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Techradar |
- Opinion: Will the iPad Pro be the next blockbuster enterprise device?
- Cortana for Windows 10 makes first public appearance
- Updated: Galaxy S6 and LG G4 facing delays thanks to Snapdragon 810 defects?
- Mid-range SM-E700H could be part of Samsung's big 2015 restart
- buying guide: Best set-top box: top 5 streaming systems reviewed
- In Depth: Going mobile: Toyota heads to Silicon Valley to rekindle our love of cars
- Blip: Turns out the Apple garage was a 'myth' all along
- Review: Origin EVO15-S
- Buying guide: Best phone deals of the week
- 8 things the connected car can offer enterprises
- Buying Guide: Best Bluetooth speakers: our top 4 reviewed
- Interview: Fujitsu: Human Centric Innovation is the next big mega-trend in computing
- Industry voice: Top tips for handling a software audit
- Hands-on review: Updated: Yotaphone 2
- Download of the day: IrfanView
- Tag Heuer could reveal its first smartwatch in January
- Review: Martian Notifier
| Opinion: Will the iPad Pro be the next blockbuster enterprise device? Posted: 06 Dec 2014 12:15 AM PST  IntroductionIn a move that would have surprised even the most ardent fans of Apple a decade ago, the computing giant has become the darling of the enterprise landscape – and in a big way. Through the iPhone, and then the iPad, Apple has positioned its products as a staple item within the world of companies, from the Fortune 500 to startups, creating software custom-built for the touchscreen and enabling businesses to successfully use tablets for tasks previously assigned to a laptop. And it isn't just Apple that is producing software for the 'new era' of enterprise. A whole host of software developers – from Microsoft to smaller companies – have built apps for the iPad, putting an end to the idea that the iPad is simply a content consumption device and opening the platform up to serious content creation. Companies like the Omni Group have created high-end apps for the iOS platform, selling OmniFocus for $29.99 (£20.99). Speaking to Ben Thompson of the Stratechery blog, Omni Group founder Ken Case said that "the lesson I've drawn is that it's important for us to build higher-value apps" which will ultimately be aimed at businesses or those who use an iPad as a productivity tool, not just a device to waste time on. Coffee tabletWhile it is true that the iPad is still primarily a 'coffee table' device, used for more casual tasks such as browsing the web or reading, there is a contingent of users who are starting to replace their laptop with an iPad. MG Siegler, a partner at Google Ventures, has been vocal about his use of an iPad for writing, replacing his MacBook Pro. Elsewhere, artists and designers have taken to using Paper by FiftyThree to draw, and a whole wave of executives are now giving PowerPoint presentations using an iPad, as opposed to a laptop. However, there are still some who are sceptical of whether the iPad can be used as a work device – and Apple may be about to prove them wrong. The company that has been pursuing the 'work tablet' for the longest is, surprisingly, Microsoft. Having laid the foundations with the original Surface Pro, Microsoft has led the way for hybrid laptop/tablets, creating a 'slate' with the internals of a laptop. The very first Surface Pro was bulky, underpowered and suffered from a painfully short battery life, but as a proof-of-concept Microsoft succeeded in proving that it was at least partially possible to cram a laptop into the body of a tablet. Fast forward to 2014 and we have the Surface Pro 3, the "tablet that can replace your laptop" as Microsoft's promotional materials proclaim. While this claim may not be entirely true (I, for one, still prefer the rigidity of having the screen attached to the keyboard by more than a magnet), Microsoft has made some significant improvements to the Surface Pro, creating a hybrid that could replace the most low-hanging functions of a tablet or laptop. iPad meets MacBookIt is from this basis that Apple needs to start for the iPad that will combine an iPad and a MacBook (which, for ease, I shall call the iPad Pro). Rumours originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal, claiming that Apple was testing an iPad with a 12.9-inch display (the Surface Pro 3's screen is 12-inch) which, if sold, would place it in direct competition with the Surface Pro and MacBook Air, boasting iPad-like internals and, presumably, a version of iOS. (Note that the most recent iPad Pro rumours have pointed to a 12.2-inch display). While many will point to this as Apple "copying" Microsoft, it must be remembered that Apple is rarely the first to a product category – be it smartphones, tablets or watches – but its implementation is usually the most polished and, thus, has the most commercial success. The Apple Watch is not the first smartwatch on the market, but the implementation will likely be the most well thought out and thorough, and so will likely sell in the most bulk (the jury is, of course, out until "early 2015"). The actual implementation of the iPad Pro is unknown as yet. From a software standpoint, it is unlikely that Apple will implement a version of OS X into an iPad, especially after ploughing so much time and resources into creating a large ecosystem of apps specifically designed for the iPad, many of which are focused around enterprise use cases. Versions of both the iWork suite and Office are available on the iPad, as well as a host of other productivity apps that have had iPad-specific versions created (examples include Things, a to-do list app; iA Writer, a text editor; OmniFocus, a task-planning app; and Evernote, the note-taking service). All of these apps have been well received and, crucially, are designed with the finger in mind, not the mouse. Telling demosOn stage during the iOS 8 announcement, Tim Cook played up the raw processing power of the new iPad Air 2 which uses the new A8 chipset, showing off demos of Pixelmator and a video editing app called Replay, which can implement real-time video effects and editing. It is telling that Apple is choosing to show off apps that perform functions that were historically the domain of the laptop or desktop. Having owned a Surface Pro 3, MacBook Air and iPad, the experience on the Surface Pro 3 often feels a little mismatched. Windows 8 is, in many regards, a well-made operating system that successfully transcends the complexity of many different input types. It is with legacy apps that the problems arise, requiring delicate presses of a finger or a dedicated mouse. Unfortunately, many productivity apps – such as Photoshop – are only available in the desktop mode, creating an uneven experience. Apple will undoubtedly be wanting to avoid this foible, and so will likely be working on a single OS platform to deliver a coherent experience. One deviceHaving only one device is a huge plus for businesses and for those who only have to fit a single device in a bag. The iOS range, from the iPhone 5c all the way up to the iPad Air 2, has become more and more entwined over recent years. The iPhone 6 Plus has blurred the lines between what is an 'iPhone' and what is an 'iPad,' leading to many users ditching their iPad (especially the iPad mini) in favour of an iPhone 6 Plus. This 'one device' mentality will endear users to the iPad Pro, which would reduce the need to carry around a laptop – a much larger inconvenience than carrying around an iPad mini and iPhone. Apple also has a full stable of iPad-ready apps that are aimed at creating rather than consuming, setting the iPad Pro apart from its contemporaries from launch. Businesses are much more likely to pick the iPad Pro over a Surface Pro when there are already 250,000 apps that are entirely relevant and, moreover, made for the device. Here, Apple could finish what Microsoft has started, endearing itself even further to the enterprise market.  |
| Cortana for Windows 10 makes first public appearance Posted: 05 Dec 2014 05:59 PM PST  The latest rumor regarding Cortana in Windows 10 is that the virtual personal assistant might first pop up there in January 2015. With a Windows 10 Technical Preview that includes Cortana supposedly right around the corner, you'd think an example or two of her in action would leak - and as of today you'd be right. Windows news site WinBeta seems to have got its hands on a test version of Windows 10 with a very unfinished Cortana built in, and they published the video below. Looking good"Before we dive in I must stress that this is an in-development version of Cortana running on pre-release software," the video's narrator says. "That means the user interface isn't finished and features are very buggy." YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA0Sk28TsP8As the video demonstrates the Windows 10 version of Cortana can do almost everything the Windows Phone version can do, from placing Skype calls to setting reminders and much more. The site doesn't seem to have any more clues as to when Cortana will actually arrive in a public build of Windows 10, but the existence of this mostly-functional test version suggests that January might be a good guess after all.  |
| Updated: Galaxy S6 and LG G4 facing delays thanks to Snapdragon 810 defects? Posted: 05 Dec 2014 04:54 PM PST  Update: A Qualcomm spokesperson sent TechRadar a statement to debunk this report, though he wouldn't go into detail. "We won't comment on any of the rumor or speculation you referenced but I can tell you that everything with Snapdragon 810 remains on track and we expect commercial devices to be available in 1H 2015," the spokesperson said. With that all we can do is wait and see what the future holds for Qualcomm and the phone makers that rely on it. Original story follows… Planning for Samsung's and LG's next flagships is undoubtedly well underway already, but their releases might not be as close as one might hope. There are problems with Qualcomm's newest chip, the Snapdragon 810, reports Business Korea, that might cause delays for the Samsung Galaxy S6, LG G4 and others. Qualcomm is reportedly having trouble producing the new chip due to problems with "overheating and a decline in speed," the site says. A source told the site that "the Snapdragon 810 overheats when it reaches a specific voltage" and "slows down owing to problems with the RAM controller connected to the AP," and that "there is an error in the driver of the Adreno 430 GPU." Up the creekQualcomm's chips have become the gold standard for mobile devices, so if they've having trouble then smartphone makers will too. This report suggests Samsung may solve the problem by using its own Exynos chips in the Galaxy S6, and a rumor earlier this week indeed said that the S6 will come with a 1.8GHz octa-core Exynos 7420 processor - a chip that hasn't even been announced yet. But that won't help LG and the other companies looking to Qualcomm for their next generations of flagship phones. Other phones that are supposed to pack the 810 - or are rumored to at least - include the Sony Xperia Z4, the HTC One M9, Motorola's next Droid, the Xiaomi Mi 5, and others. Where all these phone makers will come up with alternative processors if Qualcomm really is struggling is anyone's guess. We've asked Qualcomm for an update on the Snapdragon 810, and we'll update if we hear back.  |
| Mid-range SM-E700H could be part of Samsung's big 2015 restart Posted: 05 Dec 2014 04:48 PM PST  We've been hearing for a little while now that Samsung will "press reset," so to speak, on its smartphone lineup in 2015, and now there's a tiny tidbit of new evidence of what that might mean. It comes in the form of a mysterious model number that appears in the page info on Samsungmobile.com, which might mean anything - or nothing at all. But if you click that link and turn your eyes about 15 lines down in the text you'll see "<prf:Model>SM-E700H</prf:Model>" along with a set of mid-range specs. These specs include a 720p 5.5-inch screen, a 1.5GHz CPU and Android 4.4 KitKat. A fighting chanceObviously these aren't mind-blowing specs, but Samsung may very well turn more of its attention toward the middle-of-the-road market if its flagships can no longer compete with the likes of the iPhone 6, Nexus 6 and others on the high end. And judging by what's been going on at Samsung lately and its disappointing Galaxy S5 sales, they clearly can't - at least not on their current path. The model number SM-E700H doesn't really match with any of Samsung's existing product lines, so it's probably not the Galaxy S6, and its true nature will remain a mystery for now. But with Samsung planning to release far fewer different devices in 2015, this mid-range phone - whatever it is - may have a fighting chance.  |
| buying guide: Best set-top box: top 5 streaming systems reviewed Posted: 05 Dec 2014 02:00 PM PST  Our 'try harder next time' picksIf you're only here because you want to cut the cord and stop the rich, monopolistic cable overlords from siphoning your hard-earned dollars every month, I only have one thing to say to you: You've come to the right place. Look, we believe that paying for great TV shows and movies shouldn't cost more than your groceries, and that there's no better way to save some green every month than ripping that money-sucking cord out of the wall and delivering that long-winded "you're fired" speech to the cable company. We're here to help you make that next buying decision the best one possible by ranking the five best set-top boxes from worst-to-best and, in very clear writing, tell you which one will feel right at home in your home entertainment center. From the gold-standard Roku 3 to the recently released Fire TV Stick, all the set-top players have come out for the final showdown, but only one (OK, maybe two) can leave with the crown.
5. Nexus PlayerComing in at the end of the list is the beautiful, but ultimately barren, Nexus Player. If you're an Android user you'll love the icon-heavy interface and ability to easily send web pages, videos and music directly to the big screen via Google Cast. We liked its ability to play AAA games thanks to its optional $40 controller, as well as its well-groomed storefront. It even has a great search function that makes finding the next show to watch a breeze. What ultimately hurts the value of the Nexus Player is its lack of an ethernet cable, essential for a steady connection, and missing content services like HBO Go and Amazon Instant Video. At $100 it's not the best value, either. Roku has the market cornered on sheer amount of apps, and Chromecast comes in at the top of the pile for lowest cost. Nexus Player is just a middle child that may one day find success if it manages to set itself apart from its kin. Quick verdict"Ideally, every set-top box would have access to every streaming service, game library (both iOS and Android) and music collection. Sadly, this is not a perfect world. Google, however, made the best of the situation with the Nexus Player. It gets full marks for its simplistic, it'll-fit-anywhere design and sharp-looking interface. It does a decent job of putting the right specs in while keeping cost down and making a complementary platform for Android 5.0 Lollipop. But, unfortunately, it takes a huge loss when it comes to streaming services like HBO Go and Amazon Instant Video, which are completely absent on the device."
4. Amazon Fire TVThere's a soft-spot in my heart for the Amazon Fire TV - a set-top player from the e-commerce giant that single-handedly thrust the concept of cord cutting into the limelight. It scores full points for having some of the best internal components this side of a game console (which, I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you that both the PS4 and Xbox One make for fantastic streamers, too), and plays very nicely with everything sporting the name Amazon in the title. The Fire TV is snappy, fun and probably the best bet if all you want from your system is content from Amazon Instant Video. It has more games and apps than you can shake a Fire TV Stick at, but most of them aren't worth the five to ten seconds it takes to download. And worse, while it works wonderfully with an Amazon Prime account, take it away and you're left with a lifeless plastic shell that can access Netflix and peruse the endlessly expensive Amazon Video Store. Quick verdict"The Amazon Fire TV is simple to use and works well. If you are significantly bought in to Amazon's services, it's hard to go wrong with this box. However, if you are not an Amazon customer or even an Amazon customer who doesn't have or want Amazon Prime, then you might think twice. The device is clearly tilted toward Amazon customers, and nothing short of a full UI overhaul is going to change that. We'd like to at least see Amazon allow some kind of user customization in the interface. Until then, we're calling this device great, but not perfect." If you want everything the full-size player has to offer (minus the remote with a built-in mic) at half the price, consider picking up the Amazon Fire TV Stick instead.
Our top 3 picks
3. Google Chromecast
Too often, there's a discrepancy between a product's price (what it costs) and its value (how much it's really worth). Thankfully, Chromecast isn't one of those products: it's worth every penny. Coming in $32 (£30), the petite, USB-powered Chromecast offers all of the functionality of boxes three times it price at half the size. Like other pint-sized streamers - the Roku Streaming Stick and the Amazon Fire TV Stick - Chromecast hides behind your entertainment center by directly plugging into the TV's HDMI and USB ports. Once seated, all that's left is to pull out your phone, install the Chromecast app and before you know it you'll have HBO Go on the big screen. Plus, if you're an Android user, you'll even be able to mirror your screen via the built-in cast functionality. The product's biggest weak spot is its failure to support every app natively, and while most of the big names are all here, you won't find Amazon Instant Video or any of the niche programming that Roku has available on its platform. Quick verdict"Chromecast is an inexpensive, easy-to-use way of accessing streaming on your TV. All the major video streaming apps are compatible and you soon find yourself using it on a daily basis. If it cost more, we'd say it might be worth looking at the Amazon Fire TV or the Nexus Player, but at this price how can you possibly argue? Chromecast is fun enough, robust enough and has enough potential that thoroughly recommend it to anyone without a smart TV." Read our Google Chromecast review
1. (Tie) Apple TVOK, OK, it's kind of a cop out by giving two products the top spot, but hear me out. If you've bought into the Apple ecosphere - i.e. owning a Macbook Air, iPhone 6 and/or iPad Air 2 - then the Apple TV is the only way to go. It simply works flawlessly with Apple's name brand-tech. In combination with any of the products mentioned above you'll be able to peruse selected Internet content natively like YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix, iCloud and Podcasts and, thanks to Apple's AirPlay system, mirror any other content you'd like to see from a Mac, PC or iOS device and play it on your television. Unlike the other sets, though, it's not the best stand-alone solution. Apple hasn't opened app development to anyone outside of the company, which means that third-party content is practically non-existent. You're essentially stuck in Apple's walled-garden (sound familiar?) until they see fit to give you more viewing options. Quick verdict"If you've already got some Apple devices in your home then Apple TV is a natural fit and at this price you should really consider getting one because it integrates wonderfully with your current setup. But until Apple sorts out integrating iPlayer, 4OD and ITV Player into the menu system and makes AirPlay a little less restrictive, the Apple TV isn't a must-have product for everyone."
1. (Tie) Roku 3When it comes to channels, more is always better. Sure, I may never watch a spaghetti western on the Six Gun Cinema channel, but it's great that Roku gives me that option. And if the niche movies aren't your scene, you'll find every major player here as well - Netflix, HBO Go, Amazon Instant, Google Play Movies & TV, Hulu, Sky News, ESPN, MLB.TV, Spotify, Pandora...the list goes on and on. But, best of all, you're not limited to one ecosphere: Roku is the agnostic Switzerland of streaming sets. It doesn't care whether you download a video from Amazon, Google Play Movies & TV, or spend your money somewhere else, all it wants to do is get you the content you want to watch. The Roku 3 isn't perfect - it's missing apps from the ABC network as well as a decent game library. But between the almost ludicrous amount of content available out of the box and the subtle tweaks like a remote with a built-in audio jack for private listening, if you haven't bought in to any one service, there's no better player around than the Roku 3. Quick verdict"At the $100 level, the Roku 3 is your best option, unless you're significantly bought-in to Amazon or Apple's proprietary content ecosystems. It's responsive, simple and not beholden to a proprietary content library (system-level emphasis on M-Go notwithstanding). Whether you're looking for a streaming box to help you cut the cord, or augment your cable subscription, the Roku 3 has the features, build quality and simplicity you're looking for."
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| In Depth: Going mobile: Toyota heads to Silicon Valley to rekindle our love of cars Posted: 05 Dec 2014 01:27 PM PST  The days of rolling up shirtsleeves to work on a car are a thing of the past for many 21st Century dwellers, with the relationship between man and machine shifting to man and mobile phone. Toyota is aiming to change that, or at least create a connection between consumer, car and smartphone rather than excluding one for the other. To help do this, the Japanese firm is bringing its connected car initiative to Silicon Valley this weekend with the Onramp 2014 Challenge and Conference, a two-day event in San Mateo, Calif. featuring a 24-hour hackathon, technology fair and business conference attended by the likes of PlayStation, Sony Mobile, GoPro and a host of car-tech companies. "For me, doing this open innovation project, it was thinking, 'How do we get generations not interested in cars and driving anymore, people who would rather use ride sharing and so forth, how do we get young people interested in driving?'" Toyota's Open Innovation Project Manager Yas Kohaya told TechRadar. "We think cars and driving can still be exciting and fun and we're exploring a new way to bring interest to driving." The Onramp Challenge is fairly open-ended; developers will have access to the CAN-Gateway ECU, a unit currently available only in Japan that gathers data from a vehicle's sensors, to develop any mobile or web app that enhances the driving experience. The top app will receive a $10,000 prize, and awards will be handed out to the best apps built around the themes of "Safe," "Fun" and "Green." Several Scion FR-S models will be on hand to test the application creations, professional driver included. Robert Evans, organizer of the Onramp Challenge, described a number of possibilities for how developers could turn dry car data into a better overall driving experience, such as tying a playlist to the status of a car - whether it's moving quickly or stopped - driving more safely by checking speed and braking, and driving more efficiently by measuring gas efficiency and encouraging better driving skills. "We even have Kyosho radio-control cars to drive around," Evans added. "There's a way to connect data from Toyota cars to Kyosho cars, so the radio-control cars will replicate whatever the Toyota car is doing. I'm not sure what the practical application of this is, but it's fun and it's creative." The CAN-Gateway ECU was developed for the FR-S, but it is car agnostic. Developers can bring any device they like to the event, including Android Wear smartwatches, and connect it to any service they choose. Adopting a start-up approachToyota is one of the world's largest car brands and is famous for its safety and efficiency, so hosting an event that embraces the Silicon Valley's start-up culture seems at odds with the firm's starchy reputation. "Toyota, as a whole, we're very conservative, very concerned about safety and reliability," said Kohaya. "Not everyone in the company is thinking, 'How do we leverage this new technology?' But we do have people in the company who think differently, and I'm here to support that." One such person is Tetsuya Tada, chief engineer of the Scion FR-S and creator of the CAN-Gateway ECU. Kohaya relayed that Tada developed the FR-S in 2007, right when the iPhone was coming out. Tada, who owned a software company before coming to Toyota, witnessed a new culture begin to emerge. He wanted in. "He wanted to come up with a way to connect the real world of cars to the virtual world of phones," Kohaya said.
Evans comes from the Silicon Valley side, where turnaround is quick and trying and failing encouraged. "That Silicon Valley approach doesn't quite fit in the world of cars, but we want to import the benefits of that into the safer and more regulated world of cars," he said. "Most major auto companies are here in Silicon Valley," he continued. "We're trying to make connections with start-ups, where development lead-time is quite different. Where it takes 3-4 years to develop a new car, even one year in Silicon Valley is too long." Kohaya added: "We're trying to make the connection between the start-up world and the automotive world, and I don't think anyone has figured out the formula. Toyota's approach is to be here, bring our own technology, bring our own cars, get Silicon Valley people in the cars, open it up to them and make something that is interesting to them. We want to open that connection. We're trying different approaches to see what works." Playing with the big boys, tooRecent months have seen the introduction of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, marking the entry of tech's heaviest hitters into the connected car space. "[Google and Apple making connected car solutions] has an impact because consumers want to have that same experience on their smartphones as in their car, and we just don't have that now," Kohaya said. "Toyota and most other companies are trying to figure out how to make a more seamless experience in the car." He noted Toyota is addressing the problem with multiple options, including engaging with Apple and Google to provide a better in-dash navigation experience, though he's not involved in that particular project. "In this testing space, we'll continue to offer multiple choices because that is the best for consumers," he said. For more on the Onramp 2014 Challenge and Conference, visit www.onramp2014.com/ and follow @OnrampEvents on Twitter.
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| Blip: Turns out the Apple garage was a 'myth' all along Posted: 05 Dec 2014 12:31 PM PST  We knew the "Apple garage" - where Apple co-founders Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs are said to have created the first Apple products - is a legend, but now it turns out it's actually more of a "myth." That's what Wozniak told Bloomberg Businessweek this week, saying he actually designed and assembled the Apple I and other "side projects" in his cubicle at Hewlett-Packard. "The garage is a bit of a myth," he said. "We did no designs there, no breadboarding, no prototyping, no planning of products. We did no manufacturing there. The garage didn't serve much purpose." There's a kernel of truth in the legend, though. "It was something for us to feel was our home," Wozniak continued. "We had no money. You have to work out of your home when you have no money." More blipsYou can read more of TechRadar's blips no matter where you're working.
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| Posted: 05 Dec 2014 12:30 PM PST  IntroductionPC gaming is going through a mini revolution with more mini-ITX computers, like the Origin Chronos Z, to the lightweight Alienware 13 and the coming storm of Steam Machines. Now, the latest machine to join this trend is the Origin EVO15-S. This thin and light notebook marks a big departure from the bulky gaming beast such as the Origin EON17-S we're used to seeing from the PC builder. Instead, the laptop is just over half an inch thick with a new thin and light chassis designed by MSI and used to great effect in the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 3K. Despite the thin profile of this svelte machine, the EVO15-S is still packing an Intel Core i7 processor, one of Nvidia latest Maxwell GPUs and no less than three storage drives. That's a lot of power stuffed into one small package, but is the EVO15-S as sweet as it sounds on paper? DesignYou might notice it looks exactly like the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 3K, and you would be right – mostly. Upon closer inspection the Origin machine differs greatly with a thinner aluminum frame (dimensions we'll get to on the next page) complete with an anodized finish, where as MSI's offering was clad in brushed aluminum. Origin has also opted for a much simpler red backlight for the keyboard as opposed to the Ghost Pro 3K's fully customizable RGB keyboard deck.
Aside from these differences, the EVO15-S still inherits most of the Ghost Pro 3K's dashing good looks. The notebook is largely made of metal, save for the fat bezels around the screen and the underside of the laptop. It'll never match the quality and rigidity of a unibody Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch Retina, but the Origin laptop still feels solid throughout. Once again, like the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 3K, this Origin rig also looks the part of a high-end laptop more so than a gaming machine. This is a machine you'll easily be able to take out of a bag at a coffee shop without drawing too much attention – that is until you start playing Dragon Age Inquisition, like I did. The only thing I don't appreciate about the laptop's design is the way its aluminum sides simply end to a sharp edge. It's not a detail you'll notice unless your turn over the laptop, but I've seen other manufacturers create a cleaner transition between metal and plastic before with a defined and stylish edge. A series of bright LED's adorn the front edge of the EVO15-S to keep users informed of how the laptop is operating. Likewise the ring of light surrounding the power button flips between blue and red, the latter of which denotes when the laptop kicks it into high-performance mode for gaming. Welcome to the wind tunnelOne of the biggest annoyances with the EVO15-S is that its fans scream in a deafening tone when they're spinning at full speed. It's not an exaggeration to say the laptop sounds like a jet under load. Worse yet, there's no escape: the laptop's two main intake fans draw air from the top of the laptop through the speaker grill-esque perforations strewn across the keyboard deck.
While the fans are plenty loud, the good news it's all done in service to keep the laptop nice and cool. Lap scorching temperatures were a big problem we experienced with the Ghost Pro 3K and turning up the fans has pretty much corrected the issue on the Origin. I just wish it were a little quieter. You can partially drone out the sound by pumping up the volume on the notebook's downward pointed speakers, but you're best bet for good acoustics is to throw on a pair of headphones. Specifications and performanceYou would be mistaken to call the Origin EVO15-S and the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 3K twins. For starters the Origin is smaller in every way, measuring 15.35 x 10.47 x 0.78 inches, whereas the MSI comes in at a larger 16.5 x 11.3 x 0.85 inches. Despite these differing dimensions, both machines come in at the same 4.3-pound weight. The EVO15-S is also a bit more compact than the Gigabyte P35W v2, which measures in at 15.16 x 10.63 x 0.83 inches and weighs 5.07 pounds thanks to the built-in optical drive. Still this laptop is a bit larger than most contemporary 15.6-inch laptops, so it might be a tight fit even for bags designed to carry notebooks of this screen size.
Here is the Origin EVO15-S configuration given to TechRadar: Spec sheet
What you're looking at is a stock EVO15-S available for a cool $2,299 (about £1,466, AU$2,741) with a free one year part replacement and lifetime support plan. Our review unit came with a few extras, including a copy of CyberLink PowerDVD 14 Ultra and a wooden shipping crate bumping up the price to $2,389 (about £1,523, AU$2,848). I'd recommend skipping these superfluous options and getting the surprisingly inexpensive upgrade to a 3840 x 2160 glossy IPS display, which only brings the cost of this machine up to $2,499 (about £1,593, AU$2,979).
In the grand scheme of gaming laptops, the base EVO15-S a pretty well priced machine, especially considering it comes with two 128GB SSDs raided together as well as a 1TB 7200rpm hard drive. This laptop also is packed with a speedy 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-4710HQ and one of NVIDIA's latest and most efficient mobile GPUs yet, the GeForce GTX 970M. Of course, there are plenty of options. If you've got the cash to burn, you could pick up a top end MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 3K for $1,849 (about £1,179, AU$2,210) on Amazon. It won't have Nvidia's latest and greatest Maxwell graphics chip, but it still comes packing a capable GTX 870M, 2,880 x 1,620 IPS screen, plus the same Intel Core i7 processor. The Gigabyte P35W v2, meanwhile, is available for $1,749 (about £1,115, AU$2,090) at B&H Photo. For your money, you'll get an equally specced machine as the MSI with the same CPU and graphics card, plus the bonus of a Blu-ray writer if you're a creative artist in need of producing physical media. PerformanceWith such a powerful chipset humming inside the laptop, I never experienced a single hitch, even when asking the EVO15-S to juggle a dozen tasks at a time. I was also able to play Shadow of Mordor at a decent 45 frames per second (fps) on ultra settings, just a slight step behind the 60 fps on my own desktop rig, fitted with a Core i5-3750K and GTX 970. I was also able to easily coax this portable gaming rig to play Dragon Age Inquisition at 60 fps after a bit of dabbling in the graphical settings.
Benchmarks
As expected, the Origin put up some of the best scores we've ever seen from a gaming laptop. The 3D Mark benchmark shows us just how much more weight Nvidia's new mobile Maxwell parts can pull with such Cloud Gate and Firestrike scores. By comparison, the Ghost Pro 3K completed the Cloud Gate with 16,865 and the Fire Strike benchmark with 4,334. Meanwhile, the Gigabyte scored 15,010 points in Cloud Gate and 4,297 points on the Fire Strike test. The results from the crucible we've come to know as Metro: Last Light on Ultra are even more telling. The EVO15-S is the first single mobile GPU machine we've ever seen play this taxing game at an average 28 fps. Comparatively, the MSI rig was only able to render the benchmark at a stuttering 18 fps while the Gigabyte P35W v2 performed even worse with just 14fps.
I have to also stress that this notebook outpaces the Alienware 18, which ran the benchmark scene at 26 fps. In simpler terms; the EVO15-S, with just one graphics card and slower processor, is schooling a $4,166 (about £2,434, AU$4,443) rig equipped with two-tier Nvidia GTX 880M GPUs and a 2.9GHz Intel Core i7-4910MQ processor. That is amazing. Pixel perfectAs if the EVO15-S' excellent gaming performance wasn't enough, Origin has also equipped its thinnest laptop with equally pleasing 1080p screen. Even at a quarter brightness, the display is more than bright enough to counterbalance bright sunlight.
Meanwhile, the anti-glare coating does an excellent job at subduing reflections and glare. The screen also produces a wide color gamut and stellar contrast. Running shortThe only area I find the Origin EVO15-S lacking in is battery life. PCMark 8 quickly drained the battery in a matter of 2 hours and 2 minutes. The Origin laptop also ran for a short lived 2 hours and 18 minutes with my own regular everyday tasks of browsing on Chrome, writing in Microsoft Word, some Lightroom image editing and playing the opening minutes of the new Game of Thrones adventure game.
The MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 3K, on the other hand, managed to hang on for 2 hours and 58 minutes despite the power needs of the higher-resolution 3K display. Lastly, the longest lasting machine crown goes to the Gigabyte P35W v2, with its 4 hours and 3 minutes-long run time. Bundled softwareOrigin has done a great job of limiting the preloaded software, even going so far as to stick with just one audio controller, as opposed to the usual requisite two to four (seriously).
VerdictDolling out over two grand for a mobile gaming machine is a lot of money to spend on a laptop, but the EON15-S is one of those unique packages that manages to deliver on all fronts. It comes with enough power to rival a desktop. Meanwhile, Origin got all the other key components right, from the screen to the speakers and keyboard, and even an excellent trackpad. We likedThe Origin EVO15-S hews closely to the design of MSI's GS60 Ghost Pro 3K, yet it improves on the formula with a marginally smaller package and a less stain-prone anodized finish. It's missing a few features like the hypnotic fully RGB keyboard, but it still a very thin and well built platform. Nvidia's latest Maxwell chipset has given mobile cards a major boost and this is very evident from the benchmark results. What more, the Nvidia GTX 970M powering the EVO15-S, it truly closes the performance gap between gaming laptops and desktops just a little bit more. After overclocking the card, I was able to run even the most taxing modern games at 60fps with all the graphical flourishes turned on and set to ultra. We dislikedShort battery life is almost part and parcel to the gaming laptop experience, but the EVO15-S ran dry surprisingly sooner than its competitors. At most, you could look at three hours of battery life with ECO mode turned on the Origin machine. Rigs like the MSI laptop ran longer despite power demands of a 3K display. I was also expecting slightly better performance, as the GTX 970M's desktop counterpart is an extremely power efficient GPU. Another thing that turned me off from the Origin laptop is the incredibly noisy fans. Luckily, there's an easy fix for the problem by downloading the SpeedFan application to manually control fan rpms while monitoring temperatures throughout the laptop. Final verdictThere's plenty to like about the EVO15-S, and while it comes at an expensive premium, it's one of the few laptops that are well worth the expense. This Origin machine is one of the thinnest and lightest gaming laptops you possibly buy. Meanwhile, it does not skimp at all with some of the latest cutting edge parts, an excellent 1080p panel for all types of media, three storage drives and 16GB of RAM. Plus there's also the option to throw on a 4K screen for a marginally priced upgrade. In time, more and more gaming PCs will be outfitted with Nvidia's latest GPUs, but for now, the Origin EVO15-S is one of the best-performing gaming laptops for a reasonable price.  |
| Buying guide: Best phone deals of the week Posted: 05 Dec 2014 10:51 AM PST -470-75.jpg) Best phone deals of the weekThere's never been a better time to be on the hunt for a new phone. There are loads of amazing handsets out there, filled to the brim with the latest tech. Even better, there's plenty of fantastic deals that ensure you don't have to break the bank to get a fantastic phone. All these handsets and deals does mean that it can be a bit of a chore searching shops in the hunt for the best offers. The good news is that we've teamed up with uSwitch to bring you the best prices for top of the range smartphones like the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, Sony Xperia Z3 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. We don't just have deals for the latest and greatest handsets, with slightly older devices like the HTC One M8, LG G3, Samsung Galaxy Alpha and the iPhone 5S also getting a look in. Our deals have two elements for each phone we're featuring: the first is one of the most popular of the week, with the most interest from consumers all over the UK. The second is the lowest total cost of ownership, where we work out how much the combined total of handset plus monthly cost will hit the wallet over the duration of the deal. Apple iPhone 6The Apple iPhone 6 has been out for a little while but it continues to be one of the most sought after phones on the market. The most popular iPhone 6 deal this week gets you a 16GB version in gold on Vodafone. You'll get a 1GB data allowance (following three months of unlimited data to learn how much you'll use), as well as unlimited minutes and unlimited texts every month. The deal is with mobilephonesdirect and costs £34.50 per month for two years. There's no upfront cost so it will set you back £828 over the course of the two year contract, which might seem steep, but it's one of the best prices you can get an iPhone 6 for with those sorts of allowances.
Cheapest Apple iPhone 6 dealThe iPhone 6 is still relatively new, so we're not expecting any impressively cheap deals just yet but that doesn't mean there aren't savings to be had. Right now for example you can get a 16GB silver iPhone 6 with EE. The contract comes with 500MB of 4G data, 500 minutes and unlimited texts for just £14.99 per month. You will need to spend £419.99 upfront, however. The deal is through mobilephonesdirect and although you'll need to pay a lot upfront, over two years the deal comes to just £779.75, which isn't bad.
Apple iPhone 6 PlusApple's first 'phablet' is big, bold and really rather good. It's also got quite a high price tag to boot. One of the most popular deals right now is for a refurbished 16GB version of the handset in silver, courtesy of Mobiles.co.uk. It will cost you £38.50 per month on Vodafone and comes with 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of data every month. There's no upfront charge so the overall cost of this deal is £924, which is on the pricey side for a refurbished phone.
Cheapest Apple iPhone 6 Plus dealThe cheapest iPhone 6 Plus deal is still pricey, but considering what you get for your money it's pretty good value. At the moment the lowest cost deal you can get for Apple's phablet is for a gold 16GB handset on EE through mobilephonesdirect. This deal comes with 500MB of 4G data, 500 minutes and unlimited texts each month. It'll cost £14.99 a month for two years and comes with an upfront cost of £499.99. Over the course of the contract this deal will add up to £859.75, so it's expensive, but it sets you up with one of the biggest and best phones around.
Samsung Galaxy S5One of the most popular deals this week for the Samsung Galaxy S5 gets you a refurbished version of the phone in blue on T-Mobile with 100 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of 3G data from Mobiles.co.uk. It's just £23.99 per month and there's no upfront cost so overall it's £575.76, which is good value for a flagship even if it is refurbished.
Cheapest Samsung Galaxy S5 dealWhile the deal above is good you can get the Galaxy S5 even cheaper. This week's lowest cost deal is for it on Vodafone and comes courtesy of mobilephonesdirect. This nets you a refurbished gold version of the handset with 100MB of data (following three months of unlimited), 100 minutes and unlimited texts. The deal costs £14.50 per month for two years and will cost you £160.99 upfront, for a total of just £508.99 which isn't bad at all even considering it's a refurbished handset.
Samsung Galaxy AlphaWhile the Galaxy S5 is still Samsung's main flagship, the company has since released a metal-clad marvel that's clearly aimed at the iPhone crowd. A particularly popular deal at the moment is for it in silver on Three with 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of 4G data. That's through affordablemobiles and costs £27 per month with a £34.99 upfront cost, for a total of £682.99 over 24 months.
Cheapest Samsung Galaxy Alpha dealThis week's cheapest Galaxy Alpha deal is a mere £22.50 per month with an £85.99 upfront charge. That's for the Samsung Galaxy Alpha in black on Vodafone through mobilephonesdirect and it comes with 100 minutes, 100MB of data (after three months of unlimited data) and unlimited texts. Overall it comes out at just £625.99, which is a pretty good price, though the allowances could be better.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4Samsung's latest is a phone of monstrous proportions and the price tag is pretty hefty too, but it's probably worth the money as our glowing review attests and if you shop around it needn't be extortionate. One of the more popular ways to get it right now is in black, from Mobiles.co.uk on an EE contract with 1000 minutes, unlimited texts and 2GB of 4G data. That will set you back £33.99 per month and as there's no upfront cost it will total £815.76 over 24 months. That's relatively expensive but worth it for such a new and powerful phone.
Cheapest Samsung Galaxy Note 4 dealIf the above deal isn't enough of a steal for you the Note 4 can be had for even cheaper. Right now the most affordable deal gets you a white Galaxy Note 4 for just £26.50 per month plus £73.99 upfront on a Vodafone contract. In all that will cost you just £709.99. That's through mobilephonesdirect and the allowances are a little lacking, as it comes with just 100 minutes, unlimited texts and 100MB of data (following three months of unlimited data), but considering the Note 4 has a SIM free RRP of £629 that's still pretty good value.
HTC One M8The most popular HTC One M8 deal of the week is for the handset in grey. The deal works out at £29.99 per month with no upfront cost for 500 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited 3G data. It's available on T-Mobile through Tesco Phone Shop and the overall cost comes in at £719.76 over 24 months. That's not bad at all, especially for unlimited data; just remember there's no 4G here.
Cheapest HTC One M8 dealThe above deal is already great value, but right now you can get the HTC One M8 cheaper. For that you'll get the phone in grey with 100 minutes, unlimited texts and 100MB of data, though for the first three months it gives you unlimited data. That's with a 24 month Vodafone contract and is available through mobilephonesdirect. In total it will cost you £562.99. The allowances aren't the best but it's still great value if you can afford to pay a sizeable chunk upfront.
Xperia Z3, LG G3, Lumia 930 and moreSony Xperia Z3The Sony Xperia Z3 only hit the shelves quite recently, but you can still grab a good pre-Christmas deal. One of the most popular ways to get it this week is in copper through Mobiles.co.uk. It's an O2 contract and comes with unlimited minutes, 1GB of data and unlimited texts for just £28 per month with no upfront cost. That comes out at £672 over 24 months, which really is rather tempting.
Cheapest Sony Xperia Z3 dealThis week if you want the cheapest deal for the Xperia Z3 then you'll need to be prepared to spend a lot of money upfront, £264.99 to be precise. That may seem steep, but then you'll only need to pay £14.50 each month, with a total cost overall of just £612.99, which isn't bad for one of the most powerful flagship phones on the market today. This deal gets you the Xperia Z3 in black on Vodafone through Mobiles.co.uk with 100MB of data, 100 minutes and unlimited texts. So while it's certainly cheap it comes with a potentially problematically small amount of data, so consider how much data you're actually going to need before opting for it - you'll probably need to top that up unless you live in perma-Wi-Fi.
LG G3The LG G3 was a mid-year marvel and though newer flagships have come since from the likes of Apple and Sony it still impresses. This week you can get it for £24.99 per month with EE and it includes 1000 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of 4G data. That's for the phone in white through mobilephonesdirect and there's no upfront charge, so overall it will cost you £599.76 over 24 months.
Cheapest LG G3 dealThe LG G3 is getting on a little bit now (although we're only talking months, not years) and as such you can often get it for a good price if you hunt around, as this week's cheapest deal proves. If you go through mobilephonesdirect you can get a gold LG G3 with 100MB of data (following three months of unlimited data), 100 minutes and unlimited texts on Vodafone, all for £14.50 per month plus £100.99 upfront. In all the deal costs £448.99 over 24 months, which is a steal for such a powerful handset.
Nokia Lumia 930If you fancy a new Windows Phone handset then the Nokia Lumia 930 could be the phone for you. This deal costs £26.50 a month with no upfront cost, so in total you'll pay just £636 over 24 months. For that you get 1GB of data, unlimited texts, and 600 minutes.
Cheapest Nokia Lumia 930 dealWant to go even cheaper? No problem! This week's lowest price deal will net you a green, black or orange Nokia Lumia 930 from Carphone Warehouse for £14.99 per month plus £149.99 upfront, adding up to £509.75 over the 24 months of the contract. That gets you 500 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB of 4G data on an EE contract. Those aren't the best allowances but they're pretty ace for the money - and certainly workable compared to the other cheapest deals around.
Apple iPhone 5SApple's 2013 flagship might be getting on a bit - in fact it's been replaced by the iPhone 6 - but it's still good enough to go toe-to-toe with some Android phones. Like most of Apple's products the iPhone 5S hasn't gone down in price much, even if it is a year old. The most popular deal this week comes from mobilephonesdirect. It offers a 16GB handset in silver with no upfront cost, with 2GB of 4G data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts, all for £30.99 a month on EE. This works out at £743.76 over the course of 24 months.
Cheapest iPhone 5S dealYou can get the Apple iPhone 5S a little cheaper over the course of the contract, but only if you're prepared to get a refurbished handset. Mobilephonesdirect is offering a 16GB refurbished version in space grey on a 24 month Vodafone contract with 100MB of data (after an initial three months of unlimited data), 100 minutes and unlimited texts for £18.50 per month with £135.99 upfront. That comes out at £579.99 over 24 months, which would be pricey for an older refurbished handset if this was anything other than an iPhone.
Apple iPhone 5C 8GBThe iPhone 5C might be affordable by iPhone standards but that doesn't mean it's cheap. This week one of the most popular deals is for the phone in blue and comes in at £19.99 per month with no upfront cost, for an overall cost of £479.76. That's not bad, but then you only get 500MB of 4G data, 500 minutes and unlimited texts on a 24 month EE contract. If you're interested you can find it at Mobiles.co.uk.
Cheapest iPhone 5C 8GB dealWe've got a cheaper deal for the 8GB version of Apple's colourful handset. Mobilephonesdirect is offering a white iPhone 5C 8GB with 100MB of data (following three months of unlimited), 100 minutes and unlimited texts. It's £14.50 per month on a Vodafone contract and there's a £117.99 upfront cost. This brings the total overall cost to £465.99 over two years, which isn't too bad at all for an Apple handset.
SIM onlyIf you want to keep your old phone, or just buy a new one outright, then you'll want to check out this great SIM-only deal from Sainsbury's. You get 1GB of 3G data, unlimited texts and 500 minutes for just £12.50 per month and best of all you only pay for one month at a time so you're not tied in, though don't forget you'll still need to source a phone to use it.
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| 8 things the connected car can offer enterprises Posted: 05 Dec 2014 09:18 AM PST  Custom-built vehicles, drones and e-bikesA connected car is the ultimate mobile device - it lets consumers stream music, park more easily, and keep track of gas consumption with a simple app. But connected cars aren't just for consumers - they offer a wealth of opportunities for enterprises that rely on cars as an integral part of their business. From Uber, Zipcar, and Hertz to Fresh Direct and IKEA's furniture delivery service, the possibilities for enterprise innovation are endless. So, while companies are already utilizing many of the new developments to help their businesses, we took a look at what's already happening in the connected car space and we imagined what could come next. 1. Custom-built (and DIY) vehiclesConnected cars could soon come not from a dealer showroom but from companies like Tesla that have changed the automotive game entirely. By putting the company's patents online, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wants to speed innovation while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. With this rise of the environmentally friendly, open platform car that anyone can build in an hour, we predict businesses will soon be able to order (or build themselves) specialized cars tailored to enterprise needs, from any number of companies at a competitive rate. Dominos Pizza, for example, just sponsored a contest with Local Motors to create the "perfect pizza delivery vehicle." The winning design came equipped with an insulated pizza box as well as refrigerated drink storage. 2. And a drone to matchFor companies in the military, medical, or security spaces, connected cars could soon come with their own drone to keep an eye on things. For excursions into high-risk or unmapped territories, a drone can safely broadcast aerial information back to the driver and provide an up-to-date overview on current traffic, pedestrians, and terrain, that a simple GPS can't always provide.
First responders, for example, could have critical data relayed to them en route to an accident, which could then be transmitted across multiple channels to ensure the quickest and most efficient response. In fact, this concept is already being tested by the US military - DARPA has been experimenting with drones and driverless cars on the battlefield in order to reduce the number of military personnel needed on the field. 3. More (and more) shareable dataReal time tracking of data received across a fleet of vehicles enables companies to improve safety, reduce costs, and control their inventory. If a vehicle's anti-lock brakes engage, if the windshield wipers are turned on, if it makes an unscheduled stop, if the windows are down while the air conditioning is on, if a particular route consumes more gas than another - all of this data enables a company to analyze real-time driver and vehicle performance, better deploy resources as needed, and schedule appropriate tune-ups and training sessions. This is pretty standard stuff, but it's important as it enables a business to be as efficient and as cost effective as possible - and as cars become more tech-oriented businesses will constantly find new ways to engage with the data. 4. Connected…bikesA smart bike made its unlikely debut at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. This smart electronic bike is made by Mercedes-Benz and is expected to retail at just less than $3,000. For urban enterprises in warmer climates these smart bikes could be a game changer. As a delivery system it's quick and efficient, and with bonus "infotainment" options, it will keep employees happy as well. And it's not just the big car companies getting in on the e-bike craze - these connected bikes have been popping up all over Kickstarter with various success - meaning businesses won't necessarily have to shell out big bucks in order to upgrade their fleet. Innovations5. No more delivery or service windowsEveryone has had the experience of sitting and waiting at home for something to be delivered (and waiting, and waiting). Luckily, when it's just an order from Seamless the delay is little more than half an hour. But with service repair calls or big deliveries like furniture or appliances you can often be stuck at home all day. Enterprises could benefit from delivery or service apps that let customers track drivers in real time and communicate with the vehicles. A Verizon repairperson runs late on their first job of the day? A quick customer update via a company app lets everyone waiting at home better schedule their time. Better client communication means better business. 6. GeofencingWith federal regulation still lagging behind technology, there's no clear protocol on just how "connected" cars can be without compromising safety. But safety must be a primary focus for the enterprise. As connectivity increases in enterprise cars, the likelihood of driver distraction also increases: an employee wearing Google Glass, while listening to the radio, while receiving a call on their cell phone, while looking at a GPS device, etc., can lead to accidents.
One solution that's been proposed is geofencing. This is when a car can sense, based on GPS data, whether it's safe to be using a device. That means in bad traffic or on busy city streets, internet connectivity could be disabled automatically. Another potential option to increase safety could be the use of preset smart watches that ring or vibrate when the speed limit is being exceeded. 7. An App for EveryoneThe automotive space is seeing a huge influx in useful apps - and rather than just letting the tech space fill the void, the automotive industry is taking an active role in their creation. Ford recently hosted the Connected Car-Connected City App Pursuit which challenged designers to create apps based on data from Ford vehicles while AT&T Drive unveiled six new apps in September from developers like AccuWeather and iHeartRadio - giving car companies a wider option of what to include in its connected car packages and making it easier for businesses to tailor their fleet to their needs. 8. A hacking scandalWhile the benefits of connected cars are numerous, the potential challenges include the possibility of cybercrime, of course. Major retailers like Target, Home Depot, and Victoria's Secret, along with banks and government offices have all been subject to high profile hacks. And as soon as cars are connected they become vulnerable to the same kind of security breach, which raises concerns about everything from compromised in-car payment systems to "hijackers" who could remotely take control of a vehicle. This means security against cybercrime is going to be an important part of the connected car conversation. And the more secure the network - the more attractive that product will be to enterprises.
While the technology for all of the above already exists in some form or another, we're interested to see how enterprise moves to take advantage of this technology.  |
| Buying Guide: Best Bluetooth speakers: our top 4 reviewed Posted: 05 Dec 2014 08:50 AM PST  The bazooka-sized boomboxes of yesteryear are no more, and haven't been for a while now. They have made way for portable, wireless speakers that are more capable, and sometimes, are as small as a soda can. But the path to glory for the Bluetooth speaker hasn't always been strong. In fact, it's been downright shaky at times, as innovation in design flew past the actual execution of reliably streaming music wirelessly in its early years. Most of the bugs have been shook loose, and the Bluetooth speakers arriving on store shelves today are better and more affordable than ever. What with long-lasting battery life, stunning audio reproduction and other useful features, these speakers can turn any trip away from home into a tune-filled party. We've done the digging to present to you our top picks for best Bluetooth speakers.
JBL Charge 2Coming in at $150 (£129, about AU$170) is the JBL Charge 2. It's about the size of a large can of energy drink, but we promise that it has more functionality than one. With great sound quality that booms through the cylindrical chamber, the deal is only made sweeter with its fantastic battery life, which can charge your power-hungry devices if you're away from an electrical source. Sure, it's not as flashy looking as the LED-decorated JBL Pulse, but its capabilities blow it out of the water for your money. Get this if you want a durable speaker, but don't care too much how it looks, so long as it performs well.
Dell AD211A good Bluetooth speaker is something we all deserve but unfortunately, we can't all afford the luxury. Thankfully, Dell stuck this stellar option in the budget Bluetooth speaker category. The Dell AD211 won't win awards for design, though some may dig its simple style. Whatever bad we had to say about (not much), can be mostly ignored once you hear that it retails for a staggeringly cheap $59 (£68.39, AU$79). Taking value into consideration, you'll have a hard time finding an affordable speaker with good battery life, NFC compatibility and a built-in microphone. But the AD211 has it all, and for a bargain. Get this if you're ballin' on a budget and you need the most feature-packed speaker for your money.
Harman/Kardon Esquire MiniWhile this chic Bluetooth speaker is marketed to the on the go business professional, always catching flights to go catch more flights, the Harmon Kardon Esquire Mini is an easy recommendation. It's hard not to be partial to such a good-looking speaker, but thankfully, its performance ranks just as high in our book. Albeit a tad expensive for its size ($150, £129.99), it makes up for the financial burden with great battery life and fantastic style. If size is of utmost importance, you'll be pleased with the Esquire Mini, as it's about the thickness of two smartphones. Of course, you wouldn't guess that the voluminous sound would be coming out of such a small device. Get this if want a pocket-friendly Bluetooth speaker that's fashion-savvy.
Creative Sound Blaster Roar SR20Just like people do, some Bluetooth speakers try to do everything. And just like people, some Bluetooth speakers can do this gracefully and some cannot. The Creative Sound Blaster Roar SR20 succeeds at being a multi-functional speaker that rings it at the pleasing tune of $129 (about £104, AU$155). Compared to other speakers on this list so far, its design stands out, for starters. It's about the size of a hard-cover book and can compliment a bookshelf, if you please, or just a table top. This speaker houses a bunch of cool features, even some you may not use. The 'aux in' port allows it to amplify beyond what your computer is capable of. Its internal microphone can even record audio to a microSD card. Get this if a cool, novel-sized Bluetooth speaker packed with premium sound and fun features (recording audio, "Roar' volume boost) appeals to you. We'll update this page as better speakers are available, so stay tuned. Let us know if you have had a good experience with these picks or any others, for that matter.  |
| Interview: Fujitsu: Human Centric Innovation is the next big mega-trend in computing Posted: 05 Dec 2014 08:15 AM PST  IntroductionHuman Centric Innovation is a multi-facted theme that runs throughout IT giant Fujitsu's products and services. By Fujitsu's definition, it's an open and collaborative approach to innovation led by individuals, rather than organisations, and focuses on how technology can have a positive impact on both business goals and society. According to Michael Keegan, head of UK and Ireland at Fujitsu, Human Centric Innovation can help address issues such as work-life balance and caring for the elderly. Keegan believes that it will be a key trend in computing in the coming years. TechRadar Pro spoke to Keegan at the Fujitsu Forum expo to find out more about the human-inspired discipline, the company's stance on Windows 8.1 devices in business, and why its decision to bolster its PalmSecure biometric technology with two-factor authentication was based on a cultural requirement. TechRadar Pro: What is Human Centric Innovation? Michael Keegan: We think that Human Centric Innovation is the big mega trend in computing. It's about making sure that individuals can live more fulfilled lives enabled by technology. Whether that's more in terms of their personalising the workspace that they are in or addressing their work-life balance because they're mobile-enabled, we think it's important that technology serves society and serves the humans in the society as the focal point. It's not just about driving ruthless efficiency to make businesses more profitable. It's much bigger than that. Technology offers the chance for a more cohesive society where we can change a number of things that we've taken for granted over a number of years in terms of work patterns and the ability to mix work environments with home environments. It can be down to something like needing flexibility to look after children. If you think of the big macro-economic trends in our society such as people living longer, we're all going to be dealing with a lot more elderly ageing parents for longer, I think computing offers a human-centric society with the ability for us to respond more intelligently to these trends and use technology to help offer solutions to problems like loneliness, ageing populations and work-life balance. TRP: Windows 8 hasn't been a hit with consumers or business users. Are 2-in-1s the best way for tablet makers like Fujitsu to get the operating system into businesses? MK: Microsoft is a hugely important partner for us and mobile is a hugely important space. We see that there's a big future for Microsoft there, but we recognise that there are others with huge technologies too - we've all got Android phones and we offer such solutions. In our line of business productivity apps we still see a big future for Microsoft. Productivity is important and business apps are important, as is having those managed and automatically getting the latest releases.
TRP: Why has Fujitsu introduced two-factor authentication to its PalmSecure Palm Vein technology? MK: Our PalmSecure technology comes from Japan's parentage. It was originally introduced to provide secure ATM access for people in Asia. In Asia, there's more hesitancy about physical contact between people and each other, and physical hardware or devices. Therefore, putting in your pin-code and touching something is more invasive to an Asian person than a Palm Vein scan. Some of what we're looking at in terms of delivering two-factor authentication on top of the Palm-Vein Biometric technology is adding a second level of authentication that can improve security as part of a bigger and better sequence. We're looking particularly in the security and defence industries where you have to be really careful about protecting data. TR: How is Fujitsu driving business growth? MK: Fujitsu as a whole has had a reasonably good first half of the year in terms of global results. We've grown in terms of our revenue and profits in terms of market expectation. We've also rearranged our company to be a much more globally integrated player - we split our business into five big global regions. In many ways for the first time since I've worked at the company, which is eight years, Fujitsu is much more globally aligned and capable of delivering consistent solutions to big companies and customers around the world. That's a very big change from the sort of company we have been in the past. TRP: What has been the outcome of that resturcturing process? MK: The restructuring process has called us what I'd call match fit for serving the large enterprise customer base, particularly in the private sector. If there's one sector I'm particularly interesting in growing, it's that. We see a lot of opportunity for growth there, and we think the American players have had it their way for far too long. For the UK and Ireland in our first half year we closed showing eight per cent year-on-year revenue growth and four per cent profit growth. TRP: What are some of the biggest challenges when it comes to serving the private sector in the UK? MK: Traditionally in the private sector we have not been as strong as some of the other players. That is largely for historic reasons, with the number one factor in the past that has gated our growth being our ability to consistently deploy solutions for large organisations that are present in more than one market. With the restructuring we largely eliminated that as a concern for big customers. And, therefore, for international businesses that are headquartered in the UK but might have a lot of deployment in other markets, we're a much more attractive player. If you look at our private sector base we have a lot of retailers with accounts with Fujitsu, and we've been taking a lot of business in the private sector - we've had wins with Argos, Morrison's and Homebase and the home retail group - in addition to Marks & Spencers and others. So we're very happy with our growing presence in retail, in addition to wins in the transport sector.  |
| Industry voice: Top tips for handling a software audit Posted: 05 Dec 2014 08:00 AM PST  When they occur, vendor audits can be very disruptive for an organisation. The letter of audit intent will almost always arrive at an inconvenient time but there are a few precautions you can put into place to ensure that the disruption is kept to a minimum. Create a vendor audit processThis is a process that stipulates the internal steps that the organisation has to follow for each stage of the audit. Ensure all relevant parties within the organisation are aware that an audit is about to commence. This notification needs to reach beyond the IT department to include procurement, the legal department and security. Get closer to the relevant software vendorsIt might seem counter-intuitive, but when faced with an audit, it is wise to invest in building a good relationship with the vendor(s) concerned. This can also involve discussions about future business development plans as giving a vendor a greater understanding of your organisational strategy will enable them to provide practical advice about future license requirements. Will a closer relationship prevent an audit? That is unlikely, but an open dialogue will set the scene for a less aggressive, more constructive basis to the audit and could help influence timings should a delay be preferable. Think proactively about internal software auditsUsing specialised SAM tools it is possible to record exactly what is being used and how this correlates to the organisation's official entitlement. Ideally this would be completed on a regular basis for all relevant vendors of importance, in the same way, as an organisation would approach developing a disaster recovery plan. An internal audit will verify that tools, people and processes are working properly, that the organisation is compliant with its license entitlements and will of course highlight any problem areas, so that the issue can be fixed before a vendor comes calling.
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| Hands-on review: Updated: Yotaphone 2 Posted: 05 Dec 2014 08:00 AM PST  Introduction and designWe've almost finished our Yotaphone 2 review, but a last minute software update arrived which we hope will fix the issues with the rear display. We're putting it properly to the test before posting our full review. 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 DisplayRound the backWithout 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 upThe 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 beaterIf 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 meA 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 featuresUp frontI'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, mirrorAs 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 deathI'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 performanceI'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 quickly during extending use - especially when playing a graphically intense game. It does get quite hot, more so than most mobiles, but not to an uncomfortable level. Battery lifeThe Yotaphone 2 comes with a 2500mAh battery sealed in between those two display, which is a touch smaller than the power packs found in similarly priced competitors. A slightly smaller battery coupled with an older Snapdragon 800 processor means power efficiency via the main 5-inch display isn't particularly stellar. I found the Yotaphone 2 was consistently running out by the end of the day when the colour screen was predominantly used. Running the 90 minutes battery test video with the colour screen at full brightness and accounts syncing in the background the Yotaphone lost 20% of life. That's better than the Xperia Z3, HTC One M8 and iPhone 6, but it's beaten by the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy S5 and OnePlus One. It's a shame it's missed out on the Snapdragon 801 chip as it saw big battery life improvements over handsets rocking 800, and considering the processor in the Yotaphone 2 is way over a year old now it seems like a missed opportunity.
Yota isn't overly concerned with the difference in power efficiency between the 800 and 801 chips, as it claims the Electronic Paper Display (EPD) can deliver significantly longer battery life. Use the rear screen for day to day tasks such as text messaging, emails and social media and you'll only drop a handful of percentage points. The down side is you'll need much more patience - typing is a bit of a chore as you wait for the E-Ink technology to keep up with your taps, and general navigation isn't as fluid as the colour screen. It's a trade off I was willing to make a lot of the time though (when the EPD interface wasn't crashing), and the fact I can get live information on the low power display makes it great for glancing down at on my desk to get a quick update.
If you do find yourself running particularly low you can always engage the YotaEnergy power saving mode, which switches off various features in a bid to extend life as much as possible. Yota claims that enabling YotaEnergy when you have 15% battery left will extend life by up to 8.5 hours, versus 1.5 hours if you didn't enable the power saving mode - and it reckons with the mode enabled earlier the handset can last two days on a single charge. You can set YotaEnergy to automatically come on when the battery falls below 15%, 10%, 5% or your own custom value, plus you can toggle which features it disables. YotaEngergy can do a variety of things such as throttle processing power, turn off key functions such as WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and NFC, and enable a 2G only mode which cuts mobile data but still allows calls and texts.
I found by enabling pretty much all the power saving features within the YotaEnergy menu and switching the mode on early that the claim of two days is achievable - but you need to keep off the front display. The Yotaphone 2 is also wireless charging enabled, so if you have a Qi charging pad you'll be able to plonk the handset on it to refuel. It's relatively impressive then, but battery life isn't as groundbreaking as I'd hoped. Some of the top smartphones of 2014 can go a day and a half on one charge without the benefit of a low powered display for the menial tasks. Use the Yotaphone 2 in the right way and two days is possible - focus on the front screen and you'll be lucky to see out one. CameraConsidering the price tag attached to the Yotaphone 2 I was disappointed to find an 8MP camera slapped on the rear of the device. Especially when its predecessor has a 13MP snapper. The top Android phones at the moment are sporting 13MP, 16MP and even 20MP+ cameras, so the Yotaphone does feel a little behind the times. It's not all about meagpixels though, and the iPhone 6 shows that an 8MP lens is more than capable of taking some quite lovely smartphone shots. Sadly though, the camera here isn't in the same league as Apple's.
This is a snapper you'd expect to find on mid-range devices, around half the cost of the Yotaphone 2. It's certainly not terrible, just a little disappointing. At least Yota has shifted the camera to the more sensible top-centre location on the back of the handset, as the original had it in the bottom corner which was pretty inconvenient. The camera app is just Google's stock Android offering, which offers up a small array of features including photo sphere, panorama and lens blur. It can also capture 1080p video through the rear camera and the front facing, 2.1MP lens.
It's all pretty standard, with no effects or advanced settings over a flash, timer and the option to toggle manual exposure. The rear screen does provide a useful feature - fire up the camera app and then switch to mirror mode and when you flip the phone around you'll see your face on the E-Ink display. For the selfie lovers out there it makes getting yourself and your mates in shot easy and you get a better quality picture as you're using the higher res rear camera.
The E-Ink display does a surprisingly good job of keeping up with your movements and as long as there's enough light it's a handy feature. Find yourself in a darker area though and the limitations of the black and white screen will mean you'll struggle to see what's happening. Tap to focus is present, and for the odd snap here and there the Yotaphone 2 does an acceptable job with a decent shutter speed, but the results are nothing special. Pictures tend to look a little washed out, and the level of detail is lacking with blurry backgrounds and some noticeable graining. Camera samples
Click here for the full-res image
Click here for the full-res image
Click here for the full-res image The essentialsContacts and callingContact management on the Yotaphone 2 is all very straight forward with the handset using Google's stock People app to handle all your buddies. It can pull through contact information from Google, email accounts and some social networks, creating an address book full of names and numbers. Profile pictures can also be dragged through, adding a splash of colour to the list. Things aren't quite so good on the calling side, and I found the Yotaphone 2 struggled to get the same level of signal as other phones.
There was never a case where I'd get signal on another phone and not on the Yotaphone, but it was regularly one or two bars lower than rival handsets - which caused issues at times when trying to get online. Calls and text messages remained unaffected, although audio on quality on calls isn't the strongest. It's acceptable, but I've had much clearer calls on phones half the price and on a few occasions the person on the other end of the line said they were struggling to hear me. Messages, email and keyboardAs with contacts and calling, messaging and email is all very straight forward and fuss free. Slightly confusingly however, you get two messaging apps and two email clients on the Yotaphone 2. This isn't just a Yota thing, the majority of Android handsets suffer from this duplication. The messages app is a straight forward app for texts, while Hangouts combines SMS with Google's instant messenger. In terms of text performance the two apps are very similar, but Hangouts plays nicely with Android Wear smartwatches - so that may sway you. Then you have the Gmail and Email apps - both of which can now handle accounts from a variety of different sources.
I prefer the cleaner layout of Gmail, but functionality wise both offer very similar features. Seeing as you have to sign in with a Gmail account anyway on an Android device you might as well stick with the Gmail app. The Yotaphone 2 also uses the stock Android keyboard which comes with next word prediction and swipe input support. It's a pretty decent offering, and travel on the 5-inch screen is good - although I'd still recommend downloading a third party such as Swiftkey for a truly fluid typing experience. You can also reply to texts and emails from the rear screen, and while the same keyboard is used there's a noticeable delay between hitting each key and the Electronic Paper Display refreshing to show your action. This slows down input times quite dramatically, so you'll need to be patient if you opt to reply on the low power display. InternetThe Yotaphone 2 is 4G enabled, providing superfast data speeds when you're away from Wi-Fi, with a, b, g, n and ac networks all supported. There's just one browser installed, and it's Google's Chrome which offers up a highly capable surfing experience. You can also download an alternative in Google Play if Chrome isn't to your liking. Tabbed and private browsing is available and your bookmarks and open tabs from other devices can be seamlessly synced across to the phone for an uninterrupted experience.
Load times are suitably speedy whether on 4G or a decent Wi-Fi connection. Mobile sites appear in just a couple seconds, while most desktop sites manage to at least partially load in around five. The bright, crisp AMOLED displays makes sites look appealing and easy to read, while you can browse the web without damaging battery life by switching to the rear screen with mirror mode - but it's not as slick. Early verdictThe 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
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| Download of the day: IrfanView Posted: 05 Dec 2014 07:00 AM PST  IrfanView is so simple to use but offers so much to users, you'll wonder why you ever used anything else to view images. Why you need itDon't be fooled by its basic appearance, IrfanView is one of the best image viewers on the planet. The super-lightweight program loads up instantly and makes image viewing an absolute cinch thanks to a huge range of features and powerful options. For starters, it can open and save almost 120 different image file extensions and around 15 audio/video formats. It's extremely easy to use and user new and old will feel well at home when using it. The simplest tasks are quick to access with well thought out hotkeys, while more advanced users will find its more sophisticated tools easy to find and simple to get to grips with. And if you want a little more from it, it has a number of powerful image manipulation features at its disposal. There's the paint tool, allowing you to draw lines, circles, arrows and more on your images, while it's also got batch conversion, scanning and text editing tools, plus a range of effects such as blur, sharpen, filters and more. If all that's not enough for you, you can also download IrfanView plugins to extend it even further. Key features
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| Tag Heuer could reveal its first smartwatch in January Posted: 05 Dec 2014 06:46 AM PST  Tag Heuer, the Swiss maker of luxury watches usually sported by a smug-looking Leonardo DiCaprio, could be about to reveal its first smartwatch at CES 2015. "Industry sources" have been speaking to Business Insider to suggest that Tag will debut its Intel-based wristpiece at the massive tech show in Las Vegas. The company revealed it's working on a smartwatch when its head of watch operations told a Swiss newspaper so back in September. It's set to follow the majority of smartwatches in providing data on steps taken, distance travelled and calories burned. Unfortunately, we don't know anything about what the watch will look like. But Jean-Claude Biver - he of the previous paragraph - said it won't just be an Apple Watch lookalike. Swiss madeOther companies have tried to move away from the black rectangular slab approach of most smartwatches, with the notable example being the Withings Activité. However, this is the first time one of the noted Swiss manufacturers has got in on the smart action. Smartwaches are certain to figure heavily in 2015 as Apple joins the race and Android Wear gathers pace. And as long as Tag's own offering isn't as bad as its first phone then we're in for a good year.  |
| Posted: 05 Dec 2014 05:30 AM PST  Introduction, design and interfaceSmartwatches have gotten a lot better looking over the past year with new attractive models. Some devices even look the part of a traditional timepiece including the Moto 360 and LG G Watch R and Samsung Gear S. But if you're looking for something even more old school, Martian has created a set of wearables that integrates a mechanical clock face with an electronic display for notifications. The Notifier sits on the low-end line of Martian smartwatches currently on sale at Best Buy for $99 (about £63, AU$117). At first glance it looks like a standard analog watch. But towards the bottom of the Notifier, there's a discreet OLED screen that lights up with scrolling notifications. The Notifier also has the ability to use voice commands - though it's not what you think. More on that later. The wearable also lacks a pedometer and many apps you can typically find on Android Wear devices. The Martian Notifier has a style of its own, but let's see if it's enough to make this hybrid analog timepiece-smartwatch worth a purchase. Design
The Martian Notifier is on the chunkier side compared to other wearables I've slapped on my wrist. It's not quite as big as the Samsung Galaxy Gear S or the Puls Smartband, however with a 1.7-inch round face, it looks big even on my moderately sized wrist. It's also well on the thick side sitting half an inch (12.7mm) above your wrist, which makes taking off a heavy jacket in the winter a real chore. Although the Notifier has such a large face, it's fairly barebones as an analog watch. For one, there's no second hand at all. The watch does not have a mechanical calendar either and it's missing several numerals at the bottom of the clock face to make room for the electronic screen. What's more, the lines for the 20 and 40 minute marks have been offset to accommodate the LED, which makes it practically useless for keeping time.
Thankfully the shortcomings of this just-for-show analog watch can be remedied by flicking on the OLED screen. You'll also be relying heavily on the electronic display to check the time because the only illuminated part of the watch are its two hands - making reading time in the dark nearly impossible. The good news is that the digital display is nice and clear to read even in bright sunlight. As far as aesthetics, my Martian Notifier looks like an everyday - though extremely basic and inaccurate analog watch. My particular review unit came with a black frame and band, but the smartwatch is also available in other colors with a white or red face. You can also customize your watch by swapping out the default band by choosing one of Martian's many hued bands that range from red to violet.
Unfortunately, comfort is a huge (literal) sticking issue with the Notifier thanks to a thick, yet narrow plastic band. Worse yet, the inside edge of the band comes to a sharp corner that digs into your skin as you wear it. While it's possible to replace the wrist strap with another standard 22mm watch band, it will stick out like a sore thumb. The band is attached to the Notifier by way of two long forks, which extend and dip below the watch's main body. By extension, Martian's bands are made with an extra bit of material to cover this gap, so any third-party strap you attach with look incredibly unseemly. Features, app and battery lifePairing the Martian smartwatch is easy enough on iOS and Android. The latter requires an extra step of buttoning through the options on the watch to put a checkmark for Android. After that, all you'll need to do is launch the app and follow the instructions.
The main feature of the Martian Notifier is of course, notifications. Whether it's an email, phone call, text, Facebook update, Twitter DM or what have you, if it pops up as a notification on your mobile device, you'll get the same ping mirrored on the Notifier. Beyond system apps, there's also support for third party apps including ESPN and Snapchat. The smartphone app picks out every compatible app from the get-go, but there's the option to disable any unwanted updates filtering the list to a shorter stack. You can also set up custom vibration patterns for every type of notification letting you identify them without looking at your wrist.
While the system works well enough, it's also annoying waiting for the scrolling text to show the entire message. Even with the speed set to max, I find it's much simpler and easier to read the whole notification at a glance on wearables like the Pebble Smartwatch. Since the Martian Notifier only has a tiny sliver of a digital screen, this also makes it useless for anything aside from text notifications. Features and appAnother problem with the Martian Notifier is its bare bones simplicity. Aside from notifications, you can launch your smartphone's voice control, Siri on iOS and Google Now on Android, with the push of a button on your wearable - but you're still saying commands into the handset's microphone. Essentially, you're already holding your smartphone or wearing a pair of microphone equipped headphones connected to the device - most of which can trigger the same command with a long press of the remote button. Ultimately this makes the feature redundant since you're not actually speaking into the smartwatch.
Aside from this you can program the app to push the current weather forecast to the smartwatch, set up a silent alarm clock, or remotely trigger the smartphone camera. There's also a panic button for finding your paired smartphone as well as an option to leash the wearable to the smartphone - which will cause the Notifier to buzz when you've gotten too far from your handset and disconnects. That wraps up everything you can do with the Notifier. By comparison, the lower priced $99 (about £63, AU$117) Pebble has all of the same features as the Notifier and can act as a pedometer, thanks to a Misfit app, while throwing in music controls and much more. The same goes for the identically priced Samsung Gear Fit, which does even more as an activity tracker equipped with a heart rate monitor. Battery LifeIn my testing, the Martian Notifier died after a surprisingly short four days, considering the only smartwatch bits include a bluetooth module and one small LED panel. The maximum specified battery life is five days, which you should be able eke out by limiting the number of notifications that appear to a select handful.
Luckily even if you forget to charge the smartwatch, the analog watch runs on a separate battery rated for five years. Charging the device, meanwhile, requires the included micro USB cable because the charging port is seated further inside the Notifier's chassis. Compatibility
One of the great things about the Martian Notifier is that it will work with practically any device you throw at it. iPhone 4S and any model above are all good to go. Android phones are also almost universally supported, so long as you're using a device with at least Android 2.3.3. I can also personally vouch that the Martian Notifier works well with the iPhone 6 and HTC One M8, as well as the Nvidia Shield tablet. VerdictWe likedAs far as smartwatches go, this is one of the simplest devices to pair and set up with a smartphone. Once you've gone through tweaking your settings in the app it's pretty much set to go all on its own. The Martian Notifier also reliably sent over every notification without a single hiccup. We dislikedUltimately the Martian Notifier feels like a pile of compromises. It meets the bare minimum requirements to be an analog watch with smartwatch features, all the while making too many trade-offs to achieve both its goals at the same time. The analog watch is unreadable due to both the missing markings and the displaced notches on the bottom of the watch. At the same time, the tiny sliver of a digital display is only really useful for text notifications while the Martian Notifier is sorely lacking in features. Even if it is an entry level wearable, there are other smartwatches and activity trackers that also show notifications and do much more for the same price point. Final verdictWhile it's great the Notifier works as promised, it's simply not worth it even with its currently discounted price at Best Buy. A regular, completely analog watch as mechanically simple as the Notifier would only cost about $25 (about £15, AU$29) by itself. Even taking the extremely limited smartwatch features into account, it still does not make any sense why the Martian Notifier costs as much as it does. You could pick up a more feature packed Pebble Smartwatch or Samsung Gear Live for the same price. Sure it won't have an analog clock face, but you'll still get your notifications, a silent alarm, remote camera trigger and everything the Notifier can do. Plus these other competing wearables also have a pedometer, music controller and many other features that the Martian Notifier lacks.  |
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