Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 12-31-2013

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Roundup: Gear of the year: TechRadar's top tech from 2013 Dec 31st 2013, 09:00, by James Rivington That's it, folks. It's all gone. The tech year of 2013 is over and we now look ahead to 2014. It's been an astonishing year in the world of consumer tech. Smartphones have moved forward another step as specs iterate and more importantly, build quality has become a headline factor. Our best in class phone - the HTC One - is the best example of this. It was the first Android handset to really match Apple on build quality and it still sits at the top of our best phone rankings. Ultrabooks have gone touchscreen in the last 12 months, with some truly stunning products from the likes of Asus, Samsung and Lenovo. Cameras are getting smarter, sat navs are getting bigger and let's not forget we have two next gen consoles on our hands now as well. Join us as we run down our list of all the best in class products from the last 12 months. HTC One Best in class: Smartphone Released: March 2013 Top of the list has to be the HTC One - the best phone of the year without a doubt. It's got the wow-factor that made us fall in love with the HTC Desire, and manages to bring Sense back to a level that shows off the best of Android, rather than obfuscating it. There are those who pine for stock Android Jelly Bean, but earlier Android updates aside, we happen to think that Sense is better. The camera is a great addition for on the spot shooting - if you want to take the photos and blow them up somewhere, it's not the phone for you, but if you want to be able to snap your friends in pubs without it being a blurry, dark mess, the HTC One comes into its own. The Galaxy S4 is sleeker, the iPhone 5 is, well, Apple-ier, and the Nexus 5 is cheaper. But for the overall package of smartphone design and functionality, the HTC One stands head and shoulders above the rest. HTC One review Moto G Best in class: Budget smartphone Released: November 2013 Yes, it's a Motorola phone in our best in class list! The Motorola brand is back folks, it's official. It may not be the return we would have predicted - there's no flagship phone stuffed full of the latest tech - but arguably what the now Google-owned firm has done is even better. The Moto G is a top notch, low cost smartphone and we wholeheartedly recommend this as the best budget mobile currently on the market. We were genuinely impressed with the feature set on the Moto G, so if you're looking for a low cost phone you can stop searching - just go out and grab a Moto G right now. Moto G review iPad Air Best in class: Tablet Released: November 2013 Our best tablet was a no-contest. It's the iPad Air. From the clever construction to the fast processor to the improved user interface, Apple has found an answer to every criticism we had of the device and then some. The fact it's not even more expensive than its large-screen brethren is really impressive for an Apple product, and the suite of apps that are now free, coupled with the excellent App Store and premium build, make this a no brainer for anyone looking to enter the tablet market. We'd advise that you get the largest capacity your budget can manage - although at the top end you're verging on Macbook territory, so make sure you're ready to use a tablet and think about getting an external keyboard to make full use of the extra apps you've now got. You've seen the score, and for those keeping tabs you'll realise this is TechRadar's first five-star tablet. It's a device with almost no flaws - it's not just Apple's best tablet, it's the only tablet you should be considering this Christmas if you're keen on a larger screen. iPad Air review Nexus 7 2013 Best in class: Budget tablet Released: August 2013 If you're looking for a 7-inch tablet, we'll put it like this: there is no better alternative on the market, right now. The Nexus 7 is the best in its class. And be aware of that qualification, because markets change very quickly. The Nexus 7 wipes the floor with the competition but Google could have worked at 100% rather than 97% to make the Nexus 7 the one to beat. For original Nexus 7 owners, it may not be worth an upgrade, but for new tablet buyers, you can't knock that value for money, and this is going to be amassive seller in the run-up to the holiday season. If you're an Android fan, snap one up right away. But if you're on the fence, we definitely recommend checking out the Retina iPad Mini or new Kindle Fire HD. Nexus 7 2013 review Sony KD-65X9005A Best in class: 4K TV Released: March 2013 Our best TV of the year is the KD-65X9005A - much more than just another large screen. The poster boy for a new generation of broadcast technology, it delivers a picture experience quite unlike conventional Full HD screens. Image quality with native 4K content is simply astonishing, both in terms of absolute fidelity and image depth. But perhaps the biggest surprise is just how beneficial its panel density is with Full HD too. Upscaling is extremely effective, and with Blu-ray (particularly Mastered in 4K discs), it simply shines. There's been considerable debate as to whether the 4K at this screen size is an appreciable advantage in the average home. Well we can confirm it most definitely is. Debate closed. Sony KD-65X9005A review TomTom Go 6000 Best in class: Sat nav Released: August 2013 The TomTom Go 6000 is very impressive. The interface is intuitive, with TomTom's excellent routing benefiting from being able to draw on live traffic data to make for incredibly accurate journey times as well. The experience you'll enjoy when using this compared to what you'll get from a smartphone or even an older sat nav is incredible. You won't be second guessing what's around the corner or waiting for the signal to catch up - and while that will cost you, it's money well spent. TomTom Go 6000 review AMD Radeon R9 290 Best in class: Graphics card Released: December 2013 Our favourite graphics card has to be the 290. No sooner had we put the finishing touches to our R9 290X review when the red-tinged graphics gurus went and released this new card based on the exact same GPU. And it's a bit of a doozy. We would bet that anybody who dropped a lot of money on an R9 290X is probably cursing vociferously. At a far cheaper price point all you're really losing out on is the 'X' in the title – the actual gaming performance has barely suffered at all. This card offers super value and it's the one to buy for PC gaming enthusiasts this year. AMD Radeon R9 290 review Panasonic DMP-BDT230 Best in class: Blu-ray player Released: February 2013 In the furore about whether streaming is taking over from optical discs, Panasonic's mid-range Blu-ray player makes a strong case for the survival of hard media. It's our favourite BD player of the year due to its balance of both performance and price. Excellent digital media handling and a fairly wide suite of smart TV apps impress, but it's some excellent 2D, 3D and upscaled DVD images that make this Blu-ray player a standout option for even a high-end home cinema environment. Few decks can match it for pure image quality, and it's also one of the easiest 'smart' devices to use. It's also great to see Netflix here, complete with a dedicated button on the small, old-fashioned, but easy to understand remote control. Rather like its plasma TVs – far and away the finest TVs currently being manufactured – Panasonic's DMP-BDT230 delivers on quality, no question, but what it's surrounded with in terms of user interface design and smart TV apps means that it may be passed over in favour of ultimately less capable decks. That would be a shame since the DMP-BDT230 is a remarkably capable Blu-ray player, and great value, too. Panasonic DMP-BDT230 review B&W P7 Best in class: Headphones Released: October 2013 The B&W P7 headphones aren't for everyone. Some might find them uncomfortable, some might find that the lack of audio isolation spoils things. But for sound quality alone, these headphones are superb and that's why they're in this list. If we were to judge them on audio quality alone – sitting here, listening to the warm, layered, nuanced balm of Lambchop washing over us; pausing every now and then as a line, a chord, an arpeggio we've hitherto missed suddenly strikes us – then they'd undoubtedly score a perfect five stars. Regardless, the ultimate test of any product is whether you'd be happy to receive it as a gift or whether it would sit unloved in a drawer or be surreptitiously returned to the shop, and if someone gave us a set of B&W P7s, we'd give them a big kiss. B&W P7 review Samsung Ativ Book 9 Plus Best in class: Ultrabook Released: September 2013 The best Ultrabook of the year is the Samsung Atic Book 9 Plus. It offers a great package for those looking for a laptop that can be both a workhorse and an exemplary home entertainment machine. It's powerful, the battery life is stunning - all-day capable, even - and it has an incredible screen. The only fly-in-the-ointment here is whether you buy the cheaper Macbook Air, which is similarly specced, or the Sony Vaio Pro 13, which is almost identical on paper, but about £200 cheaper. You can even get the Core i7 version of the Sony for just £100 extra. Neither of these options have the amazing detail of the Ativ's screen, but we're not convinced it's a necessity, especially at this screen size. And we're not sure a business user would mind either, unless they were looking to maximise their screen real estate. Samsung Ativ Book 9 Plus review HP Envy TouchSmart 15 Best in class: Mainstream laptop Released: September 2013 Recently, the Envy line has been a bit hit and miss, but the Envy TouchSmart 15-j004ea is definitely a hit with us and it has become an office favourite at TechRadar Towers. It packs strong performance and great features at a price that's pretty reasonable: a 1080p screen, decent graphics card and latest-gen quad-core CPU are a great combination for under a grand. There are some slightly better value machines for power (Lenovo's IdeaPad Z500 Touch, for example), but you won't find quite this balance of specs for any less. It's not perfect, of course – anything that impresses on price is probably going to have a downside - but it's a great choice for those who want a Full HD screen and the power to back it up without breaking the bank. HP Envy TouchSmart 15 review MacBook Pro 15 Best in class: High-end laptop Released: December 2013 No surprises as to which product gets our best high-end laptop award. The main improvement offered by the October refresh of the 15-inch MacBook Pro is the switch to Haswell processors, which boost battery life by using less energy than the last generation of Core-i chips. They have better graphics too, with an integrated Intel Iris Pro chipset in both models. The cheaper version reviewed here doesn't have a discrete GPU. While a 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina screen is still a substantial investment, for professional users, graphic designers and video editors, it's an excellent solution for computing on the move. Battery life is even better than before, lasting an astonishingly long time on a single charge, and it's one of the most portable 15-inch notebooks around. We wish it were cheaper, but even at its current prices, you're certainly getting a lot of notebook for your money. Apple MacBook Pro 15 review Ricoh GR Best in class: Compact camera Released: June 2013 In the GR, Ricoh has created a superb pocketable alternative to a DSLR. It has all the control over exposure that you need and it is responsive, with fast write times. It produces very high quality images, that are generally well exposed, have natural colours and a very impressive level of detail. Noise is well controlled - especially in raw files, which at high sensitivity settings have a fine texture with no banding or clumping. Ricoh isn't a widely recognised camera brand in the way that Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Olympus are, but its compact cameras have found favour with enthusiasts and professionals in the past. The new Ricoh GR is an excellent addition to the Ricoh Pentax camera lineup, and given its considerably lower price than the Nikon Coolpix A and Fuji X100S, it's a definite hit. Ricoh GR review Canon EOS 70D Best in class: DSLR Released: November 2013 Canon has produced a very well rounded camera for enthusiast photographers. It has all the specifications that we expect, along with a few modern niceties in a body that feels well made and comfortable in the hand. It should be serious competition for the Nikon D7100. The new Dual Pixel AF system for Live View and Movie mode is very impressive. In bright light it's fast and decisive, being quickest in still mode and smoothest in movie mode. In low light, however, there's often some of the backwards and forwards adjustment that is typical of contrast detection systems rather than phase detection. All things considered, however, the Canon EOS 70D is a very desirable camera that is capable of producing superb results. Canon EOS 70D review Olympus OM-D E-M1 Best in class: Compact System Camera Released: November 2013 The E-M1 has a comprehensive feature set and its handling is well thought through. It also looks and feels like a 'proper camera'. It's weather-sealed so it can be used whatever the conditions, has plenty of direct controls with easy reach and has just about all the features an enthusiast photographer could want from a good walk-around camera. In fact it has such a wealth of features that some photographers are likely to be finding new modes and settings for some considerable time after purchase. Happily the E-M1 isn't all style and no substance, either. It also delivers high quality, correctly exposed images with plenty of detail, good colour and well-controlled noise. The images look natural and sharp and although there is noise visible at relatively low sensitivity settings, it isn't intrusive and only visible if you look for it at 100% on-screen. Olympus OM-D E-M1 review Spotify Premium Best in class: Music streaming Released: NA Spotify was the first mainstream music streaming service and remains the best. Available on all kinds of devices, the high quality music library is as comprehensive as it gets and it's still getting better. We'd like the web player to be improved, and the desktop client could do with a refresh. But these are moot criticisms because there is no the music service out there that can match Spotify for its ease of use and its incredible social features. Sharing and discovering music has never been easy and Spotify is the best of the best. Spotify review Netflix Best in class: Video streaming Released: NA Netflix is totally worth the money. If it had Breaking Bad and Johnny Bravo and nothing else, it'd still be worth the asking price, but when you consider the massive amount of TV series, the Disney films and the ability to watch programmes on pretty much any conceivable device, then six quid is an absolute steal. It isn't perfect - if recent movies are your thing then your money might be better spent on LoveFilm or on pay-per-view rentals - but when it comes to streaming video Netflix remains the service to beat. Netflix review Samsung's new 8GB mobile RAM could appear in Galaxy S5 Dec 30th 2013, 23:54, by Michael Rougeau Samsung has announced the world's first 8 Gigabit mobile RAM, which it says will increase performance in smartphones and tablets while reducing battery consumption. The 8Gb low power double data rate 4 (LPDDR4) mobile DRAM will succeed Samsung's LPDDR3 memory some time in 2014, the company said in a press release. Samsung said it will use the next-gen memory to focus on large-screened and high-resolution smartphones, tablets and ultra-slim notebooks, including devices with 4K displays. And the Korean Media reports that the Galaxy S5 will be the first phone to use it. The next step The Galaxy S5 is expected to appear early in 2014 with a 64-bit chip. Now that 64-bit phones are about to become a big deal (thanks to advancements made by the iPhone 5S), plenty of devices will actually be able to access more than 4GB of RAM, so Samsung's LPDDR4 comes at the perfect time. "This next-generation LPDDR4 DRAM will contribute significantly to faster growth of the global mobile DRAM market, which will soon comprise the largest share of the entire DRAM market," Samsung Executive Vice President of Memory Sales and Marketing Young-Hyun Jun said in the company's announcement. "We will continue introducing the most advanced mobile DRAM one step ahead of the rest of the industry so that global OEMs can launch innovative mobile devices with exceptional user convenience in the timeliest manner." High performance Samsung's new LPDDR4 memory uses 20-nanometer class process technology and packs 1GB onto a single die, which Samsung says makes it the densest DRAM available. In addition, the LPDDR4 reportedly offers twice the data transfer rate per pin and 50 percent higher performance overall than the best existing LPDDR3, and consumes approximately 40 percent less battery power. Samsung promises it will provide for "faster, more responsive applications, more advanced features, and higher resolution displays while maximizing battery life." Why 64-bit phones are going to be a big deal...but not yet: everything you need to know about the coming smartphone revolution Apple and Samsung are reportedly talking settlements again Dec 30th 2013, 21:33, by Michael Rougeau Apple and Samsung have been battling over patents for more than two years, but the two companies may finally reach an agreement. An official at the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has revealed to The Korea Times that Samsung and Apple "recently resumed working-level discussions toward the signing of a potential deal." "They are in the process of narrowing differences over royalty payments," the official said. If true, this isn't the first time the two tech giants have been involved in "peace talks," and the last time didn't go so well. But maybe they're as tired of this pointless battle as everyone else is by now? 'Money and pride' A Samsung source allegedly told The Korea Times that Samsung mobile boss Shin Jong-kyun may fly to the US for more peace talks with Apple CEO Tim Cook early in 2014. The two companies still have their differences; Samsung reportedly wants a comprehensive cross-licensing deal where it has access to all essential Apple patents, while Apple wants Samsung to pay $30 for every infringing device. But the KFTC official said that this is not really a "political issue" at all; in reality it's "all about money and pride." No surprise there. But both companies are supposedly being more flexible in their negotiations this time around. Cutting their losses? Anti-trust regulators in Europe and the United States are reportedly involved with the KFTC in discussing this matter. Court battles between Apple and Samsung are scheduled to resume in 2014, though perhaps not if the companies can reach an agreement soon. Samsung previously was ordered in California to pay over $1 billion (about £605m, AU$1.12b) to Apple, a sum that was subsequently halved by another court, then added to again. Most recently Samsung lost another case to Apple in Korea. That may be a factor in its willingness to negotiate with the iPhone maker, though its bargaining position may be somewhat reduced. We asked Samsung and Apple to comment on whether they've once again struck up negotiations, and we'll update here if we get word from either. Apple's future processors will be shared by Samsung, TSMC Samsung looking towards more RAM for smartphones with new chip Dec 30th 2013, 21:00, by Alex Hamilton Samsung electronics has announced a new chip that will make it possible for the company, and others, to build smartphones and tablets with up to 4GB of RAM. The firm has developed the industry's first 8 gigabit LPDDR4 (low power double data rate) mobile DRAM. By combining four of them, a high-end smartphone or tablet would be able to field 4GB of RAM, Samsung said on Monday. Advanced features Many expensive smartphones today have 2GB of RAM, while Samsung's own Galaxy Note 3 has 3GB. The memory increase, alongside the performance improvement, offered by the new chip will mean faster, more responsive applications. It will also open the door for more advanced features as well as higher resolution displays, according to the company. The new chip also consumes less power than current chipsets. The chip will start shipping next year and it will be used by large screen smartphones, tablets and ultra-slim notebooks, according to Samsung. Some of the devices will also have 4K or UHD screens, the company added, though without offering any product details. Other expected smartphone trends for next year are faster LTE network connections and faster processors. Qualcomm recently announced the Snapdragon 805 processor, which runs four cores at up to 2.5GHz and is expected to be available in commercial devices in the first half of 2014. The company is also expected to show what its next-generation devices will be powered by at the International CES trade show. Last week, Samsung posted a message on Twitter asking if followers were ready to unlock Exynos, which is what the company calls its mobile processors, on January 7 2014. Samsung set to flood tablet market in 2014 New BlackBerry CEO bullish on future. Where have we heard that before? Dec 30th 2013, 18:33, by Chris Smith The new man in charge in Waterloo, John Chen, is confident the company will be around for a long time to come, bullishly (yes we spelt that correctly) claiming 'BlackBerry cannot be replaced.' Chen, the executive chairman and interim CEO, outlined the strategy for the year ahead and, said he's up for the challenge of reviving BlackBerry's fortunes having turned troubled firms around before. Chen, who took over from Thorsten Heins in November, wrote in a lengthy column for CNBC: "I'm not focused on who BlackBerry used to be. I'm focused on what BlackBerry will be today and in the future. "Today, our company is strong financially, technologically savvy and is well-positioned for the future. In less than two months, my team and I have engineered a new strategy to stabilise the company, return to our core strength in enterprise and security, and maximise efficiencies." On the Enterprise BlackBerry's new strategy will, somewhat unsurprisingly, see it place focus on core businesses, which are "Enterprise Services, Messaging, QNX Embedded business and the Devices business," Chen said. "When it comes to enterprise, we're still the leader," he enthused. "Don't be fooled by the competition's rhetoric claiming to be more secure or having more experience than BlackBerry. "Many in the regulated industries — those with the most stringent security needs — still depend solely on BlackBerry to secure their mobile infrastructure. For governments, BlackBerry cannot just be replaced." There's always money in BBM... He also says there are plans to generate cash from BlackBerry Messenger, which is enjoying a renaissance with 40m users since launching on iOS and Android in late 2013. "Our popular messaging service, BBM, is also renowned in regulated industries for being the most secure mobile-messaging service, and consumers love it, too. In the last 60 days, more than 40 million new iOS and Android users have registered to use BBM," Chen wrote. "We will continue to invest in this popular service and build out its features and channels, with plans to turn it into a revenue stream in the coming years." Is this just another charm offensive aimed at preventing the bottom falling out of BlackBerry's tumbling stock price or has Chen really got the troops rallied? Manufacturing deal with Foxconn means there'll be at least five more years of BlackBerry smartphones. Google and Audi set to team up on Android-based in-car infotainment systems Dec 30th 2013, 17:16, by Chris Smith Google and high-end German auto manufacturer Audi are preparing to announce they're working together to produce a new generation of Android-based in-car systems. The partnership, set to be officially confirmed at the CES expo in early January, involves the creation of dedicated, built-in hardware, running on Google's mobile operating system. According to the Wall Street Journal's report, the units will give drivers access to some of the same navigation, entertainment and information tools that they enjoy on their smartphones and tablets. The article says Google and Audi will be joined in the venture by chip manufacturer Nvidia with the parties using CES to announce a timetable for Android-based systems to arrive in cars within 4 to 5 years. iOS vs Android pt. 5,526 The news comes as Apple prepares for its own march on in-car connectivity. Earlier this year it announced its own iOS in the Car initiative, which will allow iPhones and iPads to play nice with compatible vehicles. A recent iOS 7.1 beta provided evidence that iOS in the Car will be integrated within the update, which will land at a time yet to be determined. It seems that Apple and Google have found yet another ripe territory to battle over. Who'll come out on top this time? Would you rather have Apple Maps or Google Maps built into your motor? In depth: What does iOS in the Car mean for in-car multimedia?

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