and automotive. The possibilities really are endless. "All of us are here to make world of computing more natural and intuitive for us. Eventually the computers disappear and become helpers to us rather than tools we have to control." Success The Kinect peripheral for Xbox 360 proved a huge success and became the fastest-selling piece of consumer tech of all time. After criticism from hardcore gamers that the platform was focusing solely on family-friendly games, Microsoft unleashed a host of Kinect-friendly core titles at E3 2011. Part of the reason Microsoft has been so quick in getting a Kinect SDK out to the developer community is due to a host of impressive hacks that have already made great use of the motion sensor. Now go and build something beautiful. 
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| Yahoo App discovery tools for Android and iOS launched Posted: 16 Jun 2011 09:45 AM PDT Yahoo has revealed two new search tools to help you find your way round the Android Market and Apple App Store. Called AppSearch and App Spot the search services help you find apps both on a PC and through your smartphone. AppSearch is the PC version. Load this up and it will, according to Yahoo, "zero-in on any app by showing matching app titles with a full comprehensive description, price, overall star rating from users, and screenshots in one spot to help you with your decision: to download or not to download." Enhanced mobile experience For those who prefer to do their app searching through their phones, then AppSpot is an application that will allow you to do just that. "For an enhanced mobile experience, Yahoo! AppSpot delivers daily, completely personalised recommendations of the iPhone and Android apps you should consider based on the apps you've downloaded," said the release. Given that there are around 600,000 apps to choose from across both stores, anything that makes app searching that bit easier is fine by us. Of course, you could also check out TechRadar's Best iPhone and Best Android app features. 
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| Lomo launches new 'sardine can' camera Posted: 16 Jun 2011 09:26 AM PDT Lomographers have a new camera at their disposal. Lomography today announced the launch of its new pocket-size, super-wideangle Lomo camera, La Sardina. Its design inspired by a can of sardines, La Sardina features a 22mm wideangle lens and uses 35mm film. Also introduced with La Sardina is Lomo's most powerful flash to date, featuring three flash power settings to allow for shooting in low-light conditions. Lomo's La Sardina comes in four designs (with 1000 more to come, Lomography claims): the bright red El Capitan, blue and red Fischer's Fritze, the green Marathon and navy blue Sea Pride. El Capitan and Fischer's Fritze both come equipeed with the new Lomo flash, while Marathon and Sea Pride do not. El Capitan and Fischer's Fritze also come pacakged with yellow, red and blue filters. Below you can watch a short video on how to use the new Lomo camera. The Lomo La Sardina full technical details include: Film Type: Standard 135 roll film 
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| Posted: 16 Jun 2011 09:18 AM PDT Canon's triple-digit EOS line has traditionally catered for those dipping their toes into DSLR photography, but as successive models have acquired more functionality, they've ventured further into enthusiast territory. The Canon 600D sits somewhere in between the two camps, with a small form and entry-level styling, but many features inherited from the enthusiast EOS 60D. Even so, it varies in only a handful of ways to the previous EOS 550D, and arrives only a year after that model. So, is the new arrival simply a stop-gap model, a retort to competitors gaining ground with their own offerings? Or it just the next logical step in a series long seen as a barometer of DSLR technology?
Despite a number of other changes, the EOS 600D carries over the same sensor/processor combination seen on the 550D. The APS-C CMOS sensor still contains 18.7MP to give an effective total of 18MP, while the DIGIC 4 processing engine facilitates a burst rate of 3.7fps for up to 34 JPEG images, six raw images, or four simultaneous raw and JPEG captures. The two allow a sensitivity span of ISO 100-6400 with a extension to ISO 12,800, and noise reduction is also on hand for both long exposures and high sensitivities, the latter in three different strengths. HD video functionality is largely unchanged from that of 550D, with Full HD recording (1920 x 1080) at 24, 25 and 30fps, and 720p recording at 50 and 60fps. There's also a VGA option should you not require high-definition footage, and plenty of control on offer, from manual exposure control and the provision of Picture Styles, to adjustment of audio levels and application of a wind cut filter. There is, however, the new addition of a Movie Snapshot mode, which captures movies in two-, four- or eight-second bursts, before stitching the separate files together into a single sequence. Picture Styles comprise Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful and Monochrome modes, as well as a new Auto mode, which lets the camera decide on the best parameters for the scene being shot, and three user-definable options. This is complemented by the camera's Scene Intelligent Auto mode (which replaces the more standard Auto function) to take full control over many parameters such as focus, flash and Picture Style. The standard quartet of evaluative, centre-weighted, partial and spot metering patterns are provided, as are three levels of Auto Lighting Optimisation and a Highlight Tone Priority function. In contrast to previous EOS models, which have shunned many novelties found elsewhere to deliver a comparatively sober feature set, the 600D shows its fun side by adding the EOS 60D's Creative Filters, which allow processing effects to be applied to images post-capture.
Also from the 60D comes an image rating system, whereby images may be tagged with a number of stars, should you want to remember any particular images for later. Another significant addition is the Wireless Flash option, which allows the camera's pop-up flash to be used as the master for other Speedlite flashguns. While the subject of flash can be mysterious to beginners, Canon has gone to the trouble of including an EasyWireless flash mode to help simplify flash for new users, and has broken everything down step-by-step in the accompanying user manual. Should users want to get more creative, or for those already familiar with flash control, the 600D goes on to offer the usual sync options, flash exposure compensation and custom mode which places greater control in the user's hands.
Next to the focusing modules found in competing models, the 600D's wide-area nine-point AF system may seem a little lacking, but the system cover a healthy portion of the frame while the centrally placed cross-type point promises an increase in speed and accuracy over the eight around it. In good light, none of the nine points has any problems picking out the subject, and when all points are activated the camera does well to quickly bring subjects into focus. In lower light, however, the better performance of the central point is appreciated, with it picking up low-contrast subjects reasonably well, while the other eight often run the lens through its entire focusing range, before pausing for a brief moment and fine tuning focus. Using a better-specified lens shows this can be improved, and not just in speed but also in sound, since the kit lens can be a little whirry. Live View is always made more useful when coupled with an articulated LCD screen, and thanks to the Creative Filters and Picture Styles, it's possible to achieve a range of effects from all manner of shooting positions on the 600D. Focusing in Live View is may be carried out using the directional menu pad to guide to point over to the details, but the contrast-detection focusing system tends to match the uncertainty of its phase-detection partner, with the system taking a while to confirm focus once it has reached an approximate area. This isn't entirely uncommon for such systems, and the thoroughness is there for accuracy. However, in a handful of situations it may prove to be a little too slow and limiting next to the faster Quick AF mode, which flips the mirror up to temporarily blackout the scene. The three-inch LCD screen boasts the same 1,440,000-dot resolution as the Canon 60D, and is primed with three anti-reflection and fluorine anti-smudge coatings. The level of detail it resolves is excellent, and both its default contrast and brightness are spot on, too. It also boasts a perfectly respectable viewing angle, although zooming into and around images is almost always followed by a brief but noticeable pixelation as the camera catches up. Also, with no ambient light sensor, the screen tends to suggest that certain images may be underexposed outdoors when in fact, under more subdued lighting they appear balanced and accurately exposed.
Just as many of the Canon EOS 600D's specifications mirror those of the EOS 550D, so does the design of its body. From the front it simply looks like the newer model has bulked up a little, while on the top-plate the only changes are to the design and functionality of the mode dial, and the addition of the display button, whose former space on the rear is now taken by an Info button. The mode dial is sufficiently tall to be easily turned and the new texture around its side makes it easier to grip than before, but it's a shame it doesn't rotate all the way around, particularly because the movie option is right at the other end of the dial to all creative settings. For the most part, though, if you only tend to stick to either creative or the scene modes, this shouldn't be too great an issue.
Most other alterations concern the rear of the camera; the eye sensor used to help conserve battery life is nowhere to be seen, having been displaced by the larger articulated LCD screen, while the menu pad and thumb rest are each a shade smaller for the same reason. The LCD screen moves freely about its hinge, although accessing the Menu and Info buttons above it can be awkward when the screen is pulled away from the camera's body, because in most positions it's directly in the way.
Despite the smaller thumbrest, it still provides just enough room for someone with averagely-sized hands, although only just; some will no doubt find it a little too cramped.
The body maintains much of the same style as the 550D, with the same stainless steel chassis and polycarbonate resin casing, but a slightly more matte finish. A number of buttons have, however, been subject to minor aesthetic revisions, while slight changes to overall dimensions have added a little more body to the camera's grip. Even so, the grip still feels a little lacking even with average hands, with the lack of room meaning the user's fingertips often feel pushed against the body. The menu system offers little by way of surprise, adhering to the same tabbed and colour-coordinated format that has graced many former EOS models. Those new to Canon's system should easily pick up its operation; while the left hand brings up the menu and alternates between display information, the right uses both the command dial and directional buttons to move across and down each menu tab respectively.
The less experienced also benefit from Canon's helpful Feature Guide, which explains all functionality succinctly, while those with a little more shooting time behind them can personalise their camera's with 11 custom functions and file commonly used options under a My Menu tab.
With a formatted Class 10 SDHC card, testing the camera on its burst mode showed it to manage average of 19 high-quality JPEGs before slowing down, and about six Raw frames at a continuous speed. Somewhat disappointingly, only around six or seven Raw and JPEG captures may be taken at a much slower rate of around one per second, before the camera prohibits images from being shot without needing a few seconds of breathing space in between exposures. Speed is no doubt compromised by the camera creating such larger files; when opened, JPEGs measure in at over 50MB, while TIFF files converted from Raw files typically double this. It's a shame there's no option to shoot at a faster rate but at a reduced resolution, which would no doubt be preferable when such huge files aren't required. Once the mode dial has been turned to the relevant position, video recording may be started by pressing the dedicated button on the rear. The Quick AF mode, which uses the same phase-detection system as in standard shooting, is indeed very quick, although the contrast detection mode (dubbed 'Live' mode by Canon) has the advantage of a continuous feed, although is much slower at bringing subjects into focus (just as in live view). Playing back movies shows good, fluid movement, and a gradual but swift transition in exposure as the scene changes, but the inevitable wobble introduced by panning does make itself known. Audio quality is adequate for general use, but it's not particularly great for anything else and isn't reproduced well by the camera's speaker, either. Fortunately a stereo microphone may be plugged into the camera's side should you wish to improve on this. The Movie Snapshot mode is a curious addition, but one with the potential to force users shoot video more selectively. It seems particularly useful for those travelling, who may want to record a brief summary of where they've been without needing to trawl through various clips of different sizes. The camera automatically stitches all footage in the same album together, and watching it back makes for an undoubtedly more interesting experience than watching a single long video. The feature is relatively simple to use, and footage may be played back before it's saved to an album, while it's also nice that Canon has allowed basic editing, so that footage may be trimmed from either end of a recording. The metering system does very well to balance shadows, midtones and highlights, and many situations in which other cameras would err one way or the other fail to outfox the 600D – although now and again the camera does sometimes make the odd error of judgement. Something that does become apparent when examining the 600D's images is the effect of the iFCL metering system; because this uses the AF point among other factors to judge exposure, the camera will prioritise exposure for the subject on which the user focuses. As a consequence, such images may appear either over or underexposed, depending on the brightness of the subject in relation to the rest of the scene. This can be beneficial when shooting against backlighting, for example, although for print-ready results it's advisable to experiment with either the Highlight tone priority option or the Auto Lighting Optimiser (or both). Most of the time, the camera's Auto White Balance system helps to produce colourful but faithful images. During the test the camera coped perfectly well with standard natural lighting and even managed to render to warm glow of sodium vapour streelights against twilight with aplomb. Only a couple of occasions proved problematic: under tungsten light, where it recorded the warm yellow lighting as a more rosy magenta, and outdoors when the scene contained little colour detail, which caused noticeably cold casts. In both of these cases, selecting the appropriate white balance preset proved to be a better match (which, with the direct WB button, can be done in little time).
JPEGs are noticeably sharper than corresponding Raw files, but it's still possible to tease out a little more detail without degrading the rest of the image using a sharpening tool. With regards to noise, texture begins building up at around ISO 800, and continues to rise steadily up the maximum sensitivity of ISO 12,800. The in-camera noise reduction options do well to remove the fine-textured chroma noise which appears over darker areas, and even the strongest setting manages to do so while leaving images relatively intact. The Digital Photo Professional software works a treat to remove the coarsest red and green speckling from Raw files, and even images shot at the highest sensitivity of ISO 12,800 remain detailed after careful processing, particularly if just a touch of luminance noise reduction is applied. The new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II kit lens is said to be optically unchanged from the previous version (which it now supersedes), with just slight revisions to its outer design. Once again, it offers a four-stop image stabilisation system, although in practice it managed acceptably-sharp results down to around 1/8 sec at 55mm, equating to around a three-stop improvement. No doubt it's possible to reach the four promised stops, but such results are generally only obtainable with flawless technique and the optimum conditions. Once the lens is stopped down a little, sharpness is excellently maintained to both edges and corners of the frame, but sadly plenty of magenta and green chromatic aberrations are easily spotted throughout both Raw and JPEG images. The boost in contrast in the latter doesn't particularly help here, often making chromatic aberrations more apparent. There's also a touch of purple fringing noticeable in high contrast areas, although this tends to be due to the camera's microlens formation, and there's also a little barrel distortion at the lens's widest extremity, which disappears once zoomed in a little. To test the Canon EOS 600D image quality, we shot our resolution chart with a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens. If you view our crops of the resolution chart's central section at 100% (or Actual Pixels) you will see that, for example, at ISO 100 the Canon 600D is capable of resolving up to nearly 24 (line widths per picture height x100) in its highest quality JPEG files. Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100:
JPEGs
ISO Test
JPEGs
Canon EOS 600D: Sample images
Sensor Focal length conversion Memory Viewfinder Video resolution ISO range Autofocus Max burst rate LCD screen size Shutter speeds Weight Dimensions Power supply Canon EOS 600D: VerdictAlthough the 600D's focusing speed is generally good, the meagre burst rate and slow down upon processing mean that it's perhaps not the ideal camera for action photography. It's also probably not ideal for larger handed users, but otherwise there's little to complain about. The various changes bestowed upon the 600D perhaps make a little more sense here than they do in the enthusiast EOS 60D, and what results is a model that provides plenty of growing space for beginners but enough to keep the more adventurous happy from the off. When the LCD screen, wireless flash capabilities and numerous other improvements are considered, the premium of around £150 over the EOS 550D isn't entirely unreasonable, but the 600D is nevertheless a minor upgrade to an already-acclaimed formula. We liked A raft of new featurers and up-to-date specs give the beginner buying this DSLR more room to grow than with, for example, the Canon EOS 1100D announced at the same time as the EOS 600D. We disliked The Canon 600D burst mode averaged 19 high-quality JPEGs before slowing down, and about six Raw frames at a continuous speed. Also, only around six or seven Raw and JPEG captures may be taken at a much slower rate of around one per second before the camera prohibits images from being shot without needing a few seconds in between exposures. Verdict It's far from revolutionary, but the Canon EOS 600D is a well specified camera that's ideal for those wanting to get creative and elevate their photography to the next level. The various changes bestowed upon the EOS 600D make a little more sense here than they do in the enthusiast EOS 60D, and what results is a model that provides plenty of growing space for beginners but enough to keep the more adventurous happy. Features: 4/5 
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| Posted: 16 Jun 2011 08:50 AM PDT At the price that ASRock can apparently produce motherboards like the ASRock Z68 Pro 3, based on Intel's latest Z68 chipset, you might find yourself asking the utterly reasonable question: "what's the point of anything else?" There are H61s, H67s and P67s galore out there, and all of them will work in tandem with a second generation Intel Core processor. But since the ASRock Z68 Pro 3 is based on the best of the best and available for only just over £100, what really is the point of browsing beyond it? To recap, the Z68 has all the overclocking features of previous high-end boards, but can do two things no other chipset can. It has Intel's Smart Response Technology (SRT), which enables you to use a small, high-speed SSD as a cache drive, and Lucid's Virtu software on board too. That software layer, uniquely, enables you to use a discrete graphics card in the PCI-Express slot and still take advantage of Intel's awesome GPU video encoding booster, QuickSync. Gigabyte's Z68X-UD3H-B3 is another £50 more, so what are you missing out on with this ASRock bargain board? The benchmarks here were conducted at default settings, so we'd expect a bit of variance between similar chipsets while our Core i7 2600K slips in and out of Turbo mode. For video encoding, it's worth remembering that QuickSync doesn't work in many popular editing programs yet. Video encoding
X264 v3 (No QuickSync) - Frames per second: higher is better --------------------------------- Overall platform performance
--------------------------------- 1080p gaming performance
It's not just a winner on price. At stock settings, benchmarks for the ASRock Z68 Pro 3 look good too. There's always going to be some slight variance when the Turbo mode of a second generation Core processor is turned on, but the fact that the ASRock motherboard tends towards the higher end of the score scale for similar systems is noteworthy nonetheless. You also get a nice graphical UEFI BIOS, with decent overclocking tools built in. It's a board which will appeal to tuners as well as anyone who just wants to build and play straight out of the box. One thing that was a bit confusing was that ASRock includes a piece of software called Xfast USB with the Z68 Pro 3, which is designed to accelerate data transfer to an external drive. We had varying levels of success with this. It did help to increase benchmarks over rival Z68 boards – such as the Asus P8Z68V Pro – slightly when switched on, but with it off we found that performance over the USB 3.0 port was lower than the competition. Odd. The driver disc is also terrible – the one touch install loaded us up with Creative drivers we didn't need, and left us to manually hunt down the Lucid software that we did need. That was on the disc, but buried in a sub folder marked "Beware of the leopard". It might as well have been, anyway. But these aren't major complaints. The only real issue we have with the ASRock Z68 Pro 3 is that it has just one 16x lane PCIe slot on board. Which means no Crossfire or SLI graphics for cheap upgrades in the future. On the whole, however, multi-GPU setups can be more trouble than they're worth. But still it's nice to have the option all the same. If you're prepared to forgo that, though, you won't find a better value Z68 motherboard out there than the ASRock Z68 Pro 3. For a low cost system that doesn't skimp on top end features, it's a must. We liked The thing that really stands out here is the price. It's got all the hugely desirable features of Intel Z68, including the ability to turn QuickSync on and off, and yet costs less than some low-end H67-based motherboards we've seen. The fact that overall performance is top of the class too is just the icing on the proverbial desert stuff. We disliked There are sacrifices to be made to keep the cost down. The software is a bit ropey and there are no overclocker-friendly extras such as power buttons on the PCB or a simple CMOS clear. Just one PCI-Express port should raise a flag about how you'll upgrade your GPU in a couple of years too. Final word A budget Z68 that may be basic but is a better performer than its predecessors. 
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| Review: Cooler Master CM Storm Enforcer Posted: 16 Jun 2011 08:46 AM PDT The Cooler Master CM Storm Enforcer aims to offer an excellent chassis for building your own sturdy, well designed and good looking gaming PC. Cooler Master is a well-respected brand in the PC chassis market and its specialist gaming brand, CM Storm, is gaining new converts by the day, thanks to high build quality and products aimed at gamers and PC enthusiasts. The Cooler Master CM Storm Enforcer continues this trend, going head-to-head with other low priced mid-towers, such as the NZXT H2 and the Antec Dark Fleet DF-35. And is a solidly built mid-tower designed to house the latest and most powerful tech around. If you're putting down serious money on graphics cards, motherboards and other top-of-the-range components then you don't want to stick them in a cheap and tacky case. You want something that will show off the quality of your PC. That doesn't mean you should spend money you don't have to on features you don't need, however. This is where value mid-towers such as the Cooler Master CM Storm Enforcer come in.
When you're building your dream gaming rig and including the best components, you want to put them in a case that will look the part. The Cooler Master CM Storm Enforcer does just this, giving any PC housed within the feel of an armoured tank. This chassis might be cheap compared to some of its competitors, but it's certainly not cheap looking. This isn't a chassis for office PCs, media centres or computers used for the odd internet browse or Excel spreadsheet. This is for PCs that have had a lot of care and attention poured into them as they were made. There's a Perspex window on one side to show off the handpicked components within, and the overall design stands out from other Cooler Master chassis. Travelling through the Perspex looking glass and into the Cooler Master CM Storm Enforcer machine itself, there is plenty of room for fitting motherboards and associated components. Of course, it's not as roomy as a full-size tower, but there is enough space to fit bulky graphics cards with lengths up to 390mm, such as the Radeon HD 6990 or GeForce GTX 590, although these chunky cards require the removal of one of the HDD cases to fit in.
To help make installation and upgrading even easier, the four 5.25-inch bays offer a tool-free set-up – a blessing for anyone who's lost a small screw while fitting an optical drive. While the Cooler Master CM Storm Enforcer looks impressive, its design also ensures that there's plenty of airflow – essential for a stable computer, especially if you're of the overclocking bent. At the bottom of the case is an area for installing a PSU, along with a 200mm red LED CoolerMaster fan towards the front, and a 120mm fan at the back. This case has also been designed with water cooling in mind, as it has access holes built in for the water cooling tubes. The Cooler Master CM Storm Enforcer might not be the largest case on the market, but it offers plenty of expandability options. It comes with four 5.25-inch and four 2.5-inch drive bays, eight expansion slots and it'll handle a CPU cooler up to 175mm tall. We liked For a case of this size there is plenty of room for installing components on the Cooler Master CM Storm Enforcer. Cooler Master has learnt from past mistakes and left plenty of room between installed hardware and the outer case, allowing for much tidier cable management. There's also anti-vibration rubber around the PSU area for reducing noise – a nice touch. We disliked Graphics cards over a certain size will need one of the HDD cages to be removed to fit into the Cooler Master CM Storm Enforcer. It does the job, but it's an extra inconvenience that you don't get with larger cases. There's also no external fan control – a feature we've been spoilt with on other gaming chassis. Final word An extremely good case for the price, and on the whole it's easy to install. However, a few compromises have been made for its small size. 
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| Posted: 16 Jun 2011 08:37 AM PDT Astoundingly, while some other manufacturers have yet to get one out the door, there are 12 different variations on the Z68 theme from Gigabyte already, including this, the Z68X-UD3H-B3. That's a lot of numbers and letters which basically tell us that this is a good looking board – dressed as it is, all in black – which has some high-end features that you won't find on a cheaper example such as ASRock's Z68 Pro 3. For example, there are two PCI-Express slots for graphics cards, premium grade components for stability and overclocking and a back-up BIOS for restoring things if it all goes wrong. Add in the standards, including two USB 3.0 ports and support for SATA 3 drives, and it's tempting not to bother waiting to see what rivals can produce. Compared to the older P67 chipset there's not a lot to distinguish Gigabyte's Z68X-UD3H-B3 in terms of raw performance. It's the extra features such as Lucid's Virtu and Intel's Smart Response Technology that make it the more futureproof platform. Video encoding
--------------------------------- Overall platform performance
--------------------------------- 1080p gaming performance
Bundled along with the usual suites of overclocking tools there's an app which we particularly liked for the Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3, although we're not entirely sure when we'd make use of it. Cloud OC enables you to take control of BIOS settings remotely via Bluetooth (if you have a separate adaptor) or the web. It's a neat trick, similar to that pioneered by Asus on its ultra-high end Republic of Gamers' boards. But the real star of the show here, as it will be for all Z68 motherboards, is Lucid's Virtu technology. Once again this deceptively simple piece of software, which enables you to use the integrated graphics core without removing your gaming GPU, proves itself to be a reliable and invaluable tool. At least, it is if you do any video editing, where it can accelerate certain encoding applications by stupid amounts. In our tests, it was almost five times faster than encoding by CPU alone. But even if you don't do video editing it will still power-down your discrete card when its 3D chops aren't needed, making for a much greener gaming machine anyway. Elsewhere, Gigabyte's Z68X-UD3H-B3 puts in an equally solid performance. We could wish for more USB ports and SATA slots, but we'd probably have to pay a lot more for them. We also quite like the familiar feeling old school BIOS option, though the lack of UEFI is still rather strange. There is one issue, however. The PCIe slots scale back to just 8x, rather than 16x lanes if both are used at the same time. SLI or Crossfire should be fine for most purposes, but you might start to see that bandwidth bottleneck kicking in if you're planning to set up dual graphics for multi-monitor resolutions with lots of image quality settings turned on. But if you're only planning to use one card, you might want to look at the ASRock Z68 Pro 3. The Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3 is the better-built board, but ASRock's is almost £40 cheaper. We liked At less than £150 this seems like a good value board, considering it has Gigabyte's Ultra Durable three components and lots of flexibility for overclocking. Lucid's Virtu application for switching between integrated and discrete graphics again proves itself admirably, and extras such as Cloud OC are fun to have. We disliked It's probably going to be worth waiting to see how prices calm down around the Z68 chipset. There are other, cheaper examples available already, and the eight lane PCI-Express limitation here might be a cost cutting measure too far if you're planning for dual GPUs in the future. Verdict Two USB 3.0 ports, support for SATA 3 drives, PCI-Express slots, premium grade components and a back-up BIOS combine with slick extras in the shape of Lucid's Virtu and Intel's Smart Response Technology to make the Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3 a very tempting offering indeed. 
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| BlackBerry PlayBook launched without O2's support Posted: 16 Jun 2011 08:29 AM PDT Today is the official UK launch of the BlackBerry PlayBook but it seems that O2 has decided not to stock the device, explaining that there are "issues with the end-to-end user experience". While the PlayBook is available from a number of outlets in the UK, the lack of support from O2 will comes a bit of a blow for RIM which is hoping its tablet will rival the likes of the iPad and Galaxy Tab. PlayBook price The BlackBerry PlayBook offers full-Flash web browsing, has a 7-inch screen, Wi-Fi connectivity and it aimed at business users. When it comes to pricing the the 16GB model costs £399, the 32GB model retails at £479 and the 64GB version will be £559. In the TechRadar BlackBerry PlayBook review, we said the tablet showed promise but its lack of apps were a problem – something that O2 seems to agree with. One place that is more than happy to stock the PlayBook is the Carphone Warehouse – it started selling the device a day early in its stores. 
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| HP Pre 3 UK release date announced Posted: 16 Jun 2011 08:02 AM PDT Details of the HP Pre 3, the first Palm-less Pre to be released, have been thin on the ground of late but the handset has finally been given a UK release date, thanks to a posting on Play.com. Announced back in February, the HP Pre 3 has a Qualcomm CPU running at 1.4GHz, the biggest QWERTY keyboard ever seen on a Pre, a 3.6-inch 480x800 WVGA screen, 5MP camera with LED Flash, forward facing camera, video calling and it is also packing HP's WebOS. Palmed off Play.com has put the HP Pre 3 up for pre-order and it will be available for £349.99 unlocked. As for the all-important date, the HP Palm Pre UK release date is 8 July. Which gives you less than a month to figure out if this is the smartphone for you. When TechRadar got a hands on with the HP Pre 3 back in February, we were pretty impressed – mostly with HP's WebOS. Last week the HP TouchPad, the first tablet to come with WebOS was given a price. When it comes to the UK 1 July it will cost from £399. 
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| Posted: 16 Jun 2011 07:48 AM PDT Sat navs may be one of the most beneficial gadgets ever invented, but navigating your way through all the available options can be a nightmare. TomTom aims to simplify things by splitting its 2011 lineup into two distinct camps: 'non-connected' sat navs such as its Start 20 and Via Live 120 models and 'connected' sat navs such as the TomTom Go Live 825 Europe, part of the Go Live 800 series. 'Non-connected' sat navs eschew all the bells and whistles in favour of simplicity, which is great for casual drivers who only need to use a sat nav occasionally. Meanwhile the 'connected' ones give you all the bells and whistles and then put brass knobs on, making them ideal for 'professional' drivers who need to navigate congested roads and beyond. We've already reviewed a 'non-connected' sat nav in the shape of the TomTom Start 20, so now let's take a look at the 'connected' alternative: the £230 TomTom Go Live 825 Europe, and explore why it's worth an extra £110.
The first thing you notice about the TomTom Go Live 825 Europe is its 13cm 480 x 272 pixel touchscreen display. Its bright and clear screen real estate enables you to take advantage of all those 'connected' features (more on these in a minute). The TomTom Go Live 825 Europe also includes a new orientation sensor, which enables the display to swivel 180 degrees – which is handy as TomTom has redesigned the mounting arm so you can place your sat nav either on your windscreen or on your car's dashboard (provided you also buy the optional dash mount).
Other physical features include a simplified 12V charger plug with mini-USB cable, which enables you to sync the TomTom Go Live 825 Europe easily with your Mac or PC without the needed for additional cables. You also get a mini SD card slot for expansion – handy if you want to buy additional maps later, although it comes with full UK and European maps covering 45 countries. Other goodies inside the sat nav itself include built-in Bluetooth and 4GB of internal flash memory. The biggest change, however, has been to TomTom's sat nav operating system: it's cleaner and simpler to use than before, with a logical series of menus and sub-menus that make it easy to find your way around. You'll notice that getting around or accessing menus requires quite a firm press of the touchscreen to get your input to register – but better that than the other extreme, which is just plain annoying. Going alongside the cosmetic changes on the TomTom Go Live 825 Europe are a deeper set of improvements that should help improve TomTom's already fearsome reputation.
These include thousands of new kilometres of roads, a much better selection of points of interest (POI) – that now includes amenities such as local restaurants as well as national chains – and, of course, those 'connected' Live features. These give your TomTom Go Live 825 Europe a year's free access to features including TomTom HD Traffic, which gives you updates on the traffic situation on your chosen route every two minutes; with the results displayed in a slender indicator column on the screen's right-hand side. This flashes up potential problems ahead using red or orange indicators, enabling you to plot an alternative route well before you reach them. Other Live features include updated information on fixed and mobile safety cameras, local weather reports with five-day forecasts as well as Live QuickGPSFix and Google Local Search – for those times when the built-in POIs can't find what you're looking for. All of this information is accessed and updated using the TomTom Go Live 825's built-in SIM, so you don't have to worry about connecting your mobile to receive them. The only real downside is that you'll have to pay an annual fee of around £47 once your year's free subscription is up – but if you drive a lot, we think that's a price worth paying. Performance
Out on the road, the TomTom Go Live 825 Europe really proves its mettle. Our combined test route of rural, urban and arterial roads really put the sat nav through its paces – and it was very rarely found wanting. We particularly like the fact that 2011 TomToms now include road names among their voice instructions, making it far easier to take the correct turn, especially at complex road junctions and roundabouts. We also love the improvements to the way TomTom handles motorway junctions: you no longer just get close-up views of each one with arrows indicating which lanes you should be in, the arrows now also flash orange so you can tell at a glance exactly what you're supposed to do. Teaming Live services with TomTom's IQ Routes – which intelligently picks the best route to your destination by taking into account anonymous data collected from thousands of other road users – also helps make driving a lot less stressful. The only time the TomTom really tripped us up was when we were looking for a particular supermarket at our destination using the Points Of Interest search – only to be greeted with identical names for each one, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact store we wanted.
TomTom is on a roll with the Go Live 825 Europe. Not only has it been able to make the world's best sat navs even easier and more pleasurable to use, but it's done so in an intelligent, engaging way that leaves the competition even further behind. From simple changes such as the improved integrated screen/ dash mount to the changes it's made to its sat nav operating system, TomTom's sheer class, quality and attention to detail shines through. We liked: TomTom's new operating system really shines on the Go Live 825 Europe, carefully balancing ease of use with lots of tweakable features. The whole environment feels slick, polished and a pleasant place to be. Better yet are a useful range of sat nav features including spoken road names to make navigating junctions easier, as well as clearer signposting at motorway intersections. Double thumbs up. We disliked: Not a lot, to be honest. When you're paying for a premium product you expect premium features, and that's pretty much what you get. The only things that are a little annoying are the insensitivity of the touchscreen – which feels a little kludgy when you compare it to something like the iPhone 4 – and the ongoing costs associated with those Live features. But then if you're going to moan about the cost of these, you've clearly bought the wrong sat nav in the first place. Verdict: The TomTom Go Live 825 Europe proves that the world's best sat nav is now even better. The new operating system, improved UI and enhanced navigation options are worth the money alone. Optional Live services such as Traffic HD and Safety Camera updates are the cherry and the icing of an already yummy cake. 
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| Updated: 10 best Linux distros for 2011 Posted: 16 Jun 2011 07:42 AM PDT Hardware compatibility, ease of use, the size of a software repository. These three attributes are unique to each Linux distribution. But at the same time, each Linux distribution is at liberty to take and mix whatever it wants from any other. This creates a rather unique situation, where good ideas quickly spread, and bad ones fail. And as a result, there are dozens of distribution updates each month, hundreds each year, in a race to leap-frog each other in the race to the top of the DistroWatch.com charts. This is why the answer to the question of which distribution is best for you changes with the tides, and why we're keen to keep on top of distribution developments. What follows are our recommendations, updated for this year, and split by typical users. Try them yourself. They're all free. 1. The best distro for beginners: Ubuntu 11.04 We must admit that despite Ubuntu's ubiquity, it has only just managed to hold on to the top-spot as the best distro for beginners. This is because the latest release will feel unfamiliar to anyone from a Windows, Gnome 2 or KDE background, although Mac users might feel more at home than most. This is due to the Ubuntu team replacing the old desktop with something it calls Unity - a slick and accelerated full-screen interface that allows you to switch quickly between applications and find your files. Except that this first release has some stability issues and if your graphics hardware isn't up to the job, the fall-back to an older desktop creates unnecessary confusion.
But there are two reasons why Ubuntu is still a fantastic choice for beginners - hardware compatibility and ease of installation. Stick the disc in the drive, answer a few easy questions, and you'll find yourself at the desktop in no time at all. And as long as it works, Ubuntu developers still know how to make a desktop look good. Unity is a new way of using a desktop, but it's also a brave move to try and do something different, whether that's the drag and drop files onto applications feature or the way applications can be installed from the global search pane. Ubuntu still offers one of the best looking default desktops, an unparalleled software repository, easy installation of proprietary software like Flash and Nvidia drivers, and incorporates one of the largest and most accessible communities on the internet. It's still a winner. But we can't say for how long. Summary: Easy installation, a massive package repository and a dedicated user community help keep Ubuntu a great choice for newcomers. But Unity is going to cause problems. Also consider: Mageia 1.0 2. The best distro for experts: Fedora 15 The Fedora distribution takes a trail-blazing, no compromise, approach to free software. It offers many of the same advantages of Ubuntu like excellent hardware support, a refined desktop and great package choice, with some of the core-philosophy ideals that have helped make Linux such as a success. The best example of this is the latest release. Fedora 15 is the first major distribution to ship with the new Gnome environment - Gnome Shell. Like Ubuntu's Unity, Shell is an attempt to change people's expectations of what a Linux desktop should look and feel like. It does this using a similar approach to Unity, complete with animated transitions, launch bar and application launcher, but it's a shame that the two projects couldn't work together, as they both suffer from poor stability. As a result, it's not an ideal distribution if you're looking for proprietary and closed software. MP3 codecs, Adobe Flash and Nvidia drivers are not easy to install, and get even less easier with each new release. Instead, you'll want to stick with the open source alternatives provided by Fedora.
Fortunately, Fedora is still a distribution you can make your own. Creating a development environment is easy, for example, and the locations used by shared libraries, configuration files and kernel headers strictly adhere to long established standards. This means that with Fedora 15 you get the best of both worlds: the cutting edge world of Gnome Shell, straight from installation CD, and a completely customisable, standard and reliable environment from which you can build your perfect distribution. Summary: Still the result of a fusion between a noble cause and an uncompromisingly corporate business plan. Also consider: Slackware 3. The best distro for customisation: Arch Despite being around for a while, it's only over the last twelve months that Arch's popularity has surged, now making it one of the most popular Linux distributions available. This is perhaps surprising because Arch is definitely not a distribution for the unprepared. Installation, for instance, is a text-based menu that does little to help you partition your drive, configure a wireless device, install packages or even set up a default user. Even after installation has finished, you'll need to grab and configure your own graphical environment as well as add any applications you're likely to need. But the end result is worth it. You'll have a Linux installation that's running only what you need, and you'll have learnt a great deal about how it runs in the process. This is mostly thanks to the Arch Wiki, a sprawling and well-written information repository that can be used to enable even a Linux beginner to install the operating system.
Arch's package management is also worth a mention. There's no big distribution upgrade every six months. Instead, packages are updated as and when they're released, always giving you the very latest version of everything you install. And there's a mass of packages to chose from, including a bursting repository of user generated packages that are compiled as you install them. The end result is a cutting edge distribution that's fast, configurable and built entirely to your own requirements. Summary: A distribution that brings back some of that old Linux pioneering spirit. Also consider: Gentoo 4. The best distro for older hardware: Puppy Linux 5.2.5 Linux's great strength is its flexibility. It runs on everything from mobile phones to spaceships. As a result, it's extremely good at scaling, and makes a good choice for older hardware. Unlike some other operating systems, you won't have to resort to running older versions either. There are plenty of distributions that will take the latest software, the latest kernel and the latest drivers, and build them into a distribution tailored for older bits of kit.
The best we've found is Puppy. It's a diminutive, yet fully functional, operating system that runs from your system's memory for extra speed. Just burn the 128MB ISO to a CD and boot. What's most impressive about Puppy is that while it may only be running from RAM, it still writes your changes back to the spare space on your CD or DVD boot media, getting the most from both possible worlds. But the best thing about version 5 is that it now uses the same package repository as Ubuntu. This gives you immediate access to thousands of the most popular packages and means that, while your installation may start small, it's likely to grow into the perfect fit for whatever hardware combination you're using. Summary: Pull out that old machine from the loft, Puppy Linux will turn it into a fully fledged 2011 Linux powerhouse. Also consider: Slitaz 5. The best distro for your desktop: Linux Mint 11 Things have changed in the Linux distro hierarchy. With Ubuntu's switch to Unity and Fedora to Gnome Shell, there's now room for a first class distribution built around the old familiar Gnome environment. Which is why Linux Mint 11 is doing so well, despite its continual changes to the default options of the old desktop. Gnome's top-bar is still gone, for instance, leaving the lower status window as the only screen ornamentation. And the launch menu gets the same treatment, replacing Gnome's trio of 'Applications', 'Places' and 'Administration' with the singular Mint Menu.
Version 11 is another solid upgrade, adding a new-look software manager and many other artistic improvements. If you use a lot of applications and come from a Windows background, Mint offers a great version of the Gnome 2 desktop, and unlike Unity or Gnome Shell, won't require any mental re-adjusting. Alongside Ubuntu's prodigious packages, Mint includes quite a few of its own. And there's still eye candy, thanks to Compiz and the desktop setting panel embedded within a custom Control Center application that's growing with each release. The end result is a distribution that stands on the shoulders of giants to become one of the best contenders for your desktop. Summary: If you don't like Gnome Shell and Unity, this is one of the the best Gnome 2.x experiences you can have. Also consider: Ubuntu 6. The best distro for netbooks: Jolicloud 1.2 As we're now in the thick of another age of cloud computing, it's only fair that we look at a Linux distribution that's closer to the cloud than most. Jolicloud is an unusual distribution because it manages to bridge the gap between local applications and those online by creating its own desktop interface. It does this by linking your local user account to one on Jolicloud's servers, which are then used to manage your applications and data though Dropbox and Google Docs. You can install word processors, media tools like VLC, games and many other applications, many of which already have a cloud basis. But you don't notice. The desktop is cleverly designed to hide the custom browser when it's running so that you can't easily tell the difference between editing a Google doc online, for example, or using OpenOffice.org Writer.
Jolicloud saves its best trick for when you're travelling without a netbook. Your desktop can still be accessed online, even without your machine being on. Our favourite method is through a Google Chrome extension that turns Jolicloud into an app within your browser. Log into this with your account details, and you'll get almost the same suite of applications and data you get on your netbook. There are differences, but it's still a massively useful addition, making Jolicloud a unique take on a Linux distribution. Summary: Jolicloud 1.2 gives you access to your desktop wherever you are. Also consider: MeeGo 1.2 7. The best distro for sys admins: Debian 6.0.1 Debian has become the paternal grandfather of the Linux new wave. Ubuntu, originally based on Debian, has inherited many of its strengths, including its package format, its breadth of packages, configuration files and locations. And as a result, so has Ubuntu's own derivatives, including Mint, Crunchbang and gOS. This gives Debian a great advantage. It's already going to feel familiar to millions of people who have never used it. And for that reason, it's the perfect choice for system administrators who have used one of its derivatives.
But there's another, more important, reason. Major version Debian releases are generally years apart, and the software that makes the final cut has been tested to the point of destruction. Version 6 took a little longer than planned, but was finally released in February. It builds on what is already the perfect platform for your own tools, utilities and solutions, and enables you to install almost anything you need through the package manager. A task that Fedora can't quite compete with. Debian might not have the commercial backing of Fedora, but it's still enviably secure, bundling SELinux, the latest X server and desktops, and a new found ability to run as a Live CD, which is perfect for ad-hoc troubleshooting. Summary: Part-named after the founder's girlfriend, Debian has matured into a stable, sensible and sober distribution for discerning Linux users. Also consider: Arch Linux 8. The best distro for the office: OpenSUSE 11.4 This is only distribution in our list to use the KDE desktop by default, and OpenSuse has chosen KDE for a good reason: the desktop is likely to feel most familiar in an office environment. KDE is often likened to Windows, and now that both Gnome and Ubuntu have taken big steps away from the old-fashioned desktop metaphor, it's likely that KDE will become a stronger alternative for those who still want windows, icons, menus and pointers. But there's some added complexity now that Novell is no longer independent and it's too early to say how committed Attachmate, its new owners, are to a Linux distribution - although each new release is still on schedule. But if your office systems are critical to your success, OpenSuse has both the pedigree and the functionality you'll need.
It also helps that Novell and Attachmate still make a significant contribution to open source, especially now that OpenOffice.org is no longer relevant and LibreOffice has taken its place. However, at the same time, Attachmate reportedly laid-off its Mono developers in May, and while this project continues under new management, it's not clear what that might mean for the future of its inclusion in OpenSUSE. Either way, OpenSUSE is still a great distribution for an office environment, with excellent commercial support if you need it. Summary: Thanks to strong links with Microsoft, OpenSUSE is still a great option if your office needs to work with Office. Also consider: Mandriva 9. The best distro for servers: CentOS 5.6 Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is almost untouchable in the business market. It's one of the most profitable and well supported areas of the Linux ecosystem, and as you might expect, it's expensive. It's only available if you're willing to pay for the service, support and upgrades, at prices that put it out of reach of cash-strapped upstarts. But RHEL is still open source, and while the binary packages might not be available, the source code for those packages has to be. Which is where CentOS comes in. It takes the source code and rebuilds RHEL in its own image, feature for feature, for each release. It gets close enough to be almost 100% compatible with third-party RHEL packages, and is the best choice for many online projects that can't stretch to a supported RHEL contract.
Version 5.5 was released in May, less than two months after the equivalent RHEL release. You get the same packages, the same fixes, the same Gnome desktop and applications. The only thing missing is support, but the CentOS community is very active, and always more than happy to help, making CentOS the only option for real-world critical performance at almost no cost. Summary: The only real difference between CentOS and RHEL is the logo and desktop themes. Also consider: PC-BSD (we know this isn't strictly Linux, but it's a brilliant BSD distribution) 10. The best distro for multimedia: Ubuntu Studio 11.04 Linux has thousands of creative software titles, but the average distribution isn't always the best platform to use them. This is especially true of music software, which needs a specially configured kernel and a specific configuration of audio drivers to work at its best. Adjusting your everyday distribution to accommodate those changes isn't easy, which is why there are plenty of distributions that attempt to do the job for you. The best is Ubuntu Studio. It's designed for music and audio, but you can install anything from the standard Ubuntu repositories. Thanks to the realtime kernel, audio latency is low, and you shouldn't have any problems running resource heavy applications like The Gimp loading a large image.
You won't have to hunt around for the best software either, as the developers have chosen the cream of creative applications to install by default, including audio, video and graphics editors and a customised desktop. The latest version, for example, is a 1.5GB DVD image, rather than the CD size of Ubuntu, and installation from this can save you a lot of time. But the best thing about this distribution is that it includes a working 'Jack' configuration, a low-latency audio layer that can transform your Linux desktop into a virtual recording studio. A task that isn't very straightforward without a little help. Summary: Forget the complexity of building a working music studio yourself. Just run Ubuntu Studio and start recording. Also consider: PureDyne 
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| Updated: 10 best Linux bistros for 2011 Posted: 16 Jun 2011 07:42 AM PDT Hardware compatibility, ease of use, the size of a software repository. These three attributes are unique to each Linux distribution. But at the same time, each Linux distribution is at liberty to take and mix whatever it wants from any other. This creates a rather unique situation, where good ideas quickly spread, and bad ones fail. And as a result, there are dozens of distribution updates each month, hundreds each year, in a race to leap-frog each other in the race to the top of the DistroWatch.com charts. This is why the answer to the question of which distribution is best for you changes with the tides, and why we're keen to keep on top of distribution developments. What follows are our recommendations, updated for this year, and split by typical users. Try them yourself. They're all free. 1. The best distro for beginners: Ubuntu 11.04 We must admit that despite Ubuntu's ubiquity, it has only just managed to hold on to the top-spot as the best distro for beginners. This is because the latest release will feel unfamiliar to anyone from a Windows, Gnome 2 or KDE background, although Mac users might feel more at home than most. This is due to the Ubuntu team replacing the old desktop with something it calls Unity - a slick and accelerated full-screen interface that allows you to switch quickly between applications and find your files. Except that this first release has some stability issues and if your graphics hardware isn't up to the job, the fall-back to an older desktop creates unnecessary confusion.
But there are two reasons why Ubuntu is still a fantastic choice for beginners - hardware compatibility and ease of installation. Stick the disc in the drive, answer a few easy questions, and you'll find yourself at the desktop in no time at all. And as long as it works, Ubuntu developers still know how to make a desktop look good. Unity is a new way of using a desktop but it's also a brave move to try and do something different, whether that's the drag and drop files onto applications feature or the way applications can be installed from the global search pane. Ubuntu still offers one of the best looking default desktops, an unparalleled software repository, easy installation of proprietary software like Flash and Nvidia drivers, and incorporates one of the largest and most accessible communities on the internet. It's still a winner. But we can't say for how long. Summary: Easy installation, a massive package repository and a dedicated user community help keep Ubuntu a great choice for newcomers. But Unity is going to cause problems. Also consider: Mageia 1.0 2. The best distro for experts: Fedora 15 The Fedora distribution takes a trail-blazing, no compromise, approach to free software. It offers many of the same advantages of Ubuntu like excellent hardware support, a refined desktop and great package choice, with some of the core-philosophy ideals that have helped make Linux such as a success. The best example of this is the latest release. Fedora 15 is the first major distribution to ship with the new Gnome environment - Gnome Shell. Like Ubuntu's Unity, Shell is an attempt to change people expectations of what a Linux desktop should look and feel like. It does this using a similar approach to Unity, complete with animated transitions, launch bar and application launcher, but it's a shame that the two projects couldn't work together, as they both suffer from poor stability. As a result, it's not an ideal distribution if you're looking for proprietary and closed software. MP3 codecs, Adobe Flash and Nvidia drivers are not easy to install, and get even less easier with each new release. Instead, you'll want to stick with the open source alternatives provided by Fedora.
Fortunately, Fedora is still a distribution you can make your own. Creating a development environment is easy, for example, and the locations used by shared libraries, configuration files and kernel headers strictly adhere to long established standards. This means that with Fedora 15 you get the best of both worlds: the cutting edge world of Gnome Shell, straight from installation CD, and a completely customisable, standard and reliable environment from which you can build your perfect distribution. Summary: Still the result of a fusion between a noble cause and an uncompromisingly corporate business plan. Also consider: Slackware 3. The best distro for customisation: Arch Despite being around for a while, it's only over the last twelve months that Arch's popularity has surged, now making it one of the most popular Linux distributions available. This is perhaps surprising because Arch is definitely not a distribution for the un-prepared. Installation, for instance, is a text-based menu that does little to help you partition your drive, configure a wireless device, install packages or even setup a default user. Even after installation has finished, you'll need to grab and configure your own graphical environment as well as add any applications you're likely to need. But the end result is worth it. You'll have a Linux installation that's running only what you need, and you'll have learnt a great deal about how it runs in the process. This is mostly thanks to the Arch Wiki, a sprawling and well-written information repository that can be used to enable even a Linux beginner to install the operating system.
Arch's package management is also worth a mention. There's no big distribution upgrade every six months. Instead, packages are updated as and when they're released, always giving you the very latest version of everything you install. And there's a mass of packages to chose from, including a bursting repository of user generated packages that are compiled as you install them. The end result is a cutting edge distribution that's fast, configurable and built entirely from your own requirements. Summary: A distribution that brings back some of that old Linux pioneering spirit. Also consider: Gentoo 4. The best distro for older hardware: Puppy Linux 5.2.5 Linux's great strength is its flexibility. It runs on everything from mobile phones to space ships. As a result, it's extremely good at scaling, and makes a good choice for older hardware. Unlike some other operating systems, you won't have to resort to running older versions either. There are plenty of distributions that will take the latest software, the latest kernel and the latest drivers, and build them into a distribution tailored for older bits of kit.
The best we've found is Puppy. It's a diminutive, yet fully functional, operating system that runs from your system's memory for extra speed. Just burn the 128MB ISO to a CD and boot. What's most impressive about Puppy is that while it may be only be running from RAM, it still writes your changes back to the spare space on your CD or DVD boot media, getting the most from both possible worlds. But the best thing about version 5 is that it now uses the same package repository as Ubuntu. This gives you immediate access to thousands of the most popular packages and means that, while your installation may start small, it's likely to grow into the perfect fit for whatever hardware combination you're using. Summary: Pull out that old machine from the loft, Puppy Linux will turn it into a fully fledged 2010 Linux powehouse Also consider: Slitaz 5. The best distro for your desktop: Linux Mint 11 Things have changed in the Linux distro hierarchy. With Ubuntu's switch to Unity and Fedora to Gnome Shell, there's now room for a first class distribution built around the old familiar Gnome environment. Which is why Linux Mint 11 is doing so well, despite it's continual changes to the default options of the old desktop. Gnome's top-bar is still gone, for instance, leaving the lower status window as the only screen ornamentation. And the launch menu gets the same treatment, replacing Gnome's trio of 'Applications', 'Places' and 'Administration' with the singular Mint Menu.
Version 11 is another solid upgrade, adding a new-look software manager and many other artistic improvements. If you use a lot of applications and come from a Windows background, Mint offers a great version of the Gnome 2 desktop, and unlike Unity or Gnome Shell, won't require any mental re-adjusting. Alongside Ubuntu's prodigious packages, Mint includes quite a few of its own. And there's still eye candy, thanks to Compiz and the desktop setting panel embedded within a custom Control Center application that's growing with each release. The end result is a distribution that stands on the shoulders of giants to become one the best contenders for your desktop. Summary: If you don't like Gnome Shell and Unity, this is one of the the best Gnome 2.x experiences you can have Also consider: Ubuntu 6. The best distro for netbooks: Jolicloud 1.2 As we're now in the thick of another age of cloud computing, it's only fair that we look at a Linux distribution that's closer to the cloud than most. Jolicloud is an unusual distribution because it manages to bridge the gap between local applications and those online by creating its own desktop interface. It does this by linking your local user account to one on Jolicloud's servers, which are then used to manage your applications and data though Dropbox and Google Docs. You can install word processors, media tools like VLC, games and many other applications, many of which already have a cloud basis. But you don't notice. The desktop is cleverly designed to hide the custom browser when it's running so that you can't easily tell the difference between editing a Google doc online, for example, or using OpenOffice.org Writer.
Jolicloud saves its best trick for when you're travelling without a netbook. Your desktop can still be accessed online, even without your machine being on. Our favourite method is through a Google Chrome extension that turns Jolicloud into an app within your browser. Log into this with your account details, and you'll get almost same suite of applications and data you get on your netbook. There are differences, but it's still a massively useful addition, making Jolicloud a unique take on a Linux distribution. Also consider: MeeGo 1.2 7. The best distro for sys admins: Debian 6.0.1 Debian has become the paternal grandfather of the Linux new wave. Ubuntu, originally based on Debian, has inherited many of its strengths, including its package format, its breadth of packages, configuration files and locations. And as a result, so has Ubuntu's own derivatives, including Mint, Crunchbang and gOS. This gives Debian a great advantage. It's already going to feel familiar to millions of people who have never used it. And for that reason, it's the perfect choice for system administrators who have used one of its derivatives.
But there's another, more important, reason. Major version Debian releases are generally years apart, and the software that makes the final cut has been tested to the point of destruction. Version 6 took a little later than planned, but was finally released in February. It builds on what is already the perfect platform for your own tools, utilities and solutions, and enable you to install almost anything you need through the package manager. A task that Fedora can't quite compete with. Debian might not have the commercial backing of Fedora, but it's still enviably secure, bundling SELinux, the latest X server and desktops, and a new found ability to run as a Live CD, which is perfect for ad-hoc troubleshooting. Summary: Despite being part-named after the founder's girlfriend, Debian has matured into a stable, sensible and sober distribution for discerning Linux users Also consider: Arch Linux 8. The best distro for the office: OpenSUSE 11.4 This is only distribution in our list to use the KDE desktop by default, and OpenSuse has chosen KDE for a good reason: the desktop is likely to feel most familiar in an office environment. KDE is often likened to Windows, and now that both Gnome and Ubuntu have taken big steps away from the old-fashioned desktop metaphor, it's likely that KDE will become a stronger alternative for those who still want windows, icons, menus and pointers. But there's some added complexity now that Novell is no longer independent and it's too early to say how committed Attachmate, its new owners, are to a Linux distribution - although each new release is still on schedule. But if your office systems are critical to your success, OpenSuse has both the pedigree and the functionality you'll need.
It also helps that Novell and Attachmate still make a significant contribution to open source, especially now that OpenOffice.org is no longer relevant and LibreOffice has taken its place. However, at the same time, Attachmate reportedly laid-off its Mono developers in May, and while this project continues under new management, it's not clear what that might mean for the future of its inclusion in OpenSUSE. Either way, OpenSUSE is still a great distribution for an office environment, with excellent commercial support if you need it. Summary: Thanks to strong links with Microsoft, OpenSUSE is still a great option if your office needs to work with Office Also consider: Mandriva 9. The best distro for servers: CentOS 5.6 Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is almost untouchable in the business market. It's one of the most profitable and well supported areas of the Linux ecosystem, and as you might expect, it's expensive. It's only available if you're willing to pay for the service, support and upgrades, at prices that put it out of reach of cash-strapped upstarts. But RHEL is still open source, and while the binary packages might not be available, the source code for those packages has to be. Which is where CentOS comes in. It takes the source code and rebuilds RHEL in its own image, feature for feature, for each release. It gets close enough to be almost 100% compatible with third-party RHEL packages, and is the best choice for many online projects that can't stretch to a supported RHEL contract.
Version 5.5 was released in May, less than two months after the equivalent RHEL release. You get the same packages, the same fixes, the same Gnome desktop and applications. The only thing missing is support, but the CentOS community is very active, and always more than happy to help, making CentOS the only option for real-world critical performance at almost no cost. Summary: The only real difference between CentOS and RHEL is the logo and desktop themes Also consider: PC-BSD (we know this isn't strictly Linux, but it's a brilliant BSD distribution) Also consider: Debian 10. The best distro for multimedia: Ubuntu Studio 11.04 Linux has thousands of creative software titles, but the average distribution isn't always the best platform to use them. This is especially true of music software, which needs a specially configured kernel and a specific configuration of audio drivers to work at its best. Adjusting your everyday distribution to accommodate those changes isn't easy, which is why there are plenty of distributions that attempt to do the job for you. The best is Ubuntu Studio. It's designed for music and audio, but you can install anything from the standard Ubuntu repositories. Thanks to the realtime kernel, audio latency is low, and you shouldn't have any problems running resource heavy applications like The Gimp loading a large image.
You won't have to hunt around for the best software either, as the developers have chosen the cream of creative applications to install by default, including audio, video and graphics editors and a customised desktop. The latest version, for example, is a 1.5GB DVD image, rather than the CD size of Ubuntu, and installation from this can save you a lot of time. But the best thing about this distribution is that it includes a working 'Jack' configuration, a low-latency audio layer that can transform your Linux desktop into a virtual recording studio. A task that isn't very straightforward without a little help. Summary: Forget the complexity of building a working music studio yourself. Just run Ubuntu Studio and start recording Also consider: PureDyne 
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| HTC will have to cut apps for Desire 2.3 update Posted: 16 Jun 2011 06:08 AM PDT HTC has published further details on the Desire Android 2.3 update that it's promised, and it looks like a more streamlined platform is coming. According to its Facebook page, the phone manufacturer has stated that it will be looking to strip out some of the apps to free up space for the install: "To resolve Desire's memory issue and enable the upgrade to Gingerbread, we will cut select apps from the release. "Look for status updates starting next week. We apologize for any confusion." Next week or later? You could interpret this status update as confirmation the new software will begin seeding next week - or it could simply be that will be when HTC will issue more information about Gingerbread for HTC Desire. If we take a look at some of the applications up for the chop, it's likely the first to go will be HTC's own stuff, like Footprints and Stocks - and we'd think the PDF reader might go too given the fact Adobe's system is free from the Android Market. It's been a rocky road for HTC with the Desire 2.3 update, so we hope this goes smoothly and users get the new software sooner rather than later. 
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| Gary Marshall: Happy 100th birthday, IBM Posted: 16 Jun 2011 05:41 AM PDT Technology is a fast industry, with firms going from next best thing to Wikipedia footnote in the blink of an eye. Staying in business for 100 years is impressive in any industry, but in tech it's bordering on the miraculous - but that's what IBM is celebrating today. The former Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company is celebrating its first century in business. IBM's come a long way from its early days selling timekeeping equipment and meat slicers: as the IBM 100 website shows, it's been at the forefront of almost every kind of tech we take for granted today. Today's tech owes an enormous debt to two IBM machines in particular: the IBM System/360 of 1964, and the IBM PC of 1981. The S/360 took the ground-breaking (and very risky - Fortune called it IBM's five billion dollar gamble) step of building an entire series of computers that shared the same instruction set, which meant that different models could run the same software. And the PC put computers everywhere. IBM lost control of the PC to Microsoft and Intel, but its loss was our gain: by creating not just a machine but an entire standard, IBM's PC sparked a revolution. You might not have bought an IBM PC - you might have bought an AST one, or an Olivetti one, or an Amstrad one, or a Compaq one, or one from any of the thousands of other PC manufacturers - but you were still buying IBM's baby. PCs no more IBM doesn't make PCs any more - it sold its PC business to Lenovo in 2004 - and that's one of the reasons it's still around today. By dumping low-margin commodity businesses like PC and printer manufacturing, IBM was able to avoid disaster and concentrate on more lucrative corporate customers. Had it simply continued trying to squeeze every last drop from its cash cows, today it'd be a basket case at best and a casualty at worst. Does that remind you of anyone? The Economist wondered which of the current crop of tech firms will make it to 100, and it concluded that Microsoft probably won't be one of them. Describing the period when IBM was nearly DOA, it says that "an elegant organising idea is no use if a company cannot come up with good products or services, or if it has clueless bosses." It's hard not to draw parallels. So who will be around? Not Google, says The Economist - it's too reliant on a single product, advertising. It reckons The Queen will be sending telegrams to Facebook, Amazon and Apple. The reason is simple: adaptability. Apple's mission is to take the latest tech, make it pretty and charge a fortune for it, and that's a business model that works for computers, phones and hovercars. Amazon's mission is to make it easy to buy things. And Facebook's mission is to help people share stuff (cynics might add "whether they want to share stuff or not"). The IBM of 2011 has very little in common with the IBM of 1991, let alone the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company of 1911. And that's how it should be, because the world we live in is very different from the world of 20, 50, 100 years ago. The moral of IBM's success is simple: if tech firms don't change, they die. 
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| Microsoft suggests 20% in UK have had IT phishing call Posted: 16 Jun 2011 05:40 AM PDT A staggering 20 per cent of people in the UK have received a call from a fake IT security company attempting to scam them out of money or personal information, if the latest survey published by Microsoft is to be believed. According to a Dynamic Markets poll, commissioned by Microsoft, of 7,000 people across UK, US, Canada and Eire, 15 per cent had received a phishing call, and that figure is 20 per cent when you just look at the UK data. Now, that figure sounds on the high side to us, but the survey's findings does show a worrying trend – especially because 22 per cent of those 15 per cent (that's 3 per cent of the total sample) had actually ponied up some info or parted with cash. Deception "Security software is constantly being improved and so cybercriminals are resorting to deception tactics to trick people into revealing important details or gaining access to their computers," said Stuart Aston, Chief Security Adviser, Microsoft UK. "Many scammers even claim to be from legitimate companies or their partners. We would like to remind users of Microsoft software that the company does not keep track of consumers that purchase their software and does not directly contact consumers for any reason whatsoever. "Do not to trust any caller claiming to be from Microsoft and needing access to your home PC." Now obviously no TechRadar reader would fall for something so transparent, but it might well be worth reminding your less tech savvy and more naïve friends and relatives that this kind of thing is still going on. 
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| Buying Guide: Best Nikon Coolpix 2011: current cameras by price and specs Posted: 16 Jun 2011 05:19 AM PDT Nikon's Coolpix range is broken up into three segments: Performance, for serious amateurs looking to elevate snapshot photography to the next level; Style, for the trend-conscious consumer looking for a small-format fashion statement; and Life, for beginners and those with less experience simply looking for a no-frills option. Today the Coolpix line-up includes a number of models with the most recent backlit sensor technology, as well as an enthusiast camera to rival compact system alternatives and also the only current camera with a built-in projector. But with a total of twenty models as part of the current range, how do you know which one to go for? The following guide examines each offering one by one, so that you can find the best Coolpix camera to suit both your budget and your requirements. Nikon Coolpix P7000
Nikon's answer to Canon's G series and Panasonic's LX models, the Coolpix P7000 incorporates a 28-200mm optical zoom lens and a relatively large 10.1MP CCD, along with a high-resolution 3in LCD screen and full manual control over exposure. A lens-based Vibration Reduction system also helps to keep images sharp, while HD movie recording captures 30fps action at 720p with stereo sound recorded alongside. For maximum power in a pocket-friendly form, the P7000 is currently the best Coolpix camera to go for. Read our Nikon Coolpix P7000 review Nikon Coolpix P500
Not only is the Coolpix P500 one of handful of new models to sport a 12.1MP backlit sensor, but it also boasts a staggering focal range of 22.5-810mm. It also betters the flagship P7000's movie mode by offering 1080p full HD recording with stereo sound, and there's an additional 240fps QVGA option should you want to record any slow-motion footage. Other notable highlights include a 3in articulated LCD screen with a 921,000-dot resolution and an 8fps burst mode at the camera's full 12.1MP resolution. Nikon Coolpix P300
The Coolpix P300's spec sheet belies its small form, with a 12.2MP backlit sensor and full HD movie recording combined with a 24mm wideangle zoom lens that boasts an impressively wide maximum aperture of f/1.8. Full manual control is offered through the standard PASM quartet of options, while the rear's 3in LCD claims to include technology that reduces not only reduces reflections but power consumption too. All of this is encased in a magnesium-alloy body, giving it a high-end build quality to match its capable feature set. Read our Nikon Coolpix P300 review Nikon Coolpix P100
A cheaper alternative to the Coolpix P500, but with a handy 26-678mm focal range and 10.3MP backlit sensor for better low-light captures. Exposure may be regulated manually with shutter- and aperture-priority controls in addition to a fully manual mode, while shooting from awkward angles is aided by the 3in articulated LCD screen. The camera even records movies in full 1080p HD quality with stereo sound, and maintains functionality for both zooming and autofocus while any video recording takes place. If you need an expansive zoom range, but your budget can't quite stretch to the Coolpix P500, the P100 is worthy of consideration. Nikon Coolpix S9100
With an 18x optical zoom lens inside a pocketable body, the S9100 seems an ideal travel companion for those not wanting the bulk of a bridge camera or DSLR. One of a number of new models to incorporate a backlit sensor, the camera captures images at 12.1MP and full HD movies with stereo sound, while Sensor-shift and Electronic Vibration Reduction are joined by Motion Detection and Best Shot Selector technologies to make sure you only ever capture sharp and focused results. Nikon Coolpix S8100
The small-format Coolpix S8100 combines a number of high-end features and delivers them for less than £200. At its heart lies a backlit 12.1MP CMOS sensor which is capable of full HD movie recording, in front of which sits a 10x optical zoom lens with a focal range of 30-300mm. The rear is dominated by a 3in LCD screen with a 921,000-dot resolution, while on the inside Nikon has kitted the model out with Subject Tracking AF and a Hybrid VR system for sharper images. Read our Nikon Coolpix S8100 review Nikon Coolpix S8000
Upon its release the Coolpix S8000 was billed as the world's slimmest 10x zoom camera with a wideangle capability, and a year and a half later the camera's specs can still hold their own against those of newer arrivals. A 14.2MP sensor and EXPEED processing system handle image and movie recording, the latter being available up to the 720p standard and complemented by an HDMI mini port. Other features include Vibration Reduction and ED glass inside the camera's objective, as well as a 921,000-dot display on the rear. Read our Nikon Coolpix S8000 review Nikon Coolpix S5100
The Coolpix S5100 blends a capable core of a 12.2MP sensor and 28-140mm zoom lens with a range of portrait-orientated technologies. These include a Blink Proof function which is said to alert the user when subjects have their eyes closed, and a Smile Timer for capturing images the moment a subject smiles. There's also a Skin Softening feature, Red-Eye Fix and Face Priorty AE mode for up to 12 faces per frame, making it the one of the best Coolpix cameras for people shots. Read our Nikon Coolpix S5100 review Nikon Coolpix S3100
Available in both sober and striking finishes, the Coolpix S3100 partners a 14MP sensor with a 28-140mm zoom lens, and manages to squeeze in 720p movie recording activated by its own dedicated button. The 2.7in LCD screen, Scene Auto selector and 18 scene modes befit the camera's modest asking price, while four anti-blur technologies – Electronic VR, Motion Detection, Best Shot Selector and high ISO of 3200 – are on hand to help maintain a high standard of image quality in a range of conditions. Read our Nikon Coolpix S3100 review Nikon Coolpix S2500
Inside its 20mm thick body, the S2500 marries a 27-108mm zoom lens with a 12.1MP CCD sensor. The Subject Tracking AF function promises to stick with a subject as it moves around a scene, while the Smart Portrait System comprises Skin Softening to adjust uneven skin tones on people's faces. The bad news is that instead of HD video recording you only get a standard VGA option, although the S2500 is hardly the only sub-£100 camera to miss this out. Read our Nikon Coolpix S2500 review Nikon Coolpix S2550
Virtually a carbon-copy of the S2500 (above), but with the bonus of 720p HD movie recording at 30fps. Unlike the S2500 the camera is also only available in two finishes – black and red – but otherwise it offers the same 12.1MP CCD sensor, 4x optical zoom lens and 2.7in LCD as its stablemate. At the moment both are priced at around the same £80 mark, though, so unless you need it in a different finish this is the one to go for. Nikon Coolpix S1100pj
The only current compact with an integrated projector, the Coolpix S1100pj updates the S1000pj with a revised design and a boost to many of its specs. Nikon claims that the projector can now display images and videos at up to 47in in size, while the built-in stand means you can angle it upwards with no additional accessories. Elsewhere the camera packs in 720p HD movie recording, a Hybrid VR system and a 3in touchscreen LCD with 460,000 dots, and even comes with a free remote for both slideshow operation and wireless shooting. Read our Nikon Coolpix S1100pj review Nikon Coolpix S80
The Coolpix S80 stands out from its siblings with a 3.5in multi-touch OLED display with an 819,000dot resolution, and a two-tone design. On the inside there's a 35-175mm zoom lens, as well as a 14.1MP sensor capable of 720p movie recording, and a Hybrid VR system which uses both lens-shift and electronic VR stabilisation systems. A collection of filter effects is also on hand, which allows the user to apply fisheye, soft-focus, miniature and other treatments directly to images. Read our Nikon Coolpix S80 review Nikon Coolpix S4000
At less than 19mm thick and available in a choice of four finishes, the S4000 seems to fit the bill as the best Coolpix compact for a night out. Matching technology with style, the camera incorporates a 3in touchscreen LCD with an impressive 460,000 dots, and records HD movies at 720p, while the combinaton of its 27mm wideangle, Smile Shutter mode and Face Priority AE function means that it's perfect for capturing larger groups of people. Nikon Coolpix S3000
Available in seven distinctive colours, the Coolpix S3000 is a slim, metal-bodied compact with a 4x optical zoom range and a 12MP sensor. Motion Detection, Electronic Vibration Reduction and Best Shot Selector technologies help to maintain image quality where they may be movement, while the Smart Portrait system contains separate technologies for detecting faces and smiles, also notifying the user should any subjects blink. Sadly there's no HD movie recording, just a VGA option. Read our Nikon Coolpix S3000 review Nikon Coolpix L120
Updating the L110, and currently priced just £20 higher, the L120 boosts the sensor's pixel count to 14.1MP and also increases the 3in LCD's resolution to 921,000 dots. Not only that, but the focal range of the lens has also been broadened to an impressive 25-525mm, while support for both autofocus and zooming is maintained when recording 720p HD videos. It's also powered by a set of AA batteries, which is handy when you're on the move. Read our Nikon Coolpix L120 review Nikon Coolpix L110
Nikon's most junior bridge option, the L110 sees a 12.1MP sensor paired with a 15x optical zoom, which stretches from 28-420mm. There's also 720p HD movie recording with stereo sound, and a 3in LCD screen with 460,000 dots, which has been primed with an anti-reflection coating. Nikon goes so far as to claim that with the supplied lithium batteries the camera can last for up to a staggering 830 images, or alternatively 4.5 hours of video. Nikon Coolpix L24
The budget L24 is targeted firmly at beginners and those wanting to capture images with minimal fuss. In addition to its Easy Auto mode, the user may select one of 16 scene modes to fit the subject, or alternatively capture VGA-quality videos at 30fps. The inclusion of a 3in LCD is more than welcome for this kind of price, and the widely available AA batteries which the camera accepts makes it easy to keep on shooting should you unexpectedly run out of power. Nikon Coolpix L23
With a 10.1MP CCD sensor the L23 takes a step back resolution-wise from the L22 before it, but it extends the zoom's reach to cover a range of 28-140mm. At 2.7 inches the LCD screen is also a shade smaller, but then so is the asking price: at just £60 this is one of the cheapest compacts around, and possibly the best Coolpix camera if you need a decent zoom but you're on a budget. Available in a choice of five colours, including pink. Nikon Coolpix L22
Despite its budget asking price, the L22 boasts a 3in LCD screen on its rear, as well as a 3.6x optical zoom which travels between 37-134mm. Sixteen scene modes, which may be automatically selected as part of the camera's Scene Auto Selector function, have also been thrown in, while other noteworthy features include three separate anti-blur technologies – Electronic Vibration Reduction, Motion Detection and Best Shot Selector – and Smile and Blink modes to help better portrait shots. Nikon Coolpix L21
Billed as a fun and affordable option for carefree shooting, the L21 combines a modest pixel count of 8MP with a 3.6x optical zoom lens and a 2.5in LCD screen with an anti-reflection coating. Three separate anti-blur technologies also feature, which include Motion Detection technology for moving subjects, while the Smart Portrait system includes a clever Smile Timer option to release the shutter as soon as the subject smiles. Available in dark brown, pink and champagne silver. 
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| Updated: Top 10 new camera rumours for 2011 Posted: 16 Jun 2011 05:14 AM PDT Let's take a closer look at some of the more interesting (and realistic) new camera rumours making the rounds. What does 2011 hold in the way of new camera releases? These are our predictions... Canon EOS 6D / Canon EOS 5D Mark III release date rumours Could a Canon EOS 5D Mark III release date be just around the corner? We think so. Launched in 2008, the Canon 5D Mark II is due a refresh. Essentially just the innards of an Canon 5D inside a slightly spruced-up body shell, plus a 21-million-pixel sensor and a very cool (for 2008) video shooting function, the 5D MKII always looked like something of a compromise. At this point in time, the 5D MK II lacks both the speed and enhanced functionality of the newer APS-C format EOS 7D, and the rugged construction and almost infinite customisation of Canon's professional EOS 1D series. Expect an updated body shell, greatly improved AF (probably borrowed from the Canon 7D) and a tweaked video shooting capability. We'd also stick our necks out and suggest that whatever replaces the Canon EOS 5D MK2 will have the Canon 60D's (read our Canon 60D review) articulated LCD screen - but possibly with the addition of touch-sensitivity. If this turns out to be true, it would be the first full-frame camera to feature this technology. 2011 Canon EOS 6D / Canon EOS 5D Mark III release date probability: 75% - in fact, we expect a Canon 5D Mark III release date by early 2011. Update June 2011: The EOS 5D MKII video capability has proved a major draw for professional photographers, especially photo journalists. It's therefore very likely that Canon will enhance the video feature for the EOS 5D MK III or EOS 6D. A key change is likely to be an extension in the range of frames rates that are available at full resolution. Full 1080p at 60fps seems a safe bet. Video Snapshot: We'd also like to see the inclusion and enhancement of Canon's Video Snapshot mode. In it's current incarnation in Canon's EOS 600D, Video Snapshot mode allows users to shoot snippets of video at predetermined lengths (2, 4 or 8sec), which are then stitched together automatically. Canon may allow clips of different lengths to be combined and extend the level of in-camera editing of the clips to enable their order rearranged etc. UPDATE - January 2011: PhotoRadar's head of testing, Angela Nicholson, compiles her list of features she'd like to see on a Canon 6D release. Canon EOS 1100D release date rumours You heard it here first: there is no stronger 'sure thing' than a 2011 Canon 1100D release date. The successor to the Canon 1100D, the Canon 1000D, is the Granddad of low-end DSLRs. First introduced in 2008, the Canon EOS 1000D has held its own for an impressively long time, but since the arrival of higher-resolution, video-enabled competitors like the Nikon D3100, it has started to look decidedly decrepit. As an entry-level model, the Canon 1000D is the cheapest camera in Canon's DSLR lineup, and despite a respectable feature set, its build quality leaves a lot to be desired. These days, 'entry level' doesn't have to mean 'cheap and nasty' and we expect the Canon 1100D to offer significantly improved, possibly EOS 7D-inspired handling, plus a higher resolution sensor (possibly the same 18MP used in the Canon 550D) and - naturally - this year's 'must have': HD video. 2011 Canon EOS 1100D release date probability: dead cert. We could possibly see a Canon 1100D release date as soon as early 2011. UPDATE - February 2011: It's official! A Canon 1100D release date has been announced, as well as a Canon 600D release date - the latter of which none of us was expecting. Canon EOS 1Ds Mark IV release date rumours 2011 Canon EOS 1Ds Mark IV release date probability: 90%. But we probably won't see a Canon 1Ds Mark 4 release date until spring 2011. UPDATE - January 2011: someone told us they couldn't find a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III anywhere. So we searched ourselves, and sure enough they were right. Most camera shops in the US and UK are out of stock in the Canon 1Ds Mark III. But perhaps the strongest signal that Canon 1Ds Mark IV release date is coming soon is that those retailers that do still have the 1Ds Mark III are selling it at heavy discounts. Watch this space. Nikon D800 release date rumours A replacement to the popular 12MP Nikon D700 is overdue, and we've already begun to hear rumours of a Nikon D800 release date. Although the full-frame Nikon D700 remains the camera of choice for Nikon's legion of prosumer photographers, since its launch in 2008 it has been progressively overshadowed by its competitors. Cameras like the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and Sony's Alpha A850 offer higher resolution sensors and (in the case of the Canon 5D II) significantly more advanced feature sets. Expect Nikon to respond to the threat of the as-yet-unreleased Canon 5D II successor, which means higher resolution, enhanced live view and - of course - the addition of a versatile movie mode. Our money is on the Nikon D800 having a 24MP sensor, adapted from the CMOS sensor of the professional Nikon D3X, and 1080p video. 2011 Nikon D800 release date probability: 75% - either just before or soon after Canon releases its 5D II successor. What's more, last month we reported on a new Amazon guide book listing that suggests a Nikon D800 release date for Feb or March 2011, and a major French bookseller speculates that the Nikon D800 price will fall between 2000 and 2500 euros. UPDATE - January 2011: Amazon has delayed publication of the two NikonD800 manuals referenced above - one until May 2011, and the other until Sepember. Also, our head of testing, Angela Nicholson, lists the features she'd like to see on a NikonD800 release. UPDATE – May 2011: New reports suggest that the Nikon D800 release date has been pushed back to autumn 2011 as a result of disruption to production in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami in March. Sources have told the Spanish website Quesabesde that Nikon's Sendai plant has fallen behind a previous summer deadline for the Nikon D700 replacement as it struggles to cope with the effects of the 11 March earthquake. Sony A77 release date rumours Sony Alpha users have been eagerly awaiting a replacement for the Sony A700 for at least a year. Announced in 2007, the A700 was - and still is - Sony's most convincing prosumer APS-C DSLR, and the closest thing to the fondly remembered Konica-Minolta semi-pro film SLRs of yesteryear. Three years on and the Sony faithful are feeling neglected. Three years, and two full-frame DSLRs (the Sony A900 and its near-clone, the Sony A850) plus a flurry of somewhat uninspiring entry-level and midrange Alpha-series models later, and the A700 is looking decidedly isolated. So will they or won't they? Our guess is that Sony will replace it, but whether the Sony A77 features a semi-translucent mirror (like the A33 and A55) remains to be seen. Our money is on the Sony Alpha 77 specs including 18MP, HD video and SLT-A55-inspired ergonomics. But don't hold your breath. 2011 Sony A77 release date probability: 90% - but Sony might still surprise us. UPDATE - January 2011: Sony reveals a prototype of an Alpha 700 replacement at CES 2011 and suggests a Sony Alpha 77 release date will come this year. Early reports also suggest the Sony A77 release will feature the translucent mirror technology introduced in its A33 and A55 cameras last year, as well as a 25MP sensor. UPDATE - February 2011: we have a (sort of) official Sony A77 release date. Sony has announced that its Alpha 700 replacement will be released in mid-2011 and will feature translucent mirror technology, Full HD video capability and a few other interesting specs, which have been revealed. UPDATE – May 2011: Photo Rumors has spotted the Sony A77 listed in Sony's latest consumer repair guide. While we've already known that a Sony A700 replacement is due for release this summer (see the post at the top of this page), what's significant about this is that until now there was still speculation as to whether the Sony A700 replacement would be called the Sony A800 or the Sony A77. This would appear to confirm we will see a Sony A77 release date before too long. Sony A950 release date rumours This is a tough one. When Sony introduced the 24-million-pixel, full-frame A900 in 2008, it took everyone by surprise. At the time, the Sony Alpha 900 offered the highest resolution on the market, but for significantly less cash than the next-nearest competitor - the Canon EOS 1DS Mark III. At a third of the price of the Canon, there were some compromises - a significantly less advanced AF system and no live view mode being the most obvious. All things considered, though, the A900 was a hell of a bargain for the resolution-hungry snapper. However, apart from its pixel count, the Sony A900's specification looked fairly dated from the day of its release, and if Sony wants to stay competitive in the full-frame DSLR market, it will have to replace - or at least update - its long-serving flagship. The question is whether or not Sony considers full-frame to be a market worth competing in. If it does, we expect the Sony Alpha 950 specs to feature a 30MP+ sensor, better AF, improved high ISO performance, decent live view and a similar video mode to the more recent SLT-A55. 2011 Sony A950 release date probability: 50%. Whether a Sony A950 release ever happens depends on whether Sony finally makes its mind up whether or not to target the pro studio/landscape photographer market. Keep everything crossed. Canon PowerShot G13 release date rumours We're not expecting a Canon G13 release date in the immediate future, but if history is any guide, the next update to Canon's PowerShot G-series shouldn't be far off. The Powershot G11 and recently released Canon G12 (read our Canon G12 review) broke the mould a little by offering a relatively low resolution of 10 megapixels, compared to the 14MP of the Powershot G10 - released in 2008. The decision to move backwards in resolution was taken (according to Canon) for the sake of image quality. Fewer, larger pixels give better pictures, especially in low light. With the Canon PowerShot G13 release, we'd be surprised if Canon stuck with a 10MP sensor. We suspect the Canon G13 specs will include a 12MP+ sensor and possibly an improved video mode at the very least. Something that we'd love to see changed in a Canon G13 is the Canon G12's most pointless optical viewfinder. It is small, blurry and inaccurate. We'd like a decent electronic viewfinder - preferably built-in, or as an optional accessory. Having the finder as an optional extra would also allow the camera itself to be smaller. Right now the G12 stretches the definition of 'compact' - hopefully the Canon PowerShot G13 will see Canon's G-series move closer in size to the excellent (and pocketable) PowerShot S95. 2011 Canon G13 release date probability: 5% chance within the next 6-9 months of a Canon G13 release, but this time next year? Almost 100%. Nikon Coolpix P8000 release date rumours The Nikon P7000 has been on the market for less than six months so we're not expecting it to be replaced in 2010, but already, we're anxious to see what will come next. Externally, the Nikon P7000 is a near-clone of the Canon G12 (it even shares the same sensor) but that's where the similarity ends. Image quality is excellent, but Nikon's flagship compact is let down by its poor operational speed and rather feeble continuous shooting performance. If Nikon wants to be taken seriously in the tough high-end compact market it's going to have to do better than this with the Nikon P8000. Expect the Nikon P8000 specs to boast a higher resolution sensor, an articulated screen and a beefed-up processor. We'd love an electronic viewfinder too, rather than the useless and bulky optical finder of the P7000, but we'd settle for a camera that doesn't... take... ages... to... do... anything.... 2011 Nikon P8000 release date probability: 100%, if Nikon doesn't want to get laughed out of the playground. Panasonic LX6 release date rumours If the longevity of the Panasonic LX5's well-respected predecessors is anything to go by, we're not expecting a Panasonic LX6 release date in the next few months. However, like the Canon G12 and the Nikon P7000, the Panasonic LX5's resolution of 10 megapixels is starting to look a little dated. The other major limitation of the Panasonic LX5 is its relatively restricted zoom range, which covers a useful - but not spectacular - 24-90mm (equivalent). Panasonic won't change anything unless its designers are sure that image quality won't be compromised, but if and when a Panasonic LX6 replaces the LX5, we'd expect modest improvements in both areas. Perhaps the Panasonic LX6 specs will feature a 12MP sensor and a 24-105mm (equivalent) zoom range, and almost certainly touch-screen controls, like the Micro Four Thirds Panasonic GF2, G2 and GH2. 2011 Panasonic LX6 release date probability: 5% this year - but we'd put our money on a Panasonic LX6 release by early 2012 at the latest. Pentax full frame camera - Pentax K1 rumours? Believe it or not, Pentax was all geared up to release a full-frame professional DSLR way back in 2001 (Google it, Granddad), but it never saw the light of day. Since then, the Pentax faithful have been hoping against hope that maybe, someday, the Japanese camera giant will give full-frame another go. If you'd asked us a year ago we'd have said it will never happen, but following the launch of the excellent Pentax K5, we're cautiously optimistic that they just might. Could it be just a coincidence that Tokina, which is known to make Pentax lenses, is launching its first full-frame format lenses in a few years? The Pentax K-5 is a solid, well-specified camera with an impressive feature set, and Pentax's backwards lens compatibility is second to none. We'd love to see Pentax create a full-frame DSLR, possibly in collaboration with Samsung (although that relationship seems to have cooled) if only so the Pentax K-1 could give Canon and Nikon some genuine competition. For the moment, a Pentax K1 release date is strictly in 'wouldn't it be great if' territory but we'd love Pentax to go down the Nikon D700 route and offer relatively low resolution, perhaps 14MP, but in a genuinely compact bodyshell - something that Pentax has always been very good at. 2011 Pentax K1 release date probability: 12%. Honestly, we doubt it will happen. But next time you see a shooting star... New RumoursNew camera rumours have come into PhotoRadar concerning the Nikon D5100 DSLR. Photos have emerged showing stacked boxes stamped with the Nikon logo and the phrase 'D5100' suggesting a Nikon D5100 release date could be announced soon. UPDATE – 21 March 2011: more evidence is pouring in suggesting a Nikon D5100 release date will be announced soon. At the link in the paragraph above we've updated with an apparent slip-up by DxOMark in its review of the Canon EOS 600D (read our Canon 600D review) stating that a Nikon D5100 release date will soon be revealed by Nikon. UPDATE – APRIL 2011: The Nikon D5100 was indeed released, and we were among the fist to test this latest Nikon DSLR. Read our Nikon D5100 review. 
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| Canon EOS 6D / 5D Mark III rumours: what you need to know Posted: 16 Jun 2011 05:06 AM PDT In our continuing look at some the new digital cameras hotly tipped for release in 2011, we cast our attention to the Canon EOS 6D - or will it be the Canon EOS 5D Mark III that is the Canon 5D Mark IIreplacement. It's hard to believe the Canon EOS5D Mark II is more than two years old, but already it's in need of a refresh. Canon EOS 6D / 5D Mark III specs and price Canon's APS-C format EOS 7D puts some aspects of the full-frame EOS 5D Mark II's specification in the shade, so it is likely that when we finally see a Canon announcement for an EOS 5D Mk II replacement, the successor will have a feature set that at least matches, if not tops, the semi-pro level EOS 7D. Update June 2011: The EOS 5D MKII video capability has proved a major draw for professional photographers, especially photo journalists. It's therefore very likely that Canon will enhance the video feature for the EOS 5D MK III or EOS 6D. A key change is likely to be an extension in the range of frames rates that are available at full resolution. Full 1080p at 60fps seems a safe bet. Video SnapshotWe'd also like to see the inclusion and enhancement of Canon's Video Snapshot mode. In it's current incarnation in Canon's EOS 600D, Video Snapshot mode allows users to shoot snippets of video at predetermined lengths (2, 4 or 8sec), which are then stitched together automatically. Canon may allow clips of different lengths to be combined and extend the level of in-camera editing of the clips to enable their order rearranged etc. UPDATE - February 2011: Northlight Images says it has been told that the new Canon EOS 5D Mk III camera will feature a new raw vdo format. It also believes we will see a Q2/Q3 Canon 5D Mark III release date. Canon EOS 6D / 5D Mark III release date We're now in the season when manufacturers start readying their big announcements and putting fact behind release date rumours - such as a Canon 5D Mark III/ EOS 6D release date. As more details emerge, we will be first with any news on a Canon 6D or Canon 5D Mark III release date. Bookmark this page! Canon EOS 6D / 5D Mark III rumours Could a Canon EOS 5D Mark III release date be just around the corner? We think so. Launched in 2008, the Canon 5D Mark II is due for a refresh. Essentially just the innards of a Canon 5D inside a slightly spruced-up body shell, plus a 21-million-pixel sensor and a very cool (for 2008) video shooting function, the 5D MKII always looked like something of a compromise. At this point in time, the 5D MK II lacks both the speed and enhanced functionality of the newer APS-C format EOS 7D (read our Canon 7D review), and the rugged construction and almost infinite customisation of Canon's professional EOS 1D series. Expect an updated body shell, greatly improved AF (probably borrowed from the Canon 7D) and a tweaked video shooting capability. We'd also stick our necks out and suggest that whatever replaces the Canon EOS 5D MK2 will have the Canon 60D's (read our Canon 60D review) articulated LCD screen - but possibly with the addition of touch-sensitivity. If this turns out to be true, it would be the first full-frame camera to feature this technology. 2011 Canon EOS 6D / Canon EOS 5D Mark III release date probability: 75% - in fact, we expect a Canon EOS 5D Mark III release by early 2011. Canon EOS 6D / 5D Mark III review Once the Canon 5D Mark III / Canon 6D release date is announced, We will be first to bring you an in-depth Canon 5D Mark III / Canon 6D review that tests in full all of the 5D Mark III /6D specs and features. So bookmark this page and watch this space, because we have a feeling that a Canon 6D / EOS 5D Mark III review will be appearing here very soon! Canon EOS 6D / 5D 10 features we'd like to see 1. 24MP sensor Canon doesn't have a camera with a 24 million pixel sensor yet, perhaps the EOS 6D see the company step over the current 21 million pixel threshold.
2. Updated processing engine DIGIC 4 has been around for a while now, Canon may introduce a updated processing engine that allows faster continuous shooting rates. It is likely to be able to match the 8fps shooting rate of the EOS 7D, but with full-frame images. 3. Higher ISOs Canon pushed the maximum expansion setting of the EOS-1D Mark IV to ISO 102,400. This is a little too high for the APS-H format camera, but it could prove more useful on a full-frame camera that should be able to generate cleaner images. 4. More AF points The EOS 5D MK II has 9 individually selectable AF point and 6 assist AF points. Canon may increase this to the 19 AF point of the 7D for the 6D, but could it go even further towards the 45 AF points (with 39 cross-type) of the 1D MK IV? 5. Changes to continuous AF The cameras above and below the EOS 5D Mark II both allow the user to control the speed with which the AF responds to a change in subject distance when using continuous AF, but the 5D MK II doesn't; this is certain to change with a Canon 6D release. 6. Articulated LCD screen The cameras above and below the EOS 5D Mark II both allow the user to control the speed with which the AF responds to a change in subject distance when using continuous AF, but the 5D MK II doesn't; this is certain to change with a Canon 6D release.
7. Built-in level A built-in level is de rigueur these days to ensure level horizons; perhaps Canon will put one in the EOS 6D so that the angle an image is taken at is recorded in the EXIF data. This allows users to make automatic post-capture corrections. 8. In-camera image rating In-camera image rating was introduced with the EOS 60D, it seems a dead cert for the EOS 6D as it makes chimping (reviewing images) really useful and helps users find their best images quickly after download. 9. Wireless flash control Canon resisted enabling wireless flash control in its DSLRs but finally gave in to peer pressure with the EOS 7D. The EOS 5D MK II doesn't have a pop-up flash, but Canon could build a transmitter similar to its ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter in the EOS 6D. 10. Live View and HD video Live view and video technology are now essential to a modern DSLR, the EOS 6D is sure to have dedicated controls to activate these features. 
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| Vodafone, O2, Orange and T-Mobile team up for NFC Posted: 16 Jun 2011 05:01 AM PDT The UK's biggest networks have announced a new joint venture to bring Near Field Communication technology in phones to the masses. The new initiative, comprising of Vodafone, O2 and Everything Everywhere, is designed to make an open platform for other businesses to implement NFC payment systems. In essence, it means NFC-enabled mobile phones will become widespread, and everything from tickets to food to transport can be linked into a user's phone. Credit, debit and loyalty cards will all be accessible with one beep, or customers can use the same linked account to pay for things online. The new joint venture will also likely see an explosion in location-based offers, with users sharing their position sent coupons and offers of nearby relevant shops if they opt-in to such schemes. The next step Tom Alexander, CEO of Everything Everywhere, said:""The benefits [of this joint venture] will be felt across the whole industry, allowing people to manage their money and make payments using their handsets, helping advertisers reach their customers on the move, and helping banks provide their clients with an easy and convenient way of making payments. Ronan Dunne, Chief Executive Officer of O2 parent company Telefónica UK, said: "The mobile marketing and payments market is extremely fragmented. "This is not just something that is unique in the UK, but a joint venture that will create a model that many countries around the world could follow." Guy Laurence, Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone UK, said: "Currently people take their mobile, wallet and keys when they leave home. "In the near future, people will now start leaving their wallet at home, and in the mid term their keys may also be integrated into their mobile as NFC allows the mobile to act as a digital access card. The joint venture is the next phase in realising that ambition." The joint venture is currently undergoing competition clearance and the networks are aiming for a launch before 2012 rolls around. 
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| Sony S1 and S2 UK release date leaked Posted: 16 Jun 2011 04:53 AM PDT Sony is planning to launch its S1 and S2 tablets in the UK this September, according to reports, with John Lewis lined up as one retailer to stock the device. Sony has remained tight lipped on release dates for its pair of tablets, but it makes sense that they would be out before the Christmas rush and that's exactly what Engadget is reporting. The site has said it has seen the release date for one unnamed Sony tablet and it will be arriving in the UK in September. It's unclear which one is being released, or if it is both, but it looks like John Lewis is on board as a retailer for the tablets. Tablet plans The Sony S1 and S2 are Android 3.0 tablets that have rather unique designs. The S2 is a clamshell, while the S1 has a lip on its back which is said to help grip. The S1 has a 9.4-inch screen and will be have Sony Bravia support. TechRadar will be at IFA 2011 early September where we are hoping to hear more about Sony's tablet plans and get a hands on with the S1 and S2 as well. 
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| Exclusive: Windows 8 UI was being planned before Apple's iPad launched Posted: 16 Jun 2011 04:10 AM PDT Microsoft started work on what is going to be released as Windows 8 for ARM before Apple's iPad had even been launched, according to corporate VP Dan'l Lewin. Speaking to TechRadar, Lewin suggested that the tile layout which will be a major new feature in Windows 8 on tablet devices, has not been informed by Apple's successful iPad. "Think about when the planning started for what you saw just the other day; all the planning, the intent, the interface design work was done before the iPad hit the market," said Lewin. "We know where we're going - we just have to get there faster." Tile the end of time Lewin's admission that Microsoft needs to speed up the progression of projects from R&D to product launch is certainly not wide of the mark. The Windows 8 UI, which was shown off at All Things Digital and Computex shows, borrows heavily from Microsoft's other Operating System – Windows Phone 7. That too has been built with touchscreens in mind, and although the world is still waiting for a more complete rundown of what we can expect to see in Windows 8, if Lewin is correct it certainly doesn't lack for planning time. 
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| In Depth: Microsoft: We know where we're going with Windows 8 tablets Posted: 16 Jun 2011 04:00 AM PDT Windows 8 running on ARM-based tablets only looks like Windows Phone 7 on a bigger screen; in fact, Microsoft is going in completely the opposite direction from the rest of the industry. The gigahertz processor and gigabyte of RAM that are in high-end smartphones these days (and the hardware accelerated graphics chips like Tegra appearing to go with them) have let Apple and Google move their smartphone operating systems onto the larger screens of tablets and given them the power to compete with more than just the most basic PC tasks. But they also let Microsoft move some proportion of the power of Windows down onto tablets that can be thinner and lighter and have far longer battery life than Intel-based notebook PCs. If the tablet proves to be closer to the sweet spot for 'carry it around with you' computing than netbooks, touch is the interface to master and Google and Apple have a head start there. Windows Phone 7 does touch very well, but Microsoft has to make that transition to what's been a far more complex and less finger-friendly interface. And it has to bring enough apps along for the ride. We know that Windows 8 on ARM will not run standard Windows apps that you can install today, even though it does run what looks like the full Windows interface as well as the Metro-look tiled Start screen. But it can certainly run more than the new HTML5/JavaScript/CSS3 apps that Microsoft has been emphasizing to start with, flexible as those are. For example, the interface of an app can change dynamically as you drag it to a different size. The Financial Times recently told PaidContent that there wasn't anything it wanted on iPad that it couldn't do in HTML5 and Microsoft is promising that HTML apps can include Silverlight and get access to a range of 'native' capabilities like accessing the file system and hardware, including cameras. Windows apps on ARM But Windows on ARM will also run Office, for a start. It will be a version of Office compiled for Windows on ARM rather than Windows on Intel, so it's not exactly the same code, but it shows what's possible. Think of it as proof that developers will be able to create full-power Windows applications for Windows 8 on ARM. That means programs that are far more sophisticated than the vast majority of apps on iPad or Honeycomb.
REAL WINDOWS: HTML and Windows apps, side by side on ARM - that's more than iPad or Honeycomb can do The downside of that could be trying to control a standard Windows program interface via a touch screen when it was designed for a mouse. Microsoft can redesign the Windows tools to work better with fingers - like the checkbox selection of files in Explorer we've seen in demos - but what about third-party apps? This is where 'fuzzy hit targeting' comes in; Windows 8 will adjust the touchable area for different menu items, icons and buttons dynamically based on what it predicts you're most likely to do next. This technique works extremely well in the Windows Phone 7 touch keyboard and if Microsoft can make it work it for a wide range of program interfaces, not only will Windows 8 ARM tablets be able to run (recompiled versions of) full Windows programs but you'll actually be able to use them on a touch screen. Full multitasking From what we've seen, Windows on ARM will have full multitasking: apps switch immediately in the demos, including live video, and even in the new full-screen interface you can have two applications side by side on screen. iPad and Honeycomb have multitasking, although apps can get closed in the background if memory is required, but you can't see more than one app at once (apart from widgets on the Android home screens). That could change by the time Windows 8 ships (we're still expecting it to be finished next summer and on sale next autumn) but neither iPad nor Android is likely to catch up to the range of features in Windows - like being able to install printer drivers. Getting the technology of Windows 8 on ARM right is only part of the battle. What does Microsoft need to get an advantage on tablets? A shipping date wouldn't hurt. Like other Microsoft teams, the Windows division is famous (or notorious) for not wanting to ship a new OS until it's ready and the tablet version of Windows 8 is only part of the story. Complex undertaking The unified Metro-style interface for phone, Windows and Xbox, the potential of Kinect and voice recognition for a more natural way of controlling desktop PCs and Media Center-driven TVs and other form factors with screens hanging on the wall, doubling as tables and otherwise fading into the background of your life… They all mean Windows 8 is a complex undertaking that covers a lot more than tablets. (Microsoft's Julie Larson-Green has already talked about "classroom-sized displays" for Windows 8 and we're hoping to see support for the MSR 'wedge' screens that use a refracting optical lens and Kinect to show different images to different people watching the same screen.)
BIG TOUCH: Windows 8 will go well beyond tablets and onto wall-size displays - MSR is working on techniques for large screens like this one in the Envisioning Labs world of 2019 video But the fact that Microsoft can't seem to catch a break (it still struggles to be seen as cool and relevant despite the successes of Kinect and Windows 7) means it can't wait too long to tell us what's coming and when. After all, according to Dan'l Lewin, the corporate VP for strategic and emerging business development, the planning for Windows 8 ARM tablets predates the iPad. "Think about when the planning started for what you saw just the other day; all the planning, the intent, the interface design work was done before the iPad hit the market. We know where we're going - we just have to get there faster." We have to agree, but we also think Microsoft has to reinvigorate its marketing - and give the PC makers a push. With very few exceptions, PC ads are far from exciting and Microsoft can't keep on trying to do the marketing for the whole PC ecosystem when it has so little control over the experience of the PC you end up buying. With Windows 8 tablets Microsoft might take more control over what you get on a new machine the way it has with Windows Phone 7. And if Windows 8 goes as far beyond the tablet features that we've already seen - as we expect it to - Microsoft is going to need a good way to get that message out without confusion. 
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| Review: Philips PicoPix Mini Projector Posted: 16 Jun 2011 03:30 AM PDT Projectors are ideal tools for sharing presentations, displaying pictures and watching movies, and are a great choice for broadcasting on a large screen. However, while they're certainly more portable than most TVs, projectors can still be quite large and unwieldy. This can make it difficult to find a place to position them, and placement is an essential consideration when using a projector. It also means they're not very portable. The Philips PicoPix PPX 1430 is a high quality mini projector that's incredibly well built and doesn't suffer from the corner-cutting and compromises that tend to plague hand-held devices of this sort. The projector comes with composite leads for connecting to DVD players. If you want to connect the projector to your PC then you'll need to buy a separate VGA connector cable, which is a bit of a pain, as that's what you're most likely to be using it for. You can attach a USB flash drive to the projector and play compatible files from it directly, or use an SD card from a camera and camcorder. This goes some way towards making up for the lack of VGA cables. You use the buttons on the top of the projector to find compatible movie and photo files – access the menu and you'll find them in the 'Videos' and 'Photos' folders. File compatibility can be a bit hit and miss, with WMV files not recognised, but MOV files playing fine. You may need to convert your videos if you want to play them from a USB stick or memory card. Photos are displayed automatically in a slideshow with randomly generated transitions. On the whole, the image quality of this projector is very good, especially considering its small size. It can broadcast images up to 80-inches in size, though around 40 to 50-inches is best for the Philips PicoPix PPX 1430. Basically, it's a decent pocket-sized projector. 
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