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Saturday, July 11, 2015

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How to build the best Raspberry Pi 2 media server

Posted: 11 Jul 2015 12:53 AM PDT

How to build the best Raspberry Pi 2 media server

Introduction

Raspberry Pi 2

Who needs the likes of Sky Anytime or Virgin Media's On Demand services when you can build your own personally tailored digital media library?

This is a library that contains your personal, curated collection of music, TV shows and movies. It's accessible from any room in your home (or outside it), and there's no digging through CDs, sitting through DVD intros or flicking through someone else's choice of content, 90% of which you have no interest in.

In this tutorial, we'll show you how to build your own media server using the versatile – and incredibly cheap – Raspberry Pi 2.

We're not just talking about any bog-standard media server either – no, thanks to the Pi 2's quad-core processor and 1GB RAM, you can run the frankly fabulous Plex Media Server directly from it. We'll reveal the easiest way to get it up and running on your Pi, plus show you how to hook it up to all your stored media and configure it so you can access your content from anywhere – not just your own local network.

The Raspberry Pi 2 as a media server

Raspberry Pi 2 Media Server

You might be wondering why you'd choose to build a dedicated media server when any modern PC or Mac (sporting a 2GHz dual-core processor or chipset with hardware accelerated video decoding) can do the job. Two reasons: convenience, and energy consumption. Use the Raspberry Pi 2, and its small form factor allows you to place it anywhere. And you don't even need to hook it up to a TV, keyboard or mouse – as we'll reveal, you can set it up remotely over your network from your computer or even your mobile.

There are some compromises to be made by choosing the Raspberry Pi 2 as your media server. First, while the quad-core processor and 1GB RAM make it a practical beast for running the demanding Plex, there are still performance hurdles to overcome. Be prepared to give it time – and by time, we mean days rather than hours – to index your media collection, particularly if it contains hundreds of hours of TV shows and movies.

Once the content is indexed, however, browsing your server is fast and responsive – much quicker than trying to access it directly from a Network Attached Storage device like Zyxel's NSA325 model, for example.

The second issue is transcoding. Transcoding occurs when the server has to convert your media files into a compatible format to play back on other devices. Transcoding requires a lot of processor grunt or hardware-accelerated video decoding, but if your video is encoded in MP4/H.264 format, then you won't need this feature except when accessing your media over the internet (and the Pi can accommodate some transcoding of MP4 files to optimise for streaming). That's because most devices play this format natively – all you need to do is configure each of your Plex apps to use "Direct Play" where possible, and we'll reveal how later.

Storage considerations

Storage

When it comes to storage, you'll need a large external hard drive to store your media on. This can be plugged directly into one of your Pi's four USB ports, or you can store your media on a network hard drive and access that instead.

You'll also need to store both your Pi's operating system and all the files Plex needs and creates on a microSD card. Media server support files – metadata, transcoded files and so on – take up gigabytes of room, so the standard 8GB SD card won't cut it for larger media libraries.

While it's possible to reconfigure your server to store Plex's configuration files on another drive, we recommend you simply purchase a larger SD card. Consider 32GB a comfortable minimum (see eLinux.org for a list of compatible cards).

One final consideration is your network. While it's technically possible to add Wi-Fi to your Raspberry Pi, we're going to assume you're plugging it directly into your network router or via a HomePlug socket.

Obtain the OS

Pi Filler

Your Raspberry Pi 2 is going to be a dedicated media server, so for simplicity's sake we're going to install a ready built OS (Minibian) with a click-to-install version of Plex on it courtesy of HTPC Guides. Start by visiting the installer page on a Mac or PC where you'll need to share the post as instructed to reveal the download link.

Save the ZIP file to your hard drive, then extract the IMG file you'll find within. Now you need to write this IMG file to your SD card – note this will wipe everything on the card, so take a backup first.

Windows users can clone the IMG file to SD using Win32 Disk Imager, while Mac users can avoid using Terminal thanks to a pair of handy utilities from IvanX.com – use Pi Copier to save a snapshot of your SD card if it's got data on it, and then Pi Filler to copy the IMG file you downloaded to the card.

Installation and setup

Config

The image you've created means that Minibian is set up and ready to go on your Pi. However, there are some additional steps to perform that require you to first hook up your Pi to a monitor (via HDMI) and USB keyboard. Pop the card into your Pi (face down) and click it into place. Now plug it in to the mains and you'll see it boot.

Wait for a series of messages to scroll by, then start by changing the default passwords for both the root user and your default 'pi' user. To do this, log in using root as your username and htpcguides as your password when prompted.

Next, type sudo passwd and create a new password for the root user. Now type sudo passwd pi and create a new password for the pi user account.

Next, regenerate your SSH keys with the following two commands:

rm /etc/ssh/ssh_host*

dpkg-reconfigure openssh-server

Now you need to type the following to use all the available space on your SD card:

raspi –config

Choose 1 to expand the file system, then select Finish, reboot when prompted and log back in again as the root user, this time with your new password.

Installation and setup

Set up

This next step gives your Pi a static IP address, which means you can always find it on your network. Once done, you'll be able to access your Pi remotely using a tool like Putty for Windows, Terminal on the Mac or Serverauditor for mobile, meaning you'll no longer need to connect your Pi to a monitor or keyboard.

First, type the following command:

sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces

This opens a script file. Now change iface eth0 inet dhcp to iface eth0 inet static and then add the following lines directly beneath it, changing the 'x' and 'y' entries to match those of your network (for example, 192.168.35.8):

address 192.168.x.y

gateway 192.168.x.z

netmask 255.255.255.0

network 192.168.x.0

broadcast 192.168.x.255

Press [Ctrl] + [O] followed by [Enter] to save your changes, then [Ctrl] + [X] to exit the nano editor. Now type the following command to reboot before logging back in again as the root user:

sudo reboot

You're now ready to install Plex and some other software – type the following commands to get started:

cd /root/HTPCGuides

sudo git pull

sudo bash install.sh

Wait for required components to be installed, then you'll find yourself at the Installer menu. Use arrow keys to navigate the list, pressing [Space] to select each item you wish to install – the minimal suggested are Plex, Samba, and NFS Tools. If you need to sync files between your home computer and storage device, also install Syncthing.

When everything's installed, type exit and then log in as the pi user.

Connect external drives

External drives

You need to configure Minibian to mount the external drive (or network share) automatically on boot in order for Plex to be able to access your media library. First, create the required directories in the /mnt folder:

Cd /mnt

sudo Mkdir <share1>

sudo Mkdir <share2>

(Change <share1> and <share2> to your desired folder names, such as video or music.)

Next, you need to identify your drives. Minibian can detect both ext and FAT-formatted drives automatically; if your drive is NTFS, you'll need to install NTFS-3G – type sudo apt-get install ntfs-3g to do so.

To identify your USB-attached drive, make sure it's connected and then type the following command:

ls –laF /dev/disk/by-uuid/

Make a note of the eight-digit ID – for example, 410E-9EE5 – that's listed next to the sda1 entry; this is the UUID of your drive. Write it down.

If your media is stored on a network attached drive, you'll need to install a couple of utilities and know its IP address in order to find out the information you need:

sudo apt-get install cifs-utils (when prompted, keep the locally modified version)

sudo apt-get install smbclient

smbclient –L 192.168.x.y

Make a note of any share names.

Now you're ready to configure your Pi to automatically mount your external drive on startup. First, type the following line:

sudo nano /etc/fstab

Add a line for each mount using the following syntax for USB drives:

UUID=0000-AAAA /mnt/<share1> vfat uid=1000,gid=1000,umask=077 0 0

Replace UUID with that of your drive, and change /mnt/share1 to point to your chosen share folder. If your drive is NTFS, replace vfat with ntfs-3g, and if it's Linux, change it to ext4.

To connect to a network drive, use this syntax instead:

//192.168.x.y/<sharename> /mnt/<share1> cifs username=<username>,password=<passwd>,uid=1000,gid=1000 0 0

Change the network address and /mnt/share1 paths as required, and input the <username> and <password> required to access the network drive (note, this is not your Pi credentials, but the credentials you use to connect to the drive itself).

Once done, save the file, close nano and then type the following line:

sudo mount –a

This will re-mount the directories – type cd /mnt/<sharename> and then type dir to verify the drive has been mounted and is listing its contents correctly.

Plex Media Server

Plex

Now Plex is installed on your Pi, you can configure it remotely from any computer, phone or tablet on your local network via a web browser: go to 192.168.x.y:32000/web/, where 192.168.x.y is the IP address assigned to your Pi.

Once logged in, start adding media folders to your library – you'll find them under the /mnt directory. Plex will process libraries one at a time, but you can still set them all up now and leave it to manfully plod its way through each one in turn. Keep checking back to see how things are progressing, but as we said previously, adding a large collection of media can take many hours to complete, so consider setting it up and leaving it to run overnight.

Once your media libraries are up and running, it's time to test Plex's capabilities. Once you've installed the requisite app on your set-top box or mobile device (which you can subsequently fling to your TV using Chromecast), take the time to go into the app's settings to make sure it's set to use Direct Play wherever possible before testing it with one or two videos from different libraries.

With Direct Play enabled, you can easily run multiple videos simultaneously over your local network, particularly if they're non-HD.

You can also access your media outside your local network, although it's worth noting that your Pi will have to perform some limited transcoding to optimise the stream, so expect a lengthy pause – at least a minute – after selecting the movie before it begins. Note you'll need to sign up for a plex.tv account for this feature to work – then open Settings > Remote Access, sign into the Plex account and you should be able to get it to work.

And there you have it – a Raspberry Pi 2-powered media server running Plex with few problems. What are you waiting for? Those six seasons of Community (never mind the possible movie) won't watch themselves…

SDCC 15: Every Comic-Con 2015 trailer you need to watch

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 09:51 PM PDT

SDCC 15: Every Comic-Con 2015 trailer you need to watch

Comic-Con 2015

San Diego Comic-Con is the Mecca for comic, video game, movie and TV fans.

On its show floor you'll find dozens of panels with the actors and artists who create the year's biggest blockbuster films. This year's show runs from July 9 to July 12 (plus a preview night that went down July 8), and should hold plenty of juicy information on DC's new Batman vs. Superman movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and X-Men: Apocalypse.

For those that can't catch the trailers as they debut, we've gone ahead and rounded up all the trailers from this year's show and organized them into three categories: TV, movies and video games.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens behind-the-scenes

While not a new trailer for Episode VII so to speak, a new behind-the-scenes reel premiered at SDCC that takes Star Wars fanatics into the making of the forthcoming film.

There's plenty to feast on, from elaborate sets and explosions to snippets with the actors and glimpses of Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in full costume (Mark Hamill speaks at the beginning). There's an emphasis on "practical effects" in the movie, and we can say, all those fire balls and stunts feel pretty darn real.

If this doesn't get you excited for the Star War's December release, we're not sure what will.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTNJ51ghzdY

Fear The Walking Dead teasers

The spin-off to AMC's hit show The Walking Dead got a double-dose of teaser trailers at this year's Comic-Con, though each are only about 30 seconds apiece.

Fear The Walking Dead will premiere on AMC in August, and Hulu will have exclusive streaming rights once the show shambles its way online.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-rI9EYaxdw YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB2DTwGCxZA

Doctor Who Season 9 teaser trailer

A new season of Doctor Who can only mean one thing: hype. Season 9's Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi, will continue the cosmic misadventures of the problem-solving time lord with his most recent human companion Clara Oswald.

Doctor Who Season 9 premieres September 19 on BBC America.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB8fh4QUy-A

Heroes Reborn - Dark Matters official trailer

Billed as the the digital prequel to NBC's upcoming Heroes Reborn series, Dark Matters takes place in the time after the events of the first series, when evolved citizens must be registered with the US government.

Its subject matter has been covered in Marvel's Civil War story arc as well as a half-dozen X-Men storylines, but Heroes Reborn will certainly add its own gritty signature to the well-documented story archetype. Heroes Reborn premieres September 24.

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

The Walking Dead Season 6 trailer

If you haven't figured it out in six seasons, there's a good reason the show is called The Walking Dead. Yes, it's about zombies. But, more importantly, season after season we're watching the characters we've come to love die off in increasingly heart-wrenching ways.

The sixth season's preview trailer reared its head on Day 2 at San Diego Comic-Con and it's every bit as brutal as the five seasons prior.

Season 6 of The Walking Dead will debut on AMC on October 11.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=239&v=Va1UPrFXHKA

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 teaser

While it wasn't another official trailer for the upcoming Hunger Games film, SDCC did bring us a short, one-minute musical montage that shows Katniss emerging from behind a wall of dancing soldiers. It's no Star Wars Christmas Special but the message is clear: You either dance with us or dance against us.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 premieres on November 20.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-zYI2gzFNs

Rock the Kasbah trailer

There's almost nothing Bill Murray could do in a movie these days that would be out of the ordinary. His latest film, Rock the Kasbah, stars Murray alongside Kate Hudson, Zooey Deschanel and Bruce Willis in rock 'n' roll tour gone wrong in Afghanistan.

Rock the Kasbah is coming to theaters on October 23.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pjHGkstXMA

Goosebumps trailer

Goosebumps, like Pogs, Beanie Babies and The Macarena, was a staple of the '90s. Unable to let sleeping dogs lie, Sony picked up the rights to the kitschy horror books and plans on rolling them into one giant comedy starring Jack Black in time for Halloween.

Goosebumps will release in theaters in October 2015.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=150&v=7Cn716jv61s

Black Ops III - "Shadows of Evil" trailer

What do Jeff Goldblum, Heather Graham, Neal McDonough, Ron Perlman and the 1920s have in common? Zombies, apparently. Lots of zombies.

Black Ops III's zombie mode will be set during the time of flappers and jazz, but looks like it'll take more creative liberties with the weapons available in that time. (See: flaming rocket shield.)

Call of Duty: Black Ops III comes out November 6 on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdLqsWDl16c

LEGO Dimensions - Doctor Who trailer

LEGO Dimensions may have set a new record for the most amount of crossovers in a single videogame. In the trailer shown at SDCC, LEGO Dimensions brings us two Doctors (Doctor Who and Doc Brown from Back to the Future), Homer Simpson, Gandalf and Batman. Toss in a few heroes from the Marvel universe and a handful of cosplayers and this could be re-titled "Comic-Con: The Video Game."

LEGO Dimensions comes out September 27 on PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0Plc14q7Ws

Street Fighter V - Ken Masters trailer

SDCC has always been good to fighting game fans. (Remember when Capcom producer Yoshinori Ono came on stage to unveil Street Fighter x Tekken with Namco's Katsuhiro Harada in 2010? That was awesome.)

Thanks to Thursday's Street Fighter V panel, this year's event isn't any different. Check out the trailer unveiling longtime franchise staple Ken Masters below.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIpA5YlgGek

Transformers: Devastation trailer

Remember the team behind Bayonetta, Vanquish and Metal Gear: Rising? They're making a Transformers game in the style of the '80s cartoon show with all the original voice actors.

Platinum unveiled a new trailer for the game today at SDCC that should speed its way to consoles on October 6 on PS3, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox 360, barring any traffic jams in development.

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

SDCC 15: Watch new Star Wars: The Force Awakens behind-the-scenes clip

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 08:27 PM PDT

SDCC 15: Watch new Star Wars: The Force Awakens behind-the-scenes clip

A new reel for Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiered at Comic-Con 2015 Friday, and it offers a different look of the forthcoming film than we've seen before.

The 3:42-long clip takes viewers behind the scenes into the making of Episode 7, and it's a ride. There are Storm Troopers with flamethrowers, gorgeous sets and, perhaps best of all, moments with the actors including Simon Pegg (who appears to be playing an alien), Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford. The latter two actors are in full costume (are those hair buns we spot, Leia?).

For this Star Wars, "practical effects" are the name of the game, not the CGI that many fans lampooned in the prequels. Between the balls of fire and airborne Troopers, we say the movie's effects feel real.

You can watch the full behind-the-scenes clip below:

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTNJ51ghzdY

Mac Tips: How to clean your Mac: 3 best apps to remove clutter

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 05:47 PM PDT

Mac Tips: How to clean your Mac: 3 best apps to remove clutter

Got an Apple, Mac or iOS tech question? We have the answer. This time we take a look at some good options for helping you remove unwanted files from your Mac. It's not necessary for everyone, but if you want some help cleaning up your Mac, these apps will help you cut through the clutter.

Question

Just wondering - can you guys can tell me what program you would recommend to clean a cluttered Mac?

Answer

For the most part, Macs are pretty good at not leaving behind a lot of clutter, although when you uninstall or delete apps, you might want to double-check the Application Support and Cache folders in your Library folder for any lingering unwanted files. As such, cleaning programs probably aren't necessary for most users. However, if you want some extra help in tidying up your Mac, there are definitely a few programs that can help you get rid of unwanted/unneeded clutter. Here are three solid options, along with an explanation of what each does.

Clean Cluttered Mac

• Daisy Disk: This app gives you a detailed overview of the files on your Mac, and can aid you in finding disk-hogging files and apps that could be removed.

Clean Cluttered Mac

• Clear Disk: Lets you easily clean and remove temporary files, redundant system files, and apps that you don't often use.

Clean Cluttered Mac

• App Zapper: This app lets you easily uninstall apps along with their system files at the same time. Just select the app you want to remove, and App Zapper does the rest.

Got an Apple tech question? Email ask@maclife.com.

SDCC 15: Comic-Con 2015 led us deeper down the virtual reality rabbit hole

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 04:02 PM PDT

SDCC 15: Comic-Con 2015 led us deeper down the virtual reality rabbit hole

Welcome to the VR Lounge

While San Diego Comic-Con 2014 mixed cosplay with Google Glass, this year it's all about virtual reality.

Conference company Dent held a special "VR Lounge" event just outside of the San Diego Convention Center Thursday night, offering anyone interested in VR or AR [augmented reality] the chance to demo some of what's being developed in the space, including the ability to walk around the Holodeck of the Enterprise from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

While there was no formal talk at the event, the night was more about giving people a chance to get their hands on some hardware and experience for themselves what VR is really like, working as a supplement to the Comic-Con panel "Building the Holodeck" held earlier in the day.

"I'm excited by the idea of a Star Trek Holodeck scenario being made real. Totally immersive environments that are controlled by the user," said Steve Broback, co-founder of Dent.

And being Comic-Con, having a Holodeck VR experience was a no brainer for Emblamatic Group's Executive Producer and Co-Founder, Michael Licht, who said he had made the Star Trek experience "for fun."

Emblamatic Group

Using Emblematic's own VR hardware, the experience included a headset connected to a battery pack in a bag that you wear while you walk around the Star Trek ship's bridge.

Licht explained that having a "walk-around" VR headset allows users to be transported to different places entirely, with a limited connection to their own reality, allowing for a more immersive experience.

However, he does believe that, "Walk-around and connected headsets will have their own places."

"For each, the experiences play differently. You can run around the house, or you can sit down at your couch for a different type of experience."

Emblematic Group, headed by journalist and documentary maker Nonny de la Peña, is currently focused on producing content that it describes as "immersive journalism," with a focus on education through immersive documentaries.

"It's a brand-new experience and we don't get that very often," Licht explained, saying that the types of uses for VR is forever expanding.

"VR isn't new," he said. "It's come and gone a few times, and now we're at a point where the technology can really support what we want to see."

He went on to say that in just a few years time, headsets will become lighter and cheaper, meaning VR will become more prevalent in our everyday lives.

(Virtual) space exploration

This is one of the reasons why NASA was also at the VR Lounge, giving guests a chance to fly a simulation of a spaceship on Phobos, which orbits around Mars.

The simulation was built as a real-case scenario for NASA, with Jason Crusan, of NASA, saying that Comic-Con is a great event to showcase the sim and allow attendees to try it for themselves.

"We believe we bring a bit of the science reality - how to bridge science fiction to science reality to implementing a space program," he said.

NASA

NASA has been using VR for over 20 years to help train astronauts in how to deal with real-case space walk scenarios.

"As our missions go further and further away from Earth, that's going to become more important," Crusan noted.

And now, with all the different types of VR headsets currently being developed, NASA no longer has to create its own custom hardware.

"Instead of doing custom one-off hardware for our own use, we can procure or buy something off the shelf and maybe do a small modification," he said.

NASA is always look to partner with hardware makers and others in the industry.

"We try to capture a lot of video and high resolution, we try to keep up with the latest trends and where the industry is going, and make all our content really available to the public and other industry vendors to utilize in heir products," Crusan said.

"We do things like GoPros going out on space walks with us," he continued. "The whole gamut of imagery we're trying to make available for others to innovate on."

"It's education, it's inspiration and it's entertainment. It's really at the core of what we do."

New experiences - and new materials

Mixing VR and AR

NASA teamed up with Mattel to provide imagery captured by NASA's Apollo for Mattel's VR/AR hybrid View Master.

Qualcomm, which provides Mattel with its Vuphoric AR platform, also had a spot at VR Lounge, giving guests a chance to try out the View Master.

Mattel

While the AR side of the View Master is powered by Qualcomm, Google Cardboard tech is powering the VR side.

"AR is more focused on discovery and VR is more focused on experience," said Rajat Gupta, Qualcomm Vuphoria business developer, explaining there's a strong move toward a hybrid of the technology.

When you put on the headset, you just need to point a white dot at a "reel" (purchased separately) to start the AR experience, which is the "discoverability" part.

The reel will then initiate a more immersive VR experience, and from here you can click on to other parts of the scene for more details. All together, it becomes a different kind of education tool.

The squishy newcomer

The VR Lounge also attracted another VR/AR hybrid headset in the form of start-up Merge, though it isn't showcasing anything at Comic-Con officially.

Made from soft and durable foam, you'll be able to slide your phone in the front of the headset, similar to Google Cardboard.

Merge

The company has also developed a controller, with the headset letting users to employ more than one controller at once (via your hands, as well as clips on top of the headset), depending on the experience being viewed.

The Merge headset should be going on sale later this year, as will the View Master, while Comic-Con goers have the chance to try out the View Master at Mattel's booth.










Analysis: Microsoft has big plans for HoloLens, but will it actually deliver?

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 03:42 PM PDT

Analysis: Microsoft has big plans for HoloLens, but will it actually deliver?

The many HoloLens partnerships

In the days before E3 2015, Oculus announced a brand new partnership with Microsoft that took everyone by surprise.

The announcement left me wondering, "What would the future hold for HoloLens now that its maker was involved with another headset?"

I previously pondered how the partnership could affect the HoloLens, but following developments before, during and after this year's E3, I'm now left wondering what is HoloLens's killer app, if not gaming?

Microsoft took to the stage in Los Angeles and unveiled yet another VR partnership, this time with Valve and the HTC Vive – a VR headset slated for a 2015 holiday release. The move has seemingly clarified Microsoft's aims: in an effort to secure virtual reality (VR) – and augmented reality (AR) – victory, the firm looks content to align itself with other VR/AR makers, rather than against them.

This is the smartest move I've seen lately from a major tech company, but I can't help but applaud and shake my head simultaneously. Regardless of whether the HoloLens succeeds, Microsoft has essentially secured a position where it can comfortably wait to see who dominates the market and reap the benefits.

But that's a double-edged sword, because while it keeps HoloLens safe as a product in development, it also leaves the headset no closer to realizing a primary function – a meaningful reason to buy it.

Microsoft grows its VR web, but where does HoloLens fit?

With the new powerhouse team-ups, I'm reminded of what Xbox Chief Phil Spencer told me and several other journalists about the motivation to join up with the Oculus Rift crew:

"In other opportunities, it's best to find people who are doing amazing work and just say, 'What can we do to help you guys be more successful with your product on our platform?'"

It appears Microsoft has taken this concept plenty seriously, judging from its latest ventures with both Oculus and Valve. Little else has been said about what Microsoft will do with the HTC Vive, but I can only guess it will be similar to the Rift deal.

The Vive has its own controller, unlike Rift which will ship with an Xbox One controller (Oculus Touch controllers will sell separately later). This means we may see some sort of streaming involved – perhaps even the ability to stream certain Xbox One games, just like the Rift. Or, the Microsoft-Valve partnership could yield something completely different.

So, specifically speaking: why team with HTC and Valve? From here, it looks like Microsoft bringing projects into the fold in the hopes of reminding us that its platform – i.e. Windows 10 – is a vital piece of the puzzle while its own HoloLens development carries on.

It will likely be some time before we learn about the fruits of Microsoft and Valve's alliance. In the meantime, there are even more questions about HoloLens, namely:

What will its purpose be? Will it even work right? (And when will we see it?)

The problems HoloLens needs to fix

The ongoing AR issue: field of view

The headset's killer app will (hopefully) be discovered in due time, but whether the thing will even work well has been a talking point for a while now. One major problem for augmented reality is the narrow field of view offered by head mounted displays, and the HoloLens is no exception.

Microsoft's holographic headset is, without a doubt, the most impressive AR viewer I've used in terms of latency and clear visuals, but it's not providing exactly what the televised demos of AR Minecraft are promising.

You don't actually see the whole world around you in augmented reality. HoloLens offers a much, much smaller field of view (FOV) that likely won't get bigger any time soon.

At this year's E3, Kudo Tsunoda, Microsoft executive and head of HoloLens, discussed these very issues with the HoloLens's limited field of vision:

"I think you're never going to get to full peripheral field of view, but certainly the hardware we have now, you know, the field of view isn't exactly final," Tsunoda said. "But I wouldn't say it's going to be hugely noticeably different either."

So, whenever the HoloLens is finalized, we probably aren't going to see a world of holograms flooding our view.

After using it myself as an add-on experience to Halo 5: Guardians at E3, I realized there's no ideal way to outright play games using the device, if the FOV remains as narrow as it is. The view was adequate as a fun tutorial, but since we couldn't actually play Halo with the HoloLens on let alone reach out and "touch" anything, I left the experience a little underwhelmed.

Not completely out for the count

That isn't to say gaming on HoloLens should be discounted. At the moment, Minecraft is the biggest pull for AR gaming despite the small FOV. Even Disney has expressed interest in using the tech for its Infinity games – that alone could make a killing for all parties involved.

There's also the numerous other applications HoloLens can excel in. Many businesses have already been part of beta programs using Epson's Moverio BT-200 headset. And that device hardly has the financial backing, computing power and all around experience that the HoloLens provides.

These alternate avenues that Microsoft has briefly shown off before – such as the medical or educational sectors – has even led the company to release a call for research proposals.

Microsoft Research Corporate Vice President Jeannette Wing recently noted: "We expect that researchers will envision novel ways of using HoloLens – from interactively teaching students, to creating mixed-realty art installations, to manipulating holographic data to reveal new relationships … to who knows what."

Who knows what indeed. Whatever HoloLens will be used for, at least the E3 news has shed more light on the head mounted display's gaming capabilities, even though its future in that field still remains murky.

Originally, the HoloLens was intended to launch alongside Windows 10, though Microsoft cleverly made no mention of a release date. Since Microsoft's new operating system is only a few weeks away from its July 29 launch, it's safe to assume we won't be seeing the headset on sale right then.

With all the demos and videos Microsoft has shown, we've seen the possibilities for HoloLens. I just can't see how it will all come together into a compelling, realistic product. Right now, HoloLens needs to hone in on a purpose, then show us what it can do with a more realistic field of view. Otherwise, it could just end up a wasted opportunity.

Regardless, it seems like Microsoft has put itself in a solid position despite lacking a product that's ready for the public. With a leg in practically every major virtual reality endeavor, save Sony's Project Morpheus, Microsoft can sit back and relax in its web while it figures out just what (and who) HoloLens is for.










Updated: Reddit CEO Ellen Pao resigns

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 02:47 PM PDT

Updated: Reddit CEO Ellen Pao resigns

Reddit CEO Ellen Pao was downvoted from her interim position at the company today, resigning after a chaotic week-long online protest.

The very public backlash against the site and Pao began when Reddit fired popular "Ask Me Anything" administrator and director of talent, Victoria Taylor.

Outraged moderators set several of their subreddits to "private," shutting down notable destinations /r/Books, /r/Science and /r/Music/.

Pao had apologized earlier this week, admitting, "we screwed up," saying, "not just on July 2, but also over the past several years."

Acknowledging that moderators and users lost trust in the administration, she promised improvements at the website. However, that will now be the job of someone else.

How to upgrade the SSD in your business Ultrabook

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 02:37 PM PDT

How to upgrade the SSD in your business Ultrabook

Introduction

If you bought a business notebook, chances are the hard drive or solid state drive on your system is upgradeable.

Upgrading your drive gives your business Ultrabook a new lease on life. You can replace a malfunctioning drive, or you stand to gain faster performance with a high speed drive or more storage capacity. If you're replacing an internal hard drive for a solid state one, you'll benefit from much faster read and write speeds.

Unlike consumer Ultrabooks, business Ultrabooks and mobile workstations come with a removable bottom panel. This panel gives you access to the RAM and SSD inside your laptop. Here are two methods for installing a new drive and transferring your data over:

Before you begin

Before you begin, you'll need to open your Ultrabook and see what type of solid state or hard drive your system contains. There are three popular types of drives available today – SATA solid state drives or 2.5-inch SATA hard drives, mSATA SSD and M.2 SSD.

Types of drives

The procedure for opening your system varies by device and device manufacturer. Systems – like the HP EliteBook Folio 1020 G1 – with non-removable batteries will have a large panel covering the entire bottom of the laptop. This panel can be removed by unscrewing all the visual screws on the bottom of the notebook.

HP EliteBook Folio 1020 G1

On business Ultrabooks – like the Dell Latitude 12 7000 (E7250) – with a removable battery, you may have to take off the battery first. On the Dell, once I removed the battery, I gained access to two screws that secure the bottom cover. Once the screws are off, I can slide the bottom plate off.

M.2 SSD

After the bottom cover is removed, you'll have access to your notebook's internal components, including the SSD, RAM and wireless cards. You'll want to examine to see if your SSD or hard drive is labeled as a SATA drive, mSATA SSD or M.2 SSD. SATA drives are the largest of the three, and are sized like a traditional 2.5-inch hard disk drive.

M.2 format drives are narrow, but long, while the rectangular mSATA SSD are wider but shorter. For comparison, the EliteBook Folio 1020 G1 uses the M.2 format while the Dell Latitude 12 7000 uses the mSATA format.

After you determine what type of drive your system utilizes, you can order a new drive – either of the same size and capacity as a replacement, an upgrade with a faster speed or a capacity upgrade with more storage – of the same type as the one in your notebook.

For those who have the need for capacity, Samsung recently announced a 2TB SATA SSD, while the mSATA and M.2 formats go up to 1TB and 512GB, respectively.

Option 1: cloning

1. The cloning method

Cloning a drive saves time in that it creates a twin of whatever is on your existing system. Once the drive is cloned, you can pop the new drive into your system and be up and running with all your apps, programs and files in place – there is no need to reinstall programs, and this saves time as you don't need to enter in serial numbers.

Before you clone your drive, be sure that your new drive is at least as large as the drive you're looking to replace.

For example, my Dell Latitude 12 7000 (E7250) comes with a 256GB mSATA format solid state drive. For the cloning to work, I'd need another mSATA SSD with at least a 256GB capacity. For this scenario, I purchased a new Samsung SSD 850 EVO drive in a 1TB capacity.

In addition to the new drive, you'll need free software and some cheap hardware. There are a number of options available for drive cloning software, and you'll need either a hard drive docking station or a cheap enclosure for your drive.

I recommend that you use a drive enclosure, but the process works the same if you're using a drive dock. With the drive enclosure, at the end of the cloning process, if your old drive is good (meaning you're upgrading to a larger capacity SSD and not replacing a faulty drive), you can use it as an external drive and connect the drive in the enclosure over USB to store or backup data.

For my process, I chose an inexpensive mSATA (there are also SATA and M.2 enclosures) for under $20. The enclosure connects my new Samsung 1TB SSD to my Latitude via a USB 3.0 cable, so the process didn't take too long.

mSATA with drive enclosure

If you're cloning a Windows 8 or later system, you'll need cloning software that supports GTP. For this process, I chose to use the free Macrium Reflect cloning software, but there are other free and paid cloning software available on the market.

Macrium Reflect

When I first load Macrium Reflect, the software asks if I want to create a recovery media in case something goes wrong. Even though this is an optional step, it's advisable that you complete this process just in case.

The cloning process is fairly intuitive using the Macrium Reflect software. You'll want to select the cloning option in the Reflect software, and you'll want to be sure to clone over all the drive partitions on your existing drive. Once the cloning is finished, you can swap the new drive into your laptop, and you should be ready to boot up.

Removing and replacing your drive

Depending on your drive and your manufacturer, your internal SSD may be affixed to your system with screws. Even though the SSD board on my Latitude has two screw openings, Dell only screwed the SSD onto the motherboard using one of the screw openings.

You'll want to remove the screws that attach the SSD to your notebook's motherboard. The SSD will then pop up slightly, and you'll need to gently pull the card out from the connector so that you don't damage the system.

SSD unscrewed

Once the card is out, you can attach your new drive by sliding it gently, but firmly into the connector. You'll want to push the drive down so it lies flat with the motherboard, and then replace all the screws to secure the drive.

Option 2: starting fresh

2. Starting anew

If you're looking to start fresh and work off of a clean build of Windows, you won't need to clone your drive. I prefer this method as I can always copy over files that I need later, and I can start clean and install only the software that I want. Over time, old software that you may not need anymore may slow down the system, and starting fresh cleans this out so you'll have a fast machine to work with.

If your system doesn't ship with a recovery USB drive or DVD, you'll want to first create the Windows recovery media. Essentially, this creates a copy of Windows that you can install onto your new drive. Systems running Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 won't have serial numbers for Windows installation so you won't need this as it won't be found on the bottom of your notebook, unlike systems running Windows 7 or older.

On my Dell Latitude 12 7000 (E7250), I chose to create the recovery media to a USB drive. For this process, you'll need a USB drive with at least 4GB of storage. Using the Dell Backup and Recovery software that's preinstalled on my system, I was able to create my recovery USB drive with my Windows install. If you have a laptop with a different brand, be sure to look for the manufacturer's version of the backup and recovery app.

Recovery

After the recovery USB or DVD is created, you'll want to shut down your system, remove your battery (if your system comes with a removable battery) and remove the bottom cover. Follow the instructions above on removing and replacing your SSD to remove the drive in your system and replace it with the new drive you ordered.

Once the new drive is in place, you'll want want to replace the bottom cover and battery, insert your USB recovery drive into the USB port and power up the system for Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 machines.

Once your laptop begins booting up, it will enter a recovery mode with on-screen instructions for formatting the new SSD drive and reinstalling Windows. Be sure to remove the USB drive before you reboot your system after the recovery is complete. After you complete the process, you'll have a fresh installation of Windows.

Now, you'll have a fresh copy of Windows, and you can install any programs that you need.

What to do with your old drive

Remember that old drive that shipped with your system? If you're just upgrading it for performance or capacity, and not replacing a faulty drive, you can use an SSD enclosure. There are housing for the three different types of SSD formats that you can order. Once you install the drive into the housing, you can connect the unit to your laptop and it will act as an external drive – it's similar to having a high capacity USB flash drive or a compact external hard drive.

Once you do this, you can transfer any file you need from the old drive, or you can format the drive and use it as a USB flash drive.

USB flash drive

In my case, my Latitude shipped with a 256GB drive, and I installed a 1TB SSD into my laptop. This means that I'll have 1TB of storage on my computer, and I can have a zippy USB 3.0 external SSD drive to backup my files.

Drive storage

If you wish, you can just leave the old drive alone in case the new drive doesn't work out for you, or if the new drive fails. Whatever the case, a hard drive or solid state drive enclosure is a simple, inexpensive way for you to "recycle" and reuse your old drives as an external drive.

UPDATED: PS4 vs Xbox One: which is better?

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 02:04 PM PDT

UPDATED: PS4 vs Xbox One: which is better?

Introduction and design

It's over, but E3 2015 made our Xbox One vs PS4 comparison more meaningful than ever. It considers Microsoft's backward compatibility news and previous price drops, and how it all contrasts with Sony's powerful specs, exclusive games and graphics power.

Now a year and a half since the two consoles launches, Sony's sales numbers prove that PS4 is more popular with early adopters of the next-generation of video games. Fact.

PlayStation 4 is outselling Xbox One 2-to-1 right now, surpassing 23.2 million systems sold worldwide, while Microsoft's sales numbers are at 12.8 million.

Of course, overall sales statistics - all meaningless, as the Xbox One price drop and surge in popularity are starting to make the debate a little more even. Being able to play Xbox 360 games on your Xbox One, and new E3 game announcement almost guarantee that trend will continue.

Xbox One full review

Microsoft's come-from-behind campaign consists of adding exclusive games, readying an Xbox Elite controller and experimenting with HoloLens. In addition Xbox One backward compatibility, Windows 10 presents exciting game streaming possibilities. It's already the only console with EA Access and Sling TV.

Sony is preparing PS4 for a streaming and virtual reality future, too, with PlayStation Now, PlayStation TV and Oculus Rift-rival Project Morpheus. In the meantime, it's prepping Uncharted 4 for its delayed 2016 release date and tweaking its console with feature-filled firmware updates.

PS4 full review

Both consoles are getting Fallout 4, as is the ever-popular PC, and both are rumored to be getting a 4K hardware refresh for the coming months, with HDMI 2.0 able to deliver 4K resolution at 60fps. For now, we have to settle for 1TB refreshes.

Whether Sony's PS4 will get the new Ultra HD Blu-ray standard as part of this upgrade is still open to debate, but it would make sense as a key differentiator between the console upgrades if and when they do drop.

"We have have the advantage in powering gamers through the next decade," say both companies. To see if that's true, our Xbox One vs PS4 comparison needs another update.

FutTv : k2J1D34XTbE72

Xbox One vs PS4 hardware design

Deciding between PS4 and Xbox One is like peeling back an onion, and it starts with the outermost layer, the hardware design.

Xbox One's dimensions make it a menacing gaming beast that measures 13.5 in x 10.4 in x 3.2 in. It's also riddled with vents, a design decision to avoid another Red Ring of Death overheating scenario.

Xbox One dimensions

It towers over every other device (though Microsoft advises not to stand it up vertically), and completely dwarfs our smallest home theater gadget, the app-filled Chromecast.

PS4 has a more distinctive angular shape with an overall stylish design. This half-matte half-gloss console measures a slimmer 10.8 in x 12 in x 2 in at its widest regions.

These dimensions make Sony's machine more media cabinet-friendly, at least next to Xbox One. The new Xbox also weighs a heftier 3.56 kg vs PS4's 2.75 kg.

PS4 dimensions

PS4 has the advantage of hiding ports too, though as we illustrated in our video comparison, this can actually make it harder to plug cables into the back of the system.

In this way, Xbox One represents functionality over form. A lot of the internal specs are comparable, but Microsoft and Sony really diverged when it came to the designs of Xbox One and PS4.

That may matter since you're buying into an expensive console that's going to sit front and center in your living room entertainment system for the next ten years.

The future of gaming, in association with O2 Guru

YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq4uCoo1Q-0

Xbox One vs PS4 front and rear ports

More clear cut is the wireless connectivity situation. PS4 makes room for gigabit ethernet and 802.11 WiFi bands b/g/n, while Xbox One includes all of that plus the older 802.11a band.

Xbox One also supports both the 2.4GHz and newer 5GHz channels that are compatible with dual band routers. PS4 limits connections to 2.4GHz, which is likely to have more interference.

Both systems launched with 500GB hard drives and now have 1TB variants, but only PS4 allows user-replaceable internal drives. An Xbox One teardown found a standard-looking drive inside, but replacing it voids the warranty. Be careful.

Instead, the Xbox One June update finally allowed gamers to add external storage to the monster-sized system. There are strings attached. The drive needs to be 256GB or larger and USB 3.0 compatible.

External storage isn't an option that Sony supports in its "go big or go home" internal approach.

PS4 vs Xbox One rear ports

PS4 and Xbox One are void of remarkable characteristics on the front. There's a Blu-ray/DVD combo drive to the left and their respective, muted-color logos to the right. PS4 has a pair of USB ports tucked between its sandwich-like halves next to where the disc drive is located.

It's party in the back Xbox One connections. That's where it has two USB ports, HDMI in, HDMI out, S/PDIF for digital audio, a proprietary Xbox One Kinect port, an IR blaster connection and an Ethernet port. To the far right is a K-lock in case you want to lug this system around to LAN parties.

Sony went with a minimalist approach when it came to PS4's rear ports. You'll only find an HDMI out, S/PDIF, Ethernet and PS4 camera port (marked "AUX") around back.

Xbox One is more feature-packed in this area thanks to its HDMI in and IR blaster connections used for its TV cable or satellite box functionality. But are you really going to use this feature? PS4 lacks this passthrough technology, opting to stick with gaming as its top priority.

Specs

Xbox One graphics specs teardown

Is PS4 or Xbox more powerful?

PS4 and Xbox One multiply the power of Xbox 360 and PS3. More importantly, they were built with smarter internal designs, drawing from mistakes of last-generation consoles.

Chip manufacturer AMD benefitted the most from these upgrades. Xbox One has a custom 1.75GHz AMD 8-core CPU, a last-minute upgrade over its original 1.6GHz processor.

The PS4 CPU remained clocked at 1.6GHz and contains a similar custom AMD 8-core CPU with x86 based architecture.

This represents a roughly 10% increase in processing power for Xbox One, but the opposite is true when it comes to the all-important graphics processor.

PS4 graphics specs teardown

PS4 boasts a 1.84 teraflop GPU that's based on AMD's Radeon technology. The Xbox One graphics chip, also with an AMD Radeon GPU, has a pipeline for 1.31 teraflops.

Microsoft claims that as of last June's Xbox One update, Kinect-free games can reclaim 10% of the GPU that was reserved for system level processing like Kinect-related skeletal tracking data. But developers still have to take advantage of this cache in new games or patch titles.

Right now, the PS4 specs make room for faster graphics rendering than Xbox One, especially when combined with Sony's choice in superior system memory.

FutTv : RIRhQQQ48P7yD

Best PS4 vs Xbox One specs for RAM

Even more controversial is the memory under the consoles' matte black hoods. It's not the amount of RAM at issue - both are future-proofed with 8GB of RAM - it's the type of RAM used.

PS4 has a distinct advantage with faster 8GB GDDR5 memory, while Xbox One went with the slower bandwidth of the 8GB DDR3 variety. But, wait, there's more to it.

Neither system allocates all of that RAM to game developers - some is reserved to run their operating systems.

PS4 reserves up to 3.5GB for its operating system, leaving developers with 4.5GB, according to documentation. They can sometimes access an extra 1GB of "flexible" memory when it's available, but that's not guaranteed.

Xbox One's "guaranteed memory" amounts to a slightly higher 5GB for developers, as Microsoft's multi-layered operating system takes up a steady 3GB. It eeks out a 0.5GB win with more developer-accessible memory than PS4, unless you factor in Sony's 1GB of "flexible" memory at times. Then it's 0.5GB less.

The PS4 and Xbox One specs have similar AMD architecture at their core, but contrast like apples and oranges when it comes to memory. Only developers can determine how this battle is won.

Graphics comparison

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0QIs6eZBa0

PS4 vs Xbox One graphics comparison

Putting all of these specs to the test, developers have had months to build and demo games to us. We're finally seeing the side-by-side results.

The graphics comparison between multi-console games, like the recently released Grand Theft Auto 5 and Metal Gear Solid 5, have given us the best PS4 vs Xbox One graphics benchmarks.

A gameplay video on YouTube of GTA 5 pans between the two next-gen versions of the game with a definitive answer. The PS4 GPU is able to handle more foliage in environments.

Yes, you literally have to get into the weeds to see the differences, though both the PS4 and Xbox editions of GTA 5 look stellar compared to their last-gen counterparts.

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

In the Metal Gear Solid 5 comparison, there's slightly more clarity to the PS4 version. Specifically, distant textures and moving objects appear softer among the otherwise identical Xbox One visuals.

It's a trend we're seeing from PS4 games that achieve a 1080p resolution at 30 or 60 frames per second when their Xbox One counterparts run at 720p or 900p at 30 or 60fps.

Watch Dogs is just one game that has a higher resolution on PS4 vs Xbox One

That's the case with Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty: Ghosts, The Witcher 2 and Thief. It's even more evident in Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition where it's 60fps on PS4 vs 30fps on Xbox One.

Battlefield 4 is one of the few PS4 games with a native resolution of 900p. Alas, it was still just 720p on Xbox One. Not that it matters. Both versions were plagued with glitches for months.

This is in no way a deal-breaker for the Xbox One, and here's why. First, it's almost impossible to tell the difference without a side-by-side comparison. You won't miss the extra grass in GTA 5.

Second, everyone's hopeful that as developers mature with these two year-old consoles, the gap will close and games on both systems will prove what next-generation gaming is all about.

DirectX12 could make that a reality on Xbox One by making games like Final Fantasy look more reality. Microsoft promises a preview version of its Direct3D 12 graphics toolset by the end of the year. It could make up for the slower DDR3 RAM.

Third, the differences are more noticeable in the Xbox One and PS4 graphics comparisons that include Xbox 360 and PS3. Both Microsoft and Sony leave their last-generation graphics chip architecture and RAM limitations behind, and it shows.

Price

Xbox One vs PS4 price difference

It's expensive to be an early adopter, and the initial PS4 and Xbox One prices prove just that in each of the countries the systems have launched.

One year ago, the PS4 price was the more tempting deal: $399 for the console and DualShock 4 controller. Xbox One was expensive at $499 for the system, Xbox One controller and Kinect.

Xbox One vs PS4 price

After two official Xbox One price drops, the cost comparison is actually in Microsoft's favor in the US. The new list price is $349 with a game, but without Kinect included. It's rumored to go even lower soon, maybe at E3 2015.

Right now, that's $50 cheaper than the PS4 that doesn't come with a game. Pre-owned Xbox One and PS4 consoles are even better choices, and in most regions are now becoming plentiful.

The early PS4 vs Xbox One price difference gave Sony an lead at face value, and gamers didn't seem to mind that the PS4 camera was a separate purchase. Also, for almost a year, it was the only console of the two being sold in countries like India, Japan and Turkey.

Price and availability made for Xbox One's assured shortfall in the beginning. Now, the price point is moot. Can it catch up?

What's Included

What's in the box?

There was more value in the original Xbox One Kinect bundle, accounting for some of the initial price difference, so it's important to dive deeper into what's included and, of course, what's not included in the box.

At launch, Xbox Ones came with the console, a controller. and the Kinect camera. These systems also had "Day One 2013" emblazoned on the cardboard box and at the center of the controller.

That's a nice perk for Xbox loyalists, though not worth the premium they paid. Subsequent Xbox One bundles have included Titanfall or Sunset Overdrive for the same price, while newer, cheaper systems make Kinect optional.

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All Xbox One boxes contains an HDMI cable, wired mono headset and stingy 14-day free trial for Microsoft's Xbox Live Gold online service. There's no USB charging cable, as the Xbox One controller uses batteries out-of-the-box.

Inside the PS4 box is the console and one DualShock 4 controller. Wires include an HDMI cable (Sony learned its lesson after backlash for not including one with the PS3) and a micro-USB cable for the controller.

Don't throw out the box right away. Tucked inside is a 30-day subscription to PlayStation Plus and a wired mono earbud, contrasting with the just-a-cheap Xbox One headset.

The price difference between the PS4 and Xbox One was a sticking point for gamers over the first several months. Microsoft reshaped the argument at E3 2014 with price-matched Kinect-free Xbox One and may give the console another price drop this year. The question is, will gamers bite in the latter half of 2015?

Controller and cameras

Xbox One vs PS4 controller

The controllers

The most important aspects of the PS4 vs Xbox One controller comparison include comfort, size and battery life, but a lot of this is going to come down to personal preference.

The good news is that both conform to your hands better vs the less ergonomic Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.

The Xbox One vs Xbox 360 gamepad comparison illustrates some of the 40 design innovations like a tweaked D-Pad and extra rumble effect via "Impulse Triggers" in the shoulder buttons.

Microsoft is taking its controller changes even further with the upcoming Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. This pro-level gamepad adds four back pedal, two settings for the right and left shoulder triggers, swappable analog sticks and new D-pad choices. It is expensive at $150.

Xbox One vs PS4 controller

Our PS4 vs PS3 gamepad comparison shows even bigger improvements thanks to the fact that the DualShock 4 is larger this time around. Its handles are easier to grip in long gameplay sessions and its dual analog sticks have a recessed divot. Precision movement is now easier.

The PS4 controller's front touchpad and mono speaker are a unique way to interact with games, and developers are starting to find ways to adopt this technology into their controls schemes.

Which controller is better? There's a lot of satisfaction with the PS4 gamepad, but that may have more to do with people's surprise at how much more comfortable the DualShock 4 is compared to the DualShock 3. That wow factor may wear away soon.

The Xbox One vs PS4 controller comparison ends up being a matter of opinion. Some gamers are accustomed to Sony's parallel dual analog sticks, while plenty of others opt for offset analog sticks that have been part of the Xbox universe since the beginning.

kinect vs ps4 camera

Xbox One Kinect vs PS4 Camera

A robust games list for Xbox One Kinect and PS4 Camera has been slow to materialize, even though Microsoft and Sony insisted on sticking with controller-free camera inputs.

The good news is that the new Kinect technology is promising, tracking up to six skeletons at once and processing 2GB of data per second. It can pick up heart rates, facial expressions and 25 joints, thumbs included.

The camera's 60% wider field of vision compared to the Xbox 360 Kinect remedies the annoying "stand 6 feet away" error messages we experienced last time around.

Xbox One Kinect is certainly powerful, it just needs more games. Right now, there are few reasons to keep the 1080p camera plugged in.

Kinect was good on paper, now it just wears a paper dunce cap

There's a free Kinect Sports Rivals demo that's fun, and the full version came out last year. It also supports two Xbox-exclusive workout games, Just Dance 2014 and a pair of Harmonix titles: Fantasia: Music Evolved and Dance Central Spotlight. Fighter Within, though, is far from playable.

PS4 doesn't have as much to offer at this point either, but it's hard to find in stock. Formerly called the PlayStation Eye, it features two 1280x800px cameras in a body that's slimmer than the Kinect.

Unfortunately, the PS4 Camera games list is also slimmer. The included robot mini-game The Playroom has been updated since the console launch, but little else besides Just Dance 2014 requires the device.

In the future, Project Morpheus will utilize the PS4 Camera for virtual reality, but the a long-off prospect of VR games doesn't really explain why the camera is often sold out.

Best games

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0mF0O3XxjA

The best PS4 and Xbox One games

The PS4 and Xbox One games list is now over 100 each, but only a few of the releases in the last year stand as exclusives that make deciding between the two matter.

Titanfall stands above all others on Xbox One if you're into playing Call of Duty-style first-person shooters in which you double jump with a jetpack, wall-run and hop into a giant mech. Sunset Overdrive feature just as crazy-frantic gameplay, while Halo: The Master Chief Collection lets us relive old classic.

Xbox One launch titles Dead Rising 3 and Ryse: Son of Rome provided over-the-top action early on, and Forza Motorsport 5 was the only first-party racing game at launch of either console. It's been joined by the more arcade-like exclusive Forza Horizon 2.

Call of Duty Advanced Warfighter and CoD: Ghosts, while not exclusives to Xbox One, has downloadable content (DLC) that is a timed-exclusive (by a month) held over PS4 gamers' heads.

CoD Xbox One vs PS4

Xbox One games in development include the Halo 5: Guardians, the next Gears of War game, Quantum Break, Fable Legends and LittleBigPlanet-like Project Spark.

PS4 exclusive Infamous: Second Son couldn't match the groundswell of attention generated by the Titanfall beta last year, but it's superpower-filled gameplay is nonetheless entertaining. Even newer exclusives to PS4 include LittleBigPlanet 3, 1886: The Order and DriveClub are making an impact by adding more variety to the console.

Killzone: Shadow and Knack are the two Sony-made games that released on discs at launch, but the console is benefiting most from remakes like The Last of Us and digitally distributed indie games.

Resogun and Mercenary Kings were really driving up the points for PlayStation Plus in our book. They were free in April with a subscription to the Sony's paid service.

Further out, we're looking forward to Uncharted 4 and The Witness the most from PlayStation 4 in the future, and Fallout 4 from both systems and the PC.

Xbox One Kinect vs PS4 Eye

Indie games on PS4 and Xbox One

Our most-wanted PS4 games list doesn't end there because Sony got out in front of supporting independent game developers.

Octodad: Dadliest Catch from Young Horses and Transistor from Supergiant Games came to Sony's console in April and May. Outlast from Red Barrels Studio made the PC-to-PS4 transition in February.

At first, Microsoft maintained that Xbox One games would need to be fronted by a publisher. That changed when the company announced that it would allow self-published games and, in the future, every console would act as a developer kit.

We're still waiting on this "free Xbox One dev kit," a potential game-changer when PS4 developer kits cost thousands of dollars. Until that shift happens, Sony has the attention of the indie developer crowd thanks to its early lead.

Apps and backward compatibility

When it comes to apps, Xbox One is in the ever-so-slight lead

Xbox One vs PS4 apps

The Xbox 360 and PS3 proved to be more than just gaming machines and Xbox One and PS4 are no different. Of course, most are shared across both platforms.

All next-gen gamers have access to Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Vudu and Redbox Instant and baseball subscription service MLB.TV.

Xbox One corners the app-filled market with ESPN, Fox Now, FX Now, NFL, Ted, The CW, Twitch, Univision Deportes, Verizon FiOS TV and YouTube. It also has Microsoft's own soon-to-be-defunct Internet Explorer, OneDrive, Skype and Xbox Music and Xbox Video services.

That contrasts with PS4. Sony's console features Crunchyroll, Epix, NBA Game Time, NHL GameCenter Live, YuppTV, the WWE Network and the free music video playing app VidZone.

Initially, Xbox One had first access to HBO Go before PS4, but now both consoles have the premium channel as an app. At least, if your cable provider isn't Comcast. Neither system has HBO Now, which remains exclusive to Apple TV.

More niche apps are expected as time goes on, so this is hardly the final list of apps for Xbox One and PS4. Sony backers who are also HBO subscriptions can expect equal next-generation treatment for the the premium on-demand network "eventually," which just cements Xbox One's app-filled advantage.

FutTv : Gg7iOIQoN8maZ

Are PS4 and Xbox One backward compatible?

This is where the Xbox One vs PS4 comparison has gotten interesting at E3 2015. After teasing Xbox 360 emulation, Microsoft announced Xbox One backward compatibility for Xbox 360 games.

"We won't charge you to play the games you already own," jabbed Microsoft at Sony during its E3 press conference. Over 100 disc and downloadable Xbox 360 titles will work on Xbox One this year, and the features of the newer console - like streaming and taking screenshots - crosses over to older games.

Microsoft plans to launch Xbox One backward compatibility this holiday with an early preview for Xbox Preview members starting today. It'll expand its free backward compatibility program to "hundreds" of games in 2016 and beyond. It won't be long until you can box up that old Xbox 360.

Sony's PlayStation Now service, meanwhile, launch last year and graduated from open beta to full release in March, but it costs money to rent games. That's a bummer if you already paid for The Last of Us, God of War: Ascension, Dead Space 3 and Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes on the PS4.

Sony has expanded its Gaikai-based video game streaming service to PS Vita and PlayStation TV, with plans to add even Bravia TVs, and then include PlayStation and PS2 to the so far PS3-only lineup.

None of these options are foolproof yet. That means you'll need to keep your Xbox 360 and PS3 in order to replay Halo 4 and Uncharted 3. You can't sell the old systems, and that means people won't be able to readily buy them - they're more likely to purchase them directly from Microsoft and Sony.

Other PS4 and Xbox One differences

The look of the console, the feel of the controller and the appeal of the games list are the main differences from which consumers will decide on PS4 and Xbox One.

However, there are other factors at play one should consider before buying into a new system. It's a good idea to converse with friends, keeping mind of their potential bias.

Since there's no such thing as cross-platform multiplayer, you may be split up when playing Call of Duty on PS4 when all of your friends own it for Xbox One.

Both Microsoft and Sony are charging for multiplayer this console generation, whereas PS3 gamers got to log into matches Scott-Free.

Sony sadly moved closer to Microsoft in this way, while Microsoft moved closer to Sony by tearing down the Xbox Live app paywall. You no longer have to subscribe to stream Netflix and other apps.

Microsoft also supports MP3 and DLNA playback with the Xbox One, whereas Sony neglected to add such compatibility. It's promised to rectify that in a future firmware update, but hasn't supplied us with an update in several months.

The PS4 vs Xbox One comparison has evolved in the last 18 months, mostly because Microsoft's plans have shifted, from Xbox One price drops to more lenient paywall policies to graphics specs upgrades.

These two next-generation consoles are now on a more even video game playing field, which means Sony and Microsoft are going to start throwing Uncharted 4 to Halo 5 Guardians at you, and that's a win for all gamers.

The expert views

Keza MacDonald - Editor, Kotaku UK

For me it comes down to the variety of games, and PS4 has that sewn up right now. You can play all the biggest games on both consoles, but if your tastes are eclectic, Sony's indie and in-house lineup is irresistible.

Matt Hill - Editor, Gizmodo UK

PS4 for me. The majority of multi-platform games run better on it, the PS Plus subscription service serves up a stream of good, cheap games – even better if you also have Vita and PS3 – and it looks nicer in the living room. Is that a valid reason? Damn straight it is.

Sophia Tong - Global Editor in Chief, GamesRadar

I have both because I like having options and access to everything (I even own a Wii U). For me it's about the games, but if I had to choose I do like the Xbox One's interface more because I can bark commands at it.

Hugh Langley - UK News Editor, TechRadar

It has to be the PS4 right now. Between PlayStation Plus, PS Now, Vita cross-play, and the promise of Morpheus, the whole PlayStation ecosystem feels like it's growing into something truly terrific. That said, don't get comfortable, Sony - the Xbox One is definitely beginning to close the gap.

FutTv : 2jhE7e1D15j7l

The superlight Asus Zenpad S 8.0 finally arrives on US soil

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 01:46 PM PDT

The superlight Asus Zenpad S 8.0 finally arrives on US soil

Asus just dropped a gem of a budget tablet on US soil.

The newly-arrived, $199 Asus Zenpad S 8.0 is one of the lightest tablets on the market. At just 0.69 pounds (350 grams), the Android 5.0 device features a gorgeous black leather patterning design.

The Zenpad, which is housed in a metallic frame, is 0.33-inches thick with rounded edges that Asus claims provides a more comfortable grip. Housed within that frame are six speakers and a superb 2048 x 1536 resolution screen.

The Zenpad's screen-to-bezel ratio is 76.5%, meaning you're getting an almost cinematic experience when viewing content – rather than viewing a whole chunk of border and very little display.

Under the hood

Asus claims the Zenpad gets up to 9 hours of battery life. It's packing a 64-bit, 1.83 gigahertz Intel Atom Z3530 Quad-Core processor and up to 2GB of RAM.

The tablet maxes out at 32GB of storage, so you'll need a little extra space elsewhere to store the photos you'll take on the 8 megapixel (MP) rear camera. There's also a 5MP front-facing camera for all you selfie enthusiasts.

Luckily, Asus has made up for the lack of storage. The Zenpad comes with Micro USB and Micro SD slots, as well as 100GB of Google Drive storage for two years.

Light and sweet

The Zenpad's 0.69 pound weight puts it in the same class as the industry-leading 8-inch tablets, like the Dell Venue 8 7000 (0.68 pounds) and Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (0.65 pounds).

Asus unveiled similar versions of the ZenPad in 7- and 10-inch frames at Computex in June.










This is the best way to try HTC Vive for yourself

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 01:28 PM PDT

This is the best way to try HTC Vive for yourself

Popular phone maker HTC teamed up with gaming software company Valve to create a virtual reality headset that was announced at MWC 2015 but the HTC Vive has rarely been seen out in the wild. That should change soon.

Announced on its blog, an HTC Vive World Tour is taking place this summer, starting in San Diego, CA on July 9. The tour will continue until November 1 across the US and Europe.

Check out the following dates to see if your city made the list:

  • July 9-12, Island St & 6th Ave, San Diego, CA, USA
  • July 17-19, Forecastle Festival [Invite Only], Louisville, KY, USA
  • July 21-23, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL, USA
  • July 25-28, specific location TBD, Kansas City, KS, USA
  • August 2-8, The International, Seattle, WA, USA
  • August 5-9, Gamescom, Cologne, Germany
  • August 13-16, specific location TBD, San Francisco, CA, USA
  • August 20-23, specific location TBD, Portland, OR, USA
  • August 28-31, PAX Prime, Seattle, WA, USA
  • September 4-9, IFA, Berlin, Germany
  • October 28-November 1, Paris Games Week, Paris, France

The company has noted that both the dates and locations are subject to change so be sure to double check before you trek out to try the VR headset.

Even though a price hasn't been revealed, the HTC Vive is slated for a 2015 holiday release. This tour is likely happening to get everyone hyped up about its headset.

We've taken it for a spin, and let's just say, the experience is incredible and should give the Oculus Rift and Sony's Project Morpheus, a run for their money.










How to use the new Photos app for Mac

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 11:00 AM PDT

How to use the new Photos app for Mac

Introduction

For the better part of a decade, iPhoto was arguably the cornerstone of Apple's successful suite of consumer creative iLife products. Many of us got in the habit of shooting our daily and family adventures, then manually syncing them to our Macs when we have a free moment.

But times change. We now live in an age of ubiquitous cameras, always-available cloud photo libraries, and one-touch editing. With the meteoric success of iOS, Apple has elected to retire both iPhoto and "iPhoto Pro" (a.k.a., Aperture). It's no secret that iPhoto was getting bulky and slow, and the pro-centric Aperture has been eclipsed by its largest competitor, Adobe Lightroom. Both products have already been "sunset" and will receive no updates going forward.

A successor now rises in their place that is both familiar and different — an all-new Mac edition of the Photos for iOS app, which over 700 million people (and counting) are quite familiar with.

Over the following pages, we'll explain how the new Photos works and give you helpful tips.

Quick look: the main Photos area

Main photos area

This should feel pretty familiar, whether you have previously used iPhoto or just about any similar app or service. It's all your photos (and videos), displayed in a simple grid. If you're using a Trackpad, you can pinch in and out to quickly resize the grid and see larger photos with more detail or more photos all at once.

A. Sidebar: Here is where you can slice and dice your library. In fairly standard Apple practice, new Albums, Smart Albums, and Folders you create are listed here. This also displays any Shared Photo Stream albums you have created or joined.

B. Smart Sidebar: Photos for Mac does quite a bit of library organization for you, automatically sorting some items into sections like Faces (Mac-only for now), Favorites, Panoramas, Videos, Slow-Mo, and more. Unlike albums you create, you cannot remove any of these sections.

C. Toolbar: An app's toolbar is often your anchor, your home base for figuring out where you are and what you can do next. For iPhoto and Aperture users, the Photos for Mac toolbar is dramatically simplified. Only a couple options are visible while browsing photos and albums, and options to share and edit a photo appear only once you select or double-click, respectively.

D. Editing: Click the Edit button at the right of the toolbar to craft a photo into your own image. A suite of tools, which iOS users should recognize, appears to the right of your photo as the app switches into an editing interface. This is where the magic happens.

E. Search: What good are ever-expanding photo libraries without a way to search through them? Here you can zero in on just about anything, including metadata like locations and dates that is automatically captured when you shoot with an iPhone, as well as album names, Faces, and other information you add.

Organizing your photos

Create an album

By default, and just like iOS, Photos for Mac punctuates your photos and videos using basic metadata of time and location (when available). Combine this with the new built-in sidebar categories, and many people will be happy with this level of automated organization.

For the more adventurous, you can create albums to organize media for just about any purpose or topic you want. If that isn't enough, you can also use Smart Albums, a longtime staple of iPhoto, Aperture, and OS X itself, to automatically filter your library by criteria such as date, text in titles you add, and even the camera used.

Of course, the fabric tying all Apple products together is iCloud, and it is a first-class citizen here with a custom feature name: iCloud Photo Library. If you enable this, your entire library will automatically sync between all devices as long as they're on Wi-Fi. Yes, even edits you make to photos will sync, as will your ability to revert a photo to its original form.

If I have a complaint with the organizational features of Photos, it's that not all of them sync with iOS. You can create Smart Albums and organize Faces on Mac, but as of this writing, Apple's latest iOS doesn't see them. Our ever-expanding photo libraries sync to all devices now, but the smart tools we need sift through them do not. Also, out-of-the-box, Photos is woefully short on filters. I hope Apple allows third-party apps to add filter tools on Mac like they can on iOS.

Step-by-step: get organized

Create an album

1. Import Your Photos: Of course, you need to get your photos into Photos for Mac to do anything with them. If, like most people, you shoot everything with your iPhone, be sure to enable iCloud Photo library on all your devices for effortless sync. To manually import from a traditional camera, simply plug it in via USB to trigger the Photos for Mac import tool.

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2. Create an Album: Use File > New Album to create a blank album in your sidebar, give it a name, and start dragging photos into it. Alternatively, if you hold Command or Shift to select multiple photos, then click File > New Album, all selected items will be automatically organized into that new album.

Create an album

3. Get Smart: If you really want to start organizing, use File > New Smart Album to create a live, dynamic filter of your library. For example, you could combine criteria like "date" and "Face" to find all photos of yourself from that one time in your life and delete them to leave no evidence… or simply reminisce.

New shared album

4. New Shared Album: A great feature of Apple's new photo ecosystem is the option to share and even collaborate on an album with friends and family. Use File > Share > iCloud Photo Sharing to share media with people you invite (Apple devices required). You can even let others upload, making these handy for collaboration.

Manage info and Keywords

6. Hide Photos: If you save images like Internet memes or screenshots on your iPhone, but don't want them cluttering your actual photography, Photos for Mac (and iOS) can hide them (Image > Hide Photo). If you put them in albums first, the photo will display in that album, but not in All Photos.

Hide photos

Basic photo editing

Photos for Mac provides a nice, succinct set of editing tools to help most typical users polish their memories. iOS users should feel right at home with the handful of options — Enhance, Rotate, Crop, Filters, Adjust, Retouch, and Red-eye — but iPhoto and Aperture users shouldn't have any trouble picking them up.

Like iPhoto, Aperture, and Photos for iOS, edits are non-destructive (you can undo them tomorrow or a year from now), and they even sync across devices if you use iCloud Photo Library. Crop a photo in Photos for Mac and add a filter for that extra style, and later you can revert back to the original from your iPhone or iPad. Yep, we live in the future.

As I mentioned earlier, the Edit button won't appear in the upper-right until it's needed (the idea is that users don't need to see certain tools until they are in the right mode or it is necessary). But once you're editing, the entire interface shifts to accommodate. The sidebar automatically hides, the light, Yosemite-standard background turns to black, and the edit tools appear on the right; it's pretty difficult to miss that you have left "organization mode" and are now in a different task.

Let's give some basic edits a try with a photo from Unsplash.com, a great photography project that regularly publishes beautiful photos which are free to use for anything you want.

Step-by-step: edit your photos

Time to edit

1. Time to Edit: To enter edit mode, find a photo in your library or download one from Unsplash.com (http://unsplash.com/) and drag it in (remember, all edits are non-destructive, so feel free to play around now and backtrack later). Double-click the photo to view it individually, then click Edit at the right of the toolbar.

One click fix

2. One-Click Fix: If your photo needs a quick boost, use the first tool, Enhance. It has no options or customization, but will assess your photo for things like white balance and color balance, then automatically tune it for sharing or posterity.

Right side up

3. Right-Side Up: Sometimes a photo falls on its side, or your iPhone's rotation lock might have caused it to appear upside down. Use the Rotate tool to make it right. Bonus sub-tip: hold the Option key to switch the rotation direction.

Right side up

4. Crop for Focus: Editing tools should appear on the right. Let's focus on a good part of the photo by clicking the Crop tool. Now click and drag the handles that appeared around your photo to move the most prominent person or object to the center, or perhaps near the lower left or right corner.

Crop for focus

5. Add Some Style: Move back over to the toolset on the right and click Filters. Apple includes a handful, so you could try "Process" to add a dreamy state, or "Noir" for some mystery. When you're happy, click Done in the upper right to keep your new masterpiece.

Add some style

6. Throw It All Away: But what if you didn't just create a masterpiece, and maybe even ruined a priceless family memory? No problem! Double-click the photo again to view it individually, then click the Edit button. See "Revert to Original" right next to Done? There's your ticket back to square one.

Throw it away

Advanced editing tools

Advanced editing toosl

Despite its focus on the everyday customer with Photos for Mac, Apple packed in a number of advanced photo-editing tools that are easy to access if you want them, yet effortlessly avoidable if they just aren't for you. They surely aren't an end-all replacement for serious Aperture users or professionals, but they may be just what you need when it's time to move beyond a crop and a filter.

In true Apple fashion, diving into the advanced editing tools feels deceptively simple. These tools live alongside the others we just tinkered with, at times adding an advanced feature to a core tool (like fine-grained rotate/leveling in Crop), and sometimes being collected in their own section like Adjust.

As you might expect, these tools can all stack or combine their effects as you work (and yes, everything is still non-destructive if you have to start over, whether you decide right now or a year down the road). For example, if a photo's colors are all over the map, you can first crop it, then use a White Balance adjustment on the cropped area to better center its palette, then use a filter to add style, again on just the cropped portion.

Let's roll up our sleeves and dig a little deeper.

Step-by-step: Advanced editing

Rotate to a degree

1. Rotate to a Degree: You may have noticed that a degree meter appeared with the Crop tool, just to the right of your photo. Click and drag this to level your photo with fine control; this is great if you were off-balance when shooting or if you want to add some tension to a shot.

Retouch

2. Retouch: Arguably one of the most "magical" tools, Retouch is a surprisingly accurate way to make many unwanted elements disappear. This is great for restoring aged, cracked family photos to glory or even, in this example, removing the boat and its passengers from view.

Crop to a standard

3. Crop to a Standard: If you are often cropping photos for a specific use or format — say, 5 x 7 inches for print or 16:9 for featured blog post images — look to the bottom of the Crop tool. Click the Aspect button for a bunch of size presets, or define your own dimensions.

Split view

4. Split View: If you're on an editing roll, use View > Show Split View to show a left sidebar of all photos in the currently selected album. This gives you a bird's-eye view of the other photos you can edit, and it's just one click to switch while staying in edit mode.

Adjust

5. Adjust: This is where you can take complete, manual control over enhancing your photos. Sliders offer fine-grained control over everything from color saturation to highlights and shallows, complete with clever thumbnail previews before you start sliding.

Paste adjustment

6. Paste Adjustments: When editing a similar group of photos and you get adjustments on one just the way you like, you can copy and paste it to all the others. Simply use Image > Copy Adjustments on the current photo, then Image > Paste Adjustments on the rest.

Adjust your adjustments

7. Adjust Your Adjustments: You can add a broad array of tools to the default set. Click the Add button at the top of the Adjustments column — everything from a histogram, to noise reduction (for grainy photos), and even a Photoshop-ish levels panel can give you great control over your photos.

Levels

8. Levels: Long hailed as one of the most useful photo-editing tools, a Levels tool is like going under the hood of the Light and Color adjustments. Levels allows you to adjust color and tone by hand, and to fix "flat" images by setting new black and white points.

Target built its own smart home to sell you smart home tech

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 10:15 AM PDT

Target built its own smart home to sell you smart home tech

Target just announced the launch of Open House, an experimental new branch of its stores that sells nothing but connected home tech in San Francisco. The one-of-a-kind store is laid out to display the smart tech that, until now, hasn't had a proper showcase in the aisles of major electronics retailers.

The store rocks a futuristic look with translucent walls that are backlit by LEDs to better show off the different products and how they each can work in tandem to connect your home.

In a statement, Target chief creative officer Todd Waterbury elaborated on the challenges of creating a design layout specifically suited for smart home tech.

"... We're trying to humanize and personalize the benefits of these products, as well as show them working in concert," Waterbury said. "It's really about relevant storytelling and creating a destination for engagement and discovery."

The house that Target built

Considering that these various smart devices can only show off their utility in your home, it makes sense that Open Space is built like one. Waterbury added that "putting a house in the space, we felt, was the most relatable and welcoming way to introduce these products."

Target Open House

Target's Open House is an experiment, but it's one that major connected home brands are eager to be a part of. From Nest and Sonos to Parrot, Withings and GE, the gang's all here.

But how will the public react to the store? Target's chief of strategy and innovation, Casey Carl, is optimistic, having said that Target expects "huge value" to come of the store. However, Target was keen to point out that this is only a test.

Carl went on to say that the company is "...using Open House to test the trend, both for us and for guests."

Via Forbes

Lead image credit: Target

Keitai: How to update Android

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 09:02 AM PDT

Keitai: How to update Android

How to update Android

Welcome to this week's Keitai round-up – this week we make sure your Android device is up to date, the world's best footballer struggles to control a phone and a warning about charging your phone at the theatre.

How to update Android

This week we're showing how to update to the latest version of Android. It's pretty simple, but it may take a little bit of time so make sure not to start this when you're in a rush.

Step 1 – Do you need to update?

This all depends on a bunch of varying factors: what phone are you using? What part of the world are you in? Which network are you on?

Our top tip is to keep an eye on our Android Lollipop update tracker as that's where we will keep you up to date with the latest handsets that are compatible.

Android Lollipop

Even if you're not updating to Android Lollipop you'll be able to find if you need an update in the 'Settings' section of your phone.

This can vary from phone to phone but you'll always find it under 'Settings', then look for an option called 'Software' or 'About Phone'. Under here you'll find a tab called 'Software updates' or 'check for software update' - hit this and your phone will see if there's an update available for you.

Step 2 – Back it up

If you need to update, it's best to back up your phone at this point. Save all your photos and contacts because there is always the slightest chance this could go a little wrong. You'll find a 'Backup & reset' option in the 'Settings' app, so head there to ensure your stuff is safe.

Step 3 – Get the update

To update you just need to press the update button and wait for it to download and install. If you're on limited internet or haven't got the best connection we'd recommend waiting until you return to a Wi-Fi connection to do it.

It's going to be a chunky update taking up a little storage and eating those precious megabytes, especially if you haven't updated for quite a while. You'll also want to be near a power socket, as you don't want your device running out of juice part way through.

Step 4 – Get to know the new features

Once you've installed it, your phone will reboot and you'll be ready to rock 'n' roll. Enjoy your new software. Have a look around at all the news features you've just adopted and be sure to make good use of them.

If you've just got to Android Lollipop you'll likely find a good few design changes as well as new features. To find out everything that's new in the latest Android, read our review.

Time to shine

Winston sank down onto the floor, hooves covering his face. This was just getting ridiculous - he'd been to hell and back three or four times in the past week, and all because he'd wanted to have a BlackBerry with a touchscreen that clicked in.

He stood up, stared at the hippo menacingly for a few seconds, then galloped out of the room. He found himself in a dingy dark corridor, lights flickering long enough to illuminate the dark and filthy walls. Usually he'd panic about such things, scared of the unknown that faced him, but he couldn't carry on this world of confusion.

He charged down the narrow hall, praying to find a way out. 30 seconds later he skidded to a halt, arriving at a door that seemed to shimmer lightly around the edge. He stopped, plucked up his courage and opened it up.

------

"What do you mean you can't find him? He must be found! This cannot happen without him here!" said the gruff voice quietly, his chair firmly swung away from the collected group in his office.

"He...erm,.... he was picked up by Les Animaux. They were able to disable our suction."

The chair swung around, the hooded figure glowering at the assembled group, his eyes fiery beneath the shroud. "YOU PROMISED ME IT COULD NOT FAIL."

The scientist gulped. "Someone stole the schematics..." he began, before a large ashtray hit him in the head, knocking him to the floor.

"SILENCE!" The figure stood up quickly, casting his robe to the floor. Those left conscious in the room were forced to shield their eyes from the light - the being was brighter than anything they'd seen before.

"Get out of my way," he said, brushing past the group. "I'll get this done myself."

------

Winston gasped when he saw what was below. A cloudy fog belched beneath his feet, pollution rising up everywhere Winston could see.

He slowly walked backwards, praying he could find another way out. He pushed up against a door, that fell away behind him. He tumbled in, slightly dazed, before he could understand what he was seeing.

Row upon row of BlackBerry devices lined the walls all around, sparkling somehow from an unseen light. He could scarcely believe it - this was the room he'd dreamed about! It was real!

He slowly trotted up and grabbed the nearest box. A Bold 9900 fell out into his hoof, pristine and powered up. He started manically grabbing at anything he could find before, finally, he came upon it: A BlackBerry Storm 2.

He wrenched it from the box, sprinted from the room and threw himself into the fog.

Charging the stage

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVt9K0YhhLM

Jumping onto the stage before a play begins to charge your phone isn't the best idea. To begin with, you should have your phone turned off during the play, so there's no need to charge it during the show.

There's also the fact that as a member of the audience, you're not allowed on the stage, and climbing up there will get your promptly thrown out.

Finally, that power outlet that's part of the scenery? It's probably fake. The magic of theatre!

Scary press shot of the week

Messi WeChat

He may be a world class footballer, but Lionel Messi isn't so impressive when it comes to smartphones.

His first mistake was getting WeChat - the only person he knows on it is his grandma, and she talks FOR HOURS.

Secondly, he's not too hot on using the phone either. In fact, he's not even sure if he should look at the screen. Something about a demon stealing your soul.

Retro video of the week

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3fv8IbnhXw

The words "humour" and "Microsoft" go together as well as "cheese" and "petrol", but bless the Redmond company if it doesn't try! Here's an ageing Lumia 920 advert that shows the 'hilarious' consequences of inviting Apple and Android fanboys to a wedding that Game of Thrones fans would describe as "quite peaceful really".

Ignoring the fact that the advert seems to imply that there's no one passionate about Windows Phones, marvel as Microsoft makes fun of Apple users relying on voice-activated virtual assistant Siri (of course, Microsoft's voice-activated virtual assistant Siri Cortana is completely different), or as it pokes fun at Samsung owners using over-sized devices (as Microsoft would never release a phablet...*cough* Nokia Lumia 1320 *cough*).

Perhaps the best part of the advert is when someone shouts "Is there an app for that?" after throwing a punch, because the lack of apps on Windows Phone is definitely a selling point.

Proper stuff from the site

Opinion: A closer look at the Microsoft write-down – and the death of Windows Phone

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 08:00 AM PDT

Opinion: A closer look at the Microsoft write-down – and the death of Windows Phone

Introduction and Ballmer's folly

Microsoft is a company on the edge, not of disaster per se but of a choice between what it could be and what it will be. Under the stewardship of Satya Nadella, the company has, at least from the perspective of an outsider, progressed more in a single year than it did under the latter half-decade of Steve Ballmer's reign, both in terms of culture (which, admittedly, is hard to define) and strategic direction.

Of course, one of the defining moments of Steve Ballmer's term as Microsoft's CEO came toward the end in the form of a $7.2 billion (around £4.6 billion, or AU$9.6 billion) deal to purchase the phone division of Nokia. After originally angling for the whole company, including its mapping division, Ballmer had to settle specifically for phones, sealing the deal just before he retired.

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced a complete write-down of the Nokia purchase, a purchase that the company lost over $10 billion (around £6.5 billion, or AU$13.4 billion) on alongside the firing of nearly the entire staff of the phone company, a move that, while necessary, has drastically impaired the morale of workers. These decisions were made by Nadella who, in a company-wide memo, espoused Microsoft's new focus on a "mobility of experiences" across their devices.

Mobility of experiences

What does "mobility of experiences" mean? Essentially, Microsoft no longer minds which devices a customer uses to access its services. Whereas before Microsoft wanted to own the whole experience, from device to software, now Redmond simply wants as many people using its services as possible.

Almost on the day Microsoft announced it was to purchase Nokia various pundits, including Ben Thompson of the Stratechery blog, foresaw the eventual write-down. Nokia, once a stalwart of innovation, had been reduced to the sole – or as close as makes no difference – manufacturer of Windows Phone handsets, which had driven the company to near bankruptcy.

The motives for the acquisition, however, are less than clear. The initial agreement struck between Microsoft and Nokia meant, in effect, that Redmond had all of the best bits of the Finnish phone maker, at a cost of zero billion. Over the course of the agreement, Nokia's financials became more and more uncertain as competition from rivals, who adopted Google's Android over Windows Phone, essentially forced Nokia out of the market.

From this perspective, it would seem that Nokia required saving – if Microsoft had not stepped in, the company would have gone under, evidenced by the debt-relief built into the deal.

Ballmer's final folly

But what Microsoft gained from the acquisition still remains unclear, especially as there has been no increase in either handset output (in fact, it could be argued there has been a decrease) nor market share gains of Windows Phone, despite Microsoft now owning both ends of the spectrum: hardware and software.

Some have simply written off the deal as Ballmer's last big mistake, the final folly of a man who was on the way out anyway. For a man who constantly claimed to love Microsoft – and more than likely did – signing a deal which eventually ended up costing the company $10 billion (around £6.5 billion, or AU$13.4 billion) seems counterintuitive, even for Steve Ballmer.

The road ahead

Going forward, Microsoft's future as a manufacturer of hardware seems uncertain. Obviously the company still owns Nokia but the current strategy isn't working and, despite the potential of Windows 10's integration of desktop and phone, there seems little way in which the tech giant can increase its market share on smartphones above 10%, let alone anything higher. Paul Thurrot, a prominent Microsoft pundit, argued that the decision to stop activity pursuing Windows Phone was the right one, even though it left a community (albeit a small one) largely out in the cold.

Hololens

With no pressure to pursue phones, Microsoft can focus on its Surface line and on the 'future', a mystical place that the company is currently attempting to shape with HoloLens. Where its phone strategy has failed, HoloLens may succeed as few other 'virtual reality' solutions have either the same integration with an operating system (Windows 10) or an explicit focus outside the world of gaming. Facebook's Oculus Rift is, as the company pointed out at an event, primarily focused on gaming and while HoloLens does have this aspect – think Minecraft– there are other dimensions, as the company stressed during its various keynotes.

Tough choices

Many commentators have highlighted Nadella's use of common sense when making decisions about Microsoft, especially in relation to tough decisions such as the write-down. Whereas Microsoft of old may have struggled on for a few more years, Nadella's Microsoft has put its metaphorical hands up and admitted defeat hoping to move past this and improve the services the company is actually performing well in.

The company has not quite given up on phones, however. Nadella described Microsoft's plans going forward as "narrow[ing] our focus to three customer segments where we can make unique contributions" which includes giving business customers exceptional tools, especially with regards to security; giving "phone buyers the communication services they want"; and giving "Windows fans" new flagship devices.

However, as Thurrot notes, none of these will either (a) generate income or (b) serve as a long term plan which is where Nadella's "mobility of experiences" comment comes in. Effectively, Microsoft wants to "spark innovation, create new categories and generate opportunity for the Windows ecosystem more broadly" according to Nadella. In plain English this does not include manufacturing phone hardware but expanding projects such as HoloLens and the Surface line.

Death knell

In late 2015 and early 2016 we can expect to see this vision begin to be realised as Microsoft distances itself from Windows Phone which is being rolled into Windows 10 anyway. Phones that run Windows will still be made by Redmond in the near term, if only to showcase the company's software innovations such as Continuum.

As time marches on, however, smartphones running Windows will be pushed away and made the responsibility of third parties which is, in effect, saying that the ecosystem will die as over 90% of Windows phones are manufactured by Nokia. The end of Windows Phone is here and it has come at the hands of Microsoft.

Week in Tech: Week in Tech: Windows Phone's on life support, Russia's on selfie watch

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 07:46 AM PDT

Week in Tech: Week in Tech: Windows Phone's on life support, Russia's on selfie watch

If we were to describe the past seven days in a word, that word would be "week" – and if we were to describe that word in another word, it'd be "trouble". Windows Phone's hit the skids, Apple's Watch might be heading that way too, there's a rumpus over at Reddit and Flash is in a pickle too. Plus: bears! It's week in tech!

Microsoft says ByePhone

Remember last week's rumour that Microsoft is planning to kill Windows Phone? Microsoft's shedding nearly 8,000 jobs, and most of them are in its phone division. It's also writing off $7.6 billion from its acquisition of Nokia, a deal that only cost $7.2 billion at the time. Looks like Nokia should have stuck with Android after all. In a statement Satya Nadella said that Microsoft would "run a more effective and focused phone portfolio" in the short term, but the Lumia range and Windows Phone are clearly on life support – and Nadella's getting ready to pull the plug.

Is the Apple Watch on borrowed time?

The Apple Watch is a flop. That's what US analytics firm Slice Intelligence reckons, anyway, estimating that Watch sales have dropped to fewer than 5,000 units per day. However, those are US-only figures, they're taken from a period when Apple couldn't make a fraction of the Watches it needed to meet existing orders and they're estimates, so we'd take the news with a pinch of salt. Even if the numbers are accurate, the Watch is still stomping its rivals into the dust.

Game over for last-gen consoles

Come in, last-gen consoles: your time is up. That's how Bioware appears to see it, anyway: the Dragon Age: Inquisition developer says that future DLC for the game won't make it to Xbox 360 or PS3. As Dave James explains, "We're already into a stage where it's mostly only the iterative sporting titles which are producing new versions for the older consoles" and the big releases are PC, Xbox One and PS4 only. Will Rockstar do the same as Bioware with its imminent DLC for GTA V?

Flash! A-aaaaagh!

Reasons to uninstall Flash number 3,257: there's a major, major vulnerability in the Flash Player, a vulnerability so vulnerable that Hacking Team describes it as "the most beautiful Flash bug for the last four years." A patch was issued this week, but more vulnerabilities are expected to be uncovered in the coming days.

Reddit the news today, oh boy

If your favourite subreddit's gone dark, it's because of the "genuinely lovely" Victoria Taylor: the brains behind Reddit's Ask Me Anything was dismissed by Reddit bosses in mysterious circumstances, and Redditors took many popular subreddits down in protest. We still don't know why Taylor was dismissed, but she's popped up to say how she's been deeply moved by the response and that while you can take the woman out of Reddit, you can't take Reddit out of the woman.

HTC update borks batteries

Do you have an HTC One M9? Don't update the software to 1.40.401.8 unless you really like charging batteries. A bug means that some phones are now taking up to 13 hours to charge. HTC reckons you can fix the problem by uninstalling Google Photos or by restarting the phone, but a proper fix hasn't been issued yet.

Don't take selfies with bears

You'd think most people would know that cuddling up to snap selfies with enormous, hungry, human-killing bears was a bad idea, but apparently the message isn't getting across in Russia. Concerned that people are – yes! – ursine about, the Russian police have issued guidelines on the art of safe selfies. They're clearly needed: one young woman accidentally shot herself in the head while taking a selfie, a teenager died falling from a bridge onto an electrified railway in pursuit of the perfect selfie, and two young men discovered that pulling the pin on a live grenade results in a very different kind of flash than they were planning. Honestly, we aren't making any of this up.

Google is building the ultimate spam-killing AI

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 07:19 AM PDT

Google is building the ultimate spam-killing AI

Google engineers have cooked up a new way for Gmail spam filters to learn what mail you want and what you don't. It involves 'large scale brain simulations'.

In a post on the Gmail blog, product manager Sri Harsha Somanchi wrote that less than 0.1% of the email in an average Gmail inbox is spam, and the false positive rate is even lower - at just 0.05%. "Even still, Gmail spam detection isn't perfect," he said.

So the company is now applying artificial neural networks to detect and block the kind of spam that often passes for wanted mail.

Thanks to all the times you've clicked the "report spam" button, Google now has a pretty good idea about what you want and what you don't.

AI Know What You Want

Its AI will take those preferences and use them to customise your spam filter. "While your neighbor may love weekly email newsletters, you may loathe them," wrote Somanchi. "The spam filter can now reflect these individual preferences."

It's also adding new "Postmaster Tools" - aimed at companies that send a lot of emails. Any firms that meet Google's reputation requirements will be able to see how often its users mark their messages as spam - allowing them to tweak them so they're taken more seriously.

Review: Lenovo LaVie Z 360

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 06:55 AM PDT

Review: Lenovo LaVie Z 360

Introduction and design

In the race to make laptops smaller, thinner and lighter than ever, 2015 has been an exciting year. Dell brought out a stunning machine with the Dell XPS 13, squeezing a 13-inch screen into an 11-inch frame. Apple, on the other hand, sought to reinvent the laptop with a brand new 12-inch MacBook, which squeezed an iPhone 6-sized logic board into its all-aluminum frame while introducing a redesigned keyboard and trackpad.

Now, Lenovo has brought forth its own contender with the Lenovo LaVie Z 360. Weighing in at only 2.04 pounds (0.93 kg), the paper weight on your desk is probably heavier than this 13-inch, 2-in-1 laptop. However, unlike other thin-and-light hybrid machines like the Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi and the firm's own Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro, it hasn't given up ports or performance in the name of portability.

Inside of this 0.67-inch thick machine, you'll find an Intel Core i7 processor plus two USB 3.0 ports and full-size SD card reader. While it's amazing that Lenovo has managed to squeeze so much into such a thin and light frame, the Lenovo LaVie Z has sacrificed too much in the ways of battery life and build quality to get there.

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/lenovo-lavie-z-360-1298894/review

Design

"Is this thing real?" was a question my friends all asked me when I handed them the LaVie Z 360. The laptop truly is so light that you might think you actually bought one of those mock laptops from an Ikea showroom.

It shouldn't really come as a surprise, because the LaVie Z 360 weighs a hair over 2 pounds. This makes the LaVie Z 360 a pound lighter than just about every other 13-inch laptop. The only notebook to weigh less is the new MacBook, which sacrificed everything from full-size USB ports to a traditional keyboard and trackpad to reach its 2.03 pound (0.92 kg) goal.

Now, that light weight comes as both a blessing and curse. On one hand, you'll barely notice this laptop is even in your bag because it is just that light. That said, the laptop feels genuinely hollow, and it creeks easily under pressure – even if you're just holding it with your hand. Worse yet, the entire device feels like it's comprised of flimsy plastic rather than the magnesium-lithium chassis it's actually made of.

The laptop even looks cheap. Lenovo is usually good about making its machines look premium, even if they're meant to be budget devices, with interesting quirks like brushed plastic panels or a minimalistic design.

Lenovo LaVie Z 360 review

The LaVie Z 360, on the other hand, appears as if it was glued together. The laptop features plenty of naked panel lines with an especially prominent end cap, which clearly runs across the front lip and loops around the touchpad. If that weren't striking enough, the display appears as if under a thin sheet of plastic. The clear film appears to bend and warp at certain places. With the test unit sent to TechRadar, I could most prominently see and feel dents in two places along the base of the screen.

It's off the mark, compared to the solid build quality I expect from a ThinkPad or even the Flex series, but that can be mostly attributed to the fact that – technically – this isn't a Lenovo device at all. Rather, this is a device manufactured by a Lenovo-partnered Japanese electronics firm named NEC, which Lenovo then went on to market and distribute in the US and elsewhere in the western world.

Lenovo LaVie Z 360 review

Shimmering pixels

The plastic screen Lenovo chose to go with doesn't just look bad, it also hampers the underlying quality of the display. Reflections, for one thing, are an absolute nightmare, as the plastic sheen catches every speck of light. If you've watched any of the recent Star Trek films, like lens flare, these small bright spots annoyingly obscure anything you're trying to look at on the display.

The glossy display is a real downgrade from the matte screen seen on the Z 360's non-convertible kin, the Lenovo LaVie Z, which TechRadar's Juan Martinez felt was one of the best he had ever tested. Unfortunately, having a shimmering sheen is an unavoidable pitfall when you add a touchscreen to the equation.

The screen itself is pretty decent but definitely not the best I've seen. While the backlight is more than adequately bright enough to be kept at 50% most of the time, be prepared to see a whole lot of yourself when you take this laptop outside. The display turns into a mirror under sunlight. Colors on this screen are decent, but they have a habit of being too washed out, which unfortunately makes this an unreliable platform for image editing.

Lenovo LaVie Z 360 review

Bar none, the worst thing about the multimedia experience on the LaVie Z 360 is that it seems to be outfitted with the tiniest and tinniest-sounding speakers Lenovo could source. It's not an exaggeration to call them the worst speakers I've ever encountered on a laptop. Sound projects as if the device were setup with a mono-only channel that mostly comes pouring out of its right side.

The audio quality is so bad it may as well be on par with trying to listening through the ear speaker on a smartphone. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the underlying speakers were that small, given that they're crammed into the front lip of the laptop.

Specifications and value

The Lenovo LaVie Z 360 is by far one of the daintiest laptops in the world, weighing in at only 2.04 pounds (0.93 kg). It's far lighter than the 3.26-pound HP Spectre x360 and even more so compared to the 3.31-pound Acer Aspire R13. Even the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro and Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi outweigh the Lenovo hybrid – at 2.62 pounds and 3.14 pounds, respectively – despite both machines adopting thinner, fanless designs.

In terms of footprint size, the Z 360 is also fairly compact, measuring 12.56 x 8.35 x 0.67 inches or 319 x 212 x 17mm (W x D x H). It's narrower, but a bit thicker than the 12.79 x 8.6 x 0.63-inch (324 x 218 x 16mm) Spectre x360. The Acer Aspire R13 is by far the bulkiest out of this trio, with a 13.54 x 9.07 x 0.71-inch (344 x 230 x 180mm) frame.

Lenovo LaVie Z 360 review

Spec Sheet

Here is the Lenovo LaVie Z 360 configuration sent to TechRadar for review:

  • CPU: 2.4GHz Intel Core i7-5500U (dual-core, 4MB cache, up to 3GHz with Turbo Boost)
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5500
  • RAM: 8GB LPDDR3 (1,600 MHz)
  • Screen: 13.3-inch, WQHD 2,560 x 1,440 IPS multi-touch
  • Storage: 256GB SSD m.2 SATA
  • Ports: 2 x USB 3.0, HDMI-out, SD card reader, headphone/microphone combo jack
  • Connectivity: Intel Wireless 7265 (2 x 2 dual band) AC
  • Camera: 720p HD
  • Weight: 2.04 pounds
  • Size: 12.56 x 8.35 x 0.67 inches (W x D x H)

Lenovo LaVie Z 360 review

The Lenovo LaVie Z 360 only comes in one configuration, as listed above, and it comes priced at an extravagant $1,599 (about £1,026, AU$2,138). That's pretty dang expensive for any laptop, let alone a machine that feels too flimsy for its exorbitant premium and promises a scant six hours of battery life.

For $1,399 (or AU$2,399), you could pick up a top-end HP Spectre x360 rocking an upgraded 2,560 x 1,440 display, the same processor plus twice the amount of solid-state storage space. A slightly less impressive Spectre x360 outfitted with only an Intel Core i7-5600U processor and 256GB of flash storage is also available in the UK for £1,225.

With a $1,499 budget, you could pick up an Acer Aspire R13 with all the same bells and whistles as the Z 360, plus twice the amount of flash storage. Unfortunately, readers in the UK and Australia can only pick up this 2-in-1 laptop with a 1,920 x 1,080 display and 256GB SSD for £799 or AU$1,999.

Performance and features

While the Lenovo LaVie Z 360 might be light in terms of poundage, it's undoubtedly heavy on performance. Thanks to a high-end Intel Core i7 processor beating at the heart of this machine, you can easily multitask across a dozen tabs in a web browser with plenty of office applications crunching worksheets at the same time. Lightroom users in particular will love the speed at which the Z 360 can open and process files, though again, a lackluster display hampers this experience.

Benchmarks

Here's how the Lenovo LaVie Z 360 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

  • 3DMark: Cloud Gate: 5,140; Sky Diver: 2,661; Fire Strike: 723
  • Cinebench CPU: 285 points; Graphics: 23 fps,
  • PCMark 8 (Home Test): 2,379 points
  • PCMark 8 Battery Life: 3 hours and 11 minutes

Lenovo LaVie Z 360 review

Benchmark numbers put the Lenovo LaVie Z 360 at the top of the heap, and that's really not so surprising considering its processor is a few steps ahead of the competition. The performance gap is most evident looking at the difference between the Z 360's Cinebench score of 285 compared to the HP Spectre x360's 257 point score. Although the Acer Aspire R13 comes sporting the same exact CPU as Lenovo's convertible, its Cinebench score hovered around a paltry 207 points.

Similarly, the Z 360 is a cut above its competitors on the graphics front. While the Z 360 completed the 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark test with 723 points, the Aspire R13 trails behind with 656 points – while Spectre x360 is in last with 621 points. In short, these scores mean the Z 360 is better suited to play games and handle other visually intensive tasks.

For instance, I was able to play Hearthstone on high settings and full resolution, using the LaVie hybrid as an oversized tablet. No matter how explosive the action got, I never ran into any instances of slowdown or stuttering.

Lenovo LaVie Z 360 review

Troublesome convertible

While most convertible laptops, like the Spectre x360 and Aspire R13, support multiple modes of usage, the Z 360 is designed only to switch between being a landscape-oriented tablet and PC. This means you pretty much have the option of using the machine as a regular notebook with the keyboard beneath your fingers or turn the screen all the way back and use it as a widescreen tablet.

Or maybe not.

In my time testing the LaVie Z 360, the laptop's accelerometers would sometimes jolt into life, and the screen would rotate depending on the machine's orientation. I contacted Lenovo just to be sure this wasn't a bug, to which a representative noted that the Z 360 "only operates in laptop and tablet modes and is not meant for tent and stand modes."

So, in essence, the LaVie Z 360 not only fails to be as versatile as other 2-in-1 machines, it's only by some malfunction that the screen can auto-rotate like any good hybrid machine should.

Lenovo LaVie Z 360 review

Who designed this?

The only thing worse than the chintzy feel of the LaVie Z 360 is its keyboard. While the mushy keys and little travel are small annoyances, the completely alien layout of the keyboard (not following an American, European or even Japanese layout) is by far the worst design choice. Instead of a full sized backspace key, you'll find a smaller one that's made room for a forward space key.

Clearly, this is not Lenovo's signature AccuType keyboard. Rather, this is NEC's design.

Other instrumental commands, like the insert and delete keys, meanwhile, have been jammed tightly into the bottom row, taking up precious space typically reserved for the space bar. All together, these little quirks add up to a terrible typing experience that you can get used to, but not without having to look down to locate the delete key every time.

Lenovo LaVie Z 360 review

Short fuse

After our usual PCMark 8 synthetic battery test spat out a battery life of 3 hours and 11 minutes, I wasn't very confident I could get even a half day of use out of the Z 360. Lenovo claims its 2-in-1 can last up to 9 hours, but no matter how few programs I ran, I only got a maximum 5 hours and 51 minutes of usage out of the laptop. It's an unimpressive total, considering I ran the laptop at half brightness with only a few Firefox tabs, writing a document in Microsoft Word and chatting with co-workers on Hipchat.

Running down the laptop a second time using some more intensive programs, such as Lightroom, further hampered the battery life to an even more disappointing 3 hours and 52 minutes.

With the Aspire R13, you can expect to get much better numbers, with seven hours of continuous usage, based on our tests. The Spectre x360 can also easily outlast the LaVie Z 360, with battery life ranging from six hours (or nine according to HP).

Lenovo's hybrid laptop might be the lightest in the world, but it's clear this machine has lost a significant portion of its battery to make that happen.

Bundled software

The Z 360 comes with a surprisingly light offering of preloaded applications despite Lenovo's expansive business suite. Lenovo Reach and QuickControl are among the curious omissions, but Share It still comes pre-installed, offering users an alternative to Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive. More importantly, you'll want to launch System Update along with downloading all the appropriate patches for Windows 8.1 once it's out of the box.

Verdict

The Lenovo LaVie Z 360 is a marvel that's been marred with missteps. On the one hand, Lenovo has achieved much bringing us the world's lightest 2-in-1 laptop that is a performance beast in its own right.

But on the other, between the disappointing build quality, poor battery life and questionable keyboard choice, this machine's many flaws make its exorbitant price tough to justify.

We liked

Aside from weighing nearly nothing in your bag, the Lenovo LaVie Z 360 is by far one of the easiest 2-in-1 laptops to hold up as a tablet device. It truly is astounding how light this notebook is. Despite nearly matching the new MacBook as the biggest loser, the Z 360 a much fuller featured machine with full-size ports and a processor with bite.

We disliked

The Lenovo LaVie Z 360 has a long list of sins that tarnish this otherwise revolutionary device. Firstly, for $1,599 (about £1,026, AU$2,138), this machine should feel much more solid and not like it's made of shallow plastic.

Perhaps the biggest issue I have with the laptop is the bizzaro keyboard that likely won't irk just me. Worse yet, the battery simply does not last long enough. To top it off, the subpar screen and abysmal speakers are both thing you will have to contend with day in and out.

Final verdict

Ultimately, the Lenovo LaVie Z 360's asking price is too high for what it actually is. Sure, it's lighter than any 2-in-1 laptop on Earth, but the cuts made to get there have severely hamper its versatility. If you're looking for a machine that offers more modes of use, then the HP Spectre x360 and, more so, the Acer Aspire R13 should be up your alley. Both of these rivals are also better choices if you're looking for a longer lasting machine, especially the Spectre x360.

Carrying the LaVie Z 360 was a joy for several weeks – not having worry about a sore shoulder was fantastic. But Lenovo's hybrid simply sacrificed too much for that nicety.

If Lenovo continues the LaVie line, somehow introducing a larger battery,going with a more rigid shell and returning to its beloved keyboard would go a long way in making the next Z 360 a more useable machine. Yes, even if that means losing the coveted "world's lightest" title.

This squishy robot uses explosions to jump

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 06:53 AM PDT

This squishy robot uses explosions to jump

Roboticists from Harvard University and the University of California in San Diego have built a robot with a 3D-printed body that transitions from a hard core to a softer exterior. Oh, and it uses explosions to leap into the air.

There's plenty of research into soft robots, which are safer to work with than their more rigid companions. But soft robots also tend to be much slower at accomplishing tasks - so the team wanted to combine a rigid centre with a squishy exterior for the best of both worlds.

This robot's task? Jumping in the air over and over again. A rigid enclosure makes for higher jumps, but a soft one lets it survive the landing better. So the team 3D-printed a flexible hemisphere, like half a basketball, to act as the bottom and enclosed the circuitry and battery in a rigid upper hemisphere.

Inspired by nature

The jumping is accomplished with the help of a butane-oxygen mix that's injected into the lower chamber. Once ignited, the gases explode and propel the robot upwards. During testing it was able to jump 0.75m into the air more than 100 times, and survived an additional 35 falls from a height of more than a metre.

YouTube : youtube.com/watch?v=RyFRfFPV9xI

Its creator, Michael Tolley, said that the idea came from the animal kingdom. "In nature, complexity has a very low cost," Tolley said. "Using new manufacturing techniques like 3D printing, we're trying to translate this to robotics."

Details of the design of the robot were published in Science magazine.

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 10166 available now

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 06:45 AM PDT

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 10166 available now

Microsoft has pulled the wrapping off another Windows 10 Insider Preview build as the release pace continues to pick up ahead of the final release on July 29.

Windows Insiders in the Fast ring can download Build 10166 right away and it brings with it a range of bug fixes and fit-for-finish features plus something exclusive to customers in the Seattle area to try out.

Those living in the Northwestern US city are able to buy paid-for Wi-Fi through the Windows Store using the Microsoft Wi-Fi app. When the service is available, "Buy Wi-Fi from Windows Store" will show up in the list of networks and by clicking on it you can pay by Credit or Debit Card, Microsoft Gift Card or PayPal.

How to get it

Microsoft plans to test the feature out close to home and then roll it out to the rest of the US in due course, although with free Wi-Fi widely available it's unclear how popular the feature will end up being.

It was only last week that Microsoft released three new builds into the wild and those working with any builds older than Build 10166 are urged to get hold of it using Windows Update or alternatively download a build 10162 ISO from the Windows Insider website.
at 1:52 AM

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