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Techradar |
- Facebook adds pregnancy status update
- Old Twitter to disappear this week
- Apple announces iCloud pricing
- Apple iOS overtakes Symbian
- Updated: Sony S1: what you need to know
- Updated: Sony S2: what you need to know
- Cooler Master unveils quieter CPU cooler
- In Depth: How Microsoft makes money from Android
- Cable: Website blocking plans are 'unworkable'
- BlackBerry Torch 2 launching tomorrow?
- Updated: Official Skype for iPad app released
- New Sony NEX-7 and NEX-5N pictures leaked
- Review: Sony VAIO C-Series
- New Sony S1 and S2 tablets specs leaked
- New Stealth Gear square filter system revealed
- New additions to Vitruvian tripod range announced
- Review: New Apple Mac mini 2011
- PS Vita may double as PS3 controller
- More compact system cameras in Japanese top 20 than DSLRs
- Firefox redesign concepts reveal a Chrome-esque direction
- Official Skype for iPad app released, then pulled
- Updated: Android 2.3 release date: when will you get it?
- Another Nokia N9 UK release date revealed?
- Tutorial: How to update your HTC Desire to Android 2.3
- Tsunoda: Kinect encourages 'method acting' game design
| Facebook adds pregnancy status update Posted: 02 Aug 2011 09:02 PM PDT Facebook has added the option for expecting parents to inform their social circle of the good news via a new status update. The "Expected: Child" update can be added to the profile via the Friends & Family tab within Facebook's edit profile section. Would-be parents can also add the baby's due date and what they plan to name the new delivery. The unborn baby appears then on the user's profile next to other specified friends and family members on Facebook. CautionWhile this is potentially a nice way for expecting couples to share the news with the people they don't know or like enough to inform in person, it does have its pitfalls. Most of us would surely consider adding such an update to be tempting fate? Many people experience the hurt of sharing the dreaded "is now single" news on Facebook, but the heartbreak of having to remove such a post in the event of a miscarriage doesn't bare thinking about. Add that to the fact that the new baby would now be on Facebook before he or she is even born certainly brings a few ethical issues into play also. via PCMag 
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| Old Twitter to disappear this week Posted: 02 Aug 2011 08:40 PM PDT Twitter will finally kill-off the old version of the social networking website this week, the company has revealed. The decision, revealed in a tweet on Tuesday, comes almost a year after Twitter launched a new and largely improved website in September 2010. Up until now members who preferred to use the older, and much simpler format, have been able to switch back to that. Now that option will be taken away as the company looks to focus only on its most recent iteration. Upgraded"If you're currently using Old Twitter, we want to let you know that you'll be upgraded to New Twitter this week," the company revealed on its official Twitter page. The old version of Twitter has been considered outdated for quite some time, as it does not feature the integrated multimedia options, a la the newer version of the site. Despite that, Old Twitter has remained popular with some users, hence the company's decision to keep it around long past its sell-by date. 
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| Apple announces iCloud pricing Posted: 02 Aug 2011 06:59 PM PDT Apple has announced the pricing tiers for its iCloud service, which was launched in beta for developers on Monday. The company has already confirmed that it will be offering all iOS and Mac OS X users 5GB of cloud-based storage for free, but if you want a little extra, Apple is offering multiple solutions. 10GB of additional space will cost £14 a year, 20GB extra will be £28 a year, while 50GB of space on top of the free offering will be £70 every 12 months. However, don't fret, this doesn't include any media files, such as photos from the Photo Stream functionality or music. PlentyApple anticipates that the 5GB will be enough to comfortable hold all of your iWork documents and plenty of space to sync contacts across your devices. "5GB of free storage is plenty for most people. But if you need extra space, you can always buy additional storage," says a post at the back-end of the iCloud website. iCloud went live for registered Apple developers on Monday, with those lucky few able to test the functionality using iOS 5 and Mac OS X Lion. Feedback so far from the developer community has been mixed with some parties disappointed that full document editing in iWork using iCloud doesn't offer Google Docs-like solution many had hoped for. via: Venture Beat, Zdnet 
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| Posted: 02 Aug 2011 02:48 PM PDT Apple's iOS software has overtaken Nokia's ailing Symbian platform to become the second most popular smartphone OS in the world, according to new figures. The iPhone's operating system now boasts 19 per cent of the smartphone market, according to research firm Canalysis. iOS is now second only to Android, which Canalyst says has a massive 48 per cent chunk of the pie. That means for every two iPhone's bought, five Android phones are sold. HumblingNokia's latest humbling at the hands of Cupertino comes only weeks after Apple overtook the Finns in handset sales. Weeks before that, Apple's revenue from smartphone sales bested Nokia too. Despite a dramatic fall from grace over the last couple of years and its imminent Windows Phone launches, Nokia says it has no plans to put Symbian out to pasture. Just this week the company outed the new Nokia 500, a 1GHz smartphone packing the latest Symbian Anna OS. via Apple Insider 
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| Updated: Sony S1: what you need to know Posted: 02 Aug 2011 10:18 AM PDT It's taken Sony a while to join the tablet party, but anything from a firm famous for its pin-sharp displays and desirable PCs is going to be worth waiting for. From what we know so far, the new PlayStation-certified tablet and its sibling, the S2, are very desirable indeed - so what do we actually know, when can we get our hands on one and where do we go to pre-order? Let's find out. The Sony S1 is a traditional tablet While the Sony S2 is doing something very different, the Sony S1 tablet is in iPad territory: as you'll see from our photo-tastic Sony S1 update, the device is a typically rectangular ten-incher with a curved, tapered body.
The Sony S1 features include DLNA There's no HDMI port, but the Sony S1 feature list includes DLNA compatibility for streaming media to and from DLNA-compatible devices (Windows is DLNA-compatible too) and infra-red control of Bravia televisions. Buttons are minimal: power, volume and a recessed reset button - and ports are limited to USB. The Sony S1 specs are gamer-friendly The S1 is a PlayStation tablet, which means you'll be able to play first-generation PlayStation titles on it. The Sony S1 is an Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet A dual-core Tegra processor is likely - some sites are hoping for a quad-core version, but there's no concrete evidence of that - and the Sony S1 operating system will be Android 3.0 Honeycomb. The obligatory front- and rear-facing cameras are there too. Does anybody actually use their tablets for videoconferencing? Do let us know.
Sony S1 specs and memory The Sony S1 will come in two flavours: Wi-Fi only, and Wi-Fi plus 3G. Each will have 16GB and 32GB editions. The Sony S1 release date is in September The Sony S1 release date has been leaked, and it's in September - just in time for the all-important Christmas shopping season. Engadget says John Lewis is on board to sell the S1 and S2 from day one, and of course they'll be in your friendly neighbourhood Sony Centre too. However, it's unclear whether you'll actually be able to get your hands on a Sony S1 in September: pre-orders start on the 1st of September, which suggests that deliveries may take a little longer. Still, we've been waiting all year, so what's another week or two? The Sony S1 UK price will be hefty The S1 price hasn't been announced yet, but we're talking about Sony here: premium products mean premium prices, so don't expect the S1 to be duking it out with ASDA's £99 Android cheapie.
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| Updated: Sony S2: what you need to know Posted: 02 Aug 2011 10:15 AM PDT If two heads are better than one, does the same apply to screens? Sony clearly thinks so, because its forthcoming S2 tablet boasts not one but two touchscreens. So is the S2 a gimmick, or a gamer's perfect portable? Let's see. The Sony S2 specs are interesting While most of the Sony S2 specifications are fairly typical - dual-core Tegra, Android Honeycomb (Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich has been rumoured, but that seems unlikely), twin cameras - it has one very big and very obvious extra: a second screen. Instead of the ten-ish inch screens we've become familiar with, the Sony S2 has a pair of 5.5-inch touchscreens. That makes it more portable than most - you can fold the S2 and chuck it in a pocket - and it also makes it more interesting than a typical tablet. The S2 is said to be available only in a 3G + Wi-Fi version and will come in 16GB and 32GB variants. The Sony S2 features could depend on what you're doing As we reported in our Sony S2 update earlier this year, the Sony S2 features could vary from application to application: because the twin screens can operate independently the Sony S2 could split media between its screens, or it could use one screen for controlling the other, or games could use one screen for action and one screen for maps, inventory and so on. It'll be interesting to see how that works with movies: will you have to squint at a single screen, or put up with hinges halfway across the picture? Sony isn't letting anyone near the damn thing When Sony showed off the Sony S2 tablet to the press earlier this month, nobody was allowed to see it in action. "We were only allowed to eyeball the lifeless slate from outside the confines of a perspex box," we duly reported back. Our impressions? "It didn't seem much bigger than a Nintendo 3DS".
The Sony S2 release date is in September Like its sibling, the Sony S1, the Sony S2 will be available in John Lewis, Sony Centres and no doubt the usual online suspects from September. However, while the Sony S2 release date is in September, we don't know exactly when: you'll be able to pre-order the S2 from 1 September, but Sony hasn't said when you'll actually get to take your shiny new tablet home with you. We can't imagine you'll have to wait long, though, as Sony won't want to lose any sales in the incredibly lucrative pre-Christmas shopping season. The Sony S2 UK price probably won't be cheap The S1 price hasn't been announced yet, but Sony is a premium brand and the Sony S2 specs are pretty hefty, so we're not holding our breath for Tesco Value prices. Early rumours suggested a price in excess of £500, but Sony won't be drawn on that just yet. It's probably a good idea to start saving, just in case. 
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| Cooler Master unveils quieter CPU cooler Posted: 02 Aug 2011 09:54 AM PDT Taiwan component manufacturer Cooler Master has announced the Hyper 612S CPU cooling solution, which is compatible with Intel and AMD processors. The cooler features a modular design, which means an additional 120mm fan can be added to the heatsink, which results in an extra-chilly processor. Cooler Master reckons that the cooler is nice and quiet, too, thanks to six copper heat pipes. This layout crosses the CPU's "hot spots", effectively results 12 "virtual" heat pipes. It also includes a "silent mode adapter", which makes the 612S even quieter without sacrificing too much cooling. Quick removalIn addition, the 612S includes a bracket which clips over your processor and means the fan and heatsink can be removed "within seconds". This makes the annual removal of matted clods of dust from your cooler far easier. The aluminium fins have also been optimised, resulting in a massive surface area. The fan's life is estimated at 40,000 hours, and the whole thing weighs a whopping 806 grams. It's interesting that Cooler Master hasn't taken the completely fanless approach of NoFan, of which we're big fans. However, the Hyper 612S could be a good option for overclockers, or people simply wanting to build a PC that doesn't sound like a 747 taking off. The Hyper 612S has a UK release date of September, and will be priced at £39.95. 
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| In Depth: How Microsoft makes money from Android Posted: 02 Aug 2011 09:20 AM PDT The recent revelation that Microsoft makes a packet from Android might come as a surprise. But Android isn't the only competitor Microsoft makes money from – and more often than not, the competition is happy with the deal. Neither Apple nor Microsoft likes Android, and they both feel it infringes a number of their patents, but they're taking very different approaches to Android handset manufacturers. Apple is dragging HTC, Motorola and Samsung to court. At the same time, Microsoft has signed a licence deal with HTC and several other handset makers, is pursuing one with Samsung and spent over a year negotiating with Barnes and Noble, Foxcon and Inventec before turning to lawsuits and complaints to the ITC. For a company popularly seen as litigious, the legal action over the Nook ereader is only the seventh patent infringement suit Microsoft has ever brought – and some of those have ended in cross-licencing patent deals, like the deal with TomTom. Linux and more Indeed, Microsoft has licenced patents to over 700 partners, including Sony, Panasonic, Samsung (for a digital photo frame using technology from Windows Live Photo Gallery), Inrix, Volkswagen – and Linux (in the shape of Novell), as well as startups you probably haven't heard of (Zumobi, Zignals, Eon Realities and Wallop). Microsoft has even licensed technology to Apple and Google; the Exchange Active Sync protocol for getting email, contacts, appointments and tasks onto mobile phones (the iPhone and Google Sync use EAS). Microsoft just renewed its 2006 five year agreement on patent cooperation with Attachmate, the new owner of SUSE Linux – just after releasing a "let's be friends" birthday video for Linux.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY?: Microsoft couldn't agree a licence deal with RedHat despite months of negotiations but this Linux birthday video seems to commemorate the renewal of the SUSE deal The original Linux agreement was a big change for a company that used to think about patents as a way to crush the competition or force partners not to sue each other (or Microsoft), but it all goes back to Microsoft's decision to start cross-licencing patents back in 2003, a year after general counsel Brad Smith was appointed with the slogan "it's time to make peace" (which included the 2002 antitrust settlement). Licensing Microsoft patents to OEMs like Toshiba, Samsung, NEC and Siemens in exchange for getting licences for their patents replaced the "non-assertion of patents" clause that Microsoft had added to OEM contracts after losing the Stac disk compression lawsuit. Why Lost? Because Stac had bought a patent (from Ferranti). That's according to Burning the Ships, an inside history of the change in Microsoft's approach to licencing IP. It's written by Marshall Phelps, Microsoft's corporate vice president for IP strategy at the time that's an excellent guide to internal Microsoft thinking and decision making.
EVEN APPLE: Like Google and Nokia and RIM, Apple licenced the patent-protected Exchange Active Sync protocol As corporate vice president Horacio Gutierrez (who took over from Phelps) put it, patents are "a currency that you use to trade to another company". But it's not about the licence fees, apparently (even though Microsoft spends over $9 billion a year in R&D). Gutierrez claims, "We have adopted a policy of licensing almost everything we invent to anyone on fair, reasonable and reciprocal terms." How reasonable? Phelps talks about "modest revenues": "To put these in perspective, we have paid out orders of magnitude more money to license other people's IP and technology – hundreds of millions of dollar each year – than we will ever bring in by licensing out our own." So why do it? Odd as it might seem, to make friends. Bart Eppenauer, Microsoft chief patent counsel, repeats: "Microsoft isn't in the licensing business for the money. Even in an optimistic scenario, licensing revenues would amount to only a small amount of Microsoft's annual revenue. Far more important to us are the opportunities for collaboration with other leaders and innovators in the technology industry. Intellectual Property's (IP's) true function in society and the world of business today is no longer to serve solely as a club against competitors. This role has been supplanted in many respects by IP's ability to serve as a bridge to collaboration." Helping to influence That's why Phelps pushed the idea of licensing IP in the first place; "because it was manifestly and inescapably necessary for us to do so if our company and our industry were to move forward in any sensible way." But as the other half of the saying goes, licensing also helps influence people. In 2005 Microsoft licensed EAS to Nokia; not only does that sell more copies of Exchange to Nokia-using businesses, but also,Phelps said, "helped move Nokia from RealNetwork's media technology to that offered by Microsoft." There's no shortage of controversy about the value of specific Microsoft patents, like the FAT file system it claims Linux infringes, but there's also no arguing with the fact that Microsoft has developed a lot of technology. For the last three years, the IEEE has rated Microsoft's patent portfolio as the strongest in the software industry; the analysts at the Patent Board rank Microsoft as number two in IT generally - and right after IBM, which has over 5,000 patents granted most years, but mostly for services rather than software or hardware). Analyst firm Ocean Tomo ranks patents by how often they're cited as prior art and what money they bring it, calculating that Microsoft has the most valuable patent portfolio in the business. The recent Nortel patent auction might have been amusing to watch (with Google bidding Pi billion and Microsoft only paying a share of $900 million split with EMC and Sony), but it's started a spate of patent sell-offs, with InterDigital putting patents up for sale and investors suggesting Motorola should raise money by selling 4G patents. By licensing so many of the 3,000 patents it registers every year, Microsoft has found an alternative. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
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| Cable: Website blocking plans are 'unworkable' Posted: 02 Aug 2011 09:14 AM PDT Vince Cable, the UK business secretary, is set to brand government-backed website blocking plans as 'unworkable' in a speech on Wednesday. Speaking at the British Library, he is also expected to announce his support for the legalisation of 'format shifting' (copying CDs and DVDs to a computer or media player), as recommended by the Hargreaves Report. Another recommendation from the report was an online copyright exchange system to make it easier to access content licenses; Cable is expected to announce a "scoping review" into the plans, but without any firm support. Not the answer Cable's likely rejection of the website blocking plans will come in spite of a court ruling earlier this week, that saw BT ordered to block Newzbin2, a site known for sharing pirated music and movies. The plans to introduce website blocking have been the matter of some controversy, from culture minister Ed Vaizey's seemingly closed-door meetings on the matter, to ex-business secretary Peter Mandelson's disregard for public consultation regarding the plans. Both consumer groups and ISPs have expressed concerns over the Digital Economy Act's plans for web censorship; TalkTalk and BT challenged the act in High Court, only to be ruled against. 
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| BlackBerry Torch 2 launching tomorrow? Posted: 02 Aug 2011 09:14 AM PDT RIM looks likely to announce new handsets running the latest version of the BlackBerry OS tomorrow, including the upgraded version of the BlackBerry Torch. RIM has invited press to a 'Media Event' on 3 August, which raised speculation over whether it would be anything from a longer demo of the new BlackBerry Messenger to new phones being released. Well, it looks like it will be that and more if recent rumours and our sources are to be believed - the BlackBerry Torch 2 looks nailed on for a launch, and could come as the BlackBerry Torch 9850 or the BlackBerry Torch 9810, depending on which internet rumour you believe. What's occurin'?Details on this one are sketchy, but another phone that could make an appearance is a touchscreen version of the popular Curve 8520 - although whether this is just internet rumour completing the circle is unclear. And finally we're hearing word that a third phone could be turning up: the BlackBerry Monza - AKA the BlackBerry Torch 9860 - which could be the full touchscreen model we've tipped to launch so often. But what is certain is anything that does launch will be running BB OS 7 - co-CEO Jim Balsillie pledged seven new devices in the coming months and needs launches to prove to be true. 
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| Updated: Official Skype for iPad app released Posted: 02 Aug 2011 08:08 AM PDT Hours ago, the official Skype for iPad app was released into the Apple App Store, before being swiftly taken down again. Update: The app has now resurfaced in the App Store and is available to download. -- The new Skype app will enable users to video chat over Wi-Fi and 3G on their iPads. Skype pulled the app, saying, "To ensure your best Skype experience, we've temporarily removed Skype for iPad, which went live prematurely today. "We know you've been eagerly awaiting Skype for iPad and apologise for the inconvenience." Premature app-jaculationSkype is hoping that offering video chat across 3G networks will give its iPad version an edge over Apple's proprietary FaceTime app. Skype is staying tight-lipped over when the iPad app will make it back to the App Store, but we wouldn't be surprised to see it on there very soon indeed. 
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| New Sony NEX-7 and NEX-5N pictures leaked Posted: 02 Aug 2011 07:38 AM PDT New pictures showing the upcoming Sony NEX-7 and Sony NEX-5N have been leaked online. The images, which appear on Mirrorless rumours, show the latest cameras and lenses to be introduced to Sony's compact system camera range. According to the website, photographers can not only expect two new cameras but also three new lenses, an adapter containing a translucent mirror, an external OLED viewfinder and a new NEX camcorder. The Sony NEX-7 is expected to include extra features for enthusiasts that were missing from the NEX-5 along with a revised sensor. The camera is expected to rival the premium Fujifilm X100. The photo appears to show a bulkier design than the NEX-5 which a larger finger grip and extra dials on top of the camera. The Sony NEX-5N is expected to be a simpler refresh of the NEX-5, with a new sensor. The picture seems to show the camera has the same sleek build as the NEX-C3 which was announced earlier in the year. Lenses and accessoriesAlso expected to be launched later in the month is a Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 fixed-length lens, a Sony 55-210mm f/4-6.3 superzoom lens and a Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS lens. An external OLED, thought to use the same technology as the impending a77's viewfinder is also expected, but is reported as working with the 5N only. The LA-EA2, an adapter featuring a built-in translucent mirror such as those found on the a55, for the NEX system is also expected to be unveiled. The adapter will allow autofocus to be used on all E-Mount AF Minolta and Sony lenses when used with the NEX system. The long-awaited Alpha 77 is also likely to be announced before the end of the month. Sony Alpha Rumours are also suggesting the a65, which has the same 24 megapixel sensor as the a77 but with less frames per second shooting, will be revealed too. 
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| Posted: 02 Aug 2011 07:36 AM PDT Sony's latest VAIO C-Series laptops have taken a good few pages out of Apple's big book of design and usability. The curvaceous aesthetics, well-spaced keyboards and not-too-intrusive extra software mean that they look and function amazingly well. The Sony VAIO VPC-CA2C5E we were sent for review looks the part, finished with ludicrous levels of bright green perspex and plastic – although its hue will surely divide its target market. The C-Series certainly puts the fun back into computing: we haven't seen such bountiful use of translucent plastic since the iMac back in the early 2000s. When it's powered up, the keyboard is backlit and the whole thing glows eerily, complete with etched Sony and VAIO logos. Kids seem particularly attracted to it, which explains a lot given its positioning as a family laptop. It's available in a range of different colours, including more conservative blacks and whites and more vibrant pink, red, green, orange and blue.
There's a big gap in the market for a fun and funky laptop, especially in this 14-inch form factor. We've seen netbook manufacturers attempt to spice up computing with Asus's Disney Eee, and Packard Bell's Dot SE. People seem to like customised laptops, too, and most of Dell's XPS 15 allows cases to be customised before you buy them. But Sony really has taken design to another level. It's a brave move, and one that's certain to attract people who are more into designer specs than computer specs, but what's Sony done inside the C Series?
Sony's VAIO C-Series laptops can be configured via the website, and the VPC-CA2C5E review model we were supplied with sat firmly in the middle of the customisation options: not too bad, but could be slightly better. It's powered by an Intel Core i5 2410M processor, backed up with an AMD Radeon HD 6470M graphics chip and 4GB DDR3 RAM. The laptop can be configured with a Core i7 or i3 processor, as well as Intel onboard graphics and 6GB of RAM. The body of the laptop feels substantial, and there is very little flex in the casing. At 2.3kg, it's not going to break your back – but we wouldn't want to have to carry it for extended periods. It can get a bit noisy and warm as the fans kick in when you're playing videos or games, but it's by no means a deal breaker. As has become standard on Sony's laptops, there are three buttons for quick access to help, the internet and the VAIO media portal. They're by no means essential, and we do miss the screen-off button that's adorned previous VAIO laptops such as the VGN-NW11Z/S – it's incredibly handy when you want to connect the laptop to a TV to watch a Blu-Ray.
There is, unfortunately, none of Sony's own Blu-ray magic in our C-Series review model; it can be added in the build process, though. Connectivity is amply handled by HDMI and VGA outputs, as well as three USB sockets – one of which is the speedy USB 3.0. The standard mic and headphone ports and a dual memory stick and SD Card reader complete the lineup. Sony's screens are nothing short of amazing, and The C Series' 1366 x 768 display is no exception. Colours are vibrant and the contrast strong, but the viewing angle is a minor let-down. The size means you won't be watching films on this, though, and it's easy enough to connect to a big screen TV.
The built-in webcam is similarly impressive, offering clear images and video thanks to a 1.3MP Exmor sensor. However, for a company that prides itself on its high quality CD players and Walkmen, the tinniness of the speakers is disappointing. As with Sony's other laptops, the C Series is an absolute joy in terms of usability. The separated keys make typing a doddle, and you're not likely to get crumbs underneath them. There is a slight flex to the keyboard, but not enough to be noticeable. The trackpad and buttons are equally responsive, and Sony's integrated multi-touch makes zooming and scrolling nice and easy.
The Sony VAIO C-Series is disappointingly run of the mill in terms of performance. Sony has created an all-rounder of a laptop that doesn't do anything spectacularly, and this wouldn't be so bad if it didn't have such a high (£719) price tag. Even its own cheaper laptops – such as the VAIO VPC-EB3J0E/WI – don't score much lower in our benchmark tests. The C-Series is capable when it comes to gaming, if nothing more. It's not going to stand up to a dedicated gaming laptop, such as MSI's GE700, but it happily chugs through most modern titles, provided their graphics settings are low enough. It's more capable when it comes to video and photo editing, thanks to the Intel Core i5 processor. HD videos play flawlessly, too, and look absolutely amazing.
The single most disappointing thing about Sony's C Series is the battery life, or lack thereof. Battery Eater emptied a fully charged battery in less than an hour by stressing the computer as much as possible. This means gaming on the move is next to impossible, unless you want the computer to die more quickly than your character. In real-world terms, we managed to get two hours out of the battery when word processing, and this was with Wi-Fi turned off. It's not great, and it seems Sony has designed the C Series primarily as a desktop replacement PC capable of brief trips out. Taken as a desktop replacement, its usability and bright screen stand out, and it's perfectly capable of multitasking a word processor, media playback and web browsing. But most netbooks – such as Samsung's NC110 – are capable of this level of performance, and they cost a third of the price and have better battery life. Benchmarks
Sony's laptops may match Apple's in terms of usability and design, but Sony always adds a few bells and whistles to make them stand out from the crowd. Performance, unfortunately, seems to come second to design in Sony's world. We liked While the lime green colour of our Sony VAIO C Series review model is likely to inspire either slack-jawed awe or seething hatred, there's no denying that Sony has shaken things up in terms of design. At the very least it makes a change from the black and silver hunks of plastic we've been toting since the early 2000s. It's a wonderful experience in terms of usability, and the bright screen, decent webcam and comfortable keyboard make it feel substantial and solid. For media tasks and general computing it performs very well, too.
We disliked Given the array of hardware packed into the C Series, we were disappointed with its performance. Although it's capable of moderate gaming, there are better dedicated alternatives for a similar price. Battery life is the biggest let-down here, and a mere hour at high load is frankly appalling. There are laptops out there that offer 10 times as much, and with the Samsung Chromebook's eight hour battery life, it's become an important part of choosing a laptop. Verdict
It's unfortunate, but the Sony VAIO C Series let us down in exactly the way we expected: it's a complete triumph of style over substance. Despite its amazing looks, and fairly beefy hardware, it just didn't perform as well as it should have. This is compounded by the price, which is too high. Medion's Akoya E6221 costs £240 less, but includes a similar level of hardware specifications and performs almost as well. It's also clear that Sony is targeting consumers who like shiny and sleek Apple products, but has forgotten that the price tag has to be more competitive in order to truly attract this market. 
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| New Sony S1 and S2 tablets specs leaked Posted: 02 Aug 2011 07:35 AM PDT While Sony stays quiet on specific specifications of its upcoming Sony S1 and Sony S2, an anonymous source has leaked some new details about the twin tablets. Speaking to Cnet, the source claims that both models will offer 16GB and 32GB editions, with the flat S1 coming in both Wi-Fi only and 3G + Wi-Fi models. The Sony S1 will also offer an SD memory card reader, while the 9.4-inch display comes with TruBlack and Bravia technologies. Battery life The source reckoned the battery life is "comparable to the iPad 2", and a range of accessories will be released for the S1 including a dock and a Bluetooth keyboard. The Sony S2, Sony's weird, foldable cylinder tablet, is said to be available only in a 3G + Wi-Fi version. As we reported when we got our eyes on the tablets for the first time, both the S1 and S2 will come with "the latest version of Android" (probably Honeycomb) With the official product names yet to be revealed, the tech world is gearing up for Sony to launch both the S1 and S2 at or just before this year's IFA in early September. 
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| New Stealth Gear square filter system revealed Posted: 02 Aug 2011 06:13 AM PDT Stealth Gear, a manufacturer of outdoor photography clothing and wildlife watching supplies, has announced a new line of square filters. The filters are made from organic glass and are designed for use by photographers for a variety of techniques, including reducing the amount of light reaching the sensor for longer exposures, cutting reflections and altering the colour of a scene. Consisting of 3 components (an adapter ring, filter holder and the filter itself), the universal system is also compatible with Cokin P system filters, which are designed for enthusisat and professional photographers using lenses with filter thread diameters from 28mm and above. AvailabilityA choice of the following 10 filters is available:
The filters come in a soft bag for protection. According to the Stealth Gear website, the filters are also lightweight and highly resistant to shocks. The filters will be available for a number of lens sizes ranging from 49-52mm to 82-86mm. Stealth Gear is the leading manufacturer of outdoor photography clothing, photography hides and wildlife watching supplies and provide equipment mainly for professional photographers. 
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| New additions to Vitruvian tripod range announced Posted: 02 Aug 2011 06:09 AM PDT Giottos has expanded its range of Vitruvian tripods to include new compact portrable models. The new models are split into two sections, the VGRN8225 and the VGRN9225 which can hold up to 4kg and the VGRN8255 and VGRN9255 which can hold up to 6kg weight. All tripods in the VRGN range feature reverse technology legs which can fold through 180 degrees, allowing the tripod to fold into a compact and portable unit. The VGRN9255 and VGRN8255 include a built in monopod, The smaller tripods (8225 and 9225) fold down to just under 33cm while the medium size (8255 and 9255) fold down to 40cm. LightweightManufacturerd using either 7-layer carbon fibre or aliminium tubing, the lightest tripod weighs just under a kilogram. Both the smaller tripods have an operating height of 118cm, with the centre coloumn extending to reach 135cm. The bigger tripods weigh between 1.38 and 1.55kg and have an operating height of 142cm, further extendable to 165cm with the centre column extended. The new tripods are fitted with a compact ball and socket head equipped with a quick release plate, spirit levels and pan lock. All feature five section legs and splittable centre column for low-level use. Tripod castings are made from a forged aliminium alloy for strength, while the twist leg locks require only a 1/8 turn to lock and unlock making the tripod quick to set up. All VGRN tripods come with a carry bag and 5 year warranty. The new tripods will retail between £220 and £450. 
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| Review: New Apple Mac mini 2011 Posted: 02 Aug 2011 06:05 AM PDT The Apple Mac mini has come a long way since it was first introduced in 2005. The 2011 Mac mini refresh represents a radical change for Apple's small form factor computer. The ageing Core 2 Duo is gone, replaced by second-generation Sandy Bridge Core i5 processors. This is a substantial improvement in processing power for the Mac mini, which was forced to skip the first-generation Core iX chips because its onboard graphics weren't up to scratch, there was no room for a discrete graphics chip and a legal dispute prevented an integrated Nvidia chipset being used. Early Mac minis featured aluminium casings with a polycarbonate top and base, and used a G4 PowerPC processor. The Mac mini made the inevitable switch to Intel processors in 2006, switching from Core to Core 2 Duo chips the following year. The 2010 Mac mini dropped the polycarbonate case sections in favour of a wider, flatter aluminium unibody casing. This revision also brought the transformer into the main body of the Mac mini, so those who used it as a portable machine didn't have to carry around a large power brick.
The Sandy Bridge Core i processors' Intel HD Graphics 3000 integrated graphics on the 2011 Mac minis are more powerful than any before, allowing the mini to switch to the more modern processors. But it's not all about the CPU. The new Mac mini has also lost its optical drive, allowing a substantial price drop for the entry-level 2011 model, and freeing up room for a discrete graphics processor in this high-end release. The Mini DisplayPort video-out socket has been replaced by the powerful and versatile Thunderbolt port, which can handle both data and video, and can daisy chain up to six peripherals on a single port. The new Apple Mac mini is the first computer to come with OS X 10.7 Lion preinstalled, on both the £529 entry-level mini and the more powerful £699 2.5GHz 4GB mini we tested.
Unlike the 2010 release, the 2011 refresh brings us two Apple Mac mini models. The entry-level mini costs £529, and features a 2.3GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 2GB of RAM. The higher-end model reviewed here costs substantially more, at £699, but it increases the processor speed to 2.5GHz, ups the memory to 4GB of 1333MHz DDR3 and adds an AMD Radeon HD 6630M discrete graphics processor with 256MB of GDDR5 memory. If that's not enough, those who buy from the Apple online store can opt for a 2.7GHz Core i7 processor for an extra £80, which seems like a very good deal. You can also increase your onboard memory from 4GB to 8GB for £160, which is expensive considering Crucial is currently selling an 8GB kit for £50. Unlike the part-polycarbonate Mac mini, the unibody mini's RAM is user-upgradeable, although other components such as the hard drive cannot be easily accessed.
Both 2011 Mac mini models have a 500GB 5400rpm SATA hard drive, configurable to 750GB if you order through the Apple Online Store. This higher-end 2.5GHz model can also be customised with a 256GB solid state drive (SSD) instead, or even both a 256GB SSD and a 750GB HDD. This is an excellent configuration that enables you to use your SSD as a boot volume and your more capricious hard drive for data storage, although it costs an extra £600. For the first time in an Intel Mac mini, the high-end 2.5GB 2011 model has a discrete graphics processor – an AMD Radeon HD 6630M. This makes the new release far better at graphics-intensive tasks such as gaming. Around the back, the new Mac mini is very much the same as the previous generation, offering generous connectivity options. For connecting to a monitor, the Mini DisplayPort gives way for the Thunderbolt port. If you have a Mini DisplayPort screen, you can plug it straight into the Thunderbolt port, with no adapters required. There's also an HDMI port, which is ideal if you want to put it under your TV and use it as a media Mac, and an HDMI-to-DVI cable for connection to DVI displays. For peripherals, alongside the new Thunderbolt port there's a FireWire 800 port and four USB 2.0 ports. It's a generous quantity, but they're a little close together – a large USB plug might well block an adjacent port. An SDXC card reader is included too, although it's awkwardly positioned around the back. For internet connectivity, wireless N is joined by Bluetooth 4.0.
As mentioned before, the optical drive has been removed, allowing extra space for more under-the-hood technology. If you need to access a CD or DVD on your mini but only occasionally, you can use Apple's Remote Disc feature to 'borrow' the optical drive of a Mac or PC on the same network. If you're likely to do so more often, it's best to buy an Apple SuperDrive USB optical drive for £66. The 2011 Apple Mac mini comes with the new OS X 10.7 Lion operating system preinstalled, but a few applications have been dropped. Lion doesn't support Rosetta, Apple's dynamic translator that allows PowerPC applications to run on Intel processors. As a result, software written purely for PowerPCs (as opposed to universal applications, that run natively on both architectures) can't be installed on the new minis. If you're still using Microsoft Office 2004, for example, it's time to upgrade or abandon it before moving to Lion. iLife Mac App Store licences come bundled with the new Macs, but only GarageBand, iPhoto and iMovie. iWeb and iDVD aren't included, and seem set to be discontinued. Lion also lacks Front Row, Apple's elegant but limited media centre application. To learn more about Lion, read our in-depth Apple Mac OS X 10.7 Lion review.
The 2011 Apple Mac mini's Sandy Bridge Core i5 processors are far more powerful than their clock speed suggests. Don't assume that the 2.5GHz Core i5 used here is only marginally faster than the 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo used in the 2010 Mac minis. Although dual core, the new chips' Hyper Threading feature means two threads can run on each core, giving a total of four virtual cores. This means it can run applications written to take advantage of multiple cores more efficiently. In our Cinebench tests, which assess the computer's 3D rendering capabilities, it almost doubled its predecessor's score when using every available core. The new Sandy Bridge processors on the 2011 Mac minis also feature Turbo Boost 2.0. When faced with very processor-intensive tasks, this diverts resources from under-used cores and temporarily increases the CPU's clock speed. The 2.5GHz Core i5 processor can reach speeds of up to 3.2GHz, as long as power and temperature considerations allow. The second generation Turbo Boost feature kicks in more often and for longer periods than that enjoyed by the first generation of Core i chips.
As you'd expect, the addition of an AMD Radeon HD 6630M discrete graphics processor means the new 2011 Apple Mac mini is a far more capable gaming machine. It ran Doom 3 at 138.4 frames per second (fps), which is over twice as fast as the 2010 Mac mini's 62.2fps. Call of Duty 4 ran at just over 72fps, which is also impressive. Of course, some games (Doom 3 and Call of Duty 4 included) are delivered on a physical disc that must remain in the optical drive during play. Unless you're happy enough to stick with titles sold on Apple's App Store and Steam, gamers should invest in a USB SuperDrive. We won't get the most from the Thunderbolt port until a wider range of dedicated peripherals are available, but it's already showing its worth when it comes to versatility. Up to six Thunderbolt devices can be daisy chained from a single port, and Mini DisplayPort monitors can be plugged in directly, without an adapter. Its two 10Gbps data channels make it up to 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and up to 20 times quicker than USB 2.0, making it ideal for tasks that require high-speed data transfer, such as video editing.
The 2011 Apple Mac mini dispenses with the optical drive, but uses the space for more under-the-hood technology. The high-end 2.5GHz 4GB model reviewed here includes an AMD Radeon HD 6630M – the first discrete graphics chip in an Intel Mac mini. New Sandy Bridge Core i5 processors – or Core i7 with an optional upgrade – give the Mac mini a significant power boost. Hyper Threading allows two threads to run on each of the processor's two cores, spreading tasks across four virtual cores for greater speed and efficiency. Turbo Boost 2.0 increases the processor's clock speed for short periods when demand is at its highest. The new Apple Mac minis also feature a high-speed Thunderbolt port, and Bluetooth 4.0. We liked
The new Sandy Bridge processors are awesome, giving the 2011 Apple Mac mini a significant increase in power. It's great to have a discrete graphics chip too, especially if you use your mini to play games. Thunderbolt will really shine when more peripherals are released, although at the moment, it's merely promising. Apple wisely stuck to the same form factor as the 2010 release, with its aluminium unibody casing and internal transformer. It's an excellent piece of engineering, cramming in a lot of computer into a very small space. The removal of the optical drive has allowed more technology to be crammed in. You can even customise the high-end mini to include both an SSD and a HDD. We disliked The most obvious drawback with the new Mac mini is the loss of its optical drive. You can buy a portable USB SuperDrive for £66, but this is a somewhat inelegant solution, even though it's powered by the USB port and a good match for the mini. Some of the Mac mini's online customisation options are expensive, too. This isn't much of a problem for memory, because you can buy that from a third party and fit it yourself, but if you want a bigger hard drive, you have to buy it from Apple. Verdict
Not everyone will tolerate the loss of the Mac mini's optical drive for playing CD-ROMs and DVDs, but with Remote Disc, the Mac Online Store, Steam and iTunes, you can probably get by without one. And many would argue that the price drop for the entry-level model and the discrete graphics and second storage drive option for this high-end mini make it a price worth paying. The 2011 Apple Mac mini's Sandy Bridge processors are much more capable than the Core 2 Duos they replace, and the Thunderbolt port is sure to show its worth over time. With HDMI video-out alongside Thunderbolt, the Mac mini is still a useful media centre computer even without Front Row. Just add Plex or XBMC. But make sure you can get by without your PowerPC applications. New operating system Lion drops support for Rosetta, so they can no longer be used. 
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| PS Vita may double as PS3 controller Posted: 02 Aug 2011 05:41 AM PDT Sony's forthcoming PlayStation Vita handheld may be used as a PS3 controller for certain games, according to comments from a company spokesman. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe R&D manager Phil Rogers told delegates at the recent Develop conference that gamers would be able to use the PS Vita to "drive a display from a PS3 game, for example." "PS3 can send data down to Vita and Vita can display it. You could use the unique features – gyroscope, touch front and back – as a control device for a PS3 game," the Sony exec added. Gyroscope and touch control for PS3 "You can run software on both devices and use the network to sync the game states. And that's pretty good, because you then have the processing power of PS3 doing that work, Vita [doing] fancy graphics – however you want to do it. You're not sacrificing the PS3′s CPU to be able to have a rich experience on Vita." It's a good indication of where Sony hopes to take the new PS Vita in the future to give it a competitive edge over iPhone, iPad, smartphones and other handheld gaming consoles, such as the Nintendo 3DS. Rogers also confirmed that developers will be able to add in support for Vita into their current roster of PS3 games. 
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| More compact system cameras in Japanese top 20 than DSLRs Posted: 02 Aug 2011 05:07 AM PDT A new record has been set in Japan for camera sales. According to BCNranking, 11 out of the 20 most popular cameras sold in Japan were mirrorless compact system cameras. Highest on the list was the newly launched Olympus PEN E-P3 twin lens kit, which rose from no.83 to no.6 last week. Other cameras in the top 20 include the Olympus PEN E-P3 single lens kit (no.9), Lumix GF2 white double lens kit (no.7) and the recently announced Sony NEX-C3 (no.12). Older cameras, such as the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus E-PL2, continue to appear on the list too. Traditional DSLR systems still make up the top five in the list, though, with the Nikon D3100 entry-level model at the top, closely followed by the Canon EOS Kiss X5 (or the 600D to use its European name). This is the first time that the majority of the cameras in the top 20 list have been mirrorless systems, which is a telling indicator of the format's growing popularity. Nikon and Canon have yet to enter the compact system camera market, but rumours are circulating about imminent announcements from both companies. It's harder to assess the popularity of cameras in other countries such as the UK, since detailed reports are not made available. Taking a quick peek at the best-selling cameras on Amazon, however, puts the Panasonic Lumix FS35 compact camera at the top of the list, with the first system camera, the Nikon D3000, not appearing until no.5. In Amazon's top-selling compact system camera list, the Panasonic G3 tops the list, followed by its predecessor the G2. 
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| Firefox redesign concepts reveal a Chrome-esque direction Posted: 02 Aug 2011 05:05 AM PDT A set of Firefox design mock-ups posted by a Mozilla designer hint at a Chrome-inspired future for the popular web browser. Although the design ideas were created for internal use only and there's no guarantee that any of the elements of them will come to future iterations of the browser, they give a cheeky insight into the kind of ideas Mozilla is looking at. The mock-ups do away with the search toolbar, with the address box likely to double as a search box, just like Google's browser.
Design elements seem to swing between Chrome and Safari, with round-edged tabs echoing Chrome and the silver translucence of the toolboxes and bars looking a lot like something Apple would brew up. Rather than having extra buttons taking up room on the toolbar, they're hidden away, accessed by hitting the settings button, which opens up a toolbox of shortcuts and options.
While these elements may not actually make it into the next Firefox, the mock-ups prove that Mozilla is looking to create a cleaner, less cluttered browsing experience and likely hoping to win back its UK lead over Chrome in the process. 
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| Official Skype for iPad app released, then pulled Posted: 02 Aug 2011 04:57 AM PDT Hours ago, the official Skype for iPad app was released into the Apple App Store, before being swiftly taken down again. The new Skype app – whenever it finally officially arrives – will enable users to video chat over Wi-Fi and 3G on their iPads. Skype pulled the app, saying, "To ensure your best Skype experience, we've temporarily removed Skype for iPad, which went live prematurely today. "We know you've been eagerly awaiting Skype for iPad and apologise for the inconvenience." Premature app-jaculationSkype is hoping that offering video chat across 3G networks will give its iPad version an edge over Apple's proprietary FaceTime app. Skype is staying tight-lipped over when the iPad app will make it back to the App Store, but we wouldn't be surprised to see it on there very soon indeed. 
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| Updated: Android 2.3 release date: when will you get it? Posted: 02 Aug 2011 04:47 AM PDT Android 2.3 has been announced by Google, and now owners of smartphones such as the Nexus One and the HTC Desire are eagerly awaiting the update. Tthe first phone to go on sale with Android 2.3 is the successor to the Nexus One, the Google Nexus S. Google Nexus One Android 2.3 update The Nexus One has already been confirmed as getting the Android 2.3 update in early Q1 2011. The following announcement over on the official Google Nexus Twitter page confirmed the upgrade: "The Gingerbread OTA for Nexus One will happen in the coming weeks. Just hang tight!" UPDATE: As of 23 February 2011, the Google Nexus One Android 2.3.3 update is rolling out. Google Nexus S Android 2.3.3 update UPDATE: The Nexus S is also getting its update to Android 2.3.3 as of 23 February 2011. HTC Desire Android 2.3 update First it was on, then it was off and now it's back on again. The update is here - check out How to install your HTC Desire to Android 2.3 This update arrived after a bit of a panto - on 14 June 2011, HTC said that it will not be able to offer a Gingerbread update for the HTC Desire. "There isn't enough memory to allow us both to bring Gingerbread and keep the HTC Sense experience on the HTC Desire," HTC said. But just 24 hours later, on 15 June 2011 HTC changed its mind and said "Contrary to what we said earlier, we are going to bring Gingerbread to HTC Desire." It seems the phone which HTC originally said lacked the memory to run Sense and Gingerbread is suddenly, miraculously capable of doing so. We'd previously contacted HTC during December 2010 to ask about an HTC Desire update to Android 2.3 (and one for the HTC Desire HD and the HTC Desire Z). HTC responded on 7 December 2010 to confirm that a number of its phones will be receiving Android 2.3. "We are excited about the OS update coming for Android, and while HTC will definitely have some phones running this OS, we do not have a specific timeframe for new phones or updates at this time. Please stay tuned for more details," said an HTC spokesperson. Samsung Galaxy S Android 2.3 update We also contacted Samsung to ask about the Samsung Galaxy S Android 2.3 update. Samsung replied with the following statement: "In case a new version of Android operating system is publicly announced and released, Samsung will review the possibility of implementation of such new version to the existing Samsung products with Android operating system ("Update"). "Such a review will be based on various factors including, without limitation, the overall effect of such Update to Samsung products, the system requirements, the structural limitations, and the level of cooperation from the component suppliers and the software licensors. "If Samsung decides to make the Update available to the users after such consideration, Samsung will use its efforts to develop such Update, which may be released to the users upon successful completion of such development." In other words: we'll check it out and make a decision then. UPDATE: As of 16 May 2011, the Samsung Galaxy S Android 2.3 update is being rolled out. LG Optimus One and Optimus Chic Android 2.3 update At first it looked like this one wasn't going to happen. In a post on Facebook, LG said: "The Optimus line won't be getting the Gingerbread update because they have a 600MHz processor, and the minimum requirements for Gingerbread require 1 GHz processor. In other words: it's not possible to update the processor, unfortunately." However, on 10 December, LG changed its mind, saying: "LG will upgrade all Optimus One smartphones currently using the Froyo OS to the next version of the Android OS, Gingerbread. Details of the upgrade schedule will be announced locally in due course." LG Optimus 2X Android 2.3 release date The 2X has been officially announced as a UK release, and while it will ship with Android 2.2, the Android 2.3 update will be winging its way to the handset soon. Stay tuned. We'll bring you more release dates as we get them. 
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| Another Nokia N9 UK release date revealed? Posted: 02 Aug 2011 04:45 AM PDT Orange Switzerland has joined the Nokia N9 release date guessing game, telling customers that it will launch on 15 September. A quick look at the Orange UK website, however, reveals neither hide nor hair of the Nokia N9 in its coming soon section, so the UK release date is still a long way from being confirmed. Orange Switzerland isn't the first European website to take a stab at predicting when the MeeGo-running smartphone will hit the shops, with websites from Kazakhstan and Russia already opting for the earlier date of 19 August. Nokia's folly Although the potential release date is still in flux, TechRadar has already had a bit of hands on time with the handset, during which we declared the MeeGo OS to be "a better OS than Symbian ever had been". The colourful new design, 1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM certainly have the potential to add up to an impressive handset. But with Nokia only hinting that its UK release date will be "later this year", who knows how long it will be before you can try the N9 out for yourself? 
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| Tutorial: How to update your HTC Desire to Android 2.3 Posted: 02 Aug 2011 04:08 AM PDT HTC has finally launched an official Desire Gingerbread update, which will update the HTC Desire to Android 2.3.3. There's a pretty big catch, though. This is not your traditional "over the air" update that's all nice and easy. Instead, users have to download and install Android 2.3 on the HTC Desire manually. Also, HTC has issued a lengthy disclaimer alongside the Desire 2.3.3 update, in which it claims this is a slightly hard thing to do and that it is "not for general public use" and that the company "disclaims liability" should anything go wrong. However, don't be put off by the corporate speak. It's as simple as downloading everything you need, connecting your HTC Desire to a PC and installing the Android update over a USB connection, with the end result of a completely fresh and unbranded HTC Desire running Android 2.3. But be warned - this is a phone-wiping update that will completely restore your HTC Desire to original factory settings and remove any files, message and apps on it, so if you're attached to your current set-up you may want to think twice about nuking it. Also, this will effectively "debrand" your HTC Desire, so if you're a keen user of any network supplied apps like, ahem, Orange Maps or Vodafone's collection of bookmarks, you might again want to think twice about installing the update. But if you're happy to wipe your phone in return for getting Android 2.3 on your Desire, here's how to do it. Disclaimer: Future Publishing Limited provides the information for this project in good faith and makes no representations as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions in this project do so at their own risk. 1. Download HTC Sync HTC's updating tool requires its own HTC Sync software to be on your PC in order to work, so your first step should be to head off to HTC's support site to download and install Android 2.3 on your HTC Desire. It's free and will also ensure you have the required drives to enable the updater to connect to your phone.
2. Download HTC's Gingerbread update file The official Android 2.3.3 file for the HTC Desire can be found on HTC's developer site. It's a whopping great 161MB zip file, which contains the Android update itself, plus copies of the two HTC Sense applications HTC has removed to help the new OS fit on the phone, should you want to manually install them yourself after updating. 3. Connect phone to PC Charge up your Desire, as the updating tool will check you have at least 30% of battery life left to make sure there's no disastrous battery failure during the process. The SD card won't be wiped, but your SMS messages will be erased, so keep any you need. There are many apps on the Android Market to help you do this, such as the clearly named SMS Backup+. Then connect your Desire to PC via USB. And you do have all your contacts backed up via a Gmail account, yes?
4. Unzip and run the updater HTC's mammoth update file contains another zip called "HTC Desire Android 2.3 Upgrade.zip" - inside here is a file named "RUU_HTC Desire Android 2.3 Upgrade (Gingerbread).exe" and that's the actual updater containing all the files it needs. Unzip this file on your PC and run it. Providing you're all connected properly via USB, it should carry out a few checks, tell you to click some warnings so that if anything goes wrong it's all your fault, then begin the upgrade process. It takes a few minutes. Just be very careful not to interrupt it. That's it! You've now installed Android 2.3 on your HTC Desire.
5. Re-install any missing apps HTC has taken the decision to delete the Facebook app to free up initial space, so you need to install that via the Android Market after updating if your life revolves around poking people from school you hardly remember. Also inside HTC's zip are APK files for Flashlight and Teeter, two HTC apps it also removed from the Desire Android 2.3 update. If you want these back on your phone, pull down the Notifications menu and connect your Desire in "Disk Drive" mode and copy the APK files onto the device. You'll need a file manager to actually open them, so download something like ES File Explorer from the Android Market, open it on your phone, then open the APK files to install the missing apps. Or you can use HTC Sync on your PC, clicking the Application Installer option from the main screen and selecting the APKs that way. But it's not as much fun.
Then sit back and enjoy having a marginally better telephone than before, even though it actually looks and feels pretty much the same as it did with Android 2.2 onboard.
The changes are pretty much unnoticeable to the average user. There's a new "Fast boot" mode for quicker booting, plus the ability to turn it off if things break. You also have less memory available for installing apps, with around 120MB free after the larger OS install - a good 20MB less than under Android 2.2.
The app management screen now gives you a little more detail about used and available memory, too. There are none of the more recent HTC Sense innovations here, sadly. It'll be a disappointing update for those expecting a completely refreshed experience, but it's still great news for the proper Android nerds. If you've updated your Desire to Android 2.3 let us know how you got on in the comments. 
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| Tsunoda: Kinect encourages 'method acting' game design Posted: 02 Aug 2011 04:01 AM PDT Microsoft's creative director Kudo Tsunoda thinks that Kinect encourages games developers to 'method act' their ideas more so than ever before. Speaking to Edge, Tsunoda explained that Microsoft is still on track to achieve his team's original goal of making interactive entertainment more accessible to people and making it a more social experience. "Out of all the Xbox/Kinect bundles that've been sold since launch, the majority have been bought by people who are making their first Xbox purchase. So we've really been happy that the stuff we've been doing has been resonating with customers," said the Kinect boss. The MethodTsunoda continued: "And it's been an interesting journey overall – how we have to redefine our design process in making this kind of entertainment. "I think just as game designers we've been so focused so long on doing things a certain way: sitting in a conference room trying to come up with great ideas to put into games and really creating things in our heads as far as what are going to be the types of experiences that we as gamers like to build and play. "Learning how to re-orient our creative process around not so much just coming up with great ideas out of our heads for games but really trying to do more of this method acting version of game design where you can really focus on immersing yourself in the types of experiences that people want and the type of experiences that you're building. Really doing the research and doing the creative exercises that give you good ways of implementing products that are different than you've done before." Controller design nigglesIn terms of what doesn't work so well with Kinect, the Xbox man also revealed that: "What we've found probably isn't natural is when you give people a long, learned list of gestures to make which trigger specific actions, where you need to do this one specific thing with your body that the game tells you to do, that designers have said, 'Hey you have to do this one specific thing and you have to do a bunch of those in sequence.' "That kind of stuff is taking 'what you do with the controller' game design and putting it into Kinect, and it just doesn't feel as natural or approachable as the other two ways." 
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