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• Industry voice: From discovery to action: big data in the boardroom
• How to manage electronic documents across your business
• Verizon has begun sacrificing its 3G networks on the altar of LTE
• Google Inbox will let you hit 'undo' on sent emails
• Review: mini review: Razer Leviathan
• Review: Mac mini 2014
• Will the next Droid be a high-powered 6-inch Verizon exclusive?
• EMC's Spanning announces plans for Microsoft Office 365 integration
• tr tip off: Win the lovely LG G3
• Microsoft might add Cortana to Windows 10 in January
• HP boasts of boosted printing security and mobility for enterprise
• Yotaphone 2 arrives as 'the phone with two fronts'
• Hands-on review: Yotaphone 2
• Google's new Captcha can tell you're human from a single click
• Review: Basis Peak
• With millions in new funding, Misfit eyes the smart home
• Blip: Remember Gangnam Style? It just broke YouTube
• Updated: Surface Mini release date, news and rumors
• Industry voice: The top supercomputer surprises on the horizon
• Industry voice: Choosing the best ways to capture data

Industry voice: From discovery to action: big data in the boardroom Posted: 04 Dec 2014 01:00 AM PST As with the adoption of Hadoop in enabling more flexible data storage and analysis, discovery must take place in the context of where there is a clear understanding of how analytics can deliver against the organisation's broader objectives. Put another way, discovering nuggets of information will only be of real value if they are incorporated as part of new business initiatives. The granularity of the available data enables this to operate both at a strategic (longer-term) and, increasingly, a tactical customer or transactional level. So how can the business take this process of discovery and turn it into action – in the boardroom and on the shopfloor – as the basis of a more competitive business? First, the big data roadmap needs board-level support from the outset, from executives who understand the value of data as the driving force behind business improvement. This not only requires that they have a basic familiarity with the concept of analytics, but also they need to recognise the value of experimentation. Many of the nuggets found at the discovery phase need to be tested in a real world environment to assess their potential value, making senior buy-in critical. Businesses with a web presence tend to be better placed here, as experimentation in the web sphere is far easier. As a simple example: if an online retailer wants to trial an alternative website in a new colour, this can be made available to a controlled subset of customers and the outcome on buying behaviour and profitability assessed, with no impact on the retailer's core customer base. Although this is harder to achieve in a physical environment, in many cases performance improvement will be well worth the time and effort invested. Again, the ability to experiment is key. Retailers are especially good here, through their willingness to allow individual store or area managers to try out different initiatives. However, unlike much of the distributed power of decades past, the head office usually has full visibility of all activities. Equally important is the impact can also be tracked and monitored at individual shopper as well as at store level. There are however a number of other hurdles to be overcome: First, it is important for senior management to understand and be sensitive to the practicalities in implementing discovery at ground level. For example, it may be that all tests have shown that adoption of key phrases as part of a call centre process will deliver more effective results. However, if operatives are uncomfortable with the proposed change and are not persuaded by the scale of benefit, anticipated results will not be realised. Second, the resulting outcomes and impact must be measurable in order to determine the effectiveness of any initiative, which can then be used to build confidence and secure buy-in for broader rollout across the business. Finally, in the spirit of fail fast, the business must be brave enough to admit when things aren't working – both in existing parts of the operation and in new initiatives – and take immediate corrective action. In an iterative environment with rapid measurement of results, such decisions can be taken swiftly and repeatedly in order to optimise outcomes. Visible best practice A business that has successfully scaled the heights of a seamless strategy – from initial experiment through analysis to final business execution – can be distinguished from a business still in the foothills of Hadoop implementation for example, in a number of ways. Although much of the effort to deliver this integrated approach takes place behind the scenes, a data-driven organisation is more likely to change visibly over time, as it responds rapidly and effectively to what competitors and customers are doing. The organisation also tends to be more willing to embrace disruptive concepts and introduce radical change within the business in order to differentiate itself and gain a competitive edge. A good example of an iterative discovery approach is Amazon - to frequent customers, Amazon's site has not changed over time, but if we compare snapshots of the website from five years ago to today, there would be a notable difference. This perception is because Amazon has taken advantage of incremental discoveries and subtly enhanced their website – delivering service innovation and improvement without dramatically disrupting their customer's experience or routine. The site has evolved with a continual drive to making the customer shopping experience as intuitive and easy as possible. Changes will be subtle so returning customers know what to do and where to go on the site, but benefit from constant enhancements. So why is a data-driven approach a key component of business success? It makes for better value-driven decisions by offering facts on which to base comparisons of relative options and accurately measure their effectiveness. Greater granularity enables greater competitive edge, through the ability to measure the value of new offerings. A Unified Data Architecture ensures the most efficient use of people, processes and technologies. It also creates an agile, future-proofed infrastructure, which can adapt and incorporate new solutions, enabling the business to evolve in time with market demands. Many of today's businesses have recognised that a good data strategy is no longer about measuring the past but instead enables management to both predict and influence future outcomes. In short, this transparency and control moves the business decisively from being at the victim of circumstance to master of its own destiny. Duncan Ross is the director of data science at Teradata UK.

How to manage electronic documents across your business Posted: 04 Dec 2014 12:20 AM PST Introduction Think about how your business manages the documents it uses every day. Moving this mass of paper to an electronic system clearly has a number of benefits, but these will only be realised if your enterprise has a robust, comprehensive, secure and user-friendly document management system in place. In a white paper, Hewlett Packard says: "A document management system is just like a catalogue or library of documents. For each document the system will detail what it's about, who wrote it, who can see it, who can change it, who has changed it – and where and how it can be found." A useful document management system must balance all these components. Many of the document management systems that are available from large suppliers such as IBM, EMC and Microsoft tend to be too large and costly to implement for smaller enterprises. Cloudy options The good news, though, is that even the smallest of enterprises can move to electronic document management thanks to a range of cloud-based services that have been developing over the last few years. Some of the leading suppliers in this space include: • Alfresco • OnBase • Perceptive • Easy Software • eCopy ShareScan • Invu • Lindenhouse Software • Prism Software Service and security Micro-enterprises may already use systems such as Google Docs, DropBox or Huddle, but these must be carefully evaluated to ensure they offer the level of service that your business needs, and the high levels of security your business' documents should have. Simply using the consumer-level versions of these services is not an option for businesses that want to build robust and expandable document management systems to serve them now and in the future. Always assess the business-grade services that these platforms offer. Doug Miles, Director Market Intelligence for AIIM (Association for Information and Image Management) told TechRadar Pro: "A small business must first decide if it is going to use a document management system simply for storing records needed for compliance, or for publishing finished documents for general access or consultative documents for project teams. "My recommendation would be to go for the middle option, with a view to records management as the next step. Set up a small information governance team with representation from multiple areas, and once the scope is set, get someone trained – or better still the whole team." Moving to a document management system is a task that all businesses can benefit from, but careful planning and a stepped implementation will ensure your enterprise moves to these systems seamlessly and with the least amount of disruption. Building platforms The level of complexity your business needs in terms of electronic document management will be determined by the goals your enterprise sets at the planning stage. Even a simple setup with a document scanner that is now built into most multi-function printers coupled with an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) application such as OmniPage is a good place to start, with Nuance Cloud Connector offering a simple means to embrace cloud-based document management. David Jones, Cloud Solution Marketing Manager at Hyland, Creator of OnBase, says: "The cloud has made document management accessible to small businesses, but getting the best out of any system still requires careful planning and hard work. "Understanding how the business currently works and its key processes, documents and stakeholders are vital insights, but needs to be balanced against what can be gained from using the document management system. Cherry pick the parts of the business that can be migrated easily, but that can also be improved, and implement those first." Hybrid approach Most businesses will approach their implementation of a document management system as a hybrid that will incorporate on-site storage and cloud services. This enables businesses to leverage their use of mobile digital devices and their increasing use of remote working without any degradation in their ability to operate efficiently. Document management also means much more than simply moving paper documents into the digital space. Small businesses also need to manage emails, spreadsheets, and even capture receipts, and all this must be factored into a comprehensive document management service. Stuart Evans, CTO of Invu, observes: "Document management is not just about digitising manual documents – it provides so much more. Document management systems are solutions that work alongside existing business applications to increase efficiencies. "Small businesses that are thinking of deploying a document management solution should work with a partner that understands business processes – not just how to digitise paper documents. Speak to those providers with a proven track record as it is a more specialised area than perhaps initially thought." Agility first For small businesses working on the move and developing flexible teams, which could be geographically dispersed, the move to more electronic document management is vital. Businesses need to be agile and have access to a myriad of documentation. The document management system that is chosen must therefore have the flexibility to deliver the required services. Secure connections are a must with VPN (Virtual Private Networks) essential to securely connect remote devices to what can be highly sensitive documents. Ultimately a well-designed document management system offers these key benefits to your business: • Increased efficiency • Support for mobile and flexible working • Lowers infrastructure and maintenance costs • Delivers high levels of collaborative working • Hybrid document management systems produce highly secure document environments • Data backup and recovery is more secure and seamless Document futures "The future of electronic document management is firmly grounded in analytics and software intelligence because the ability of the electronic document management (EDM) software to integrate the contents of documents is essential," said Alan Bainbridge, Head Architect, Danwood Group. "Presently, most EDM systems use metadata for indexed searches," he continued. "However, with the power of the cloud, the contents of entire documents can be read and analysed from any device. The progression of artificial intelligence will allow EDM systems to offer business insights, trending information and a host of other business critical data to users on any device from any location." Furthermore, AIIM's Doug Miles also stated: "After initial resistance, content is moving to the cloud, either exclusively, or more likely as a hybrid between cloud for the most shareable and collaborative content, and on-premise for more sensitive content and perhaps core records. The need for simplicity is core to user adoption, and this is being reflected in automated systems that take care of classifying and tagging documents based on their content." One size doesn't fit all What is clear is that one size does not fit all where document management is concerned. Businesses of all sizes, however, can clearly benefit from developing these platforms to increase their efficiency and future-proof operating systems. And with flexible working practices continuing to expand, and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) impacting more businesses, moving to an electronic document system should be a top priority for all businesses that want to remain relevant in their market sectors. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Verizon has begun sacrificing its 3G networks on the altar of LTE Posted: 03 Dec 2014 03:48 PM PST It was the wireless standard for a while, and 3G service chugs on for many users - but that has begun to change. That shouldn't come as a surprise, but it's fascinating to note one active harbinger of 3G's demise; namely, Verizon's new move to begin killing its 3G spectrum and using it for a new 4G LTE network instead. Verizon's first two LTE networks tapped previously unused spectrum, but a new network detected by tweeter Milan Milanović is a different story. For this one Verizon is shutting down its old systems and testing 4G LTE on PCS bands in New York City. From hypothesis to fact Milanović noticed the switch when he attempted to connect to frequency bands that were previously used for Verizon's 3G EV-DO network, but which now connected him to Verizon LTE service. He repeated the experiment all over Manhattan, though it didn't work in other New York boroughs. And Verizon confirmed that it is testing LTE on those bands when Gigaom reached out for a statement, though they wouldn't provide any further details. A spokesperson did, however, point out that the carrier has previously said it would begin converting some 3G into 4G by 2015 - and that it would shut 3G down completely by 2021. That's still a long ways off, and almost half of Verizon devices are still stuck on 2G and 3G, but it's interesting to know that the process has already begun. 4G and LTE: everything you need to know

Google Inbox will let you hit 'undo' on sent emails Posted: 03 Dec 2014 03:24 PM PST We've all fired off that one unfortunate email only to wish we'd waited another few seconds, to realize it was sent to the wrong person or you left the subject line blank or something even worse. Now Google proposes to ensure that will never happen again - or at least that it won't matter, hopefully. That's because a new Google Inbox feature called "Undo Send," revealed during a Reddit ask-me-anything session, will let you quickly recall emails as if they were never sent in the first place. It's happening As GigaOM points out there are two likely ways this might work. Firstly, judging by how BlackBerry Messenger does it, Google Inbox could just let you rescind emails sent to other Inbox users. On the other hand there's also a somewhat buried Google Labs feature that lets Gmail users un-send emails no matter who they were sent to - as long as they do it within 30 seconds of actually pressing the "send" button. In the Reddit AMA Google Inbox Software Engineer Taylor Kourim said the undo button is the feature he most wants to implement, tied only with cross-browser support. And in case you think it's just a pipe dream, he clarified: "Yes, we're working on it right now. Other Inbox team members answered that they most want to add customization for snooze times and tablet support, but the ability to un-send emails is undoubtedly the most exciting feature that Google Inbox may one day boast. Google opened Inbox up to all comers for a short time today, but currently it remains a (mostly) invite-only service. Hands on with Google Inbox: what's it like to use?

Review: mini review: Razer Leviathan Posted: 03 Dec 2014 01:55 PM PST Just when you think you really know a company, it goes and releases something completely out of left-field. Take Razer: historically, it's been a peddler of pointers and the king of keyboards. Just look at the venerable Razer BlackWidow Ultimate or Razer DeathAdder Chroma. The $199 (£159, AU$279) Leviathan is many things for Razer. It's Razer's first sound bar, mainly, but also its first step into your living room and the consoles that live there. It's the first product from Razer that can directly interface with your Xbox One and PS4 via its optical audio-in port, as well as your PC or TV through auxiliary in. But, more than any of that, the Leviathan represents an idea. Companies like Razer can do – and become – more than ever before. Design Best described as an all-black, half-size sound bar, the Leviathan measures in at 19.7 x 3 x 2.8 inches (W x H x D) and comes in around 4.5 pounds. Don't let its dimensions throw you, it's similarly sized to other entry-level sound bars, and it produces more than enough sound to compensate for its diminutive stature. On the front, you'll find a speaker grille that guards two 0.74-inch tweeters and two 2.5-inch full-range drivers, a trademark silver Razer logo located in the exact middle of the bar, and a one-inch power button located along the top of the grille. Looking at the top of the bar you'll find standard controls as well as the Bluetooth button used to sync the Leviathan up with your mobile device and a preset button that switches between game, music and movie modes. Spin it all the way around to find a proprietary subwoofer-out, DC-in, optical audio-in and auxiliary in jacks as well as two brackets for wall mounting. The Leviathan isn't as well-stocked with ports as its higher-end competitors, but what's there is amiably simplified to the bare essentials. The only real problem with the proprietary subwoofer port – which transmits power and signal to the external, matte black subwoofer – is that the cable sits loosely in the jack, and overall feels incredibly fragile. It's commendable that Razer chose to include signal and power into a single cable – eliminating the need for the subwoofer to have its own power supply – but in the ideal scenario, and perhaps in the next iteration, the Leviathan should opt for a wireless subwoofer. Performance As it stands, though, the subwoofer is one the Leviathan's greatest assets. The little box pushes an astounding amount of air through its 5.25-inch driver and produces a rich, bass-heavy sound that doesn't distort at its highest volume. I found the low-end a little too overpowering for my tastes, but if you're a gamer that likes your bass to drop harder than the bodies of your opponents, you'll no doubt come to love the little cube. Besides a few balancing issues, the overall quality of the Leviathan's sound is good no matter which input you decide to use. The Dolby Pro Logic II codec will transform any signal (analog, optical or Bluetooth) into simulated 5.1 surround sound. It has to be simulated though, as the unit is one driver shy of true 5.1 sound. The effect is very subdued however, and anyone used to using a true 5.1 surround sound setup will notice a lack of distinct left and right channels. Cycling through the presets often alleviates a few of these issues (the music mode really does do a good job of providing some balance to the mix), and the obscenely affordable price mitigates almost any complaint. Verdict For $199 (£159, AU$279), the Razer Leviathan is a great sound bar, and is easily recommended for gamers who just aren't ready to dive into a full 5.1 system yet. It's a bit bass-heavy, thanks to the standalone subwoofer – but even so, movies and games come through clear. The bar is relatively versatile, too. It's plenty powerful for a PC, but it works out of the box with any console or TV through optical audio out. Not to mention that built-in Bluetooth lets you connect your mobile device when you aren't directly in front of your entertainment setup. A few tweaks, like a more stable subwoofer connector and a remote would've been nice. But, in spite of its diminutive size, the Leviathan far outgrew my expectations.

Review: Mac mini 2014 Posted: 03 Dec 2014 01:50 PM PST Introduction Introduction and design First launched in 2005, Apple's Mac mini has never received the same design plaudits as the MacBook Air, but it has been almost as influential upon the competition. The titular computer's square shape, minimal appearance and compact nature can be seen in devices such as Intel's NUC, Samsung's Chromebox and, more recently, Sky's Now TV box. Even so, it's fair to say that the Mac mini probably hasn't received as much love as Apple's other products over the years. It's a safe bet; consistent and dependable, evolving quietly in the background without requiring headline-grabbing specs - like the iMac 5K's dazzling display, or the iPad Air 2's impossibly thin dimensions - to stand out from the crowd. It comes as little surprise, then, to find that Apple's new Mac mini is indistinguishable from its predecessor, the Late 2012 Mac mini. They may look the same on the outside, but under the hood, the changes are numerous, with the most significant being the switch from Intel's Ivy Bridge chip to Haswell. The Mac mini has traditionally been the cheapest way to own a Mac as it comes without a keyboard, mouse or monitor. The computer is internet-ready out of the box, and if you already have Apple or third-party peripherals you can be up and running within minutes. The latest Mac mini models come pre-loaded with OS X 10.10 Yosemite, which features a closer symmetry with iOS 8 and arrives with a slick new design. There are three new Mac mini systems in Apple's refreshed line-up. The entry-level Mac mini now costs £399 ($499), making it one of the company's most affordable computing devices ever. It comes with an Intel Core-i5 CPU clocked to 1.4GHz (Turbo Boost to 2.7GHz), 4GB of RAM and a 500GB HDD. Next along, the mid-range model comes in at £569 ($699) and houses a 2.6GHz Core-i5 CPU (Turbo Boost to 3.5GHz) backed up by 8GB of RAM. Those seeking more computing power without having to buy an iMac or a MacBook should consider the top-end Mac mini, the machine featured in our review, which costs £799 ($999) and comes with a 2.8GHz Intel Core-i5 CPU (Turbo Boost to 3.3GHz), a 1TB Fusion Drive and Intel Iris Graphics. It's also configurable with a dual-core Intel Core-i7 CPU clocked at 3.0GHz (Turbo Boost to 3.5GHz) for maximum grunt at extra cost. The higher-end Mac mini is still £100 ($157) cheaper than the entry-level 21.5-inch iMac, which comes with a 1.4GHz (Turbo Boost to 2.7GHz) Intel Core-i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 500GB HDD and Intel's integrated HD Graphics 5000. There are some crucial difference between the two in terms of upgradability and processing power, which we will detail in this review. Specifications As mentioned, the Mac mini now comes with Intel's Haswell processor. The machine has had to wait patiently in line for an upgrade to Intel's fourth-generation chip, which already features in Apple's MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and iMac systems. The Mac mini has always been popular as an office machine for not just its compact size, but also its low power usage. According to Apple, the new Mac mini consumes just 6 watts of power when in idle mode, making it one of the most economic, energy-sipping computers around - something reflected in the machine's near-silent operation. A 1TB Fusion Drive is issued as standard on the high-end model. Essentially a Solid State Hybrid Drive (SSHD), it combines the capacious capacity of hard disk with the fast speeds of a flash drive, allowing you to store plenty of apps and files without sacrificing speed. Unfortunately the Mac mini hasn't made the leap from integrated to dedicated graphics in any of the new models, instead relying on Intel's integrated Iris graphics solution. It's also a shame that the Mac mini isn't available in a 4-core configuration, as its predecessor was; dual-core is the only option, something that may push high-end video editors and design professionals toward the mid-range 21.5-inch iMac, which comes with a quad-core Intel Core-i5 CPU clocked for 2.7GHz for £1,049. Ports and connectivity In terms of connectivity options, there are four USB 3.0 ports and two Thunderbolt 2.0 ports on the rear, allowing you to hook up a growing number of compatible peripherals - from external storage drives to monitors. If you are planning on hooking up a 4K monitor, be sure to read the section of this review titled Performance, as there is a major drawback to doing so using the latest Mac mini. The Late 2012 Mac mini's Firewire port has been replaced with a second Thunderbolt 2.0 port, adding to an already cramped array of ports around the back. Although the Mac mini's compact design is one of its more attractive traits, it would have been useful for Apple to move the SD card reader or another port to the front to create some breathing space. On the left of the Thunderbolt 2 port is a HDMI connection for hooking up to an external display. If using particularly chunky cables, you may find that there isn't enough room to have both a Thunderbolt 2 and HDMI port connected at the same time. The Mac mini no longer comes with a HDMI to DVI adapter, which isn't a huge problem as they can be picked up for a few pounds (or dollars) from online retailers. For communication, there's 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which allows for much faster transfer speeds compared to 802.11g/b/n if used with a compatible AC router. There's also Gigabit Ethernet for hooking up to a LAN, which sits along an SD card reader and headphone jack. Access denied Previous Mac mini systems have been user-upgradable, but unfortunately Apple's latest model is not, which is one of the biggest downsides compared to the Late 2012 version. Before, the machine's circular base would rotate and come away, providing access to the RAM slots once a few other components had been moved out of the way. Although it still has the same circular design, the new Mac mini's base plate doesn't budge, meaning there's no way inside. Apple's own RAM has never come cheap, but there was nothing to stop you fitting more affordable sticks from third-party suppliers. The lack of upgradable RAM is less of a problem on the high-end Mac mini, which comes with 8GB of main memory, than it is on the entry-level version that comes with 4GB, but that will be of little consolation for those wanting the most powerful configuration possible. Performance and benchmarks Benchmarks Xbench 1.3: 326.07 Cinebench 15 (multi core) 291cb Cinebench 15 (OpenGL): 26.17cb Novabench (Overall): 106 Novabench (Graphics): 46 3D Mark 11 Sky Diver: 1,312 Fire Storm: 350 Ice Storm: 24,849 The high-end Mac mini is no slouch thanks to a fast Intel Core-i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a nippy Fusion Drive. Boot times are fast - around 15 seconds - and opening and closing apps is mostly instantaneous. Compared to the Late 2012 Mac mini, graphics have received a healthy boost thanks to the inclusion of Intel's Iris solution. Even so, gaming performance is a mixed bag depending on the title. Graphically demanding game Dead Island ran with choppy frame rates of around 20FPS on a low 1,024 x 768 pixel-resolution setting. On the other hand, Valve's Team Fortress 2 which is based on a less-intensive graphical engine achieved a consistent 50 to 60FPS while set to 1,920 x 1080. Performance-wise, one big drawback to the Mac mini is that it's unable to drive a 4K monitor at 60Hz. Because of a limitation of the Intel CPU inside, its refresh rate is limited to 30Hz, which makes for an unpleasantly laggy experience. Whether you're using Thunderbolt 2 or HDMI, you'll still encounter choppy performance that makes performing productive tasks awkward and time consuming. Verdict The Mac mini continues to impresses thanks to its attractive design, quiet and energy efficient operation and improved graphics capabilities. However, the features offered up at the high-end likely won't be enough to satisfy those hungry for computing power in the absence of upgradable RAM or a quad-core configuration. We liked The Mac mini comes with some truly useful upgrades: the addition of 802.11ac Wi-Fi will be a boon for those who prefer to work wire-free, and the addition of a second Thunderbolt 2 port opens up a world of possibilities where peripherals are concerned. Gaming may not be top-notch just yet on the Mac mini, but you'll certainly be able to play more games than you could with the Late 2012 model's older HD 4000. It may feel like ages since the Mac mini received a design update, but you could argue that it doesn't need one. It's still small, light and compact enough to sit discretely at the corner of a desk or even slip into a bag if you need to connect it to another monitor. Although pure SSD configurations are the best bet for storage, they're expensive, and the Mac mini's Fusion Drive feels like the right balance between capacity and performance. Combined with its Intel Core-i5 CPU and 8GB of RAM, we very rarely had to wait for apps or websites to load. We disliked The major caveat spoiling the party this time around has to be the lack of user-upgradable RAM. Those plumping nearly a grand on the top-end model will be disappointed to max out at 8GB, which stifles the longevity of machine. That there's no quad-core option will be similarly off-putting to professionals looking for the most bang, whatever the buck. In a world where even Intel's NUC PC is capable of displaying 4K video at 60Hz, the Mac mini's maximum 30Hz feels like a let down and renders it practically useless for image editing at the super-high resolution. Final verdict Even at the higher end the Mac mini struggles to challenge even the cheapest iMac: it can't be upgraded and isn't available with a quad-core processor, meaning you'll have to think twice before upgrading from the Late 2012 Mac mini, which doesn't suffer from either of those drawbacks. If you're looking for that bit more power and ability to upgrade over time, spending a bit more on the mid-range iMac would be the better option - plus you get a display and peripherals thrown in. On the other hand, if you're happy with the specs offered in the high-end model and accept its limitations, you can bag yourself what is in many ways the best Mac mini yet. It comes with superior wireless speeds, lets you hook up multiple Thunderbolt 2 peripherals and comes pre-loaded with the best version of OS X yet. A discrete option that you can even chuck into a backpack, it's a very fast mini desktop PC with tons of storage and heaps of style.

Will the next Droid be a high-powered 6-inch Verizon exclusive? Posted: 03 Dec 2014 01:04 PM PST Motorola's Droid family is due for another entry on the heels of the impressive Droid Turbo, and it seems it could soon come in the form of a 6-inch powerhouse arriving on Verizon. That's the next Droid phone, with a 6-inch 1080p display and a lovely Snapdragon 810 processor, according to Droid Forums' "insider sources." This new Droid will reportedly "use the same physical structure" as the Motorola-built Nexus 6, but with even better specs and Droid branding, and exclusive to Verizon. In addition to the cutting-edge Snapdragon 810 it will also reportedly sport 4GB of memory and a 4,000mAh battery. The site says its intel is "pretty solid," and its sources said the new Droid will launch around the middle of 2015, so hopefully we'll see it unveiled soon - like maybe at CES 2015? Hello Moto: the true story behind Lenovo's big buy

EMC's Spanning announces plans for Microsoft Office 365 integration Posted: 03 Dec 2014 12:33 PM PST Spanning, formerly Spanning Backup, will launch a Microsoft Office 365 data backup and recovery tool in the first half of 2015, Spanning President and CEO Jeff Erramouspe has revealed. Spanning was acquired by EMC in October. The SaaS backup and recovery tool is available for Google Apps, Salesforce and other products, but so far Office has been left out of the party. That will change next year, Erramouspe said. What it does Spanning for Microsoft Office 365 will let users back up data from smartphones, tablets and desktop machines. The service is designed to provide businesses with protection from user error and hackers, among other data threats. The service will cost in the range of $40 (about £25, AU$47) per user per year, Erramouspe added, clarifying that the price hasn't been exactly nailed down yet. Similar solutions exist for Office 365, namely Cloudfinder, but Erramouspe said his service will do a better job restoring data for Office clients. "Cloudfinder does a great job on the backup side," he said. "But we do a better job on the restore side for Office 365." Responsive design Spanning for Office 365, Salesforce and Google will include a responsive design interface that will enable users to back up data with a similar experience regardless of whether they're using a mobile device or a desktop computer. Backup and disaster recovery: why it's vital to have a plan

tr tip off: Win the lovely LG G3 Posted: 03 Dec 2014 12:12 PM PST We'll come right out with it: we're giving away the LG G3 to seven readers. What's so cool about the LG G3 and how do I enter to win? Read on, dear contestant, read on. The LG G3 is one of 2014's sharpest-looking handsets. It even received our coveted "Recommended" award – quite a feat in a sea of smartphones. For starters, the phone packs plenty of power and panache, fueled by the quad-core Snapdragon 801 and a 13MP rear Camera. Good battery life and expandable memory round out this must-have Android phone. Games look vibrant on the 5.5-inch, 2560x1440 resolution IPS screen. Equipped with 3GB of RAM and with HDMI output supported, you can pipe high-quality graphics to the big screen, if you fancy. Shut up and take my entry! OK, OK. Fine, we could talk about what makes the LG G3 great until we pass out, but we'd rather just turn you into a believer by giving you one. We're happy to announce a giveaway that will leave seven lucky readers with an incredibly large grin across their faces – also with an LG G3 at their doorstep. Entering the contest is easy. All that you have to do is enter your full name, e-mail address and zip code and submit! We'll stop taking entries for the giveaway at 11:59 pm PST on December 9, so act fast! Note that this giveaway is limited to US addresses and carrier selection may depend on availability. Enter the contest here! Sweepstakes open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia (excluding Rhode Island, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. military installations in foreign countries, or in any other U.S. territories or possessions), except where prohibited or restricted by law. Entrants must have attained the age of majority in their state of residence (usually at least eighteen (18) years of age) at time of entry, possess a valid form of unexpired government-issued photo identification, and have a valid email address.

Microsoft might add Cortana to Windows 10 in January Posted: 03 Dec 2014 12:06 PM PST It's been thought that Microsoft would release a Windows 10 consumer preview in January, and while that may still happen there's a new rumor too: that Cortana will arrive in a separate Windows 10 preview next month. That's according to CNET's sources, who said Microsoft will add Cortana to a Windows 10 Technical Preview in January 2015. The January Tech Preview will reportedly be separate from the rumored consumer preview, and it will be followed by a February Tech Preview, March Tech Preview and more into future months, the site says. In addition to Cortana, the Windows 10 January Tech Preview may also support Continuum, which alters the UI on the fly for users with two-in-one devices, letting them more easily switch between display modes. We'll likely hear more about upcoming Windows 10 versions - including the versions for tablets and smartphones - at a Windows event we're anticipating in January. Huawei vents frustration with Windows Phone

HP boasts of boosted printing security and mobility for enterprise Posted: 03 Dec 2014 10:39 AM PST HP today announced incoming updates to its JetAdvantage printing solutions portfolio that it says will "help enterprise organizations more easily and securely print from mobile devices." One such update comes to HP Access Control, bringing it up to version 14.2 and adding end-to-end encryption while reportedly reducing unnecessary costs for businesses. HP Access Control 14.2 also adds support for HP's Officejet Pro X line as well as Unix and Linux systems. The update is available now. Meanwhile the latest version of ePrint Enterprise, version 4.0, adds support for Windows Phone 8 alongside iOS, Android and BlackBerry 10. HP's ePrint Enterprise 4.0 uses AirPrint to let users print securely from smartphones and tablets without the need for a separate mobile app. The new version will be available starting December 19. Epson introduces two new heavy-duty printers for small and medium businesses

Yotaphone 2 arrives as 'the phone with two fronts' Posted: 03 Dec 2014 10:00 AM PST What's better than a touchscreen on a smartphone? Two of them of course! And that's exactly what the newly launched YotaPhone 2 offers. We first saw this device at MWC 2015 back in February, but it's taken the Russian firm over eight months to get the handset out the door. On the front of this unique device is a relatively standard 5-inch, full HD AMOLED display, but turn it over and you'll find an always-on 4.7-inch E-Ink screen, both of which are protected by Gorilla Glass 3. Both are full touchscreens, which is an advancement over the original Yotaphone which only had a touch sensitive strip at the base of its E-Ink display, and you can even access the full Android interface on the low power, black and white rear. Turn the other sceen In terms of the other features the Yotaphone 2 comes with a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB internal storage, 4G connectivity, 8MP rear camera and 2.1MP front snapper. The Snapdragon 800 processor is a little old, having been superseded by the 801 and 805 chips from Qualcomm, and there's no microSD slot to build on the internal space provided. Yota Devices claims that in reading mode on the E-Ink display you'll be good for up to five days on a single, while the special YotaEngery mode promises up to 8.5 hours of operation from the last 15% of battery. The Yotaphone 2 goes on sale in over 20 countries including the UK on December 4 priced at £555 (€699, around $870, AU$1020), arriving in Asia Pacific and China during early Q1 2015, and then the US, Canada and Latin America later in the quarter. Check out our extensive hands on: Yotaphone 2 review, which will be updated to a full review very soon.

Hands-on review: Yotaphone 2 Posted: 03 Dec 2014 10:00 AM PST Introduction and design We've had the Yotaphone 2 for over a week and we're putting the finishing touches to our full review. In the meantime take a look through our extensive hands on. It's not often you come across a truly unique device in the smartphone market, but the Yotaphone 2 is exactly that. Unique. From the front it looks like any other Android smartphone, but flip it over and you're greeted with a second, all-touch display - only it's an E-Ink screen similar to those found on ereaders. The Yotaphone 2 is the Russian brand's second entry into the market following on from the original, proof of concept, Yotaphone which launched in 2013 and aimed squarely at early adopters. This time round Yota Devices means business. This is a global device aimed at the average consumer rather than those sitting at the forefront of technology. It's even opened a dedicated store in London to really drive home the intent. The Yotaphone 2 release date is December 4, where it goes on sale in over 20 countries, with Asia Pacific and China joining the party in early Q1 of 2015, and the US, Canada and Latin America towards the end of the same quarter. Fitting two screens into one device no thicker than 9mm while overcoming potential heat sync issues was no mean feat and the Yotaphone 2 carries a price tag which reflects the engineering complexity of its design. SIM-free it'll set you back £555 (around $870, AU$1035), which places it up there with the top smartphones of the moment including the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8 and Sony Xperia Z3. There's a decent level of tech included though, with a full HD 5-inch AMOLED display, 4.7-inch E-Ink rear screen, 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB internal storage, 8MP rear camera and 2.1MP front snapper. Place the Yotaphone 2 face up (coloured screen up) on a table and it looks like any run of the mill Android - there's no indication of what lies on the other side. There's no logo or navigation keys below the screen, and its rounded design reminds me of a cross between the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Nexus. It's simple, yet I'm oddly drawn to the clean, fuss free design. With Gorilla Glass 3 front and back it feels supremely solid and the plastic frame which runs round the circumference has a textured rubberised feel providing a welcome level of grip. The power/lock and volume keys are on the right side of the Yotaphone 2, and both fall nicely under thumb/finger during one handed operation. The volume key has a pretty neat party trick which it's learnt from its predecessor - it doubles as the nanoSIM tray. Your standard SIM tool won't be long enough to dislodge it from the handset though, you'll have to use Yota's elongated tool which arrives in the box, or in my case a slender paper clip. There is a fear that if used frequently you could end up damaging the volume keys and/or SIM tray, but for most users it's unlikely that you'll access the SIM particularly often. The handset is only a touch taller than the Galaxy S5 (142mm) and not as wide, while the metal framed Lumia 930 is wider (71mm), thicker (9.8mm) and heavier (167g) than the 145g Yotaphone. Considering it's packing two fully touchscreen displays the fact Yotaphone 2 is just 8.95mm thick is impressive and the 144.9 x 69.4mm body means it sits comfortably in the hand. It's a vast improvement on the blocky original Yotaphone, and the positioning of the rear camera clearly trumps the bottom corner location of its predecessor. I'm not talking iPhone 6 levels of quality and premium appeal here, but pick up the Yotaphone 2 and it feels like a well made piece of kit rather than a cheap knockoff from a brand you've hardly heard of. Unsurprisingly you can't take the back off this phone thanks to the fact there's a screen in the way, so the 2500mAh battery is locked away. That shouldn't be a huge issue though, as one of the key reasons there's an E-Ink screen in play here is to suck less battery during mundane tasks such as texting, reading and updating social media. There's also the dedicated YotaEnergy power saving mode to help extend battery life further, but more on that later in this review. The dual screen setup means the speaker is shunted to the base of the handset, with a centralised microUSB port for company making for a tidy setup. Meanwhile the headphone jack is the only feature on the top edge. With 32GB of internal storage there's enough space to store a decent number of apps, games, movies and music, but power users may be disappointed to learn there's no microSD slot to expand on this. However the main attraction here is that rear E-Ink display, which is always-on and slightly curved at the edges, making the Yotaphone 2 fit more snugly into your palm when using the coloured display. There's plenty going on with this always-on display. Want to find out what? Then head over to the next page. The EPD: Electronic Paper Display Round the back Without question the biggest talking point here is the 4.7-inch EPD (Electronic Paper Display) slapped on the rear of the Yotaphone 2. Unlike the E-Ink screen on the original Yotaphone this one is full touch, providing a lot more functionality. The resolution isn't exactly inspiring at 960 x 540, but you won't be watching movies or playing games on this side of the handset. For text though it's perfectly acceptable and I didn't have any issues reading on this rear screen - which is really its forte. One of the big benefits of the EPD is that it's always-on, allowing you to see vital information such as your latest notifications without even touching the device. Even when the device is powered off, you can select an image to remain on this display. Handy if you have a boarding pass or a map home, but your phone has died. With Gorilla Glass 3 protecting the curved display you shouldn't have to fear sliding it in a pocket with keys, but to the touch it doesn't feel like glass. While the front of the Yotaphone 2 is cool to the touch and has the tactility of glass, the rear protection here feels more like plastic. It's not a bad feeling, but it's noticeably different. It does help to quickly recognise which side is which when you're plucking it out of a bag or pocket, allowing you to get it facing the right direction in your hand before looking at it. Yota Devices collected feedback from everyone who purchased the first Yotaphone which it used to decide what features needed to be included in its second generation device. To customise the EPD you'll need to head to the Yota Hub on the colour screen, where you'll be able to fiddle with your YotaCovers and YotaPanels. Cover up The EPD lock screen (called YotaCover) displays the number of new calls, text messages, emails and other notifications your phone has. You can also choose the picture(s) displayed as a background. You can select photos stored on the handset, or albums from social networks including Facebook and Instagram, which will then cycle at an interval of your choosing (e.g. every 5, 10 or 30 minutes). YotaCover can also show the details of a new message, from just the name of the sender to the message itself, or nothing at all. This allows you to tailor the information which is freely available on this screen without unlocking. It's not a flawless system. On several occasions the message notification said I had an unread text, even though I'd already gone and read and replied to it. Another problem which I came up against was when a text message flashed up on the rear display, but the options to reply, call or dismiss the notification from the screen refused to work and I had to restart the phone in order to clear it. The screen randomly froze one a few occasions as well - again prompting a restart. These are hopefully simple software issues which can be fixed with an update, but as things stand at the moment they're frustrating quirks which put me off using the rear display. To unlock the E-Ink display all you need to do is slide your finger up from the bottom of the screen and over the padlock icon - not too quickly though. You need to be relatively slow. Most of the time this unlocked the phone first time for me, but every now and then I'd have to have three or four attempts before it understood what I was doing. Once unlocked (and you've typed in your password if you've got one set) you'll notice a navigation bar at the bottom of the screen, with a central button which lets you flip between YotaCovers and YotaPanels. Panel beater If YotaCover is your lock screen, then YotaPanels are your home screens, of which you can have up to four on the Yotaphone 2. These panels can be customised with a variety of widgets and app shortcuts - although the selection of the former is limited to what's pre-installed on the device. The hope is more developers with code applications to play nicely with the EPD on the Yotaphone 2, but for now you can't guarantee who will make the effort. Unless you're extremely privacy conscious I'd recommend ignoring YotaCover and sticking with YotaPanels as they offer up much more information at a glance, which you can tailor so it's relevant to you. You can lock the EPD on a panel - just click the power/lock key on the side of the handset (it's now on the left!) and the padlock icon will show in the notification bar. A swipe up over this icon will unlock the display. You'll need to fire up the YotaHub app on the colour screen to edit your panels, and you can choose from pre-filled templates or start with a blank slate and craft your own info screen. Some of the more basic widgets were the ones I found to be the most useful with notification icons (calls, texts, emails and other), clock and battery status all featuring front and centre. Swiping sideways over a panel will see you cycle through your active panels, or you can just use the arrows in the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. Widget options also include calendar, agenda, weather, key contacts and a music player - all of which provide useful information and tools while use much less power than the same tasks on the AMOLED display. Read me A key widget for some will be YotaRSS, allowing you to get your daily news fix delivered to the power efficient rear display of YotaPhone 2 - perfect for the morning commute. You'll need to login to Feedly for the service to work, but once you've done that you'll get the latest headlines from your RSS feeds in an easy to use widget. As I've already mentioned it's excellent for reading, using the same screen technology as ereaders, although I did find some ghosting occurring - especially when scrolling pages with images. In most cases it's not bad enough to make the text unreadable, and the limitations of the E-Ink screen are partly to blame - but it is noticeable and can be a little off putting during extended use. Reading books is another obvious advantage with the low power EPD display, and Yota reckons you can get up to 100 hours reading time from a single charge - although you'd probably have to turn off cellular data, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and not touch the colour screen at all. You can make one of your panels a link to the book your reading for easy access, or you can mirror a third party app such as Kindle to the rear screen if you have a collection elsewhere. Text isn't as sharp as it is on the latest fleet of ereaders, and the lack of a backlight means you can't read in the dark, but those things aside the Yotaphone 2 still offers a solid reading experience which far exceeds rival smartphones. Key features Up front I've focussed heavily on the rear display of the Yotaphone 2 so far for obvious reasons, but that's not the only thing to shout about here. The 5-inch AMOLED screen on the front isn't just an afterthought, with a full HD resolution and bright, vibrant colours making for an attractive display. It's comfortably stands up against the displays found on the Sony Xperia Z3, Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8. It may not be great in direct sunlight, but no phone screen is and the trump card held by the Yotaphone 2 is you can flip it over for a display which doesn't have any trouble in bright light. In fact, with a slightly smaller display size versus some of its high-end competition, the Yotaphone 2 boasts a pixel density of 442ppi. That's a touch better than the S5 at 432ppi and the Xperia Z3 with 424ppi. The 5-inch form factor provides enough on-screen real estate without being overbearing in the hand, and you'll be able to comfortably watch movies and play the latest games without issue. Mirror, mirror As well as the custom interface Yota Devices has created for its rear facing EPD, the YotaPhone 2 also lets you access the full Android interface from the front screen on the rear display. It's a feature dubbed YotaMirror and it's super easy to engage. All you need to do is hold and slide up from the home key (the action you use to launch Google Now), but instead of dragging your finger to the Google symbol go left to mirror mode. Flip the phone over and you'll find the full Android operating system in all its monochrome glory. Performance is much slower due to the screen technology which needs to redraw every new screen, but it does work. You won't be playing games or watching movies in this mode, but for updating social media or checking out websites it works well (and a little slowly) and uses less battery in the process. Life after death I've already mentioned briefly on the previous page that the EPD stays on even when the phone is off and out of battery. You can't use the display when out of juice, but it can display a useful image such as a map, address or boarding pass. The feature is called YotaSnap, and when the phone is on you can store a series of screenshots and images into a small gallery which you'll still be able to access with just a sliver of battery left in the tank. Let the phone die though and only one will be available - and you can set a default so you don't have to remember to navigate to a particular image just before the phone switches off. Yota clearly sings the praises of this feature, but in day to day use I found very few occasions where this would be genuinely useful. And that's a feeling I get most of the time when using the rear display - it's innovative, but I'd much rather use the more responsive and easier on the eye colour display most of the time. Interface and performance I've spoken a lot about the rear display on the Yotaphone 2, so in this section I'm going to concentrate more on the experience on the 5-inch, full HD AMOLED screen. The Yotaphone 2 rocks up running Android 4.4.3 KitKat. That's not quite the latest version of KitKat (which is 4.4.4), but that's already been replaced by Android 5.0 Lollipop. Yota Devices has confirmed that it will be bringing Lollipop to the Yotaphone 2, but there's currently no time frame for the update as extra work is required for the second screen integration. The good news here is Android has been left alone, giving you a pure experience without a manufacturer overlay. If you've used an Android device before you'll have no trouble picking up the Yotaphone 2 and getting to grips with it straight away. It means you get the traditional unlock screen with a shortcut to the camera and pull down notification bar with a separate screen of quick settings. Drag down with two fingers and you'll been shown the quick settings page rather than your notifications. Yota Devices has added a torch quick setting in here which is useful for stumbling home at 2am from a bar, plus there's a toggle for the YotaEnergy power saving mode. As I've mentioned earlier in this review, reading a message or dismissing a notification on the rear screen doesn't always clear if from the notification bar. On a number of occasions during my time with the Yotaphone 2 I found myself excitedly dragging down from the top of the screen to see who's just text me, only to find it's one I've already read. Sad face. Yota has included a small selection of pre-installed applications, most of which relate to the rear display, and thus are totally acceptable. YotaHub is your one-stop-shop for customising covers and panels on the rear display, while you also get four games (chess, checkers, sudoku and 2048) to play on the EPD (Electronic Paper Display). The Yotaphone 2 comes with a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, which is now over a year old and has been succeeded by Qualcomm's 801 and 805 chips. This means that the Android interface isn't quite as snappy as 2014's flagship handsets, and while it's by no means slow every now and then there's a half second load time wait. I ran the Geekbench 3 benchmarking test on the Yotaphone 2 and after several runs it averaged a respectable 2719 for the multi-core test. That's not quite as high as the Sony Xperia Z3 (2737), Samsung Galaxy S5 (2905) or iPhone 6 (2902), but it did beat the LG G3 (2561) while the original Yotaphone (1054) was blown out of the water. I was able to play a variety of games without issue on the handset, and while load times may have been a touch longer than on phones packing newer processors it certainly wasn't sluggish, thanks in part to the 2GB of RAM. Yota highlighted that it had to overcome various heat issues surrounding the processor in Yotaphone 2 thanks to the dual-screen setup making it harder for the heat to dissipate. During my time with the handset I did find that it could heat up quite quickly during extending use - especially when playing a graphically intense game. It does get quite warm, more so than most mobiles, but not too an uncomfortable level. Early verdict The Yotaphone 2 is a compelling device and for those looking for something a bit different from a top of the range smartphone this is one of the most left-field options out there. I understand the benefits of the Electronic Paper Display, but the current software is just too unstable for me to use it regularly - and that's a real shame. If Yota can improve reliability the Yotaphone 2 could be a decent contender, although I still question just how useful the rear screen is with its slow refresh rates and limited app integration. I'd like to see a slicker interface and some big name developers really get behind it. Ignore the rear display altogether and it's a competent Android smartphone with a decent level of power, mid-range camera and solid build. The Yotaphone 2 is a huge leap forward from the original and it's a handset which can appeal to a wider consumer base, but ultimately it still feels like a work in progress. Hands on gallery

Google's new Captcha can tell you're human from a single click Posted: 03 Dec 2014 09:51 AM PST It's almost a given at this point that robots will one day attempt to destroy the human race - even Stephen Hawking thinks so - and currently only one thing stands in their way: the Captcha. These internet puzzles, which ask users to decipher some visual code or enter certain words or characters, are designed to tell the differences between human and computer users. These riddles keep getting more and more complicated, but Google now says it has a better, simpler and more effective solution: a single click. One small click for man Google will replace many of its Captchas around the web with a checkbox next to the statement "I'm not a robot," the company announced today. But it's not the act of clicking on the checkbox that tells Google you're a real, homegrown human; it's the way you do it. Google Captcha team Product Manager Vinay Shet told Wired that the new Captcha system uses "a whole bag of cues," including the way you move the cursor, your IP addresses and cookies, and more, to tell you're human. It's not perfect; in a week of testing 20% of Humble Bundle users and 40% of WordPress users had to take a secondary test that resembles existing Captchas. And touch screen users are being subjected to new picture-matching tests that ask them to, for example, identify several pictures with cats in them. But if that's what it takes to thwart the robots then no doubt we'll find a way to endure somehow. Will Apple ditch Google and make Bing its default search engine?

Review: Basis Peak Posted: 03 Dec 2014 09:30 AM PST Introduction, design and interface A few months ago I jumped on the wearable bandwagon and picked up a Basis B1 Carbon Steel. It was the perfect choice for me because I wanted a smartwatch that did more than flash notifications at me. At the same time, I was on a health kick and I wanted to get an activity tracker. The original Basis was an obvious pick thanks to its litany of biosensors reading my burned calories, steps, plus much more with my heart rate and sleeping patterns. Since introducing the original Basis B1, the company's been busy becoming a part of Intel and introducing its second wearable, the Basis Peak. The Peak is a vast improvement on its predecessor with a thinner metal body and a newly redesigned heart rate sensor. Plus Basis has promised to bring smartphone notifications in the future, turning this activity tracker into a true smartwatch hybrid. Of course all this functionality makes the Basis Peak an expensive device. Starting at $199 or £170 (about AU$233), the question now is whether this hybrid wearable's worth every penny. Design One of the most striking changes the Basis Peak brings is a considerably improved design. Gone are the thick and bulky plastic body and in its stead comes a new aluminum chassis. Thanks to the new metal case, the wearable feels sturdier and much more premium compared to the original. The watch is also just as water resistant up to 5ATM, letting you dive into depths as deep as 50 meters - or 164 feet. The Peak also improves on the activity tracker's overall proportions, shrinking the Basis B1's embarrassing thickness to a noticeably sleeker device. At the same time, the Basis Peak gains a larger 1.25-inch screen, which is both easier to read and made with a scratch resistant sheet of Gorilla Glass 3. Turn the watch over and you'll find the Peak's revamped heart rate monitor which sticks out from the bottom of the watch with a small hump. It utilizes two much more brighter LEDs that are seriously bright enough to be used as a strobe for dance parties. Overall the Peak looks much more like a traditional watch by moving away from the B1's old school digital watch aesthetic. This new design extends to band, which you can more easily pop-out and replace with any old 23mm wrist band. Not that you'll need to, as the wristbands (available in white with gray accents or black with a red underside) that come with the watch are made of comfortable, flexible and stretchy, soft silicone straps compared to the B1's hard plastic wristband. Having worn the Basis B1 Carbon Steel Edition smartwatch for a few months now, the Peak is more comfortable and a great improvement aesthetically speaking. Interface Basis has also made big improvements to the software design behind the Peak smartwatch. You'll still have to setup an account with a few of your measurements, but updating the watch is now done through the Android and iOS app on your smartphone rather than plugging into a computer. As for using the Peak itself, Basis has swapped out the capacitive touch pin buttons with a touchscreen. The new interface opens more options including a new list of menu options for turning on a do not disturb mode and restarting the watch. Sadly, Basis once again has omitted including a stopwatch function despite it being an activity tracker you'll take with you on runs and biking trips. The best part of the interface is the watch adaptively switches the main screen to an activity tracking mode that presents your calories burned and steps taken in big bold numbers. You can also scroll through any of your previous activities from the day - like a quick walk to the corner store or a 10,000 step jog. It might sound like a small improvement but this corrects one of my biggest gripes with the original Basis smartwatch, in which you could only access information on your workouts with the smartphone app or the website. Basis says it plans to add more elements including smartphone notifications coming some time mid-December. It's a big feature to look forward to and will make the Peak much more than a brainy activity tracker. We'll definitely update this review when the new firmware hits. Apps, tracking and battery life Speaking of the app, it's also been given a fresh coat of paint in the form of a completely new Basis Peak app. Existing B1 users will have to migrate over to the new app, and though the app transfers all your old data, there's no going back once you've made the move. As ever the main screen displays your daily totals of calories burned and steps taken, along with your average heart rate for the day. Tapping on any of your activities pops open a new smaller windowed view showing you a more detailed chart with a newly added line marking your heart rate. The new app also fully integrates your activity details chart for the first time, whereas with the only app you had to log into the Basis website to see the full line graph. Habits (a fancy name for activity goals) have also returned. You can set different benchmarks like wearing the watch for 24 or more hours straight to prompting yourself for an evening jog. It's the same gamification of work outs Basis created for its original wearable, with the exception of a few new Habits. Users looking for a real challenge also won't find it here either. The Basis app never reminds you to finish your daily goal, and instead requires you to voluntarily check in with the smartphone to stick with the program. If you miss one of your goals, the smartphone app won't nag you for slacking off - rather it will scale down the challenge. There's no real incentive to push yourself other than bumping up your score meaning those who need more encouragement will have to look elsewhere. Activity Tracking Here's where I expected a lot of improvement from Basis but found the Peak falling short. The new activity tracker is just as intelligent at knowing when you start going on a long walk or a bike ride and run. Plus the watch is better at judging my skin temperature and perspiration levels without creating erratic line graphs. Surprisingly, where it falls apart is keeping note of my heart rate. Looking at my charts recorded with the Basis B1, I can reliably get graphs with an unbroken line of beats-per-minute unless I set off on an impromptu sprint. The Peak on the other hand would often lose my pulse on a gentle walk and even when I was just sitting in a chair. Basis touted its heart rate sensor as a big improvement, yet the results show that the new technology is actually worse off. Inaccurate heart rate tracking is the biggest glaring issue of the Basis Peak. It's an especially troubling weakness as more smartwatches and activity bands come out with their own optical monitors including the Samsung Gear Fit, Microsoft Band and Fitbit Charge HR. Sleep Tracking Thankfully, the Peak's sleep tracking abilities were just reliable as ever. Even though it's hard to note the exact moment I went to sleep, the Basis was spot on every time my alarm clock triggered. Basis also continues to lead the charge with its sleep tracking technology. With other activity trackers like the Samsung Gear Fit, you have to physically tell the wearable when you're going to sleep. Meanwhile, the Basis can sense when you fall asleep and note the times you go into REM and deep sleep. Battery life Packing those blindingly bright LEDs skims a little off the top of the Basis Peak's battery life. Going from a full charge with nearly constant activity tracking and intermittent smartphone syncing, the Peak lasted roughly four and half days. Comparatively, the Basis Carbon Steel Edition Smartwatch lasted for 4 days and 19 hours of battery life. Interestingly, the watch gave me a 20% battery life warning on the third day. The wearable continued running and gave me a 10% battery warning a day and half later before demanding to be plugged in a few hours afterwards. The good news? Charging the Peak is a little bit less painful since Basis dumped the clamp-on charger in exchange for a simple magnetic cradle. The battery life isn't anything to really write home about, but it is a smidgen better than the three day battery life we saw from the Samsung Gear Fit. Still, it does not hold a candle to other long lasting wearables like the 10-day battery life of the Fitbit Force (the same supposed battery life of the new Fitbit Charge). Compatibility and verdict Sorry Windows Phone 8.1 users, you'll need a Fitbit activity tracker if you're looking for support for your Lumia device (or those small few with an HTC One M8 for Windows). However all iPhones running back to the iPhone 4S are supported, as is the fifth generation iPod Touch. Meanwhile, there's also a short list of supported Android devices including the Samsung Galaxy S5 , Samsung Galaxy S4, Nexus 5, Samsung Note III and HTC One M8. Otherwise, you could try your luck running the app on an Android handset running KitKat 4.4.2 with a screen between three and six inches. For my own testing I had no trouble pairing the wearable to my own HTC One M8 as well as the unofficially supported Nvidia Shield Tablet. I ran into a litany of issues with my iPhone 6 due to an update for the app released in mid-November. The buggy patch wiped my personal profile information, stopped the watch from counting my burned calories and tracking my sleep data, plus caused general havoc with the syncing process. Luckily, Basis posted a fix that involved signing out and logging back into my account and filling back in my personal data. The big take away from all this? The Basis Peak is clearly still a work in progress. We liked Design-wise, both physically and on the software side, the Basis Peak is a big improvement compared to the Basis B1 Carbon Steel Edition. The older activity tracker was honestly chunky, clunky and just downright chintzy like a toy. The Peak, meanwhile, is a matured wearable with a sexy and sleek design. Almost everything about the Peak is an evolutionary step forward between the improved touchscreen interface and renovated app; between the more refined watch and app, it seems like this was the wearable Basis always wanted to make - almost. We disliked After wearing the Basis B1 Carbon Steel Edition for months I had high hopes for the Peak. However, these wishes were ultimately dashed by its lackluster and seemingly downgraded heart rate tracking abilities. Old tech is old and one of the biggest problem with the Basis Peak is that it just feels outdated. It inherits much of the same stat tracking technology from the B1 smartwatch with very little innovation. The Peak will record your beats per minute but once again not give you any context for understanding what it means. Skin temperatures and perspiration look less erratic plotted onto a line graph, but similarly there's still no way to understand it. At the same time, Basis has not pushed the envelope with its Habits system to add more features. The original Basis B1 was an innovator bringing in more biosensors than any wearable before it, a title it won't hold for long with the Microsoft Band bringing 10 sensors. The Peak on the other hand represents a much smaller step as a revision to Basis original design. Final verdict I really wanted to love the Basis Peak. I wouldn't call it a complete failure. Instead I'll reiterate the Peak is still clearly a work in progress as evidenced by my buggy experience with the updated app on IOS and smartphone notifications still on the horizon. With that in mind, the Basis Peak is something you should wait to get. That said, there are also a lot of other wearables to consider including the Fitbit's newly updated line of devices. At the same time, the Microsoft Band is another forthcoming activity tracker, which comes packed with more sensors and more features like sending emails and texts. There are plenty of innovators in this space, so right now your best bet would be to wait and watch who comes out on top in our future reviews.

With millions in new funding, Misfit eyes the smart home Posted: 03 Dec 2014 09:15 AM PST With $40 million (about £25.5m, AU$47.5m) in new funding, wearable maker Misfit is looking to expand its reach in China - and beyond wearables into the smart home. "People like the stuff that we've got, but we need to get more products out, and faster," Misfit co-founder and CEO Sonny Vu told Re/code. He didn't go into detail, saying only that Misfit plans to launch "several smart home products over the next few quarters." In addition Misfit will focus on its existing fitness bands, the Misfit Shine and Misfit Flash Line, as well as "advanced wearables" that aren't limited to the wrist. The funding comes from a variety of investors, chief among them Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi and Chinese retail site JD.com, where the Misfit Shine is the top-selling activity tracker. The future of smart home technology: ultimate control for who?

Blip: Remember Gangnam Style? It just broke YouTube Posted: 03 Dec 2014 07:46 AM PST As the old saying goes, true evil never dies. According to Google, Psy's Gangnam Style - yes, that one - has just broken YouTube's view counter, exceeding 2,147,483,647 views, the most that a 32-bit integer can hold. Who the hell is still watching this? YouTube has found a solution as the numbers appear to be clocking up once again, but for a brief moment it was caught out. "We never thought a video would be watched in numbers greater than a 32-bit integer," reads a post on YouTube's Google+ page, "but that was before we met Psy." More blips! Get some blips on your radar. RIP Microsoft Clip Art Apple loses $24 million battle over decades-old pager patents Astronauts put a GoPro inside a floating water bubble, and it was awesome

Updated: Surface Mini release date, news and rumors Posted: 03 Dec 2014 07:30 AM PST Introduction and release date Does Microsoft have a Surface Mini in the works? If so, it's certainly living up to its name as after all the hype, rumors and guesswork, the company's elusive smaller slate is still nowhere to be found. That said, we wouldn't bet against one rearing its head soon. According to Microsoft's latest financial report, the company's Surface revenue increased more than 50 per cent during the first quarter of 2014. More than half a year has passed since then, and it would make sense to build on the Surface Pro 3's momentum by launching a smaller Surface before the momentum completely fades. Why a 2014 Surface Mini would be a major Microsoft mistake But no new Surface is guaranteed success: Microsoft is still sore from writing off $900 million of unmoved Surface RT stock back in 2012, and new CEO Satya Nadella will be keen to avoid repeating Ballmer's missteps. One area where a Surface Mini could excel that's been central to the product line's appeal is productivity. From the start, all Surface tablets have come with excellent keyboard accessories, a chunk of free OneDrive cloud storage and a free copy of Office Home & 2013, giving any new product a solid base to build on. No small task But let's not get carried away: even with the Surface Pro 3 let loose into the wild, Microsoft still has its work cut out - and then some. A need to diversify the Surface product line to include devices smaller than the 10.6-inch category is still important for the company to remain competitive. Apple has enjoyed a lengthy head start with its iPad mini, iPad mini 2 with Retina and iPad mini 3 tablets, which now run Microsoft's capable Office for iPad suite. Even Microsoft's own hardware partners including Acer, Toshiba and Dell and Lenovo have been putting out 8-inch devices running full-fat Windows 8 for almost a year at a price that by far undercut even the cheapest Surface on the market. The question is: what areas will Microsoft focus the Surface Mini's strengths? Will it go down the predicted productivity route, or could it throw a curveball by outing a miniature rottweiler of a gaming and entertainment machine? Surface Mini release date Update: The latest report from China pegs the Surface Mini for a late 2014 launch, a claim we're taking with a pinch of salt. That's because the same article reckons the device will launch with a 8- or 10.1-inch display and will run Windows 10, which isn't scheduled for a consumer release until mid-late 2015. Microsoft invited guests to a "small gathering" back in May, prompting many to think that the Surface Mini was about to land. It was, in fact, something of a curveball, as the event was used to unveil the Surface Pro 3. So what happened to it? When Microsoft released its financials for the second quarter of 2014, it offered an admission that it axed the Surface Mini. "Current year cost of revenue included Surface inventory adjustments resulting from our transition to newer generation devices and a decision to not ship a new form factor," read the illuminating item under a section titled "Computer and Gaming Hardware." Other rumours paint a brighter future for the device that nearly was. A source that spoke to Neowin claims that Microsoft is waiting for a touch-enabled version of Office (codenamed Gemini) to arrive, which some say is expected to launch in late 2014. It's more than likely that Microsoft has a Surface Mini and it's waiting for the best time to let it loose upon the world. Neowin journalist Brad Sams even claims that he's seen the Surface Mini, which he says unsurprisingly looks just like a Surface Pro 3 - only smaller. Surface Mini specs Microsoft's more powerful Surface tablet, the Surface Pro 2, is a little thicker than the Surface 2 due to housing higher-powered Intel Core-series chips, so it would take some feat of engineering to pack similar power into an even smaller, more portable Surface. As such, it's more likely that the Surface Mini will pack an less powerful Intel Bay Trail CPU, which would allow it to run full-fat Windows 8.1 without being a bloater. That's a likely possibility in the view of Chinese website WPDang, which reckons an ARM-based version running Windows RT may also be in the works. Surface head Panos Panay kept us guessing by saying that the division is working on devices with "multiple aspect ratios and sizes". Until the Surface Pro 3 rocked the boat with its 3:2 aspect ratio, previous Surface devices came with 16:9, so it's possible that a Surface Mini could follow suit. Neowin, on the other hand, reckons that it'll feature a 7-inch, 1440 x 1080 pixel-resolution display toting the 4:3 aspect ratio that's found on Apple's iPads. Surface Mini software In term of software, will the Surface Mini run full-fat Windows 8, or its much-maligned cousin, Windows RT? Many will be hoping for the former, but we're not brave enough to completely rule out a return of the operating system that seemingly refuses to die. (Hey there, Nokia Lumia 2520.) It's possible that the Surface Mini could feature the same digital pen technology as the Surface Pro 3, which uses technology by N-Trig and is as close to drawing on paper as you wiil experience on glass, according to Microsoft. It can also launch the OneNote Metro app within a second of touching the display, a feature that would make even more sense on a smaller Surface due to its portability. On the other hand, it may take advantage of the Xbox's Kinect motion capture tech. Sure, Windows 8's Charms and touch-sensitive commands work better on smaller devices, but they're no substitute for a keyboard and mouse, and the ability to control the OS using your limbs may go some way to helping out. According to WPDang, the Suface Mini will track face and hand movements using gesture-based controls similar to those found on the Samsung Galaxy S4, which will let you swipe through screens using your hand movements and dims the screen when not being looked at. Surface Mini price It would make sense for Microsoft to follow Apple's lead by pricing the Surface Mini at a lower cost than its larger Surface models, much as the Cupertino-based company did with the iPad Mini. Eight-inch tablets running Windows 8 initially hovered around the £340 mark but have dropped considerably in the past year. Acer's Iconia W4 now costs in the region of £240, and Dell's Venue 8 Pro starts at £249, and Lenovo's Miix 2 starts at the same. The good news is that even if Microsoft does load Windows 8 onto the Surface Mini, it won't likely be doing so at a premium (compared with Windows RT). The company announced in April that it'll be offering Windows 8.1 with devices under nine inches for free, which means you won't be paying a premium to experience full-fat Windows. Cheaper seems to be the way Microsoft is leaning with Windows devices anyway (Surface Pro 3 aside). In early June, during Computex 2014, Microsoft Vice President of OEM Partners Nick Parker told the Wall Street Journal consumers should prepare for the firm to "reach price points there are very industry competitive" for 7-, 8- and 10-inch devices. Though Parker was certainly speaking to Microsoft's OEM partners, we wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft's next device is a truly affordable Surface Mini.

Industry voice: The top supercomputer surprises on the horizon Posted: 03 Dec 2014 07:26 AM PST It's always amazing to see the speed of change for the top spot in the annual ranking of Top500 supercomputers. Japan's K computer, which is currently fourth and, will have no doubt dropped further was in first position as recently as June 2011. In 3-years its been outdone by China's Tianhe 2, is nearly five times more powerful. The performance gains at the top have been pretty 'straight line' since the 1990s, so changes like this shouldn't be a huge surprise. ARCHER Launched in March 2014, I'll also be keen to see where Edinburgh University's new ARCHER supercomputer, largest in the UK, will feature. I also wonder how long it will be before the Exascale performance barrier is broken. In past years the purpose [and funder] for each machine has been split between academia, research, Government and private industry. The top100 is generally dominated by academia and research based machines, ie those organisations with big budgets and even bigger aspirations. As we move out of the top100, private industry based machines dominate the remaining 400 entries. It's a trend I think we'll see continue in June and future lists. Linux is king From a technology perspective, the Windows Operating System has come and gone so quickly. Linux is the dominant OS and this will definitely be reflected – and its position will strengthen. New software is being developed to make it increasingly easy for users to access supercomputers without really coming into contact with Linux. I've seen a Linux system, which, in simplified terms, enables users to select and send a job to their supercomputer using a drop-down menu. I think it is these advances that have largely inhibited much broader adoption of Windows in the supercomputing industry. Intel's Phi I'm also excited by the arrival of Intel's Phi accelerator on the list. Working with Phi is relatively straight-forward and can be the same as programming a Core i7 (or similar) processor that most people in technical computing have on their desktops, so there is no need to learn any new API. Simply, it is easier to program and the tools are available -- if a developer is coding now, it is the same code and the same expertise. I would balance all this though by saying whilst Phi is relatively easy to program, getting best performance is difficult – it will take 10 minutes to learn and 10,000 hours to master! Getting the very best from Phi is going to take a very long time. Nonetheless, Phi is already making an impact. It's in use five times on the current list, including top spot and I expect this will continue in June. When you combine this trend with Intel's growing impact on the chip market, I think its fair to say Intel is moving towards total domination of supercomputing. Standard clusters My last thoughts would be around the placement of "standard clusters" on the list – these are the sorts of machines we build at OCF for customers, largely using x86 server technology. The highest placed machine in the current list [and I'm not sure this will change much in June] is 10th. It uses IBM's iDataPlex server technology. It's nice to see one of these machines make the top10 because they are really the workhorse for many research intensive organisations. They are easy to work with, easy to upgrade, easy to re-compile software code to work effectively on the system, and are suitable for supporting lots of users and applications. Andrew Dean is HPC business development manager for OCF since 2007.

Industry voice: Choosing the best ways to capture data Posted: 03 Dec 2014 07:07 AM PST There are many different technologies available to the market to assist in capturing data, but how do organisations know which solution they should be deploying? The process isn't as straightforward for industries such as healthcare which have a whole different set of requirements if compared to airlines, construction, police force or oil & gas. Any data capture solution needs to improve workflow processes by allowing organisations to automate the transformation and the channelling of information; whether it is billing-related, customer, staff, or patient related or driven by another task or action. For any planned data capture project the following factors should be considered: Determine what information you are looking to capture First off, you need to determine what information you are looking to collect and retain, as well as looking at how it affects your business as a whole. For a healthcare organisation, the information you are looking to capture and digitise is usually related to patients. In this setting you are looking to transmit information relating to a patient, thus allowing a clinician to spend more time with a patient. For other organisations, such as insurance companies, the operations can be multi-faceted such as capturing information from a new customer over a phone or carrying out an inspection following an accident or a break-in to someone's property. Usually in field based activities, paper based forms are still widely used as it is difficult to translate drawings and annotations on said forms to a format that would suit a portable computer. The challenge here is for organisations to then duplicate the information by re-entering the data to a computer system. Don't duplicate The key with data capture is to reduce the administrative time required to re-enter information to a computer system. This can be a costly and time-consuming process and can result in errors as data is re-keyed. With digital input methods this process is eliminated, ensuring a smoother flow of data and information across an organisation. One solution may not be right for all operations Some data capture can be done by PDAs, for others by tablets or by digital pens. Once you have determined what you are looking to capture the solution phase is critical. There are cases where PDAs and tablets have been rolled out at great expense, only for the organisation to realise those technologies are not suited for the job at hand, either because of connectivity issues, because they are not rugged enough, or because the technology changes and disrupts the overall working process, making them less effective. That is not to say that tablets or PDAs are wrong, but organisations need to determine which technologies are most suited for their needs. For example a tablet may not perform well in a field setting where debris and other hazardous materials can damage the screen, rendering the device useless. Also, the risk of dropping an expensive device such as a tablet can be an added expense to the organisation. It is imperative that you choose carefully what is appropriate. The solution doesn't have to be the flashiest, or shiniest new tablet, but can be something as effective as a digital pen. Keep it simple Don't complicate things. The technology doesn't necessarily have to be the latest and greatest. The best data capture solutions are those that do not change the way you are used to working. When you are choosing the appropriate tools, make sure that you don't change things drastically and in a way that will make life harder for those using the solution. Security As with all data, the security implications are of great importance. Regardless of the data you are collecting and recording into a digital format, you don't want it falling into the wrong hands. Make sure that the solution that you deploy does not expose your organisation to data loss, or that the devices you use do not contain any sensitive material in the event a device is lost. Organisations with either an analogue or highly digital work environment can make leap steps forward by evaluating how to best align their established workflow with existing technologies. The points above are the basic areas to consider when planning to modernise and deploying a data capture solution as part of the quest to digitise business critical document handling processes. There are solutions out there that suit every industry's vision from far away reaching field operations in extreme conditions to protected indoor office environments and boardrooms. Today's solutions are capable of capturing data and transmitting it directly to any backend system for immediate or even automatic processing. Avoid being trendy When choosing one device or a set of multiple devices to carry out these tasks, avoid trendy solutions and choose wise sustainable technology that meet or exceed requirements. It is easy to be blindsided in the blurry of offerings be it for a small company or international enterprise. It goes without saying, that choosing wrong technology can drastically deflate your bottom line. Simply, knowing your workflow environment and mapping your needs and expectations can partake in delivering a measurable positive effect for your company's productivity. Richard Sargent,is the project delivery director, at Anoto. He is an experienced healthcare technology professional. He has worked as a project manager for the Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust.

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