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- SDCC 15: Watch all the panels from Comic-Con 2015
- Hospital doctors spreading disease by smartphone
- Updated: Buying Guide: 10 best monitors: the best displays on the market 2015
- Google Photos uploads your pics even after uninstalling the app
- Mac Tips: How to let Gatekeeper open Mac apps from unidentified developers
- Comcast's new super-fast internet will be super expensive
- Backed the Pebble Time Steel? You'll get it later this month
- Review: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 15
- HP unveils a limited edition Windows 10 version of the EliteBook Folio 1020
- Samsung wants your phone to measure your body fat
- Windows 10 will not be pre-installed on new PCs at launch
- SDCC 15: 12 weird and cool ways that virtual reality invaded Comic-Con
- How to replace an Apple Watch band
- Is that what boxed Windows 10 software will look like?
- Ubisoft's PS4 catalogue outselling Xbox One twice over
- Apple producing exclusive new video content for its top artists
- Review: Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7
- Exclusive: The final HTC Vive will be revealed this October
- Updated: iPad Pro release date, news and rumours
| SDCC 15: Watch all the panels from Comic-Con 2015 Posted: 13 Jul 2015 09:23 PM PDT  Comic-Con 2015 panelsBy now, you've probably seen all of the coolest trailers out of San Diego Comic-Con, but what about all of the panels? Thousands upon thousands of fans braved the long lines and large crowds to check out all of the star-studded, creatively-driven panels at San Diego Comic-Con's famous Hall H, just to see their heroes in the flesh. If standing in line for ten hours isn't your thing, or you couldn't make it to Comic-Con this year, you can still catch all the great news and moments that occurred at each Comic-Con panel from the comfort of your own couch. Many thanks to the film site Flicks and the City for capturing and posting these panel videos on its YouTube page! Star Wars: The Force Awakens panelOkay, this is the kind of panel that could convince someone to actually wait in line for half a day in order to attend. We get J.J. Abrams, Kathleen Kennedy and all the major new players, which is already awesome, and then they go and bring out Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford, making every Star Wars fan the world over grin and tear up a little. To top it all off, J.J. and Kathleen then treat the entire audience of thousands to pizza, and then announce that they're taking every person in Hall H over to a free Star Wars orchestral concert. Now that, is how you treat your loyal fans. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fMx670jOnwFox Marvel panelWhile Marvel Studios itself did not hold a panel this year, Marvel fans still got their fix with a tremendous showing from Fox, which held panels for X-Men Apocalypse, Fantastic Four and the fantastic-looking Deadpool film. The Deadpool section is particularly hilarious (and foul-mouthed). YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PysGhMhnnD4Warner Bros. DC movie panelFox wasn't the only studio to benefit from Marvel Studios' lack of a panel this year, getting to give its audience a fantastic taste of DC's burgeoning cinematic universe. Kicking off with a very short panel for Suicide Squad featuring the film's huge cast (sans-Leto) and its director, David Ayer, and closing off with a much more substantial panel for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, featuring Zack Snyder and his equally-impressive cast, this is one studio showing that delivers the goods. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXwHVmLGvAEWarner Bros. DC TV panelNot willing to let its small screen offerings be overshadowed by its big screen panel, Warner Bros. brought a huge panel to Comic-Con for its DC television shows, with the casts and creators of Arrow, The Flash, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Gotham and Supergirl all in attendance. Kicked off by Stephen Amell in his new and improved Green Arrow (on yes, we said Green Arrow) costume, there's plenty of fan-service on offer here. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmviyWMsiiEThe Hateful Eight panelIf you're like us, you're chomping at the bit to get some more inside information on Quentin Tarantino's upcoming western epic, The Hateful Eight. While we don't have access to the awesome extended trailer that was shown in Hall H, we can still enjoy seeing QT and his cast, including Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Michael Madsen, Tim Roth and Bruce Dern, talking about the film and their experiences making it. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgwtHOwcpLcCrimson Peak panelThere are two types of Guillermo del Toro movie – there are the big, fantastical, crowd-pleasing films like Pacific Rim and Hellboy, and then there are the equally fantastical film that delve into much darker territory, like The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth. The director's latest film, Crimson Peak, definitely fits in the latter category. Watch the always entertaining del Toro discuss the movie alongside stars Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain and Mia Wasikowska. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOVmLxIRG_gSupernatural panelFans of the long-running series Supernatural are in for a treat, with this lengthy and entertaining panel featuring stars Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins and Mark A. Sheppard, as well as producer Jeremy Carver & writer Andrew Drabb. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BYjUTyoEP4Game of Thrones panelThe cast of Game of Thrones stepped out of Westeros for a while to attend this huge panel for the show, with Carice Van Houten, Conleth Hill, Maisie Williams, Natalie Dormer, Sophie Turner, Alfie Allen, Gwendoline Christie, Liam Cunningham, John Bradley and Hannah Murray joining director David Nutter and producer Carolyn Strauss in regaling the audience with entertaining stories about working on the show. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJS5bDJUUdwThe Walking Dead and Fear the Walking DeadClearly, fans of AMC's series The Walking Dead have an insatiable hunger for zombie-related action, which is why the network has produced a spin-off zombie series, Fear the Walking Dead, to help alleviate that hunger. Watch the panels for The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead below. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dEnjpixsQU YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x44I9-IAylQMarvel TV panelWhile Marvel Studios' cinematic division sat this Comic-Con out, it's television division was in the house and representing with Jeph Loeb-moderated panels for Agent Carter, with stars Hayley Atwell and James D'Arcy, and producers Tara Butters, Michele Fazekas, Chris Dingess and Louis D'Esposito in attendance, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., with Clark Gregg, Chloe Bennet, Brett Dalton, Ming-Na Wen, Elizabeth Henstridge, Iain De Caestecker, Adrianne Palicki, Nick Blood, Henry Simmons, and Luke Mitchell sharing the stage. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUx58vGBTUI YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JNdCEW9JfYThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 panelWith The Hunger Games series rounding out to a close this year, cast members Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Willow Shields, as well as director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson, join moderator Conan O'Brien on stage for one last time. Check that out below. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k_1eMlQ0CoDoctor Who panelWhovians rejoice – San Diego Comic-Con set the stage for a Doctor Who panel that included the Doctor himself, Peter Capaldi, making his first ever appearance at the convention, alongside Jenna Coleman, Michelle Gomez and showrunner Steven Moffat. Watch the panel below. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv86g1-cO-4 |
| Hospital doctors spreading disease by smartphone Posted: 13 Jul 2015 06:54 PM PDT  Smartphones could be responsible for the spread of disease in hospitals, a Tasmanian study has found. While the devices have changed the way hospitals operate – frequently being shared between doctors and nurses to access laboratory results and coordinate patient care – the practice could be putting the health of patients at risk. The study found that 50 per cent of smartphones had one species of bacteria, 40 per cent had two, and three per cent had three species. "Three quarters of phones that we saw actually grew bacteria, out of those a small but significant percentage – 5 per cent actually – grew pathogenic bacteria that can cause infections," said medical researcher Dr Foong Yi Chao. "Even the most mild of these bacteria can cause gut and blood infections in patients with already compromised immune systems." Keep it cleanAccording to Dr Chao, smartphones need disinfecting in the same way that doctors wash their hands, but the study shows only one in five medical professionals do so regularly. "Mobile phones are being used by everyone nowadays, they're so important in hospital settings for communication," Dr Choa said. "So even though it sounds like a small percentage, it's one in every 20 phones so it's small but significant. "And while there are stringent protocols for sterilising hospital equipment, clothing and staff hand washing, that is not necessarily the case for mobile phones. "Worldwide there's no known protocols for phone cleaning, it's something that's only been looked at recently... so that's something that needs to be developed in the future."
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| Updated: Buying Guide: 10 best monitors: the best displays on the market 2015 Posted: 13 Jul 2015 05:38 PM PDT  IntroductionTen years ago, monitors were nothing more than necessary accessories. Today, they can be luxury items that dramatically improve all aspects of computing and content consumption. There are so many types of monitors that suit so many different needs. Screen resolution, response time, panel weight: everything should be considered when choosing a personal device or an enterprise fleet. Unfortunately, all of these specs can be confusing. We've compiled this roundup to help you sort through the abundance of options available. Update: While the LG Minibeam PH300 isn't a display, the portable projector comes in handy if you need to take a display with you to a meeting or for presentations. Available in a compact package with a 300-lumen bulb, the PH300 will be bright enough for small meeting rooms. Be sure to also check out our roundup of the best business projectors on the market.
1. LG UltraWide 34UC97Great for work, games, and movies – but it's costly Screen size: 34-inch | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3440x1440 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 5ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 1M:1 (DFC) | Colour support: SRGB 99% | Weight: 19.8 pounds Good speakers with bass Great contrast and colour reproduction Expensive The LG's curved design, high resolution and huge diagonal make it a high quality replacement for single 4K panels or a pair of 1080p screens, and the form factor means it's tempting for work, games and movies. Read the full review: 34UC97
2. Acer S277HKA bezel-less beauty Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 4ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 100,000,000:1 | Colour support: SRGB 100% | Weight: 11.9 pounds Bezel-less design Refresh rate No USB ports Height not adjustable A gorgeous IPS screen and bezel-free design make the S227HK a stunning display by itself or an even more impressive and immersive member of a multi-monitor setup. Read the full review: S277HK
3. Viewsonic VP2772What this professional monitor lacks in style it makes up with exceptional picture quality Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Response time: 12ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Colour support: SRGB 100% | Weight: 18.8 pounds Bezel-less design Refresh rate No USB ports Height not adjustable A rich set of features, great picture quality out of the box and hassle-free setup make the VP2772 an attractive monitor. Read the full review: VP2772 |
| Google Photos uploads your pics even after uninstalling the app Posted: 13 Jul 2015 05:15 PM PDT  It looks like Google Photos will continue uploading your photos even after you uninstall the app itself on Android phones. David Arnott, Nashville Business Journalist editor, who discovered this anomaly, had previously tried the app and then uninstalled it months ago. Just recently though, he decided he wanted to give the app another go. But after he reinstalled the app and signed in, he was surprised to see photos that had been uploaded after he deleted Google Photos from his phone. It's all in the settingsIt turns out that Google Photos' uploader settings is actually not part of the app's own settings, but in fact connected to the Google Settings app on Android phones, which is in charge of things like Google's locations, backup and search settings. The uploading anomaly is likely due to the fact that Google Photos used to be part of Google+, and its settings are also mostly connected to the Google Settings app. It's an interesting web of settings. So, if you used to use Google Photos or Google's automatic photo backup option, and no longer want your photos uploaded to the cloud, you can simply jump into the Google Settings app and turn off the "Google Photo Backup" option. While you're there, you may as well check out the other options you can turn on and off as well.
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| Mac Tips: How to let Gatekeeper open Mac apps from unidentified developers Posted: 13 Jul 2015 03:43 PM PDT  Have you ever downloaded an app on your Mac, only to be told you couldn't open it because it wasn't from the Mac App Store or wasn't from an identified developer? If so, you're experiencing Gatekeeper, a tool that debuted in the last release of OS X Lion that's designed to prevent questionable software from causing trouble on your Mac. For some users, this can be a great feature that helps keep their Mac safe; however, for power users who know they are downloading apps from trusted sources, it may be imperative to disable this feature from time to time to install and run apps from developers that haven't signed their apps. In this article, we'll show you the regular way to disable this feature, as well as how to do it from the command line without the need to delve into System Preferences. This is great for when you're remotely installing software on a Mac, or if you just like the command line. Disabling GatekeeperTo turn off Gatekeeper, navigate to your System Preferences > Security & Privacy. In the General tab, you'll see a section with the heading "Allow apps downloaded from." If you select "Anywhere" from the list that follows, then Gatekeeper will be disabled and you'll be able to open any app, regardless of where it was downloaded from. This is the least-safe setting for Mac security, however, and you should not leave the setting disabled like this unless you always download apps from trusted sources. For higher security, of course, you can select the "Mac App Store" or "Mac App Store and identified developers" options to keep Gatekeeper turned on.
Checking the status of GatekeeperIf you want check the status of Gatekeeper on your Mac without opening your system preferences, you can do so by opening the Terminal and typing the following command, followed by the return key: spctl --status
If the response is "assessments enabled," then Gatekeeper is active; it'll say "disabled" if it has been turned off. Disabling Gatekeeper via TerminalYou can disable Gatekeeper from Terminal as well. Do so by typing this command, followed by the return key: sudo spctl --master-disable After specifying your administrator password, Gatekeeper will be disabled, and you will be able to install and run software on your Mac downloaded from anywhere online.
If you ever wish to re-enable Gatekeeper through Terminal, then simply use the above command again, replacing "disable" with "enable." This will reactivate the Gatekeeper feature on your Mac.
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| Comcast's new super-fast internet will be super expensive Posted: 13 Jul 2015 02:58 PM PDT  Comcast today revealed the pricing for its 2GB per second broadband service, Gigabit Pro - and it's not cheap. Comcast's service is twice as fast as Google Fiber, but it will cost you $299 per month. And if you want to sign up, you'll be locked into a two-year contract. And it doesn't end there. Installation could cost up to $500, while activation could cost another $500. Comparatively, Google Fiber costs about $130 a month, with a $300 installation fee. Thankfully, Comcast is trialling Gigabit Pro for $159 per month, but you'll still need to sign on for two years. Speeds at a priceLike Google Fiber, Gigabit Pro is not available across the country just yet, but there are a range of cities in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Tennessee that do have access to Comcast's service. So if you don't mind the cost and want the speedier internet, you will need to call up Comcast to find out if it is available in your city first. Of course, if $299 a month will put too much of a dent in your pocket, Comcast does have plans to upgrade its regular broadband service in most areas next year, which should increase speeds to about 1Gbps for many people.
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| Backed the Pebble Time Steel? You'll get it later this month Posted: 13 Jul 2015 02:02 PM PDT  Most Pebble Time Kickstarter backers have received their smartwatches and now it looks like those who ordered the Pebble Time Steel will be getting their fancier watch by the end of July. The Pebble blog notes that production of the watch will start this week but the delivery timeframe has been pushed back a little bit. Still, that shouldn't stop people from receiving the Steel by August at the latest. The Pebble Time is priced at $199 (£179, AU$199.99) while the more premium Steel costs $299 (about £195, AU$383). If you didn't pre-order either one from the Kickstarter, both the Time and leather or metal Steel are set to go on sale a little later in store.  |
| Review: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 15 Posted: 13 Jul 2015 12:56 PM PDT  IntroductionThese days, if you're in the market for a home-use laptop, you're more than likely to purchase a convertible laptop-tablet hybrid. However, business users have been given very few solid convertible options from which to choose. Lenovo, the pioneer of the convertible space, has sought to remedy that with its ThinkPad Yoga line. The newest edition to the lineup, the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 15 (starting at $929/£598/AU$1250), offers the sturdiness and performance of a mobile workstation with the flexibility and style of devices like the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro and the Microsoft Surface Pro 3. However, because the ThinkPad 15 is bulkier and sturdier than its lighter and sexier counterparts, it's best compared to the HP Envy 15 x360, which features a similar convertible design, and the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina, which is the mack daddy of business class consumer laptops. DesignWhat you'll immediately love about the ThinkPad Yoga 15 is that it is capable of shifting between Laptop, Stand, Tablet and Tent modes, while automatically switching your system settings and locking your keyboard when necessary.
This means your screen can flip 360-degrees from closed to Tablet mode, and your hardware keyboard will deactivate in Tablet mode so that you don't accidentally disrupt your navigation or content consumption. Unfortunately, there aren't many use cases for a 5.1-pound (2.3kg) tablet. Although the laptop is thin, at just 0.8 inches (21mm) its bulk makes it somewhat clumsy when trying to flip the screen back and over. This isn't an issue if the notebook is sitting on a desk, but if you're standing, or using the laptop on your lap, you'll wish you had a smaller 11- or 13-inch device. By comparison, the HP Envy 15 x360 weighs 5.3 pounds (2.4kg) and is 0.94-inch thick (about 24mm), while the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch with Retina weighs a much more manageable 4.49 pounds (2.04 kg), and is only 0.71 inches thick (1.8 cm). However, the MacBook doesn't have the convertibility of the Envy and the Yoga, so you'd be sacrificing flexibility for portability.
The two metal hinges connecting the display to the ThinkPad Yoga 15's base are incredibly sturdy. However, because the upper panel weighs so much, when you try to put the laptop in Tent or Display mode, the hinges give just a bit. The laptop is built with a black magnesium-alloy frame and a plastic vent-heavy bottom plate. The top plate feels sturdy and is extremely resistant to scratches and dust. After more than a week of transporting the device from workspace to workspace, I didn't accumulate one speck or scratch. The bottom of the laptop is less sturdy than the lid, but the plastic bottom does serve a purpose: after more than several hours of use, I didn't feel any heat emanating from the unit. The same could not be said about the aluminum bottom of the MacBook Pro. The 15.6" Full HD (FHD) 10-point multitouch display is quite vibrant. Colors are bright and detailed, and the added width and height will ensure that you don't regret going with a smaller model. Although navigating a 15.6-inch touchscreen can be burdensome at times, the DragonTrail display was super-responsive and incredibly accurate. The spill resistant keyboard sports Lenovo's signature AccuType curved keys, of which I'm not a fan. Nor am I too fond of the three buttons at the top of the clickpad, which – as I've noted in other reviews – just get in my way. As I experienced with the Lenovo Yoga ThinkPad 12, the clickpad is the perfect size, it's incredibly smooth and I found it to be accurate right out of the box.
The added number pad, which can't be found on smaller ThinkPad Yoga units, is a coup for business users who are forced to input heavy amounts of data throughout the day. Specs and performanceIn terms of specifications, the ThinkPad Yoga 15 is perfectly priced at $929. The fifth-generation Intel "Broadwell" chips can be upgraded to Core i7 for about $150 extra. I found the 2.20GHz in my device to be speedy enough to get me through a few days of work, and plenty of Netflix binging. However, the machine did sputter when I ran several benchmarks. The 8GB of RAM and 150GB of storage on the review unit isn't going to wow anyone, but the device can be compromised a bit to reduce the RAM to 4GB in order to cram in 500GB of storage. You've got all the ports you'll likely need to get you through a workday. The absence of an Ethernet port is annoying, but we're all just going to have to get with the times and accept that adapters and docking stations are the norm these days.
Here is the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 15.6 configuration given to TechRadar for review: Spec sheet
Although the Yoga doesn't pack as much power as the MacBook's 2.2gHZ Intel Core i7 processor, it's got a much newer and better chipset than the Envy, which is still powered by Intel's previous generation Core i5 processor. If you upgrade to the highest level ThinkPad Yoga 15 you will receive a processor that is on-par with the MacBook Pro, and you'll spend about $1,000 less than you will with Apple. However, the MacBook Pro has a much higher resolution screen that is much more suitable for graphic designers, videographers and photographers. Benchmarks
In our suite of benchmarks, the ThinkPad Yoga 15 proved itself worthy of any head-to-head comparison with the Envy 360 and the MacBook Pro. The ThinkPad Yoga demolished the Envy in the 3DMark graphics test, with a Fire Strike score of 1,448, compared to the Envy's 504 points. In the PCMark 8 test, the ThinkPad finished with an impressive speed that merited 2,357 points, which is comparable to the Envy, which scored a slightly lower 2,322. Battery life is where the ThinkPad gets to flex its muscle against the Envy. The latter only scored 3 hours and 53 minutes in the PCMark 8 battery test, whereas the Yoga 15 made it to 5 hours and 7 minutes. In real-life testing, the Yoga 15's battery lasted for 9 hours and 35 minutes of video playback with the screen brightness and the volume set to 50%. Compared to the MacBook Pro, which scored a whopping 310 points, the Yoga scored a slightly lower 251 points in the CineBench CPU test, which measures the processor's performance across multiple programs and tasks. Unfortunately for the Yoga, the MacBook was able to stay powered for 12 hours and 4 minutes on a similar video test, a difference of almost three hours. VerdictYou've got to credit Lenovo for attempting to provide business users with a flexible, hybrid laptop in a large format that doesn't sacrifice performance. However, the heft and size of the ThinkPad Yoga 15 begs an important question: is a 15-inch convertible something anyone really needs?
We likedIf you like large laptops and don't mind some extra weight, there's not much to dislike about the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 15. It features a stellar 9.5 hours of battery life. It's got a pretty FHD screen that's housed in a gorgeous and durable magnesium alloy chassis. It packs enough ports to get you any connection you might need. And its performance is on par with similar devices in this class. We dislikedUnfortunately, a 5-pound laptop is essentially a portable desktop. You won't want to drag this device around, and if you do, you likely won't use it in Tent or Display mode because of how clunky it is. Given that it weighs so much, its performance should be more in line with much faster, much more powerful, and much more expensive mobile workstations. So, if money is no object, and you don't mind a heavy laptop, and you don't need convertibility, then you're better off getting a mobile workstation. Final verdictThe Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 15 is a dynamite device that is capable of being many different things. It's a powerful laptop with a sturdy design that can be flexed into multiple different positions. It has a gorgeous screen, a solid trackpad and a healthy selection of ports. If you don't mind a few extra pounds, then this hybrid is ideal for the business user who seldom needs portability, but enjoys having the option.  |
| HP unveils a limited edition Windows 10 version of the EliteBook Folio 1020 Posted: 13 Jul 2015 12:42 PM PDT  HP has unveiled a limited edition, Windows 10 version of the HP EliteBook Folio 1020. The updated business class device features Bang & Olufsen audio speakers housed in a silver ash chassis with a copper finish along the hinges and keys. Like all other Windows 10-ready devices, the new EliteBook will be optimized to accept Cortana requests, and features a pre-installed Skype for Business account. The limited edition EliteBook will weigh 2.68 pounds (1.2 kg), the exact weight of the original model, which was launched in December of last year. What's an EliteBook?The original EliteBook is similar in style and stature to Apple's new MacBook. It features a Core M processor, with 8GB or RAM and 256GB of storage capacity. The EliteBook's QHD display is dazzling for a notebook that costs only $1,249 (£820, AU$1,640). We were able to crank out about 7 hours of battery life on the original model. Processing power was excellent for a Core M machine, however, graphics performance was unsuitable for business class device. What to expect?HP did not provide a spec sheet for the Limited Edition model. I would expect all specs to remain the same or improve, given the "Limited Edition" marketing pitch. Given the machine's weight, I would expect another Core M processor. HP could probably improve the amount of storage capacity and the device's graphics processor without dramatically altering the price, which will likely be slightly higher given the upgraded speakers. The Limited Edition will be available at some point this fall. No more specific information was immediately available.  |
| Samsung wants your phone to measure your body fat Posted: 13 Jul 2015 12:32 PM PDT  Samsung wants to take biometrics scanning to another level: it wants to develop a way to measure body fat using your mobile phone. A new patent, posted on the World International Property Organization (WIPO) website, shows the tech-giant's plans to use sensors to scan your body in order to measure body fat. The patent explains the new tech will require four sensors that could be embedded in phones, or it can be installed on a phone cover. Sensing fatsAs in the image above, the patent shows a person holding a phone parallel to the ground in front of him, then moving it down his body. The sensors are meant to work together, measuring "impedance levels" after contact with your body, with the patent saying it will then measure body fat. Of course, this is only a patent, so there's no knowing if it'll ever make its way into Samsung's next Galaxy phones, but it's interesting to see the firm is focused on developing new health and fitness tech.
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| Windows 10 will not be pre-installed on new PCs at launch Posted: 13 Jul 2015 11:41 AM PDT  Microsoft is weeks away from debuting its Windows 10 operating system, but don't expect to see it pre-installed on new PCs at launch. Instead, Microsoft will offer customers who buy a new PC starting on July 29 the opportunity to upgrade to Windows 10 Home or Pro at retail stores. If you want a new PC and Windows 10 on launch day, expect to spend a little bit of extra time at your retailer for the entire process. Best Buy, Bic Camera, Croma, Currys/PC World, Elkjøp, Jarrir, Incredible Connection, Media Markt, Staples, Wal-Mart, Yamada, Yodobashi and other retailers will offer new PC buyers data migration services and upgrade support, said Yusuf Mehdi, Vice President of Windows and Device Marketing, in a blog post. Racing against the clockThe problem is that Microsoft is still working on finalizing the operating system ahead of the launch. This means that Windows 10 hasn't been sent to device manufacturers to test with their own drivers, despite rumors that a "release to manufacturing" build would be ready last week. "You will see computers running with Windows 10 installed very soon after the 29th and then in the fall a whole new class of machines for the holidays," Mehdi explained in an interview with Bloomberg. How to get Windows 10As Microsoft previously outlined, Windows 10 will be available first for the 5 million Windows Insiders who participated in the Insider Preview program to test the operating system. The final release of Windows 10 will be available to Insiders as a test flight, similar to how preview builds are delivered. Regular consumers who are not part of the Insider Preview program are able to reserve their copies. Microsoft will stagger the digital delivery of the download, so that the company's servers are not overwhelmed. Windows 10 is available as a free upgrade to existing Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 users during the first year of release. For users looking to buy a PC or notebook on or after July 29, Mehdi explained that they will be bumped up in the download queue if they choose not to immediately upgrade in retail stores when they purchase their new system. Raising awarenessTo help consumers get acquainted with the new operating system, Microsoft will be hosting demos at its retail stores as well as through partner retailers. The company will also host launch events in 13 cities with live demos. With these events, Microsoft likely wants to avoid the upgrade confusion caused when Windows 8 launched. Despite advertisements promoting Windows 8's ease of use, consumers had trouble adjusting from the classic desktop of Windows 7 to the Metro-inspired Modern UI of Windows 8 with Live Tiles. Windows 10 will bring new features to the experience, including a new Start menu, Cortana digital voice assistant, Microsoft Edge browser and Continuum for owners of hybrid and convertible notebooks. "Beginning July 20th in the U.S. and July 29th globally, the first wave of TV and digital ads will highlight how Windows 10 delivers a more human way to do – brought to life with features like Windows Hello and Microsoft Edge," Mehdi added.
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| SDCC 15: 12 weird and cool ways that virtual reality invaded Comic-Con Posted: 13 Jul 2015 09:19 AM PDT  VR at Comic-Con If you were at San Diego Comic-Con this year, one thing was guaranteed: you would have come across some sort of augmented (AR) or virtual reality (VR) experience. Sometimes, both at once! For instance, there were a bunch of panels featuring VR and AR talks. And other times, like in the above photo, you might have come across someone shooting video with a VR rig strapped with multiple GoPros. Even late night talk show host Conan O'Brien broadcasted his show live from San Diego in full 360-degree video. Though there were a couple that we weren't able to get to – namely Sony's Project Morpheus booth and a Walking Dead VR game demo set up in an RV outside of the convention center – we've rounded up all the neat devices we came across while at the show this year. And there were plenty. Google Cardboard got Legendary
Google Cardboard had a strong presence at Comic-Con, especially at the Legendary Pictures booth. It was there that con-goers could pick up a Legendary-branded Cardboard – they had 50,000 to give away. The movie studio has three VR videos available to download through its app on Android and iOS, including a first look at the new Warcraft film, called WarCraft: The Skies of Azeroth, as well as demos Pacific Rim: Jaeger Pilot and Beware Crimson Peak. I had a look at the Warcraft demo, and it was pretty epic, flying on a large eagle over Azeroth. The great thing about these 360-degree viewing options is that you can keep watching the same demo over again a few times, and there will still be a chance to catch something new. SyFy had a Cardboard, too The sci-fi cable network was also giving out Google Cardboard, but you didn't need to attend Comic -Con to get your hands on one.The cable network had taken over a restaurant in the Gaslight District of San Diego, and anyone dining or grabbing a drink was given a Google Cardboard. SyFy is offering a VR look at its new show, The Expanse, which is available through The Expanse app on Android and iOS. The video was fairly short, and on loop, and was basically a view of a ship rotating slowly in space. Of course, as you look around, it was cool to see how small the ship actually is in comparison to 'the expanse' of space. TNT's The Last Ship
TNT was also on the Comic-Con show floor, using VR to promote the latest season of its sea-faring, post-apocalyptic show, The Last Ship. A short game was specially made for Comic-Con, which had you strap on an Oculus Rift, which placed you on a ship wherein your mission was to shoot your way through to find a vial full of blue liquid. True to being on a ship, I was getting a bit nauseous by the end of it. It wasn't the smoothest demo on the floor, but it was one of the only interactive VR experiences. HTC Vive's tour van
For another experience that was available to anyone in San Diego last week, outside the convention center, HTC had its Vive Tour Van. Inside, you could demo the developer unit of its headset and the firm's new wireless controllers. HTC had three demos available, one that took you underwater, another into the world of Valve's Portal and one in which you could paint in true 3D. The demos were smooth and a lot of fun - I really didn't want it to end. The HTC Vive Tour Van will be going around the US and some of Europe over the next few months. FX's The Strain
Again situated outside of the conference halls, cable network FX had a setup for it's new show, The Strain, on the lawn in front of the Hilton hotel. FX was giving guests a very immersive 4D, VR vampire hunting experience, using a Samsung Gear VR headset, chairs that vibrate and wind blasts for a chilling experience. It was an interesting way to experience VR, especially for one that wasn't as interactive as others at the Con. It was a very unique way to promote a new show, and there was a very long line whenever we were around. Just chillin' in the VR Lounge
Another one that was also available outside of Comic-Con, but still ticketed, was the VR Lounge event. Here, you could try your hand at Emblematic Group's own VR headset and walk around a Star Trek Holodeck. Mattel's new AR/VR hybrid View-Master was available for demos as well, while NASA was giving simulation demos of a spacecraft it is working on right now. Each was a very different experience, and it was very cool to be able to try a real NASA simulation. The night also included drinks, food and a chance to chat with everyone behind the tech involved. NASA entered a different reality
Speaking of which, NASA was also on the Comic-Con show floor showcasing some of their new tech. That included a humanoid robot that's on the International Space Station and a brand new rocket. NASA also had an Oculus Rift set up, giving guests a VR view of Mars, using real footage that has been captured by the Curiosity rover. It might not have been an interactive experience, but it was still very cool to basically feel like you were standing on Mars. Mattel brought back the View-Master
In addition to the VR Lounge, Mattel was also on the show floor at Comic-Con, allowing all con-goers a chance to check out the revamped View-Master, which harks back to the designs of the retro, card-based 3D viewer. Aimed mostly at children, the hybrid AR/VR headset uses AR technology to begin a journey, while the VR side immerses the user into a more detailed experience. We can see how it would be a fun educational tool, being a new way to learn and experience information. Star Wars gets augmented While the Star Wars app can't give you VR, it did reveal a new AR experience at Comic-Con. The newly released app allowed con-goers an exclusive unlock for the augmented reality option on the app. About 20,000 Storm Trooper posters were being given away at the Star Wars booth. When you aim your phone at the poster through the app, it unlocks two AR characters – this above Storm Trooper and the new droid, BB-8 – who appear and move around in your phone. It's pretty awesome to see. You can snap photos and videos of the AR characters, and then share them on social media. More AR characters and other app surprises are to be revealed in the lead up to Star Wars 7 movie release. Weta takes on Giant Killer Robots
Over at the Weta Workshop booth, Weta had teamed up with AR specialists Trigger to bring Comic-Con a look at Giant Killer Robots, or GKR. GKR is a tabletop game that is also an AR game – one that you can play (using a tablet, game board and game pieces) against a friend sitting across from you, or online, against anyone around the world. The game is still in development stages, and con-goers were able to put their name down for when beta testing begins. The robots are designed by the same team that worked on District 9, and it was very cool seeing the robots smoking on screen after it gets damaged from a battle. An Anomaly in AR
Comic book and graphic novel publisher Anomaly was also showcasing its AR world on the Comic-Con show floor. Currently used as more of a supplementary medium, Anomaly uses AR as a way to give readers more insights into the world of their comics and graphic novels. For example, you could point your tablet to a spaceship on a page, and it will give you background information and other details. A room with a 360 view And lastly, one more for tablets (or phones), Roddenberry Studios was on the show floor with a trailer for its 360-degree short film, The White Room. Con-goers were given the opportunity to watch the film's trailer in 360-degrees on a tablet, so you could move the tablet up, down or anywhere around to watch what was happening. I wanted to stick around and watch the trailer a few more times, because I was sure I missed a few interesting moments. The White Room will be available on August 3 through its app, available on Android and iOS, for $2.99 (about £1.92, AU$4.04). Included will be a making-of video as well, if you're into that sort of thing.  |
| How to replace an Apple Watch band Posted: 13 Jul 2015 09:10 AM PDT  Removing and choosing a bandApple Watch accessories: it's a multi-million dollar market in the making. Like Transformers toys surrounding a new Michael Bay blockbuster, it's inevitable, it's transparent, and it makes our bank balance want to groan. But we're still in. Changing the band is probably the best way to customise your Apple Watch, to give it a flavour other than those you'll see in any old Apple Store. The issue: the Apple Watch does not use a standard watch band. Where the Pebble Time can take any old 22mm strap, the Apple Watch uses a proprietary system that needs bespoke accessories. Typical Apple, in other words. Step one: Removing the band It's a remarkably simple system, though. You don't need any tools, and you can remove the band in under a minute. First, flip your Apple Watch over. At the top and bottom of the rear, you'll see two little buttons, sitting flush with the casing. Pressing one in releases the band on that side (there's no need to try to press both at once). Once depressed, you can simply slide that part of the strap out. It's almost too simple. Step two: Picking a band The most important thing to remember when picking a new Apple Watch band is that there are different designs for the 38mm and 42mm watch sizes. Your first instinct may be to head to the Apple Store. Sure enough, it offers a whole bunch of official Apple Watch designs, and they're certain to be incredibly well-made. However, they certainly aren't cheap. The low-end silicone Sports Band costs £39 (US$49, AU$79): this is for a piece of rubber with a couple of bits of metal set into it. The prices only goes up from there, to £129 (US$149, AU$229) for the (in)famous, polarising Milanese Loop band, climbing all the way up to £379 (US$449, AU$679) for the steel link band.
Don't have a gold-plated house? Maybe it's time to try a third-party band. Despite being a proprietary system, there are already loads of Apple Watch bands out there. At present the retailer offering the widest selection is Mobile Fun, although Expansys and Amazon's marketplace sellers also offer a bunch. One of the cheapest ways to class-up a Sport Apple Watch is to bung a genuine leather strap on it. Baseus and Chicago make real leather bands that'll cost you just £19.99 (US$31 AU$42): a lot cheaper than the £129 of Apple's leather band. Other ones to check out include the Baseus Milanese Loop and the sweat-busting (if not outright gorgeous) Case-Mate vented band. Replacing the bandStep three: How to use a standard watch band Have a watch band you love the feel of? Sure enough you can use standard-design watch bands with the help of an adapter. These are basically just bungs that hook into Apple's proprietary system, while offering an outer loop you attach your bog-standard watch band to. There are a few different designs out there, though. Olixar makes an adapter using tiny screws to keep the outer loop in place, while the Click Polymer one that uses a telescopic strap insert that you might find a bit more flexible. Have a look, see which you prefer. These adapters accept 22mm straps, the standard size for unisex or 'male' watches. Want a next-level band? There are also battery-boosting bands in the works, and ones that also protect the casing of the Watch are already out there. Both of these styles affect the look of the Apple Watch quite dramatically, though, so won't be for everyone.
A word of warning: there's no approvals system needed for a third-party company to make an Apple Watch band, because they're quite simple, mechanical things. Buy a dirt-cheap one off eBay and you may not be too happy with what you end up with. Step four: Installing your band Now we have our replacement band, it's time to put the thing in. It couldn't get much simpler. You just slide it in until you hear a click, which is the fastening part in the strap clicking into place in the watch. How does it work? The opposite of the way you may assume. The Apple Watch uses a magnetic fastening system, where a metal element in the band is 'sucked into' an indent in the watch. Pressing the button on the Apple Watch's back pushes this little metal bit out again, letting you remove the band.  |
| Is that what boxed Windows 10 software will look like? Posted: 13 Jul 2015 08:35 AM PDT  Windows 10 is launching in 17 days and what looks like Windows 10 box art mock ups have been published online. And they do look pretty much on the money. German website WinFuture.de didn't mention much about the source of these pictures, or whether they are meant to accompany retail DVDs or Windows 10 USB sticks. A lot of the pictures released appear to stress Microsoft's focus on the return of the Start Menu on Windows 10. The home edition sticks to a blue colour scheme while the Pro version's is purple. Only a few more days to goThese are the two retail stock keeping units that will go on sale on July 29 with two others, Education and Enterprise, being available via third parties or from Microsoft direct only. The latest build of Windows 10, version 10166, and other recent builds have been geared towards ironing out existing bugs and improving general performance rather than adding new features. Windows 10 will see the introduction of a number of new features like Cortana, Continuum and Task View and will be available for free for a year to those updating from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.
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| Ubisoft's PS4 catalogue outselling Xbox One twice over Posted: 13 Jul 2015 08:19 AM PDT  Games publisher Ubisoft has released its first quarter sales figures for this year and they make rather sombre reading for Microsoft with Playstation 4 titles outselling their Xbox One equivalents by more than two-to-one. Though it is just taking into account Ubisoft's own sales it's still a pretty raw reflection of the overall market share dominance Sony's console has over the relatively poor-selling Xbox One. Microsoft's flagship console is going to need a really good holiday period this year to close the gap on the PS4. Expect some more Black Friday console wars this year…
The Playstation 4 made up for 27% of Ubi's sales in the first three months of this year, with the Xbox One only accounting for 11%. Putting that into context are the sales figures for the last-gen consoles - both PS3 and Xbox 360 are seeing equal footing with the Xbox One at 11% over the same period. With the next installment of its Assassin's Creed franchise dropping this Autumn, the London-based Syndicate, but not appearing on either of the last-gen consoles, that should see the latest Microsoft machine pulling ahead of its last-gen compatriots. Interestingly though both the latest consoles saw a drop in sales the first quarter of this year compared with the same time frame of last year. With the PC games market going from strength to strength it's become Ubisoft's second biggest revenue generator, now accounting for 23% of its sales. That's almost a 10% jump from the PC's position last year and looks to have cannibalised market share from both the consoles.  |
| Apple producing exclusive new video content for its top artists Posted: 13 Jul 2015 07:19 AM PDT  According to a report by Pitchfork Apple is now producing exclusive video content for top artists, such as Drake, Eminem and Pharrell, to give people more reasons to stick with Apple Music beyond the three free months. Last friday Drake released his Energy video, debuting on Apple Music first, with Pitchfork explaining Apple had made the video in-house with its own production team. Not content with dropping a huge catalogue of tracks, exclusive artists, a brave new social network and a live radio station, it looks like Apple's also now getting in on the video game in a big way. Drake debuting his dress-up antics via an Apple Connect exclusive showing might just be the tip of big ol' iceberg too. Apple also put together the videos for Eminem's Phenomenal and Pharrell's Freedom, which showed first as Apple Music exclusives too. Next up for the Apple treatment is reportedly M.I.A's interestingly-titled Matahdatah Scroll 01 Broader Than a Border audiovisual feast which is set to debut on the new streaming service today. It's a two-track release that also features a short film containing snippets of music from her forthcoming new album. The Pitchfork report also claims Apple is set to work next with James Bay, Diddy and Purity Ring. With the Cupertino giant really getting its teeth into its new pet project Apple Music is seriously gathering momentum - producing exclusive artists, tracks and now original content to back all that up too.  |
| Review: Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 Posted: 13 Jul 2015 07:00 AM PDT  Wireless headphones are all the rage, and for good reason. Listening to music wire-free is simply more convenient, as you don't even need to touch your music player to change songs. That said, there will always be a loyal crowd of headphone enthusiasts that refuse to snip the cable. Why? Sound quality. At its current state, wireless technology can't stream true audiophile-level sound without costing a fortune. Going wired is the cheapest way to get anything close to that level of audio quality, but even that can cost a fortune. Until now. With the $250 (£199, AU$349) ATH-MSR7, Audio-Technica is providing wired listeners with a complete, relatively affordable way to take a dip in Hi-Res audio. These over-ear cans don't offer much in the way of features, but the set is such a strong performer that it's minor design flaws are easy to overlook. DesignAudio-Technica's ATH-MSR7 – I'll just call them the MSR7 from here on out – are quite the flashy take on your everyday over-ear headphones. The earmuff style is still in full effect, but just about every detail that comprises the set is lathered in modern style.
The thick headband is coated on each side with deep tan leatherette. Its insides are stuffed with just enough padding to keep you comfortable during long listens. The leatherette gives way to some sharp, gunmetal-colored plastic pieces that assist in the adjustment of its brushed steel sidearms. The ease in which Audio-Technica transitions between build materials is seamless. Fully extended, the sidearms can stretch nine notches to make the fit much more accommodating than its default sizing.
Moving down, another solid piece of plastic marks the site of the MSR7's pleasantly flexible earcup hinge. On their outside, two brushed metal pieces with "Right" and "Left" laser-etched onto them show the right way to put these on your head. These hinges offer smooth gliding action for a generous 90 degrees of movement, which makes resting the cups on your chest during pauses in playback a breeze. However, these headphones don't fold up to be compact.
Harnessing the earcups to the hinges are two wishbone-shaped pieces of plastic, lined on their inside with metallic red detailing. The earcups themselves are pretty big, harnessing 45mm drivers inside, and consist of a mix of plastic and anodized aluminum. The Audio-Technica logo is embossed on their outsides and looks fetching. At least, as far as logo placement is concerned. Design nerds will love the various shapes, colors and angles Audio-Technica experiments with on these earcups. It's pretty safe to say that they didn't play it safe here. Flipped over, the plush leatherette ear pads are large and well-stocked with padding.
The MSR7 come stocked in a large box that's packed with goodies. First, you'll find a soft leatherette bag to tote them around in. This welcome addition will keep the MSR7 scratch-free for a long time. Next up, a few different 3.5mm cables you can switch out. The one I used most during testing, as it aligns with my listening habits the most, is the 3.9-foot cable with inline controls. You'll also find two others in the box: a 3.9-foot cable sans inline controls and a larger 9.8-foot cable, in case you enjoy listening from a source that can't be put in your pocket. PerformanceThe MSR7 certainly look the part, but where these cans really shine is with its immensely satisfying audio performance. The company put its 45mm "True Motion" drivers inside, and these Hi-Res Audio-pushing drivers excel at everything I throw at them.
I spend a lot of my time listening to music on the subway and other places that aren't too quiet, so I was a little worried that my listening experience with the MSR7 would be spoiled. Thankfully, the closed-back design of the cups, in tandem with the dense leatherette in the earpads, created a quiet environment. Once I turned music on, the sound was focused to my ears, clear of outside noise – an impressive feat for a set of headphones without active noise cancellation. But they aren't the most comfortable. Comfort is a really subjective topic, but I'm confident that listeners who try out the MSR7 will agree: these earcups make a very tight seal around your ears. The seal creates excellent noise isolation, but two slight problems arise. First, if it's summer, your ears are going to cook. Next, the headband will give you horrible headphone-hair. You know, that headband-shaped line pressed into your hair? It's a given then that the headband can really press hard on your cranium, but making a sidearm adjustment should fix that problem.
Coming back to the sound, listeners will be treated to balanced audio regardless of genre choice. Driver response is incredibly accurate here, full of attack when needed, but versatile enough to gently deliver calmer songs with equal care. The soundstage inside these cans is expansive and enthralling. That's something I can say about several sets of headphones, but what sets the MSR7 apart here is that the sound elements don't step on one another. Each rendered sound layer compliments the others, revealing flourishes in songs that I hadn't heard before. Final verdictSerious listeners that still have an eye for value should know that the Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7, although not cheap, are packed with enough stellar qualities that render the cost almost a non-issue. I'll take a second to knock against Audio-Technica for the lack of inline volume controls, which is a feature that I love seeing in headphones. Also, the amazing sound quality comes at the very minor expense of a very tight-fitting set of earcups. These gripes aside, I can't recommend the MSR7 enough for music lovers who want an upgrade that looks good, offers strong performance and won't set your wallet on fire.  |
| Exclusive: The final HTC Vive will be revealed this October Posted: 13 Jul 2015 07:00 AM PDT  While HTC had showcased its new wireless controllers for its HTC Vive headset for the better half of last week at San Diego Comic-Con 2015, these headsets and controllers are only developer units. For its final, finished, consumer-ready Vive VR product, HTC executive director of marketing Jeffrey Gattis said, "We are targeting mid-October, but have not yet finalized the event details, venue, etc." While this indicates that the final consumer product is pretty locked and ready, Gattis only revealed, "Our hardware development, for the consumer versions of both the HMD and wireless controllers, remain on schedule for the end of 2015." Beating everyone else to the VR punchWhile he said that he couldn't give any specifications for the final build, he explained that being HTC, the finished product would be "more refined from a design standpoint." That is essentially to say that it will be more stylish, less bulky and lighter. As for an actual release date, we'll only have to wait a handful of months more, as HTC wants the Vive to be ready for the holidays. "We remain committed to what we said at our keynote in Barcelona back in March, that is, the first consumer units will be on sale and in the hands of customers before the end of this year," Gattis said. Until then, you can try to catch the HTC tour van, which will be touring around the US and Europe over the next few months.  |
| Updated: iPad Pro release date, news and rumours Posted: 13 Jul 2015 06:48 AM PDT  Release date, rumors and designUpdate: A new rumour points to a mid-November release date, with Apple playing it safe and shipping the iPad Pro in limited volumes to gauge how popular its larger tablet will be. With Apple's thinner, lighter iPad Air (and now iPad Air 2) and Retina display-equipped iPad mini 3 out in the open, what's left for Apple to do? Rumour has it that Apple is working on a 12-inch Retina MacBook Air alongside another device, which may turn out to be a supersized version of one of the company's existing products. That's right: it's believed that the Mac maker is working on an even larger iPad, commonly referred to as the iPad Pro - yet more recently we've also seen references to an iPad Air Plus. We've combed through all of the rumours and scuttlebutt to bring you everything we've heard so far about this alleged iPad Pro. Apple invited the press to a "special event" October 24, but the iPad Pro was nowhere to be found, with the company instead choosing to launch the iPad Air 2 and OS X 10.10 Yosemite. What's in a name?Apple did something interesting with the launch of its fifth generation iPad (aside from a total hardware revamp): Gave it a new name. The iPad Air alluded to the Cupertino's company adopting the naming convention of its laptop lines, the MacBook Air and Pro series, for its premiere range of tablets. Logic would dictate, then, that if Apple were to release an even more sizable iPad, it would be with a professional bent and named the iPad Pro. So, we're now looking at 2015 for a newer, bigger iPad entering a product category that has seen little success thus far. Will Apple be the one to legitimise the "professional's tablet?" At the moment most people are referring to the upcoming iPad as the iPad Pro. However, recent leaks refer to it as the iPad Air Plus. This might be down to an incorrect leak or translation, but it does follow Apple's naming convention with the iPhone 6 Plus. Cut to the chase What is it? A brand new, larger iPad When will it release? 2015 What will it cost? Likely somewhere between the iPad Air and MacBook Air iPad Pro release dateWith WWDC being a major event for announcements (albeit software, rather than hardware ones), it was thought that the iPad Pro might arrive in June. That event has now come and gone, with no sign of the iPad Pro - so what's next? The iPad Pro is gearing up to race out of the traps in the second half of the year, if a report by Bloomberg is to be believed. According to sources in the know, the 12.9-inch tablet will enter production in September, which would make a release before the end of 2015 unlikely. That's in contrast to a report by Japanese news website Macotakara, which says that Apple is eyeing a 2015 release date for the larger iPad. That report pitches the iPad as a 12.2-inch tablet that will come with a detachable keyboard to square up against business-friendly devices like Microsoft's Surface Pro 3. A new rumour suggests that Apple is working with Foxconn Electronics to manufacture the iPad Pro, with components being supplied late-September for a mid-November release. The same rumour suggests that Apple is being rather cautious about ordering components, which suggests that the Cupertino company has relatively low expectations for the sales of the 12.9-inch tablet. iPad Pro specsMacotakara claims that the device also features a set of speakers and microphones along its top and bottom edges, which could function in a similar fashion to how the iPad 2 handles stereo sound. Details are sketchy, but the report also points to the possibility of an iSight camera, Touch ID sensor and Lightning connector. According to HDblog, cited by IBtimes AU, the iPad Pro will have not one, but four speakers. Going by 3D cut-outs, the outer shell apparently places two speakers at the top of the tablet, while the other two can be found at the tail-end. That report also claims that the iPad Pro will measure 12.9 inches and will feature the microphone on the right-hand side of the device next to the primary camera. Mooted specs include an Apple A8X/A9 CPU backed up by 2GB of RAM. So why isn't it here already? Another rumour claims the iPhone 6 was to blame for the iPad Pro delay. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple's suppliers struggled to keep up with demand for its latest smartphone, which had a knock-on effect by pushing the iPad Pro back to 2015. According to supply chain sources who spoke to Digitimes, Apple has a 12.9-inch iPad Pro in the works that will run a hybrid OS X and iOS-integrated operating system. If that happens, reports from Taiwan that point to the iPad Pro as housing a more powerful version of the A8 chipset found in the iPhone 6 start to make a bit more sense. One of the most credible updates – reports of a larger iPad release - peg it as right on track for a 2015 release date, Bloomberg reports, citing "people with knowledge of the matter," that an iPad Pro will enter production early next year. (The whole gamut of rumours and reports follow.) A 2015 release date is further backed up by Korea Times' sources at a "local first-tier display supplier" who say a single version will launch "sometime early next year" with a nearly UHD resolution. China's United Daily News point to another iPad Pro manufacturing partner: Quanta Computer. DigiTimes's sources (hit-and-miss with rumours) recently backed up this report, claiming that Apple expected the manufacturer to have either a 12.9 or 13.3-inch model ready. Now, the Taiwanese outlet's sources say that Apple is leaning toward the smaller of the two. As if to mix things up even more, International Business Times reports that Apple is aiming for winter or even a spring 2015 release, according to its Foxconn sources. According to a report published by KGI Securities, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo doesn't expect that Apple will be ready to launch the pro-grade tablet until 2015. A recent leak published by Macotakara again hinted at a release date at sometime between April and June 2015. This new leak suggests that Apple will also launch an improved iPad mini 4 alongside the iPad Pro. iOS 9 hintsApple may not have launched the iPad Pro at WWDC, but it did show off iOS 9, which makes a number of hints that an iPad Pro could be in the works. The biggest feature that would fit the iPad Pro is simultaneous multitasking, which is missing from prior versions of the operating system but can be done on devices from some of Apple's biggest rivals. Craig Federighi, SVP of Software Engineering at Apple, showed off how users can run two iOS applications side-by-side, allowing them to juggle tasks without switching or closing apps. This PC-inspired feature in a post-PC era – along with better hardware keyboard support and an improved Quick Type software keyboard – seems primed for an iPad Pro launch. Perhaps the biggest giveaway that Apple has an iPad Pro in the works comes from code found inside the developer beta of iOS 9. It unearths a larger on-screen keyboard, similar to the one found on Apple's MacBook notebooks, which features an additional row of smaller keys for symbols in the main view and numbers in a secondary view.
Apple teams up with IBMIn order to further its lead in the enterprise space through BYOD, Apple partnered up with IBM to create new business-focused apps for iOS. This includes exclusive apps created by Apple and IBM in tandem ranging from data and analytics to device management and security. While this move is currently just to increase the amount of existing iOS devices in the office, is there a better way to grease the wheels for a pro-centric iOS device? Not without spending a ton more cash, that's for sure. Sticking with the business slant, a report by AppleInsider claims that the over-sized iPad is set to come with NFC functionality which will be allow merchants to take payments using Apple Pay. That could make it a boon for the legions of retailers that have signed up to Apple's tap-to-play platform in the countries where it has rolled out. Apple tries to quash the rumoursOn the Macintosh computer's 30th birthday, Apple executives responded to rumours that the company was looking to merge Mac OS X and iOS into a single operating system. The retort? No chance in hell. "We don't waste time thinking, 'But it should be one [interface].' How do you make these [operating systems] merge together?' What a waste of energy that would be," Apple SVP of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller told Macworld. Craig Federighi, Apple's SVP of Software Engineering, echoed Schiller's statement with some rather sensible logic. Regardless, neither does this mean that an even larger iPad isn't in the works nor that iOS could become more professional-friendly to support such a device. Basically, if Apple were to release an iPad Pro, it wouldn't pull a Microsoft. The competition already heats upSamsung beat Apple to the punch in unveiling its 12.2-inch Galaxy Note Pro and Galaxy Tab Pro tablets during CES 2014. With that, DigiTimes expects Apple "to release its competitor by the end of the third quarter at the earliest." YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqdOPHjL34w#t=69The question is: would an iPad Pro help fend off the Galaxy Note Pro and other rumoured monster 13-inch tablets? Analyst house KGI reckons the answer is no. As spotted by 9to5Mac, KGI noted that while it's "confident that the expected 12.9-inch iPad model can create an improved user experience," it doesn't expect the device to "contribute meaningfully to shipments momentum anytime soon." iPad Pro designIt's doubtful that Apple would do much to change the shape of the iPad Pro in its leap to 12.9 inches, the supposed size most rumours point to. The iPad Air's design was applauded by critics (us included), and early sales projections say that consumers are into it. Update: However, the latest leak points towards a device that's a lot bigger than expected, measuring 223 x 206 x 7.2mm. It comes from OnLeaks, a source with a generally good track record, which repeats a common rumour that says the iPad Pro will come with a single USB Type C port on the tablet. Another rumour, by French publication Nowhereelse, shows what purports to be an iPad Pro case and, just like the OnLeaks leak, it shows that it's far bigger than the iPad Air 2. It's expected that Apple will use oxide TFT displays for its next-generation iPads, which would allow the company to make tablets that draw drastically less power, according to a CultofMac report. CultofMac cites an ETNews report that quotes an unnamed LG Display official, who has apparently gone on record saying that LG has ramped up production of its TFT sheets because Apple will need it for its upcoming iPad device. Unreleased cases obtained by Sonny Dickson confirm early rumours that the iPad Pro may come with dual speakers and two ports. The images show that the iPad Pro could have a similar design to the iPad Air, positioining stereo speakers at the top and bottom of the tablet in a similar manner to Samsung's Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Note devices. Coming out of HDBlog.it, another leak shows a device that could be the iPad Pro, depicting what could be either a secondary Lightning port or a USB-C port along the top edge of the device.
Another leak, which comes courtesy of French site NWE via Chinese supplier, shows a case that would appear to hold a 12-inch device. It positions the volume, standby and camera buttons in the same place as the iPad Air 2, meaning the iPad Pro could bear a stronger resemblance to what has gone before, rather than being outed with a radically new design.
However, an Evercore Partners analyst suspects the size to be a smaller 12 inches to align itself closer to the 11.6-inch MacBook Air, AppleInsider reports.
An image supposedly showing an iPad Pro dummy unit has made its way into the wild and it certainly looks closer to 13 inches than 12. It should go without saying that the iPad Pro will inevitably be heavier than the iPad Air. To even meet the iPad Air's feathery 453.6 g at 12.9 inches would be a miracle of modern engineering. That said, not much should stop Apple from meeting the Air's super svelte profile at 7.5 mm thin. The concept designers at SET Solution seem to disagree. In the video above, SET Solution dreams of a device with an even narrower bezel with sharper edges, a camera with the dual LED flash found on the iPhone 5s, Touch ID and a textured aluminum backing. The Macotakara website has published rumours suggesting that the iPad Pro will be as thin as the iPhone 6. If true this would mean the iPad Pro would be between 6.9mm and 7.1mm (the thickness of the iPhone 6 Plus). A later leak published by the same website appeared to show schematics of the iPad Pro which claimed the dimensions of the tablet will be 305.31mm x 220.8mm x 7mm. The 7mm thickness would indeed make the iPad Pro thinner than the iPhone 6 Plus, though not quite as thin as the iPad Air 2, which is just 6.1mm thick. iOS 8, iPen and iPad Pro keyboard case
iPad Pro keyboard caseBack before the iPad Air unveiling, former Apple fellow Jamie Ryan claimed to have heard from current Apple employees that an iPad keyboard case was in the prototyping stage. Ryan went on to say that the keyboard case mimicked the Microsoft Surface Touch Cover. While it didn't make the latest iPad debut, the iPad Pro would provide the perfect stage for the reveal of Apple's proprietary iPad keyboard case. Ideally, this keyboard would connect physically to the tablet much like the Smart Cover does today, but use Bluetooth for the interaction. Plus, an included keyboard would all but be a must for a professional-grade tablet. Ask and ye shall receive! As of March 27, Apple has released a patent detailing a keyboard cover, combed over by none other than AppleInsider. The patent illustration paints the picture of something similar to the existing iPad Smart Cover, but with a detachable portion replete with touch-sensitive keys. Now, you tell me what a keyboard cover would be ideal for.
What would an iPad Pro be with an iPen?Despite late Apple chief Steve Jobs's derisive comments on styluses before, rumour has it that the Mac maker just might go through with creating a stylus for the would-be iPad Pro. The above image comes from one of Apple's alleged 20 patent filings regarding a potential iPen, Patenly Apple reports. Reputable analyst Ming-Chu Kuo of KGI Securities has produced a report which backs Apple to introduce a stylus with the iPad Pro, which he predicts will surface in the second quarter of 2015, Apple Insider reports. Kuo formed his prediction on several stylus-related patents filed by the company, in addition to his own research. In the report, Kuo notes that in some cases styluses can be more convenient that keyboard and mouse setups, and that Apple may move beyond traditional 2D input to 3D handwriting sometime beyond 2015. While it might sound silly for Apple to head down this road, it might be a necessary move. Lacking a stylus could be a ding against a potential iPad Pro when the business-minded Galaxy Note Pro line rocks Samsung's S-Pen. Patently Apple strikes again, unveiling even more Apple patents for a possible iPen accessory. This time, details include potential features like a laser pointer, the ability to project images and scanning capabilities among other. If Apple really is to make an iPen, it will be more than just any old smart stylus. Update: A report from AppleInsider claims that a Bluetooth stylus in the works for the iPad Pro, and is designed to allow for increased productivity on a larger display. This could allow it to go head-to-head with other pen-toting devices such as Samsung's S Pen-equipped Galaxy tablets and Microsoft's Surface line. iPad Pro, meet iOS 8While no rumours specifically point to this, it's pretty much a given that the iPad Pro will run the latest iOS. If the pro-level pad had launched in October 2014, then this is almost a certainty, as we expect iOS 8 to launch alongside the awaited iPhone 6 in September. However, our friends at MacLife seem to disagree. The latest rumour, as of May 13, surrounding iOS 8 makes it sound as if the refreshed operating system will be crafted with larger screens in mind across the board. 9to5Mac recently reported that iOS 8 will ape split-screen multitasking from devices like Microsoft's Surface. That would definitely be an iPad Pro-ductivity booster. Get it? I'm here all week, try the veal.
iPad Pro storageThis is Apple's chance to differentiate the iPad Pro from the iPad Air even further. Professionals expect lots of space from their computing platform of choice, and while the current 128GB iPadmaximum is nice, it might not be enough. Of course, a 256GB, 12.9-inch iPad would cost a small fortune, but what does the end user care when it's on company dollar? iPad Pro home buttonYou can bet the farm that Apple will include its TouchID technology into the iPad Pro home button. Fingerprint security has become all but a must-have feature on enterprise laptops, and this professional iPad will have to meet that standard to gain better traction. Rumours point to an iPhone 6 prototype having no home button, according to Business Insider. But that seems an unlikely fate for both devices, given that the iDevice form factor is minimalist enough as is. 2K (or 4K) screen, processor and moreiPad Pro screenThis is where things get way interesting. First, the Korea Times reported, citing Apple's "local first-tier display supplier," that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will sport an almost-UHD resolution when it arrives in early 2014. A later rumour, this time from China's Pad News, pointed to both 2K and 4K resolution iPad Pro models in the works. Per the story, Apple is prototyping a 2K model that would likely exceed that of the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9's 2560 x 1600 (339 pixels per inch) and blow away the iPad Air's 2048 x 1536 (264 ppi). The same source indicates that the device will boast a whopping 11,000mAh battery to ensure those pixels don't cause it to run out of juice in a hurry. Taiwanese site Tech News has spoken to sources familiar with Apple and claims it has sorted out supply levels with Sharp and Samsung. Sharp reportedly already provided a test batch of screens back in June and since have been given the all clear by Apple. A 4K iPad Pro would likely come in around 4096 x 3072, beating the 4K TVs available today. There have also been a number of rumours that suggest that the iPad Pro will come with a slightly smaller 12.2-inch screen, so don't get your hopes up too much for a 12.9-inch model.
iPad Pro processorAgain, this shouldn't be a major shocker. The iPad Pro will almost undoubtedly use a beefier version of Apple's 64-bit A7 chip, if not the new A8X processor or even a completely new A9 chip. It will be interesting to see whether 64-bit processing has an effect on the iPad Pro's enterprise capabilities. But what will be even more important is Intel's response to such a product, given its long-standing relationship with Apple on the MacBook line, Daily Finance suggests. New rumours have also emerged courtesy of Macotakara that suggest that Apple will be including a completely new processor; the A9. We don't have much more information about the A9 processor at the moment, but if it does exist then it looks like it will be an upgrade from the A8X processor found in the iPad Air 2. iPad Pro cameraNot much, if anything, has been said of the iPad Pro's shooter. Given that this tablet will be as large as (although lighter than) a number of laptops, we wouldn't be concerned too much with what kind of photos the tablet can take. More important will be the iPad Pro's front-facing webcam. Will we see a higher resolution snapper on the front for quality video conferencing? Well, we sure hope so. A truly HD webcam would get heavy travelers more jazzed about an iPad than ever. iPad Pro eye trackingTo put an even finer point on the importance of the iPad Pro's webcam, Apple would be remiss not to include eye tracking technology. The company has already seen startups like uMoove interested in providing the tech, and IBT's sources claim that this will be a key feature. The iPhone 6 is expected to come with eye tracking. Now, all that's left is to implement them in a way that makes sense on an iPad Pro. Sharing with others what we're looking at on our own screens in conference calls immediately comes to mind.  |
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