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• Updated: Buying Guide: Best workstation: the top enterprise desktops
• This is what happens when you Google 'fun facts'
• Hands-on review: IFA 2015: Asus ZenWatch 2
• Mac Tips: Word for Mac 2016: How to use the best new features
• The next Snapdragon will double your device's battery life
• Here's Obama using a selfie stick in Alaska
• Amazon is giving you your first Dash Button for free
• IFA 2015: Lenovo wants 'majority of businesses' worldwide to run Yoga PCs by 2020
• Hands-on review: Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro
• Review: Garmin Forerunner 15
• Updated: iPad Pro could launch alongside iPhone 6s, but may not arrive until November
• Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 tablets aim to keep you entertained
• Windows 10 captures 5% of internet traffic
• New Moto 360 revealed in stylish gold, preorders begin today
• Lenovo ups its Y Series game with new gaming systems
• Hands-on review: Moto 360
• Google reportedly readying new Nexus phones for September 29
• Hands-on review: IFA 2015: Huawei Mate S
• IFA 2015: Asus goes after Apple with an iMac lookalike
• New Apple TV may search like your Roku, start at $149

Updated: Buying Guide: Best workstation: the top enterprise desktops Posted: 02 Sep 2015 08:30 PM PDT Desktop Workstations What comes to mind when we say workstation? If you're thinking some big, spaceship-like contraption, you'd traditionally be right. But these days, workstations are sleek and trendy machines that still provide intelligent performance for most applications. They're useful tools for designers, engineers, financial analysts and researchers running more demanding applications, like rendering complex graphics, financial analysis and computations and digital content creation. There are even a few amazing options that come in laptop form. But, with so many on the market, what merits do the office "power users" look for when deciding upon which workstation is the best investment for an increase in productivity, limited downtime and improved reliability? Update: Intel officially took the wraps off of Skylake at IFA 2015, revealing that users should expect significant processing and graphics improvements over desktops from just five years ago. In fact, Intel claims that its integrated Iris graphics delivers up 80% the performance of today's discrete graphics. If you're looking at upgrading your desktop workstation, now is a good time to explore options. Skylake's integrated graphics can drive up to three external 4K displays at 60 frames per second, according to Intel. Here are a few that we've reviewed that we recommend: 1. Dell Precision T7610 Meet the world's most powerful workstation, so says Dell CPU: Up to two Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 v2 processors | Graphics: AMD FirePro or Nvidia Quadro | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 3TB, 7200RPM | Ports: 9 USB 2.0, 4 USB 3.0, Serial, RJ45, PS2, SATA, headphone, microphone | Connectivity: Optional | Size: 16.95 x 8.50 x 20.67 inches See more Precision T7610 deals Ample expansion Powerful processor Bulky and heavy Limited configuration options The Dell Precision T7610 is a capable mid-range workstation that is expertly designed, sturdy, powerful and reasonably priced for what it offers. Read the full review: Precision T7610 2. Fujitsu Celsius W530 An impressive and compact desktop workstation CPU: 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-4790 | Graphics: AMD FirePro or Nvidia Quadro | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 256GB SATA III SSD | Ports: 9 USB 2.0, 4 USB 3.0, VGA, DisplayPort, DVI, Serial, RJ45, PS2, eSATA, headphone, microphone | Connectivity: Optional | Size: 6.9 x 16.5 x 15.6 inches See more Celsius W530 deals Fast Haswell-based Xeon processor Nvidia Quadro K2200 graphics Single processor socket only No support for DDR4 memory The W530 is a solid performer which is more than capable of hosting basic CAD/CAM applications, and it represents good value for money. Read the full review: Celsius W530 3. Boxx Apexx 2 A high-end performance machine CPU: Quad-core Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Up to two x16 NVIDIA GeForce, NVIDIA Quadro, NVIDIA Tesla AMD FirePro Graphics cards | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 4TB HDD, 7200RPM | Ports: 4 USB 2.0, 6 USB 3.0, VGA, audio, optical, Gigabit | Connectivity: Optional | Size: 6.85 x 14.6 x 16.6 inches See more Apexx 2 deals Powerful CPU is water cooled Pricey 24/7 support for one year The Boxx Apexx 2 workstation is what any serious CAD, multimedia, and video designer needs to have in their workplace to increase performance and productivity. Read the full review: Apexx 2 4. Apple Mac Pro With a unique design and tremendous power, this is the workstation to beat CPU: 3GHz octa-core Intel Xeon E5 | Graphics: Dual AMD FirePro D500 | RAM: 64GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Ports: 4 USB 3.0, 6 Thunderbolt 2.0, dual Gigabit, HDMI 1.4, audio, headphone | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 | Size: 6.6 x 6.6 x 9.9 inches See more Mac Pro deals Lots of expansion ports Incredible performance Few internal expansion possibilities No bundled keyboard or mouse Not everyone needs the workstation-level power and performance offered by the new Mac Pro, but wouldn't you just love one? It's a masterpiece of engineering and suitably expensive. Read the full review: Mac Pro 5. Overclockers RENDA PW-E7F A pro workstation from British component retailer Overclockers CPU: Intel Core i7 5820K / 5930K Six Core or 5960X Eight Core Processor with Hyperthreading | Graphics: 3 x Nvidia Quadro Series Professional or AMD Firepro Series Professional Graphics | RAM: 64GB | Storage: 3TB SSD | Ports: 10 USB 3.0, SATA 3, SATA Express, M.2, PCI-Express | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 | Size: 9.1 x 17.3 x 23.1 inches See more RENDA PW-E7F deals Blazing overclocked CPU AMD FirePro W810 Loud under heavy load Lacks option for Quadro M6000 currently Well-built and powerful, if you run any kind of professional software, from video editing tools to CAD or CAM, the PW-E7F will not disappoint. Read the full review: RENDA PW-E7F Update: If you need to upgrade to a larger solid state drive for your workstation, Samsung's 850 Pro SSD delivers 2TB of capacity to store your most important files, documents, photos and videos. The 2.5-inch SATA drive delivers fast speeds and a long 10-year warranty.

This is what happens when you Google 'fun facts' Posted: 02 Sep 2015 05:31 PM PDT Google is always trying for clever ways to help users through its search engine, having recently added real-time tweets to the desktop and adding a "Buy on Google" button on mobile. This time, say you're bored or need to brush up on your trivia, you can head on over to Google, type in 'fun facts' - and Google will deliver. As shown in the image, Google will show a random fun fact in a window, along with a link and an 'Ask Another Question' button on both mobile and desktop. If you click the 'Ask Another Question' button, your Google question will change to "I'm feeling curious", which will give you a fun fact as well. Now, go forth and be entertained. 50 Google search tips and tricks you need to know about

Hands-on review: IFA 2015: Asus ZenWatch 2 Posted: 02 Sep 2015 04:28 PM PDT Asus's phones and tablet might not be killing it in the style department, but when it comes to the ZenWatch there's reason to sit up and pay attention. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that the ZenWatch 2 is the nicest looking Android Wear watch out there right now - and that's coming from someone who doesn't really like square-faced watched. As is becoming customary across the range of smartwatch offerings, the ZenWatch 2 comes in two sizes: 45mm and 49mm. No, neither is "small", and unless you're a real chunky watch lover the 45mm will be plenty. Also, it's not entirely square as the edges are nicely rounded off, making it damn more sightly than the original LG G Watch, which was so square that I'm sure you could have done some serious damage with those corners. The Apple Watch is probably the most comparable smartwatch in terms of design, then, with the Zenwatch 2 just a smidge thicker. But pick it up and you'll notice that it doesn't feel quite as beautifully crafted in the hand, while the back is actually plastic. However the price is significantly lower at 149 Euros (about £110/$168) for the smaller option and 169 Euros (about £125/$190) for the larger one. Asus has kept much of the watch the same, including the AMOLED screen. One other big change it has made is the physical button on the side, though that's all it is - this isn't like the Apple Watch's digital crown. All you'll be using it for is turning the display on or going back to the watch face if you're in an application. There are also no biometric sensors on the ZenWatch 2 (there is a pedometer) but considering the half-hearted (badoom tish) fitness features on most smartwatches right now, that might not be such a bad thing. If the ZenWatch 2 has a USP, it's customisation. Three case colours - silver, gunmetal, rose gold - 18 strap options, and a truckload of possible combinations. Smartwatch makers have quickly caught onto the fact that wearables need to be more personal than a smartphone. Features The ZenWatch 2 runs Google's Android Wear, but Asus is also loading it with a bunch of ZenWatch-exclusive watchfaces. We scrolled through a few of them, which ranged from the more classic clock look to slightly more zany styles. They won't all be to your taste, but the sheer range puts Apple's meagre offering to shame. Asus's personal touches run deeper than watchfaces, though. The ZenWatch 2 also comes with direct watch-to-watch communication feature called ZenWatch Message, which lets you send emojis and doodles to friend. It also features its own smart assistant app that aims to give you a bit more timely information - but we weren't able to try it in our demo. This seems like a bit of a snub at Google Now, but it might be because the ZenWatch 2 will be one of the first Android Wear watches to be iOS compatible, opening up a massive new part of the market for Asus. And battery life? You'll get around two days on average from the ZenWatch 2, but with low power settings you should be able to eek out a little more. Early verdict All of this, when you consider the price, makes for one of the most enticing smartwatches around right now. The ZenWatch 2 is launching in October, though we don't have a specific date yet. All we can say right now is that Asus has hit a good sweet spot between design and price here, along with a focus on customisation which might help the ZenWatch 2 stand out from the many Android Wear watches currently hitting the market.

Mac Tips: Word for Mac 2016: How to use the best new features Posted: 02 Sep 2015 04:18 PM PDT Mastering the new Word for Mac After an extended public beta period earlier this year, Microsoft finally took the wraps off Office 2016 for Mac - including the latest version of Word - in July, making it available first to Office 365 subscribers, with a standalone version set to arrive later this month. In addition to a more streamlined, Retina Display-ready user interface in line with the company's mobile apps, Office 2016 debuts new OS X-friendly options like full-screen view and multitouch gestures. But that's not all: Word 2016 has a few other tricks up its sleeve, and we're here to walk you through seven features you won't want to overlook in the latest edition of this venerable word processor. Ribbon: Now you see it, now you don't Office 2016 offers a leaner, meaner Ribbon that consolidates all of your favorite features and options into less screen real estate than ever, but let's face it: All that functionality still consumes a lot of space, even on a spacious desktop display. Thankfully, Word 2016 users can temporarily banish the entire Ribbon to... well, we don't exactly know where it goes when you click the small upward arrow in the right-hand corner, but the Ribbon neatly collapses out of sight until you choose to click the now-inverted arrow once more to bring it back. Save documents directly to PDF file This is one of our absolute favorite new features of Office 2016, and one that might be a little less obvious until you go searching for it. With previous versions, saving a Word document required calling up the Print option and using OS X's native Print to PDF service, which never really felt like the way things should work. Now, users can simply select File > Print and choose PDF from the available File Format options to export a lovely portable version of the open document, ready to share with others. Improved document navigation If you're the kind of writer who formats larger documents into sections — and really, who doesn't? — the new Navigation pane will come in ridiculously handy. This feature can be summoned from the View > Sidebar > Navigation menu, which will then display a list of sections to the left of the actual document. Click one, and you'll jump straight to that particular section, no mouse or trackpad scrolling required. But don't close the Navigation pane just yet: Word 2016 will highlight whatever section you're currently working on as the document is being edited, which is quite convenient for jumping around to copy and paste between sections, for example. OneDrive: Baked right in Earlier versions of Word for Mac have never been particularly great about integrating with Microsoft's cloud storage service OneDrive — at least not in the more natural Windows users have been able to do. Word 2016 finally rights this wrong, with the ability to open and save files directly from local storage as well as personal or business OneDrive accounts. Add one or more OneDrive (or SharePoint, for business users) accounts, and they will be instantly available on all of the Office 365 applications on your Mac from the swanky new Open dialog box, which mimics the UI first introduced on Microsoft's iPad edition. Best of all, this works even if you choose not to install the official OneDrive for Mac client. I like your style(s) Word has long offered a quick way to change formatting in a single click by applying various styles that affect typeface, color, and other options, but it's never been particularly easy to create your own or modify existing styles. A click on the Home Ribbon has changed all that: There's quicker access via the Styles Pane, while a click on the "Show style guides" option shows users at a glance which style is currently in use for the open document. The new Style Themes feature under the Design Ribbon is also available to change the document content for a more consistent look and feel. One-click document sharing Whether you want to collaborate with another Office user across town or around the globe, attach a document to an outgoing email, or create a public link anyone can use to access your file, Word 2016 is here to oblige with a better way to share. Simply click on the icon in the upper right corner — the one with the little person next to the plus symbol — and you'll be transported into a trio of options for inviting people, copying a link, or the coveted "Email as Attachment" feature. In all three cases, document permissions will be updated to allow the recipient(s) to edit the file, and naturally you'll need to store it in the cloud in order for them to gain access — but Microsoft makes that as easy as a second click of the mouse. Help improve Word 2016 After years of being viewed as an evil software empire, Microsoft has made great strides to open itself up to criticism and work harder to improve the products being released. This newfound openness extends to the Office 2016 for Mac applications themselves, because users of Word can now click the little smiley-face button in the upper right corner to send the folks in Redmond an encouraging word or complain about something that's driving you nuts. Hey, Microsoft extended the olive branch...now it's your turn to grab it and help make the software even better.

The next Snapdragon will double your device's battery life Posted: 02 Sep 2015 04:15 PM PDT Qualcomm's next-gen Snapdragon 820 chip, which will include the company's latest Kyro CPU, is set to double the speeds and battery life of the current-gen Snapdragon 810. "With Kryo CPU and Snapdragon 820, you can expect up to 2 times the performance and up to 2 times the power efficiency when compared with the Snapdragon 810 processor," Qualcomm said on its website. To achieve this massive performance booth, the company says it has custom designed each core on the Snapdragon 820 system-on-chip (SoC) so that onboard functional cores, like the CPU or GPU, can be combined for different tasks "more effectively as a comprehensive system with other onboard components." The Kyro CPU, which is being manufactured on the latest 14nm FinFET technology, is the company's first custom-designed 64-bit quad-core CPU made specifically for the Snapdragon 820. It has also developed a system manager for the Snapdragon 820 SoC, the Qualcomm Symphony System Manager. "While some processors limit their system management to CPU cores, Symphony is designed to manage the entire system-on-chip in different configurations so that the most efficient and effective combination of processors and specialized cores are chosen to get the job done as quickly as possible, with the least amount of power," Qualcomm said. Unfortunately, Qualcomm hasn't revealed when we can expect to see the next-gen chip in our phones and wearables, though we don't expect to see it until next year. Some rumors have suggested it could turn up in the new Nexus 5

Here's Obama using a selfie stick in Alaska Posted: 02 Sep 2015 02:52 PM PDT US President Barack Obama is currently in Alaska to highlight the impact of climate change, and he packed one must-have millennial travel item: a selfie stick. The @WhiteHouse Twitter account posted a 2-plus-minute video shot by the POTUS using a GoPro mounted on said stick. He speaks to the camera (at almost perfect selfie distance, we might add) and pans to show the landscape and glacier behind him. His message on climate change and what we can do to curb it is completely worth the watch, but you have to admire the Obama's selfie game. This can't be his first one, that's for sure. Also, he hung out with Bear Grylls, who has less stellar selfie skills. How to take double exposure photos

Amazon is giving you your first Dash Button for free Posted: 02 Sep 2015 02:09 PM PDT Amazon really wants you to start using its Dash Buttons, the company's small, wirelessly connected button that allows you to order a specific product from Amazon with a single button press. A new promotion is giving US Prime subscribers their first button for free - or more specifically, Amazon will credit back the cost of a Dash Button ($4.99) after a Prime member purchases a button. Of course, every other button you purchase will still cost $4.99 each and it is still currently only available to Amazon Prime subscribers. Amazon has also added another 11 Dash Button brands, including Orbit Gum, Hefty trash and storage bags, Ziploc and Dixie tableware products. This brings the total number of Dash Button brands up to 29, and according to Amazon, you could connect your button, which can only order one product, to more than 500 products. It'll be interesting to see if this promotion will bring more Dash Buttons into homes across the US, but it looks like Amazon's tech is getting support from more brands at least. Here's everything we know about the new Apple TV

IFA 2015: Lenovo wants 'majority of businesses' worldwide to run Yoga PCs by 2020 Posted: 02 Sep 2015 01:48 PM PDT Dilip Bhatia, Lenovo's VP & GM of its commercial desktop and monitor business unit, dropped a pair of the company's latest business products earlier today in Berlin at the company's IFA event. There was a big thump as the crowd scrambled to find out what happened; he did it on purpose to show how sturdy and tough these new products - the ThinkPad Yoga 260 and the ThinkCentre Tiny – are in real life; even more outrageous was when he stood on the former without any apparent damage. The ThinkPad Yoga 260 is the company's latest convertible notebook, one that is aimed at businesses eager to embrace a versatile product. Outwardly, it looks like a cross between a classic ThinkPad and the Yoga 2 Pro; a laptop Lenovo claims is the world's lightest 12.5-inch business convertible laptop. There are some clear cues like the supersized touchpad, the unique shape of the keyboard keys and the "nipple" button. There are two defining features: 4.5G/LTE-A Wireless WAN connectivity that can transfer data three times faster than LTE and the ThinkPad Pen Pro, Lenovo's stylus, that is charged when it is docked. As expected, the Yoga 260 runs on Intel's latest sixth generation processors and a souped-up version, the Yoga 460, comes with a WQHD display, a notch below 4K. Tiny but powerful As for the other star of the show for Lenovo Business, the ThinkCentre M900/Mini, is the fastest desktop per cubic inch in its class and 96% smaller (and 200,000 times faster) than the original IBM PC compatible. Powered by Intel's latest, its performance is also significantly boosted by using PCIe storage rather than SATA. These two together, with a slew of other business products, will spearhead Lenovo's plan for global domination. Dilip ended his intervention by boldly claiming that Lenovo Yoga PCs will be in most businesses globally by 2020. That's in just over four years. Read our hands on review of the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 460

Hands-on review: Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro Posted: 02 Sep 2015 01:40 PM PDT Introduction and design Lenovo's new Yoga Tab 3 Pro is the premium tablet in the Yoga Tab 3 series, along with an 8-inch and a 10-inch non-Pro version. With a bright sleek design, bright screen, and solid build quality, Lenovo is highlighting the slate's entertainment quality with unique multimedia features, such as a pico projector and Dolby Atmos 3D audio tuning. Priced at $499 (£326, AU$709), the Yoga Tab 3 Pro has some stiff competition. The Yoga Tab 3 Pro will go up against premium consumer tablets like Apple's iPad Air 2, Samsung's Galaxy Tab S2 and even Microsoft's Surface 3, all priced similarly. In the more affordable space, Amazon's Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 has a smaller screen size and a smaller $399 (£260, AU$567) price tag, making it more wallet-friendly. However, none of these offerings can match the multimedia features that Lenovo bundles on the Yoga Tab. Design The Yoga Tab 3 Pro uses the same design language that's found on the Yoga Tablet 2 and the regular, non-Pro version of the Yoga Tab 3. This includes a very slim frame, a barrel on the left edge that houses the speaker, a pop-out kickstand and a pico projector. The barrel design means that the tablet doesn't quite lay flat when you're placing it on a table top. This isn't a big deal in landscape mode, which props the vibrant resolution screen up for a more ergonomic viewing angle, but in portrait the display awkwardly slopes down to the right. In the hands, however, the cylindrical barrel makes it easy to hold the tablet, giving you a nice grip. We're still waiting for Lenovo to provide us with the full specs for weight and measurement for the tablet, but the tablet feels solid, well-constructed and light in my hands-on experience. The pico projector is integrated into the barrel, as is the kickstand located on the back. Before, you had to use force to pry the kickstand open, but now the stand is activated with a simple push button on the rear. Press the button, and the kickstand begins engaging. You can open the kickstand to prop the tablet up on a table, giving it an elevated height, or you can stand the tablet up. Additionally, a small cutout in the kickstand allows users to mount, or hang, the Yoga Tab 3 Pro to wall. I like the idea of hanging the tablet, which could be used to mount the tablet in the kitchen for watching videos, or to a wall next to by desk, so I can free up desktop space. The screen is bright and delivers accurately colors. Unlike the cheaper non-Pro versions of the slate, the 10.1-inch screen has a higher QHD resolution, rather than simple HD. Images and videos look fantastic on the display, and I could not make out any pixels on the screen thanks to the high pixel density. Additionally, compared to the 10-inch non-Pro Yoga Tab 3, the Pro model has smaller bezels, giving the tablet a more compact footprint. While the frame is aluminum, Lenovo opted to use a black, textured material on the back of the tablet. Lenovo describes the material as "leather-like," and I found it to be comfortable. It's a similar design to what Lenovo-owned Motorola Mobility is using on the Moto X smartphones--giving the device a glass front, metal frame and leather back. Even though the Lenovo Tab 3 Pro doesn't have genuine leather, the material feels more premium than the slate-like textured finish on the 10-inch Lenovo Tab 3 edition. Entertainment and productivity Entertainment The Yoga Tab 3 Pro is about entertainment, and Lenovo is highlighting this fact by pre-loading the Netflix app to get you started. It's not a bad idea considering the hardware is tuned for movie lovers. The crisp display showcases movies beautifully, and the 16:9 aspect ratio means there is no letterboxing for videos. While rivals boast about having two stereo speakers on their entertainment-centric tablets, the Yoga Tab 3 Pro accommodates four speakers in the barrel, arranged in a sound bar layout. Combined with Dolby Atmos tuning, Lenovo claims that this delivers a virtual 3D sound experience. I was not able to gauge the audio fidelity or the Atmos experience in a big hotel conference room, but audio sounded loud, even at just 50% volume. If the 10.1-inch screen isn't big enough for you to watch your movies, you can take your big-screen flicks to the big screen, literally. Just activate the pico projector, and you can beam your movies to a 70-inch picture size. Under the ambient lighting of the conference room, a 20- to 30-inch projected image was still watchable, but details look faded and colors appear washed out. We're still waiting on Lenovo's ratings for how bright the projector is, but don't expect as bright an image as you could get on a dedicated home projector. Projected videos have a resolution of 720p, and using the projector has a big impact on battery life. The projector is rotatable on the barrel hinge so you can make some adjustments to it. Additionally, it comes with auto-keystone correction. This means that even if you were to project your images and videos at an angle, your projection won't look skewed and will show up inside a perfectly aligned rectangular frame. Business users can activate the projector to give presentations without having to carry a separate, bulkier external projector. If you're using the projector to give a presentation, be sure to bring a charger or battery pack. Lenovo hasn't provided us with overall battery life for the tablet, but we were informed that watching videos with the projector reduced battery life to about two hours, which is in line with the Android-based ZTE S Pro projector that we had reviewed. Additionally, even though Lenovo supports gesture controls on its 8- and 10-inch Yoga Tab 3 slates, it's unfortunate that gesture controls aren't supported on the projector. It'd be nice to forward to the next chapter in a movie, skip ahead when playing music or pause a video with gesture controls, rather than having to reach for the touchscreen when using the tablet for multimedia consumption. A window for productivity Even though the Yoga Tab 3 Pro may cater to multimedia users, you can still stay productive when mobile with the slate. The tablet comes with Lenovo's Smart Window 2.0 for multitasking, allowing you to run two apps inside windows on top of a background app. This multitasking allows you to juggle tasks simultaneously without having to switch between apps, and it's a useful feature that's implemented on a few rival slates such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab series. For business users who need to mark up documents, jot notes or sign contracts, Lenovo's AnyPen feature could be a useful tool. AnyPen is a screen technology that allows you to use any metal object as a pen. The positive side to this approach is that it doesn't require a dedicated stylus, and you can use any instrument at your disposal, which means you don't have to remember to carry a stylus with you. The downside is that if you choose an extremely pointed sharp or pointed object, you could risk scratching your display. In my demo, Lenovo showed that you can take a screenshot and write on the screenshot with a fork. The approach seems more suited for people who may occasionally need the functionality of a pen. For those who are constantly drawing or writing handwritten notes, a dedicated active stylus may be be more precise and better to use. Early verdict Early verdict Lenovo is justifying a $300 premium, compared to the 10-inch Yoga Tab 3 with the few unique features available on the Yoga Tab 3 Pro. These include an integrated pico projector, high resolution display and quad-speaker experience. Compared to rival tablets, the Yoga Tab 3 Pro also comes with AnyPen technology to make it stand out. Unless you're constantly watching movies or require Lenovo's amplified speakers, there are plenty of Android and Windows options in the tablet space. We'll have to wait for our review unit to see how the Yoga Tab 3 Pro performs and how well these features work. The tablet goes up against stiff competition. Even though Lenovo has good brand recognition in the PC space, in the consumer tablet market it is overshadowed by Apple and Samsung. But if you require all the entertainment features and the AnyPen screen technology, the Yoga Tab 3 Pro is unmatched in the tablet category.

Review: Garmin Forerunner 15 Posted: 02 Sep 2015 12:26 PM PDT Intro, battery life, screen and build The Garmin Forerunner 15 is Garmin's second cheapest running watch, and the cheapest to support heart rate tracking. Shop around and you'll find it for under £100/$100 (or about £20/$20 more with a heart rate strap), which is about half the price of the Garmin Forerunner 225. It's also less than some fitness trackers that do little more than tell you that you've walked for 10,000 steps and then had a sleep. And while it doesn't do sleep tracking, it does have step- and activity-monitoring in its, admittedly limited, feature set. With GPS, external HR strap support and the redoubtable powers of the Garmin Connect online platform, the Garmin Forerunner 15 looks a tempting deal, especially if you're on a budget or just starting out as a runner. So how does it shape up? Battery life and screen The Garmin Forerunner 15 is a simple device on the outside, and the screen is a study in cloth-cutting, being an old school, black and white, LCD dot matrix affair. However, it's clear enough, and Garmin has cunningly restricted the amount of info that is shown at any one time, to make the most of the limited screen real estate. There's a hollowness to the screen when tapped that's not very premium, but then the Forerunner 15 isn't sold at a premium price. One very beneficial side effect of the lo-fi screen is that the battery life is an epic five weeks as an activity tracker and watch, and a respectable eight hours of proper run tracking with GPS. The tiny battery indicator visible on the left of the screen at all times is a nice touch, too, though as ever with Garmin, I could have done without the proprietary desktop charging clasp thing. I've seen worse chargers, mind - at least this is a simple system to hook up correctly, with the watch clicking into place positively. Build, design and comfort The build quality is pretty decent on the Garmin Forerunner 15, in spite of its price point, and it's waterproof to 40m. I tested it in the pouring summer rain on several occasions, and along with a few rinses under the tap it's kept ticking along nicely. The strap is a standard buckle clasp, although worth mentioning there are two sizes - one 'mens' and one 'womens'. We landed the 'womens' strap, and it's certainly on the slim side. There's a range of colourways to tempt either sex, but overall it's a workmanlike, sporting design package. The buttons are easily operated on the move, and once you've silenced the hundred and one alerts and tones in the menu, it's a decent experience. How is it as a running watch?/Heart rate tracking Running watch functionality First up, let's compliment Garmin on a fine bit of GPS watch action. This little fella gets a satellite lock in super-quick time, often far faster than 'premium' watches at more than twice the price. Many of those higher-end tools are using smartphone links to download location data too, while the little Garmin is all on it s own. On a complex test route the Garmin Forerunner 15 tracked as accurately, if not slightly better than most, even correctly plotting a canal lock bridge longcut which many trackers miss. This does make a vast difference when heading out of the door, the Garmin chirruping it's readiness within a few yards makes the process seamless. Once a lock has been obtained, hitting the coloured top right button triggers the tracker and you're off. On the move the UI is as intuitive as they come, with a simple few screens delivering the optimum info with minimum fluff. So you get time and distance, then pace and calories, then back to time and date. The order of these and which ones you prefer can be set in the sexily-titled 'data fields' in run options on the watch. Cycling through these screens is very simple, and triggering the light if running under murky skies is similarly easy. Hitting the coloured 'run' button again during a session pauses tracking, and you can choose whether to save or delete the run too. In 'run options' you can set run/walk times, create a virtual pacer, set HR training zones and corresponding alerts, as well as set whether you're keenest on pace/speed/lap pace, etc. Essentially, most training options are addressed in one form or another. With all this on the watch rather than an app - there is NO mobile app, which seems mad, but there it is - setup can feel overly complex, but at least all your options are in one place. Pairing with a footpod ticks off the treadmill or indoor track sessions, and although we were hampered by testing the non-HR version outdoors the backing stats were accurate enough. However, the budget price does show in the stats you get. There's no insight into performance on the device, and without a mobile companion app you have to wait till the next desktop sync for any kind of drill down. Heart rate monitor The Garmin Forerunner 15 is compatible with external heart rate monitors, but only ANT+ ones, so be aware of that. For about an extra £20/$20 you can get it bundled with this HR strap. With a decent chest strap the accuracy is perfectly reasonable, and the Garmin does have several handy HR tricks up its sleeve. For a kickoff you can reset your max HR on the watch itself, which is unusual. You can also set HR training zones on the watch, accompanied by an alarm for exceeding them. It's less intuitive than a Polar, but it'll do the job. It's easier to use Garmin Connect to configure your zones in any manner you wish, then sync them back to the watch. App, step counting and verdict The app You'll need to download Garmin Express software to talk to the Garmin Connect web interface. That's easy. However, the big, bad-news headline about the Forerunner 15 is that it's missing Bluetooth - that's why you need an ANT+ HR strap - so it can't sync direct with a phone or tablet app. That means it not only looks like a digital watch from 20 years ago, it acts like a fitness wearable from about the same era. It ties you to a desktop to sync your sessions. The Garmin Connect app means you can at least view your desktop stats on the move once you've synced, but there's no direct interfacing with the watch. Even so, while this makes it clear that the Forerunner 15 is a budget device, the fact that it hooks into the Garmin Connect ecosystem means it has enough power to belie that. Garmin Connect is bewilderingly granular and somewhat complex, but it's certainly not budget. Garmin's spent years building this temple to the god of fitness data, and they use a version of it to track their pro cycle teams, so you're getting some of the sharpest tools on the planet here. Within Garmin Connect you can sign up to training plans, take part in challenges, follow friends and rivals, mull over your Personal Bests, and drill down into your performance data. The training plans are particularly strong, with an enormous range in abilities being served at a couple of clicks, from couch-to-5k style, through to Olympic triathlon prep and level three marathon plans. It's great value, and if you want more Garmin has a solid array of info here. Step counting and other features Like a running watch that's eaten a Garmin Vivofit 2 for lunch, the Forerunner 15 has an activity tracker to keep you on point. If you've been remiss enough to sit in an office chair for 60 mins or so without making your way towards the internationally-mandated 10,000 steps then a beep and subtle 'Move!' screen alert will get you up and doing. Step data is synced to Garmin Connect, so you can take part in step challenges against other layabouts. On the device you can set step goals, and there's a handy readout of your performance at the bottom of the time screen. Other extras? No, not really. There's no recovery time indicator, no vibrating alerts, no smartphone alerts and no sleep tracking. These are all features that come in handy or at least pique interest on other running watches, but here you're just getting core essentials and nothing more. We liked The Garmin Forerunner 15 is keenly priced. In fact, short of raiding Aldi's bargain bin, it's as cheap as full featured running watches get. Yet despite this, the GPS performance is as good as you get on any running watch, and you get Garmin Connect to analyse your progress towards becoming Mo Farah. Although admittedly it did occasionally seem to think I was doing a triathlon rather than a run. The above-average battery life also counts strongly in the Garmin Forerunner 15's favour. We disliked There's not a lot to complain about, given the price, but a lot of users will feel it's worth paying more to get Bluetooth - and hence access to a smartphone app - and better build. Verdict The Garmin is a decent little watch. It does feel bit fragile, but the Garmin Connect stats are sound, the GPS strong, and once paired with a solid ANT+ chest strap it punches far above its price bracket. For runners who don't require endless techy extras, it's a great option. However, there's a spectre at this particular feast and it's the Polar M400, which is more robust, has Bluetooth and hence a mobile app on iOS and Android. Though, to be fair, n the other Even so, for a beginner or a runner on a budget, the Garmin Forerunner 15 has everything you need, even if you may eventually enviously eyeing fuller-featured running watches.

Updated: iPad Pro could launch alongside iPhone 6s, but may not arrive until November Posted: 02 Sep 2015 12:08 PM PDT Previous rumors indicate that Apple's iOS-based Surface Pro 4 rival could be announced in either September or October. However, we're now hearing that the iPad Pro could make it in time for Apple's media event on September 9, but you might not be able to buy it right away. "The "iPad Pro" (which is actually the planned name of the device) is currently scheduled to hit retail outlets in November, following a pre-order campaign that will launch toward the end of October," 9to5 Mac reported, citing its sources. The publication has been a reliable source for Apple rumors in the past. However, 9to5 Mac is still leaving room open for an October debut if Apple decides to delay its tablets. The publication says that the tablet could ship in early November. Possible reasons for Apple to wait Because the iPad Pro is targeted towards enterprise users, Apple may want to iron out its business partnerships before making an announcement. Apple already has a partnership with IBM to bring more enterprise apps to iOS, and Apple most recently announced a collaboration with Cisco. Unlike the IBM partnership, Apple didn't give any information about its ties with Cisco. "If the iPad Pro is indeed shown off next week, sources indicate that the new iPad mini 4 will also be introduced alongisde [sic] it," 9to5 Mac said. The iPad Air, however, may not get refreshed until 2016, but Apple could also refresh its Macs during the September iPhone event. Because Intel announced its Skylake processor refresh at IFA 2016, and PC manufacturers have announced a slew of new notebooks and desktops with the sixth generation CPU, Apple could follow suit at its own event. Original story as follows: A JPMorgan analyst told clients that suppliers could start delivering iPad Pro components to Apple partner Foxconn starting in September, adding weight behind the large format tablet's rumored October launch. According to the analyst, the iPad Pro will come with new touchscreen technology, and Apple is recruiting new suppliers to provide components for the highly anticipated tablet. A new glass-film-film, or GFF, touchscreen could be used on the iPad Pro, the analyst said, which would improve the screen's accuracy. This would be an improvement over the current glass-film screen technology used on the current iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3. The speculation for a new, more accurate touchscreen technology is consistent with the iPad Pro's rumored support for a Bluetooth stylus. The stylus could make input more accurate, and potentially help Apple compete in the pen-dominated space that's occupied by Samsung's Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 and Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 slates. And for the first time, touch, display and assembly of the screen could be controlled by Hon Hai, whose subsidiary Foxconn is an Apple partner that assembles iPhones, Macs and other Apple products. Ready for October? There have been conflicting rumors on when Apple will debut the iPad Pro. Early rumors suggested that the tablet may make it in time for Apple's unveiling on September 9. In addition to the iPad Pro, Apple is expected to reveal refreshes for Apple TV, iPhone and existing models in the iPad franchise at that event. However, more recent rumors suggest that the iPad Pro won't be announced until October. If this is the case, industry observers believe that availability will come soon after the announcement. According to the analyst note, Apple is expected to produce one million units of the iPad Pro each month for the remainder of the year. As with most Apple product launches, inventory may be constrained at launch, so there could be delays in shipment times for those who don't pre-order early. What makes it Pro? The iPad Pro is expected to be a productivity-centric tablet, likely catering to business users who want a laptop replacement. Apple had focused on productivity features when it unveiled iOS 9 earlier this summer at WWDC 2015, like split-screen multitasking and picture-in-window videos. Additionally, iOS 9 will come with an improved on-screen keyboard and better support for Bluetooth keyboards, features that will benefit a larger tablet. The iPad Pro is expected to have a 12-inch display, with leaks suggesting that the screen can go up to 12.9 inches. The screen is rumored to have a resolution of 2,048 x 2,732 pixels, an increase from the 2,048 x 1,536 pixels on Apple's current Retina display slates. Stereo speakers for multimedia consumption, a stylus for content creation and even a new USB-C port round out some of the rumored features of the tablet. There is no information on pricing for the iPad Pro at this time, but it is expected to cost more than the $499 (£325, AU$702) starting price of the iPad Air 2. For comparison, the 12-inch Surface Pro 3 starts at $799 (£520, AU$1,124). That tablet runs the full version of Windows and includes an N-Trig-based Surface Pen digitizer but doesn't ship with the optional Type Cover keyboard case. Via: AppleInsider Read our iPad Pro coverage

Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 tablets aim to keep you entertained Posted: 02 Sep 2015 12:05 PM PDT In addition to refreshing its massive lineup of PCs and notebooks with Intel's new Skylake processor, Lenovo is also introducing three new Android slates under its Yoga brand at IFA 2015. Now in its third generation, the Yoga Tab 3 is designed to keep you entertained, and Lenovo packs in features such as enhanced audio, better multitasking and even a rotating camera into a slim, sleek body. There flagship tablet of the Yoga Tab 3 series is the Yoga Tab 3 Pro. Other tablets in the line include an 8- and 10-inch Yoga Tab 3 model. All Yoga Tab 3 tablets come with Lenovo's barrel design, innovative flip-out kickstand, and gesture control. Lenovo claims that it has toned down the software customization on its Android tablet and reduced the bloatware, offering as close to a native Google experience as possible. This is a result from the lessons the company learned when it acquired Motorola Mobility, which has retained a vanilla build of Android on its phones, save for a few useful customizations. Going Pro Even though the Yoga Tab 3 Pro ($499, £325, AU$709) shares the same 10-inch screen size as the regular 10-inch Yoga Tab 3, the Pro model has a slightly smaller footprint overall, making it more compact. The Pro model is all about consuming and enjoying content. It packs in a small pico projector that can project the screen on a wall up to 70 inches wide. If you want more privacy to view your videos and photos, the 10.1-inch display has a QHD resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels. Audiophiles will enjoy the four front-facing speakers that are tuned with Woldson Master Hi-Fi technology. The speakers are located in the barrel, in a design that Lenovo calls a sound bar. Speakers are built by JBL, and Lenovo claims that you'll get a virtualized Dolby Atmos 3D sound experience, a first for tablets. For multitaskers who like to stay productive, Lenovo loaded up the Yoga Tab 3 Pro with a Smart Window 2.0 functionality so you can open multiple apps at the same time, each in their own window. The Pro model is constructed with a metal frame and comes with a leather-like backing. Affordable mainstream tablets When we reviewed Lenovo's Windows-based Yoga Tablet 2 with AnyPen technology, we criticized the slate's high asking price for the special screen tech. Fortunately, the 8-inch ($169, £110, AU$240) and 10-inch ($199, £129, AU$283) Yoga Tab 3 slates don't have the same premium issue. Still, these tablets allow you to have the precision of a stylus by using any metal object to write on your HD screen with the built-in AnyPen tech. This means you don't have to invest in an expensive stylus that you'll likely misplace over time, but it also means if you choose a sharp metal object, like a knife, you could end up scratching your screen. These tablets come with a rotating camera located on the barrel. This way, you'll have the same camera to take pictures of the world or yourself. The camera can be activated with gesture controls, Lenovo said in a statement. You can use the kickstand to prop your tablet up, open your and and close it into a first to capture a photo. Unlike the Pro edition's quad-speaker arrangement, the barrel houses stereo speakers for Dolby Atmos sound. To round out the entertainment focus, Lenovo is pre-loading these tablets with the Netflix app so you can start your binge-watching experience as soon as you open the box. Lenovo isn't quoting specific battery life numbers, but the company claims that these tablets contain some of the largest batteries available in the tablet market. The third generation Yoga Tabs also look sleeker. The soft touch, black back feels nice to touch and doesn't seem to attract fingerprints or oils, and the kickstand is now activated with a push button mechanism rather than requiring users to pull down to engage. Additionally, the stand has a built-in opening to allow you to hang or mount the tablet, which is great for watching videos in the kitchen while cooking. Read our review of the Yoga Tablet 2 with AnyPen

Windows 10 captures 5% of internet traffic Posted: 02 Sep 2015 12:04 PM PDT The strong, and fast, adoption rate of Windows 10 is propelling the OS to capture 5.21% of the worldwide web traffic generated by desktop operating systems. Windows 7 is still in the lead right now, with users generating 57.67% of internet traffic. Windows 10 is slightly ahead of the 4.75% captured by Apple's OS X 10.10 Yosemite operating system, according to data collected by NetMarketShare. However, Windows 10's net traffic is still roughly half of the 11.39% generated by its predecessor, Windows 8.1, and both behind Windows XP's 12.14%. Windows 10 is installed on more than 75 million PCs, laptops and tablets on the market, Microsoft said ahead of the one-month anniversary of the operating system's release. Home of the free and familiar One reason for Windows 10's prominence is Microsoft's promotional upgrade pricing. During its first year of release, Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 owners can upgrade to Windows 10 for free, making it more attractive than the discounted upgrade pricing for Microsoft's prior OSes. Additionally, unlike Windows 8, which took a radical UI change, Windows 10 brought back familiar elements, like the Start menu, while introducing useful new features, like new Snap multitasking features, Cortana, the Microsoft Edge bowser and a new Action Center for notifications. The OS has been positively received by users and the press. Life on the Edge Microsoft's nascent Edge browser also made a dent in the overall internet traffic, taking home 2% of all browser traffic during its first month on the market. Microsoft is positioning Edge as a rival to Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox for the desktop. Edge comes with features such as a reading view, easy Cortana lookup with contextual and predictive search and the ability to draw and annotate on web pages in addition to taking a simple screenshot. With Edge's new features, Microsoft is looking to lock in Windows 10 users. Edge comes as the default browser on the OS, and Microsoft requires extra steps if users want to switch to Chrome or Firefox permanently. Microsoft announced early this month that it is working on adding support for the WebM standard in Edge. WebM is an open source HTML5 video format that is backed by Google, and Edge users have been vocal about its absence, prompting Microsoft's response. A new Microsoft There is still more room for Windows 10 and Edge to grow. Intel recently launched its sixth generation Skylake processor at IFA 2015. Skylake delivers better processing power, improved graphics performance and longer battery stamina. Intel executives told techradar ahead of the show that it anticipates more than 500 new desktop, laptop and tablet designs with Skylake to hit the market. If users upgrade to new hardware with Skylake, something Intel hopes you'll do, this could help Microsoft boost its Windows 10 market share. Skylake, according to Kirk Skaugen, Senior VP and General Manager of the Client Computing Group at Intel, was designed to work with Windows 10, featuring support for dual-array microphones to work with Cortana, better image processing support to work with RealSense 3D and better security. Read our review of Windows 10

New Moto 360 revealed in stylish gold, preorders begin today Posted: 02 Sep 2015 12:01 PM PDT Motorola has finally unveiled the new Moto 360, and it'll be up for pre-order by the end of the day. While some will be saddened to see the flat-tire bar of the older model, the 2015 Moto 360 will be available in three different sizes, with a 46mm and 42mm case designed for men, with another women's 42mm watch face designed for smaller wrists. Powered by Android Wear, it'll also come with an modern 1.2GHz, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU, wireless charging, 4GB of internal storage, 512GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth. Motorola has bumped up the resolution on the Moto 360's 1.56-inch display to 360 x 330, while the 42mm watch has a 360 x 325 resolution 1.37-inch round display. Pre-orders for the 2015 Moto 360 start today from Motorola's site, Google Play and Best Buy. In-store availability is set for late September when you'll be able to pick one up from Verizon and Nordstrom as well. With prices set to start at US$299 (about £195.35/AU$425.12) and top off at US$429 (about £280.29/AU$609.95), you'll be able to choose between silver, gold or rose gold for the watch face, with up to six different choices of bands, including silver, gold, rose gold, and leather colors. Sport mode Motorola has also announced a new Moto 360 Sport model, which comes with a unique AnyLight Hybrid display. The technology allows the screen to indoor or outdoor lighting, as it combines a backlit transmissive LCD screen with "front lit reflective technology". The sporty model also comes equipped with its own built-in GPS and though it isn't fully waterproof, it is dust and water resistant up to the IP67 standard. Motorola has yet to announce pricing yet and availability, but the company has promised to release more details in the coming months. Here's what we thought of last year's Moto 360

Lenovo ups its Y Series game with new gaming systems Posted: 02 Sep 2015 12:00 PM PDT Along with refreshing its consumer desktops and laptops with Intel's new sixth generation Skylake processors, Lenovo is also giving its gaming systems a boost. Lenovo's game-centric PCs are branded under the IdeaCentre Y Series, and the gaming laptops fall under the IdeaPad Y Series. In addition to upgrading its hardware, Lenovo is also introducing new gaming peripherals. The company is rolling out a new mechanical keyboard, mouse and headset. IdeaCentre Y900 and Y700 As part of Lenovo's new re-branding, the higher the series number means the better the specs. As such, the Y900 is the flagship IdeaCentre gaming desktop in the series. Both the IdeaCentre Y900 ($1,599, £1,039, AU$2,246) and Y700 ($999, £649, AU$1,403) are highly serviceable and upgradeable machines, featuring a chassis large enough to fit a full ATX motherboard. Both models feature processor selection up to a quad-core Intel Core i7 Skylake, but the Y900 features support for dual graphics cards accessible via a push lever that opens a second compartment. The Y900 also comes with dust filters that helps the fans stay clean to keep the system cool. IdeaPad Y700 Designed for gaming on the go, Lenovo says that the IdeaPad Y700 ($949, £617, AU$1,333) is made with the mobility of a laptop and the power of Intel's and AMD's latest processors. Gamers will also get to configure the IdeaPad Y700 with dedicated graphics options. The system also features QHD screen options in 15- or 17-inch sizes. A touchscreen is optional, as is the Intel RealSense 3D camera. At IDF 2015, Intel showed that the RealSense camera can be used to scan the people and objects. This way, you can have a 3D avatar of yourself in your game, or you can replace common game elements and customize compatible games with objects that you scan in with the camera. For immersive audio, there is a JBL speaker and subwoofer. Y Accessories New accessories to the Y Series include the Y Gaming Surround Sound Headset ($69, £44, AU$96), Y Gaming Precision Mouse ($69, £44, AU$96), Y Gaming Mechanical Switch Keyboard ($139, £90, AU$195) and Y Gaming Backpack ($99, £64, AU$139). The headset delivers 7.1 virtual surround sound, features a quick mute button and in-line volume adjustment. There is also a noise canceling microphone. Lenovo says that the mouse has eight programmable buttons, four levels of adjustable DPI, five levels of adjustable weights and adjustable speeds all packed into an ergonomic package. Lenovo also sells a waterproof Y Gaming Mouse Mat ($9, £5, AU$12). The keyboard includes backlighting and anti-ghosting, comes with six customizable keys, five levels of brightness adjustments and a dedicated key for controlling the headset. The palm rest is detachable. The backpack is padded and can accommodate a 17.3-inch laptop. All accessories will be available in September. The IdeaCentre will arrive in November, while the IdeaPad laptop will arrive in October. Read our Skylake review

Hands-on review: Moto 360 Posted: 02 Sep 2015 12:00 PM PDT The original Moto 360 is arguably the smartwatch that put Android Wear on the map. Motorola's first wearable was simplistic yet stylish with customization options and, boldly, the first with a round face. It goes without saying that the new Moto 360 has a lot to live up to and it already seems to do so fairly well, but I can't help but feel this smartwatch is iterative whereas the original was revolutionary. The new Moto 360 has a lot in common with last year's model, retaining the classic and minimalistic round body. Sadly, that little bit of chin on the bottom is still there, though it's a smidge smaller now. One noticeable change on the new Moto 360 is that the position of the side button has been shifted slightly upwards, putting it at an angle. Make the smartwatch of your dreams Motorola gave its smartwatch the Moto Maker treatment late in its life, but now the new Moto 360 comes with customization built into its identity. For starters, the 2015 model comes in a new, smaller 42mm size in addition to the regular 46mm size. The smaller size wearable should appeal to those with smaller wrists. To better cater to women, Motorola is also making a new line of exclusive accessories, including watch bezels and a wrap band that goes around your wrist twice. When you build your own Moto 360, you'll have the option to customize everything about the watch from its size to the color of the case, which includes a new gold option in addition to silver and black. You'll also be able to pick the texture and color of the bezel, whichever band you so choose and which watch face comes preloaded on the device. The most basic of the new models rings up for $299 (about £195, AU$425). Going for something a bit fancier, like a gold paint job or metal band, will bump up the price to a maximum of $429 (about £280, AU$611). Rolling flat Of course, there's more to new Moto 360 than just a few new wristband and color options. Motorola has also upped the resolution of the 1.56-inch screen to 360 x 330 from the original watch's 320 x 290 display. In terms of pixels per inch, the smaller, 42mm watch is sharper simply by nature of packing 360 x 325 pixels into a 1.37-inch round display. While other round-faced smartwatches have avoided the troublesome chin – including the Huawei Watch and LG Watch Urbane – Motorola staunchly defends the "display ledge" on the new Moto 360 as a necessary design element. The Chicago-based company explained in part that the small black bar hides multiple key sensors while providing the a space LCD to fold underneath to maintain the wearable's compact size. Motorola also highlighted that its smartwatch has the most screen-to-body ratio, at 71.7% compared to its rivals. In short, if the flat tire on the old watch bothered you, too bad. Thankfully, Motorola went with a more modern 1.2GHz, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chip for its brains, plus 4GB internal storage and 512MB RAM. The new chip is a big step up from the absolutely ancient Texas Instruments processor that powered the original smartwatch. Overall, the new model feels nice and snappy as I flick my way through the new interface. The added power hasn't been to the detriment of battery life, either. Motorola rates the 46mm Moto 360 for up to two days of usage with a 400mAh battery. Meanwhile, the 42mm model is expected to last 1.5 days on a 300mAh battery. We'll have to see how those battery life figures pan out in the real world in our full review, but I'm hopeful it will actually get me through a full day when the original Moto 360 couldn't. Electronic chronographs Android Wear has looked practically identical on every smartwatch thus far, but now Motorola has added a bit of added functionality with Live Dials. In place of the chronographs you might find on a traditional timepiece, this trio of live dials will show information like the date, weather, the watch's remaining battery life and steps you've taken. On top of giving you more information at a glance, the added crop of dials on the watch also allow you to launch apps, like Shazam, with a tap. Motorola has also expanded the capabilities of the preloaded Moto Body app with an instant summary of your daily or weekly workout progress. The simple interface lets you quickly tap into how many steps you've taken, how regular your heart rate is and the number of calories you've burned. Early verdict The original Moto 360 is a hard act to follow, because it got so much right on the first go around, but that's not to say that Motorola's new smartwatch isn't a noticeable upgrade. The resolution of the screen has been increased slightly, and the new processor alleviates the old fears of a wearable too slow for that glance-and-go experience. To a lesser extent, the new software bits are helpful. But, ultimately, they'll more than likely trickle down to older models through a software update. By far, what will make you want to jump at the new Moto 360 is the new array of customization options, and who doesn't want a bit of gold in their life?

Google reportedly readying new Nexus phones for September 29 Posted: 02 Sep 2015 11:31 AM PDT Rumors about Google's New Nexus phones are mounting, and they may all come to a head at the end of this month, according to a new report. For months, we've been hearing about the two Nexus smartphones, one made by LG with a 5.2-inch display and another made by Huawei with a 5.7-inch screen, both with bumped up specs. The September 29 date makes sense it's the same timeframe in which the Nexus 6 2014 was announced last year and Nexus 5 2013 came out two years ago. Android Marshmallow update to launch, too? This is also the very same event date we've been hearing about from other sources, and if true, it means Android Marshmallow is also expected to release on or about that Thursday. Google typically likes to launch its new Android operating system updates with a new phones and tablets, and it may be adding two phones this year instead of a Nexus 9 sequel. Representatives for Google declined to comment on the September 29 date when techradar asked today. However, the speculation is undoubtedly growing that we'll have Android 6.0 Marshmallows one month before Halloween, and two early treats to play with. Before that date: Apple's iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus and iOS 9

Hands-on review: IFA 2015: Huawei Mate S Posted: 02 Sep 2015 10:50 AM PDT Introduction, design, display and Force Touch Say hello to the Huawei Mate S, the world's first smartphone with Force Touch Technology. Kind of. 'Force Touch' I hear you quizzically ponder, 'isn't that Apple's thing?' Well yes, it's the fancy screen technology you find in the Apple Watch and the trackpad of the new MacBook - and yes, Huawei has stuck it in a smartphone. I say 'kind of', because you may have some difficultly getting hold of it. The Huawei Mate S, the successor to the Huawei Ascend Mate 7, comes in three models; 32GB, 64GB and 128GB. It's only in that last model, the 128GB one, where you'll find Force Touch. The other two models don't boast the fancy screen tech, and while Huawei has given us release dates for those two, it's yet to announce pricing and availability for the 128GB model. SIM-free the 32GB and 64GB models cost €649 (around £475, $730, AU$1040) and €699 (around £510, $785, AU$1110) respectively. Both go on sale in a number of countries, including the UK and Australia, this month with pre-orders opening soon on Huawei's online store. Luckily I've got myself the 128GB model, so I've bee able to play around with Force Touch and all the other features on the new Huawei Mate S. Design The Huawei Mate S builds on its predecessor when it comes to design, with a slender 7.2mm all-metal frame looking and feeling suitably premium. The slightly curved rear means it sits nicely in the hand, and while it has the same screen size as the iPhone 6 Plus, Huawei has kept bezels to a minimum meaning it's shorter and narrower. At 156g it's surprisingly light considering its size, and I found it comfortable to hold and hardly noticable when slipped into the back pocket of my jeans. The volume and power/lock keys are located on the right of the handset towards the top, and for me they were reasonably easy to hit. I can see their placement potentially causing problems for those with smaller palms though. A way round the potentially awkward placement of these buttons, and the general size of the Mate S, can be found on the back. Below the 13MP camera sensor there's a fingerprint scanner. Huawei has updated the software used here for the Mate S, with Fingerprint Sense 2.0 bringing greater sensitivity and increased recognition. It's certainly responsive, and the Mate S unlocked in a blink of an eye when I touched my finger to the sensor. It's definitely up there with Apple's Touch ID and the sensor Samsung has put into its Galaxy S6 range. That's not all the fingerprint scanner can do though. You can also use it to take a photo, scroll through images in the gallery, answer calls, pull down the notification panel and silence an alarm. I did find swiping down on the scanner to display the notification panel required a certain level of finesse and accuracy, but once you get your eye in it's handy not having to stretch a finger all the way up to the top of the display. Display and Force Touch There were rumours that the Huawei Mate S would pack a QHD display, but alas Huawei has seen fit to stick with a full HD resolution. The screen however is smaller than the Mate 7 at 5.5 inches, giving you a pleasing 401ppi. That matches the iPhone 6 Plus and OnePlus 2 in both size and resolution, and as Huawei CEO Richard Yu pointed out during the launch, it's greater than the human eye can distinguish. The screen also boasts AMOLED technology making it clear and bright, and I found that even in sunlight it was still useable. The big talking point here though is Force Touch. I've already explained it's missing from the two models you'll actually be able to buy this from this month - but for those of you willing to wait (and cough up more cash) there are a few fancy tricks to show your friends. The 3D Force Touch Technology allows the display on the Huawei Mate S to gauge the amount of pressure you're applying, and then provide different functions depending on the level of force. When looking at a photo you can hold down on an area to see it magnified in a bubble. The harder you press, the more zoomed in your magnification will be. Come out to the gallery overview and hard pressing on the images provides you with a larger thumbnail preview. You can even remove the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen to give you more real estate, and then just press down on where the buttons would be to perform the same commands. It's certainly a fun feature to play around with, and Huawei has integrated it into the interface in a number of ways - but it's still early days for the technology. When app and game developers get hold of it we could see some truly awesome use cases. Trouble is, with the Mate S the only phone supporting it for now those applications may be a long way off. Battery life Huawei made a song and dance about the stepped battery design it's implemented for the Mate S, allowing it to fit in more capacity. I was a little disappointed then when it revealed the Mate S packs a non-removable 3000mAh power pack. That's smaller than the 3300mAh offering in the similarly sized OnePlus 2, although it does match the LG G4. With a full HD display there will be less strain on the Mate S battery, and Huawei is promising more than a day of usage from a single charge. You'll have to wait for the full review to see if it lives up to that claim, but it's worth noting the Mate S is fast charging enabled. A 10 minute blast with the charger is, I'm told, long enough to give you two hours of call time. Nice. Early verdict I rather like the Huawei Mate S. I'm glad Huawei has reduced screen size here, as it makes it easier to hold and the all metal body really does look and feel like a premium handset. The fingerprint scanner on the rear is impressive, the camera is stuffed full of features and it's coming in cheaper than the core flagships on the market. It's not all perfect though, with the headlining Force Touch technology available on a model which is yet to get a release date or price, and Huawei's Emotion UI is still very much a Marmite interface. That said, the early signs of positive for the Huawei Mate S and it's definitely a handset you should keep an eye on.

IFA 2015: Asus goes after Apple with an iMac lookalike Posted: 02 Sep 2015 10:45 AM PDT Over at IFA in Berlin, Asus has revealed the full details of its new Zen AiO S all-in-one, and the pricing for this stylish looking PC which bears an ever so slight resemblance to a certain Apple computer. There are two variants of this all-aluminium 24-inch machine, both of which run the latest Intel Skylake processors. As The Verge spotted, one model will start at €1099 (around £810, or $1230) and will come with an Intel Core i5-6400T processor, 8GB of RAM, along with 1TB of storage and a GeForce GTX 950M mobile graphics solution. Up the ante to €1499 (around £1100, or $1685) and you get a Core i7-6700T with 16GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, and a GTX 960M for shifting pixels. The Zen AiO S offers a 3840 x 2160 resolution 10-point multi-touch IPS display, and an Intel RealSense camera, along with a built-in 16W six speaker Asus SonicMaster Premium sound system. The ports available include the new USB 3.1 Type-C connector, and 802.11ac Wi-Fi is also present. Naturally, Windows 10 is on board. As to when this all-in-one will go on sale, that's still not been announced. Stick that in your TV Going from the large and expensive to the small and relatively cheap, Asus also unveiled the VivoStick PC, a Compute Stick style device powered by a Cherry Trail CPU which runs Windows 10 and you can plug into your HDTV or monitor via the HDMI port. The idea is you then have a "full PC experience" (albeit a low-powered one) at your fingertips on said display, with connectivity that allows you to hook up a mouse and keyboard – there are two USB ports on board, along with Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11n Wi-Fi and an audio output jack. And of course you can take this portable little gadget anywhere with ease – the device's dimensions are 138 x 34 x 15mm and it weighs 68g – to allow you to share content with others. 5 things you should know about Skylake

New Apple TV may search like your Roku, start at $149 Posted: 02 Sep 2015 10:26 AM PDT Apple TV, long called the "walled garden" of set-top systems, might soon leave that name behind thanks to a new feature that will search multiple sources for content similar to the Roku 3. Buzzfeed News reports that "universal search feature that will enable searches across multiple streaming video services as well as Apple's iTunes Store." That means instead of searching for a movie on each individual app, you'll be able to see a select number of services in every search. The report says that Siri is integral to the new system, but requires a piece of software called Matcha (from a video streaming startup Apple acquired) running in the background to match the translated text into multiple search results. The last piece of interesting info from the report is that the whole system is confirmed to cost $149 (around £99, AU$200), $50 lower than we originally expected. Apple is expected to unveil the new hardware, alongside a new iPhone and iPad, at its September 9 event held in San Francisco, Calif. Here's everything we know about Apple TV 2

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