Sponsored

Techradar

---

• Ford opens Mustang pre-orders
• LG connects the dots with new Quantum Dot 4K Ultra HD TV line
• Foxtel confirms February 2015 release date for its iQ3 set top box
• A little transparency: Jaguar's 360° Urban Windshield removes blind spots
• The Moto 360 has just been treated to its Lollipop update
• It looks like Bose wants to launch its own music streaming service
• Amazon Fire TV gets HBO Go app and a discount for good measure
• Opinion: 5 reasons why the Apple Watch will succeed
• Exclusive: HTC confirms broken voice calling on flagship One M7
• Is this leaked smartphone really the Sony Xperia E4?
• T-Mobile is going to do another crazy thing for 'Un-carrier 8.0'
• Review: mini review: Creative Sound Blaster X7
• Review: McAfee LiveSafe
• BT is about to buy EE. No, really
• Industry voice: Is your organisation ready for wearables?
• Industry voice: Insecure data: Is your business storing up problems for the future?
• Skype Translator starts breaking down language barriers
• Review: Linx 7
• Review: RHA T10i
• Download of the day: Paint.NET

Ford opens Mustang pre-orders Posted: 15 Dec 2014 07:30 PM PST Capitalising on the buzz for the 2015 Mustang, Ford Australia has established a dedicated website that enables dealerships to take pre-orders for the muscle car's big arrival. Despite the fact that Australian pricing is yet to be set, Ford claims to have received 1,200 pre-orders and 600 deposits from those eager to secure their next set of wheels – and perhaps perfect their Steve McQueen impersonation. The site is designed to help dealerships identify serious buyers, while enabling Ford Australia to forecast demand. It also enables customers to specify preferences, choosing their transmission and engine type, whether they want a coupe or convertible body, and their new pride and joy's colour. A horse of a different colour Ford claims it established the site after receiving 15,000 "expressions of interest" from Australian drivers keen to learn more about the latest incarnation of the iconic pony car. The new Mustang will be the first to roll out of the factory with right-hand-drive construction – Mustangs previously spotted on Australian roads would have had to go through a pricey conversion process. As previously reported, the Australia Ford Mustang will match the power of its US counterpart despite an apparent difference in their specs on paper. If the Mustang seems a little aggressive, perhaps the 2015 Ford Focus will be more your speed.

LG connects the dots with new Quantum Dot 4K Ultra HD TV line Posted: 15 Dec 2014 06:00 PM PST LG has announced a new lineup of 4K Ultra HD LCD TVs with "Quantum Dot" technology that the company says improves a variety of color factors. Specifically this quantum dot tech "will offer a wider color palette and improved color saturation" compared with other LCD sets, reads a press release from LG. LG says the TVs use nano-sized crystal "dots" that emit different colors depending on their size, and a film of these quantum dots laid over the LCD backlight improves picture color reproduction rate by more than 30%. They also reportedly improve the sets' overall brightness, LG claims. LG will also offer a variety of 4K OLED TVs in 2015, and these LCD will "complement" them. LG's promised we'll see more of them at CES 2015, so watch out come January. Has LG made a huge breakthrough in OLED TV production?

Foxtel confirms February 2015 release date for its iQ3 set top box Posted: 15 Dec 2014 05:38 PM PST Foxtel has finally confirmed the release date for its much-anticipated iQ3 set top box. People with a pre-registered interest in the product received a short email blast yesterday, in which Foxtel announced that the iQ3 is "on track to arrive in February 2015." The company said that it's "finishing up a few final details" on the product, and will "keep customers posted" on when they can order the new box. Tell 'em the price, son Foxtel has yet to confirm any pricing details for the iQ3, however the Australian TV and entertainment news website Nelbie claims to have witnessed leaked documents which indicate a $150 upgrade fee for customers who want the new device. The set top box will have a range of new features, including a 'Start Over' function that lets you skip right to the beginning of a show that you've come into mid-way, as well as improved search, recommendation and EPG functionality. The iQ3 is being manufactured by Pace, and has been described by Foxtel as the "sexiest device" it has ever created. Thinking about signing up to Foxtel? These recent price cuts might sway you

A little transparency: Jaguar's 360° Urban Windshield removes blind spots Posted: 15 Dec 2014 05:35 PM PST As we await the arrival of driverless cars, even the very best human automobile operators can be caught off guard. Whether it's texting pedestrians who step out on the road without looking, or cyclists who ride as if they're wearing a suit of invisible armour, it's impossible to keep track of every single thing on the road at all times. To combat this, Jaguar is developing a system that will help you keep track of your surroundings, minimising the danger of blind spots, and enabling you to see that helmet-free hipster on his fixie even if he's too cool to see you. The 360° Urban Windshield features screens embedded in the pillars inside the car, which display a live video feed captured by cameras outside, giving you an unobstructed view of your surroundings. Safety first Increasing safety further, pedestrians and cyclists that the car's sensors deem to be at risk are highlighted by the HUD. The tech also aims to minimise the risk while changing lanes by activating a screen on the car's B-pillar when it senses you looking over your shoulder. This enables you to see through the pillar, giving you a clear view of any cars cruising in your blind spot. As well as maximising safety, the system aims to help the navigationally challenged by projecting a ghost car onto the HUD for you to follow. Check out Jaguar's concept video below to see what's in store. It's hard to imagine the system will be this slick in reality, but Jag may surprise us. YouTube : youtubeurlv=c98h41TkREA&feature=youtu.be Interested in the latest in-car technology? Ford recently announced SYNC3.

The Moto 360 has just been treated to its Lollipop update Posted: 15 Dec 2014 04:49 PM PST The Moto 360 may be the most popular Android Wear smartwatch so far, and today it was treated to its Android Lollipop update. Google announced in November that Android Wear devices would be getting a Lollipop update, and it began arriving in mid-December, bringing with it additional custom watch faces and new smartwatch features. At the same time Google has launched the Android Wear Watch Face API, letting developers have at it and design their own faces, so expect to see way more very soon. Besides that the Moto 360's Lollipop update tweaks the UI, adds new easy settings access and different modes for varying light environments, and brings new notification settings. Looking to the future we'll be keeping an eye out for the Moto 360 2, which could arrive as soon as early 2015. The Nexus 6 is Google's latest and greatest

It looks like Bose wants to launch its own music streaming service Posted: 15 Dec 2014 04:33 PM PST Bose is already well known for music-listening hardware like speakers and headphones, so why not tackle the other side of it with a new music streaming service? That seems to be the thinking at the American company right now as it hires new staff to launch its own Bose streaming service, as pointed out by music business and technology site Hypebot. The project, a "next generation streaming music platform," is apparently moving "quickly." All this info comes from a Bose job listing seeking a "senior user experience designer of cloud music services." It also describes an "ecosystem of products" to go along with the music platform. Streaming competition There's nothing concrete beyond the listing, which also uses the word "prototyping," indicating the platform may still be early in development. As the site points out, though, Bose's competition will be steep, and Apple - which recently pulled Bose's products from its shelves, then dramatically started selling them again - probably won't be happy with any added competition for its Beats Music platform. Bose may target audiophile listeners who are currently being target by few other music services, but that, too, is unconfirmed. What's certain is that the streaming music arena is getting ever more crowded, and Bose will have a challenge ahead if it's really going through with this. The new iPhone is bigger, better, sleeker, and faster

Amazon Fire TV gets HBO Go app and a discount for good measure Posted: 15 Dec 2014 04:05 PM PST HBO today continued its slow-moving efforts to put HBO Go on every platform available with its release on Amazon Fire TV. The Amazon set-top box joins the Xbox One, Google Chromecast and a whole bunch of other devices where users can access HBO's enormous catalog of TV shows and movies. In its announcement today, Amazon says the number of apps on Fire TV has quadrupled since the device's launch, but that HBO Go was their "most requested" addition.' The bookseller added that HBO Go will arrive on the Amazon Fire TV Stick in the Spring. And "to celebrate," Amazon explained, Fire TV is on sale for $79 - $20 below the normal price - until December 28. Amazon Fire TV Stick fires straight at Google Chromecast

Opinion: 5 reasons why the Apple Watch will succeed Posted: 15 Dec 2014 03:16 PM PST The Apple Watch could be the next game-changing trailblazer in tech, or a catastrophic end to the fledgling smartwatch category. I like Apple's chances, though. Wanna know why? Here are five good reasons. 1. It's from Apple Apple is widely viewed as a winner, a trend-setter; its products are headline-grabbing status symbols. The launch of a new Apple device is a social event. It's why people stand in line for days to buy the first new iPhone or iPad, and that same excitement will draw more attention to the Apple Watch than any previous smartwatch has come close to capturing. Add an onslaught of advertising bankrolled by Apple's billions, plus endless free publicity in the press, and you've easily got the most buzzed-about product launch of 2015. More importantly for the long term, the people at Apple are pretty darn smart. While the company's competitors were rushing to market with half-baked smartwatches that didn't catch on, Apple took a careful, considered approach to the development of its own version. Time and time again, Apple's slow-and-steady process has resulted in well-crafted, market-defining products. Who'd bet against it happening again? 2. The Apple ecosystem Anyone who owns an iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac or Apple TV already has at least one reason to buy an Apple Watch. That's the knock-on effect of building such a robust ecosystem in which everything works together, where the pairing of products makes them all a little bit better. Wouldn't it be handy to control Apple TV from your wrist? To check incoming messages without pulling out your iPhone? If you own other Apple products, you'll find dozens of little reasons to want an Apple Watch. 3. It's got style No company has made a bigger impact on the look and feel of today's tech than Apple. Hell, even the bridge of the Enterprise in the last two Star Trek films looks like a white, curvy Genius Bar. With Apple Watch, the company is appealing to more than the usual tech-geek crowd with a product that not only offers valuable functionality, but valued aesthetics. It's telling that Apple has courted the fashion industry to help spread the word. 4. It looks fun! When the Apple Watch was revealed onstage, the most important part of the demonstration may have been when people shared their heartbeats with one another using haptic feedback. The feature is pretty pointless when put against everything else the watch can do, but it made people smile. The same can be said for twisting the Crown or navigating the device's custom Home screen, which feels like digging through a candy dish full of M&Ms. Apple has proven time and time again that tech specs and feature lists can only take a product so far - it has to elicit an emotional response. Compared to the playful, colorful world of Apple Watch, other smartwatches seem dull and lifeless. 5. It does more Many people want to get excited about wearable technology because the sci-fi novelty of it sounds cool, but the fledging smartwatch market hasn't given them any real reason to do so. Pebble, Samsung Galaxy Gear - these devices offer some of the same basic experiences expected from Apple Watch, but they haven't delivered them in a way that inspires or entertains. Apple's extra hardware features and pumped-up processing power should make more robust apps possible, along with an endlessly varied and vital selection of third-party apps.

Exclusive: HTC confirms broken voice calling on flagship One M7 Posted: 15 Dec 2014 02:57 PM PST HTC has confirmed to TechRadar that it has found a fault with its One M7, and possibly current flagship One M8, handsets and is working furiously to fix it. The issue was highlighted after some users, having downloaded the recent HTC Service Pack from Google Play, found they couldn't make or take calls. An HTC spokesperson has given us the following statement, confirming the brand is aware of a fault and promised a 'fix will roll out in the coming days': "We are aware that some HTC One M7 (and possibly some M8) users have recently been experiencing audio issues making network calls on their devices. WiFi calling does not seem to be impacted at this time. We're working around the clock with our technical teams and partners to resolve the issue as a number one priority. We will provide further updates as soon as we can. For anyone experiencing this issue with your HTC One (M7 or M8), you may want to try WiFi calling, and we ask that you please contact your local Customer Care: www.htc.com/support/." In the dark The exact problem still hasn't been confirmed; some users have speculated that the new Service Pack halts the function of the Google framework, which causes the modem to behave erratically. Similarly, HTC is only confirming the issue is affecting 2013's HTC One model, although users are reporting that the One M8 is also suffering from the same calling problem. The issue doesn't seem to be hugely widespread at the moment, but is affecting a significant enough number of users for HTC to issue the statement above. In the meantime, it's worth not accepting any system updates and cancelling the automatic updates to HTC apps in the Google Play store until HTC has resolved the problem. This unexpected problem with HTC's premium phone is in spite of the fact that the HTC One M8 has received many accolades including TechRadar's nod for best smartphone 2014. We'll update this story when further information becomes available.

Is this leaked smartphone really the Sony Xperia E4? Posted: 15 Dec 2014 01:11 PM PST The Sony Xperia leaks just keep coming, and this time it's the E line that's allegedly shown up in photos. There's some info on the phone's specs in tow here, too, so if this really is the Sony Xperia Z4 then we're getting a great peek at what the phone will look like. The phone being described in this leak is a true budget follow-up to the Sony Xperia E3, with a 5-inch qHD display, a 1.3GHz MediaTek chip and Mali-400 graphics. Supposedly the Xperia E4 will come in two variants: the single-SIM E2105, which is the one pictured here, and the dual-SIM E2115. The leaks's source, a site called Teleguru.pl, says the Sony Xperia E4 will launch at MWC 2015 with Android KitKat and then be upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop in the first half of the year. Unbelievable Sony Xperia Z4 Compact and Z4 Ultra leak

T-Mobile is going to do another crazy thing for 'Un-carrier 8.0' Posted: 15 Dec 2014 11:30 AM PST "This one is so big we had to keep it a surprise," reads an email announcement for T-Mobile's upcoming "Un-carrier 8.0" event. The carrier has made it its job to shake up the mobile industry with moves like unlimited music streaming and free international data and texting, and now it's going to announce another crazy ploy tomorrow, December 16. With Hanukkah beginning December 17, maybe the un-carrier is looking to kick off the holidays right. In reality we have no idea what they're going to announce, but with T-Mobile CEO John Legere on stage fielding questions through Twitter (use the hashtag "#Uncarrier8") it's guaranteed to be entertaining at the very least. T-Mobile unveils free Wi-Fi calling and texting for everyone

Review: mini review: Creative Sound Blaster X7 Posted: 15 Dec 2014 11:20 AM PST Despite what the lack of products on the market currently indicates, gamers actually like high-end audio just as much as they appreciate high-end visuals. Creative, the team behind the immaculate Creative EVO ZxR headphones and Creative Roar SR20 Bluetooth speaker, looks to bump up gamers' audio options with a line of premium audio products. At the top of the dogpile is the Creative Sound Blaster X7, a desktop-meets-home theater hybrid amplifier that sports a Burr-Brown PCM1794 127dB digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and supports high-resolution audio playback of up to 24-bit 192kHz. I call the X7 a hybrid because it connects via USB to a PC or Mac, runs signal from your TV using optical audio and connects easily to your phone using its built-in NFC chip and Bluetooth 4.1. And if hi-fi isn't your scene, the X7 also works as a mighty powerful, 600-ohm headphone amplifier that supports two sets of cans simultaneously. It's so serious about two-driver audio that it even comes with a detachable headphone stand. Whether you prefer a mouse and keyboard or a controller, the X7 is an awesome addition to your home audio arsenal. There is a caveat, however. You might end up with more audio than you know what to do with (trust me, it can happen) and, as a tradeoff, have less money to spend on the games you love. The X7 costs $399 (£329.99, AU$459.95) – and that's before you buy a pair of kicking bookshelf speakers or quality headphones to go with it. Design It's hard to dislike the X7's prism-shaped exterior. At 6 x 5 x 5.5 inches (W x H x D), it's a bit on the bigger side. But, so long as you have an extra cabinet in your entertainment center or room on your computer desk, the jet-black X7 inconspicuously blends in with any surrounding. On the front panel, you'll find a large, silver volume control knob, 3.5mm headphone out, 6.3mm headphone out and 3.5mm mic-in jack – not to mention the grille for a built-in stereo mic. Both headphone jacks can be used simultaneously, while the built-in stereo mic works as an unexpectedly smart input for Skype and, in a pinch, online frag matches. Turn the X7 around and you'll find just about every sort of audio input you'll ever need. Now, before you go out and buy a 7.1 – or, god forbid – a 9.1 system, know that the X7's max output is 5.1 channels, which is a serious potential flaw if you're weighing the X7 against a standard receiver. Performance Critiquing amplifier performance is pretty nebulous, as it ultimately depends more on your personal speaker setup and A/V aspirations than it does on the unit itself. That said, the included op-amps – a New Japan Radio NJM2114D and Texas Instruments LME49710 – created a squeaky clean, warm sound. If you're looking for a different signature sound, you can swap out the op-amps at any time. Admittedly, the best-sounding setup I had while testing the X7 was when I was using a pair of ultra-fine Cambridge SoundWorks speakers lent to TechRadar by Creative. When I switched to something a little more plausible, like the Razer Leviathan sound bar, the difference in sound quality was less pronounced. Ultimately, your experience with the X7 will depend on what speakers you're willing to shell out for. Sadly the X7 can't do much for the cheapo pair of 5W Logitech speakers you get with the purchase of a new PC. I went on to test the X7 with a sound bar, a pair of bookshelf speakers, Klipsch earbuds and Beats Studio Wireless headphones. Each time, the music sounded better through the amp than it did coming directly through my phone, but the difference in most cases was minimal. Software If you've used a Creative piece of hardware in the last few years you'll no doubt be familiar with Creative's line of Sound Blaster control center apps for PC, Mac, iOS and Android. The X7's desktop app is a little cleaner than most, and the mobile apps are easy to use. With Creative's software, you can manually change your speaker setup, run some quick diagnostic checks and turn on Scout Mode – an effect that amplifies footsteps in first-person shooters – as well as mess around with the X7's equalizer. Overall, the software is functional, easy-to-use and fairly quick to setup. Final verdict At its best, the X7 can be used in conjunction with rock-solid bookshelf speakers or full 5.1, home-theater-in-a-box systems and noticeably improve your experience. It's clear that the X7 is packed with more features than were ever possible in a standard sound card. And, considering the X7 combines a DAC, Bluetooth receiver, amplifier and headphone amp into a single box, it's sure to save you space on the shelf. That said, for the gaming audience, 400 smackers is nothing to sneeze at – more than even the PS4 or Xbox One. Plus, bringing the X7 to its fullest potential requires at least mildly powerful bookshelf speakers, adding even more to the already expensive asking price. If you're a gamer who loves the sound of a game more than its graphics, the X7 should be your first upgrade after you've built that new gaming rig. (Assuming you have cash left over.) But if you'd rather get clear audio at a fraction of the price, consider a complete solution, like a sound bar or a 5.1 speaker system instead.

Review: McAfee LiveSafe Posted: 15 Dec 2014 10:43 AM PST Introduction and features If you're going to surf the web, you need to make sure your system is protected. After experiencing figurative spontaneous combustion of your hard drive thanks to malware, I'm sure most of us understand the pain of a vulnerable computer. We decided to put McAfee LiveSafe ($79.99, £50, AU$90) to the test of defending our devices from digital attack. Let's start with arguably the best feature - LiveSafe lets you install the security suite on every PC, Mac and mobile device you have. This is a breath of fresh air from previous solutions that have provided a collection of separate security products. Instead, LiveSafe offers consistent protection across all of your devices. Installation was a cinch - you simply use your product key to download and install the program on as many computer, tablets, and phones as you like. And there's no limit! LiveSafe is compatible with a variety of platforms, including Mac, PCs, and Android, Blackberry and iOS devices. Unfortunately, it's still not available for Windows Phones (weirdly enough) or Chromebooks, but this will likely change in the not-so distant future as the market shifts. Interface and protection In terms of interface and usability, the experience is pretty seamless and no-frills. We tested the solution on Mac OS and the design is uninspired (unusual for Mac applications) and somewhat dated. The most important information is displayed in the main window with color-coded information that quickly lets you know if your computer is vulnerable or secure. Access to protection to viruses, web content, spyware and email is easily accessible, as well as basic account information like subscription status and expiration date, with the option to renew. We loved the ability to download McAfee SafeKey, which creates and stores unique, secure passwords and syncs them across all your devices. It installs as an add-on to your web browser or as an app on your mobile devices. Protection with LiveSafe includes anti-malware, anti-virus, and hardware-enhanced antitheft protection (similar to Apple's Find My iPhone). The anti-theft protection lets you locate and remotely lock lost or stolen devices, protect against uninstalls and remotely secure data - this is great for smartphones and tablets we may leave behind accidentally. This is an interesting feature additions to LiveSafe as opposed to its predecessors, previously only available for mobile devices, and now available for some PCs. Flaws and final verdict There are still a few things missing that competitors include in their internet security suites. The most obvious being the lack of backup (online or local). This might make some consumers want to consider McAfee Total Protection 2015, which includes 5GB of online storage through Mozy. Plus, there's not much to signal your device needs a "tune-up," aside from a vulnerability scanner that alerts the user of out-of-date applications. When running scans with LiveSafe on a Mac system, the scans ran rather quickly and efficiently. Although, admittedly, the Mac version of this software is a shadow of the PC one. This isn't a complete loss as Mac OS is generally a bit more resilient to malware. There doesn't seem to be any noticeable fingerprinting as, when we repeated scans, LiveSafe scanned the same number of files. Plus, we were able to run scans in the background without any noticeable resource drain, which is a huge advantage despite being a hefty 170MB. Price-wise they've even taken it a notch down, where previous versions like All Access costs $99.99 per year with the price to protect all systems in a household reaching $149.99, LiveSafe is currently available for $79.99 per year for the whole household to be covered. You can even get a deal of $19.99 for the first year when purchasing a qualified PC or tablet (i.e., Intel Ultrabook). Another perk if you purchase with the eligible PCs - a McAfee tip and help hotline in addition to the 24/7 tech support all customers get. We liked Having full coverage security across every PC, Mac and mobile device in your household is an amazing feature - it's economical and consistent. Plus, the anti-theft feature is a great addition to the suite, as it was previously only available on mobile. We disliked While the unlimited number of devices per subscription is a great deal, the exclusion of Windows phones and Chromebooks from protection leaves some family members in the lurch when it comes to protecting their devices. Final verdict Antivirus programs used to be simple - we protect our PCs because they were our main (possibly only) portal to the web. McAfee has adjusted smoothly to the transition to a multi-screen world with a security suite that offers protection for every aspect of your digital life.

BT is about to buy EE. No, really Posted: 15 Dec 2014 09:09 AM PST It's been doing the rounds in the rumour mill and now BT has confirmed that it has entered into exclusive negotiations to purchase mobile network EE for £12.5bn. If you're an EE customer don't panic just yet, as the potential takeover is still very much in its infancy and there's a long way for BT to go before it can complete any kind of deal. BT's statement reveals it's in talks with EE's parent companies - Deutsche Telekom and Orange - about a possible acquisition and it holds exclusivity for several weeks. That means Three, who has also been tipped with a possible bid for EE, will have to wait in the wings before it can make any form of formal approach. The move by BT makes sense as it would see the provider complete its services line up with the mobile network joining its broadband, landline and TV operations. TechRadar has contacted EE for comment and we will update this article once we get a response.

Industry voice: Is your organisation ready for wearables? Posted: 15 Dec 2014 09:00 AM PST Arguably, wearables have existed in many forms for a number of years; however this phenomenon has only recently been formalised thanks to the collision of two ideas – 'Wearable Technology' and 'the Internet of Things'. From mechanical pocket watches, through to electronic medical devices such as hearing aids, wearables have existed. But until recently those devices only communicated via a simple user interface. Now they (or more accurately their descendants, such as biometric monitors for either health or fitness/sport) are starting to communicate wirelessly with other devices, and are often using internet technologies to do so. It's this internet communication that makes wearable technology such a potential nightmare. For decades, manufacturers and distributors have had private closed networks that link shop floor data collection systems and machine controllers. However, many of these networks now use internet communication protocols or, in some cases, communicate with each other across the public internet. Other machines and devices (such as printers) are also communicating across WiFi and many other software applications use internet connections to access data stores and other resources that the user isn't even aware of. Rise of the machines Additional machine-to-machine (M2M) communications systems are also on the horizon, including internet-connected car navigation systems, vehicle tracking and environmental control systems, and, most notably, personal devices such as Google Glass and Smart Watches. While these all seem harmless, businesses need to stop and think about what a hacker could do with some of these technologies – not to mention the impact that IoT enabled wearable technologies may have on the volume of data crossing the corporate network, should these wearable devices become popular in the workplace. Opening up access to these devices through the internet means your network is suddenly far more vulnerable to attack. This vulnerability likely won't appear as an attack on connected devices, but they provide a wider choice of opportunities for the hacker to exploit. There is yet to be developed a security programme for Google Glass, or similar wearable technologies, and as such, businesses are under pressure to work out how they will manage these new technologies, protecting both the corporate network and the owners' personal data. Such devices also raise a number of privacy concerns in certain industries, and network management issues associated with continuously streaming data across the network. Privacy matters Many wearable technologies are fitted with cameras and there is a serious concern that, knowingly or unknowingly, employees could film co-workers or the layout of an office, leading to the leaking of confidential information. Similarly, a film made using wearable technology on a privately owned premises would be a breach of privacy. If an employee filmed co-workers being inappropriate with company signage in view, and the film ended up on You Tube, there could be serious implications. Strain on the network must also be considered, with wearable technologies requiring their own IP address, so that they are not putting unnecessary pressure on the corporate network. Similarly, allowing wearables in the office, but only granting them access to a guest network, will also reduce the likelihood of the corporate network being hacked. While wearables may seem too complex to conceive right now, it is important to remember that a decade ago we wouldn't be able to imagine how essential the mobile phone would become to us. BYOD has allowed us to use our favourite device in the office, increasing our allegiance to it. IoT and wearables will head the same way as this and, most likely, become indispensable to us in ways that we can't even conceive yet. As such, we need to prepare for them now, one device at a time. Lawrence Garvin is head geek at Solarwinds

Industry voice: Insecure data: Is your business storing up problems for the future? Posted: 15 Dec 2014 08:30 AM PST There's no doubt that data is the lifeblood of any business – but is your organisation paying enough attention to what information it's collecting and how it's stored? What's marketing up to? It's human nature to want to collect as much information as possible. This is especially true of marketing departments, which often collect data "just in case" it's valuable in the future. In reality, most SMBs have little or no use for much of the customer information they file away. This SMB "data addiction" flies in the face of the Data Protection Act, which requires a clear statement of intent and scope for the gathering of Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Even when marketers collect information to support a specific campaign or service, many use third parties to gather customer data on their behalf with little or no thought given to compliance or secure data storage. This stands out in sharp contrast to legal or IT teams, which are typically much more aware of data regulations. Nevertheless, disconnects across departments mean that all too often SMBs remain seemingly oblivious to the regulations concerning how sensitive data should be managed. SMBs in the firing line While banks have been the traditional target for cyber-criminals, SMBs are increasingly finding themselves in the firing line, as hackers cotton on to the fact that they often store similar personal information, but without such robust security measures. As banks step up their security capabilities and become tougher targets, SMBs are gathering more PII than ever, making them the perfect choice for cyber-attacks. These concerns are even more pressing given the dramatic uptake of cloud storage by SMBs. Many businesses choose a cloud solution based on cost-savings alone, without considering where the cloud is physically located, whether it's public or private, how data segregation will be managed, what testing is performed to ensure security and how remote access is being overseen and secured. Needless to say, a data breach can disrupt business-as-usual, damage revenues and destroy reputations – but the risks are not simply from the hackers. The recent £200,000 fine levied against The British Pregnancy Advice Service (BPAS) demonstrates that every SMB needs to take data protection seriously. In the case of BPAS, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) found that the charity didn't realise its website was storing personal data – it wasn't secured and a vulnerability in the website's code allowed a hacker to access the system and siphon off the highly sensitive information. It's time to act If SMBs had to pay to store data based on its sensitivity (i.e. the more sensitive the data, the more expensive it is to store), they might be deterred from gathering customer information for its own sake. However, since this is unlikely to happen any time soon, there are some steps every SMB should take today to ensure they are safeguarding customer information. At a basic level, every SMB should have a dedicated security manager or team, set policies and standards for dealing with customer data, and educate staff about the need to treat customer data with care on a continuous basis. Organisations can further protect themselves by implementing one or more of the following steps: Define clear processes that link the collection of customer data to engagement with the security and legal departments Perform risk assessments on any third parties collecting PII data on your behalf Run regular penetration tests to check your security perimeter and the security of websites and databases where PII is stored Define clear security requirements during the development and rollout of new solutions Regularly review the PII data being stored and delete any information that is not required or inaccurate to reduce your exposure to risk Create a high-level data classification document to define the type of information your business expects to handle, how sensitive it is and how it should be managed By implementing these steps, your organisation can ensure it's making the best possible use of customer data, without the fear that it may be storing up problems for the future. Carl Shallow is Head of Compliance at SecureData

Skype Translator starts breaking down language barriers Posted: 15 Dec 2014 08:01 AM PST Microsoft has confirmed that it's rolling out the preview program for Skype Translator, which will let English and Spanish speakers converse in their native languages. Translate will automatically translate spoken words into both translated audio and text. The pre-release version is available to Windows 8.1 users who signed up for Translator last month and is currently limited to Spanish and English in spoken languages, while more than 40 instant messaging languages are also supported. However, support for more spoken languages will be available down the line. And because Skype Translator uses machine learning, it'll get smarter the more it's used. Microsoft has already been testing Skype Translator in schools in the US and Mexico, with education clearly an area Microsoft sees Translator having massive applications. Hands on: Windows 10 review

Review: Linx 7 Posted: 15 Dec 2014 07:30 AM PST Meet the Linx The term "cheap" is usually associated with Google's Android operating system. Until recently, Windows tablets were considered to be more expensive, but that changed earlier this year. Both Microsoft and Intel feared that ARM and Android might effectively use tablets as a Trojan horse to make both Wintel laptops and desktops redundant. It explains why the two companies chose to discount their hardware and software so significantly. Intel reportedly spent billions on marketing and support for mobile device makers while Microsoft gave away its crown jewels (Windows 8.1 and Office 365) for devices with displays smaller than nine inches. It's in that context that we're reviewing the Linx 7, a Windows-powered tablet that costs just under £80. Linx - not to be confused with Lenovo's Lynx - is not a totally new player having sent us a Commtiva Android tablet four years ago. It costs even less if you trade in a working tablet as the promotion runs until March 31, 2015. Should you do that, the price falls under £50 which is pretty good – and unexpected - for a tablet that comes both with Windows 8.1 and a year's subscription to Office 365 Personal (one that comes with 1TB storage by the way, moving to unlimited pretty soon). There's a few differences compared to the other "cheap" Windows tablet we reviewed, the Pipo W2. The Linx one is widely available in the UK (so you don't end up being stung by a custom duty fee). You also get a full warranty (as it is sold by a number of online retailers including Amazon and Ebuyer) but no Office 365 physical coupon. So, there you have the good. As for the bad, well, it has a meagre 1GB of RAM and the rear camera is a 2-megapixel snapper; so don't expect any miracles. The rest of the hardware is similar to the W2. Inside is a bog standard, quad-core Intel Atom Bay trail-based processor, the Z3735G, clocked at 1.33GHz. It has a 1280 x 800 pixel-reslution display (because it's a 7-inch panel, it has a higher pixel density than the W2), a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a microHDMI port and a microSD card reader. Two cables (microUSB to USB and a USB to micro USB) are also bundled. There's also 32GB onboard storage although only 24GB are usable. That's because there's a 4.8GB recovery partition that you may want to delete. After installing Chrome and any necessary Windows update files, 17.59GB (or about three quarters of the available storage) was still free. The tablet is about the size and weight of a Google Nexus 7 (2013) tablet which means that it is small enough to be comfortably carried in a coat pocket. Its 16:10 aspect ratio means that holding it in portrait mode feels natural; unlike the W2, it is designed to be held in that mode rather than in landscape. This also impacts the location of its physical Windows button as well as that of the front-facing camera. As expected most of the ports are located on the top of the device while the power and volume buttons are located on its right hand side. Its finish surpasses our low expectation for such a keenly priced device; its plastic back is matte, not unlike the Motorola Moto G smartphone and it's sturdily built. Its screen surprisingly doesn't bear the hallmarks of an entry level model. It's an IPS model that uses glass rather than plastic (it feels cold to the touch and doesn't have dreaded pressure marks). Battery Life, performance and verdict The Linx 7 has a 3,500mAh battery and can be charged using its microUSB port, which is always a good thing if you don't want to lug another charger with you. It lasted almost three hours playing a Youtube video at standard resolution (360p) on full brightness before giving up the ghost. When it comes to performance, we chose not to run this device through our usual set of benchmarks. Doing so would miss the point; not only would some benchmarks probably not run (blame the 1GB RAM for that) but the use case for the Linx 7 wouldn't match what you'd expect from a traditional Windows device. As a touch-only device, anything other than passive media consumption would be a tricky exercise. Sure you can use Word and Excel but do you really want to do so on a tiny screen and without a keyboard and mouse? That said, it is still a pretty fast tablet; the Z3735G CPU is about as capable as a first generation Core 2 Duo CPU like the U9400. I noticed no noticeable lag when playing eight concurrent Youtube videos (that's right!) and swapping between applications didn't slow down our user experience. Verdict There's only five months between the apparition of the first subsidised Windows tablets on the market and the widespread availability of the Linx 7. That's an incredibly small window and one that gives us an indication of how far Intel and Microsoft plan to go to stop Google and ARM from dominating the global tablet market. We liked But is the Linx 7 a tablet for you and your family? If you want to watch Youtube, check your emails, Twitter or Facebook, then yes, this is an absolute bargain. It's fast, well-built, packed with features squeezed into a very handy form factor and is one of the cheapest tablets on the market. What's more, you should – in theory - be able to run Android applications on it; either using Bluestacks on Windows or simply by installing Android or Chrome OS on it in lieu of Windows. Connect it to a monitor or television (with a HDMI port), add a keyboard and mouse (preferably via a USB hub) and you have a fully functional PC. Oh and don't forget that Office 365 Personal also allows you to run a copy on a desktop or a laptop. We disliked Having a higher resolution rear camera and more system memory would help but that, in turn would just add to the cost. In the hindsight, Windows 8.1 with Bing runs pretty well on 1GB. Note that an 8-inch and a 10-inch models of the Linx 7 are also available but, unsurprisingly, they are way more expensive as well without adding much to the mix.

Review: RHA T10i Posted: 15 Dec 2014 07:13 AM PST Introduction The more I review headphones, the more I realise that I've come to rely on more than one pair. Mood, you see, is as important to me as anything when I'm listening to music. Sometimes I want the audiophile experience. To hear what was recorded, and nothing more, with no hint of colour from the headphones. Sometimes, though, I want to have my noggin rocked by insane bass. The RHA T10i's claim to offer both, thanks to the use of tuning filters. As well as having tuning filters, the T10i's, which cost £149.95 (US$199.95, about AU$283), are made from injection moulded metal, with over-ear hooks, a set up that RHA claim offers effective noise isolation. They also come with interchangeable ear buds. It's fairly easy to make a pair of headphones that are good at one thing or another. It's obviously impossible to make a pair that can offer audiophile performance, while also giving amazing bass. But there is a narrow line where headphones can have just enough bass to serve as funtime cans, and still have the definition and clarity I sometimes lust after. The RHA T10i in-ear headphones don't quite offer that, for reasons I'll explore in this review, but they do give me a pair of headphones that meet almost every desire I have when it comes to audio. Adjustable tone The first thing that gives the RHAs an advantage over many headphones is their interchangeable tuning filters. These are tiny little attachments that are placed on the tip of the earphone, and adjust the sound very slightly as it passes through. The upshot of this is that you can get head melting bass or go for a more pure sound. The problem here is that even the "reference" tips have a lot of bass. Much less than the bass tips, but not enough to give them any right to claim that they are leaving the music untouched. Though this won't matter to most people. To fit these filters you simply unscrew them from the end of the earphone and replace with another. RHA warns you not to remove the tips without replacing them, as this could allow dirt in and damage the drivers. The other nice idea for tips is that it could be possible to sell different ones down the road, and give a new sound. Design and comfort The first thing I noticed about the T10i headphones was their metal construction. This gives them a weight that's enormously pleasing, but also presents the potential for problems with them being more likely to fall out. I didn't have a problem with this, but I did have to try literally every set of ear tips to get to a set that fit. This is my first really negative comment about the RHA T10is: none of the tips are really quite big enough for my fairly average ears. Neither of the foam pairs fit, which is a shame as these are my preferred tips for comfort and noise isolation. The double flange tips were the most comfortable and best sized. Perhaps because of the metal body, and high weight, the T10s are provided with ear hooks. These, plus the way the earphones themselves are made from injection moulded metal make them look like the kind of earphones you see on musicians. That's with good reason because all of this ends up making them very comfortable. Usually, with tight-fitting earphones, you get a lot of cable noise when you're walking but this is somewhat reduced on the RHAs because of the over-ear hook. They make for ideal companions for a nice walk around town. Sound quality and noise isolation Because of the in-ear fit (when you get them to fit) and the size and design of the earphones the noise isolation is excellent. Far better than most earphones I've used. That gives them a good head-start when it comes to sound quality. The sound quality is amazing but sometimes the bass can get a little bit much. For the most part, with pop music, it's fine. If you're into electronic music then you might find the bass a little wearing at times. Switch out the filters for the treble-enhancing ones if that's the case. Verdict For non-music, speech radio and podcasts, the sound is beautiful. If you're an avid podcast or audiobook listener then these will have plenty to offer. As a stupid anecdote though, the FM radio on my HTC Desire Eye didn't get on well with the chord as an FM radio antenna, but honestly, that's little more than trivia. We liked The clarity of vocals, and overall balance of sound was really great. These might not produce the purest sound on the planet, but it is very pleasing to the ear. The ability to switch filters in order to adjust the sound is a good one and overall the comfort and design of these headphones is brilliant. At £150, they're also reasonably priced for the quality they offer. We disliked You can't get away from the fact that these are, by nature, quite bass-heavy headphones. They work well, but only for certain types of music. Some might argue the price is a bit steep. Perhaps, but for this level of build quality, sound quality and design that's probably not a fair argument. Even so, £150 is more than many will be prepared to spend. Final verdict If you want a pair of earphones that will serve most uses well these are certainly suitable for that. They are incredibly well designed, comfortable and the ideal companion for most normal activity. The sound is excellent (if a little bass-heavy) and they are a set of earphones that you'll really find yourself looking forward to using. The price might be high for some, but these offer quality that I've heard on far more expensive headphones, and also have a long warranty that will see you using them for at least three years.

Download of the day: Paint.NET Posted: 15 Dec 2014 07:00 AM PST Paid-for quality in a free image editor? That's what you get with Paint.NET, a program that leaves its Microsoft namesake in the dust. Why you need it Windows comes with its own image editor in Microsoft Paint, but it's fair to say that it's pretty basic. Well, extremely basic – it's more or less limited to cropping, resizing, drawing and... that's about it. That's fine if you're not looking to do much more than the most basic of image edits, but if you want something a little better, you'll have to look elsewhere. And luckily there's no need to shell out a small fortune on an advanced program like Photoshop. Paint.NET provides a more powerful experience than Microsoft Paint could ever hope to match, all for free. It comes with layers, drawing and shape tools, and you use tools like apply blur, sharpen, distort, emboss and more. There are more advanced features, too, like the ability to adjust levels, curves, hue, brightness and saturation. There's a clone stamp tool for cleaning up mess on photos, a red eye remover, a text editor and an unlimited undo log, so you can go back and undo as many changes as you like (compared to a paltry three in Microsoft Paint). But despite all that, Paint.NET is remarkably simple to use thanks to its intuitive user interface. It's simple enough for novices but contains enough sophisticated tools to satisfy more experienced users. And with enough power to mount paid-for rivals, it's amazing that this program is still totally free. Key features Works on: PC Versions: Free Simplicity: Paint.NET is easy to get to grips with but don't be fooled – it's a powerful image editor with some impressive features Core features: Just need to do a quick edit? Paint.NET has you covered with drawing, blur, sharpen, distortion and layer tools, plus more Advanced tools: If you want to go a little deeper, there's plenty on show, from levels and curves to a clone stamper and text editor You'll also like GIMP Photoscape IrfanView Inkscape Photoshop

You are subscribed to email updates from techradar To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States