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• RIM: No BlackBerry 10 handset announcements this year
• Libraries' ebook lending to be probed by government
• Facebook Gifts could be the social network's gift that keeps on giving
• OAuth tools coming to Android through Google Play Store
• Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 priced for parts of Europe
• RIM CEO: BB10 will take OS environment to the next level
• iPhone 5 Lightning cable clones will be awhile coming, suppliers say
• Samsung sets stylus-themed event for Oct. 24
• RIM reports $235M in losses, remains confident in BB10 turnaround
• RIM reports $235M in losses, remains confident in BB 10 turnaround
• RIM reports $235M in losses, remains confident in BB 10 turnaround
• Steam Linux beta launching in October
• Steam Linux beta launching in October
• Google releases Field Trip, a new guidebook app that tips you off
• Google releases Field Trip, a new guidebook app that tips you off
• ZTE: expect Windows 8-powered V98 tablet in Q1 2013
• ZTE: expect Windows 8-powered V98 tablet in Q1 2013
• Over half of surveyed Windows 8 users prefer Windows 7
• Over half of surveyed Windows 8 users prefer Windows 7

RIM: No BlackBerry 10 handset announcements this year Posted: 27 Sep 2012 07:55 PM PDT BlackBerry loyalists eager to get a sneak peak at the new BB10 handsets will have to wait until 2013. Frank Boulben, RIM's chief marketing officer, told CNET that the company will resist the temptation to parade the new smartphones until closer to the on sale date, expected in the first two months of next year. RIM has already confirmed that it will launch two BlackBerry 10 devices initially, one will be a full touchscreen offering, while the second will be a BlackBerry Bold-alike with a physical QWERTY keyboard. The company will be hoping that the ploy, which is somewhat uncharacteristic, will help to built Apple and Samsung-esque excitement for BB10's all important debut handsets. More features to be unveiled However, Boulben said RIM will lift the lid on more of the BlackBerry 10 software's capabilities in the meantime, even though the final devices will remain under lock and key. Developers are currently able to test apps and acquaint themselves with BB10 using the Dev Alpha device, which was updated this week to the Dev Alpha B. The news comes following another tough day at the offices in Waterloo, Ontario. Even though it managed to beat Wall Street's expectations, RIM still announced a loss of $235 million ($145m) on Thursday. The launch of BlackBerry 10 represents perhaps the company's last chance to mount a comeback and reestablish itself among the smartphone elite. With that in mind, it comes as little surprise that the course is being plotted very, very carefully indeed.

Libraries' ebook lending to be probed by government Posted: 27 Sep 2012 07:02 PM PDT The lending of ebooks by libraries will be subject to a government investigation, culture secretary Ed Vaisey has announced. The e-lending review will examine the best ways of making digital books available through libraries and, in the process, will seek to ensure that all parties, including authors and publishers, benefit from the service. Although some English libraries are already loaning out ebooks through devices like the Amazon Kindle, the panel of industry experts, will seek to establish the best practice for all libraries going forward. "E-lending is currently in its infancy but growing fast," said Mr Vaisey. "Just as e-readers are transforming the way people access books, e-lending could help transform the way people use libraries. By acting now we can help influence the growth of e-lending to ensure that libraries, authors, publishers and the public all benefit from this potentially valuable new service." Serious implications Meanwhile, publishers have expressed concern about the potential for a trend towards ebook lending, rather than ebook buying. Publishers Association chairman Richard Mollet said: "When it is as easy to buy a book as to click a button and borrow one, a lot more people are going to take the borrowing option, and that has serious implications for authors and their royalties, for booksellers and as well for publishers." Also, with a digital file holding much less potential for emotional attachment than a physical book, it seems fair to assume that there'd be even more of an incentive to pick up an ebook on a temporary basis. MP Julian Thompson has suggested a small fee for e-lending, to be split between the library and the publishers. This will surely to be an option considered by the panel before it reports its findings in the New Year.

Facebook Gifts could be the social network's gift that keeps on giving Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:56 PM PDT For those special moments when "likes" aren't enough for your closest Facebook friends, the social networking website has introduced a new gifting program starting today. Different from the virtual gifts program introduced a couple of years ago, Facebook Gifts enables users to easily ship physical presents to one another without having to leave the comfort of their newsfeed. It all starts with by clicking a gift box icon in their newsfeed's birthday reminder sidebar or on their friend's timeline. Cupcakes, teddy bears, and gift cards are just some of the examples of what users can expect to receive if they have a particularly persistent secret admirer. "There are over a hundred partners offering hundreds of gifts," a Facebook representative told TechRadar. "Partners include Starbucks, GUND, Magnolia Bakery in NYC, Magnolia Bakery, Happy Socks, Vosges Haut-Chocolat, The Honest Company, Cheryl's Cookies by 1800 Flowers ($5 cookie greetings), Malin + Goetz and Chocomize." Strong mobile tie-in for Facebook Gifts The real gift may be for Facebook. The company has struggled to monetize its increasing mobile traffic, said to be more than half of the visitors accessing the website on a daily basis. "This is truly the heart and soul of Karma, re-imagined inside of Facebook," said Lee Linden, head of Facebook Gifts, in an interview with AllThingsD. "And it all works perfectly on the phone." Yes, Facebook Gifts will work the same way on a tablet or phone as it does on a computer. It won't be a newsfeed-cluttering annoyance either and should make Facebook money in the end. Facebook Gifting is just as good as receiving This win-win extends to Facebook gift givers, too, who have almost all of the work done for them. "Choose a gift, attach a card and send," Facebook said in a news release. "You can post your gift to your friend's timeline or send it privately. Your friend can then unwrap a preview of the gift and it will show up on their doorstep a few days later." In addition to taking care of the shipping, Facebook gives them the option to pay right away or add payment details later on. They don't even have to worry filling out an address form, as the friend provides it. Putting the gift-receiving friend in charge of the address is good for two reasons: it keeps their location anonymous (just in case), and it allows them to control where things go (if they recently moved, for example). They can also be put in charge of choosing the flavor, color, and size, great for guys who don't want to "go there" with that question. Exchanging the gift for something of equal value is also possible - no hard feelings or frowny emoticon faces. Rolling out slowly with Android as the first mobile platform In a surprise move, this Facebook Gifts idea is friending Android before iOS. However, most users won't notice any gifts no matter which mobile platform they utilize. "Facebook Gifts will roll out gradually, first to people in the U.S.," Facebook's release said. Everything from Facebook Chat to Timeline has followed this slow release pattern. Facebook also told TechRadar that Apple fans should expect "a wider roll-out to iOS devices in a few weeks." In the meantime web and desktop versions are available to select users.

OAuth tools coming to Android through Google Play Store Posted: 27 Sep 2012 05:29 PM PDT Google has released tools to allow developers to begin integrating the OAuth user authorisation technology for Android apps. The tech, also used by Facebook and Twitter to allow users to connect with external apps and services, may eventually replace the need to type in multiple passwords for apps on Android devices. The OAuth 2.0 tools, available for developers from the Google Play Store starting Thursday, will eventually allow users (on Android v2.2 and higher) access to many services, simply through their Google account password. Access tokens Once developers, whose apps require access to Google's APIs, have integrated the OAuth tools, it will enable "access tokens" to be sent between the device and the app. This will replace the need for a user to create a new account or enter a complicated password, while also giving the service provider access to the user data it requires. Users will then stay signed into that service, and then rely on the various types of password protection on the handset itself to stay secure, rather than an individual app password. Too many passwords Google first announced its intentions to integrate the OAuth tech within Android back at I/O earlier this summer. The company said the driving force behind the tech is to trim the number of passwords each user has to remember and to remove the hassle of typing convoluted passwords on a virtual keyboard. "The internet already has too many usernames and passwords, and they don't scale," wrote Tim Bray on the Android Developers Blog. "Furthermore, your Android device has a strong notion of who you are. In this situation, the industry consensus is that OAuth 2.0 is a good choice for the job, offering the promise of strong security minus passwords." For more information about OAuth and what it could mean for the ongoing security of your mobile device, check out our OAuth: What you need to know feature.

Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 priced for parts of Europe Posted: 27 Sep 2012 05:16 PM PDT Nokia has announced the pricing of its new Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 smartphones in some of its European territories, though the U.K. was left out. Nokia Germany wants €649 (£516) for the flagship Lumia 920, while Nokia Italy is asking slightly less - €599 (£476) - for the Windows Phone 8 handset The second tier, 4.3-inch Lumia 820 handset will cost $499 (£396) in both countries, while a November release has been confirmed for both smartphones. Reuters reported that Italian network TeliaSonera will start selling the Lumia 920 on Nov. 12, but that hasn't been officially confirmed by the manufacturer. No news for UK fans Nokia said there were no plans to announce U.K. pricing on Thursday, so it remains unclear just how many golden-coloured coins we'll need to hand over to obtain Nokia's first Windows Phone 8 devices. TechRadar has reached out to the Finns for an update and will add details to this story if and when they become available. The ailing smartphone giant is banking on the success of the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 to enhance its chances of a revival alongside the launch of the Windows Phone 8 platform. The devices will, however, face stiff competition from the HTC 8X and 8S, announced a few weeks ago.

RIM CEO: BB10 will take OS environment to the next level Posted: 27 Sep 2012 05:07 PM PDT RIM is counting on BlackBerry 10 to turn itself around, as evidenced by an investors' call Thursday in which company CEO Thorsten Heins and other executives outlined the strategy for the operating system and how it fits into RIM's bigger picture. Heins emphasized that BB10 is more than just a single product - he told investors it's an entirely new system, allowing RIM to run a "competitive portfolio" of mobile devices. "We believe BB10 will advance the OS environment to the next level," he told patient though persistent investors. One investor quizzed Heins on where BB10 handsets will fall in the market, putting emphasis on whether devices at the entry-level will carry the OS. "BlackBerry 10 will proliferate the mid-tier," Heins responded. "We are working on a concept into the entry level, so you might see an entry-level phone next year." Other BB10 plusses The company reported $235 million (UK £144, AU $225) in losses in the second quarter of fiscal year 2013, and while its revenue grew 2 percent from last quarter to reach $2.9 billion (UK £1.78, AU $2.78), it's down 31 percent in revenue from the same time last year. With those figures at the forefront, investors were keen to question just what part of the market RIM intends BB10 to occupy. One asked how the company plans to change customers' minds who are already committed to a certain smartphone before they walk into a retail store. Heins responded that a marketing campaign to educate customers about the benefits of BB10 before a product launches is key to making pre-sale conversions. Another challenge RIM faces in making BB10's launch a global success, another investor pointed out, is that RIM has lost retail shelf space to other manufacturers. "We are launching in 16 countries," Heins said, noting the enthusiasm BB10 has been met with by carriers around the world. "We are absolutely capable of running a global launch. We can manage and execute it." RIM is also developing both full touch and QWERTY BB10 devices, the CEO said, allowing for a robust entry into the market. Heins told investors BB10 leads in HTML 5 browsing speed, even beating out desktop computers. What's more, it's already got a one-up on Apple's iPhone 5. "The display in full touch will be beyond what iPhone 5 launched with," Heins said. "It will actually be true HD."

iPhone 5 Lightning cable clones will be awhile coming, suppliers say Posted: 27 Sep 2012 04:29 PM PDT Third-party manufacturers in China are still attempting to clone Apple's new Lightning cable, but supplies are unlikely to hit before Christmas, according to reports. The new reversible syncing and charging solution for the iPhone 5, iPod touch, and iPod nano has replaced the tried and tested 30-pin cable used with legacy devices, such as the iPhone 4S. However, the 8-pin accessory now features an integrated chip, which it won't work without. This makes copying the connector and creating less expensive solutions more difficult. The true function of the chip is unknown, but it's thought that Apple may have introduced it simply to ensure outside companies will need to enter into official licensing agreements order to manufacturer accessories. Unrealistic deadlines AppleInsider found that Chinese companies are still offering delivery of cloned Lightning cables within 30 days, but that deadline is said to be unrealistic. One U.S. cable supplier, Double Helix Cables, contacted a supplier in China, which told the stateside company that work won't start on unravelling the mysterious chip until after a Chinese national holiday is observed this weekend. That, according to Peter, owner of Double Helix, means it's unlikely any products will be ready to ship in the next two months, at least. "People should be very surprised if this cable can be cloned by Christmas," Peter told AppleInsider. "This is a serious undertaking and the Chinese know it." Peter spoke with TechRadar earlier this week about the mysterious chip and asked that, for privacy reasons, his last name not be printed. Apple is currently charging £15 ($19.99) for new Lightning connectors. For those unconcerned with owning the official accessories, much cheaper, third-party solutions were always available on eBay or Amazon, but it looks like those will still be a while coming.

Samsung sets stylus-themed event for Oct. 24 Posted: 27 Sep 2012 04:15 PM PDT Mobile makers sure love a cryptic message as Samsung sent out an invite Thursday that tells little yet still manages to say a lot. The event is slated for Oct. 24 in New York City, offering not much more than a date, time, and a floating digital pen. "The Next Big Thing Is Here," occupies most of the space, so we can gather Samsung's got a reveal up its sleeves. That product no doubt features a stylus. Another Galaxy Note? Naturally, the speculation mill has already started spinning as to what Samsung will show Oct. 24, though the inclusion of a stylus leads to a few conclusions. The South Korean company already showed its 5.5-inch screened Galaxy Note II in August, with a U.S. release coming soon. We've seen the Galaxy Note 10.1 with its 10-inch display, too. So, perhaps Samsung is planning something in the middle, such as a 7-inch variant. The company told TechRadar at IFA 2012 that it's also investing in smaller and cheaper versions of the mobile devices, pointing to the possibility of a budget device making its debut next month. Whatever Samsung shows, TechRadar will be on hand to deliver you the latest news and hands on reviews coming out of NYC.

RIM reports $235M in losses, remains confident in BB10 turnaround Posted: 27 Sep 2012 03:06 PM PDT RIM revealed its fiscal year 2013, second quarter financial results to investors Thursday, outlining where the makers of BlackBerry-branded products stand on the monetary map. The quarter covers the past three months ending on Sept. 21. BlackBerry, while in the midst of a turnaround and transition to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, didn't perform to the level it wanted. "Our second quarter results are well below where they need to be," said Thorsten Heins, RIM's CEO. The company reported a net loss of $235 million (UK £144, AU$225), including $126 million (UK £77.6, AU $120) in pre-tax restructuring costs, for an adjusted net loss of $142 million (UK £87.4, AU $136). RIM's cash, cash equivalents, short-term, and long-term investments did increase from approximately $100 million (UK £61.6, AU $959) to $2.3 billion (UK £141, AU $2.2) at the end of the second quarter, while the company shipped 7.4 million handsets in that time. Many of those devices were operating BlackBerry 7 such as the BlackBerry Curve 9320, the company reported. BlackBerry revenue Revenue grew 2 percent, up to $2.9 billion (UK £1.78, AU $2.78) from $2.8 billion (UK £1.72, AU $2.68) the previous quarter. However, that figure is down 31 percent from $4.2 billion (UK £2.58, AU $4.03) the same quarter last fiscal year. Shipments of BlackBerry Playbook tablets were approximately 130,000, while subscribers to BlackBerry stand at 80 million. The company reiterated its commitment to remain fiscally lean and strong as it transitions to a new operating system and undergoes a restructuring initiative to make its operations more efficient. To that end, RIM said it experienced a sequential decrease of $54 million (UK£33.2, AU$51.8) in operating costs. BB10 needs to happen RIM's numbers weren't terrible, yet the company cautioned investors that the outlook for moving forward isn't immediately positive. "We expect the following quarters to be very challenging," RIM representatives said. Heins rested much of his reasoning for why investors should remain hopeful on BB10, which he said is receiving a positive response internationally. "It's a new platform, not just a new product," Heins said. "For sure we'll see additional products in the next calendar year. We'll create a very competitive portfolio." The OS remains on track to launch in the first quarter of next year, Heins assured. The company reiterated its commitment to supporting BlackBerry 7, especially as the holiday season approaches. "We are focused on staying relevant with BlackBerry 7," Heins said. Despite its positive outlook, RIM does expect to report an operating loss next quarter.

RIM reports $235M in losses, remains confident in BB 10 turnaround Posted: 27 Sep 2012 03:06 PM PDT RIM revealed its fiscal year 2013, second quarter financial results to investors Thursday, outlining where the makers of BlackBerry-branded products stand. The quarter covers the past three months ending on Sept. 21. BlackBerry, while in the midst of a turnaround and transition to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, didn't perform to the level it wanted. "Our second quarter results are well below where they need to be," said Thorsten Heins, RIM's CEO. The company reported a net loss of $235 million, including $126 million in pre-tax restructuring costs, for an adjusted net loss of $142 million. RIM's cash, cash equivalents, short-term, and long-term investments did increase from approximately $100 million to $2.8 billion at the end of the second quarter, while the company shipped 7.4 million handsets in that time. Many of those devices were operating BlackBerry 7, the company reported. BlackBerry revenue Revenue grew 2 percent, up to $2.9 billion from $2.8 billion the previous quarter. However, that figure is down 31 percent from $4.2 billion the same quarter last fiscal year. Shipments of BlackBerry Playbook tablets were approximately 130,000, while subscribers to BlackBerry stand at 80 million. The company reiterated its commitment to remain fiscally lean and strong as it transitions to a new operating system and undergoes a restructuring initiative to make its operations more efficient. To that end, RIM said it experienced a sequential decrease of $54 million in operating costs. BB 10 needs to happen RIM's numbers weren't terrible, yet the company cautioned investors that the outlook for moving forward isn't immediately positive. "We expect the following quarters to be very challenging," RIM representatives said. Heins rested much of reasoning for why investors should remain hopeful on BB 10, which he said is receiving a positive response internationally. "It's a new platform, not just a new product," Heins said. "For sure we'll see additional products in the next calendar year. We'll create a very competitive portfolio." The OS remains on track to launch in the first quarter of next year. The company reiterated its commitment to supporting BlackBerry 7, especially as the holiday season approaches. "We are focused on staying relevant with BlackBerry 7," Heins said. The company does expect to report an operating loss next quarter.

RIM reports $235M in losses, remains confident in BB 10 turnaround Posted: 27 Sep 2012 03:06 PM PDT RIM revealed its fiscal year 2013, second quarter financial results to investors Thursday, outlining where the makers of BlackBerry-branded products stand. The quarter covers the past three months ending on Sept. 21. BlackBerry, while in the midst of a turnaround and transition to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, didn't perform to the level it wanted. "Our second quarter results are well below where they need to be," said Thorsten Heins, RIM's CEO. The company reported a net loss of $235 million, including $126 million in pre-tax restructuring costs, for an adjusted net loss of $142 million. RIM's cash, cash equivalents, short-term, and long-term investments did increase from approximately $100 million to $2.8 billion at the end of the second quarter, while the company shipped 7.4 million handsets in that time. Many of those devices were operating BlackBerry 7, the company reported. BlackBerry revenue Revenue grew 2 percent, up to $2.9 billion from $2.8 billion the previous quarter. However, that figure is down 31 percent from $4.2 billion the same quarter last fiscal year. Shipments of BlackBerry Playbook tablets were approximately 130,000, while subscribers to BlackBerry stand at 80 million. The company reiterated its commitment to remain fiscally lean and strong as it transitions to a new operating system and undergoes a restructuring initiative to make its operations more efficient. To that end, RIM said it experienced a sequential decrease of $54 million in operating costs. BB 10 needs to happen RIM's numbers weren't terrible, yet the company cautioned investors that the outlook for moving forward isn't immediately positive. "We expect the following quarters to be very challenging," RIM representatives said. Heins rested much of reasoning for why investors should remain hopeful on BB 10, which he said is receiving a positive response internationally. "It's a new platform, not just a new product," Heins said. "For sure we'll see additional products in the next calendar year. We'll create a very competitive portfolio." The OS remains on track to launch in the first quarter of next year. The company reiterated its commitment to supporting BlackBerry 7, especially as the holiday season approaches. "We are focused on staying relevant with BlackBerry 7," Heins said. The company does expect to report an operating loss next quarter.

Steam Linux beta launching in October Posted: 27 Sep 2012 02:51 PM PDT Valve is going full steam ahead with its Linux plans, announcing the start of an external beta for the Linux Steam client. An internal Linux beta is planned to launch next week, with the doors opening to 1,000 users for a private external beta "sometime in October." While the Linux beta will have limited availability, it will have even more limited features. For example, it will include the Steam client and one compatible Valve game. Features like the new Big Picture Mode and additional games will not be supported in this version either. Valve has not confirmed which game will be included, but given the Linux team's success in porting Left 4 Dead 2 to the OS, it seems to be the most likely choice. The Linux version of Steam has been in the limelight ever since Valve CEO Gabe Newell famously called Windows 8 "a catastrophe" for PC game makers earlier this year. Beta late than never The beta will support Ubuntu 12.04 and above, but Valve suggests that only those users well versed in Linux apply for the initial use. Users new to Linux are told to wait for a more complete version of the Steam client, with more features implemented and an easier to understand install process. Interested users will be able to register for the external beta through a signup page, which will be posted closer to the launch.

Steam Linux beta launching in October Posted: 27 Sep 2012 02:51 PM PDT Valve is going full steam ahead with its Linux plans, announcing the start of an external beta for the Linux Steam client. An internal Linux beta is planned to launch next week, with the doors opening to 1,000 users for a private external beta "sometime in October." While the Linux beta will have limited availability, it will have even more limited features. For example, it will include the Steam client and one compatible Valve game. Features like the new Big Picture Mode and additional games will not be supported in this version either. Valve has not confirmed which game will be included, but given the Linux team's success in porting Left 4 Dead 2 to the OS, it seems to be the most likely choice. The Linux version of Steam has been in the limelight ever since Valve CEO Gabe Newell famously called Windows 8 "a catastrophe" for PC game makers earlier this year. Beta late than never The beta will support Ubuntu 12.04 and above, but Valve suggests that only those users well versed in Linux apply for the initial use. Users new to Linux are told to wait for a more complete version of the Steam client, with more features implemented and an easier to understand install process. Interested users will be able to register for the external beta through a signup page, which will be posted closer to the launch.

Google releases Field Trip, a new guidebook app that tips you off Posted: 27 Sep 2012 02:01 PM PDT There are dozens of apps that individually inform users of good places to eat, where a movie is playing, if a band is jamming in town tonight, or where the best places to shop are located. But what if there was one single app that did all that, while also providing interesting and unique information about the local surroundings? That's just what Google is hoping to accomplish with their new Field Trip app. Arriving on the Google Play store Thursday, Field Trip is described as the "guide to the cool, hidden, and unique things in the world." Local flavor Culling information from places like Thrillist, Food Network, Sunset, Cool Hunting, Atlas Obscura, and Songkick, Field Trip analyzes the surroundings to provide an insider's view of what's hot and happening in a given locale. All the info is pulled from Google's sources, and pushed through seven filters: architecture, historic places and events, lifestyle, offers, food and drink, cool and unique, and outdoor art. The app does all of this work in the background, and informs consumers when they arrive near a destination deemed popular on Field Trip. A simple little information tab will pop up, alerting users to the details on the wheres and whys a certain location has been singled out. It's all about connecting John Hanke, vice president of product at Google, spoke with the New York Times about what Google hoped to accomplish with Field Trip. "The idea behind the app was to build something that would help people connect with the real, physical world around them," Hanke said. "It's always running in the background, so it knows where you are and is always looking to see if something interesting is in your immediate physical environment." Users will of course be able to determine what types of alerts Field Trip sends, as well as the frequency of those alers. Anyone using the Field Trip app will also be able to have the information appear on-screen, or have it fed to them in an audio feed via Bluetooth. Field Trip will also be able to determine whether or not a user is driving, and will inform them of nearby points of interest without any need to access the smartphone. Android and US only... for now Field Trip is currently only available on Android devices right now, but Google does have plans for an iOS version of the app. Hanke explained that with Field Trip, Google was looking to evolve apps beyond where they are now, and wants to "move the device out of your way and put the information front and center." Like the iOS version of the app, an international version is also in the works, but for now Field Trip only works in the U.S. There is currently no date in sight for either release. YouTube : http://youtu.be/zusjUjaiWJQ

Google releases Field Trip, a new guidebook app that tips you off Posted: 27 Sep 2012 02:01 PM PDT There are dozens of apps that individually inform users of good places to eat, where a movie is playing, if a band is jamming in town tonight, or where the best places to shop are located. But what if there was one single app that did all that, while also providing interesting and unique information about the local surroundings? That's just what Google is hoping to accomplish with their new Field Trip app. Arriving on the Google Play store Thursday, Field Trip is described as the "guide to the cool, hidden, and unique things in the world." Local flavor Culling information from places like Thrillist, Food Network, Sunset, Cool Hunting, Atlas Obscura, and Songkick, Field Trip analyzes the surroundings to provide an insider's view of what's hot and happening in a given locale. All the info is pulled from Google's sources, and pushed through seven filters: architecture, historic places and events, lifestyle, offers, food and drink, cool and unique, and outdoor art. The app does all of this work in the background, and informs consumers when they arrive near a destination deemed popular on Field Trip. A simple little information tab will pop up, alerting users to the details on the wheres and whys a certain location has been singled out. It's all about connecting John Hanke, vice president of product at Google, spoke with the New York Times about what Google hoped to accomplish with Field Trip. "The idea behind the app was to build something that would help people connect with the real, physical world around them," Hanke said. "It's always running in the background, so it knows where you are and is always looking to see if something interesting is in your immediate physical environment." Users will of course be able to determine what types of alerts Field Trip sends, as well as the frequency of those alers. Anyone using the Field Trip app will also be able to have the information appear on-screen, or have it fed to them in an audio feed via Bluetooth. Field Trip will also be able to determine whether or not a user is driving, and will inform them of nearby points of interest without any need to access the smartphone. Android and US only... for now Field Trip is currently only available on Android devices right now, but Google does have plans for an iOS version of the app. Hanke explained that with Field Trip, Google was looking to evolve apps beyond where they are now, and wants to "move the device out of your way and put the information front and center." Like the iOS version of the app, an international version is also in the works, but for now Field Trip only works in the U.S. There is currently no date in sight for either release. YouTube : http://youtu.be/zusjUjaiWJQ

ZTE: expect Windows 8-powered V98 tablet in Q1 2013 Posted: 27 Sep 2012 01:14 PM PDT ZTE showed off its Windows 8 tablet at an Intel event in San Francisco Thursday. There, TechRadar learned the company is aiming for a release early next year, probably in the first quarter of 2013. The tablet's screen stretches to 10.1 inches, while the device weighs less than 700 grams and boasts an overall thickness of 8.9 millimeters. Intel's just-announced the Atom Z2760 processor is powering this small yet mighty slate. It will pack 2GB of Ram and 32GB of storage. Two cameras - an 8MP on the back and 2MP on the front - both support 1080 HD video at 30fps. It also comes with LTE, UMTS, or WiFi connectivity options, though no word yet on the price. W8 on the brain With Microsoft's OS set to publicly debut Oct. 26, the mobile device world is buzzing with new products to carry the tablet-compatible system. ZTE, along with Huawei, has faced challenges trying to make entry into the U.S. market, though it's slowly but surely building its presence outside of China. There, the company is near the top of the tech charts, despite its struggles to make inroads elsewhere. Perhaps this tablet, powered by a new processor and new operating system, will spell a new chapter for ZTE. TechRadar is live at Intel's event and will post a hands on review with the new tablet shortly.

ZTE: expect Windows 8-powered V98 tablet in Q1 2013 Posted: 27 Sep 2012 01:14 PM PDT ZTE showed off its Windows 8 tablet at an Intel event in San Francisco Thursday. There, TechRadar learned the company is aiming for a release early next year, probably in the first quarter of 2013. The tablet's screen stretches to 10.1 inches, while the device weighs less than 700 grams and boasts an overall thickness of 8.9 millimeters. Intel's just-announced the Atom Z2760 processor is powering this small yet mighty slate. It will pack 2GB of Ram and 32GB of storage. Two cameras - an 8MP on the back and 2MP on the front - both support 1080 HD video at 30fps. It also comes with LTE, UMTS, or WiFi connectivity options, though no word yet on the price. W8 on the brain With Microsoft's OS set to publicly debut Oct. 26, the mobile device world is buzzing with new products to carry the tablet-compatible system. ZTE, along with Huawei, has faced challenges trying to make entry into the U.S. market, though it's slowly but surely building its presence outside of China. There, the company is near the top of the tech charts, despite its struggles to make inroads elsewhere. Perhaps this tablet, powered by a new processor and new operating system, will spell a new chapter for ZTE. TechRadar is live at Intel's event and will post a hands on review with the new tablet shortly.

Over half of surveyed Windows 8 users prefer Windows 7 Posted: 27 Sep 2012 12:34 PM PDT Well, this can't be good news for Microsoft, as a recent survey of Windows 8 users found that just over half of them still prefer Windows 7. The survey comes from Forumswindows8.com, an independent help and support site for the new operating system. After polling 50,000 active Windows 8 users, 53 percent of respondents said that Windows 7 is still their favorite Windows OS while only 25 percent said that they preferred Windows 8. When asked about individual Windows 8 features, fast boot up and shut down times came out on top with 56 percent saying it was their favorite feature. Easy installation came in a close second with 50 percent citing it as their favorite feature, while Internet Explorer was a distant third with 35 percent of respondents. First, the bad news... The much-touted Windows 8 UI (formerly called the Metro UI) came in further down the list of favorite features, garnering praise from only 22 percent of those surveyed. The charms bar, another Windows 8 staple, only resonated with 13 percent of users, and received the lowest ranking for favorite Windows 8 feature just above "other." According to the survey, the number one weakness to be improved in Windows 8 is the price, with 35 percent of respondents saying it is their biggest concern with the OS. Users will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 for only $39.99, or $69.99 at retail, for the first few months. However, in February after the promotional period ends the price jumps up to $199.99, which is where the price concerns may stem from. After price, the major Windows 8 concerns were system requirements and software compatibility, which were respectively listed as the top concern for 26 percent and 25 percent of respondents. Now, some good news... It isn't all bad news for Windows 8 though, as the people surveyed said they like the idea of using the operating system on tablets. And, 35 percent said that the Microsoft Surface tablet was their first choice, compared to 33 percent saying Android and 26 percent wanting an iPad. Windows Phone 8 also beat out the iPhone with 29 percent saying they would prefer Microsoft's mobile OS compared to 22 percent favoring Apple's smartphone. Both were well behind Android though, with 42 percent saying they prefer it over either Windows Phone 8 or an iPhone. Windows 8 will be Microsoft's biggest shift for its operating system yet when it launches on Oct. 26. Although according to Intel, the OS may not be completely ready in time for launch, with final optimizations and improvements to get patched in after the fact.

Over half of surveyed Windows 8 users prefer Windows 7 Posted: 27 Sep 2012 12:34 PM PDT Well, this can't be good news for Microsoft, as a recent survey of Windows 8 users found that just over half of them still prefer Windows 7. The survey comes from Forumswindows8.com, an independent help and support site for the new operating system. After polling 50,000 active Windows 8 users, 53 percent of respondents said that Windows 7 is still their favorite Windows OS while only 25 percent said that they preferred Windows 8. When asked about individual Windows 8 features, fast boot up and shut down times came out on top with 56 percent saying it was their favorite feature. Easy installation came in a close second with 50 percent citing it as their favorite feature, while Internet Explorer was a distant third with 35 percent of respondents. First, the bad news... The much-touted Windows 8 UI (formerly called the Metro UI) came in further down the list of favorite features, garnering praise from only 22 percent of those surveyed. The charms bar, another Windows 8 staple, only resonated with 13 percent of users, and received the lowest ranking for favorite Windows 8 feature just above "other." According to the survey, the number one weakness to be improved in Windows 8 is the price, with 35 percent of respondents saying it is their biggest concern with the OS. Users will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 for only $39.99, or $69.99 at retail, for the first few months. However, in February after the promotional period ends the price jumps up to $199.99, which is where the price concerns may stem from. After price, the major Windows 8 concerns were system requirements and software compatibility, which were respectively listed as the top concern for 26 percent and 25 percent of respondents. Now, some good news... It isn't all bad news for Windows 8 though, as the people surveyed said they like the idea of using the operating system on tablets. And, 35 percent said that the Microsoft Surface tablet was their first choice, compared to 33 percent saying Android and 26 percent wanting an iPad. Windows Phone 8 also beat out the iPhone with 29 percent saying they would prefer Microsoft's mobile OS compared to 22 percent favoring Apple's smartphone. Both were well behind Android though, with 42 percent saying they prefer it over either Windows Phone 8 or an iPhone. Windows 8 will be Microsoft's biggest shift for its operating system yet when it launches on Oct. 26. Although according to Intel, the OS may not be completely ready in time for launch, with final optimizations and improvements to get patched in after the fact.

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