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- Yahoo released a video message app, but not everyone can use it
- UPDATED: You can stream Xbox One games to your PC starting today
- Updated: 50 best free iPhone apps 2015
- Updated: 50 best Android apps 2015
- This PS4 game is the biggest gaming Kickstarter ever
- Updated: CES 2016: what to look for at next year's biggest tech show
- Cortana for Android leaks on phones you might actually own
- EXPLAINED: How to watch Netflix in UHD
- We may have an ad-free Hulu option very soon
- The Tesla Model S just hit Ludicrous Speed with 762 horsepower
- In depth: 4K TV and Ultra HD: Everything you need to know
- Updated: Now you can fly over Pluto's towering mountains and icy plains
- Hitchbot embarks on its great American road trip
- Who solves Silicon Valley's biggest tech issues? A witch
- Updated: Best laptops 2015: which notebook should you buy?
- Keitai: How to refund an app on Android
- Windows Hello will kill the Windows log-in password on these PCs
- Mac Tips: How to delete locked files on Mac
- PC shipments tank in Europe, Middle East and Asia
- Explained: How to create a timelapse video
| Yahoo released a video message app, but not everyone can use it Posted: 17 Jul 2015 04:34 PM PDT  You've probably not heard about Yahoo's newest messaging app, and you probably won't for a while, as the Yahoo Livetext app is only available in Hong Kong. Yahoo's new offering, which launched last week, gives a new spin to the usual messaging apps, allowing users to send a short live video with text, though without audio. The app's description on the Hong Kong iTunes store says that Livetext is "...the most natural way to have 'real' conversations. It's live video texting, without sound. You will feel like your friends are right there with you." "Livetext transforms simple conversations into rich, fun, and memorable experiences. It's an entirely new way to stay in touch." A new way to message?The app uses a cellular data connection or Wi-Fi, and is restricted to one-on-one conversations. As you enter text, a live video of where you are will appear, and as soon as your contact enters the chat, you'll be able to see their reaction. Audio has been removed, because Yahoo says, "it's rarely convenient in today's fast-paced world." As we said earlier, though, the app is only available in Hong Kong, likely being tested in the region before Yahoo releases it worldwide. And we do assume it will be released globally, because the app does support a large number of languages from around the world - we just have no idea where, yet.
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| UPDATED: You can stream Xbox One games to your PC starting today Posted: 17 Jul 2015 04:14 PM PDT  Update: All the features mentioned below have finally gone live. To start streaming on your PC, on your Xbox One go to Settings > Preferences > Allow game streaming to other devices and then install the latest version of the Xbox app on your Windows 10 PC or tablet. Finally, in the Xbox app on Windows 10, select Connect > + Add a device from the menu on the left side of the app, then select your Xbox One console. The option to stream games on PC is only available to Windows 10 testers and is not available on Windows 7 or 8. Original article on the July update below... Microsoft moved the needle on Xbox One/Windows 10 compatibility today by announcing four major updates coming to Windows 10's Xbox app, including an update that enables users to stream Xbox One games to their PCs. The first and probably biggest news out of Xbox One's June announcements detailed on Major Nelson's blog is that Windows 10 testers can now stream Xbox One games to their PCs over their home network. Nelson said that Microsoft will take the data into consideration when improving the experience for all users when it becomes available to the general public. In other news, game hubs - a recent addition to Xbox Live on Xbox One - are coming to PCs and will offer the same sort of insightful statistics that they do on consoles to their desktop brethren. Also announced today, Game DVR is getting a modification to its shortcut. Windows users can now press the "Windows" key and "G" to bring up game capture, or set it to whatever combination you'd like in the settings menu. Finally, as a throw-back to the Xbox 360 days, Windows 10's Xbox app will now include a section to edit your digital avatars. Sure, the updates aren't as big as today's Windows 10 OS for Xbox One news, but the updates do lend credence to the idea of a Microsoft ecosphere slowly falling into place.
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| Updated: 50 best free iPhone apps 2015 Posted: 17 Jul 2015 03:56 PM PDT  50 best iPhone apps 2015
Apps are the cornerstone of iOS. The ecosystem is what sets Apple's mobile platform apart from its rivals, and the highest-quality iPhone apps are typically best in class. But, like any app store, it is sometimes difficult to find out what are truly the best apps, the ones that stand out from the rest - because they offer a tool or service that is far beyond anything else available. Sometimes the best apps are free, other times you will have to pay a little bit for them. Here we showcase the best available and offer up everything you need to know about the app and how much it will cost. This round-up compiles our favourites, from top-quality creative tools and video editors to the finest productivity kit and social networking clients and even if you don't have an iPhone right now it's worth reading up on what's available if you're considering investing in the iPhone 6S / iPhone 7 when it's out.
Air Video HD
Even the most expensive iPhone has a fairly limited amount of on-board storage and that's not even likely to change with the iPhone 7. This is a problem if you have a large video collection you'd like to access. Air Video HD server streams (and if necessary, re-encodes) files from a PC or Mac that can then be played on your iPhone; there's AirPlay support, and also the means to access your Air Video server over the web. Sky Guide
Easily the most beautiful of the iOS stargazing apps, Sky Guide also happens to be the most usable. You can quickly and easily scan the heavens by dragging your finger around, optionally orienting the screen to wherever you happen to be looking. A Today view widget adds information about rise and set times for nearby planets, the sun and the moon.
WhatsApp is one of the most essential apps you can install on your iOS device, especially if you have friends and family across the world. Rather than worrying about your SMS allowance or signal, WhatsApp lets you send messages over any Wi-Fi or mobile data connection instead. You can also send and receive photos with no size restrictions, and if you're using Wi-Fi (or you have unlimited mobile data) they won't cost you any extra to send.
Periscope
Periscope, Twitter's live video streaming app, is an essential download for anyone who likes the immediacy of Twitter but craves something more visual. You can easily create your own live streams or watch other people's, send comments and hearts in real time and if you miss the action there's a 24 hour window with which to replay streams. In short it's simple enough to dive straight into but has enough to it that you'll keep coming back, whether you're more creator or viewer.
Day One
Traditional journals are all very well, but there's something wonderful about an app that you always have with you, into which you can save messages, images, locations and more, and then later retrieve everything via a search. Day One is beautifully designed and easy to use - best-in-class on the iPhone.
Even in 2015 there are still times and places where we can't get an internet connection, but this doesn't have to mean you can't read websites, however, thanks to the excellent Pocket app. It allows you to save articles, news stories, blog posts, videos and much more, letting you read and watch them offline. You can also synchronise your saved articles across every device you've installed Pocket on, allowing you to pick up where you left off and continue reading.
Fantastical 2
Fantastical 2 betters iOS 8's iffy Calendar app by way of a superior interface, a non-hateful method of dealing with reminders, and truly exceptional event input. The app has a powerful parser, and so while adding an event, you can enter the likes of "TechRadar lunch at 3pm on Friday", watching a live preview build as you type. Figure
Figure crams Reason's rich history of classic-era electronic music apps into a shoebox. Via a mixture of dials and pads, you can create all manner of banging choons, and then export them and assault your friends' eardrums. It's a fun toy for anyone, but also has the chops to be part of a pro-musician's mobile set-up. iMovie
Camera enables you to do the odd bit of cropping with video files, but iMovie is an audacious attempt to bring a full video editor to your iPhone, infused with the ease-of-use its desktop counterpart is renowned for. Amazingly, it succeeds. Effects, themes, credits and soundtrack creation then provide extra polish for your mobile filmmaking. Launch Center Pro
More or less a speed-dial for regularly performed tasks, Launch Center Pro can be a huge time-saver. You can create shortcuts for things like adding a new Tumblr post or sending your last photo to Twitter, and these shortcuts can be arranged in groups. An essential purchase if you heavily use even a handful of the supported apps. Transmit for iOS
The app that defines iOS 8, Transmit for iOS is also a missing link for anyone who wanted a file manager for their iPhone. It might have roots in an OS X FTP client, but Transmit for iOS also integrates with cloud storage and local networked Macs. It's perfect for moving documents, renaming files, and creating archives to email or upload. Unread
There are RSS readers that are more efficient, but Unread is the most pleasant to use. The interface begs you to sit back and take in articles from feeds you're subscribed to, and plentiful share options enable you to send content onwards. Note that although this is a free download, it's essentially for a demo; the full-price unlock gets you the regular app. Pocket Casts
Apple's Podcasts app has improved since its initial launch, but still falls short of Pocket Casts. The third-party app cleverly mixes elegance and character, with a friendly, easily browsable interface. Subscriptions can be filtered, and you can stream episodes of shows you've not yet downloaded. Soulver
Soulver eschews trying to recreate a traditional calculator on your iPhone. Instead, it's akin to jotting down calculations on the back of an envelope, but a magic envelope that pulls the numbers from your in-context sentences and gives you a total. Live currency conversion is built in, and you can save calculations and sync them via Dropbox or iCloud. vividHDR
We've never been overly impressed with Apple's HDR, and it pales in comparison to vividHDR. The basic concept is the same: stunning, vibrant photos, capturing amazing details in both highlight and shadow. But vividHDR's combination of speed, presets and 'before and after' comparisons results in better photos - and that's what really matters. ProCamera 8
If you don't feel the iOS Camera app really cuts it, ProCamera 8 should give you what you need: a bunch of extra modes (night; rapid fire; anti-shake; timers) and a dedicated lightbox with a range of editing features and filters. You can even buy vividHDR (see elsewhere in this list) as an IAP. Google Photos
There are probably hundreds of photo apps around, but Google Photos stands out as it gives you unlimited storage for photos and videos, all for free. That's reason enough to jump on board, especially as it works not just on iOS but on Android and computers too. But with basic editing tools and the ability to make collages and albums this is more than just photo and video storage, it aims to be your first and last stop after taking a picture. To achieve that it will need a few more features, but it's well on its way.
Snapseed
Snapseed is Google's own photo editor that's been designed from the ground up to make tweaking your snaps as easy and fun as possible on a touchscreen device. Although the interface is simple enough to use with just your fingers, there's also a lot of depth to this app as well. You use tools to tweak and enhance your photographs to make them look the best they ever have, as well as playing around with fun filters that can transform the photos you've taken on your smartphone or tablet.
GarageBand
Apple's GarageBand remains an impressive, ambitious app, turning your iPhone into a recording studio. You get synths, loops, drums, guitar amps and a DAW for arranging MIDI data, making it suitable for beginners and pros alike. ToneStack
With its huge range of amps and effects, ToneStack is an excellent choice for guitarists wanting to make some noise by connecting their instrument to their iPhone. An ABY unit enables you to split the signal, for hugely complex set-ups. And if that's not enough, a slew of IAP provides yet more amps, stomp boxes and features, including an eight-track recorder. Editorial
We elsewhere mention Byword as a great iPhone writing tool, but Editorial is *the* app for people who want to have a huge amount of control over creating and processing their output. The writing interface is strong, but what makes Editorial is the means to quickly add custom snippets and integrate workflows for extending the app and saving you time. Procreate Pocket
For illustrators on the go, Procreate Pocket is a must-have. You get a big range of brushes, transform tools, a superb painting engine, and a full-featured layer system. Alas, there's no IAP for magically improving your digital painting skills. Workflow
Workflow is all about automation. You can download sets of actions or compose your own, which can trigger iOS apps and related services. For example, you could create a Home screen icon to call a friend, or build a single-tap icon to get directions to your nearest coffee shop. 1Password
Although iOS includes iCloud Keychain for securely storing/sharing login and payment details, 1Password is a better system. It's cross-platform, supports multiple identities and secure notes, and enables you to edit login details on your iPhone. A pro mode IAP ($6.99/£4.99) adds multiple vaults for teams/families, categories for personal documents, tagging and custom fields. BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer is our favourite TV catch-up app because it cares about the user experience. There are no ads, you can watch live TV, and you can access content broadcast over the past 30 days. Episodes can be downloaded to watch later, and there's AirPlay support for sending shows to your telly by way of an Apple TV. Citymapper
Should you find yourself in one of the supported cities (including Paris, London, New York and Berlin), you'll be grateful to have Citymapper on your iPhone — assuming you don't want to get lost. The app finds where you are and then gets you from A to B, whether you want to walk, grab a taxi, or use public transport (for which live times are provided).
Documents 5
Until Apple sees fit to give us a Files app for iOS, Documents 5 will have to take the strain. It's really a document reader, designed for displaying PDFs, but in having full iCloud Drive access, it can be used to manage local and remote files, and download documents to your iPhone from the web. Dropbox
There are plenty of solutions for transferring content between your computer and iPhone, including Apple's increasingly popular iCloud. Dropbox is still worth using, though. It has great cross-platform clients, integrates with iOS 8's Share sheets, and has direct support in many iOS apps. Check out our essential tips for every Dropbox user. Pushbullet
Boost your productivity with Pushbullet, which lets you view your iPhone's notifications and messages directly on your computer. It means if you get a text message you can read it there and then without having to take your phone out of your pocket or bag. You can also quickly send files from your computer to your phone with only a few clicks, and if you regularly find that you email links to yourself just to open them on your smartphone, then you'll never have to do that again thanks to Pushbullet's link sharing features.
Duolingo
Duolingo is entirely free from IAP, which is extremely generous given the quality of the app and its potential for helping you learn a new language. It's packed full of bite-size quizzes that you can dip into at any time, and that gradually build your vocabulary and grammar in any of the ten supported languages. eBay
Start using the eBay app and you won't go near the site on a PC again. It's fast, efficiently flags new finds based on your activity, and can be used to create new listings. The built-in bar-code scanner can save you loads of time with the last of those. Evernote
The idea behind Evernote is you should never forget anything again. Instead, you upload and tag everything, so the service becomes your digital memory. For free, you can upload 60 MB of data per month. Go premium ($5/£4 per month) and you can upload a gargantuan 4 GB per month, search document text, and store your notebooks offline.
Evernote Scannable
Although Evernote Scannable is quite basic by iPhone scanner standards, it's also efficient and reliable. On launching the app, simply point your camera at a document that contrasts the surface behind it and the app will capture it. The JPEG can be sent to Evernote or shared via another service, and multiple scans are compiled to PDF.
Uber
Uber is transforming the way we travel. You can quickly and easily request a taxi using the app and get picked up within minutes and you can compare rates and get quotes, as well as paying with PayPal or by adding your credit card to a secure Uber account. The Uber service is available in over 50 countries, and it's rapidly growing. Give it a try and you'll never want to hail a taxi the old fashioned way again.
Find My iPhone
Using Find My iPhone, you can always find where your device is, and keep track of any other devices on the same account. It's very useful if you've misplaced your device or think it's been stolen and want to know where it's at. Google Maps
Apple's own Maps app has improved a lot since its botched debut, but Google Maps remains a must-download for any iPhone user. It's far superior than Apple's app for walking directions, has a street-level view, enables you to search local businesses, and for some cities includes public transport information.
Google Translate
The revamped Google Translate is an astonishing app. When online, it'll translate written, photographed or spoken text between a huge range of languages. And for English to French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish (and back), the app will try to live-translate whatever's in front of your iPhone's camera — even when you're offline. Spotify
Spotify has been pretty quick to establish itself as the top music streaming service, and the Spotify Music app brings some great features to your iOS device, turning it in to a pocket jukebox that delivers your favourite tunes no matter where you are. Even better you can now listen to Spotify music for free on iOS, although if you want to download songs for offline listening and without any ads, then a Spotify Premium account is worth investing in.
Groove
When you've a sizeable music collection, you can get stuck in a rut and always end up listening to the same thing. Groove tracks your listening habits and cross-references the data with last.fm. The result is a constantly evolving selection of automated personalised playlists, which might change your iPhone music-listening habits forever. Novation Launchpad
For beginners keen on making music, Launchpad is perfect. You choose a genre and then trigger loops with a tap. Effects are only a further swipe and tap away. If you really get into the app, there's IAP for further loops and the means to import your own audio. RunKeeper
Now as synonymous with mobile exercise as Nike+, RunKeeper is an excellent app, backed by a robust social infrastructure. Using your iPhone's GPS, you can track exercise routes and then share activities with friends. IAP subscriptions are available for 'elite' users, and are ad-free and offer real-time sharing. Strava
If you're serious about running or cycling then you should be serious about Strava. As smartphone fitness tools go it's one of the best, allowing you to track your performance, set goals and see daily progress updates. There are leaderboards and challenges to give it a competitive edge and if you're ever not sure where to run or cycle you can find user created routes on the app, or share your own. All of that comes free of charge, while a premium version adds even more tools.
Skype
FaceTime is a great alternative to standard voice calls, but it only works with Apple kit. Skype remains the best widely-used alternative for people you know distinctly lacking in Apple devices. You get free calls to anyone else using Skype, and cheap calls to anywhere in the world. If you're on Pay and Go, this can be handy, and the app enables iPod touch users to call normal phones too.
Instagram is the go-to app for quickly taking photos, adding quirky filters to them and sharing them with the world. Over 300 million people use Instagram and thanks to the social aspects and effortless interface it's easy to see why it's such a hit. You're not limited to sharing your snaps on Instagram either, as you can easily add your photos to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and more with just a few taps.
Timehop
For the most part, social media is fleeting, but Timehop is all about digging up precious memories from the past. You link it to whatever social media services you frequent (and your on-device photos) and it shows you what was happening years ago on today's date.
TodoMovies 3
TodoMovies is a to-do list for movies. Using the clean, efficient interface, you can check out what's on (and, if you like, movies from the past) and fashion a list of films you want to see. Usefully, the app provides the means to rate every movie, and so extended use results in a list of favourites you can delve into at any time. TunnelBear VPN
For free, TunnelBear VPN gives you 500 MB of private browsing that can worm its way around geo-locking. All you do is fire the app up and tell the bear where to tunnel. If you want unlimited data, it's yours for $2.99/£2.29 per month.
It's a pity Twitter has felt the need to hobble third-party clients, given that its own app doesn't appear to need any help these days in fending off the competition. Twitter for iPhone is fast and efficient, boasts useful Connect and Discover views, and expands tweets that contain photos, videos and other media. Vidgets
You can do without most Today view widgets, but Vidgets provides some really useful monitoring tools. The standalone app is where you manage your icon-like 'vigets', which comprise world clocks and indicators for storage and network speeds. That sole $2.99/£2.29 IAP is primarily for showing your support, but you do get an option for saving space by removing widget titles. Yousician Guitar
To some extent, Yousician Guitar is like Guitar Hero, only you use a real guitar that the app is teaching you how to play. You start with basic plucking and strumming before moving on to working your way through full songs, the app scoring you as you go. For free, the app only restricts daily play time. To go unlimited, subscribe for $19.99/£14.99 per month.  |
| Updated: 50 best Android apps 2015 Posted: 17 Jul 2015 03:43 PM PDT -470-75.JPG) Best Android apps - introduction
The Google Play store has exploded in recent years, with a proliferation of apps that can cater to your every need. The problem is: there are just too many of them. Even with Editor's Picks, Featured and Best Selling, Top Paid and Top Free categories there to help you out with your downloading decision it's still a difficult task finding the best apps around. And that's why we made this list. Like you we want the best apps for our Android phones. The apps that are going to revolutionise functionality or, at the very least, offer something so great that it becomes one of the must-have apps that has to be downloaded whenever you get a new handset. The following apps will be constantly updated and are a mixture of paid and free ones and have been chosen by our Android experts. So, even if you do dip into actual cash for one of these apps, you are safe in the knowledge that it is a worthwhile purchase.
Spotify Free (premium version needs a subscription) No, wait. It is free. Sort of. Spotify now comes with a stripped-down playlist/radio combo for users who don't pay for the service but still want to use it on mobile, accompanied by a swish new tablet interface that has much more in common with the free desktop browser player. So yes, it's free. Hobbled a bit, but free. The premium version drops the annoying adverts, ups the audio quality and provides additional features such as offline play, so it's worth splashing out for the subscription if you use the service often. Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards. CloudPlayer
Free (premium version costs £4.99/$4.99) CloudPlayer, as the name suggests, lets you stream music you have stored in the cloud. This of course is something Google Play Music has been successfully doing for years, but with CloudPlayer you can link up your OneDrive, Dropbox and Google Drive accounts and access all of them in one place. It also has both Chromecast and AirPlay support and lets you stream files in lossless quality, on top of which it's got all the basics you'd expect from a music player, like a 10-band equalizer and playlists. Some features are free but others require a one-time payment to upgrade to premium. Pocket Casts
£2.49/$3.99/AU$4.99 There are any number of podcast apps for Android but Pocket Casts is easily one of the best. Its slick, colourful interface helps it stand out from the drab designs of many competitors and it's feature packed, with Chromecast support, auto downloads, sleep timers and more. There are even tools to improve the listening experience of podcasts, such as the ability to remove silent sections to speed them up or toggle video podcasts to audio only. There are cheaper and even free alternatives to Pocket Casts, but you more than get your money's worth with it. VLC for Android |
| This PS4 game is the biggest gaming Kickstarter ever Posted: 17 Jul 2015 03:04 PM PDT  Shenmue 3 is less than three hours away from becoming video game's biggest financial success on Kickstarter. In just 30 days, the game has managed to raise a little over $5.6 million or roughly £3.3 million. Shenmue 3, a sequel to the open-world Sega Dreamcast epic Shenmue 2 which came out 14 years ago, made its debut at Sony's E3 2015 press briefing to a roaring audience and one man in the audience literally crying tears of joy, and became the fastest growing video game Kickstarter by raising $1 million in its first two hours. Before the latest entry in the Shenmue series broke the record, the title was held by the spiritual successor to Konami's Castlevania series, Bloodstain, which raised $5.4 million. Shenmue director Yu Suzuki released a short video thanking backers of the project and urging for one final push to help reach the some of the higher stretch goals - the highest of which at $11 million is an expansion to Bailu Village, one of Shenmue 3's in-game locations.
Shenmue 3 is expected to release on the PS4 and PC by December 2017.  |
| Updated: CES 2016: what to look for at next year's biggest tech show Posted: 17 Jul 2015 02:49 PM PDT  CES 2016: we want more mobile and wearablesNow that we are in the second half of the year, it's time we starting talking about the next year's biggest tech event: CES 2016. It's just over five months away now, and the casino-laden town of Las Vegas will once again play the role of welcoming host. The show begins January 6 and goes until January 9, and while it typically takes a long while before we see products announced at CES make it onto store shelves, it's never too soon to start sniffing out the goods when it comes to trends and the next hot piece of tech. So here's what we think we'll see at CES early next year. We'll keep this article constantly updated to make sure you're up-to-date on the latest phones, tablets, TVs, wearables, and of course, virtual reality news leading up to the most massive show of 2016. Mo' mobileCES 2015 saw the release of the LG G Flex 2 , which made huge waves during the show. That's partly due to the fact that LG was the only large company to release a new flagship device at CES. Of course, we haven't heard much from the LG camp about an LG G Flex 3, but it is possible that other phone makers may jump in to grab the bragging rights for the best mobile phone to come outta Vegas. Still, don't get your hopes up too high: it isn't typical for companies to show new phones at CES since most wait for Mobile World Congress, held in February. Any handset we do see at CES 2016 will be releasing out to a world that has the iPhone 6S and a potential new Nexus 5 in it, so competition will be stiff.
CES 2015 also saw a dearth of memorable tablets. Dell had its Venue 8 7000 on hand, but the slate didn't make a huge splash. That didn't stop us from loving the heck out of the surprisingly thin-bezeled beauty, despite its steep price. The Lenovo's Yoga Tablet 2 with AnyPen was another tab from the show, but mostly notable for its gimmicky fork-on-screen demo. As with CES 2015, we do expect more tablet gimmicks during the 2016 edition, but we'd like to see some with impressive features, too. Of course, by the time CES 2016 rolls around, we'll be in a post-iPad Air 3 world, so we hope to see some slates that can stack up against Apple's offering. Samsung usually has some new Galaxy tabs for us, though any slates it shows will likely be simply improved additions to the current line up (to better compete with Apple) rather than new tablets altogether. And with Windows 10 releasing July 29, don't be surprised if a few new tablets and even some phones emerge from CES 2016 carrying Microsoft's new OS. Those are devices we'd definitely like to see. Winning wearablesJust like virtual reality, wearables have certainly taken off. We've witness the Apple Watch bring high-end smartwatches to the masses, and sensor-packed fitness trackers like the Microsoft Band arrive. While a few years ago smartphones had almost made watches unnecessary, now it seems like smartwatches and fitness trackers will become even more commonplace, and in fact, take on much of the role of smartphones. So it should come as no surprise that during CES, there's a whole huge area at the Venetian now dedicated to wearables and fashion-oriented tech. So what could next year possibly bring?
A lot more wearables, of course, and they'll all be better...we hope. The Pebble Steel was revealed at CES, and then the Pebble Time shortly afterwards. With the Pebble Time already out though, we probably won't see another watch from the company. But now that the Apple Watch is out along with sharp offerings for Android Wear, smartwatch makers are facing tougher competition and will need to pull something really strong out of the bag to compete with wrist-worn devices already on the market. Samsung could potentially pull out the big guns at CES, surprising everyone with a new entry, like the Orbis. The rumored smartwatch could potentially have a camera, object, image and barcode recognition, health monitoring smarts, the ability to act as a key for your car and a remote for your TV, as well as a round face with a rotating bezel used to navigate the interface.
And we should also consider LG, which sneakily showed off its Watch Urbane before CES 2015 officially began, so it's possible we could see more smartwatches make ninja appearances. Expect a lot of fitness trackers as well at CES 2016 as we do know that companies, including FitBit, will be exhibiting in January. Fitness trackers will need to take on smartwatches, which include a lot of fitness-tracking features. But as smartwatches aren't known for their accuracy when it comes to fitness-tracking, we would like to see increased accuracy as a focus on both standalone fitness trackers and smartwatches. CES 2016: we want more VR, TVs and laptopsReality checkVirtual and augmented reality are inching ever closer to the mainstream side of things. VR and AR took this year's San Diego Comic-Con by storm, so we can only assume that this emerging tech will have a very large and very strong presence at CES, toting a whole variety of uses. HTC, which recently announced its own set of wireless controllers for the HTC Vive, is set to be on store shelves by the end of the year, so it's unlikely we'll see it in Vegas in any new capacity.
Sony's Project Morpheus, along with its Move controllers, could make an appearance in Vegas, as could Oculus Rift as it gears up to release its consumer head mounted display and Oculus Touch controllers early next year. Meanwhile, Microsoft HoloLens has made waves in the AR scene, while Mattel and a few others are taking Google Cardboard's tech for a spin with hybrid VR/AR options. Then there are all the peripherals that all these VR and AR (and hybrid) devices bring. Third-party developers have already taken the peripherals to create more interactive experiences, and it'd be fitting for them to show their faces at CES 2016.
Samsung should have more to show off in terms of the updated Gear VR as well. Revealed at MWC alongside the Galaxy S6, the newer version of the mobile VR headset uses the latest S6 as opposed to the Galaxy Note 4. Still deemed an Innovator's Edition, the Gear VR 2 could be ready by January, considering Oculus CTO John Carmack stated the newest model would release when Samsung unveils its next round of flagship products. Perfect timing, right? Of course, with all these VR hardware options, we expect there to be more in the way of 360-degree video capture, with GoPro likely to lead the way. GoPro has been working to create its own 360-degree rigs, while third-parties will likely have more of their own options, too. As one of the fastest growing spaces in tech, it feels only right that VR and AR would have a healthy presence at CES 2016. We want to see how the already-announced headsets continue to grow in usefulness and power, as well as what new devices lesser-known names are cooking up. CES hearts TVsTVs are a given when it comes to CES. Just about all the big names try to outdo one another with the latest and greatest in television innovation.
Previous years made a big fuss over curved and folding displays, and the perennial favorite 4K. 2015 was all about Quantum Dots, like the LG UF9400, and weird acronyms à la Samsung's JS9500 SUHD 4K TV. It won't surprise us to see more bendy sets in 2016, and probably at a lower price. We'll likely also see sets pushing 8K and HDR tech, with SUHD tech as well, even though 4K television content has only just started to become more available, with companies like Netflix starting to shoot its shows in native 4K. Either way, model names will probably be very long, very confusing and full of acronyms at CES 2016. While we can expect some next-level hardware innovations, perhaps CES 2016 is the time for TV services and streaming boxes to shine. We've already seen a plethora of streaming services and set-tops at CES 2015 and throughout the year - Sling TV, Amazon Fire TV, Razer Forge TV, Nvidia Shield, Showtime, and HBO Now, just to name a few. The popularity of Google's Chromecast has brought a deluge of new streaming sticks, too.
Sony has also stepped into streaming with its own in-house service, PlayStation Vue, which just arrived on the PS3 and PS4. The Xbox One also now has Sling TV, and we're hearing news of Verizon and even Apple working on video streaming options of their own. Could the next CES see even more from the players not already in the game? If they don't show up later this year, then 2016 is where we'll see 'em. Light as a feather laptopsLaptops also tend to show up to CES in droves. 2015 saw the debut of a beautiful entry from Dell - an updated Dell XPS 13. It seems like the company is headed in a bright direction by moving towards nearly bezel-less screens and excellent design all around, which is something we're expecting to see again on the show floor. We're also pretty excited to see the what the company has coming next, something you don't normally hear about Dell these days.
Lenovo's LaVie Z was also a hit earlier this year because it weighed practically nothing, and claimed to be the "world's lightest laptop." We were impressed, but not completely because of its meager battery life and price. Still, at 1.72 lbs, it's lighter than the new MacBook, which comes in a 2 lbs. Speaking of the new Apple laptop, the buzz over one USB-C port is sure to reset the market in some way. With sleeker designs and only one port, Cupertino may get shown up at CES 2016. Or maybe not. Whatever the case, thin is in more than ever and it will be a race to win against the other lightweights. The most influential tech released in the lead-up CES 2016 is Windows 10, so it's a given we'll see a number of laptops launch at the show with Microsoft's latest OS. Windows 10 features a bigger and better Start menu, a new browser and better multitasking. However, it's the inclusion of Cortana and how laptops utilize the personal assistant in new and interesting ways that we think will be one of the most important things to come out of CES 2016.  |
| Cortana for Android leaks on phones you might actually own Posted: 17 Jul 2015 02:11 PM PDT  Microsoft's intelligent personal assistant made the jump to Google's robot-themed Android platform a little early, with an unfinished version of the app leaking today, as of this writing. The Cortana app for Android, first spotted by Finnish site Suomimobiili, is said to be very much a beta, with unfinished components as part of the APK file. The core functionality is still here, though. It delivers news, checks the weather, displays sports scores and looks up nearby restaurants with users' verbal commands. Cortana also allows the hands-free completion of actions like setting alarms and answering questions via Bing, though the "Hey, Cortana" prompt isn't a part of this build, says The Verge. Here's where to download it if you dareGoogle Now may have its biggest hands-free virtual assistant challenger on its hands thanks to this new app. It's sometimes smarter than Siri is going multiplatform. Cortana is also appearing on Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, iOS 9 and Xbox One in the coming months. The app is already a part of Windows Phone 8.1 and Microsoft Band. You can download the unofficial APK file to your Android and side-load the app before it's officially released, but it may prove buggy in its unfinished state.  |
| EXPLAINED: How to watch Netflix in UHD Posted: 17 Jul 2015 02:10 PM PDT  Let's be up-front about it: there's not a lot of 4K content out there. And until the major cable providers figure out a way to broadcast ultra-rich, ultra high-definition content directly through your cable box, it's probably going to stay that way. But hey, all hope is not lost. It turns out your favorite binge-watching service actually provides a good amount of super sharp content without you needing to lift a (or at least too many) finger(s). Before we hook you up with the sweet, sweet 3,840 x 2,160 video you've been dreaming of, let's make sure you have the right components to make it happen.
What you need First off, and this should probably go without saying, you're going to need a TV or monitor capable of 4K resolution. Make sure it's HDCP 2.2-compliant (click the link for a great guide on how to check whether your TV has it), and connect it to your PC or streaming media player via an HDMI or DisplayPort cable.
Next up, you'll need to up your Netflix plan from the base-level, one screen in SD streaming plan to the highest-tier, four screens at Ultra HD plan. A few words of warning: Jumping up to the highest tier is going to cost you about and additional $4 (or £2). But trust me, it's worth it. (You can check which plan you currently have by going to Netflix.com/ChangePlans.) We're almost done. In order to get a flawless stream, however, you're going to need a solid connection to the internet. Netflix recommends 25Mbps, though going a little lower than this probably can't hurt. You can check how fast your connection is currently by going to sites like Speedtest.net. The results should be cross-checked against your monthly cable bill to make sure you're getting what you're paying for. Last but not least, check the options menu on Netflix to make sure playback is set on "high." It works! Now, what can I watch? It's no secret that Netflix has great original programming: Daredevil, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Marco Polo – the list goes on. What you might not have known is that all of these incredible shows are available in, you guessed it, Ultra HD. Instead of going through and listing every possible series, Netflix has a handy-dandy indicator found below every series that lets you know whether it's available to stream in 4K.
But Ultra HD content isn't just limited to TV shows. You can find a handful of UHD movies on the service as well, like World War Z, Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Avengers, Skyfall, Philadelphia, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Smurfs 2, Jerry Maguire and Ghostbusters. There aren't a lot of options, I'll admit, but this is just the beginning. What about Amazon Prime Instant Video? Does that offer 4K streaming? You bet your pixels it does. Amazon Prime TV shows and movies available in 4K will have a small blue sash in the top left corner of the box art that says "Ultra HD." You'll know you're getting a 4K stream when you see "Ultra HD" in the browser window. (Again, don't forget to connect your devices via an HDCP-compliant HDMI cable.) If you don't know where to get started, check out shows like Transparent, Alpha House, Mozart in the Jungle and Orphan Black, three of which are available only on Amazon Prime. That's it! That's all you need to know about getting 4K video on Netflix.
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| We may have an ad-free Hulu option very soon Posted: 17 Jul 2015 01:52 PM PDT  It looks like Hulu will finally give users something they've been asking for a while now - a new ad-free subscription tier - bringing it further in line with ad-free competitors Netflix and Amazon Prime. So far, Hulu's video-streaming service has been ad-support for its free tier and $7.99 per month for the version called Hulu Plus - something that has been annoying for many subscribers. But now, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Hulu is currently preparing for a paid, ad-free subscription tier for launch as early as fall this year. No more adsThe new tier, which according to the report is being called NOAH, or No Ads Hulu, internally, will be priced between $12 and $14 per month, essentially doubling the current Hulu Plus subscription cost. This goes up against Netflix's video subscription, which currently costs $9 per month, while Amazon Prime costs $99 for the year, though this also includes free 2-day shipping and other content offerings. The new tier, along with the new exclusive deal which gives it Seinfield and The Walking Dead spinoff, could see an increase in subscribers for Hulu. It should be noted that when - or rather, if - Hulu does end up releasing the ad-free tier, it probably won't be called NOAH, but we won't know more details until Hulu makes an official announcement. Would you sign up for an ad-free Hulu?
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| The Tesla Model S just hit Ludicrous Speed with 762 horsepower Posted: 17 Jul 2015 12:45 PM PDT  In case you wanted more speed with a family sedan, Tesla just announced an even faster version of its Model S electric car with an optional "Ludicrous Speed Upgrade." The Tesla Model S P85D is already an insanely fast sports sedan with 691 horsepower and now the electric car company has found a way to bump it all the way up to 762 horsepower HP. SEVEN HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO HORSEPOWER! That's a noticeably bit more horses than the 720 HP that comes inside a Lamborghini Aventador, which is an honest to God hyper car. YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygE01sOhzz0Faster than fallingWith the extra power on tap, the new Model S will go from 0-60 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds, about 10% faster than the old time of 3.1 seconds. To put that in perspective, the Koenigsegg Agera R, a bona fide race car, gets to 60 mph off the block in 3.2 seconds. In a product call, Elon Musk described the acceleration as "faster than falling." In reality users will definitely feel the acceleration when they experience roughly 1.1 G of force as they're mashed into the back of their seats. Of course this mind boggling speed also comes at a price, and shifting into Ludicrous Speed will add a $10,000 (about £6,405, AU$13,553) premium to $87,500 (about £56,047, AU$118,593) price tag for the highest end Model S sedan. For those not buying a new model, current owners will be able to upgrade their vehicle for $5,000 (about £3,202, AU$6,776) in the next six month. Tesla also introduced a new 90kWh battery pack for $3,000 (about £1,921, AU$4,066), meanwhile, the price for the 70 kWh rear-wheel drive Model S has been cut to $70,000 (about £44,837, AU$94,874).  |
| In depth: 4K TV and Ultra HD: Everything you need to know Posted: 17 Jul 2015 12:40 PM PDT  4KUpdate: Don't get scammed by 4K-compatible HDMI cables! Check out the "What kind of cables will I need" section below for more information. 4K: Everyone wants it and no one knows why. It's the hottest techy buzzword of 2015, and it's a technology that's rewriting the rulebook when it comes to image quality. It affects not just the world of 4K TV and cinema, but also cameras and image capture, smartphones and tablets, computer monitors and PC games - practically anything that displays images or records video. 4K TV sets are now available from most of the major TV manufacturers - i.e. Sony's impossibly slim Android TV, LG's OLED or Samsung's SUHD series of TVs - but they're merely the tip of a very cool technology iceberg. So what, we hear you ask, is 4K really all about? YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiOEgz2eG_cWhat is 4K?The headline fact is simple and dramatic: 4K Ultra HD TVs (also known as UHD TVs) deliver four times as much detail as 1080p Full HD, that's eight million pixels compared to two million pixels. What that means in terms of potential image clarity is more fine detail, greater texture and an almost photographic emulsion of smoothness. But this is just for starters. Prior to a roll-out of TV services, broadcasters are working out what else they can upgrade under the 4K banner. In the UK, a working group chaired by the BBC and BSkyB are mulling over every possible tweak, from higher frame rates to greater contrast and a wider colour spectrum. Some of the biggest names in the video industry including Samsung, LG and Sony have split-off to form another group called the UHD Alliance, which will work to set standards for the new format. But talk to the engineers steering this 4K broadcast bandwagon and they'll tell you everything spec-wise is up for grabs. If this indicates to you that the 4K standard is anything but set in stone, you'd be correct. Ultra HD is going to be a work in progress for years to come, but that doesn't mean you should wait for the dust to settle before improving your image.
Difference between Ultra HD and 4KTechnically, "Ultra High Definition" is actually a derivation of the 4K digital cinema standard. However while your local multiplex shows images in native 4096 x 2160 4K resolution, the new Ultra HD consumer format has a slightly lower resolution of 3840 X 2160. This is one reason why some brands prefer not to use the 4K label at all, sticking with Ultra HD or UHD instead. However, the numerical shorthand looks likely to stick. As a broad brush label it's so much snappier! Why should I care about 4K Ultra HD?There are many reasons why 4K should make you rethink your next TV purchase (actually, there are eleven and you can read about them here), not all of them immediately obvious. Photographers who routinely view their work on an HD TV are seeing but a fraction of the detail inherent in their pictures when they view them at 2160p. A 4K display reveals so much more nuance and detail – the difference can be astonishing. While 3D has proved to be a faddish diversion, 4K comes without caveats. Its higher resolution images are simply better. The higher pixel density of a 4K panel also enable you get much closer without the grid-like structure of the image itself becoming visible –this means you can comfortably watch a much larger screen from the same seating position as your current Full HD panel. Currently all available 4K Ultra HD TVs are in excess of 50-inches. Projectors While 4K UHD TVs are on the fast track, the same can't be said for video projectors. Only Sony offers 4K models, the high-end quasi pro VPL-VW1100ES and the home cinema friendly VPL-VW500ES. Currently there's no consumer 4K solution for LCD, D-ILA or DLP projectors, although that's likely to change in 2015, when Texas Instruments is expected to begin shipping its first 4K DLP chipset for home hardware. How expensive is an Ultra HD TV?The first wave of 4K TVs were large, really large. Both Sony and LG launched with 84-inch panels, the KD-84X9005 and 84LM960V respectively. Consequently, they were saddled with price tags in excess of £20,000/$30,000. Not to be outdone, Samsung weighed in with the 85-inch S9 at £35,000/$55,000, clearly aimed at footballers and oligarchs! However, prices have fallen dramatically as screen sizes have shrunk and brands have predictably embarked on a tit for tat price war. You'll now find 4K TVs for less than $1000, though we'd encourage you to be careful when choosing one - a 4K resolution won't necessarily give you a better picture if the processing electronics behind the panel are bad. Generally speaking, a market-leading 65-inch 4K TV like the Sony KD-65X9005B will set you back a little over $3,500/£3,000... and they're getting cheaper. So how small will 4K Ultra HD screens get?In the short term, screen sizes are likely to stabilise at 55-inches and upwards. That's because as the screen size shrinks the advantage of having such a pixel dense display starts to diminish. There's also an irrefutable relationship between screen resolution and viewing distances. While seating will vary from home to home, generally speaking a large 4K TV will provide an upgrade for a smaller 1080p screen. However, the 4K resolution will ultimately be about more than just definition. High frame rate UHD broadcasting could have an even greater impact than resolution when services begin – and the benefits of HFR are not restricted to larger screen sizes. When this second generation 4K UHD breaks cover, expect high-frame rate 4K TVs to drop further down the size scale. How far should I sit from a 4K TV for the best picture?4K Ultra HD is a much more intimate viewing experience than Full HD. In many respects, the best way to view 4K is analogous to the way we view films in a cinema. Old style cinemas were shoe-box shaped and most patrons sat typically 3-5 screen heights away, because that was the most comfortable viewing distance. Contemporary cinemas are wider, and now the optimum viewing distance is 1.5 screen heights back. From this vantage point you can take in all the visual information that's available and comfortably fill your field of vision. Translated to the home, that makes the most comfortable distance to view a 65-inch 4K screen approx. 1.5m. Of course, in many homes that simply isn't practical. Consequently, a large 4K screen is probably best viewed at a distance of between 2-3m; time to rearrange your furniture?
Is 4K OLED on its way?OLED - organic light emitting diodes - have been around for some time, but producing big screens using this technology has proven to be prohibitively expensive, something which has blighted the chances of OLED televisions becoming mainstream. Which is a real shame, because OLED technology can be stunning - with vibrant colors, deep blacks and bright whites. And obviously some companies agree because the likes of LG are labouring away to bring OLED to 4K televisions. "I believe the price and yield rate will be higher immediately and the price will be down," Mr K I Kwon, president of LG Electronics UK, told TechRadar recently. So, although LG's next 4K OLED television will remain too expensive for mass market, we shouldn't rule out OLED as a big player in the next generation of our televisions just yet. 4K TV channelsThere are currently no 4K TV channels being broadcast. But in July 2014 the DVB Steering Board approved the DVB-UHDTV Phase 1 specification, allowing for over-the-air transmission of 3840x2160 resolution pictures at 60Hz and promising much improved colour depth with 10 bits per pixel rather than 8. The standard is expected to be ratified by the ETSI shortly, which is likely to open the floodgates for broadcasters to start launching Ultra HD TV channels. The main problem with this new standard is that current TVs and set-top boxes will be incompatible, so you'll need to buy new gear to make use of it. You can read more on this in our news story. What 4K content is available for me to watch?As of April 2014, Netflix became the first big name to deliver 4K content to the home. When you open the Netflix app on a 4K TV, 4K content will stream automatically where it's available. From the start, that's just House of Cards Season 2, but don't worry - there's LOTS more 4K content ready to be piped into your home. YouTube offers a nascent 4K channel, but you'll require a powerful PC with a 4K capable graphics card, of which there are few that make economic sense. But the lack of native 4K isn't quite the big deal you might at first imagine. The truth is today's Ultra HD screens do such a remarkable job with 1080p content that you almost certainly won't feel shortchanged. Rather than just linearly scale, big brand sets utilize all manner of database interpolation to upscale images, and the results are spectacular. To take advantage of this, Sony has released a selection of Mastered in 4K branded Blu-rays. These are in fact standard 1080p Blu-ray discs, albeit ones based on the best available transfers which take full advantage of available disc capacity. They have also been mastered with a wider colour range than standard Blu-ray platters. A 2160p upgrade on the Blu-ray standard is inevitable, of course, which will allow for true Ultra High Definition movies to be sold on disc. Sony meanwhile has rolled out a download service in the USA for owners of Sony 4K TVs – however there's no sign of that arriving in Europe just yet. What kind of cables will I need for 4K?The two standard cables you're most likely to use are either a standard HDMI or if you're connecting a PC to a Ultra HD monitor, DisplayPort. HDMI cables now come in two flavors: 1.4 and 2.0. HDMI 1.4 cables are the super inexpensive kind found at the dollar bin of your local electronics retailer. They're cheap and can output a 3820x2160-resolution at 30 frames per second. HDMI 2.0 is the latest spec and can output video at Ultra HD resolution at 60 frames per second. (But more on that below!) The other type of cable you can use is DisplayPort. DisplayPort carries 4K image and audio signal from most high-end graphics cards to monitors without any noticeable artifacts or delays. How important is HDMI 2.0 to 4K Ultra HD?HDMI 2.0 is the latest iteration of the HDMI specification. While the existing HDMI 1.4 standard can deliver 4K video, it's limited to 30 frames per second (or 30Hz). While this is fine for most movies, broadcasters are looking for higher frame rates for TV. HDMI 2.0 increases bandwidth up to 18Gbps and supports 4K Ultra HD at 50/60 fps, with 12-bit 4:2:2 colour (you don't need any special cables for HDMI 2.0 interconnectivity, any current high-speed cable will work). However, only Panasonic currently offers an HDMI 2.0 compatible 4K TV, in the shape of the TX-L65WT600. So where does that leave the remaining first generation 4K sets? Well both Philips and Samsung, whose 4K panels are coupled to separate connection boxes, say they'll simply introduce new tuners which owners can upgrade to. Sony and others are looking to implement a firmware fix; by shedding colour sub pixels they reckon they'll be able to fit high frame-rate 4K down a HDMI 1.4 pipe, most likely with 8 bit 4:2:0 colour. How visible this kludge will be remains to be seen. For what it's worth, we've seen JVC's 4K e-Shift3 projectors running 4K at the same colour resolution, and they look spectacular so the omens are good. I've heard Netflix is going to start streaming in something called HDR. What is that?HDR, UHD, OLED ... there's no shortage of acronyms in home entertainment. HDR, or high dynamic range, is a concept borrowed from digital imaging which combines three images - one with normal lighting, one with underexposure and one with overexposure - to give more contrast to an image or video. Netflix will be the first content provider to release HDR video in 2015. You won't necessarily need a UHD screen to get it, but to really see a difference in picture quality you'll want to step up to the higher resolution. Quantum Dot sounds like theoretical physicsIt does indeed. But unlike some problems in theoretical physics, the solution is already here. Quantum Dot displays (QD for short) are simply LED panels with a thin film of nano-crystals in between the backlight and the display. Manufacturers like LG and Sony claim that this increases color depth by around 30% without adding extra pixels or implementing a wacky algorithm to digitally manipulate the display. We went hands on with a few QD panels at CES 2015, including the LG UF9400 Quantum Dot 4K UHD TV and Samsung SUHD Curved TV, which uses a variation of Quantum Dot. We liked what we saw, mostly, and especially on the Samsung SUHD. The LG had some issues with oversaturation ... but that may be fixed by the time the TV comes to market in Q2 2015. Hang on, what about 8K?If 4K offers four times the resolution of Full HD, then 8K will deliver 16 times the definition. 8K screens comprise a staggering 33 million pixels. This is an order of magnitude beyond any display technology currently available, and only one broadcaster, Japanese state owned NHK, has publically said it intends to commercialise the technology. Also known as Super Hi-Vision, a number of 8K trials have been conducted, including acquisition at the London 2012 Olympics. NHK has since pledged to shoot and transmit the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the format. Of course, bringing 8K to market is a formidable technical challenge. As with 4K, HEVC, is currently favoured as the best compression technology for the job. However, because the benefits of 8K image definition only really become apparent on screens 84-inches and larger, the format is not seen as a commercially viable platform by most broadcasters and TV manufacturers. If you're waiting to jump from Full HD to 8K, you could be kicking your heels for quite some time. So should I buy a 4K set now or should I wait?It depends. If you want the absolute best TV you can get right now and don't mind paying a premium for it, it's a 4K set. If you're buying from one of the top tier manufacturers, you're going to get a good product that's reasonably future-proofed. As we said before, the sets look great. However, don't expect to be watching most of your video content in 4K for another two to three years. And make sure any set you buy has HDMI 2.0 ports (the first wave of 4K TVs used the previous HDMI 1.4 standard). On the other hand, if you're price sensitive or want to wait until the content side of the equation is a bit more solved, it absolutely makes sense to wait. You're not missing out on much at the moment. There are incredible values to be found in generously-sized 1080p sets right now. And 4K sets are only going to get cheaper.  |
| Updated: Now you can fly over Pluto's towering mountains and icy plains Posted: 17 Jul 2015 11:51 AM PDT  Update: NASA also released an animated Pluto flyover video stitched together from the closest-approach images taken by New Horizons. The video below takes you over Norgay Montes (Norgay Mountains, informally named after Tenzing Norgay) and Sputnik Planum (Sputnik Plain, informally named after Earth's first artificial satellite). After your trip, keep reading for more on today's Pluto announcements. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydU-YrG_INkNASA released a fresh batch of Pluto pictures and provided an update on the scientific findings of the New Horizons spacecraft of the distant planet. Today's pictures detail "the heart of Pluto," the heart-shaped region recently named Tombaugh Regio after American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto in 1930. New Horizons discovered this region is rich in carbon monoxide, the peak of which is on the western side of the heart (illustrated in this article's lead image). The new surface images are 400 meter/pixel shots that present an incredible landscape. While some areas of Pluto are "peppered with impact craters" and therefore ancient in age, others, like Tombaugh Reggio, are young, meaning there are active geological events. There's even evidence of tectonics, the most obvious of which is mountains.
The image above shows an area 250 miles across, and the peaks you see tower over the local terrain as high as the Rocky Mountains in the US. In "the heart of Pluto's heart" are icy plains, which lack craters but sport other geological features like hills. It's possible the area, north of the planet's mountains, is still undergoing geological transformations and looks to be no older than 100 million years. The region represented below has informally been named Sputnik Planum, or Sputnik Plain.
"This terrain is not easy to explain," Jeff Moore, leader of the New Horizons Geology, Geophysics and Imaging Team (GGI) at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., said in a NASA post. "The discovery of vast, craterless, very young plains on Pluto exceeds all pre-flyby expectations." For a better sense of where the plains are located, check out the short video below: YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6wK_RHwwY0More findingsThanks to New Horizons, NASA ascertained Pluto's atmosphere is nitrogen based. However, since the planet's gravity is so week, scientists say the atmosphere is escaping into space. Fran Bagenal, New Horizons co-investigator, University of Colorado, Boulder, said that about 500 tons of material per hour is escaping from the planet. Over the lifetime of Pluto, Bagenal said this amounts to between 1,000-9,000 feet of nitrogen ice being blown from Pluto, a phenomenon that has geological implications. This escaped nitrogen, combined with solar winds from the sun, also creates an ionized tail behind Pluto, visualized in the graphic below.
The information released today just begins to scratch the surface of what New Horizons has gathered. According to Alan Stern, New Horizons principal investigator at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Boulder, Colorado, the spacecraft has 50GB of on-board data, about 1GB of which has made it on the ground. It's Pluto timeThe new images and data come at the end of a Pluto-tastic week. Tuesday saw our first high-res look at the celestial body, while Wednesday we got an up-close peak at the planet's icy terrain. Scientists discovered frozen mountains in its heart-shaped region, and the surface in the particular pic was surprisingly youthful (less than 10 million years old). Pluto may have been the star, so to speak, of the week, but its largest moon, Charon, also came into focus, while we got our very first look at Pluto's farthest planet, Hydra. On Thursday, NASA released another image of Charon, this time with an insert that shows part of its surface in greater detail. The image holds what NASA called a "captivating feature," a depression with a peak in the middle, visible in the upper left hand corner of the insert.
The New Horizons spacecraft is now more than 2 million miles from Pluto, and it's performing according to plan. Jim Green, director of Planetary Science at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said that by next week, we'll have 5-6% of the information gathered by New Horizons back on planet Earth.  |
| Hitchbot embarks on its great American road trip Posted: 17 Jul 2015 11:37 AM PDT  Starting today, you might see Hitchbot the robot standing on the side of a freeway in hopes to get a ride across the US. Hitchbot is from Ontario, Canada, created as a collaboration between Dr David Smith of McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, and Dr Frauke Zeller of Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada. "We believe that through this artwork, we can learn a lot in terms of social robotics and how we approach robots in non-restricted, non-observed environments," Dr Zeller and Dr Smith said of Hitchbot in a statement. The robot has already made its way across Canada and Germany, and has even vacationed in the Netherlands. The Canada trip took 26 days and covered 6,000 miles. "Usually, we are concerned whether we can trust robots…but this project takes it the other way around and asks: can robots trust human beings?" Dr Zeller said. "Hitchbot was very well received as it made its way across Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands – proving that robots can indeed trust humans." Who is Hitchbot?On its website, Hitchbot explains itself as: "Simply put, I am a free-spirited robot who wants to explore the world and meet new friends along the way. I am an avid Instagrammer and tweeter." "On my downtime, I can appreciate a good game of trivia and would never pass up any opportunities to bake desserts." Hitchbot stands at about 3 feet tall and 25 pounds. He sports a camera, a microphone and a speaker system, as well as 3G and GPS capabilities. If you end up picking up Hitchbot, you can either pass it over to others you meet, leave it at a shop or gas station, or you can leave it by the side of the road by setting up its kickstand and raising its thumb. For its great American road trip, it even has a bucket list, including "Vegas!", Disney World, seeing the lights of Times Square in New York, taking selfies with the Lincoln Statue in Washington DC and the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles as well as doing the wave at a sporting event. It's journey will begin today from Salem, Massachusetts, with hopes to see all the sights on its bucket list before finishing up at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, California.
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| Who solves Silicon Valley's biggest tech issues? A witch Posted: 17 Jul 2015 11:20 AM PDT  Only in the San Francisco Bay Area is calling upon supernatural forces to troubleshoot your technology considered normal. Reverend Joey Talley, a Wiccan witch who lives just outside of Silicon Valley, stays plenty busy answering to the calls of the tech world's brightest to rid their computers and smartphones of "evil spirits." Talley will welcome any challenge for $200 per hour of service, like fixing an office alarm that just won't turn off due to being possessed by demons. SF Weekly talked with Talley who recounted helping a startup company in the Bay Area with just that issue. "I got the spirit out," said Talley. I love a happy ending. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHiZ0GEpCx8Most calls for Talley's assistance are simple requests for her help to prevent an impending hack or virus. Talley breaks down her process for SF Weekly, saying "so I'll make charms for them. I like to use flora." But what if the device is already compromised or if stuff in the office just isn't acting right? She uses "Jet", a stone that can apparently alter energy waves. If all else fails, Talley can cast a spell over an entire office to protect against pesky spirits. That can't be cheap. If your phone or computer is acting on the fritz in the Bay Area, don't be so quick to rationalize that all electronics will eventually break at some point. It could just be possessed. Via Business Insider  |
| Updated: Best laptops 2015: which notebook should you buy? Posted: 17 Jul 2015 11:20 AM PDT  Best laptops: all your buying questions answeredLaptops are on the rise again with Windows 10's encroaching arrival and a host of other factors including: Ultrabooks taking off in popularity. 2-in-1 laptop-tablet hybrids are seeing ever increasing releases. Cheap laptops, like may have stolen the show from Budget laptops are retaking ground from cheap Chromebooks with machines like the HP Pavilion x2. Meanwhile, performance gaming notebooks are on the rise and quickly becoming perfectly good replacements for your desktop computers. With so many options to chose from picking the best laptop for your needs is getting harder. That's why it's important to start off by deciding what it is you're going to be doing with it. Those after a fast boot up time and a lightweight machine to carry might drool over an Ultrabook. Serious gamers will gravitate towards machines tailored to their graphical and processing needs, while those after flexibility might fancy a convertible laptop-tablet hybrid. It might seem overwhelming at first – what with all of the choices – but we're here to help you find the best laptop for you. Believe us when we say that there is a perfect laptop out there for you. With this guide, you'll find not only that, but which is the absolute best. What does TechRadar recommend?We're so glad you asked! Below you'll find what we think are the absolute best laptops in a number of categories, always up-to-date.
Best Ultrabook: Dell XPS 13 (2015)Possibly the best laptop on the planet, Dell's latest is a masterpiece CPU: Intel Core i5-5200 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5500 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 13.3-inch 3,200 x 1,800 UltraSharp QHD+ touchdisplay | Storage: 256GB SSD | Connectivity: 802.11 AC and Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 720p | Weight: 2.8 pounds | Dimensions: 11.98 x 7.88 x 0.6 inches Gorgeous display Super lightweight No Ethernet port Off-center webcam The Dell XPS 13 (2015) isn't just an astonishingly thin and light laptop, it's a revolution in design. Fitting a 13.3-inch screen into a 11-inch laptop frame is no small feat, but Dell has pulled off a miracle creating a nearly borderless infinity display. This is also one powerful and long lasting machine, all while coming in at a very affordable starting price. It easily takes the top slot as the best Ultrabook. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 (2015)
Best Chromebook: Google Chromebook Pixel 2015The end all, be all of Chromebooks CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-5200U | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5500 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 12.85-inch 2,560 x 1,700 IPS touchscreen display | Storage: 32GB SSD | Connectivity: Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260; Bluetooth 4.0 LE | Camera: 720p | Weight: 3.3 pounds | Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches Long, long battery life Legacy ports with USB-C Prohibitively expensive 3:2 screen hurts multitasking As far as performance and screen resolution, nothing comes even close to rivaling Google's latest Chromebook Pixel. Packing a 2,560 x 1,700 IPS touchscreen, Intel Core i5-5200U CPU and even a USB type-C connector, the Pixel is on the bleeding edge. It's no surprise how Google labels it as a developer device for programmers building the future of Chrome OS. It has more than a few quirks including a square body and 3:2 screen but if you're looking for the very best Chromebook this is it. Read the full review: Google Chromebook Pixel 2015
Best gaming laptop: Origin EON15-XA desktop-grade CPU in an unbeatable gaming laptop CPU: 4GHz Intel Core i7-4790K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M (8GB GDDR5 RAM), Intel HD Graphics 4600 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 LED Backlit Matte Display | Storage: 240GB SSD; 1TB HDD | Connectivity: Intel PRO Wireless AC 7265 + Bluetooth Wireless LAN Combo | Camera: 2MP | Weight: 7.5 pounds | Dimensions: 15.2 x 10.31 x 1.40 inches Great value Desktop-grade performance Razor thin viewing angles In the last few years, gaming laptops have amazing headway in catching up with their desktop gaming counterparts. And so it seems the most logical conclusion of this evolution was to start bolting on desktop parts to a gaming laptop. Enter the Origin EON15-X, an unbelievably powerful 15.6-inch laptop rocking out a full-size desktop processor and the highest-end mobile GPU available. You might think this combo would produce a boat of a laptop but the EON15-X manages to fit everything into a small shell. Read the full review: Origin EON15-X
Best 2-in-1 laptop: Microsoft Surface Pro 3The best laptop-killing tablet CPU: 1.9GHz Intel Core i5-4300U | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 12-inch, 2160 x 1440 multi-touch | Storage: 256GB | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: Two 5MP webcams | Weight: 1.76 pounds | Dimensions: 7.93 x 11.5 x 0.36 inches Sharp display Perfect as laptop and tablet Mediocre battery life Runs hot at times The Surface Pro 3 is not only Microsoft's most striking and versatile device to date, but the most convincing poster child for the 2-in-1 hybrid category yet. Through years of refinement, Microsoft's newest tablet-hybrid has seen some significant upgrades including a bigger, higher-res display. Even the smallest little things like the hinge and type cover have been reengineered to make the Surface Pro 3 a much more stable and usable device. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Best student laptop: Asus Zenbook UX305A most affordable and excellent Ultrabook CPU: 800MHz Intel Core M 5Y10 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5300 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 13.3-inch FHD 1,920 x 1,080 (matte) | Storage: 256GB SSD | Connectivity: 802.11n Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 1.2MP | Weight: 2.6 pounds | Dimensions: 12.8 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches Solid performance Incredibly thin and light Wonky video driver Tinny speakers The Asus ZenBook UX305 might look like a MacBook Air from every angle but it's a better machine in almost every way. It's thinner, lighter and even more attractive in some ways with its purple tinged aluminum body. Plus this machine also has a higher-res full HD display with a fanless Intel Core M CPU and 256GB of SSD storage by default. The most amazing thing is you can get all of this for just $699 or £649 (about AU$902), which makes this one of the best deals for a laptop for students around. Read the full review: Asus Zenbook UX305
Best mobile workstation: Lenovo ThinkPad W550sThis workstation impresses with its long battery life and hi-res screen CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-5600U | Graphics: Nvidia Quadro K2100M, Intel HD Graphics 4600 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.5-inch, 2,880 x 1,620 (3K), multi-touch display | Storage: 512GB SSD | Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0; 802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi | Camera: value | Weight: 4.92 lbs | Dimensions: 15 x 10.2 x 0.88 inches Long battery life Strong performance Thick, boxy body Bulky extended battery The Lenovo ThinkPad W550s is pretty much everything you want a mobile workstation to be with understated aesthetics and a durable design on the outside. At the same time, it offers business users plenty of screen resolution, long battery life and strong, reliable performance. Starting at $1,196 (£1,229. AU$1546), the W550s is on the expensive side but it's well worth the premium as the best mobile workstations. Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad W550s
Best business laptop: 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina (2015)The fastest small MacBook Pro yet is a force of nature CPU: 2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel Iris Graphics 6100 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 13.3-inch IPS, 2,560 x 1,600 pixels | Storage: 128GB SSD | Connectivity: 801.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: FaceTime HD | Weight: 3.48 pounds | Dimensions: 12.35 x 8.62 x 0.71-inches Faster processor Superb battery life Force Touch underdeveloped Unchanged design The 2014 13-inch MacBook Pro was arguably Apple's best laptop ever, and the 2015 model somehow even faster and delivers longer battery life. Aside from an internal refresh, the 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro has also inherited the newly introduced MacBook's Force Touch trackpad. Apple might not spring up as the leading name for most business applications, but getting Mac is pretty enticing when you stack up the number for freebies including office programs and software upgrades. Check out the rest of our picks for the best business laptops. Read the full review: 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina (2015)
Best Windows tablet: Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000A powerful, small tablet that wants to play in the big leagues Weight: 1.6 pounds | Dimensions: 11.01 x 6.95 x .42 inches | OS: Windows 8.1 | Screen size: 10.8-inch | Resolution: 1,920 X 1,080 | CPU: Intel Core M-5Y71 vPro | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB SSD | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 2MP Performance Compact design Cramped screen Ergonomics Starting at $700 (£437 and AU$800), the Venue Pro 7000 offers a nice balance of performance and portability in the perfect balance you'd look for in the best Windows tablet. The Venue 11 Pro is a versatile Windows slate with enterprise features and it can be readily convert to a laptop or desktop with the right accessory add-ons. As a standalone tablet it's also a joy to use with its 10-inch, 1080p display plus the onboard Intel Core M processor to keep things light, thin and above all, fanless. Read the full review: Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000 Laptops on our radar for 2015You've checked out the best laptops out there and now you're hungry for more. Don't worry: so are we, which is why we want to give you a glimpse of some of the hottest devices set to launch soon. Whether you're thinking about picking up a new 2-in-1 to test Windows 10's Continuum feature or intend to replace your ageing gaming laptop in a few months' time, we're keeping an eye on tomorrow's technology so that you can start saving those pennies today. Surface Pro 4
Despite the long lead time between releases, recent rumors have suggested Microsoft's next tablet won't diverge as extremely as the series' last iteration. In fact the general manager behind the Surface line has even said Surface Pro 3's accessories will work with their next device, which means the two devices will likely share a very similar design. The latest report from DigiTimes suggests we might see the next Surface tablet this October, if rumors of an influx of SSD purchases by Microsoft are to be believed. Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
HP Pavilion x360
The HP Pavilion x360 is looking like a sweet deal for users who want an affordable machine that can be more than just a laptop. It's not the prettiest or lightest convertible around, but HP has worked hard to make an appealing budget system. The HP Pavilion x360 is a solid system both in person and on paper, but I'll have to really put it through its paces before I can give the final verdict on this affordable 2-in-1 laptop. Lenovo Yoga 4 Pro
HP Pavilion x2
What else should you consider?Like any other major purchase, in buying a laptop you're battling for your bottom dollar. This is a decision that you're making for the next few years, at least. So, if buying a laptop is like going to battle, arm yourself with our guide to the grittier details of picking out a shiny new notebook. Break down the types of laptops for meBack in the day, there were simply laptops for leisure and those for labor. Today, there are several options for both sides of the fence, some of which jumping back and forth over it. Let's start with the basics: Ultrabooks These laptops are essentially devices that must meet certain standards of thinness, lightness, power and size established by processor-maker Intel in an effort to help Windows-loyal notebook vendors compete with Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air a few years ago. The result has been some seriously premium machines that have lately been enough to rival Apple's best. Think of laptops under an inch thin with long battery life and crisp screens, like the Dell XPS 13 (2015) or Asus Zenbook UX305. Workstations Designed almost solely for work, hence the name, these usually beefy laptops have one thing in mind: productivity. Vendors generally equip these units with professional-grade GPUs, like the Nvidia Quadro series or AMD FirePro line. Other characteristics of workstations include a wider variety of ports and easier access to internals than most consumer-grade notebooks. Not to mention more legacy inputs, like trackpoint cursors, and hardware-level security options, like fingerprint scanners. Examples include the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon and HP ZBook 14. Chromebooks These laptops run on an all-new operating system created by Google and called Chrome OS. As the name implies, Chromebooks rely almost solely on Google's homebrewed browser, Chrome. This means that everything from creating word documents to listening to music to printing and beyond is handled with the Chrome browser. The result is a system that can run with super low-end hardware, which lends Chromebooks to best serve the budget market and education sector. Of course, Chromebooks are best in areas with wireless Internet access, but Google has vastly boosted their offline functionality over the years. Check out the Dell Chromebook 11 and Toshiba Chromebook for a better idea. 2-in-1 laptops (or hybrid laptops) If you find yourself jumping back and forth between your laptop and tablet, then perhaps the hybrid was made for you. Enabled by Microsoft's dual-purpose Windows 8, these devices either come as tablets than become more like laptops with accessories, or as laptops that can detach from their keyboards and become tablets in a pinch. Of course, the idea is to provide one device that successfully serve both use cases, rather than have homes and businesses overwhelmed with gadgets for every scenario. The category has fought an uphill battle toward mainstream acceptance, but by far the most shining example of its potential is Microsoft's own Surface Pro 3. Gaming laptops You'll always know a gaming notebook when you see one: hulking size, pulsating lights, garish paint jobs and whirring fans. But with thin-and-light (and stylish) products like the Razer Blade or MSI GS60 Ghost Pro, even that paradigm is starting to shift. Generally speaking, gaming laptops are equipped with the latest mobile GPUs from Nvidia and AMD in order to play the latest games close to how well they run on their more sedentary counterparts. (In some cases, they're enough to outright replace the desktop.) Look at the Origin EON15-X and Alienware 17 for more perspective. General use laptops Notebooks of this sort are tough to categorize. They still adhere to the standards established decades ago of what a laptop is, only vastly refined. Given how the market has siloed itself into several distinct categories at this point, this variety of laptops is generally considered "budget" or "mid-range". Ranging in screen sizes from 11 to 17 inches, there usually aren't many stand-out characteristics with these mostly-plastic clamshells. These laptops are easy to peg as jacks of all trades: readily able to handle all of your daily tasks, but suffer in more extreme or specifically demanding scenarios. Go big or go, well, smallAcross all categories, laptops generally range in size between 11 and 17 inches, with a few outliers in both directions. Your decision on what size laptop to purchase should consider these two factors: screen real estate and weight. Firstly, your laptop's screen size directly dictates how much content it can display and the size of it, of course. However, also keep in mind that, as you increase screen size, its resolution should also rise. You should accept nothing lower than 1366 x 768 for laptops between 10 and 13 inches, and nothing lower than 1920 x 1080 for those 17 to 18 inches. Second: be prepared for each 2-inch bump up in screen size from 11 inches, expect an increase in weight of about a pound, more or less. Of course, there are exceptions, like recent thin-and-light designs that tend to buck this trend. You might want the biggest, sharpest laptop screen around, but are you willing to cart that around in your backpack? What features should you look for?Like most consumer technology, laptops often come chock-full of features that you may or may not need. The features listed below are ones that you shouldn't do without in your next laptop. USB 3.0: The latest standard in USB data transfer technology. Be sure that the notebook you buy has at the very least one of these for speedier file transfers between your laptop and, say, a USB 3.0 flash drive. 802.11ac Wi-Fi: For what seems like the longest time, 802.11n was the fastest wireless Internet available. But in the past year, even quicker 802.11ac routers have cropped up, with laptop makers just now catching up. If you plan on streaming or downloading a lot of files and content to your laptop, you should strongly consider this as a selling point. SD card reader: With the inevitable smartphone camera takeover of the point-and-shoot industry, many notebook vendors are quick to send these media slots to the chopping block. But whether you're a photography enthusiast or just still fond of your compact shooter, the lack of an SD card reader might be a deal breaker. Touchscreen: While the merits of a touchscreen on an otherwise normal laptop are questionable, no one knows whether that will be the case in a few year's time. Though, it could also be an expensive. In short, sort your personal priorities before plunging on a touch panel. Questions to ask before buyingBefore you run off and buy the coolest-looking laptop, ask yourself these basic questions. They should help point you toward the notebook that's right for you. What will you primarily use the laptop for? If it's just the standard web browsing, occasional video streaming, and video calling mom back home, then you might want to consider going the mainstream or budget route. Big into gaming? Then there's your answer. If you travel quite a bit and need something as thin and light as possible, then consider an Ultrabook. Your primary function with the laptop will almost always send you in the right direction. How much do looks matter to you? Laptops come in all shapes, makes, models and sizes – not to mention coats of paint … or plastic … or metal. If you're the type that scoffs at fellow coffee shop-goers for their ugly computing devices of choice, then you'll probably want one encased in aluminum, or at least a quality soft-touch plastic. But beware, being pretty comes with a price. How much are you willing or able to spend? This is the ultimate barometer for the laptop you're about to buy, and never should you spend outside of your means. Your disposable income will dictate which laptop category you should spend your shopping time within, and ultimately save you time. *Bonus tip: Be sure to check both online and brick-and-mortar retailers for the best possible deal on a given laptop. Good luck! Originally contributed by Dan Grabham and Joe Osborne  |
| Keitai: How to refund an app on Android Posted: 17 Jul 2015 10:23 AM PDT  The awards are comingWe're getting really excited about the TechRadar Phone Awards as they're now less than a week away. We'll see the best phones, tablets, smartwatches, apps and innovations battle it out for the chance to be crowned the best of 2015 - and on top of that we're running Phone Week too, with loads of great content coming in the next 7 days (including a clue on what the new iPhone 7 will look like). Don't think all this excitement means we're taking our eye off the ball, and we're here to deliver the tenth edition of Keitai. This week talk you through getting an app refund on Android, get the exciting penultimate episode of our unicorn adventure and grannies show us why mobile phones are an old person's game. How to refund an app on Google PlayEver suffered from buyer's remorse after splashing some cash on a fancy new app or game? Well fear not, for you can get your money back - for a limited time. Google allows you to request a refund of any paid for application (including games) in the Play Store within two hours of purchase. That's quite a decent time window, but there will still be some apps where that's not enough time to fully test out whether it's right for you. It's the risk you take.
To get your refund head to the app's page in the Play Store and next to the 'Open' button at the top you'll see a green on white 'Refund' button. If you miss the two hour window you'll instead see an 'Uninstall' button, and your chance of a hassle free refund will have passed. All hope is not lost however, and if there is something inherently wrong with the app you purchased you can contact the developer directly to request a refund. Scroll down to the bottom of the app's page in Google Play and you'll see an option to email the developer, where you'll need to send a detailed explanation as to what's wrong to have the best chance of getting a refund. The one before the finale"Can someone turn the spotlight up? I can't see anyone here!" The light illuminating the centre of the table grew wider, faintly showing the 12 animals sitting around the edge. "Thanks, that's better", said the dolphin, spraying himself with a misting machine. "I call this meeting to order," said the panther. "This could be the most important of our history, so let's not waste time. Winston has left the ship, he found the final BlackBerry supply and Decimatrix is after him." A collective gasp rang around the table. "You… you mean he knows we took Winston? He's left his office? He's not done that in centuries!" gibbered a baboon. The panther paused. "Yes, I know. It's bad." "How was Winston allowed to escape? Were we not guarding him?" asked a rhino haughtily. "Yes, but he couldn't know what was happening. If he knew he was the key to the future of the Phorest, he wouldn't have been able to handle the pressure…" began the panther, before the rhino interrupted. "THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Look, I don't know what your plan is, but it's clear you're not the right fit. All this talk of prophecy and destiny and the 'future of the Phorest' is poppycock. You told me that this unicorn was important, and I indulged you, but clearly that was a waste of time. "Now we have an evil Impossible on the move, and it's all your fault. I move that you be dismissed from Les Animaux forthwith, and you be ejected from…" The rhino suddenly found himself sprawled on the floor, chair sent flying, with the panther pressing a paw to his neck. "Listen, you jumped up, overweight, leather-arsed, pompous fool – this is bigger than you can possibly know," breathed the panther, his hot breath spreading all over the rhino's face. "I can't help the thick hide…" started the rhino, before the panther shoved his face even closer. "You don't know the first thing about what's going on here, you fool. Winston cannot know of his importance, otherwise he could fall apart. "We're lucky we managed to get to him in time. His robotic reconstruction nearly sucked his soul out, and his dalliance with the council and their foolish belief that Nokia phones hold the key to all existence could have derailed all of our plans." The panther loosened his paw long enough for the rhino to scramble away, breathing heavily. "Look, you need to trust me," said the panther, addressed the assorted animals around the table. "Decimatrix has never left his lair before, and if he's finally become mobile, it must mean he knows how important Winston is. "Yes, we should have locked the final BlackBerry store – he was never supposed to see that we had the final stock of BlackBerry phones left in the world. The fact he has the Storm in his possession is bad, but not unmanageable." A small meerkat poked his hand up. "Why does it matter what phone he has?" she asked in a tiny voice. "It is the phone that Decimatrix is connected to. He and Winston are the only two beings that lust after the touchscreen clickiness it offers – and if Winston has hold of one, we're in real trouble. "We were already worried when we had to use the first Storm to help him live during the operation," lamented the panther, hanging his head. "But the power was masked by the other phones we used, and we believed that Decimatrix would not have been able to feel the power. "But if he activates the other one, then we're doomed." The group looked at him in stunned silence. "We always knew this day would come," said the meerkat. "It doesn't matter…" began the rhino. "SHUT IT!" screamed the meerkat, startling the room. "This is no time for egos. The unicorn must be found, we need to stop Decimatrix… I will not let my meerkits grow up in a world of terrible phones. "I'm glad you're on board," said the panther. "Winston can harness the power for good, so we must find him, and soon, before Decimatrix gets to him first." ----------- Winston landed hard, the fog turning out to be not very thick at all. In fact, the ship seemed to be hovering only 10 feet above, which seemed pointless. He gathered himself together and trotted forward, trying to work out where he was. The air, thick and acrid, offered him no clue, and he could only follow the strange compulsion he had to keep heading forward. Decimatrix suddenly felt him. The unicorn was on the move… he could sense his very presence. He was close. The end would be coming soon. I want more power!YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGfeHD1cQu0Having your phone run out of juice when you're out is certainly frustrating, but while the inconvenience will have you cursing the manufacturer you're unlikely to be quite as upset as this particular lady in Hong Kong. Simply put, she's not best pleased that her iPhone has run out of juice. Scary press shot of the week
A 7-inch smartphone is no laughing matter, so just what is tickling the fancy of this intrepid trio? It's certainly not the gargantuan Samsung Galaxy W, that's for sure. Actually they're controlling the world's traffic jams, and laughing manically as they watch you miss your flight, are forced to pee in a bottle and lose your temper with the guy who just cut you up for the fifth time. They're monsters, all three of them. Monsters with massive, stupid smartphones. Retro video of the weekYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SghnXfd_XrwThe mobile phone is most people with those in their teens and early twenties, so the decision by Boost Mobile to fill an ad with those way past retirement age does seem a little odd. Thankfully their advancing years has prevented them from putting on a sick beat and taking it back to the hood with their homies - "yo Ethel, hit me on my beeper yeah." Safe. Proper stuff from the site
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| Windows Hello will kill the Windows log-in password on these PCs Posted: 17 Jul 2015 10:14 AM PDT  Microsoft is introducing a new way for consumers to log into their PCs and authenticate themselves within Windows 10. With Windows Hello, users can log in with a PIN, fingerprint, iris recognition or a face scan. Microsoft's face-scanning feature is more secure than the face scan systems found on Android smartphones today, as it requires a new camera module that is less likely to be fooled by hackers. Unfortunately, what this means is that if you want to use face recognition to log into your favorite workstation, Ultrabook, notebook or tablet, you'll need a PC with Intel's RealSense 3D camera. If your existing machine doesn't come with Intel's camera, like my review unit of the HP EliteBook Folio 1020 G1 (non-Limited Edition variety), then you can buy an external camera ($99, £63, AU$134) to do the job. The good news is that some Windows 8.1 systems on the market today already ship with a RealSense 3D camera. Hello, face!Once you upgrade to Windows 10 starting July 29, the RealSense 3D cameras on these systems will become activated to work with Windows Hello. Here are the systems that come with Intel's camera module:
Additionally, there are a few Japan-only models that are Hello-compatible. If you reside in the Land of the Rising Sun, you can expect to use Windows Hello out of the box with these systems:
Both the LaVie Note and LaVie Hybrid Advance systems are available rebranded under the Lenovo name outside of Japan as the Lenovo LaVie Z and Lenovo LaVie Z 360, respectively. Intel's website doesn't indicate that the Lenovo variants come with the RealSense 3D cameras. Windows HelloWindows Hello is part of Microsoft's efforts to make consumer computing more accessible and secure. Business users will still have access to enterprise features, such as TPM, Smart Card and fingerprint scanning. In addition to Windows Hello, Windows 10 will also come with Windows Passport. Passport is part of Microsoft's single sign-on so you don't have to reauthenticate with trusted apps or websites. The goal with Passport and Hello is to bring security features to consumers while at the same reducing friction in adoption. For example, today consumers may choose to bypass using a traditional password for Windows login because it takes time and is too much of a hassle. A scan of a fingerprint, iris or face is less time consuming and requires little extra effort from the user. Both Microsoft and Intel promise that new systems with RealSense 3D will ship this year.
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| Mac Tips: How to delete locked files on Mac Posted: 17 Jul 2015 10:00 AM PDT  Got an Apple, Mac or iOS tech question? We have the answer. This time we have a reader who wants to know how to get rid of files that he's tossed into his Mac's Trash but can't be deleted because they have "protected" status. We'll show you how to get rid of such files with a few simple steps. QuestionI have a 21-inch iMac and have recently moved some of the files from my backup disc to the trash, but they won't delete. I'm getting a message saying that they are protected. Is their any way to get rid of them? AnswerLocked files in OS X are a way to ensure that important files cannot easily be moved to the Trash and removed from the system. Fortunately, there's an easy way to remedy this.
Follow these steps to disable file locking: 1. Right-click the file and choose "Get Info." (Or click the file and press Command + I.) 2. Uncheck the "Locked" checkbox. 3. Close the Get Info Panel. You can also skip the warning that appears when emptying the Trash and remove the locked files at the same time by using the keyboard shortcut of Shift-Option while emptying the Trash (this works in OS X 10.1 and later). Got an Apple tech question? Email ask@maclife.com.  |
| PC shipments tank in Europe, Middle East and Asia Posted: 17 Jul 2015 09:12 AM PDT  Although some data suggests a stagnant global PC market, research from analyst firm IDC indicates an ongoing decline of dramatic proportions. PC shipments in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) declined 21.6% during the second quarter of 2015, compared with the same quarter last year. This is just 17.2 million units, comprising both laptops and desktops. Neither type of device was immune to the shipment decline. Laptop shipments slipped to 18.5%, while desktop shipments declined 26.4%. HP, Lenovo and Dell were the market leaders in EMEA, with 3.9, 3.3 and 2 million shipments, respectively, although all three manufacturers saw double-digit declines in shipment percentage points. The overall marketDespite these pessimistic figures, IDC doesn't expect the global PC market to contract as dramatically in 2015 as it has during only the second quarter. Worldwide PC shipments are expected to decrease only 4.9% in 2015, with total 2015 volume expected to eclipse 293.1 million PCs. By 2019, IDC expects the market to further contract to 291.4 million units. Smaller and lighterOne manufacturer's loss is another manufacturer's gain. As the PC market contracts, IDC expects tablet and smartphone shipments to continue to increase. In 2014, shipments of smartphones and tablets increased 27.7% and 4.5%, respectively. The tablet shipments total includes 2-in-1 devices, which should trigger at least some encouragement for the top PC manufacturers, all of which produce stellar hybrid laptop-tablets.  |
| Explained: How to create a timelapse video Posted: 17 Jul 2015 08:40 AM PDT  Introduction
All videos are simply still images viewed in sequence one after another, usually at 25 frames per second. With a timelapse, we simply prolong the capture time by taking a photo every few seconds. When stitched together into a video sequence, the stills play back at that high frame rate, creating a clip that shows the passing of several minutes or even hours in a few seconds. It's a magical effect that works particularly well on landscapes with moving clouds, but you can use it for other subjects too – to show a city lighting up as day turns to night, for example. Capturing the images for your timelapse is easy – all you have to do is mount your camera on a tripod, and set it up to shoot at intervals. Then it's just a case of turning your images into a movie using software. Here's how it's done... Step 1: Use a tripod
A still camera is essential for timelapse shooting. If you have one, use a sturdy tripod. If not, you could place your camera on any solid surface. Be careful not to nudge the camera when the sequence has begun – even slight knocks will be very noticeable in the finished video. If you want to take the process one step further, you could try introducing incremental camera movement during the sequence by using a slow-moving rail, or a pan head like the Muvi X-Lapse. Step 2: Interval shooting
We need to be able to time our shutter to go off at regular intervals in order to create a smooth sequence for our timelapse. There are lots of ways to set up for camera for interval shooting. Many newer DSLRs have an intervalometer feature built in, which you can set up through the camera menu. If not, you can use an external intervalometer like this Hahnel model, or inexpensive smartphone apps like Trigger Trap. Of course there's also the old-fashioned way: just hit the shutter button every few seconds. Step 3: Settings and timings
Working out the interval time can entail a few calculations – in this case we want 25 frames per second of video. If you're struggling to work out an overall video length, shoot more frames than you think you'll need – you can always shorten the sequence later by selecting every other frame for the timelapse. As for exposure settings, use aperture priority mode, and lock the focus so the depth of field stays constant while the shutter speed varies in order to capture a correct exposure. Step 4: Combine your shots
When it comes to piecing your images together, there are lots of software options (you can also buy dedicated software, which among other things can eliminate the flickering effect timelapses often produce). In Photoshop it's very easy. All you have to do is go to File > Open, then highlight the first image in the sequence and check the 'Image Sequence' box at the bottom of the Open dialog. Hit Open and choose a frame rate, such as 25fps. Then simply open the Timeline Panel (Window > Timeline) and hit Play. Step 5: Export a video
Once your sequence has been stitched together you're ready to export it to a movie file. In Photoshop, go to File > Export > Render Video. This brings up a whole load of options for setting the quality, resolution and format of your video. The easiest thing to do is choose from the list of handy presets in the dropdown. These include several presets for Youtube videos, including the Youtube HD preset we've used here.  |
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With the Windows 10 launch looming on the horizon, it seems high time that Microsoft finally announce a new Surface Pro tablet. It's long overdue after all the Surface Pro 3 was first announced back in May 20, 2014. /Hands-on/Toshiba%20Radius%2015%20(2015)-5-220-100.jpg)
Following up on introducing the first convertible Windows 8.1 laptop, Toshiba wants to be first in line with a 4K hybrid ready for Windows 10. Aside from some aspirations to meet a long-winded accolade, the 
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