Techradar

Buying Guide: 10 best mobile phones in the world today
In Depth: Download of the Day: Torch
Updated: A glimpse of the future: what we can expect from Windows 10 PCs
In Depth: Can MIPS and ARM actually compete in the server market?
Running man of tech: HTC badly needs to get a Grip
In Depth: An in depth look at Project Ara at MWC 2015
Week in Gaming: Valve and Sony are changing gaming forever, but I'm just sat here mourning Maxis
Updated: These smart Apple Watch features might help the battery last longer
There's a new PS4 update coming, and it looks like you can test it
Did Apple give gag orders to Apple Watch app developers?
Apple to make it easier for schools to bring iPads into the classroom
VMware lands itself in court over open source code
Review: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
A cheaper version of the One M9 could already be on the way
Hands-on review: Nvidia GRID
7 days in smartphones: Why I don't want to talk to my arm
Hands-on review: Steam Link
Windows is susceptible to 'FREAK' after all
Updated: The best free torrent clients of 2015
Download of the Day: Atlantis Word Processor

Buying Guide: 10 best mobile phones in the world today

Posted: 07 Mar 2015 12:39 PM PST

Number 10: OnePlus One

We know why you're here: you want to find out the best smartphone 2015. Come on, it makes sense: we've all got at least one mobile phone, right? We've probably got about three or four nowadays, and that counts giving your old Nokia 3310 to your Mum a few years ago.

The current crop of phones have been here for a while, but with the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge arriving, along with the HTC One M9, Apple's challengers have suddenly got some stiff competition.

This is where we make it easy: we thoroughly test hundreds of top smartphones and have found the ten best you can spend your money on. It needs to be good, after all, given it will reside in your pocket for the next two years.

Our ranking of the best mobile phones available in the UK today celebrates the brilliance of the smartphone. We only feature the latest handsets available (unless an older model has become hyper-cheap and still offers decent functionality) as the newer models will stay serviced with software updates for longer, safeguarding you from having a broken phone with no hope of updates in a year's time.

Here's a quick video roundup of our current top 10.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM_hf-sHfwY

If that still doesn't help, well, there's always our extensive mobile phone reviews pages as well.

Here are our rankings for the best mobile phones around, currently available in the UK.

OnePlus One

10. OnePlus One

A seriously excellent smartphone for an astonishingly good price

You've probably never heard of OnePlus... but if you have, you'll know why this unknown brand is suddenly sitting in our list of best smartphones in the world.

The reason is simple: it's a phone that has all the power, specs and functionality of the top dogs, adds in super-customisable software and does it at nearly half the price. We're talking big savings on cost (£229 for the 16GB version and £269 for the 64GB variant) without much in the way of compromise.

In fact, the only things it's really missing are a microSD slot and removable battery, and those are elements more for the purists than absolutely necessary.

If we're being super picky, it's not got the greatest camera set up and the design is a bit... efficient, but at this price point it really doesn't matter. And given the target audience is those that care about raw power over style, it makes sense that this is where the costs could be saved.

Quick verdict

We love the fact that a new contender can maintain such a high place in the ranking of the best phones in the world - it means that it's not just a case of 'big budget means best phone'.

We were debating whether the OnePlus One could even have gone higher, but there's one big problem that you'll have if you want to get your hands on one: they're impossible to find. Numbers won't ramp up for a while, and probably never to the level of availability of the better-known names.

But if you want a phone that offers supreme power at a really low cost: the OnePlus One is it. It's what the Nexus range used to be, and if Google ditches that program, then thankfully OnePlus has shown there will be brands to pick up the slack.

Number 9: Moto X

Moto X

9. Moto X (2014)

The brilliant pure Android experience

It's a big win for Motorola at the moment, now it's stolen in with two places in our rankings list. It feels like a smaller smartphone, despite packing a 5.2-inch screen, as the front is mostly all bezel.

That screen is one of the standout features here, as it not only has superb Super AMOLED clarity (courtesy of Samsung) but it also has the very clever Motorola Active Display, which lets you wave your hand over the screen to see vital info and then press to preview messages.

It's not got all the bells and whistles of most smartphones - for instance, there's no way to restart the phone and the camera is rather basic - but as a day to day device it's very strong.

Quick verdict

Don't think that just because the Moto X 2014 name didn't get much of a change that the phone is just a basic specs bump.

Motorola's new flagship smartphone proves that the reinvented company is listening to customer feedback with a bigger screen and aluminum metal frame, all for a price that's better than its competition.

It's not widely available yet in the UK, and it still could do with a microSD slot and a better camera, but for a phone that doesn't cost as much, allows you to customise nearly everything stylish about the design and works well, it's one of the best.

Number 8: Sony Xperia Z3

Sony Xperia Z3

8. Sony Xperia Z3

A solid phone with a good screen and excellent battery life

The Xperia Z3 has arrived a little too soon since the Z2 was launched, with not a huge amount of upgrades - but it's still a very nice phone.

The design is slimmed down and the screen is insanely bright, and you've still got all the lovely Sony gubbins, like Bravia tech in the screen and improved audio output.

The camera, sadly, hasn't been upgraded and still packs some of the inconsistencies we'd hoped would be ironed out by Sony's amazing camera team, and it's still not up the power of the others on the market. That said, with Remote Play now enabled, it's bounced up the rankings slightly.

Quick verdict

The Z3 is a brilliant phone with a few rough edges - if you like a powerful camera that rewards learning the intricacies and want a really bright screen (with Remote Play on top) then the Z3 is very much worth looking at.

Number 7: Nexus 6

Nexus 6

7. Nexus 6

Google's best ever phone is also its biggest ever

The new Nexus is here: good news, the camera is finally half-decent on a Nexus phone. Bad news, it's no longer a super-cheap superphone, hence it not landing higher up the rankings.

It does have an excellent screen, a very, very beefy Snapdragon 805 chipset to run nearly anything you want and the media capabilities are excellent. And that's without even talking about the fact it will be getting the latest Android upgrades thanks to being Google's flagship handset.

The only downside (and it's not going to be a hindrance to some people) is that it's got a whopping 5.96-inch screen. It's still roughly the same size as the iPhone 6 Plus, and if you prefer a smaller phone, it's based on the same design as the Moto X, thanks to being made by Motorola.

Quick verdict

The death of the Google Nexus program has been greatly exaggerated, and this year's stock Android phone ironically resulted in an exaggerated Moto X. Its tremendous display, premium specs and debut of Android 5.0 Lollipop make one of the best phablets to date.

It's not cheap, but it's the best Nexus ever made. And, when you think about it, you're not going to need to hold onto your money, as you'll require both hands to grab onto this two-handed monster.

Number 6: Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

6. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

A small Android phone packed with large features

Less powerful with a lower-res screen than its bigger brother? How is the Z3 Compact ahead?

Well, it's simple: this thing is all the power (well, mostly) of the larger model, with a smaller body. This means Remote Play for your PS4, a 20.7MP camera, the clear IPS LCD screen... it's got it all and it's much, much nicer to hold.

The price is a lot lower too, so unless you want the brightness of the Full HD screen nearly every other feature is in this smaller phone, meaning it will have less impact on your pocket - both literally and figuratively.

Quick verdict

The best of Sony in a smartphone - if that's what you're after, this is the phone to go for. It's the ergonomics and the price that impress, and while it's not quite got the spec sheet of the main Z3, it's a lot more polished for some reason.

On top of that it now packs Remote Play to make it a real winner if you're a PS4 owner - definitely one to check out if you fancy your power a bit more portable.

Number 5: iPhone 6 Plus

iPhone 6 Plus

5. iPhone 6 Plus

Apple's first bigscreen phone is a stunner

While not quite as impressive as the smaller version, the first Apple phablet is jam-packed with things to love.

The Plus takes all the best bits of the iPhone 6 - design, beautiful UI, strong camera performance - and improves upon them by packing an even better camera, a Full HD screen and much larger battery.

The drawbacks are few, but pivotal: it's a little harder to hold in one hand thanks to being a little too wide, plus it's a lot more expensive. But with the same internal power, great graphical performance and access to Apple's amazing media / app library, this tablet-phone hybrid is perfect for those that can't decide between the two formats.

Quick verdict

While the ergonomics of this phone aren't brilliant, there's another reason it's below the LG G3 and others: the price. It's very, very expensive and you'll have to really be up for a phone of this calibre, and really want the extra space to merit a purchase.

Of course, if you're an Apple fan and want a bigger iPhone, then you should shut your laptop or throw down your tablet immediately and run down to buy one of these (providing you can afford it, of course). It's a great phone made larger, and improved along the way too.

Number 4: Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

4. Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Samsung's latest phablet is the best bigscreen phone available

Hello Samsung. Nice to see you back up the list - and with the Note 4, the brand has managed to pack so much into the (well, still large) frame.

The main thing is the screen: Super AMOLED technology combined with QHD resolution means a pin sharp display, and one that we just can't take our eyes off.

The camera is nice, the power is next-gen and the whole thing is backed up by the ever-more-useful S Pen to help you clip and jot all day.

Quick verdict

While it's got a big hold over the LG G3 in many ways, it can't compete on price with the South Korean rival - and that's the big drawback for this phablet.

But it's the closest phablet to the 'average' smartphone we've seen so far, and it packs the most into that limited palm space. Well done Samsung - here's hoping the Galaxy S6 is even more impressive.

Number 3: LG G3

LG G3

3. LG G3

A superb flagship phone for an excellent price

The LG G3 needed to be good, as it was based on the hard work of the G2, which was a strong, well-made phone that didn't cost a huge amount of money.

So what does LG do with the G3? Goes and sticks the world's sharpest display on there (well, there are others now, but it was first).

It's a QHD screen, which means it's got four times the pixels of some phones on this list, and it also comes with a number of other enhancements too - although with those extra pixels packed in, the display is a tiny bit darker than others on the market.

Laser-based auto-focus? Check. Improved design? Check. Overhauled and simplified UI? Double check. It's going to be a little bit too big for some hands, as it's packing in a 5.5-inch screen, so we're verging on phablet territory.

But don't let that take away from a terrific phone, one that has a sleek, refined air about it and adds in fan favourite features like a removable battery and memory card slot, where both were missing on the predecessor.

Quick verdict

The screen on the LG G3, when used properly to display high-resolution content, is immense… LG knew that, and has been rightly making a big deal about it.

The overall design of the phone is vastly improved too, with the faux-metal cover not necessarily feeling great but certainly looks the part when laid on a table.

The camera is powerful too, leading to some great snaps and won't let you down when you need to just capture the moment here and there. And it's really dropping in price now, too.

In short, it's a necessary step on LG's quest to make the ultimate smartphone... if you want the best display out there with a good enough battery and strong camera, this is your next phone.

Number 2: iPhone 6

iPhone 6

2. iPhone 6

Bigger, better, sleeker and faster than the iPhone 5S

The iPhone 6 - a real step forward for Apple and a phone that's a real joy to use, hold and feel.

It's got all the same ingredients that make iPhones special: while it doesn't excel in any given part of the smartphone recipe (except perhaps when it comes to the interface, which with iOS 8 is probably the best out there with it's clever mix of intuition and simplicity) it just works.

The camera is lower-res but fast and bright and easy to use. The screen is too low-res compared to the phones around it, but pops and fizzes with colour and brightness.

And that design - we have to keep coming back to it as it feels beautiful in the hand.

Quick verdict

Why is the iPhone not number one? Simple: price, combined with a lower-res screen. The phone that does everything well in a great package is brilliant, but not significantly more than anything out there, which means you can't justify the higher tag.

And if you are paying that much, we'd expect it to be a brilliant, top-spec phone, which it isn't when it comes to the display.

But don't let that put you off: if you're in the market for an iPhone, or just been tempted by one in the past: buy this one. It's excellent, a pure joy to use.

Number 1: HTC One M8

HTC One M8

1. HTC One M8

A stunning phone with very few flaws

What to say about the HTC One M8? They often say the second album is the hardest, but the follow up to the all-conquering HTC One takes the best of that phone and yet still re-invents things enough to make it a massive recommendation over the old model.

We love the speed of the camera, the Duo Camera is smart as a tack, the Boomsound upgrade is impressive and the design... well, you have to hold it.

The Snapdragon 801 processor has boosted battery dramatically compared to the 600 of last year, and that means that photos also process much more quickly as well - even the front-facing camera is much better.

Gaming, movies, photography, browsing all work really well, and in a phone that that's easily going to destroy whatever anyone else can design. LG ran it close with the G3 but ultimately wasn't the best package, and the iPhone 6 still suffers on price and, inexplicably, a lower-res screen.

Quick Verdict

If we were to criticise the One M8, it would be the camera's lack of a megapixel upgrade, which means pictures are a little less sharp than they might otherwise be, and the bright light performance isn't top - and that sounds like something that will be fixed in the imminent upgrade that's appearing in the shape of the HTC One M9.

That said, it's a minor point in a phone that has barely any flaws. The lower megapixel camera means faster shutter speeds, and if you don't want to zoom in a lot, most will enjoy the depth perception and background de-focus ability to make some pro-looking snaps.

We urge you to hold this phone for a few seconds and try not to feel at least a small flicker of smartphone attraction. It's got great specs, a splendid design and some clever hardware innovation where the competition is relying on software to do the same thing.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and the Xperia Z3 failed to take the top spot, and the iPhone 6 didn't manage the feat either - so the big question now is whether the HTC One M9 can actually get much better than this.

You might also like...

If a phone isn't in the top 10 best phones in the world list, that doesn't mean it's not worth giving two hoots about.

Here's a few handsets you might want to think about should none of the above tickle your fancy... although you're clearly VERY hard to please:

Samsung Galaxy s5

Samsung Galaxy S5

There was a lot of hype around the new Galaxy, and rightly so: it was by far the best phone Samsung has ever produced, with a blazing fast core, a strong result in the benchmarks and a larger 5.1-inch screen.

Then there's the fact that with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU, which is still a really good CPU for any smartphone, and even now the Galaxy S5 is one of the best phones on the market when it comes to battery life, besting the already impressive One M8 in the power stakes. The Note 4 is a better option now, if you can handle the size, though.

Samsung has also dropped the 'innovation' of the air gestures from last year (well, they are in there but not the main focus) and improved the hardware with a better camera, fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor too.

The last addition is pretty pointless... but hey, it's fun for down the pub.

Quick verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a good phone, apart from the design. It's something that needs to be updated sorely, and while it doesn't have to be an all-metal shell, it needs to evolve.

The S5 has a clear UI, powerful innards and is also waterproof... it's by far not the best phone on the market any more, but it's still a mean device that's now getting a much tastier price off contract.

Nokia Lumia 930

Hey Nokia, (now Microsoft), nice flagship phone!

The Lumia 930 does lack compared to the competition, but only in a couple of areas. Windows Phone is still a sub-par operating system for most people, thanks to the poorer apps and lower amount of control. But then again, for a lot of people the improved Office functionality and simple interface is a boon.

The Lumia 930 is a strong phone in both design and power, although a little last-gen on the latter element, and coupled with a very capable camera, is a phone that's easy to recommend to those looking for something different.

Quick verdict

Windows Phone aside, there's a great deal on show here to make this a top-rated smartphone. The build quality is excellent and iconic, and the camera is powerful and results in mostly great snaps. We like that 32GB is on offer as the base model, and wireless charging built in is perfect.

The price is pretty good too, and if you're a fan of Windows Phone there is nothing better right now.

Apple iPhone 5S

iPhone 5S

Remember this? After the furore with the iPhone 6, it's easy to forget that the Apple iPhone 5S is still alive and kicking.

It's still a bit expensive, coming in at least £459 from Apple and contracts happily pushing over £30 a month, even with paying a little for the phone.

That said, it's sucked down the iOS 8 software pretty well, and is still pushing on as a decent option for a slightly cheaper iPhone, especially if you like the smaller sized screen.

Plus, you can use it with the Apple Watch and pay for things on the go using the cunningly named Apple Pay - although for some reason TouchID won't be enabled to work online, where it will be for the iPad Air 2 and friends.

Quick verdict

An ageing phone but one that still deserves a look simply because Apple will support it for so long - it's powerful enough to carry on for a few years yet.

It's still the best option if you like a smaller screen on an Apple device, but the iPhone 6 is worth a look for the improved battery alone.

Sony Xperia Z2

Sony had something of a slump in 2013, following up the impressive Xperia Z with the lacklustre Xperia Z1 just a few months later.

The camera, which was supposed to be the headline feature, didn't impress as much as we'd hoped, and the screen was still lacking the IPS clout that the Xperia Z Ultra managed - meaning muted colours and poor viewing angles.

Anyway, enough about 2013 - Sony mounted a comeback in 2014 with an excellent phone in the shape of the Xperia Z2.

And the good news is it's impressive. Really impressive. The industrial design is a little chunky but oozes premium quality in a way that Samsung's plastic shell doesn't, and it's a little more robust than its Galactical rival thanks to being IP58 rated.

Great battery life, strong power and a good camera all are present and correct with most phones in this list, but Sony stays in the top three simply by being a great all-rounder.

It doesn't have the polish of the HTC One M8, nor the more functional UI, but it does what's asked with top-end specs. That's what we like.

Quick verdict

What did Sony need to do to impress? Not a lot, but that screen and camera needed a fix as well as adding in some other features.

Front facing speakers, a new screen with better colour reproduction, 4K video recording and inbuilt noise cancellation all make a great device that should be right on your possible upgrade list.

Make sure you check it out in-store before purchase, as some won't like the larger build, but for a good all-round experience the Xperia Z2 excels.

Samsung Galaxy Alpha

Another Samsung phone enters the fray, and it's a slightly odd one: the Galaxy Alpha has a price tag that's even higher than the iPhone 6, and yet doesn't really out-spec it in many ways.

That said, it's still a premium phone. The second you hold it, you'll feel that the updated metal design really works, with clever effort made to improve the way it feels in your hand.

The 4.7-inch screen isn't as high-res as the rivals, but does the job well thanks to Super AMOLED technology making the contrast ratio and colours pop out.

And the battery is removable - bonus!

Quick Verdict

There's a lot to like about the way the Alpha looks, but there are some quibbles: why is there no microSD slot or larger capacity on offer to help out?

Why does it cost so much? Is the metal band (and, to be fair, blazingly fast internal speeds) really enough to warrant a purchase?

A really nice phone that needs a little more to be at the sharp end of this list: but if you want a premium-feeling Android phone with a strong camera, the Alpha is a great place to start.

LG G2

LG has made a phone that not only impressed us but ran the HTC One very, very close for the top spot in 2013 - and held a strong place into 2014 too.

We don't know where to start in terms of extolling the virtues of this new handset from the South Korean firm: it's got an insanely good screen, quality camera, the best audio pumping out from its speakers and headphone jack... the list goes on.

We even came to tolerate, then love, the power and volume buttons being placed on the rear. These aren't ideal, but the ability to knock on the screen makes it really easy to interact with this impressive device.

The LG G3 is here now, and blows this out of the water in terms of price and power (it's even got a next-gen QHD screen) but given the lower cost the G2 is still an excellent choice.

Verdict

There's so much on offer here that we can't help but recommend it to anyone looking for a cheaper smartphone powerhouse.

The only things that we dislike are the cluttered UI (pull down the notifications bar and you'll see why) and the plastic casing, which drops the premium feel of the phone a lot, especially compared to the handset that sits one place above.

But launching at £400 on PAYG (and even cheaper with a few third party retailers), along with comparable contracts older phones, is a really nice touch from LG, and we reckon it's going to pay dividends.

HTC One

It's quite a tumble from the top spot for the HTC One, especially given it was our top smartphone for so long. However unless you're desperate to pay a little less per month, the newer One M8 does everything the original did, but so much better.

It's nothing to do with the quality of the One – which is still one of the outstanding phones on the market – but more the fact that if you like Boomsound, and Ultrapixel camera, a sharp and bright screen or a powerful processor, the M8 has improved in every way there.

But let's not forget what made this phone so great: the supreme aluminium chassis, the Full HD screen and the simplified version of Sense 5.0 sitting now on top of Android KitKat means it's still a pleasure to use and recommend this handset - but again, only if price is your main driver and you simply must have a One.

The innovations are also more than just marketing gimmicks; Zoe functionality allows the creation of delightful video highlight reels, and the Ultrapixel camera means you've got a much wider range of shots available thanks to being stunning in low light - and none of that is diminished with time.

Quick Verdict

With power, poise and beauty all combined in this innovative phone, HTC has proved it can still more than cut it with the big boys when it comes to bringing out a lust-worthy flagship smartphone.

However, remember that this has one year fewer in terms of HTC promising to keep it upgraded, so if you pick it up now you might not get the newer versions of the software in 12 months time. The battery is also not as strong as on the One M8 - but it's still got a lot to offer.

Galaxy S4

Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung managed to hold off HTC at the top in 2012, but in 2013 the supreme stylings of the HTC One proved too strong against a phone that's a slightly-better-version of its predecessor, especially when you consider the design.

There's a lot, a lot, to love with the Samsung Galaxy S4 though: whether it's a powerful camera, a brilliant screen, a long-lasting battery or just a fluid experience, there's a lot you could want in a smartphone right here.

The cost is a tad higher than on other smartphones, but still cheaper than iPhone level and is descending now the S5 is available. If only it was made out of something a little more premium...

LG, Sony and Google have come out with some attractive propositions and overtaken the best the South Koreans can manage, but that hasn't stopped this being one of the most popular phones of 2013 and the price is ever lower.

Quick verdict

There's no doubt that, despite the design criticism, this is one of the best smartphones ever made - it's clear, powerful and does everything we'd expect a flagship phone from Samsung to do.

It's just a shame that the perceived 'innovation' doesn't really add anything: motion gestures, smart scroll and it's other non-contact bedfellows didn't take smartphones to the next level, which is what we needed in the face of Ultrapixels and BoomSound.

Make no mistake though: you'll love the Samsung Galaxy S4 if you choose to go for it, as it's a decent phone with some really cutting-edge features - but remember there's something better thanks to the Galaxy S5.

Note 3

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 breathes yet more life into a mobile form factor many thought would be dead on arrival, ramping up the specs and the size to give us a new monolith of mobile.

It may be big, but the 5.7-inch display is fantastic and the Full HD Super AMOLED technology makes everything pop from websites to movies.

You're able to fit a lot more on screen at a time and that means less scrolling in messages, on websites and down your long contact list and that can only be a good thing.

What really impressed us with the Galaxy Note 3 though was its battery life and sheer speed under the finger. We're used to a day at best when hardcore using the device, but we got far past that without breaking a sweat throughout our tests.

The speed of the Snapdragon 800 quad core processor, combined with 3GB of RAM, means this is the least-slouchy phone we've encountered in a while.

Quick verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is a great phone and if you were to own one you wouldn't be disappointed. It provides a great onscreen experience - as long as your hands are big enough to reach across it - and it's stuffed so full of tech to almost warrant its lofty price tag - which refuses to tumble much.

Its size will be a real stumbling point for many and we'd recommend going into a store and just holding the Note 3 for a while to see if it's something you can cope with - in short, we want all this but in a form that we can hold easily, at a lower price and without the S Pen.

If that's you, then just go ahead and buy the Galaxy S5.

Nokia Lumia 1520

The Nokia Lumia 1520 is a trailblazing 6-inch smartphone that forges a path for Windows Phone 8 into true high-end territory. And what a swathe this oversized phablet cuts - it's huge.

Its 6-inch 1080p display is a thing of beauty, and is a great way to watch videos and view photos on the go.

Nokia has produced another excellent camera phone here, learning lessons from the Nokia Lumia 1020 and the Nokia Lumia 925 to produce a very well balanced snapper.

However, there's also no denying that this is a ridiculously large phone, and whipping one out in public will be as embarrassing as it is tricky to wield for those who appreciate a little subtly and mobility from their phones.

Quick verdict

The Nokia Lumia 1520 is an absolute beast of a phone that we suspect only the large-handed and generous pocketed will be able to live with day to day.

Those who accept the challenge will find the most capable Windows Phone 8 device yet, with top-of-the-range specs that include a stunning 1080p display and a superb 20-megapixel camera.

Nokia Lumia 1520 review

In Depth: Download of the Day: Torch

Posted: 07 Mar 2015 12:21 PM PST

Having to bother downloading scores of add-ons to make your Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browsing experience the best it can be is often annoying and can be remedied by simply choosing a different browser in the first place. Step forward Torch.

Why you need it

From the very outset Torch looks and acts like a clone of Google Chrome and you wouldn't be wrong to think that. There's so much more to Torch than simply its roots in the Google camp though.

Torch brings to the table a range of add-ons that allow you to grab media from a webpage, enjoy a Spotify-like listening experience, play games and even download the latest torrents without so much as a visit to the Chrome Web Store.

Users can access the Torch Music app at any time from the dedicated icon alongside the address bar. Tracks are grabbed right from YouTube and then organised into playlists according to artist, album or compilation. It goes deeper than that with suggestions, trending songs, personalised playlists and it will have you wondering whether paying for that Spotify Premium membership is really worth it.

Games are another strand to the browser with an arsenal of popular titles that can play natively within the browser window and there is the ability to look at games by category, popularity and how new they are. Torrent downloads can also be initiated directly inside the browser window by using the icon to the right of the address bar and it negates the need for a separate app to that takes up valuable disk space. There's even an in-browser searching facility for torrents that appears when the program is turned on.

That customisation goes even further still with custom home and search page backdrops that come complete with the time in the top corner and a variety of different options that get away from the benign offerings in Google Chrome

Torch will appeal primarily to those that have a real premium for space on their machines but also has much to offer to regular Windows PC users hankering for an escape from the norm.

Key features

Works on: Windows PC

Price: Free

Torch Music: Play songs and videos from right inside the browser window by taking advantage of the service's YouTube integration.

Personalised Home: Various backdrops can be added to the initial start page that also features the date and time.

Torrent Friendly: With its own torrent client built-in you can search and download large files from inside the browser itself.

Updated: A glimpse of the future: what we can expect from Windows 10 PCs

Posted: 07 Mar 2015 10:59 AM PST

Introduction and performance boosts

Windows 10 PCs are going to run the usual gamut from the familiar – tablets, notebooks, 2-in-1s, desktop PCs and mini PCs you can mount behind a screen – to the unusual, like HoloLens and Internet of Things devices.

We got an advance glimpse of the hardware that's going to be built thanks to the agenda for WinHEC, the Windows Hardware Engineering Community. And it looks like lots of the new technologies we saw previewed at CES this year will make it into devices.

Some of the most interesting new features supported pertain to connectivity – plugging in devices, docking a tablet when you need more ports and a bigger screen, or sending content to a big screen.

Microsoft is promising "Miracast improvements in Windows 10" as part of the move to WDDM 2.0. You've needed WDDM 1.3 graphics drivers for Miracast in Windows 8.1, along with a Wi-Fi card that can set up the Wi-Fi Direct network between your PC and the screen you're sending to, plus a GPU that has Hybrid Graphics – both a low-power integrated graphics processor and a dedicated GPU that can drive the second screen.

Miracast is useful when you want to project your whole PC screen to another display without plugging in a cable, whether that's to watch a movie, or give a presentation or product demonstration, but it's been tricky to set up. The improvements may simplify that – we've been able to get Miracast adapters like the Roku 3 working on devices running the Windows 10 preview when we couldn't stream with the same hardware and Windows 8.1.

But Microsoft will also be talking about what sounds like a more generic version of Wi-Fi video streaming for Windows 10 – what it calls "Wi-Fi casting and hang detection with recovery".

Unlike AirPlay and Chromecast, Miracast doesn't use your main Wi-Fi network, it creates a separate Wi-Fi Direct network between the PC and the Miracast screen. Perhaps Wi-Fi casting will add an option to stream over a standard Wi-Fi network (today you can do that with Play To, but only from specific applications and only with specific video formats, not for everything on your screen).

Get connected

Windows 10 gets support for the new reversible, either-way-up USB type-C ports and connectors that we've been expecting, so we should see those showing up on new phones, tablets and notebooks.

We saw motherboards with both USB 3.0 and type-C, and now that phones will run Windows 10, you'll be able to plug USB peripherals in to them as well as plugging your phone into your PC.

That's why Windows 10 will add support for USB Dual Role, where the same device can be either a host that other USB devices connect to, or a USB device that connects to another host – or it can be both at the same time. That also lets you plug a screen into your PC over USB.

USB type-C ports also carry more power than USB 2.0 and 3.0 – Windows 10 will support the full 100W power that USB type-C can handle, so you'll be able to charge your notebook over USB. That's ideal for docking stations; instead of a custom docking connector, a tablet or notebook can just plug in with USB and you'll get power and display connections.

That works because Windows 10 supports another new USB feature, Alternate Modes. Instead of using the usual USB protocol to transfer information over a USB connection, devices will be able to use different protocols like DisplayPort, Thunderbolt or MHL. So with the right cable, a tablet that only has a USB port could drive a monitor that needs a DisplayPort connection. That makes it much easier to design a nice, lightweight tablet that you can use like a full PC when you get to the office.

Microsoft is suggesting to OEMs that Miracast and USB type-C will be great for docking tablets and notebooks, and Windows 10 will also support the new 60GHz WiGig technology. That's a faster wireless connection than Wi-Fi – we've seen speeds between 7 and 12Gbps – but it goes over a much shorter distance. You could use it to send video from your phone or PC to a TV with a WiGig adapter in the HDMI port.

But where it gets really interesting is when you replace the USB or custom port you use to plug a keyboard into a tablet with a WiGig connection. Now you don't need a port that lets dust and water in, or special holes and guides to get the keyboard in exactly the right place to connect to the port. You can just put the keyboard next to the tablet and it will start working without all the fiddly bits of plugging it in.

Doing away with a port will make the dock and the device slightly cheaper and more reliable (often, it's the port that breaks rather than anything else in a dock). Supporting all these options should mean we see Windows 10 PCs with interesting connection and docking options.

Performance boosts

It appears that Microsoft is also emphasising the importance of improving performance and battery life, with new tools like a Battery Estimation Engine that shows which apps, services and hardware on the PC are using power, and a new Battery Saver mode. It sounds like PC makers will have to make some changes to their drivers to make those work well.

Windows 8 introduced Connected Standby mode, which lets PCs using low-power System on Chip CPUs like ARM, Atom and the latest Haswell Core processors (including Surface Pro 3) drop into a low power mode where the CPU and memory aren't using power, but Wi-Fi is still connected so email can arrive and a Skype call can wake the device up if you've allowed that.

Windows 10 also adds a new Modern Standby mode. We don't have any more details about this – perhaps it will work with a wider range of hardware than Connected Standby, or allow Bluetooth Low Energy devices to work with a PC in Modern Standby so you could wake it from an external keyboard or find it when it's turned off? Or it might be a version of Connected Standby for the way phones work.

Hands on: Windows 10 review

Sensors and security

Now that Windows Phone won't be a separate OS any more, there are more phone-like features going into Windows 10. Windows 8.1 already supports Bluetooth LE for things like low power keyboards and even wearable devices like the Fitbit. That's still in Windows 10, but there's also an SMS router and "Host card emulation for NFC payments". That's the same technology that Google just bought Softcard for, letting you tap with your phone – or your tablet – to make a payment.

That session also covers "proximity features" – Microsoft has often talked about using NFC in a tablet or PC keyboard to make it easier to pair peripherals or to let you send content you're viewing on one device to another, like switching video from your phone to your TV when you get home.

Phones are also one of the reasons Windows 10 will support new sensors in addition to the usual accelerometers, ambient light sensors, compasses, gyroscopes and so on. These 'new' sensors are already used in phones and the OEMs need them.

At least one Windows Phone device (the Lumia 1020) has a barometer in – although Windows Phone 8 doesn't let developers use it – and several Samsung and Nexus handsets also have barometers in, and they're common in GPS devices. They're not for weather purposes, though – knowing the atmospheric pressure is a good way of checking the altitude and that speeds up getting your GPS location. That saves power because you can turn off the high power GPS radio more quickly, and it will work in Windows 10.

Similarly, supporting long range proximity sensors is key for phones – it's how the phone knows to turn off the screen when you're holding it up to your ear, so the side of your face doesn't activate the touchscreen and hang up your call. You could also use them to turn on an NFC sensor only when there was something near it to read, which might also save power.

Windows 10 also supports custom and composite sensors. In the past PC makers could build in any sensor if they wanted to write the driver for it themselves, but making that easier is important for Internet of Things devices that need a much wider range of sensors.

Low hardware requirements

Microsoft is also keen to attract OEMs who've previously made devices using Android or Chrome OS and other operating systems, promising them that "you can reuse many of your existing designs from other platforms on Windows". Supporting more sensors will help OEMs build Windows devices more quickly, and it suggests that the hardware requirements for Windows 10 PCs will be pretty low.

That fits with what OEMs have asked Microsoft for – to let them use the same systems they might otherwise put Android on, and it means the flood of cheap Windows tablets should continue. But that does also mean they might miss out on some Windows 10 security features.

Pike HP

We already know security is a major area for Windows 10, and it makes sense that Microsoft will be pushing OEMs to put TPMs in Windows 10 PCs because new features like FIDO-compliant next-generation credentials and enterprise lockdown won't work without them.

Back in 2013, Microsoft said that by January 2015 all PCs would have to have a Trusted Platform Module to get a Windows logo. But that requirement went away last year, probably as part of the 'Bing for Windows' licence deal – OEMs making cheap Windows tablets don't want to spend the few extra dollars to add a TPM, so some 8-inch Windows tablets have a TPM, but others don't.

The Windows Hardware Certification documents currently say "Systems that support Connected Standby must also have a TPM". Microsoft can't tell PC makers they can reuse the same hardware they bought to make Intel-based Android tablets (which don't use the TPM) and then make them have a TPM in every PC. But it can push the idea by pointing out that you need them for password replacements – especially on tablets people will take to work, for mobile payments using that NFC support, and for streaming copy-protected ultra-high definition content.

After all, what Microsoft wants – and will be pushing at WinHEC – is not just lots of PCs at low prices, but a wide range of PCs from cheap tablets to high-end systems with features you can't get in Macs or Chromebooks.

In Depth: Can MIPS and ARM actually compete in the server market?

Posted: 07 Mar 2015 10:48 AM PST

MWC 2015 is usually associated with mobility, tablets and smartphones. However, the event is also becoming more popular with semiconductor companies looking to discuss about their latest server-focused products as backend infrastructure and the data centre become part of the debate around mobile.

One of the big talking points has been over whether competitors to Intel can actually topple the Santa Clara semiconductor behemoth in the server market.

Now that the desktop market has been "sorted out" (AMD's ain't competition anymore) and mobile appears where Intel is focusing its attention, could there be a window of opportunity for them?

ARM and.... MIPS!

We first met with Cavium, an ARM and MIPS partner that unveiled a 48-core server chip, the ThunderX, last year and already has a design win with Lenovo.

Cavium was adamant that ARM will be able to compete with Intel and has positioned its ThunderX models against Intel's Xeon E3-series and, according to its Milt Douglass, its VP of worldwide sales, are ahead of the ARM competition (AMD, AMCC, Calxeda) when it comes to performance/value.

Now, Cavium is also a MIPS licensee but Milt made it clear that ARM had a very clear advantage when it came to server implementation in the market despite the launch, last September, of the I6400 (formerly known as Warrior), the MIPS's 64-bit new flagship CPU IP core.

ARM, he said, has the momentum behind them and is unlikely to be bothered by MIPS' recent announcement. Coincidentally, on the same day, Cavium announced that it had launched a new family of single chip solutions called the Octeon Fusion-M that used 64-bit MIPS cores i.e. the I6400.

But MIPS's Alexandru Voica puts forward some compelling arguments which would suggest that the I6400 would make a rather nice server processor – at least on paper - especially in the micro and density-optimised server market.

The I6400, he tells me, can run up to four threads simultaneously with up to six cores per cluster and up to 64 clusters on one die.

So in theory, a single processor could run a staggering 1536 threads (similar to a GPU like Nvidia's Fermi) and, ironically, Cavium, of all the MIPS partners, looks to be the one capable of making that happen.

What about software?

But hardware is only a small part of the equation, as Philippe Chevallier, Director Technology Platforms Global Research and Development at Kontron. The German company builds embedded computers and industrial PC systems for a wide variety of high value verticals; commercial avionics, infotainment, defense etc.

Chevallier confirmed that while the company continuously looks at the competitive landscape and how the market moves, alternatives to Intel Xeon processors, while attractive in some scenarios, was not a good fit for his.

More than performance or hardware ROI, the software conundrum is what is preventing companies like Kontron to even start evaluating rivals to Intel products. "They [The ARM ecosystem] need a more solid software strategy" he said bluntly.

Intel has what looks like an insurmountable advantage when it comes to software. Despite being known for a hardware company, it is one of the biggest software companies in the world and has been forging partnerships with myriad of ISVs (Independent Software Vendors) for decades.

At last count, Intel SSG was present in over 20 countries, counting more than 6000 ISVs in its network and handling a developer program covering a staggering 10 million developers ("software, entrepreneurial, enthusiast and hobbyist", says the copy).

Learning from past mistakes

You simply don't build those overnight and not having access to this network is a considerable downside. ARM, one must not forget, is a different architecture and would require recompiling a lot of legacy applications running on x86 (oh and forget about virtualizing those).

And it's not just about hardware and software. The same issues that ARM and MIPS faced today when tackling the server market have also encountered by Intel when it tried to launch its own operating system, Moblin.

Doug Fisher, the company's senior vice president, Software and Services group, candidly admitted to us that they've learnt a lot from their mistakes. The ecosystem on top of the OS, Doug told us, is absolutely critical. "It is very difficult to create environment and developers are expensive", he added.

Add in the need to get certification schemes and compliance programs up and running and one starts to grasp the momentous task that lies ahead of ARM and MIPS as they tread along the long and arduous road to Server land.

Which brings us to what's next. Well, a well-placed source confirmed that Intel will soon announce a new range of Xeon products that will be taking ARM server SoCs head on, in an attempt to swiftly stifle the competition before it garners enough momentum amongst partners and clients.

Is the dedicated server dead?

Running man of tech: HTC badly needs to get a Grip

Posted: 07 Mar 2015 05:15 AM PST

A phone maker running amok

It's been a tough week, running-wise. The eagle-eyed of you might have noticed this column was absent last week as I've been in Barcelona for the annual smartphone carnage of Mobile World Congress.

But while I nearly drowned in new Galaxy phones and metal clad monstrosities, I did have time to do some really awesome things in Spain's fair city.

I'd really recommend the running tours around the historic sites at sunrise (if trotting along with a super-speedy-but-super-knowledgeable German man is your thing) or taking the short hop into Mount Tibidabo to run the Carretera de les Aigues trail – an amazing (and flat) track that spits you right out into a fantastic view of the entirety of Barcelona.

Me in the mountains

But you know me: spending too long doing proper running without talking tech is never going to happen. And this week I've tried a couple of things from HTC - a brand you wouldn't normally associate with fitness, let along running - as the metal phone maker has begun to spread its wings.

Why is it doing that? Well, with the smartphone market becoming tougher and tougher as new players enter, the brand wants to push into new, emerging categories (it also launched a hugely exciting virtual reality headset in the HTC Vive) by using partnerships with the likes of Valve and Under Armour to get into new markets.

HTC Grip

The HTC Grip was a surprise inclusion at MWC, and I'm including it here as it's a curious device, despite not coming to the UK any time soon.

The Grip is a Nike FuelBand style device, an electronic bangle that looks like a futuristic ASBO device… albeit the kind of future we saw in Fifth Element rather than Demolition Man, with flashes of neon green, created in partnership with Under Armour.

It's like the Fuelband as well in that it comes in three sizes with spacers to allow for the optimum fit, although I can't see a time when I don't accidentally catch arm hair in it when shutting the clasp.

HTC Grip

The key thing here is it's GPS enabled, which allows it to be one part running watch and one part smart bracelet, connecting to the phone when you want it to and working perfectly happily as a standalone device when you don't.

I was a bit unsure as to what this would actually mean in real use - HTC seemed to be more focused on pointing to it as a good running companion, but yet the promotional pictures are all in the gym, bringing to mind that 'go hard or go home' mentality most brands try to sell their fitness goods under.

There's a small display on the top (that looks like E-ink, but is actually something called Passive Matrix OLED… think of it as the grandfather of the tech in Samsung's phones, and takes very little battery).

I'm a little confused by this thing from HTC, as it's not really clear what's different from other devices out there. The GPS tracking seems to be rudimentary, with info on your speed, distance etc, but no obvious training plans or similar from HTC or Under Armour.

HTC Grip

There's no heart rate monitor on the back, but you can connect to a Bluetooth chest strap if you're desperate for the info.

But again, there's not a lot of info on what that can do with the bangle beyond the app (Under Armour Recorder) giving post-run feedback, so I'm not sure of the benefit that brings beyond more info.

The HTC Grip can also do things like give you information on upcoming appointments, flip music tracks on your phone or check the time – although the last option isn't that useful as it's not an 'always on' display.

I really couldn't get my head around the swiping interface - there are no tactile buttons on offer here, so you're limited to slipping your finger around the screen and hoping for the best, and the same with the home button.

That said, it's not anywhere hear the final version, and without being able to take it out for a test drive it's not really fair to pass judgement on the HTC Grip.

In short: I like the look of this, a lot. It's nicely fitting and should bridge the gap between running watch and step tracker. But who needs that? It's designed for the 'elite athlete' – and surely they'd have something more whizzbang.

Plus it's not coming to the UK anyway – come on Under Armour, at least let us look at it.

Good for: The elite athlete that only just realised technology is a thing and lives in the US

HTC Re

HTC RE

You might be looking at this and thinking 'hmmm, that's not really for running is it?'. Or possible 'is that a tiny periscope / inhaler'?

But when HTC first showed me this, again as part of its new branching out into new non-phone product areas, the first thing I thought was how it would fix a massive problem I have when out running.

Think about it: the 16MP sensor and massive storage (through microSD) are just what I needed for taking a snap of the great moments when running without having to break stride to fumble for a smartphone.

The design is so ergonomic for holding it in one hand easily - again, perfect for the trails or the early morning jetlag-beating runs.

Except you do need to stop. This camera has zero ability to reduce blur with any kind of motion, leading to one run offering up 60 shots of something a drunk Picasso would have been ashamed of.

Even when stopped, you have to be really careful with the way you angle the HTC Re, as without a screen you're just guessing at framing. I found I had to take 10 shots per attempt and maybe one would come out OK.

It does perform very well when it comes to video though. Again, running isn't the best way to take a short movie (unless you're well into the Blair Witch Project) but when wandering it's not so bad.

I'm disappointed by the Re. I thought it would have been perfect, something I could hold for the entirety of a two hour run and avoid having to remember nice scenes, but it's not really capable for the task.

Good for: The casual jogger who's more into pics than PBs

In Depth: An in depth look at Project Ara at MWC 2015

Posted: 07 Mar 2015 05:00 AM PST

Page 1

Project Ara

Project Ara is Google's revolutionary modular smartphone that will allow owners to build their own smartphones by snapping together components such as screens, cameras and processors, much like with Lego.

The first country to see Project will be Puerto Rico later this year, and the reason Google chose it was due to it being a highly connected country with over 75% of the population owning a mobile phone.

Puerto Rico is also a US territory with a free trade zone which will make it easy for Project Ara modules to be brought in from around the world.

Page 2

Project Ara

Although Google wasn't showing off Project Ara at MWC 2015, the US company Yezz mobile did show off a number of prototype modules that it was working on.

These modules will easily clip on to the exoskeleton of Project Ara, and although the company has only been making mobile phones for three years, Google chose Yezz to be one of its partners for the launch.

This is because Yezz is a US company with sales around the world, and has what the company terms 'freestyle mobile spirit', a philosophy that states that your mobile phone should fit your lifestyle, which fits in well with Project Ara.

Page 3

Project Ara

Yezz told us that it currently has over 100 concepts for Project Ara modules. These modules include screens, cameras, phone antenna, batteries and more.

Yezz has been working closely with Google to ensure that each module it creates confirms to the standards that it has set for Project Ara, known as the MDK.

This will allow owners of Project Ara handsets to add and remove modules no matter what company makes them, so you shouldn't have to worry if it is compatible with your handset.

Page 4

Project Ara

Google produces the reference designs for the modules, then allows the companies freedom to make their own, and as you can see from the photo above there are a variety of shapes and sizes that the modules can be. The metal exoskeleton has a number of ports that match the size and shape of the modules, letting you snap in and build your own smartphone.

This combines the flexibility of upgrading a desktop PC with the simplicity of creating with Lego, and if Google and its partners can pull it off, then Project Ara could be a revolutionary smartphone.

Page 5

Project Ara

Quite a few smartphones come with dual SIM card slots which allow you to conveniently switch between networks without turning off your phone and swapping SIM cards manually. It's a particularly handy feature if you have personal and business mobile contracts or if you travel a lot.

One of the prototypes Yezz displayed at MWC 2015 was a dual SIM module that would be able to snap in to the Project Ara exoskeleton, bringing this handy feature to Ara owners.

Page 6

Project Ara

This prototype appears to show a fingerprint or NFC module, giving us an idea of what sort of add-ons Yezz has planned for Project Ara. Although Yezz has over 100 concepts prepared for Google's modular smartphone, not all of them will be released at the same time as Project Ara goes on sale.

The best thing about Project Ara is if you're not interested in NFC then you don't have to buy the module for it, instead putting your money into other modules that match your needs.

Page 7

Project Ara

If you're an avid mobile gamer then you could build your Project Ara smartphone around that passion, for example investing in a game pad module that can clip on to your handset for better control.

You could also buy a more powerful graphics processing unit and an improved screen to make the Project Ara the ultimate smartphone for playing games on. If you tire of games, you can easily swap out the modules for more standard add-ons.

Page 8

Project Ara

Another prototype module for Project Ara shown off by Yezz shows a headphone port and speaker combination.

If you're a big fan of listening to music on your smartphone then Project Ara will allow you to swap out and upgrade the speakers and headphone socket for higher quality audio components.

Page 9

Project Ara

As with all the other parts of Project Ara, the screen is also swappable. Yezz is making a screen module that is 1080p high definition and 4.7-inch in size.

Yezz is also working on a flip cover that includes a second screen, this time using E-Ink technology, making it ideal for reading eBooks on. Yezz is also working with Suncore to create a flip cover that includes solar panels to charge the device in sunlight.

Page 10

Project Ara

All of Yezz's modules, as well as modules from other manufacturers, will be sold through a dedicated web store that will work in a similar way to Google Play.

For the moment this will be the only way to buy modules, however at the launch of Project Ara in Puerto Rico, a number of 'food trucks' will be deployed to sell Project Ara modules on the street.

Check out the rest of our MWC 2015 coverage

Week in Gaming: Valve and Sony are changing gaming forever, but I'm just sat here mourning Maxis

Posted: 07 Mar 2015 02:00 AM PST

If you're not at GDC this week, the only place to be for anyone who loves games, technology and knowing about stuff before everyone else, then I'm very sorry. If it makes you feel better, I'm not at GDC either. I'm in a small, stuffy office in London and the nearest technology to me is my four-year old laptop. I'm not even slightly bitter. Old technology is the new new technology.

Luckily, we still get all the news from GDC (which stands for Game Developers' Conference) trickling down to us plebs from on high. The most exciting thing to come out of the conference so far is Valve and HTC partnering up to create a virtual reality headset, called Vive.

This is exciting because not only is it another opportunity to live the cool futuristic lives we all dreamed of as kids, but also because it adds another competitor to the Oculus Rift and Sony's Project Morpheus. And do you know what? Maybe this competitor will leave the others in the VR dust.

Firstly, anything with the Valve stamp of approval is always going to get the hype train going. A game studio that holds the power in their hands to make us all hyperventilate at any given point by announcing Half-Life 3, Portal 3, or pretty much any sequel to any game they've ever made, Valve is an incredibly powerful but quiet team.

Secondly, it's sharper than the Oculus Rift DK2, and possibly out on the market sooner, though it's much more unwieldy and ugly than the glossy, smooth Morpheus headset. Who will win the VR race? Only time and our inevitable motion sickness will tell.

But that's the future of games - what about the past? EA studio Maxis, which is being closed down, is responsible for some of our formative games, from The Sims and SimCity to the promising yet ultimately disappointing evolution simulator, Spore.

Co-founded by Will Wright in 1987, Maxis was a recognisable name to anyone who owned a PC in the early 2000s as their cheerfully colourful name popped up whenever we booted up The Sims. "Reticulating splines," they told us, and we smiled. What are splines? Who cares, we thought. Maxis are taking care of them. Who will reticulate our splines now, EA? Will you do it, or are you too busy dismantling our childhood?

Luckily Harmonix still care about you, because ROCK BAND 4. ROCK. BAND. FOUR. Yes! Finally, our dusty plastic instruments can come out of the cupboard of shame and back into our hearts, like the unloved Harry Potters of game peripherals.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc0RECohAZ0

Harmonix is like rhythm game royalty, with a cabinet of crown jewels including all things Guitar Hero and Rock Band, as well as cult favourite Amplitude, which was recently rebooted using Kickstarter for a release later this year.

So let's get down to the important stuff: what songs will we get to jam away on with our other plastic band friends? Polygon talked to Harmonix veteran Dave Plante, who's into his music like the rest of us are into breathing, and he had a few track suggestions.

Most of them were pretty retro - a bit of Jimi Hendrix here, a bit of Stevie Wonder there. Classic jams like Queen's Don't Stop Me Now and Tenacious D's Tribute (it's not the greatest song in the world, but it's at least in the top five) could be making their way into our living rooms.

So, that's all the news I have for you this week. If I were at GDC, I'd use this bit to say "goodbye, suckers" and then I'd go and eat a million burgers in the California sunshine. Unfortunately, I'm not, so I'll say goodbye in a normal way and eat a slightly soggy Pret sandwich in the chilly British cloud-glow that goes for sunshine around here. Bah.

Updated: These smart Apple Watch features might help the battery last longer

Posted: 06 Mar 2015 04:00 PM PST

Update: A new report goes into a bit more detail about some of the features that will help save Apple Watch battery life.

The Watch won't show push notifications if its battery is lower than 10%, for example, and it won't receive notifications from or interact with your phone unless it's strapped to your wrist and the back of the Watch is in contact with your skin, reports TechCrunch.

The site says that over a day of normal on and off use, the Apple Watch's battery will generally wind up at around 25%, and it takes two hours to fully charge.

Original story below…

If you're wearing your smartwatch all of the time you want it to go at least a full day before it needs a recharge but reports from behind the scenes in Cupertino have suggested the Apple Watch is struggling to meet this target.

A new report from Business Insider says that Apple is in fact cutting down on some software features to avoid overloading the smartwatch's battery too much. The developers BI spoke to say that their hands are tied to a certain extent - at least for the time being.

"Apple is only going to allow developers to do the basic stuff to just get the Apple Watch out there, because either it's not ready, or they don't know what the implications of something like this could be," said Sumit Mehra, CTO of app studio Y Media Labs.

Take your time, developers

Having the sensors running non-stop, for example, would very quickly drain the Apple Watch battery, so Apple doesn't want to give developers free rein just yet. The ability to create standalone Apple Watch apps is coming later in the year, but for now developers can only build iPhone apps with added Apple Watch compatibility.

"We had a vision of what we'd like to achieve, and in the end we had to get rid of lots of features because they just weren't possible in the current state of WatchKit," commented Markiyan Matsekh, another of the app developers whom Business Insider contacted.

For Apple, giving end users a smartwatch that makes it through the day is obviously worth limiting what developers can do, at least while the Apple Watch finds its feet. We should hear a lot more about the eagerly anticipated device at the official launch event on Monday.

There's a new PS4 update coming, and it looks like you can test it

Posted: 06 Mar 2015 03:38 PM PST

The PS4 and Xbox One are more or less neck and neck in the current console war, but if there's one area where Microsoft has definitely done better it's updates.

Sony hasn't been a total slouch, though, and it seems it's prepping a new PS4 update - and that, for the first time, it's letting users test the update out.

There are lots of cool gadgets coming this year

Those in the PlayStation MVPs program have received emails inviting them to beta test the next PS4 software update, reports Polygon.

Microsoft has been doing the same thing with its frequent Xbox One updates through an official Preview Program, but this is a first for Sony.

The features

The PS4 update apparently includes 60-frames-per-second "Share Play" gameplay recording, a new suspend feature that puts the console to sleep but allows you to resume your game exactly where you left off, and more.

The console is currently limited to 30FPS recording, and its existing "rest mode" quits any games and apps that are running before it goes to sleep, so these changes should prove welcome.

According to alleged leaked emails from Sony, some users in the PlayStation MVPs program will be given the opportunity to opt in to the PS4 firmware version 2.50 beta program between now and March 9.

To join, head to PlayStation.com and click "apply now."

The Galaxy S5 was an evolution, not a revolution

Did Apple give gag orders to Apple Watch app developers?

Posted: 06 Mar 2015 02:56 PM PST

Apple Watch developers who attended clandestine development workshops in Cupertino this year have reportedly been sworn to secrecy regarding the wearable's capabilities.

Apple has urged these app developers to zip their lips regarding what they're working on, according to 9 to 5 Mac, which allegedly spoke with multiple developers involved.

Rather than promoting their apps ahead of time with details, screenshots and videos, or other materials and information, the devs apparently have to wait for Apple to reveal the Watch's final form on March 9.

But even then they may not be free to discuss their work, as Apple has reportedly asked some developers to wait until late March or early April to reveal their Apple Watch applications.

Controlling the message

It seems Apple is intent not only on controlling all the messaging around the Apple Watch - which is definitely not surprising when it comes to Apple - but also on doing all the marketing for its key WatchKit developers.

The iPhone maker also reportedly asked developers for code and assets to include in its March 9 presentation.

A strong suite of apps is essential for any new product launch at this point, and it seems like the Apple Watch will have that right away - or, at least, Apple is going to do its best to make it seem that way.

Samsung's Gear S is a standalone smartwatch

Apple to make it easier for schools to bring iPads into the classroom

Posted: 06 Mar 2015 01:55 PM PST

Apple is planning changes to iPad deployment in the education space this fall that make it easier for administrators to distribute apps to students. The changes address some of the hurdles that school districts face when adopting iPads for classroom use.

"To simplify large deployments, including one-to-one and shared use, we want to make app distribution even easier," Apple said in an email that was obtained by 9to5 Mac. "As currently planned, this will greatly reduce the number of steps needed to set up a device."

Apple's iPad for classroom deployment changes include removing the requirement to have an Apple ID to install apps, making changes to the Apple ID for Students program, and improving the Apple Deployment Programs.

Removing prerequisites

Currently, Apple requires students to set up an Apple ID to install apps, books, and other content on their iPad. As part of Apple's program to make it easier for educators and administrators to deliver apps and digital content to students, Apple will be removing the requirement for students to have an Apple ID this fall.

"We are working to change this in the fall by allowing schools to assign and distribute apps to a device without an Apple ID," Apple's email stated.

With the change, administrators will no longer have to create generic Apple IDs just to get content onto students' iPad. Additionally, schools can secure iPads by preventing students from making purchases without prior approval.

Apple ID for Students

Though an Apple ID will no longer be required for schools to distribute apps onto an iPad, Apple will make it easier for schools to manage Apple IDs for students.

Students with Apple IDs will gain access to Apple's cloud storage through iCloud, which is built into Apple's apps like Pages, Numbers, and Keynotes. These apps are available for free on new iPads and serve as an alternative to Microsoft Office on the tablet.

With Apple ID for Students, administrators can also reset student passwords if needed. Apple says the program complies with US COPPA requirements to maintain children's privacy online.

Ease of administration

Apple is also addressing the needs of administrators with deployment changes that make it easier to roll out iPads on a large scale.

"We are improving the Apple Deployment Programs by unifying individual services into one program, simplifying the administrator experience," Apple said in its email statement. "This will make it far easier to enroll, manage, and support a large deployment - and reduce many of the steps schools have to go through to get setup."

Apple highlights its education initiatives with success stories, highlights of how technology can help with special education needs, and the ease of IT deployment on a dedicated portal.

Explore these 10 inexpensive apps that every educator should know about

VMware lands itself in court over open source code

Posted: 06 Mar 2015 01:00 PM PST

One of the creators of the Linux kernel has filed a suit against VMWare accusing it of failing to live up to its copyright commitments when it comes to open-source programming.

Christoph Hellwig, who owns the copyright to certain parts of the Linux kernel, accuses VMware of combining proprietary source code with open-source code in its ESXi product line without releasing it publicly thus breaking the General Public License version 2 (GPLv2).

It's claimed the company wrapped its VMkernel, which is a part of its ESXi virtualisation software for servers, with open-source code and in addition to that it is being accused of not complying with the same rules in relation to the BusyBox bundle of software. VMkernel is a POSIX-like OS formulated by VMware to act as a liaison between virtual machines and the physical hardware that supports them.

Case is without merit, says VMware

The case, which has been filed against VMware in the district court of Hamburg, has been funded by the Software Freedom Conservancy and a long blog post from the foundation explained that it first found VMware was flouting the rules back in 2011 and has been investigating since then.

For its part VMware claims that the lawsuit is without merit and added that they "will prevail on all issues through the judicial process in Germany" and that in mind it's expected that this case will roll along for some time yet.

Via: PC World

Why open source runs the world

Review: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14

Posted: 06 Mar 2015 12:39 PM PST

Introduction

The ThinkPad name is a staple in the workstation world, but with the tablets quickly taking their place as business machines, laptops need to evolve. The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is a clear cut example of how much more capable and flexible a hybrid machine can be over a traditional notebook.

Lenovo has long produced its excellent line of Yoga machines, and first brought the Yoga design ID to the ThinkPad line in late 2013 with favorable but mixed results. Today, this 14-inch hybrid machine pretty much checks off all the marks for a solid 14-inch work laptop, including Lenovo's signature "Lift 'n' Lock", Accutype keyboard and trackpad, along with a vibrant 1080p screen.

The ThinkPad Yoga 14 sounds like a win-win for productivity and play, but during my testing, revealed a major manufacturing flaw. Worse off is that, based on some brief research, the issue more common than it should be. But more on that later – let's discuss this business rig's look and feel first.

Design

The ThinkPad Yoga 14 is made with a mix of Lenovo styling as well as elements inherited from ThinkPad machines. For instance, the lid is made with a solid piece of magnesium, while the remainder of the laptop is housed in a curved plastic frame.

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 review

While the rig sports Lenovo's AccuType keyboard seen on its consumer machines, the trackpad and signature red pointing stick are clearly lifted from the ThinkPad series. (As for the company's "Lift 'n' Lock" technology, I'll explain in a moment.)

It might seem like this notebook is in the midst of an identity crisis, but the blend of elements works well. The laptop takes the best qualities from both Lenovo's consumer-oriented models and ThinkPad workstation platform.

A little transformer

Like rest of Lenovo's Yoga line, this machine is fitted with metal hinges that allow the screen to flip backwards 360 degrees, transforming the unit into a tablet. The hinges work like a charm, with just the right amount of resistance to prevent the screen from flopping about while still being flexible.

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 review

The added functionality isn't just limited to a tablet mode, there are three more additional modes. You could turn the laptop into a tented touchscreen display by turning the screen back until the unit creates a "V", about 270 degrees, and standing the unit on the lips of its screen and base.

Alternatively, you could turn the Yoga 14 onto its side to use it as a vertical screen for reading documents and long news articles. Lastly, there's also the option of sitting the Yoga 14 on its keyboard's face and rotating the screen to turn the convertible machine into a makeshift monitor.

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 review

Now, what's this Lift n' Lock keyboard all about? This unique keyboard deck lifts up to sit flush with the keys, turning the entire keyboard into a flat plane whenever users fold back the screen. It's an ingenious little mechanism that fixes a long-standing annoyance of mashing the keys whenever you hold up Lenovo's Yoga machines up as a tablet.

Buyer beware

By this point, I was fairly smitten with the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14. Sadly, further testing uncovered a major issue. Lifting the laptop from its front left corner causes the system to shut down immediately. Not even sending the defective unit back for repairs solved the problem.

Lenovo has acknowledged the shutdown issue, pointing to a misaligned battery cut off switch. This tool typically kills power to the motherboard during maintenance, but the pressure of lifting the laptop from that angle somehow triggers it

Unfortunately this defect is more common than it should be. A quick web search reveals that other users are running into the same issue, not to mention other defects with the ThinkPad Yoga 14 battery. Multiple users on Lenovo's own forum have reported random shut downs when the machine is unplugged, as well as rapidly-decaying battery life issues.

To help out afflicted ThinkPad Yoga 14 users, Lenovo offers a replacement option, which is much appreciated. Regardless, it's disconcerting to see there are such widespread problems with this particular machine, especially for business customers that might purchase a fleet of these products.

Specifications and performance

The Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 is surprisingly light for a 14-inch laptop, at just 4.2 pounds (1,905 g). You would think the magnesium and metal hinges would add a few extra ounces, but this medium-sized convertible is even lighter than other plastic 14-inch notebooks, like the 4.41-pound (2000 g) Acer Aspire V7 and the 4.62-pound (2,095 g) Lenovo Z40.

This is largely thanks to ditching the optical drive entirely, which has also allowed Lenovo to thin out the machine to a scant 0.8-inches. This machine won't take up much room on your desk either, measuring just 13.3 inches wide and 9.4 inches in depth.

The ThinkPad Yoga 14 also fits neatly into the middle, compared to the HP Envy x360 and Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro. By the nature of being a 15.6-inch convertible laptop, the x360 is the largest, measuring 15.1 x 10.2 x 0.9 inches or 383 x 259 x 22 mm (W x D x H) and weighing 5.3 pounds (2,404 g). Meanwhile, the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro is on the edge of scaling in as an Ultrabook at 2.6 pounds with 11.8 x 9 x 0.5-inch, or 299 x 228 x 12 mm dimensions.

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 review

Here is the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 configuration sent to TechRadar for this review:

Spec Sheet

CPU: 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-4210U (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.7 GHz with Turbo Boost)
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 840M (2GB GDDR5 RAM); Intel HD Graphics 4400
RAM: 8GB DDR3L (1600 MHz)
Screen: 14.0-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 IPS LED Backlit
Storage: 1TB HDD (5400 rpm)
Ports: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, 4-in-1 card reader, HDMI, headphone/mic combo jack,
Connectivity: Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260; Bluetooth 4.0
Camera: 720p webcam
Weight: 4.2 pounds
Size: 13.3 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches (W x D x H)

For $1,099, the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 comes with some nice components, including that bright and vivid display. This also the only model available, if you want any memory or storage upgrades you'll have to install those on your own.

Unfortunately, the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 is listed as coming soon in the United Kingdom and simply does not exist in Australia. We will update this review when the laptops availability changes – until then the approximate pricing for importing the unit listed above is about £728 and AU$1,414.

The HP Envy x360 comes at a comparative bargain as it comes sporting the same Intel Core i5 processor with a comparable 8GB of RAM and 1TB hard drive for $779 (£649, AU$819). On top of all this, you'll also get a significantly more screen real estate with the 15.6-inch FHD display.

Alternatively, you could save up a bit more and grab the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro for $1,299 (£999, AU$2,099). Though it's a smaller 13.3-inch, the Yoga 3 Pro comes with an even higher-resolution screen, glimmering with 3,200 x 1,800 pixels. The Yoga 3 Pro also comes with a few more fancy spinning rims, including a 256GB solid-state drive as well as a fan-less, 1.2GHz Intel Core M processor.

Unlike its competitors, the ThinkPad Yoga 14 is the only machine to sport a dedicated graphics chip. The onboard Nvidia GT 840M had no problems keeping up with streaming 4K YouTube video, plus it offers a helping hand during graphically intensive applications, like Adobe Lightroom 5.

Performance

The Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 is a mostly solid performer. However, despite its capable Core i5 CPU humming inside, the machine hangs for a few seconds after start up. The likely culprit(s) is a half-dozen resource hogging applications, including Maxthon Cloud browser and Norton Internet Security, both of which you would be better off without in the first place.

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 review

Aside from the sluggish start up, I had no other performance issues. Applications spring from the Start menu almost instantly. In my two weeks with the machine, the ThinkPad convertible never hit a performance snag, even when asking it to render 15 Firefox and Chrome tabs - all while running another handful of applications simultaneously.

Benchmarks

3DMark: Cloud Gate: 5,780; Sky Diver: 5,331; Fire Strike: 1,447
Cinebench CPU: 232 points; Graphics: 58.79 fps
PC Mark 8 (Home Test): 2,106 points
PCMark 8 Battery Life: 4 hours and 3 minutes

In our suite of benchmarks, the ThinkPad Yoga 14 also proved to be one of the more capable convertibles I've reviewed thus far. Thanks to a discrete graphics chip, the ThinkPad Yoga smoked its competitors in the 3DMark graphics tests, putting up a Fire Strike score of 1,447. The Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro finished the same test with only 329 points, while the HP Envy 15 x360 was only able to rack up 504 points.

In the PCMark 8 scores, however, the ThinkPad Yoga 14 is a bit less impressive. The HP machine pulls ahead with a 2,322 score. Still, the ThinkPad finished with a respectable 2,106 points - much higher than the Yoga 3 Pro's 1,147 score.

Wherever life takes you

Bearing the ThinkPad name, you expect an excellent typing experience with the Yoga 14, and this laptop fully delivers. Outfitted with Lenovo's nearly perfect AccuType keyboard, each key depresses with a pinch of resistance and offers more travel than most notebooks.

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 review

Likewise, the trackpad is absolutely massive and super accurate for navigating around the desktop and in programs. Better yet, it clicks down with springy action.

But what I love the most about the ThinkPad Yoga 14 is its superb screen. The colorful and contrasty display makes it excellent for viewing everything from image-heavy webpages to full length films on Netflix. If you're into photography, this is a pixel-perfect display for editing images, too.

Here are the only bits not to like: for one, the display is a bit glossy (but can be overcome through bumping up the brightness. Another issue is the IPS glow caused by the backlight spilling out from all four edges of the screen. It's a problem that most users wont' notice, in most cases, and it only ruins the aesthetic of dimly lit movie scenes. But this small issue is the only thing holding this display back from being perfect.

Decent to borked battery life

Battery life on the ThinkPad Yoga 14 averages around 4 hours and 3 minutes, according to our PCMark8 battery test. That's almost perfectly in line with my own testing. I was able to get 4 hours and 21 minutes out of the unit while streaming Google Music, a fairly taxing, 45-minute Google Hangout video call, editing Microsoft Word documents and keeping a dozen tabs open in Firefox.

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 review

In my anecdotal battery test, I kept the keyboard backlight on and set the screen brightness to 75%. So you should be able to squeeze around 30 more minutes of battery life by toning down both settings.

Still, with battery life nearing 5 hours, the ThinkPad Yoga 14 only ranks in as decent. But remember: our review unit happened to be one of the defective ones – twice. Other outlets report the Yoga 14 has a battery life that maxes out at almost 6 hours.

By comparison, the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro lasted for 4 hours and 30 minutes with a much higher resolution screen. The HP Envy 15 x360, on the other hand, ran for a shorter 3 hours and 53 minutes.

Bundled software

Lenovo has been in a bit of hot water since the SuperFish debacle, and new ThinkPad Yoga 14 owners should immediately run Windows Defender to remove it from their laptop. There's a load of other unwanted applications you should immediately delete, including the Maxthon Cloud browser, Dragon Assistant, and many more.

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 review

The intense appetite for preloaded software has gone too far, and Lenovo has admitted to it. At any rate, here's the short list of applications you might want to keep on your system:

Lenovo System Update Search: An app to easily update your laptop's firmware and other programs.
Lenovo Reach: Lenovo's own cloud storage service. Another 5GB of free web storage never hurts.
Lenovo QuickControl: Control your laptop remotely with an iPhone or Android device – useful for presentations.
Lenovo Ultranav: The software driving the ThinkPad Yoga 14's awesome trackpad. Be sure not to remove this program.

Verdict

Workstations are a bit drab and boring, lacking in style and instead focusing purely on maximizing productivity. Lenovo is trying something different with its ThinkPad Yoga line by bringing the hybrid design philosophy to the business world, and for the most part, it has succeeded.

We liked

This convertible workstation sticks out amongst the crowd of boxy workstations with an attractive design. For starters it's much slimmer, plus you can flip the screen back to use it as a tablet or stand it up as your media screen. What's more, Lenovo's ingenious little keyboard trick fixes a problem I've had with almost all of its Yoga laptops.

All the while, the company hasn't forgotten about the notebook's ThinkPad roots by including an excellent keyboard and trackpad. And I'd be remiss not to mention that the vibrant and color-accurate screen makes this laptop a fine choice for those in graphics work.

Whether you're looking for something for work or play, the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 is a solid device either way. It has more than enough power to get you through a day of office work and some light gaming when you're on lunch or at home.

We disliked

In the course of my review, I didn't find many things that were inherently wrong with this laptop. Sure the screen is a bit glossy, but it's a problem you can remedy with some smart positioning or simply upping the brightness. Likewise, you can remove the abundance of bloatware, but it's nevertheless a nuisance.

The major issue, however, is that ThinkPad Yoga 14 just seems to be poorly manufactured in arguably the most key area: battery. Aside from my own issue with the battery cutoff switch, plenty of other users are facing their own issues with the laptop.

Final verdict

It pains me that I can't wholeheartedly recommend the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14. Barring these serious battery issues, this is an excellent laptop. Everything from the screen, to the build quality and Lenovo's usual stellar inputs are fantastic, but this machine could potentially be a lemon. Our unit was defective and, considering that there are plenty of users in the wild who have reported their own broken notebooks, this cannot be ignored.

Although it's arguably much better than the 15.6-inch HP Envy x360, purchasing this 2-in-1 mobile workstation requires caution and the expectation you may have to send it back for repairs. I've had far fewer problems with the Yoga 3 Pro and Lenovo's other hybrid laptops, so they are definitely worth a closer look over this rendition. It's for these reasons that readers should steer clear of the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 until these issues are resolved.

A cheaper version of the One M9 could already be on the way

Posted: 06 Mar 2015 12:25 PM PST

HTC's latest flagship, the HTC One M9, is a high-end treat for smartphone users, but the company may also have a more reasonably priced alternative in the works.

Like it did with the plastic HTC One E8 and the high-end One M8, HTC might release a slightly-less-than HTC One E9, according to some reports.

Samsung's Galaxy S6 has arrived

This week the Chinese branch of Upleaks published what it expects to be the specs for the HTC One E9.

The good stuff

According to the site the M9 alternative will sport a 2GHz MediaTek MT6795 64-bit processor, 3GB of memory, 32GB storage, a 20-megapixel rear camera, Boomsound speakers, and either a 4-megapixel UltraPixel or 13-megapixel front camera (possibly depending on region).

A lot of these specs are similar or identical to the One M9's, but a few are definitely inferior.

In addition the HTC One E9 will reportedly come in a dual SIM variant and in "white rose gold," "brown gold" and gray colors.

HTC revealed the One M9 flagship at MWC 2015 this week, but we're still expecting to see a larger version called the HTC One M9 Plus at some point down the road, and the E9's announcement could accompany that.

These are the best Chromebooks available

Hands-on review: Nvidia GRID

Posted: 06 Mar 2015 12:15 PM PST

Requirements and game library

In theory, Grid - Nvidia's online game streaming service in the same vein as PlayStation Now - is a wonderfully benevolent service made exclusively for Nvidia hardware owners. It's like the yacht club of gaming.

While Sony is grabbing subscribers' cold, hard cash hand-over-fist, Nvidia is offering 40 PC-quality games for free until June 2015 and also has a few dozen games available for purchase through the Grid store.

I saw the service for the first time during autumn 2014 and had a lot of positive comments. Now, several months later, the service has grown in line with Nvidia's predictions by doubling the amount of games available and the general stability of the stream.

Nvidia Grid review

In practice, the final product isn't perfect - it turns out a dropped connection can really kill your gaming experience. But in the time since launch Grid has taken a step in the right direction for gamers ready to frag physical media.

Prerequisites

Before I dig in with comparisons of how Grid performs under real-world conditions, let's go over what Grid is, how it works and what you'll need to try it out for yourself.

Grid, like PlayStation Now, is a cloud game-streaming service that streams PC versions of games from a remote service to your handheld device. Grid is currently available on two platforms, the Nvidia Shield Tablet and Nvidia Shield Portable, and can be found in the "Grid Games" section of the Shield Hub app. Announced at GDC 2015, Grid is also coming to the Nvidia Shield, a 4K Android TV set-top box that packs some serious plastic.

Nvidia Grid review

Using remote, proprietary servers, Nvidia performs the graphics-heavy processing needed to play AAA titles and then streams the results to your device. It's constantly sending packets of information, and takes input from your controller and sends it back to the server.

As you can imagine, you'll need a pretty fast Wi-Fi connection to make this all happen. Nvidia recommends connection speeds of at least 15Mbps for 720p, 30 frames per second (fps) gameplay, though it says you could scrape by with 5Mbps if push came to shove.

If you're using Wi-Fi, you can only use the 720p, 30fps settings. That's kind of a bummer.

However, hardwiring your Shield Tablet to a router will step you up to the coveted 1080p, 60 fps stream. (Though, I can't see most sensible players even bothering with this solution.) Nvidia recommends a 50Mbps connection speed for wired play, but claims users should be able to get by with 15Mbps. Nvidia also recommends using a "game stream-ready" router, though does not require one to use the service.

Nvidia grid review

Here at TechRadar HQ, we enjoy speeds of around 30Mbps down, and my home network could muster around 25Mbps down and 7Mbps up. Keep in mind that neither of these two connections were through game stream-ready routers, which is important to note for the performance section coming later in my impressions.

Lastly, before I continue, the service is limited for the time being to the US. There are plans in place to roll it out globally over the next few months, starting with the rest of North America and Western Europe and ending with Asia Pacific.

Game library

When the service launched in November 2014, there were roughly 20 games available for free. Fast-forward three months and the service has doubled to offer 40 games with even more available to purchase and stream remotely. Best of all, Nvidia has no plans of stopping. I was told to expect "a PlayStation Now-sized library of over 100 games by this time next year."

Nvidia Grid review

Nvidia has clearly leveraged its relationships with publishers to get AAA games on Grid from the very beginning. Yes, the point can be made that a few too many of the games available have been around since 2010, but it's impressive that the service is launching with many of the games we're still waiting for on PlayStation Now.

What's going to push the platform moving forward the most, however, are consistent updates that bring more recent and popular games to the Hub page. This is especially so for the Nvidia Shield coming in May.

Pricing and stream quality

Spend a few minutes with Grid, and you'd be hard-pressed to avoid comparing it to PlayStation Now. Both systems stream games from the cloud, take a few seconds to start up and don't take up any space on your hard drive.

Nvidia's service both starts up a bit faster than Sony's Now, though, once Sony's service gets going you can count on buttery-smooth performance for the entirety of the session.

Nvidia Grid review

The biggest differentiator are its platforms and its price. While PlayStation Now has an entire ecosystem at its disposal (PS4, PS3, PS Vita and PlayStation TV), Grid is only available on two machines available today, the Nvidia Shield Tablet and Nvidia Shield Portable.

Finally, while Sony's streaming service is a bit more expensive at $19.99 per month compared to Nvidia Grid's free-ninetynine, you don't need to buy as expensive of hardware to use it.

Pricing

Pricing is where Nvidia has a serious upper hand: 40 games are available to play at 720p and free. For now.

Now that may raise some ethical concerns. You might think, "if we're not paying for the games, do the developers go unpaid for their hard work?" No. Absolutely not. Nvidia is paying them on your behalf for every session. How much this will cost them in the end is unclear, but you can rest easy at night knowing the developers are getting a cut.

But that's only in the interim between now and June 30, 2015. Eventually, Nvidia told me it may adopt a tiered model for payment that would work "in a similar fashion to Netflix" according to CEO Jen-Hsun Huang.

While there are a few problems with the service (don't worry, I'm getting there), pricing isn't one of them. Nvidia should have no problem finding plenty of folks willing to shell out for a collection of games so long as it a.) keeps the cost under $20 per month and b.) continues to make new games available.

Stream quality

The biggest strike against Nvidia Grid are its difficult-to-achieve recommended specifications. The service seems to work better than when I tested it five months ago, but over a four-hour playtest, I still hit a few bumps (and a complete disconnect) while streaming.

Nvidia Grid review

You don't necessarily need the fastest connection in the world, however. Games can be streamed without hitting the minimum 5Mbps speed, but doing so greatly increases your chances of hitting skips, lag and hiccups.

What was surprising, and somewhat depressing, was that even at blistering speeds of 40 or 50Mbps down, the stream wasn't perfect. In games like Borderlands, stuttering would happen right after I engaged an enemy or, when I was playing Race Driver Grid, right before I needed to make a sharp turn. One hiccup later and I found myself at half health or, worse, was sent spinning out of control after hitting the guardrail at 95 miles per hour.

These issues only happened because of the 150ms lag time between the cloud and my Shield. Though, Nvidia tells me that my lack of a game stream-ready router was likely the main culprit.

Nvidia Shield review

And it doesn't affect all games equally, I noticed. Input-sensitive games, like Ultra Street Fighter IV and Grid 2, had more problems than Batman or Borderlands. A slight dip in frame rate means the difference between a counter-hit and a complete miss, and that severely hurt my overall impression with the system.

So, why does this affect Grid and the Shield Tablet, but not PlayStation Now? The PS Vita aside, Sony systems have an Ethernet port that allows for steady, consistent connection. Or, in the case you're on Wi-Fi, Sony puts up a simple bandwidth gate that stops users with slow connections from getting at the service. It seems harsh, but it's better to stop someone before they start streaming than it is to let them have a less-than-perfect experience.

It's not all bad news, though. Nvidia keeps your instance of the game running on the server if you accidentally get disconnected. You'll have about three or four minutes to reconnect before the system idles out. It's sad that a system like this even needs to exist, but having a way to quickly and easily jump back into the game is far better than losing everything you've accomplished since the last checkpoint.

Verdict

Getting everything right while using Nvidia Grid means you will be treated to 720p gameplay without ever downloading a game or paying the sticker price ever again.

What's even more impressive is that Grid actually plays nicely with both the Shield Tablet and Shield Portable's battery. While many Android apps completely suck the life out of the battery, I was able to game uninterrupted for about 3 hours and 30 minutes without needing to plug in.

We liked

Game streaming still feels like it's in its infancy, but Nvidia and Sony have shown that this is one viable route for the future of the medium. It's obviously innovative, too, especially when combined with the potential Netflix-style pricing model.

Grid feels more well-rounded than game streaming services of the past, due in part to the caliber of titles it brings to the table. As long as Nvidia remains committed to bringing more recent and popular titles to the table, there's little reason gamers should feel hesitant about going all-in with the service. And while streaming itself can feel a bit haphazard, it is possible to get a console-like experience, if you have the right equipment.

We disliked

That said, hosting a consistent stream isn't Grid's strong suit. It's easy to overlook a hiccup here and there, but the constant latency issues took a serious toll on my patience.

A standard Ethernet port would've gone a long way to alleviate some of the headaches caused by the inconsistent Wi-Fi signal. And even though the tablet looked fairly sharp in console mode, it's still not on par with later Xbox 360 or PS3 games.

Final verdict

Grid is best evaluated in two ways: what it is today, and what it could be in the future. Today, it's the best feature to come to the Shield. Considering the tablet just got Android 5.0 Lollipop, that's saying something. Shield owners are getting 40 free games for absolutely no cost and a handful of great games to buy, with even more content en route in the coming months.

That said, the system today isn't perfect. As you might expect, connections over Wi-Fi - especially without the right equipment - can be finicky. And real talk: playing games on Grid simply isn't on par with playing on your PC directly, both graphically and in terms of responsiveness. But that's just how the service works one year into its existence.

What's more exciting is the future of the platform.

Imagine if Grid came to every desktop or laptop running an Nvidia graphics card. It'd be more robust than OnLive or PlayStation Now and backed by a company deeply entrenched in the industry. Interestingly, when asked about that possibility, the developers haven't ruled it out. The Shield products, they say, are a testbed for the platform.

Calling game streaming the next GPU is hyperbolic, I'll admit. But if, in 20 years, we're all using cloud gaming services to play Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare 7 or Assassin's Creed: Shogun, we'll be able to look back and point to where it all started.

7 days in smartphones: Why I don't want to talk to my arm

Posted: 06 Mar 2015 12:08 PM PST

7 Days in Smarphones

Welcome once again to TechRadar's roundup of all things phone related, your chance to listen the witterings of a selected madman, a man driven crazy by small piles of meat and peppermint tea.

Too many connections

I've just come back from the madness of Mobile World Congress 2015, having spent eight days out in Barcelona to see all the new phones we'll be hankering after in 2015.

Let me tell you: eight days is a long time to be wandering around eight hangars of handsets. But there were some real shining lights: The Galaxy S6 Edge is a brilliantly designed phone, with the slightly curved edges really adding to the impressive feel in the hand.

The HTC One M9 is also a phenomenal handset, although probably won't capture the imagination as well this year, given it looks a lot like last year's model. It's a bit harsh on a brand that's made the world's most well-crafted phone, but it didn't have much more to get right, so anything that happened this year would be iterative or a case of fixing things that ain't broke… neither of which seems like a particularly good idea.

But in the middle of every phone brand in the world hawking its wares (Apple aside, of course. It don't need no stinking trade show) there was something that perturbed me. A dischord in the harmony of ringtones. I realised I was really angry at smartwatches.

After seeing the new crop roll around, there was nothing in there that really pushed the message on. Nothing that said Android Wear was growing, becoming a mature platform and a real reason to recommend the second screen on your wrist.

LG Watch Urbane

A head of mobile for one of the big brands explained to me why he thought smartwatches were the business. The ability to follow directions on your watch, rather than getting a phone out and getting mugged. The option to reply to a message you get over Bluetooth in your car with your voice, a simple barking of 'OK Google' letting you tell the other half that you were leaving them for their best friend.

Sorry, but that doesn't sound like something I'd call a compelling reason to shell out a huge wedge of cash to do. It's cool, and if you've bought one of the increasingly beautiful watches you'll rind reasons for it, but it's not practical.

I'm sure Apple will make smartwatches cool, but if the world's richest brand can't make the technology viable, who will? Will consumers wait around for two years before Android Wear gets good or Pebble creates a more refined, adult interface?

Probably not. Smartwatches need to not just get good, but brilliant in the very near future, else convincing people to buy them is going to be a challenge even for a brand as big as Apple.

Nokia's coming back

I didn't expect to be talking about Nokia this year from MWC, let along giving the brand a 'Highly Commended' title for Best Tablet in TechRadar's Phone Awards at the Barcelona show this year.

Nokia N1

But we were, and that's because the N1 is a genuinely interesting tablet. Something that brings the openness of Android to something that's as well-designed as the iPad Mini.

It's quite speedy, despite 'only' coming with the less oft-used Intel Atom chip, and Deputy Editor John McCann is quite taken with it – read his romantic soliloquy here.

The return: part 2

:> OPEN LOOP.
:> BOOT SEQUENCE EnDStORm
:> WELCOME BACK, WINSTON v2.01.1

Suddenly his world went from single monochrome letters to a gloriously rich technicolour. His senses were momentarily overwhelmed as a cacophony of sound, smells and sights flooded into his newly-overhauled cortex.

"Winston… Winston… can you hear me?"

The Unicorn blinked slowly and tried to move. He was surprised how easily he could extend his limbs, like every joint was greased by tiny little monkeys, and flipped fluidly into a standing position.

The crowd of doctors jumped back, clearly not ready for such gymnastics from the mythical horse-like being. Winston snorted and stamped the ground, and then jumped back as something flashed before his eyes.

:> New Samsung detected. New HTC detected. New iPhone detected. New BlackBerry not detected. New LG detected. New Sony detected...

The list scrolled down madly, the schematics flashing rapidly in front of his eyes. New, sleek devices, with more power than he ever could have imagined. What is this? Where was he? Who were these people?

Winston's vision slowly faded as he sank to the floor. He could dimly hear someone speaking, catching the last of the words before he passed out.

"He's overloaded. There are too many new phones… he's used to handsets from 2008. Quick, everyone, phones out the windo…."

Tune in next week to see how Winston the Smartphone Unicorn copes with this world, a world he thought he'd never see, a world of complete wonder...

Ballin' with Ballmer

GET ON YOUR FEET WHOOOOOAAAAAA YEAH

(I would apologise for the grainy quality of the video, but it make me feel like I'm watching it on a PC from 1998. Who doesn't miss the days of 4Kb/s download speeds?)

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

Scary press shot of the week

Look at these people. They're living the techno life in a land where everything is just slightly too big or small. Look at him streaming Pic010.jpg to his TV, while she listens to some music on a pencil.

LG in time

But it's not going to last. In three seconds she'll turn around, and gaze at the screen just as he accidentally puts up a 'candid' pic of him and her sister.

She'll then beat him to death with that weird computer control panel on the wall.

Retro video of the week

Pour one out – Leslie Nielsen at his very best here, interacting with Dutch prostitutes to discuss mobile tariffs in Amsterdam. Does it get better than that? I'd pay 25 Gilders to find out.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELtql__WDY8

Proper bits from the site

It's an MWC fest here this week – I'll obviously send you to the excellent hands on reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S6, HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge (oh, go on then, have the LG Watch Urbane as well for good measure) but here's the other good stuff that you simply have to read otherwise you're a pooface.

10 reasons you should buy Samsung's new spacephone

Ah, don't worry, just ignore LG's other new smartwatch

It's 6 o'clock, do you know where your phones are? Samsung and Apple go head to head.

Simply everything you'll need to know about what just happened in Barcelona

I put the future of everything on my face… and I bloody loved it

Hands-on review: Steam Link

Posted: 06 Mar 2015 11:30 AM PST

If there was any shred of doubt before, it's gone now: Valve is committed to taking PC gaming to the living room, and not just through its seminal Steam Machines.

"It's a good, better, best scenario," says Valve boss Gabe Newell. "And Steam Link is the good option." Launching alongside the Steam Controller in November and priced at $49 (about £33, AU$64, though no formal international prices have been given), it's hard to argue with him.

So what makes Valve's book-sized streamer so special?

Steam Link review

Steam Link acts like a bridge between your PC and any TV, monitor or display in your home. Link will (ahem) link into your home network via a wired connection or Wi-Fi, recognize Steam running on any PC on the network, and stream any game on your PC through a low-latency connection.

Impressively, Newell told me that the stream will be 1080p and 60 frames per second, though failed to mention what sort of network bandwidth users would need to reach those specs.

Design

Speaking of specs, Steam Link is a diminutive, book-shaped streamer that's no bigger than a DVD case. Yet the box possesses the internal components to crunch 1080p visual data at imperceptible speeds.

Newell told me it's designed to sit flat either on your media shelf like a set-top box, or can be tucked away behind the TV. "Behind," he says, "and possibly one day inside."

Steam Link review

The design is compact enough to easily attach to the back of most LED TV sets should manufacturers make that space available. And, because almost all of the ports - two USB 3.0, HDMI-out, a DC-in power and Ethernet - are located at the back of the box, they should be easy to access once installed. There's also one side USB 3.0 port, though that shouldn't be an accessibility issue.

Beyond standard Ethernet, the Link comes with built-in 802.11ac wireless that should have more than enough zip to deliver the "low-latency" performance Valve expects come November. (That, of course, assumes you're rocking a matching AC router.)

That's good. But what's 'better' and 'best?'

Steam Link represents the bare minimum you need to buy to expand PC gaming to other parts of your crib. It's cheap, quick and accessible, but it also requires owning a gaming PC somewhere in your home to work properly. Which means it's good, but there's always better.

Steam Link review

Those without a gaming PC are best served by investing in one of the many Steam Machines available this autumn - or the $549 (£449, AU$699) Alienware Alpha, available right now. Steam Machines are Newell's 'better' option because they give the player internal storage and processing, which mostly put the kibosh on latency in-game.

The "best" option that Newell's referring to is the lot of high-end Steam Machine rigs, like the Falcon Northwest Tiki and Origin Omega. Going all-in on one of these nets you a fully upgradeable rig, support for the most powerful discrete GPUs and the ability to dual-boot more than a single OS with ample storage.

Control, command, conquer

So, what exactly are the USB 3.0 ports for? We (incorrectly) assumed they're solely for the new Steam Controllers. Newell was quick to point out that these extra slots could be for either controllers or, what he said is more likely, a mouse and keyboard.

Steam Link review

The latter, while a tried and true staple of PC gaming, sounded slightly wrong to use on a new platform. After getting the chance to try the new Steam Controller with the Link at GDC 2015, what I saw both excited me and raised a few questions.

Playing The Talos Principle on Steam Link confirmed everything I had hoped about Steam's little streamer. I didn't notice a hint of lag or dropped frame. The experience, in a perfect test environment at least, was flawless. If only the same could be said for the Steam Controller.

It took some time to adjust, and even after I acclimated still found it difficult to aim in Unreal Tournament using the haptic touchpad. Whether what I handled turns out to be the exact version of the controller we get when the Steam Link launches in November, however, remains to be seen.

Early verdict

Streaming boxes are always tough to test in a show floor environment due to high volume of network traffic or the developer 'tuning' the wireless network for the best possible speeds. That said, overall I was nothing but impressed with the Steam Link.

It delivers the speed and quality you'd expect with a name like Steam, and all for a price tag that most gamers can agree on. What more could you want?

Windows is susceptible to 'FREAK' after all

Posted: 06 Mar 2015 10:37 AM PST

Microsoft has confirmed that all Windows PCs are at risk from an HTTPS exploit known as FREAK that has already affected a raft of Android and Apple devices.

The bug was originally disclosed on Monday and it was thought that PCs running Windows weren't affected by the exploit that has existed for more than 10 years and allows attackers to easily decrypt traffic sent over an HTTPS connection between end users and websites.

Attacks can be carried out when an end-user on a vulnerable device connects to an HTTPS-protected site that is also vulnerable, and those sites that are at risk are ones that use the weak cipher that was thought to be long retired.

FREAK, which stands for factoring attack on RSA-EXPORT keys, allows those monitoring the traffic to introduce malicious packets into the traffic flow that force the end user and site to use a weaker 512-bit encryption key while in an encrypted web session.

Attackers can collect information transmitted over this exchange by using the cloud to factor the website's underlying private key. This process costs just $100 (around £66, or AU$130) and takes around seven hours to complete. Once that has taken place, the attacker can act as the official HTTPS-protected site to potentially read or modify data travelling between the site and end users.

No Windows patch

The scale of the problem was laid bare by a report by security researchers on FREAKattack.com that found 36% of the 14 million HTTPS-protected sites it surveyed were using the weak cipher.

Apple and Google have already released updates that get around the problem and, although Microsoft has yet to develop a patch to bypass the problem that affects all consumer versions of Windows, it is advising users to apply a workaround that is detailed here.

Via: Ars Technica

Why you need to encrypt data in the cloud

Updated: The best free torrent clients of 2015

Posted: 06 Mar 2015 10:00 AM PST

Introduction, Vuze, uTorrent

Torrents, at almost 14 years old, are veritably ancient when it comes to innovation yet the popular file sharing method remains one of the mainstays of almost anyone that wants to download files and large companies now use it to distribute large files to users.

Clients were and have remainder the easiest way to get hold of torrents and as with any part of the internet there are a plethora of different options to choose from that offer almost the same service yet little tweaks make each one slightly different. What follows is the top five torrent clients in the world today.

Vuze

Anyone that wants something beyond just a stripped down torrent client will be happy to know that Vuze fills that void with some style.

Like its peers, Vuze supports all torrent types though its content discovery feature is something that is to be admired. It suggests a wealth of HD videos with categories that include news, music videos, tv shows, movies and sports. Further than that it also has a glut of games that can be downloaded and that's even before you've begun to use the search capabilities that Vuze offers.

Vuze

Searching using Vuze is more convenient than other services as it uses a built-in browser window to find torrents using either a web search through Microsoft Bing or a metasearch of a range of torrent sites. The meta search is a real advantage although the built-in web browser was fairly sluggish when we searched using it.

The free features don't end there, however, with a dedicated RSS feeds tab within the content discovery tab, device playback, an iTunes converter, DVD burner and live customer support chat making there few reasons for you not to download Vuze.

One thing to note is that during the installation make sure that you pick the custom path and then also don't accept the additional bloatware that comes with it and the only thing the paid-for premium version brings is the chance to get rid of ads, and $29.99 (around £19.50, or AU$38.50) is a steep price to pay for this plus bundled anti-virus protection.

uTorrent

The grand daddy of all the torrent clients for some time, uTorrent is at the top table thanks to its lightweight nature and the fact that it's built a reputation as something that works really well.

When uTorrent is opened for the first time it will look a little bloated thanks to a sidebar that offers you the chance to upgrade to uTorrent Pro or download the latest free offering from BitTorrent, however, all of this can be changed by simply customising the look and removing the sidebar in the options menu.

uTorrent

After the sidebar is removed and you're left with the blank whiteness of the torrent client it comes into its own as a downloader. The speeds are still what everyone has come to expect and you can type search queries into the built-in search field before being taken to a web browser tab to complete your search. As soon as you download the torrent it will open automatically in uTorrent and before you know it the torrent has downloaded.

Unfortunately there is no such thing as a completely free version of uTorrent and it ends up bombarding you with various offers that need to be dodged during the installation to make sure you don't end up with four or five pieces of added software.

Added extras in uTorrent include the ability to set up RSS feeds and play content using the uTorrent player that comes as part of the package. uTorrent will still be at pains to point out that there is a Pro version available for $19.95 that offers even more features such as instant streaming of torrents, automatic virus and malware protection, the ability to play more formats, a converter and "premium" customer support.

The free version of uTorrent remains a very strong proposition and for something that grabs torrents with little fuss there's no a lot to fault about it.

BitTorrent, BitComet, BitLord

BitTorrent

You might open BitTorrent and immediately feel like your suffering some kind of weird deja vu where the colours have been flipped. This is no case of deja-vu though. uTorrent and BitTorrent are one of the same and made by the company that brands itself as the "original BitTorrent".

BitTorrent

What you're left with when downloading BitTorrent is quite literally the same program as uTorrent except that the colour scheme is purple rather than green. So it really all boils down to whether you're a purple or a green. Time to make your mind up…

BitComet

When torrents first made it onto the scene some 14 years ago, torrent clients had little more than a white space where the downloads took place and BitComet is one program that remains in that corner.

BitComet's antiquated approach to torrent downloads is maybe where it excels in terms of the lack of advertising and bloatware but it's also where it falls down. The program feels a lot less intuitive than many of its rivals and you could even go as far as to say that it's confusing due to the wealth of options that are available on screen. Expert users will find the number of options helpful, however, and once you get to know your way round it's nowhere near as daunting.

BitComet

It has a limited built-in browser yet, like many of the other clients around, directs you to an external window when it actually searches for a torrent and performance-wise it gets downloads started just as quickly as its competitors.

For those that want a very basic client this is more than adequate and BitComet does the job of torrent downloading perfectly well.

BitLord

Taking a slightly different approach to the well trodden plain white window is BitLord through its beige and black colour-way that immediately throws hundreds of suggestions for content as soon as you enter its main window.

BitLord

The interface itself is the most simple one on the entire list with large icons that clearly label what can be found beneath each tab and the fact you can search for and then start torrents without having to leave the program will appeal to many users comparing it to other clients.

BitLord also doesn't include a plethora of useless adware that some other clients have and combine this with the ease of finding torrents and BitLord is one of those that we would recommend to beginners to the world of torrents.

Download of the Day: Atlantis Word Processor

Posted: 06 Mar 2015 09:34 AM PST

Office 365 might be the new gold standard for word processors yet there are plenty that till yearn for the grey-and-blue tinged days of Microsoft Word in older versions of Windows and for all those people Atlantis Word Processor is here to help.

Why you need it

Word processor programs are increasingly moving into the cloud with the likes of Office 365 hastening that transition and for anyone that doesn't have any interest in making that move, Atlantis Word Processor is here to help.

Taking more than a few cues from old versions of Microsoft Word, Atlantis Word Processor is as simple as they come and makes no effort to get away from the fact that it will help you to create, open and save documents into a range of different formats. Microsoft doc and docx formats are both supported as well as RTF, encrypted COD and plain text. Alongside that are an extensive set of formatting options to make it feel even more like Word such as fonts, bold, italic, underlining, text colours and highlighting.

Every time a new document is opened the program keeps itself neat and tidy by organising them in tabs along the bottom of the window and you only need click each one to open it up once more.

Other added extras include a built-in spell checker that oversees your work as you type, sound options that can be adjusted so that it sounds like a typewriter every time a keystroke is detected and a power type mode that guesses the word after the first few letters have been typed.

Anyone that is missing the older versions of Microsoft Word with a few subtle upgrades will find much to get excited about here and as a word processor it is a solid proposition for any Windows PC user.

Key features

Works on: Windows PC

Price: Free for 30 days then $35 (about £22.50, or AU$44)

Tabbed documents: Any documents open inside Atlantis Word Processor are organised by tab at the bottom of the window to give quick and easy access when working across various projects at one time.

Power Type: A built-in feature that guesses what you're going to type much like the predictive element present on smartphones.

Nostalgic Design: Atlantis Word Processor looks and works like an old version of Microsoft Word, something that will be familiar to many users.

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Techradar

Techradar

Number 10: OnePlus One

10. OnePlus One

Quick verdict

Number 9: Moto X

9. Moto X (2014)

Quick verdict

Number 8: Sony Xperia Z3

8. Sony Xperia Z3

Quick verdict

Number 7: Nexus 6

7. Nexus 6

Quick verdict

Number 6: Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

6. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

Quick verdict

Number 5: iPhone 6 Plus

5. iPhone 6 Plus

Quick verdict

Number 4: Samsung Galaxy Note 4

4. Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Quick verdict

Number 3: LG G3

3. LG G3

Quick verdict

Number 2: iPhone 6

2. iPhone 6

Quick verdict

Number 1: HTC One M8

1. HTC One M8

Quick Verdict

You might also like...

Samsung Galaxy S5

Quick verdict

Nokia Lumia 930

Quick verdict

iPhone 5S

Quick verdict

Sony Xperia Z2

Quick verdict

Samsung Galaxy Alpha

Quick Verdict

LG G2

Verdict

HTC One

Quick Verdict

Samsung Galaxy S4

Quick verdict

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Quick verdict

Nokia Lumia 1520

Quick verdict

Why you need it

Key features

Introduction and performance boosts

Get connected

Performance boosts

Sensors and security

Low hardware requirements

ARM and.... MIPS!

What about software?

Learning from past mistakes

A phone maker running amok

HTC Grip

HTC Re

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

Page 8

Page 9

Page 10

Take your time, developers

The features

Controlling the message