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• In Depth: Why it's taken so long for the Oculus Rift to ship
• Hey Angry Birds Movie trailer, are you avian a laugh?
• Watch the Oculus Connect 2 keynote live stream with Gear VR
• Netflix knows exactly when it's hooked you
• iOS Tips: iOS 9 Notes: How to use these 5 fun new features
• Opinion: Quick, Quickflix: It's time to give yourself the flick
• Welcome to 2015, where selfies kill more people than shark attacks
• Updated: Nexus 6P 2015 release date, news and rumors
• Updated: Nexus 5X 2015 release date, news and rumors
• Apple Watch to invade T-Mobile stores soon
• iOS 9 bug fixes arrive with iOS 9.0.1 update
• Review: Olympus Air A01
• New Star Wars 360-degree video is among first on Facebook
• This gel-filled touchscreen produces temporary physical buttons
• Go full circle with the new Pebble Time Round smartwatch
• This mobile network offers you a free SIM-only deal for life
• What's Amazon's next big TV show? That's up to you
• Updated: Best Browsers 2015: the top five candidates for your PC

In Depth: Why it's taken so long for the Oculus Rift to ship Posted: 24 Sep 2015 12:25 AM PDT Making the Oculus Rift has been no easy task. Sure virtual reality has been around for awhile now - various iterations have been experimented with since the 1950s if you can believe that. But the interest died out every other decade - until now. Lately, it looks like VR is going to stay. With high end devices hitting the market soon in the form of HTC Vive and PlayStation VR (formerly Project Morpheus), it's obvious the hardware and software has vastly improved. With every prototype, we get more antsy and impatient - the tech and its potential are just too damn cool not to have immediately. This is most apparent with Oculus and its many, many iterations. It began as a Frankenstein of miscellaneous virtual reality headset parts duct taped together. From that, it became the vomit inducing SDK 1, then the slightly better Crystal Cove, the improved SDK 2, the audio-enabled Crescent Bay and finally the long awaited, feather light, consumer Oculus Rift. Clearly, hardware has been extremely tricky to figure out. It's why we've seen so many headsets, and why it's taken so long to see a finished product from Oculus. Two Rift project leads gave a talk at Oculus Connect 2 to tell everyone just how arduous engineering the hardware has been because unlike software, you have to get it right on the first go. New tech, new rules, big headaches No one has really sold commercial virtual reality head mounted displays (HMDs) until now. Back in the day, headsets were cumbersome, ridiculously expensive and some were even a bit dangerous. That means what we're getting very soon from Oculus has been the result of lots of research - and lots of headaches to avoid past blunders. It's taken awhile (about three years from when Palmer Luckey began the project) because each little piece of hardware has been painstakingly crafted for you. During the keynote, "Shipping Hardware: The Evolution of the Rift," Product Design Engineering Manager Caitlin Kalinowski and Hardware Program Management Manager Stephanie Lue say that because of the carefully made pieces and the newness of VR, interdependent processes were needed. Members of the team needed to work together simultaneously and parallel opposed to the linear way of creating products. Much of the difficulties lie in the intersection of the different sciences. Industrial design merged with engineering and many people had to compromise, improvise and work together to figure out how to make a good, working HMD. Kalinowski say, "Hardware unlike software, is shipped once. You can never update it so we have to work really hard to make it the best." Simple but very complicated Comfort, immersion and presence are three key tenets the Oculus team followed during research and development of the hardware. There are plenty of challenging aspects that went into the head mounted display, Lue and Kalinowski focused on IPD (interpupillary distance), fabric, straps and audio. Because our heads vary in shape and size, along with the distance of our eyes, very specific measures were used in making the gear train and the straps. Adjustments must be smooth, easy to figure out and able to fit everyone. The same can be said of the audio clips. The team wanted them to be removable so you can use your own audio devices, adjustable to flip up/out and individualized for different ear types. The pieces also had to be easily manufactured for mass production. Surprisingly, the fabric covering the headset has proven to be a major challenge for Oculus. In order to achieve the three points mentioned above, the material had to meet certain criteria. The sensors for head positional tracking needed fabric light and stretchy enough while also being comfortable and pleasing to touch - we don't want to strap wool onto our faces. Lue stated the fabric also needed to fit around the plastic device properly and efficiently for manufacturing purposes. Kalinowski says the process is akin to trying to cover a beach ball in wrapping paper but without any wrinkles at all. Oculus went all over the world searching for the right kind of material but ended up creating a custom fabric. After multiple trial and error combinations, the team finally produced the finalized version of Rift - in fact, they all went to the factory to make sure the machine-assembled device worked, and amazingly, it did on the first try. While both Lue and Kalinowski are obviously proud of the work Oculus has done, they made it clear there's always room for more improvements. According to Kalinowsky, given enough time, an engineer will perpetually keep tinkering away. But Lue says there are still deadlines to maintain to ship as soon as possible. Oculus is still trying to figure out how to make the HMD more comfortable for people who wear glasses by exploring different ways to incorporate the foam surrounding the face plate. It's possible there will be add-ons you can purchase later once the issue has been resolved. For now though, Kalinowski says they wanted to make something "beautiful and elegant, comfortable and works well." Through this labor of love, it's apparent the Oculus team feels they've achieved this goal. Whether everyone else will feel the same way when Oculus Rift arrives early next year is up in the air. From my experiences with the Rift, I'm confident all their hard work will shine through into reality. You can watch the Oculus Connect 2 keynotes with a VR headset and pretend you're there

Hey Angry Birds Movie trailer, are you avian a laugh? Posted: 23 Sep 2015 10:23 PM PDT Before Crossy Road and Flappy Bird there was Angry Birds – the extremely successful mobile game from Finnish developer Rovio that took the world by storm, eventually exhausting its brand into oblivion with excessive merchandising. Now, several years after its peak (beak?) and 15 Angry Birds games later, Sony Pictures and Rovio Entertainment have dropped the first trailer for The Angry Birds Movie. Let's start with the positives – it looks nice, with some expensive looking animation and a beautifully vibrant colour scheme that puts the movie squarely alongside Rio in the eye candy department. It also has an enormous cast of well known funny people voicing its characters, with Jason Sudeikis as the lead character, Red, Frozen's Josh Gad as his sidekick, Danny McBride as a bomb bird, Peter Dinklage, Kate McKinnon, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph, Keegan-Michael Key, Hannibal Buress and many more all showing up to collect an easy paycheck. Will it be a rotten egg? Now, let's talk about the bad. Specifically, Michael Jackson's song Bad which plays over the trailer – could a more generic and overused song choice have been made? Then there's the trailer's complete absence of laughs, with every attempted joke falling flatter than one of King Pig's castles after a bird has been shot into it – we know it's aimed at kids, but with this cast, we expect much, much better. Then again, who knows? Maybe it will be okay – the film won't be out until mid 2016 (for those keeping track, that's roughly four years after the expiry of the brand's relevance), so maybe between now and then the film will find its wings and soar to comedic heights. Check the trailer out for yourself below. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U2DKKqxHgE Could an arcade game get you back into Angry Birds?

Watch the Oculus Connect 2 keynote live stream with Gear VR Posted: 23 Sep 2015 08:25 PM PDT Oculus Connect 2, the VR-focused conference, is well underway, and the keynote live stream kicks off on September 24 at 10:00am PDT, 1:00pm PDT and 6:00pm BST. If you're not in sunny Los Angeles, Oculus says you can tune in with a Gear VR headset and live stream the keynote that way. There are some setup instructions, however. Download NextVR's app on your Samsung Galaxy Note 4 or Galaxy S6 if you have the second Innovator's Edition. Launch Oculus Home, select the Oculus Connect 2 icon then sit back and relax knowing you're avoiding the huge crowds of developers. CEO Brenden Iribe will start the keynotes followed by Chief Scientist Michael Abrash with Oculus CTO John Carmack ending the major talks by discussing mobile VR. Both Iribe and Abrash will reveal new information about the Oculus Rift, Oculus Touch and Samsung Gear VR headsets. We're hoping a firmer release date other than "early 2016" (and "later in 2016" for Touch) plus pricing will be revealed for the Rift and its controllers. The first ever virtual reality film festival is happening right now This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Netflix knows exactly when it's hooked you Posted: 23 Sep 2015 06:57 PM PDT While traditional broadcast television has spent decades trying to hook viewers to a show from its pilot episode, new data revealed by Netflix suggests that people need a few episodes to be truly hooked – not only that, Netflix has used the data to pinpoint the exact episode in a season that creates new fans. According to Netflix, 70% of viewers who watched the episodes in question would then go on to finish the entire first season of the show. Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer for Netflix, admits that "a series pilot is arguably the most important point in the life of the show," though Netflix's research suggests that fandom is not achieved until several episodes in. Totally addicted to Bates "In our research of more than 20 shows across 16 markets, we found that no one was ever hooked on the pilot," said Sarandos, also stating that the company is confident that giving its members "all episodes at once is more aligned with how fans are made." When it comes to the number of episodes it takes for each show to send people into a binge-watching frenzy, the figures may surprise you – according to the data, Bates Motel hooked people in only two episodes, while Marvel's Daredevil, which had a built-in fanbase that was eagerly anticipating the show's arrival, took five episodes to ensnare its audience. The image below gives some further information on the specific episodes that caused people to become addicted to a selection of Netflix's most popular shows – spoiler alert: Richie Rich is not on there. The 25 best shows on Netflix

iOS Tips: iOS 9 Notes: How to use these 5 fun new features Posted: 23 Sep 2015 05:03 PM PDT Apple's Notes app received a much-needed overhaul with iOS 9. It's still a fairly bare-bones experience compared to beefier alternatives like Evernote, but the lack of abundant options can actually make note-taking faster and easier. Plus, the improved Notes has some cool new features if you know how to use them. First, it's important to know that notes are now sorted into folders such as "All iCloud," "All On My iPhone," or ones that you create and name. If you store notes in an iCloud folder, they'll sync across all your iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan devices. Also, on an iPhone, the new editing options are aligned in a row just above the predicitve-text suggestions that sit above the on-screen keyboard. To make the row of options appear, touch the plus button that appears above the keyboard on the right. (On an iPad, the options are always visible to the left and right of the predictive text.) Now, let's use the the cool new features! Checklists Notes has always been a handy go-to app for shopping lists, and its new checklists feature will help you breeze through aisles faster than before. To create a checklist, position the cursor at the start of a list item and tap the first icon shown in the new row of editing options (a checkmark inside a circle) — a checkmark bullet point is added instantly. Simply tap your new checkmark to select or deselect it. Add a photo Need a visual reminder to go along with your text? Now you can take a photo from within the Notes app, or select a preexisting image, and attach it to your note. Just pull up the row of new options and tap the camera icon to start the process. Attach maps, links, and more from other apps You can attach a map, web link, Pages document, and more to a note, but you've got to pop into the appropriate app to do it. If, for example, you want to attach a link, go to the related page in Safari and touch the Share icon along the bottom to bring up the share sheet. From there, tap the Notes icon, and you'll be prompted to choose which note you'd like to put the link into. Easy-peasy. And if you forget which note you stuck something to, you can quickly find any attachment in the Attachments Browser. To use it, enter a folder and tap the small four-squares icon in the lower-left corner. Sketch A picture says a thousand words, so if you don't feel like typing a thousand words, doodle. It's the squiggly-line icon in the row of new options. Notes even smooths out your messy lines for you. Siri can help Finally, don't forget that Siri can help you quickly find a specific note, even if you can't remember its title or which folder it's in. Just ask her to "Find my grocery list note," "Find my note about Oreos," "Show me all the notes I wrote this week," etc. She'll helpfully pull up all the files that fit your description.

Opinion: Quick, Quickflix: It's time to give yourself the flick Posted: 23 Sep 2015 04:48 PM PDT For the past six months, Australia has been bathing in a luxurious jacuzzi of video on demand services. Perfectly warm Netflix water, refreshingly soothing Stan bubbles and a cold glass of Presto sparkling to set the atmosphere. But hidden in the water, just below the surface, is the decomposing remains of Australia's first legitimate streaming service: Quickflix. While the stench is yet to really hit our nostrils, it's still well past time for the pioneering service to drag its corpse out of the hot tub before it ruins the experience for everyone. Hot Tub Time Machine It wasn't always this way though. Back in 2011, Quickflix was our biggest hope for a local version of Netflix. From the name to the DVD mail rental approach, Quickflix promised a local version of the impressive streaming service Netflix was delivering in the US. For $15 a month, you could get unlimited movie streaming on the service. Naturally at launch, the selection of movies wasn't huge (or great), but the fledgling company promised massive growth. And the promise improved a few months later when HBO – the US network behind stellar hits like The Sopranos and Curb your Enthusiasm – invested $10 million in Quickflix shortly after signing a distribution deal. But despite having apps on a wide range of platforms, plus some of the most impressive shows available for streaming, Quickflix never really took off. There are probably many reasons for this, but for me it comes down to three key problems with the platform. Firstly, streaming quality was average, especially on larger TVs. When a program was available in HD, it wasn't immediately obvious, and it could only be accessed on certain platforms. The second big challenge was the user interface, which dated quickly and never quite reached the refined ease of use that saw people flock to Netflix for. But finally, the most important thing holding back Quickflix was its content selection. When the streaming platform first launched, the goal was 1,000 movies. When I reviewed the platform for techradar back in February, there were only 485 movies and 413 TV series, many of which would be considered average quality, while even the decent stuff was old. The thin red line When HBO bought a chunk of Quickflix stock, things looked promising for the fledgling streaming service. But less than two years later, the US giant sold its stock to Channel 9, which admitted the buy was "opportunistic". The fact is that since 2012, the company has been bleeding money. The 2012/13 financial year saw a loss of $6.4 million which jumped to a $10.1 million loss in 2013/14. In the first half of 2014/15, the company continued to slide, posting a loss of $8.6 million in the first six months – before Stan or Netflix even entered the Australian market. The numbers are only half of this tale of woe. Also littering the Quickflix Google News search results for the past couple of years are story after story of false starts and failed initiatives. Following HBO's share sale, the company's plea to subscribers to buy shares was a somewhat obvious act of desperation. After a plan to raise $5.7 million in cash from investors only managed to raise $650,000, or 11 percent of its target, Quickflix's situation seemed somewhat dire. But things got worse. After a trading halt to announce a reseller agreement with Presto, turning Quickflix into a platform for a newer, better streaming offering, things looked up for the company. However, that promising step forward lasted less than three months, when Quickflix went into another trading halt to announce the deal had fallen through. To mitigate the disappointment, Quickflix announced a distribution deal with an unnamed Chinese firm, a strategy that lasted a few weeks before being canned. Now, Quickflix is in a holding pattern, trying to restructure its business and renegotiate contracts to work out a way to make money. Well, that and try and persuade people not to update to iOS 9 because they weren't able to update their iOS app in time, that is. Ultimately, Quickflix is doomed. Money for nothing The saddest thing about the closure of Ezyflix.TV last month was the fact that nobody cared. While Ezyflix was a rental service like iTunes more than a streamer like Netflix, its closure went largely unremarked in the Australian technology scene. (It's worth noting that Quickflix here is trying to play both the streaming and the premium rental/purchase game). Here was a service that actually pioneered UltraViolet in Australia. Admittedly, UltraViolet is littered with issues, but EzyFlix tried to push the envelope, launching a disc to digital service, and challenging streamers like Stan by offering the first season of Better Call Saul to own for $10. But in the end, the realities of the market proved too much and the platform just ended. No build up, no formal press announcement, no hand-wringing from a stressed out CEO… just a service that no longer existed. It's unlikely Quickflix could pursue the same end, given its listing on the stock exchange and still-marginally-successful DVD rental business. But the fact remains that the company has no hope of succeeding in the streaming market, and should stop trying. The overwhelming consensus within the industry is that the Australian market support more than a couple of streaming services. A combination of our small population size, our average internet speeds and the challenge of content exclusivity will ultimately result in our current glut of services being whittled down, one by one. With that in mind, Quickflix should be the first to go. But rather than reach a point where the company doesn't have a choice, it should end its attempts at streaming with its head held high. Admittedly, Channel Nine's shares in the company could make that troublesome - the whole "opportunistic" part of the HBO share buyout came from the clauses which guaranteed the TV network a $10.5 million payout in case of a "liquidation event" for Quickflix. That includes everything from takeovers to mergers and a disposal of assets. The question now is whether that payout is going to hold back the inevitable bleeding of money Quickflix has already experienced? When the company announces its final numbers for the 2014/15 financial year, is it going to come anywhere near a profit? Hell, will it come close to being less than a $10.5 million annual loss? I'm guessing no. So quick, Quickflix. It's time to drag yourself out of the jacuzzi and let us enjoy the services that are not just giving us what we want, but improving with every passing month. It's time to give yourself the flick.

Welcome to 2015, where selfies kill more people than shark attacks Posted: 23 Sep 2015 04:24 PM PDT The death of a tourist taking a selfie at the Taj Mahal yesterday has brought to light a startling fact: there have been more deaths related to people taking selfies than from shark attacks this year so far. To put it in numbers, Mashable is reporting that there have been 12 selfie-related deaths this year, based on, at least, deaths that have been reported by publications around the world which can be easily searched for. In comparison, according to the Shark Attack Survivors website, which aims to note all shark attack incidents around the world, lists eight shark attack-related deaths. Serious business Back in July, it was estimated that there has been up to 10 deaths and over 100 injuries related to people taking selfies. It prompted the Russian government to put together a set of rules that show how a person can pose for the perfect selfie without endangering themselves. The latest death occurred when a 68-year-old Japanese tourist fell down some stairs at the Taj Mahal while attempting to take a selfie. Other selfie-related deaths include a teenager who climbed a railway bridge to take selfie, but fell and landed on electrical wires, as well as two young men, who pulled the pin on a grenade to take the perfect selfie. Next time you take a selfie, here's a pro-tip: be mindful of your surroundings and don't put yourself in harms way. Here's Obama using a selfie stick in Alaska

Updated: Nexus 6P 2015 release date, news and rumors Posted: 23 Sep 2015 02:30 PM PDT Nexus 6P release date, price and design rumors Update: Nexus 6P is Google's new phablet for 2015, according to the latest leaks, and it's coming in time for the September 29 launch event. We'll be there live in San Francisco. Here's what we know. Motorola is out, and Huawei is in, according to the new Nexus 6P 2015 rumors that suggest the smartphone is coming with Android Marshmallow onboard in a few days. Yes, even though Google launched a 6-inch phone by Motorola last year and is likely to premier a Nexus 5X for 2015 built by LG, a new Nexus phablet is being speculated with a plus-sized name. The rumored Nexus 6P name was further backed up this week by a new box art leak concerning both Google phones, with one box flashing with the fresh P naming scheme on the front. There's certainly a place for such a large device among people who were willing to get used to carrying a Nexus with two hands. It had a niche audience with meaty paws. Here's what we know, based on the rumors of a specs bump, new design features and a better price, in the weeks ahead of Google's official announcement. Cut to the chase What is Nexus 6P? A Google-branded Android phablet When is it out? At Google's September 29 launch date, likely ships October 13 What will it cost? The same or less than the Nexus 6 2014 Nexus 6P 2015 release date Android Marshmallow is scheduled to debut Tuesday, September 29, according Google and its highly suggestive press conference invite in San Francisco. Count us in. That almost certainly means the new Nexus 6P will be unveiled alongside the new operating system update on this date as well as the Nexus 5X 2015 refresh. The rumors back up all of this. Twice, before we've heard that new Nexus 5X launch date is going to be September 29. It only makes sense for the search engine giant to host one announcement for its phones and the new software. The Nexus 6X will be big time, but not big enough for its own event. Of course, we may not actually see the Android phablet delivery date from the Google Play Store until October, with the latest rumor pointing to a pre-order date of October 13. That's a wise decision. There's another phone maker, Apple, hogging up the oxygen with the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus on September 9. Add the fact that the Nexus 6 2014 wasn't announced until mid-October of last year, and you've got yourself a sane-sounding late September-early October release and delivery date. We're being promised "hands-on time," according to Google's invite, so we'll soon be able to tell you whether or not the bigger Google phone is too big for your hand, or just the right size. And as for that name, Nexus 6P seems to be confirmed. We've since seen some boxes with the phones inside leak out and the design all over it suggests it'll be called Nexus 6P. Nexus 6P 2015 price Here's the strange thing about Nexus 6P price. The Motorola-made model from a year ago cost $650 (£500, AU$870) at full retail. That really changed the typically low-cost Nexus program. It made the Nexus 6 just as expensive as rival flagship phones, whereas the Nexus 5 and Nexus 4 before it were affordable considering their higher-end specs at the time. But you really have to take its size, specs and construction into consideration. At 6 inches, the display was bigger and the aluminum frame far superior to many of last year's phones. At the same price for more inches than any other major flagship, it was still a good value, and Huawei's rumored Nexus 6P is a 5.7-inch entry could make a similar argument. Then again, the Chinese phone maker, known for affordable handsets and possibly one with a screen that is 0.26 inches smaller, could be slightly cheaper at $600 (£415, AU$800). Nexus 6P 2015 design A high-end design could keep the new Nexus 6P price the same as last year's smartphone in part because it's rumored to made of almost all metal. That's good news for anyone who wants to shed the hard plastic back plate of the Nexus 6 2014 and rubberized plastic chassis of the Nexus 5X. This one is likely to go premium. The Nexus 6P 2015 dimensions are said to be 159.4 x 78.3 x 6.6 to 8.5mm curved, according to OnLeaks. That's about the same or slightly smaller at some angles than than Motorola's phablet. The same design rumors give it a fingerprint sensor on the back, speakers on the front and a USB Type-C connection, which only the OnePlus 2 is sporting at the moment. Android Marshmallow is pushing fingerprint and USB Type-C compatibility for the first time, so it's a good assumption that Google will want its reference phones to include these features. A new set of photos claiming to be of the Nexus 6P 2015 have also been leaked which show a device similar to the renders above, but with some noticeable additions. The most noticeable thing about these images with the large protruding top section which houses the camera and flash. This certainly leads to a rather interesting looking device, while other less charitable people are calling the potential Nexus 6P 2015 flat out ugly. At the moment we don't know if these images are of an early prototype or if the bulge will be part of the final design (but perhaps hidden by a case), so we'll have to put our faith in Huawei's designers for now. However new images of a protective case for the Nexus 6P 2015 show the bulge, so if the images are legitimate it means the protruding section is here to stay. The leaked images also show a hole that gives the holder access to a rear fingerprint scanner, so it looks like the new Nexus 6P will support biometric security. Another protective case for the Nexus 6P 2015 has also been leaked online, and it again shows a bulge where the camera will be, along with a hole for a rear fingerprint scanner. Unless this is an orchestrated attempt to trick people, it looks increasingly likely that the final design of the Nexus 6P 2015 will include both of those elements. Nexus 6P display, specs, camera and battery life Nexus 6P display Google is allegedly going with the name Nexus 6P, even though the phone's display may only be 5.7 inches. Rounding up or down is normal among phone naming conventions. It's a bit smaller than the 5.96-inch Nexus 6 2014, but rumored to be the same resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels. That would pack in more pixels per inch thanks to its smaller display size. The technology behind this quad HD display will be WQHD AMOLED, according to sources talking to GizmoChina. That keeps it consistent with last year's model. No word on the Nexus 6P's Ambient Light feature returning to partially turn on the screen when the phone is picked up. It was always inferior to Motorola's Active Display and LG's knock-to-wake methods, so it won't be missed all that much. Nexus 6P 2015 specs It's going to be a powerful new Nexus 6P if the loftier rumors are true about its processor. There's a Snapdragon 820 processor at the heart of this phone, according to OnLeaks. This could be the first Android to beat current benchmark test leaders, Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+. Samsung's own Exynos 7420 chip mightily powers them all. There's also a chance Huawei could utilize Qualcomm's other processor, the Snapdragon 810. But that CPU gets slow and hot under pressure. Just ask any LG G Flex 2 or ZTE Axon owner. Whatever System-on-a-Chip the Nexus 6P 2015 ends up with, expect there to be 4GB of RAM backing it all up. That's how much memory is rumored for the Nexus 5X, so it's only logical. Whether or not we get anything more than 32GB and 64GB of internal storage is a rumor that we haven't really seen pop up. Without a 128GB size, space is going to be limited for some. Yes, Google is making microSD usage easier with Android Marshmallow, but Nexus phones have routinely spurned the expandable storage format. Nexus 6P 2015 camera The new Nexus 6P camera is going to be big, too, at least when you consider all of the pixels it's able to capture. It'll boast a 21MP rear camera, according to OnLeaks and GizmoChina, and pack in the Sony IMX230 sensor. That's the same sensor in the Moto X Style and, rumor has it, Sony Xperia Z4. Huawei would have to put this camera sensor to good use with better post-processing than the fine, but not spectacular Nexus 6 2014. It needs to take a page out of Samsung's playbook. Nexus 6P 2015 battery life If there's one area in which the Nexus 6 2015 needs to improve over its predecessor, it's the ho-hum battery life. The previous phone's large 3,220mAh battery capacity only lasted the promised "all day" if used conservatively. I spent a lot of nights with a dying Nexus 6 2014, looking for a charger, especially as I used the phone more and more later in its lifecycle. A proper boost may come to the new Nexus 6 in the form of a larger battery, one that's 3500mAh, according to a rumor from Android Police. That certainly seems credible, considering the new LG Nexus 5X is supposed to contain a 3180mAh battery behind its 5-inch display. My only concern is that if the new Nexus 6P depth measurements are supposed to be 8.5mm at its thickest point, and the old phone was 10.1mm at its thickest point, does that add up? We're going to find out that answer and more at the September 29 press conference in San Francisco, as Android Marshmallow readies for launch, and so does the Nexus 6P 2015. Here's what we've heard about the Nexus 5X for 2015

Updated: Nexus 5X 2015 release date, news and rumors Posted: 23 Sep 2015 02:22 PM PDT Nexus 5X release date, price and design rumors Update: Nexus 5X 2015 is the new leaked name of Google and LG's Android phone, and it'll launch on Tuesday of next week. We'll cover it live in San Francisco. You know what would go perfectly with an Android Marshmallow? S'more of that easy-to-hold Nexus 5 for 2015, and it's official name just might be Nexus 5X, according to new box art leaks. The first phone was the reasonably sized, reasonably priced LG-made phone that Google launched 2013, and if all of the new Nexus 5X rumors are to believed, the a sequel is coming in a few days. That's good news for anyone who was disappointed that the Mountain View company stopped selling its acclaimed phone earlier this year, in favor of focusing on the much bigger Nexus 6 2014. Current speculation points to LG giving its phone a specs boost, much-needed camera upgrade, and a high resolution display that packs more pixels into the same likable 5 inches. There's still bound to be a new Nexus 6P for 2015, but for non-giants who lack meaty paws, here's what we know about the Nexus 5 refresh in the form of the Nexus 5X. Cut to the chase What is it? Google's upcoming Android flagship phone When is it out? September 29 launch, with likely early October release date What will it cost? Less than rivals, but it won't be cheap Nexus 5X 2015 release date We have an answer for anyone who asks us, "When is Nexus 5X release date?" and it's "as soon as Android Marshmallow launches." They're not amused. Thankfully, we can follow up on that cruel joke by pointing to an official Google press conference, and not one, but two rumors that says the new Nexus will launch on Tuesday, September 29. The date makes a lot of sense. Google uses its Nexus devices as a reference design and pushes out a new phone with every major Android update. With Android Marshmallow on its final developer preview as of mid-August, the speculation seems to indicate that it'll be announced in a few short days. September 29 sounds about right. Don't get your Google Wallet ready just yet. September is crowded (see: iPhone 6S). It probably won't be delivered until October, which is the same month the Nexus 6 2014 was unveiled. Rumors point to a pre-order date of October 13 in the US, while its worldwide availability is unclear. Nexus 5X 2015 price The new Nexus 5X could once again give us a solid-performing phone at an affordable price, and that's a relief because last year's Nexus 6 bumped up the price considerably. How much will the Nexus 5X 2015 cost? While no one is certain, unconfirmed prices range between $300-400 (around £193-257 / AU$406-542), according to GizmoChina. That's very comparable to the SIM-free Nexus 5 from two years ago, which retailed for $349 (£299, AU$399) without a contract. It's also a savings next to the Nexus 6, which cost $650 (£500, $870) at full retail price when it came out almost a year ago. Nexus 5X 2015 design Phone designs are trending in the direction of premium build materials, like the glass-and-metal Samsung Galaxy S6 and the leather-backed LG G4. That's not what we expect from Google's affordable handset, however. Backing up this theory, we may have just gotten our first glimpse of the Nexus 5X 2015, thanks to a leak out of Indonesia, and the photo jives with other rumors we've heard before. Previously, GizmoChina claimed that the new Nexus sports a matte plastic back cover. That's what we may be seeing in the blurry picture. A clearer image claiming to show the back of the Nexus 5X 2015 was posted by AndroidPit, and it looks very similar to the previous image we saw. The image is a genuine photo, according to AndroidPit's anonymous source, and not a computer generated render. It shows a rear fingerprint sensor, raised camera lens and an LED flash. There's also further evidence in that photo that there will be a fingerprint sensor on the back. Android Pay, anyone? That image was followed up by a shot showing the side of the phone, this time with an original Nexus 5 below it for comparison. They look very similar, but the new model is quite a bit slimmer and has differently positioned buttons. Another image of the Nexus 5X 2015 was revealed by a case maker, this time giving us a good glance of what the front of the new device could look like. It shows a front-facing selfie camera, front-facing speakers and two pretty thick bezels on the top and bottom of the screen, which means the new Nexus 5X 2015 probably isn't going to be the most compact or svelte of phones. Other Nexus 5X 2015 design rumors include front-facing speakers and an aluminium frame, though the side shot we've seen looks distinctly plastic. Android Marshmallow is pushing USB Type C support for the first time, and the Nexus 5X could make a good example of its use. Why let the OnePlus 2 have all of the fun, being the only phone with this next-generation connector? Renowned leaker account @OnLeaks also posted an image on Twitter that apparently shows the new Nexus 5X 2015 in all its glory. The image ties in with other rumours we've heard about the Nexus 5X 2015, and @OnLeak's reputation is pretty solid when it comes to revealing upcoming phones. Nexus 5X display, specs, camera and battery life Nexus 5X 2015 display Expect an LG-made Nexus 5X to stick with a battery-friendly 1080p display instead of going the quad HD route that will likely be chosen for the new Nexus 6P 2015. That said, Nexus 5X rumors suggest that the screen technology will change from an IPS LCD to a P-OLED, and that it'll go from the 4.95-inch size we saw two years ago, to 5.2 inches. Yes, it can still be called a Nexus 5X, even with this minor adjustment. Phone manufacturers like round up or down when considering a device's name, so larger display isn't all too surprising. Nexus 5X 2015 specs The new Nexus 5X may put "premium" in its internal specs instead of its body or display, and that seems to be what new benchmark leaks indicate. It's pegged to have a Qualcomm processor, with rumors hinting at a Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor, like the LG G4 (that makes sense) – or, if we're lucky, a Snapdragon 820. The Snapdragon 820 chip may be saved for the Nexus 6P 2015, but a new Nexus 5X-linked benchmark test would have you think – and hope – otherwise. The best phones in the latter half of 2015 are boosting their performance with 4GB RAM, and that's what has been tipped for the Nexus 5X 2015. That's double the memory two years ago. Nexus 5X 2015 camera If there's one thing Google needs to get right with its next Nexus, it's making a phone with a great camera. Nexus fans have consistently complained about mediocre photos. There's a little more confidence behind the Nexus 5X camera knowing that LG may be in charge of the device again. The firm really stepped up its sensor and post-processing game with the LG G4. Rumors point to a 13MP snapper on back, with a wide f/1.8 aperture lens, LG's advanced laser autofocus, optical image stabilisation and a dual-LED flash. Save for the 16MP sensor and the dual-LED flash, these camera specs matches the LG G4. Next to the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the newer Galaxy Note 5, it's the best smartphone camera out there. Nexus 5X 2015 battery life The Nexus 5X 2013 battery life was the phone's second biggest problem, and LG may address that by upping the capacity from 2,300mAh to 2,700mAh or even 3,180mAh. This giant leap would actually best the LG G4 battery, that's an even 3,000mAh, despite the company's 5.5-inch flagship having more room. Now, if LG could do a better job of reducing its handset battery drain, that would be perfect. The G4 had issues with background tasks eating away at otherwise solid battery capacity. The Android Marshmallow release date looks ready for September 29, and that almost certainly means that the LG-made Nexus 5X 2015 launch will be then too. We'll keep updating this page with all of the rumors until Google makes the big announcement. Here's what we've heard about the Nexus 6P for 2015

Apple Watch to invade T-Mobile stores soon Posted: 23 Sep 2015 02:08 PM PDT If you want an Apple Watch and you're heading into T-Mobile this Friday, you'll be able to pick one up alongside the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. T-Mobile joins Sprint as the only carriers to have the Apple Watch available, with no word yet on if AT&T and Verizon will be stocking the Apple wearable yet or not. But while the Apple Watch and Apple Watch Sport will be available at T-Mobile, the Uncarrier won't be stocking the more expensive Apple Watch Edition. How much with the Uncarrier? T-Mobile will have the 38mm Apple Watch Sport for a limited-time offer of $0 upfront, with a monthly payment of $14.54 per month for 23 months (with the 24th month to cost $14.58). The 42mm Apple Watch Sport will come with a limited-time offer of $0 upfront as well, with a $16.62 monthly repayment for 23 months ( $16.74 for the 24th month). You can also purchase the 38mm Apple Watch Sport for $349 and the 42mm for $399 outright. You can check out which Apple Watch Sports models (and sizes) will be available here. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch will cost $549 for the 38mm model and $599 for the 42mm model outright, and will be available in stainless steel with black or white Sport bands. Every Apple Watch model, band and size

iOS 9 bug fixes arrive with iOS 9.0.1 update Posted: 23 Sep 2015 01:58 PM PDT The first round of iOS 9 bug fixes have landed, just one week after iOS 9 went public. The fixes arrive with iOS 9.0.1, a small update that users can download over the air now. On the bug side of things, iOS 9.0.1 does the following: Fixes an issue where some users could not complete setup assistant after updating Fixes an issue where sometimes alarms and timers could fail to play Fixes an issue in Safari and Photos where pausing video could cause the paused frame to appear distorted Fixes an issue where some users with a custom APN setup via a profile would lose cellular data The update also brings some performance enhancements to Apple's latest mobile OS. The timing for iOS 9.0.1 couldn't be more clutch: the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus launch globally on September 25 and iOS 9 adoption is on a fast-moving clip. Are you running into any issues with iOS 9, even after updating to iOS 9.0.1? If so, let us know! And for more on iOS 9, check out: iOS 9: 50 tips and tricks iOS 9 review iOS 8 vs iOS 9

Review: Olympus Air A01 Posted: 23 Sep 2015 01:30 PM PDT Introduction and features Cameras, as we once knew them, have changed. In just a few years, the popularity of point-and-shoot cameras has given way to smartphones. Similarly, mirrorless cameras are rising in adoption over DSLRs. Soon, the next advent could be Lens Cameras, pioneered by Sony's QX line. Now, Olympus has introduced its own smartphone-powered entry: the A01 Air. The Olympus Air might look like an unassuming cylinder no bigger than a can of Red Bull. But really, it's a miniature camera complete with a 16-megapixel (MP), Micro Four Thirds (MFT) sensor and a mount to attach lenses to. The only thing the shooter lacks is a screen. That's where your smartphone comes in, acting as both a remote control and display for composition. Priced at $299 (about £195, AU$423) for just the body ($599/£391/AU$849 when kitted with the 14-42mm EZ Lens), Olympus's lens camera is 100 bones cheaper than the $399 (£249, AU$509) Sony QX1, and it has a larger lens family to boot. While the Olympus Air A01 is designed to up your smartphone photography game, it feels more like it's a glimpse of the future for photography. That said, this one is more for diehard enthusiasts than something the average Instagram nut should pick up right now. Build and handling The Olympus Air A01 is a tiny thing, measuring only 2.2 inches (56mm) in diameter and 1.7 inches (43mm) tall. It's even lighter than a small jar of baby food at just 0.4 pounds (147g). The Air certainly earns it name when compared to the heavier the 0.7-pound (216g) Sony QX1. Olympus's lens camera solution is also smaller, thanks to being a perfect cylinder and packing a smaller sensor. The QX1 is a bulkier device, with little offshoots on its puck-shaped body including a pop up flash that bring its overall dimensions up to 2.76 x 2.09 x 2.91 inches (70 x 53 x 74mm). While this is great for the Air's portability, it doesn't feel like the world's most balanced camera, with half of Olympus's lenses being larger and weighing more than the Air. This is especially apparent when the camera rig tips forward when I have a large lens, like the Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 Pro, attached to the front. The Olympus Air is similarly light when it comes to onboard controls. Along the top, you'll find a small power button as well as a large oval shaped shutter release, which makes it easy to snap a photo regardless of how you're holding this mini camera. On the sides, you'll find two switches; one toward the front keeps your lens locked in place, while the one at the rear secures the smartphone clip. You'll use this fold-down clip to attach mobile devices as large as the iPhone 6S Plus and Nexus 6. Unlike the Sony QX1, the Olympus Air clips your smartphone in place at a diagonal that makes it much more usable for low and high-angle shots. Remove the mobile device mount and you'll find an additional switch to turn off the device's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in addition to the micro USB charging port. Unfortunately, you have to peel off yet another plastic cover before you can actually get to the microSD card. While most photographers will be annoyed with all the steps to get to the memory card, not to mention the lack of control dials and programmable shortcut buttons, you'll primarily use the Air through the accompanying OA Central app available on iOS and Android. Connectivity and the app interface An iOS or Android phone is essential for using the Olympus Air. Sure, you can go around shooting blindly, but you'll need the companion smartphone to access the full range of shooting modes, tweaks to camera settings and to see what you're actually capturing. Luckily, Olympus has streamlined the process by integrating NFC into the Air lens camera. Alternatively, you can scan a QR code located on the back to quickly setup a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection. Once the devices are paired, you can start up the camera entirely from the app and get to shooting in a few taps. For the most part, you'll gravitate primarily towards the "Mode Dial" portion of the app, which starts up the camera and lets you get to taking images. From there, the interface is very much like a beefed up iPhone or Android camera app, with a large shutter button at the bottom of the screen. Along the bottom, you'll also see your basic exposure settings, including shutter speed, ISO sensitivity and aperture. Along the top, you'll also find more settings, including auto focus mode, metering and additional options, like burst mode (which takes a quick succession of images). If you so choose, you can even go into a full manual mode. On the opposite end of the spectrum, being built for pro photographers, novices can comfortably use this lens camera on automatic modes. Olympus has also implemented an OA Genius function that automatically edits your photos. The smartphone app essentially takes your original photo and produces six deviations by adjusting exposure and color levels, adding photo filters and cropping the image in creative ways. Users can then choose a version of the image works for them – or just choose the one they originally shot – and the OA Central app will begin to remember your preference. Whether you're an amateur just getting their feet wet or a veteran photographer who's interested in pushing this camera to its limits, the OA Central is a versatile app that backs up this powerful, pocket camera. But while the app is great, I wish the wireless connection between the Air and smartphone was a bit more reliable – but I'm getting ahead of myself. Performance The Olympus Air A01 comes sporting the same 16MP, MFT image sensor as the first generation OMD E-M10. The Air also inherits the E-M10's 81 contrast autofocus points – the sensor detects different colors and levels of brightness automatically – and its TruePic VII processing engine. While this means you'll easily get sharp and colorful images, it also means pushing the ISO sensitivity above and beyond the 1,600 mark is just asking for trouble. Unlike the OMD E-M5 II and OMD E-M10 II, the Air does not suppress noise as well. Expect to run into other color issues when trying to take photos in dimly lit environments. What's more, the Air A01 isn't equipped with any of Olympus's sensor-based image stabilization technology. That makes it that much harder to shoot a steady image in the dark without the aid of a tripod or monopod. Olympus says its lens camera will digitally suppress camera shake, but it's a poor substitute for optical image stabilization, or OIS. Given the small stature of the Olympus Air, battery life isn't great either. Olympus claims you should expect to get about 320 photos out of a full charge. With real world usage, the Air allows me to shoot for several hours, but it almost always flops over after about half a day. However, with USB charging, at least the thing can be charged on the go – if you have a portable USB battery. Shortcomings aside, I am thoroughly impressed with the quality of images I can take with this pocket camera. They are just as sharp as the photos I produce with my Olympus OMD E-M5 Mark II and doing everything from a smartphone makes it that much faster to go from taking a shot to editing and posting it online. Breaking line of sight I've fallen in love with the sheer flexibility the Olympus Air A01. Because I don't need to look at a screen attached to the camera, I point the device at all odd angles to capture new perspectives. It's liberating not to have to be chained to an electronic or optical viewfinder. While articulating LCDs offer some amount of freedom when composing a shot, you can be that much more creative when you're holding the camera in one hand and the screen in the other. I find it invaluable for public street shooting, which can be an intrusive form of photography for your unwitting subjects. The only ways to get around the problem is either by just being quicker on the draw or just shooting intuitively with zone-focusing. With the Air in hand, however, I was able to casually stand right next to a person (in a public space, of course) and take their photo while pretending to look at my smartphone. It's a bit craftier than pointing a camera directly at someone's face, but having a smaller camera makes street photography less threatening. For this reason the Air is one of the least intrusive cameras you can tote around. Connection issues Unfortunately, the most annoying thing about the Air is how often it drops connection with your smartphone. Whenever this happens, the camera app's live view stops on a freeze frame, preventing me from seeing what I am shooting. Worse yet, I can't access any of the controls, including triggering the shutter. Thankfully, this issue doesn't lock up the camera, so I can still blindly fire off the shutter and hopefully catch the shot. It's a pervasive problem that almost always happens at the most inopportune times while I'm out street shooting. As far as I can tell, it's an issue that crops up no matter whether I'm outside on the street, in a park or in an office building congested with wireless signals. Worse yet, I simply could not get the app and camera to connect while using the Olympus Air A01 with a Motorola Moto X (2014). The coolest bit about the Air is its ability to beam what it sees to your smartphone. When that feature frequently fails, it frankly renders the entire point of the device moot. In the future, I hope Olympus will be able to improve the reliability of its lens camera's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection. In the meantime, it's simply too unreliable, so prepare to fire off the camera blindly at times. Sample Images Verdict The Olympus Air A01 is unlikely to replace your dedicated camera. It's much more likely to interest those who are looking for a smaller companion shooter to go with their more serious DSLR or mirrorless camera, or something to seriously up their smartphone photography game. Compared to just about any smartphone camera, the Air resolves more detail, fuller colors, deeper shadows and generally better dynamic range. You won't likely be using this lens camera in a studio environment, however, this camera will up your photography game with better food photos, landscapes, group selfies and just about any picture you would normally take with a smartphone. Don't forget about the extra flexibility, either. Because you can point the camera without having to look at the display, you can use the Air to take images from all sorts of new perspectives. We liked The Air A01 isn't breaking any new ground that the Sony QX1 has already treaded on, but I feel like Olympus has delivered with a stronger solution. The camera is physically smaller, making it easier to slip into your bag. At the same time, Olympus has developed a beginner-friendly app that automatically edits and cuts your photo into multiple styles. Then there's also the matter of the Micro Four Thirds world having a much larger catalog of lenses from Olympus and Panasonic. Of course, the best thing about the Olympus Air is how you can shoot it completely independent of seeing what it does. Thanks to the constantly beaming live-view footage to your smartphone, you can hold up the camera at all sorts of angles you might have never thought of or thought possible, even with an articulating screen. We disliked The usefulness of the Olympus Air lives and dies with the smartphone app. But after having the whole setup freeze on me so many times, it's frustratingly unreliable as is. The ability to control a camera completely from your smartphone offers more creative freedom, but it's still nowhere nearly as fast as putting a real camera up to your eye and pressing the shutter button. Final verdict A few years ago, lens cameras seemed like a strange fad. But with more Wi-Fi-connected cameras cropping up from the Sony QX1 to HTC Re, it's beginning to make sense. A camera that you can use completely independent of your line of sight opens up a whole new world of photographic possibilities. If you're already invested in Olympus's lens family, $299 (about £195, AU$423) isn't a bad way to spend your money for a compact secondary camera. It's far cheaper than the rest of Olympus's compact system camera lineup, and it will work with any MFT lens while delivering surprisingly sharp and colorful photos despite the incredibly tiny size of the device. Knowing the app falls into sporadic fits when connection problems arise, the Olympus Air is a fun little device that I hope only gets better with future firmware updates. This could very well be the future of photography, but it needs a little more time in the dark room.

New Star Wars 360-degree video is among first on Facebook Posted: 23 Sep 2015 11:16 AM PDT Facebook has announced that 360-degree videos will begin rolling out in News Feeds starting today. Rumors that Facebook would be launching the new video feature popped up last week, though it was suggested then that the feature would be launched through a standalone app. Instead, the social media giant today launched the feature as part of its video offering, which means 360-degree videos will available right on your New Feed. As part of the announcement, a number of companies have launched 360-degree videos, including a 360 experience from Star Wars: The Force Awakens that was made exclusively for Facebook, which you can view here. The video, for anyone interested, has you speed across the Jakku desert from the upcoming movie. Other 360-degree videos that are available to watch right now on Facebook include Saturday Night Live, VICE and GoPro, among others. Catching up By adding 360-degree videos, Facebook is playing a bit of catch up with Google, as 360-degree videos have been available on YouTube since earlier this year. "In the future, imagine watching 360 videos of a friend's vacation to a small village in France or a festival in Brazil - you'll be able to look around and experience it as if you were there," Facebook said, so we imagine the feature won't be available to just professional content makers. You'll be able to see the new immersive videos on Facebook through the web or on Android devices, with the feature to be rolled out to iOS in "the coming months." Facebook says that on the web, you can drag your cursor within the video screen to view the different video angles, while on mobile, you can move around the video by dragging your finger in the direction you want. And like with other 360-degree videos available on phones, Facebook says you can also "hold up your phone, and the 360 video will follow you as you turn, looking around, to experience things from all over the world like never before." The VR race: who's closest to making VR a reality?

This gel-filled touchscreen produces temporary physical buttons Posted: 23 Sep 2015 11:06 AM PDT If you're one of those folk who miss the physical buttons from the days of yore, researchers from Technische Universität Berlin in Germany has created a gel-filled touchscreen prototype that can form soft buttons of any shape or size from just a your touch. The researchers are calling the 7-inch prototype GelTouch, with a layer of this gel sitting on top of a conductive film and touchscreen. The gel remains fluid in room temperature, but hardens up when it is warmed to form the button. It works with the conducive film, which carries electrical currents in a pattern, so that when your finger sits atop a section of the screen, it heats up and the gel forms a button in the shape of the pattern underneath. The prototype includes a number of button layouts, including a grid form, a slider and even a joystick-like button. While GelTouch is still a prototype, researchers believe that it could be used in a variety of different settings, including in cars, where the buttons on a touchscreen would allow user's to make selections through touch rather than having to look at the screen, like in the image above. You can check out the researcher's video over here for more details on how the tech works. Go full circle with the new Pebble Time Round smartwatch This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Go full circle with the new Pebble Time Round smartwatch Posted: 23 Sep 2015 10:00 AM PDT Pebble's already launched a new smartwatch this year with the Pebble Time, but that's apparently not enough for the Palo Alto-based outfit as it's now giving us the Pebble Time Round. With a focus on design, the Round claims the title of the world's thinnest and lightest smartwatch. It adds some much needed style and class to the firm's somewhat blocky, bulky image, while maintaining an always-on colour e-Ink display. Those with smaller wrists will be pleased to hear the Pebble Time Round comes with two band size options - 14mm and 20mm - and three body finishes (black, silver and rose gold), while the watch itself is a svelte 7.5mm thick and feather light 28g. There does seem to be a sizable bezel round the screen though. In comparison the smaller Apple Watch size is 10.5mm thick and tips the scales at 40g, the LG Watch Urbane is 10.9mm and 66.5g while the Moto 360 is a portly 11.4mm. Pebble claims the Time Round will last up to two days on a single charge, and can regain a whole day of juice from just 15 minutes of charging. That's not as long as previous Pebble watches, but considering the dimensions the Round probably has a much smaller battery packed into its size zero frame. No crowds required The good news for fans is this time you don't have to wait for a crowd-funding campaign to end before Pebble starts shipping it wears. You can reserve yourself a Pebble Time Round today from the Pebble website, with prices starting at $249, £229. As this is a Pebble watch it works with both iOS and Android, with an SDK available to devs to easily port their apps over to the Time Round's circular display. For those based in the US the watch will be hitting wrists from early November, but for anyone in the UK or Europe there's a wait until 2016 before the Round makes the journey across the Atlantic. Read our Pebble Time review

This mobile network offers you a free SIM-only deal for life Posted: 23 Sep 2015 09:00 AM PDT You can now get yourself a free SIM-only contract running off Three's UK network for life, without any catch. The service is called FreedomPop and will offer you 200 minutes, 200 texts and 200MB of 4G data a month, after you've spent £7 for delivery and SIM activation. That's a small price to pay for a free service that the CEO says is "guaranteed for life." We can't really see that guarantee continuing if the company gets shut down. If you go over your monthly limits you'll be charged 1.5p per a MB of data used. It's not currently clear how much it'll cost per a minute or text. Unbelievable deals The service is well established though – Freedom Pop has been running in the US since 2012 and the UK is the first market to see the service in a much wider expansion. The network also offers a £9 a month tariff with 1000 minutes, 1000 texts and 1GB of data as well as a £12 a month deal with unlimited minutes, texts and 2GB of data. It's all really cheap and the idea is to get you in on the free contract and expand upwards from there – no-one offers prices this cheap either so it's worth a look if your contract is also up. It's worth a shot even if your contract isn't up, you can order your SIM for free here - though remember you still need to pay that £7 delivery charge. Everything you need to know about 4G

What's Amazon's next big TV show? That's up to you Posted: 23 Sep 2015 08:15 AM PDT Coming in hot off the success of its first Emmy award wins with Transparent, Amazon has announced its next bundle of pilots. Just like in years past, viewers with Amazon Prime have the voting power to decide which shows get greenlit, and conversely, the shows that don't make it past the pilot. This season's offering brings six pilots of incredible diversity to the table. First off, Edge: The Loner is a western-themed pilot based on George G. Gilman's book series. It has the reputation of being "the most violent western in print", so tune into this one if you enjoy gritty action. Good Girls Revolt has its focus set on the newsroom in the late 1960s, one of the last occupations in the workforce to be reserved exclusively for men. The pilot follows a group of young female researches fighting for gender equality in the workplace and a change in the way an industry operates from the inside-out. Next up is Highston. It's a pilot about a 19-year old who has a group of celebrity friends. That might sound pretty unremarkable, except for the fact that all of these friends are imaginary. Check this out if you're into comedy that involves a central character living in a world that's (likely) much stranger than your own. One Mississippi is a dark comedy with none other than Louis CK onboard as executive producer. The pilot is loosely inspired by Tig Notaro's life, a stand-up comedian who has overcome some serious odds, ones that many of us can relate to. Patriot is a political thriller centered around an intelligence officer who has to assume a new life in order to prevent Iran from going nuclear. Fans of Homeland and House of Cards will probably want to check this one out. Lastly, Z is a bio-series based on the life of Zelda Fitzgerald. Of course, meeting and marrying American literature great F. Scott Fitzgerald is a central part of the story, but there's much more to it than that. As someone who has only heard of Zelda through F. Scott's lens, I'm intrigued to check this one out. Christina Ricci from Monster and Addam's Family stars as Zelda. Amazon is burning rubber to catch up to Netflix's successful lineup of shows. Will this batch of pilots be up there in both quality and staying-power to rival that of House of Cards, or new favorite, Narcos? Check them out, vote, then let us know which ones you liked. Here's your first look at Amazon Prime Video's offline viewing

Updated: Best Browsers 2015: the top five candidates for your PC Posted: 23 Sep 2015 08:15 AM PDT Introduction There was once a time when the world of web browsing was ruled by Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Those days are fast becoming ancient history thanks to the veritable smorgasboard of browsers out there catering to everyone's habits On the whole browsers are completely free and offer a similar experience in that they find web pages and deliver them as quickly as possible. In addition to the regular suspects of Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Opera there are plenty of new browsers ready to bring new perspective including Torch, Tor, Web Freer and various others. That's before you even bring Microsoft's brand spanking new Edge browser into the equation. To find you the best browsing experience we've gone through the list with a fine tooth comb and picked out what we think are the five best free browsers for Windows PC users in the world right now. Mozilla Firefox Constant updates, add-ons and high performance across all platforms, especially Windows PCs, makes Mozilla Firefox one of the most popular web browsers on the planet. Its intuitive interface lends itself to beginners whereas the high level of customisation makes sure that advanced users are kept on their toes. Tabbed browsing is at its heart and the add-ons is where Firefox really comes into its own by offering all kinds of ways to tinker with the browsing experience. Security is kept at an exceedingly high level thanks to the slew of updates that are always being worked on and a speed test last year showed that it is only second to Internet Explorer for speed. Firefox, like most of its competitors, is constantly evolving and the latest feature to arrive as part of Firefox 41 is instant messaging for both desktop and Google Android users. Windows versions going all the way back to 95 can still use versions of Firefox yet the latest stable version (35.0.1 at the time of writing) are only available for XP Service Pack 2, Server 2003 SP1 or later versions. As for the future, stable builds are on the way all the time and for HTML5 it is just bested by Google Chrome and Opera, thus making its features exceedingly hard for any other browser to beat. Google Chrome Battling it out at the top of the browsing ranks is Google Chrome and for users plugged into the Google ecosystem it's quite simply a joy to behold. It offers a cross-platform browsing experience that is second-to-none in terms of syncing information but to the run-of-the-mill Windows PC user it won't matter that this option is available. Like Firefox, Chrome comes with a wide array of apps and add-ons from the Chrome Store that add a considerable amount to the browsing experience and one area that it does even better than Firefox is the HTML5 loading speed that is at a higher level than any other Windows browser. Chrome only runs on Windows XP SP2 or later and with support for XP disappearing in April 2015 it will be one of those browsers of of reach of those running older versions of the world's most popular OS. In all honesty it's very hard to choose between Firefox and Chrome as they're both similar in what they offer to the end user so pick whichever you like the look of. Microsoft Edge Unless you've been living the existence of a hermit for the past couple of months, you'll know that Microsoft released a replacement for Internet Explorer in late July in the shape of Microsoft Edge. Designed to harness the very best of Windows 10, on first look the browser already appears completely different to its far older sibling except for one thing - it uses an 'e' as its logo that makes it familiar as the home of the internet for many PC users. One big way that it differs from IE apart from the design is the lightning quick performance it offers thus addressing a significant bug bear for IE users in the past. There are obviously teething problems inside a browser that was in early beta as recently as March and one of the most annoying of these is certain sites that rely on Microsoft's Silverlight tech don't function correctly. The same applies for various poorly build sites that don't appear as they should. Where it really comes into its own, though, is through the integration with Cortana that allows you to select anything and then 'Ask Cortana' what it is before it is displayed in the sidebar. Cortana is a big part of Windows 10 and its presence in Edge is a welcome addition. Its very nature as part of the new era of Windows-as-a-Service means the problems will be ironed out as time goes on and as a break from the IE tradition this has the potential to be very impressive indeed. Opera One of the newest browsers on the top table is Opera with a speedy experience and various little extras that make it a credible rival to the big three Windows PC browsers. Yet again you'll notice the tabbed browsing experience that feel rather squared compared with Firefox and Chrome, and closer to IE in terms of looks. Although the similarities to IE end there. Its extra features make it stand out and none more so than the Turbo mode. Opera's shot of NOS speeds up page loading times by compressing pages by up to 80 per cent and it is a god send for anyone with a sluggish connection. Although we're not sure whether Opera's claim that it will make a dial-up connection resemble a broadband line, it certainly does make it a lot quicker to get on to certain pages. Speed dial is another added extra that enables you to add your favourite sites as large icons to the start screen, however, most other browsers now have a similar version of this available and the same can be said for the add-ons that are also elsewhere. Torch Sick of having to download apps or an add-on everything you do anything online? Torch is a Chrome-based browser that comes with a range of nifty tools already built-in to prevent you having to continually find add-ons. Torch looks exactly the same as Chrome interface-wise, although that's where the comparison ends as there's so much more you can do from the get-go including the ability to download torrents and grab media straight from pages. There's also dedicated tabs for music, which clicks in to YouTube to deliver a polished Spotify-esque experience, and games are laid out as app tiles and can be played from right inside the browser. In addition there are custom home and search page backdrops that come with the time in the top left corner and options for all manner of different wallpapers that can be accessed by selecting the menu in the top right corner. It displays the same lightning quick HTML5 speeds as Google Chrome and Torch is an excellent alternative for anyone looking to a browser that breaks away from the norm.

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