| In Depth: Why contextual awareness is about to change the way you use tech Jul 12th 2014, 08:30, by Jamie Carter 
Fed up with constantly staring at your smartphone to accomplish menial tasks? Apps for this, apps for that, all needing to be downloaded, found, then launched at the appropriate time. Siri and Google Now may think they know what you want, but they have no idea where you are or what you're doing - yet. Step forward contextual awareness: a new breed of app coming to a smartphone or wearable near you. It promises to make use of the data it collects to second guess, and automate, a lot of your daily tasks. Soon, apps with some degree of contextual awareness will begin to fire up automatically. "While Google Now and Siri may be useful in spotting how the weather may change or how far you are from home, systems where the smartphone instantly enters relevant modes will ultimately prove far more useful," says Jay Karsandas, Digital Manager at Mobiles.co.uk. "This could include GPS in the car, calorie counters when jogging, or distance trackers when on a bike." 
When you sit down on your daily commuter train your most-used app will load - be it music, a game or your email inbox. And when you sit down in front of the TV, your second screen will be ready with Facebook, Twitter or eBay without you having to find the app manually. What will be contextually aware?Smartphones and tablets will be contextually aware, for sure, but this will benefit wearables especially. Independent research company Smartwatch Group analysed the 20 most relevant application areas for smart watches in 2020, with personal assistance the clear winner. "Highly efficient, context-aware management of your calendar, tasks, and information needs" is what we want from a smart watch, apparently, and the example given does sound enticing; your watch tells you when to leave for your next meeting, based on real-time traffic information. 
On the back of such contextual awareness, the Smartwatch Group expects half of the estimated 1.6 billion watches that will be sold in 2020 will be connected to the internet. Why wearables?Wearable tech will be one of the most important sources of data for contextual awareness platforms. "The sensors in wearable tech can go beyond what sensors fitted in a smartphone can detect, especially when it comes to health and physical data about the individual using wearable technology," says Henrik Torstensson, CEO of health and fitness platform Lifesum."Data accumulates continuously making services become more and more accurate and complex, based on the patterns and idiosyncrasies of human behaviour." How will contextually aware apps help us?Contextually aware apps could become integral parts of our culture. "The perception will be that they significantly improve quality of life, so that more and more people use them, without a second thought," says Torstensson. He believes the scientifically-based means to assess if we need to go to the gym more, change our sleep patterns, or add an extra green vegetable into our diet will prove irresistible. What is contextualised search?Contextualised search goes beyond the barcode scan and the "search by image" feature on Google Images. It's best demonstrated by the Slyce visual search platform. "Slyce uses proprietary developed image recognition to detect products within user-generated mobile pictures," says Mark Elfenbein, President at the Canada-based Slyce. "Slyce assesses the attributes in these images and matches them against the closest comparable match from a specific retail brand's catalogue." This white-labelled tech will likely be embedded in future apps from retailers. You'll be able to use a smartphone to snap a photo of a pair of shoes in the store and it will take you to the item's website, send you a discount coupon, or show you a demo video. However, Elfenbein suggests other uses for Slyce. "Snap a photo of a specific hair-style to receive product information on how to 'get that look', or snap a photo of a home fix-it project to get the necessary tools and supplies to complete job," he suggests. 
So what's the future of contextualised visual search? "Slyce believes the future of contextual visual search is allowing a user to snap a photo of any item and derive all useful data out of that specific item, from cost, availability, comparables, related items, coupons, product demonstrations," says Elfenbein. Contextual awareness is about personalisationThe age of big data means that marketeers now have access to a huge range of customer information, but they're not using it. "Until now, personalisation has usually involved using a combination of known profile information and historical data," says John Fleming, Director of Marketing, EMEA & Australia at Webtrends, which works with the companies like Lloyds Bank, Barclays, HSBC and Lastminute.com. "What's been missing is the ability to combine these factors with real-time information such as 'in the moment' browsing data, the device a customer is using, their specific location and their stage in the purchase cycle. Bringing all of these factors together is defined as contextual personalisation." This is about giving people what they want, when and where they want it, but it could also be the catalyst for innovations that marry the online world with the real world. Imagine if a shop knew what you wanted before you even entered – everything from your shopping habits, likes, dislikes and previous purchases. As an example, Fleming describes how contextual awareness could help Jane while she shops for shoes online and in store. "Modern technology allows us to align what she has looked at previously [on the website] with her current online behaviour and external data such as geo-location and weather," he says. "You can then tailor her experience by providing pages that reflect the sunny weather where she is in Brighton and recommend summer sandals. Likewise if she was in Manchester, where it's raining, you could highlight some of the latest styles in wellies." 
Fleming points out that even if Jane doesn't put anything in her basket, the retailer can use the historical and real-time data collated to send her an email within minutes around a deal based on the products she has looked at. The same could apply to cinemas and coffee shops. "This is what contextual personalisation, combined with new technologies such as Apple's iBeacon, enables," says Fleming. "It uses consumers' known online behaviour data to drive offline sales." Will contextually aware apps make things easier? Life is already easier thanks to apps to some extent, with apps like Uber (connects you with a driver) and Venmo (make and share payments) simplifying everyday tasks. but we're in for more intricate apps that gather information on your context – and, therefore, calculate your needs. Tell a future app that you're in the market for a new car, and it will schedule test drives for cars it knows you'll like – from your browsing history – at garages in your area at times it knows you can make. Some apps are already getting close to this; US-only app MyTime lets you instantly book appointments for a haircut/MOT/with a dentist without picking up the phone. In future, apps will be smart enough to know what you need (a year has passed since you last saw an optician) and when you should go (you're driving nearby and the optician just had a cancellation). Google gets into contextual awareness Although big data has a huge role to play in contextual awareness, for personal assistants like Google Now to be more aware of the user's interactions as well as geo-location requires much more accurate sensors in phones. Google's Project Tango concentrates on making devices much more aware of its surroundings. "Project Tango strives to give mobile devices a human-like understanding of space and motion through advanced sensor fusion and computer vision, enabling new and enhanced types of user experiences – including 3D scanning, indoor navigation and immersive gaming", says Johnny Chung Lee, Technical Program Lead of Google's ATAP (Advanced Technology and Projects) group, one of the technology partners in Project Tango. Sensor chip's dynamic range and 3D camera modules that measure depth ever more accurately are now in the lab, but the Tango tech – and contextual awareness – could hit the mainstream sooner than anyone thought. - Thinking of buying a smart watch? You might want to take a look at the Moto 360
       |  | Roundup: Best of TechRadar: this week's best features and hottest reviews Jul 12th 2014, 07:42, by James Rivington 
Best of TechRadar14 features the Xbox One needs to be a kick-ass console
Come on, Microsoft! The Xbox One has radically changed since its launch in November last year. Microsoft has, to its credit, listened to fan feedback and rolled out a wealth of system updates almost every single month - refining certain features, adding completely new ones, and even ditching the bundled Kinect, something the company once claimed it would never do. But though the Xbox One is undoubtedly improved from its initial incarnation, there are still a few improvements to be made here and there before we consider Microsoft's work well and truly done. Here are fourteen changes we want to see in future updates. Everything you know about 4K is wrong...
...thanks to HDCP 2.2 The reality is that Ultra HD, at least in the UK and Europe, will initially remain the preserve of Pay TV operators like Sky, who'll be looking to unlock new revenue streams to justify any investment in channel infrastructure and set top box hardware costs. What should be of more immediate concern to Ultra HD watchers is the altogether thornier issue of HDCP 2.2 copy protection which is a complete mess. 
LG G2 MiniThe LG G2's little sibling The LG G2 Mini is a fine example of a mid or low-end smartphone and shows just how far we have come in the last year. All manufacturers have benefited from having much better components available to them this year but LG has done a fine job packaging them up into the G2 Mini. The size and shape of the phone, along with LG's generally helpful software enhancements make the G2 Mini a genuinely pleasant phone to use. Only the lack of auto brightness really detracts from the experience. Superb battery life and a usable camera are welcome additions as is the excellent build quality, but the price you pay for these is a relatively higher purchase cost than some competitors. LG G2 Mini review Beyond Oculus: The future of Virtual Reality gaming
VR is the most exciting and innovative arena in gaming There are few tech sectors prompting as much excitement and intense chatter as the dawn of virtual reality gaming. The Kickstarter-funded Oculus Rift headset gets most of the credit for the groundswell of interest, but the company Facebook recently purchased for over $2 billion, has become the poster child for a much larger movement. A movement that promises to inflict the single most important shift in the way we experience videogames, since they moved from the arcade to the home. Read all about it 
LG G WatchA cool gadget that fails to really impress The jury is still out on whether the world needs, wants and is desperate for a slew of smartwatches, but manufacturers appeared convinced they are required so here we are. Android Wear brings some significant advancements over previous smartwatch offerings such as the Sony SmartWatch 2, Pebble and Samsung Gear 2, so the LG G Watch is already in a good position - the thing is the smartwatch still hasn't been perfected. LG G Watch review The house that Google built
What the Nest API means for you We've been promised smart automated homes for decades, but at long last it seems that they're finally on the horizon thanks to Apple and Google. The former's HomeKit was announced at last month's WWDC, and Google has just released its own API (Application Programming Interface) for its Nest devices. Of the two, Google's offering is currently the most interesting. An API for a thermostat hardly sets the pulse racing, but the Nest is no ordinary thermostat: it knows when you're home and when you're out, and that opens up some interesting possibilities. It isn't the only Nest product, either: there's the smart smoke alarm, and now that Google's acquired security camera firm Dropcam, Nest cameras can't be far off. Continue reading... Social network's emotional lab rats turn against their keepers
The week in flame Last week people across the world were outraged by Facebook's latest timeline test, an experiment that saw it populating people's feeds with overly negative or positive responses and seeing how this affected an individual's mood. Rather unsurprisingly, it turned out that having an algorithm throw endless status updates about bereavement, sick children and car insurance meltdowns into our faces made us sadder. Meanwhile populating our timelines with only Good News and pretty sunset photos made us more likely post cheery messages ourselves. This sort of experimenting with our minds without explicit consent was instantly declared disgraceful by observers. Facebook's chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg explained the company's actions and intentions in a pretty terrible and vague half-apology, saying the tests were "poorly communicated". That was one of the mildest ways it was put. Netflix wants to pay you to watch shows
Here's why Someone somewhere in the world right now is currently getting paid by Netflix to watch TV and movies. Yes, you read that right. Netflix has created one of the best jobs in the world and it is all to do with making its recommendation algorithm the best it can be. Netflix currently has around 40 taggers but this number is about to rise, with news that the company is recruiting 'taggers' for the first time in the UK and Ireland. iOS 9: what we want to see
Our wish list for Apple's next OS Apple has only just taken the wrapper off iOS 8, it's so new in fact that you can't even get it yet, but with the revelations of what will and more importantly what won't be included, we can't help but dream of iOS 9. Nothing's yet known about it at all, but we're sure Apple is already beavering away on the next iteration and we've got a wish list of our own. iOS 9: what we want to see Intel Broadwell vs Haswell
What's new in Intel CPUs? Broadwell is the next generation of Intel Core CPUs. It will power most of the laptops and desktops we'll see over the next 18 months, among other kinds of gadget. It's not here yet, but many, many people are eager for its arrival. Including us. Broadwell is Intel's fifth generation of Core-series processor, and will define the sort of power we'll be able to get from our computers of the future. It's pretty important, but what's new? We're going to have a peek into Broadwell to see whether it's worth holding off for, as the first Broadwell computers will start flying of shelves towards the end of the year. Intel Broadwell vs Haswell 13 web villains and how they tried to go legit
Going straight The world of tech can be a strange place. It's a place where zeroes become heroes, where public enemies become pillars of society and where tabloid villains turn out to be perfectly legitimate after all. Come with us as we discover the sites, services and (ahem) personalities who became notorious on the net and then tried to come back. From villainy to virtue From programmes to programming
Why are tech firms making TV shows? TV used to be simple. Broadcasters would make programmes, and if those programmes didn't deliver stellar ratings they would be canned. If they survived they'd be sold on every conceivable format from DVD box set to printed tea towels, and after every other avenue had been exhausted the shows might be sold to one or more streaming services. That wasn't ideal for fans of show streaming. Some good shows took so long to appear that by the time they were available for streaming, half the internet had already torrented them - and some of the programmes canned for poor ratings really deserved to be given a second chance. For the streaming services, the answer was simple: pay the programme makers to work for them, not for the networks. So they did. The Moto 360 isn't the smartwatch you've been waiting for
It's pretty, yes, but it's still just a faster horse It's 2005. Apple is working on what will turn out to be the iPhone, but Motorola has beaten Apple to the punch with the ROKR iTunes Phone, a phone so unpleasant that when Steve Jobs demos it on stage, he can barely conceal his contempt. It's 2014. Apple is working on what will turn out to be the iWatch, but Motorola has beaten Apple to the punch with the Moto 360 smartwatch. You can see where I'm going here. This is not the prophesied smart watch you're waiting for.        | | In Depth: CES 2015: what we want to see Jul 12th 2014, 01:55, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
#1 - #4The email came a few days ago. "Register today for the 2015 International CES," it read. Your first reaction is "not again" as memories of long hours, furious typing, and thousands of people crushing to see the latest and greatest devices flood to the surface. But the initial wave of dread quickly gives way to a flutter of excitement, a tingling in the fingertips and a pump of adrenaline. This the big dance. The event tech lovers live for. The chance to see what's coming next, even if it's years down the road from reaching consumers. The ramifications of CES 2014 are still being felt in everything from TVs to processors to wearables. CES 2015 promises to be an even bigger show, full of the innovative, the inspiring and the impossible. We've put together a list of what we we want to see at CES 2015, so read on for our hopes and best guesses for the show. And don't forget to let us know what you're pining for come January, too. 1. TV innovation beyond the bend and curveWe get it. You can bend and curve (see here and here) a TV. Big whoop. How about revealing some television innovation that truly improves our viewing experience? CES 2014 was all about the curved TV screen for big guns Samsung and LG - who could make it bigger, thinner and curvier without folding? The problem was, was there even a problem for these concave couch curlers to solve? As Dan Grabham asked in his CES hands on review of the 105-inch curved Ultra HD TV from LG, "do we really need curved TVs?" The answer, from looking at the market, is no. Yes, there was an awe factor when unveiling these futurist devices in front of ravenous consumer-tech crowds, but when the lights faded and everyone went home, we weren't buying these sets. -420-90.jpg "Now what?")
Instead of trying to lure us in with more bends and curves, we want Samsung, LG and others to announce more 4K content and a viable system to deliver it to consumers at CES 2015. We know it's not the sexiest subject, especially since we've already seen 4K-and-beyond TVs, but why not give us stuff to actually watch on the growing field of ultra high-res screens? There's currently no reason for the average person to buy a pricey 4K TV because there simply isn't that much 4K content to watch on them. If Samsung, LG, et al can come up with the content and fast, reliable ways to get it to consumers, we may leave Las Vegas truly impressed and excited for the living room screen's future. 2. More than just more tablets from SamsungDirector Michael Bay's meltdown was the most memorable moment of Samsung's CES 2014 press conference. Unfortunately for the Galaxy tablets also wheeled out during the presser, they were upstaged. Hard. Samsung has unveiled even more tablets since CES, leading us to plea, "Enough!" We're heading into the pre-CES months hoping Samsung can cook up a mobile device (yes, just one) that will hold its own next to celebrity implosions and smart laundry machines. The Korean firm intrigued with its Youm flexible phone screens during CES 2013 - perhaps it will be ready to unveil a consumer-ready foldable phone or tablet during 2015's dance? With LG revealing roll-up displays (destined for TVs, to be sure), Samsung may be feeling the heat to bring a bendy phone/tablet to market. 
3. Steam Machine pricing and availabilityNo doubt the people's favorite at CES 2014 was Valve and its army of Steam Machine partners, not to mention the Steam Controller. Valve hasn't kept quiet; since January, the company held a developer conference, showed off its VR headset and, in not so good news, announced Steam Machines won't arrive in consumer homes until 2015. It's the last point we want addressed at CES. While at least one non-Valve Steam Box - the Alienware Alpha - should be out this year, we want the release date and price questions resolved for everyone else. In other words, we want CES 2015 to be brimming with Steam Machine news, including word of a truly affordable one. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YAf5S4LSJQAside from Alienware, the rest of the pack, led by Valve, should get its act together by CES 2015. Of course, anyone familiar with Gabe Newell's crew knows speed is not their calling card, so while we can hope, we won't hold our breath. 4. LG and Huawei deliver standout smartphonesIt's a long shot to think LG will actually unveil a smartphone during CES as it hasn't the last two years and typically saves such unveilings for MWC. Nevertheless, this is a list of what we want to see, right? Along with Huawei, LG could use CES to gain massive exposure with a knockout smartphone. The LG G3 isn't chopped liver, but perhaps LG could put its foldable display tech to work bending like a Cirque du Soleil performer? As for Huawei, the Chinese firm is trying mightily to break into the US market. What better way to re-re-introduce itself to US buyers than with a carrier-backed, affordable and better-than-average phone announced in Sin City? Hell, trot out AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega or, better yet, T-Mobile CEO John Legere to say a few words. Even better, bring them both onstage and see what happens. 
We digress, but the point is CES has become stagnant on the smartphone announcement front. We'd love to see LG and Huawei liven up the proceedings with a phone that makes us drool. #5 - #85. Next-level wearables Wearables are here, and they're beyond what even Dick Tracy could have imagined. CES 2014 saw its share of fitness and activity trackers, but in the subsequent months the market has exploded (relative to what it was, at least). Android Wear has ushered in a new era of wearable tech, and there's more than a fair chance we'll see the Apple iWatch announced before CES 2015 gets off the ground. Although wearables are gaining ground, there's always room for improvement. Our wish list for CES 2015 wearables includes waterproofing, more with heart rate monitors, standalone smarties that don't need a mobile device and more full-featured smartwatches that are compatible with different OSes. 
The last one is another long shot, but as TechRadar's resident wearables expert Matt Swider explains, it'd be nice to be able to have an Android Wear smartwatch that worked with iOS, and vice versa. There's little doubt CES 2015 will be filled to the walls with wearables. The question is, will they be much of an improvement of the ones we already have? 6. Virtual reality in Las VegasJust like wearables, we're no longer speaking of VR as a far-off possibility. There are a number of big-name contenders that, while not quite ready for consumers, are pretty damn close to being released. Oculus Rift is eyeing 2015, Sony's Project Morpheus is moving along and Samsung Gear VR is looking increasingly ready to reveal itself. That's not to mention the other smaller firms working on virtual reality gear (like the Virtuiz Omni) and the gaggle of developers likely to spring up after Oculus' VR conference in September. 
CES is as much about entertainment as it is anything else, so VR-related innovations are well within the scope of the show. We want to see more VR content (games, apps, movies, etc.), more polished products and, if it's not revealed at IFA 2014, Samsung's VR headset. Gear VR will likely be a serious Rift and Morpheus competitor. Come CES, we hope Samsung and anyone else dabbling in virtual reality are ready to bring it on. 7. Truly good 2-in-1sIt's not CES unless a cacophony of computers make their voices heard. There will be PCs of every stripe at CES 2015, but we're looking specifically at 2-in-1s for right now. HP, Dell, Acer and Asus are just a few of the notable names we're putting money on to unveil new tablet/laptop hybrids, so it's not a matter of if they'll be announced but rather of how good they'll be. There's a chance Windows 9 will release this fall, which would already be an improvement over Windows 8.1. Even if we don't go all the way up to nine, Windows 8.2 may be ready to rumble come January 2015. 
Aside from a souped-up OS (assuming most of the hybrids will run Windows), the advances in processors like AMD's Beema and Mullins APUs and Intel's Core M could make the 2015 crop of 2-in-1s the best to date. If the build quality matches better internal specs, 2-in-1s may be the sleeper hit of CES 2015. 8. Smarter cars than ever beforeToyota ran away with our Best of CES 2014 awards thanks to its hydrogen-powered car. Part of our reasoning in giving the FCV the top spot was because of its industry-changing position as the first mass-produced fuel-cell vehicle. Its impact, we reasoned, would be far reaching and vastly positive. Next CES, we want more of the same. We want cars that run on next-gen energy sources and we want cars that don't need a driver at all. Google typically doesn't drop by CES, but that doesn't mean automated cars from different venders can't make an appearance. -420-90.jpg "CES 2014's champ")
Speaking of Google, we fully expect automakers to show off their Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay-equipped models. For those who haven't picked a side, CES 2015 is the perfect time to call shotgun. Car infotainment systems are in some ways still in their infancy, so we're excited to see what solutions await. Especially if it means going for a test-drive.        | | Updated: LG G3 release date: where can I get it? Jul 11th 2014, 22:51, by Michael Rougeau 
LG's newest flagship may sit at the top of the pile, but you'd rather it sit in your hand. The LG G3 is a major improvement over the LG G2, with boosted specs and a nice metallic finish. In fact, it's one of the nicest Android phones ever released. That means you're going to want to get your hands on it, regardless of which carrier you currently have a contract with. Lucky for you, all four major US carriers have announced availability for the newest LG flagship. Here's where, when and for how much you can get the LG G3. T-MobileT-Mobile was the first to announce an LG G3 release date, and the phone went up for pre-order on Big Pink at the beginning of July. Given that T-Mobile hates contracts as much as you do you're going to be paying for it - try $599 for the top-end version. Even at the steep price, 3GB of memory and 32GB of storage it might be worth it. You can also pay it off in 24 monthly installments of $24.95, for a total of $598.80 (save a penny, right?). T-Mobile also gets the unique "Titan Grey" color. The LG G3 ships from the Un-carrier starting July 15 and should arrive in stores and in customers' hands the following day. AT&TNext comes AT&T, which was the second carrier to throw in for a LG G3 release date, despite rumors about Verizon taking it first. AT&T's LG G3 actually comes out first - July 11 in stores and on doorsteps, according to the carrier. Unsurprisingly AT&T is selling both the "Metallic Black" and the "Silk White" LG G3 for $199 with a two-year contract, $24.17 a month on an 18-month Next plan, or $29 a month on Next 12. AT&T's official G3 listing specifies 3GB of memory and "up to 32GB" of storage, so it seems the carrier will also get the higher-end variant. It should be noted that AT&T is also offering the LG G Watch for half-off to users who pick up the LG G3 on-contract. VerizonThose rumors turned out true, and Big Red will ship the LG G3 on July 17 - one day after T-Mobile. But Verizon does have one advantage: it's selling both colors of the G3 for just $99 with a two-year contract, a full $100 cheaper than AT&T's deal. Alternately, Verizon customers can also get the LG G3 for 20 monthly payments of $29.99, or almost exactly $600. And Verizon customers will also have the chance to pick up the 32GB/3GB version of the G3. As an added bonus, the G Watch is up for order at Big Red as well. SprintWith no pomp and circumstance, Sprint launched the LG G3 in stores and online. That's right - you can literally go buy it right now. The Framily plan carrier scored an exclusive "Shine Gold" LG G3, making it the envy of everyone, we're sure. The LG G3 can be yours for $25/month for 24 months and $0 down with Sprint Easy Pay, or $199.99 on a two-year service agreement. Unlimited Framily plan deals for the LG G3 start at $45/month. For a limited time, Sprint is offering $150 when you get the G3 using Easy Pay. If you buy the phone after July 24, you'll get $100 cash rewards between then and August 14. The straight-up price of the LG G3 on Sprint is $599.99. US CellularUS Cellular, the fifth-biggest US carrier, has yet to announce anything regarding the LG G3. That combined with the fact that the carrier never offered the LG G2 could indicate that US Cellular won't carry the G3 at all.        | | Sony Xperia Z3 shown of in litany of leaked images Jul 11th 2014, 22:15, by JR Bookwalter 
The long work week may be drawing to a close, but Sony smartphone fans have a little something extra to get excited about in the months ahead thanks to images of a next-gen Xperia handset now making the rounds. Chinese message board Weibo lit up like a Christmas tree earlier today with a handful of leaked photos purporting to be Sony's Xperia Z3, the next flagship Android smartphone from the Japanese electronics giant. The images quite clearly depicts the Chinese variant of a handset bearing the model number L55t, and according to a shot displaying the detailed settings menu, also running the latest version of Android 4.4.4 KitKat. Late last month, a front panel leaked out which matches the newly posted images, and the aforementioned model number also checks out considering the current Xperia Z2 bears the model number L50t. Say cheeseThe latest spy shots also appear to confirm the Xperia Z3 will be powered by a quad-core, 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974PRO-AC processor alongside Adreno 330 graphics. Mobile shutterbugs may not see much in the way of improvements however since the report claimed Sony plans to use the same 20.7MP Exmor RS optics already found in the Xperia Z1 and Z2. (Hey, if it ain't broke...) The handset pictures looks like it will fit in nicely alongside its predecessors, and the pictured firmware version 23.0.G.0.98 appears to be pretty fresh, with a build date of July 2. That's all we have to go on right now, but Xperia fans should stay tuned - there's likely to be plenty more details creeping out between now and the time Sony officially launches this device.        | | Scrapped Samsung Z launch yet another halt on Tizen Jul 11th 2014, 20:23, by klee 
Things are not looking up for Samsung's self-made Tizen smartphone operating system, as the Samsung Z hit delays in Russia. The South Korean electronic firm's first Tizen-powered smartphone was supposed to launch on July 11. However, reports from The Wall Street Journal claim that the launch of the Samsung Z was scrapped in Moscow just a few days before its scheduled debut. Samsung didn't provide an updated launch date for the device, though the company noted that the device is still on track to release in the Russian market just as soon as it can offer users the "fullest portfolio of applications." A sad state of affairsDespite the canceled launch, Samsung still held an event in Moscow with roughly 150 developers, nearly half of the attendees to originally show up at the venue. At the sparsely filled non-launch, Samsung used the time to show off prototype devices. Later, Dmitry Anosov, an executive from the Russian arm of the company, took to the stage to tell the audience that the "most obvious advantage" of developing for Tizen was that developers will get a spot towards the top in a "half empty store" on a "decent premium device." We're not sure if we're missing some sarcasm from Anosov's statement, but it reflects the depressing state of the operating system. In light of all this, somehow developers attending the event weren't too disappointed with the delay as it was just the latest in a long string of setbacks. This isn't the first time Tizen has met with a setback. The OS was expected to debut several times, including Samsung's Unpacked 5 event at MWC 2014. TechRadar asked Samsung Russia about the Samsung Z's next projected release and whether this has any effect on its release on TVs this month. We will update this story when we hear back.        | | Vodafone Smart 4 Turbo provides high-octane 4G at low price Jul 11th 2014, 13:49, by John McCann 
Meet the impressive sounding Vodafone Smart 4 Turbo and Smart 4 Power, the latest handsets to bear Big Red's name and this time there's 4G inside. Vodafone is no stranger to own-brand handsets, but the Smart 4 Turbo and Smart 4 Power are the first to arrive with 4G capabilities. You can get your hands on the Vodafone Smart 4 Turbo now, which boasts a 4.5-inch display, 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, microSD slot, 5MP rear camera, front cam and Android 4.4 KitKat. It'll set you back just £135 on PAYG, but you'll need to fork out £31.50 per month if you want it on the Red 4G plan with unlimited texts and calls and 4GB superfast of data, which is pretty steep for what is being billed as an affordable handset. Feel the PowerThe Vodafone Smart 4 Power will be "available soon" and boasts a larger 5-inch HD display, 1.3GHz MediaTek quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, microSD slot, 5MP rear camera, front snapper and Android 4.4. There's currently no pricing for the Smart 4 Power, but it will be more expensive than the Turbo. The Smart 4 Turbo provides direct competition to the £99 EE Kestrel which offers up 4G support alongside a 4.5-inch display, 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM 5MP rear camera, microSD slot and Android 4.3 - oh and don't forget about the Motorola Moto G 4G either. Looking for a budget slate too? See our best cheap tablets list   | | LG G3 Prime with next-gen power and hyperfast 4G outed in Korea Jul 11th 2014, 10:05, by John McCann 
We've heard various rumours about the LG G3 Prime and it appears it's been pretty much confirmed by a retail store in Korea. Arriving in the form of the LG G3 Cat 6, there's a striking resemblance to the Samsung Galaxy S5 LTE-A we saw launched recently in Korea boasting a QHD display, Snapdragon 805 processor and superfast CAT 6 LTE. Category 6 LTE - which is capable of delivering speeds of up to 300Mbps - isn't supported by the Snapdragon 801 chip found inside the regular LG G3, so all signs point to the 805 option. Asia only?LG hasn't formerly announced an upgraded version of the G3, so there's still a chance this particular retail store has its fact wrong, but customers are being encourage to sign up for more details/pre-orders (it's not entirely clear which), giving this story a stronger case. If the LG G3 Cat 6 does indeed exist don't get your hopes up too much, as like the Galaxy S5 LTE-A we don't expect the handset to make it markets outside of Asia. We have contacted LG for more information and we'll update this article when we receive a response.        | | Week in Tech: Week in Tech: Watch out, here comes LG Jul 11th 2014, 09:49, by TechRadar 
What's square, a bit boring and a total lightweight? No, not sleazy cheesemonger Robin Thicke: we mean LG's G Watch, which we've been waving at people all week. It's part of the ongoing wearables craze that's also seen new kit from Adidas, new tracking tools from Apple and yet more iWatch rumours. But that's not all: we've seen the next generation of Intel chips, a nifty Nokia, the next generation of Windows and the future of all intelligence. Not bad for a single week in tech. G whizWhen the best thing you can say about a gadget is that it doesn't weigh too much, you know you're struggling for positive points - and that was definitely the case for John McCann when he put the LG G Watch through its paces. LG's first Android Wear device has a boring design, he says, and "the jury is still out on whether the world needs, wants and is desperate for a slew of smartwatches". LG's offering is unlikely to convince the jury. Our AdidasIf you fancy a FuelBand but don't like its looks, allow us to introduce the Adidas FitSmart. It's "a rubberised watch-style wearable" and it's really nice in every respect bar one: the price. As Gareth Beavis says, "at £199 it's just too costly for many people, and especially too much of a gamble for those that aren't into fitness." We wonder what Run DMC would make of it. Cupertino caffeine countingThe latest iOS 8 beta has unveiled some interesting new goodies: Apple's Health app won't just record your heart rate, but your caffeine intake too - although in our case it could guess that by measuring how much we vibrate and the fact we're sweating pure espresso. The app taps directly into the M7 motion tracking hardware of the iPhone 5S, which means there's no need for an iWatch or any other fitness device. Jonathan Ive's glass eyeApple design boss Jonathan Ive has designed an iPhone made entirely out of glass. It probably won't be ordinary glass, though, as Apple has been working with super-tough Sapphire glass. As this video shows, sapphire glass can survive a knife attack - which is brilliant for anyone who's sick and tired of their phone getting stabbed. Microsoft embraces AndroidNow that Microsoft has taken over Nokia, you'd expect the Finnish firm to, ahem, finnish using Android. Nope! Hot on the heels of the Noka X, we're hearing tales of an Android-powered Lumia. All we know so far is that it is a "strange looking device". Bet it isn't as strange as a BlackBerry Passport. Broadwell, Haswell and Windows 9Intel has unveiled the fifth generation of its Core series processors, known as Broadwell. Its tiny transistors promise processors that are 30% more efficient than Haswell ones, using 30% less power at the same clock speed. As Andrew Williams says, "Finally, we'll have laptops that can outlast current tablets." Broadwell will herald a new era of affordable ultra-high res laptops, and the first ones should ship later this year - just in time for Windows 9, which is coming sooner than most people expected: we should see it in some form this Autumn. What's the first rule of Drive Club?Fancy some next-generation rain? Sony's got you covered with Driveclub, its incredibly realistic driving game. We got to see its impressive world-building tech this week, and it's confirmed what we said last month: if this doesn't impress PS4 gamers, nothing will. All hail our AI overlordsThere's a good chance computers will be smarter than you in three decades - unless you're Robin Thicke, in which case you're already lagging behind electric toothbrushes. We sat down with Murray Shanahan, professor of cognitive robots at Imperial College London, and he told us: "THE ROBOTS ARE COMING! RUN FOR THE HILLS!" No, not really. Shanahan thinks AI is making great progress, but we're missing a vital piece of the puzzle: "We're a way off understanding how to achieve that artificial general intelligence," he told us. "There's a trick that nature has discovered, that evolution has discovered, that we're not making the most of yet." Looks like the rise of the robots is still some way off.        | | OnePlus Two Lettuce leaked, won't be one of your five a day Jul 11th 2014, 09:00, by John McCann 
There's apparently quite a lot going on in the OnePlus offices in China, with a new handset being leaked and the firm behind the OnePlus One releasing a teaser of its own. First up is perennial leaker @evleaks with a simple post which reads: "OnePlus One:Bacon::OnePlus [Two]:Lettuce" - certainly some rather odd codenames, but the "Bacon" moniker for the One checks out. Over on the official CyanogenMod site (the version of Android that runs on the OnePlus device) the OnePlus One is also referred to as 'bacon'. No further details on the OnePlus Two Lettuce were provided, so it's currently unclear whether this will be a follow up flagship or a different range of handset all together. Got wood?OnePlus is up to its own tricks as well, posting a teasing "Knock on wood" image with a date of July 22 on its Google+ account. 
The wood effect on the image suggests it may refer to a new rear cover which is made from the material, and this seems like the most likely reasoning behind the teaser. There are some who propose it could relate to the end of the invite to buy system, allowing anyone who wants a OnePlus One to just go and buy one. We'll be keeping an eye out for more information over the next couple of weeks, and of course we'll let you know what goes down on July 22.        | | Xbox is at the forefront of Microsoft's big mobile future, says CEO Jul 11th 2014, 08:40, by Patrick Goss 
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella believes that the Xbox brand will be pivotal to the company's success in mobile devices. Although it has some limited mobile presence, the Xbox brand is more often thought of as a box under our televisions, but Nadella believes that this will change. A company memo from Nadella made it clear that he sees the Xbox brand as vital to a future where divisions between work and play become blurred. "I also want to share some additional thoughts on Xbox and its importance to Microsoft," wrote Nadella in a public company memo. Mobile-first"As a large company, I think it's critical to define the core, but it's important to make smart choices on other businesses in which we can have fundamental impact and success," he continued. "The single biggest digital life category, measured in both time and money spent, in a mobile-first world is gaming. "We are fortunate to have Xbox in our family to go after this opportunity with unique and bold innovation. Microsoft will continue to vigorously innovate and delight gamers with Xbox. Xbox is one of the most-revered consumer brands, with a growing online community and service, and a raving fan base. 
"We also benefit from many technologies flowing from our gaming efforts into our productivity efforts - core graphics and NUI in Windows, speech recognition in Skype, camera technology in Kinect for Windows, Azure cloud enhancements for GPU simulation and many more. "Bottom line, we will continue to innovate and grow our fan base with Xbox while also creating additive business value for Microsoft." New categories "While today many people define mobile by devices, Microsoft defines it by experiences. We're really in the infant stages of the mobile-first world," said Nadella "In the next few years we will see many more new categories evolve and experiences emerge that span a variety of devices of all screen sizes. "Microsoft will be on the forefront of this innovation with a particular focus on dual users and their needs across work and life. Microsoft will continue to vigorously innovate and delight gamers with Xbox." PS and Xbox phoning it inNadella has rightfully identified the Xbox brand as a potential unique selling point for its devices - leveraging years of good will and an invested audience. The strategy is already being pursued by rival Sony - whose PlayStation brand is being increasingly leveraged into its own mobile business. For both companies - the gaming side of their brand is one of the few areas where they are not competing with Google or Apple in any meaningful way. So would you go for an Xbox gaming phone over an Apple device? Because Nadella is hoping that it would at least give you pause for thought.   | | Is this mystery phone running Android L the Moto X+1? Jul 10th 2014, 21:33, by Michael Rougeau 
Android L's release is still a few months out for the general public, so at this point we're happy to catch any glimpse we can of Google's new OS. This includes when Android L appears in a video running on a mysterious Motorola device that even the person leaking the footage can't identify. TK of TK Tech News says in the video that he received images of the mystery 1080p handset from an unidentified tipster, and that he's not entirely sure what it is. "Maybe it's a test device," he speculates. "I can tell you it's a lot bigger than the Moto X, and I can tell you it's bigger than the Nexus 5." That puts it upward of 5 inches - exciting indeed. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAwGDd9jhAQStraight from the sourceTK also speculated that it might be one of three new Droid phones scheduled to hit Verizon this year - the mysterious Android L phone in the photos is running on Verizon - or a variant of the Moto X+1, also coming out this year. There's no way to know until the techie grills his source a little harder, but in the meantime at least we can ooh and ahh at the possibilities. The phablet in question does sport the new Android L icons, as well as Android L's new navigation buttons. Of course this could all be a really pedantic hoax, though TK swears "it's legit." Until we find out either way, we'll be watching out for Motorola announcements.        | | LG G3 release date: where can I get it? Jul 10th 2014, 18:08, by Michael Rougeau
The LG G3 is a major improvement over the LG G2, with boosted specs and a nice metallic finish. In fact, it's one of the nicest Android phones ever released. That means you're going to want to get your hands on it, regardless of which carrier you currently have a contract with. Lucky for you, all four major US carriers have announced availability for the newest LG flagship. Here's where, when and for how much you can get the LG G3. T-MobileT-Mobile was the first to announce an LG G3 release date, and the phone went up for pre-order on Big Pink at the beginning of July. Given that T-Mobile hates contracts as much as you do you're going to be paying for it - try $599 for the top-end version. Even at the steep price, 3GB of memory and 32GB of storage it might be worth it. You can also pay it off in 24 monthly installments of $24.95, for a total of $598.80 (save a penny, right?). T-Mobile also gets the unique "Titan Grey" color. The LG G3 ships from the Un-carrier starting July 15 and should arrive in stores and in customers' hands the following day. AT&TNext comes AT&T, which was the second carrier to throw in for a LG G3 release date, despite rumors about Verizon taking it first. AT&T's LG G3 actually comes out first - July 11 in stores and on doorsteps, according to the carrier. Unsurprisingly AT&T is selling both the "Metallic Black" and the "Silk White" LG G3 for $199 with a two-year contract, $24.17 a month on an 18-month Next plan, or $29 a month on Next 12. AT&T's official G3 listing specifies 3GB of memory and "up to 32GB" of storage, so it seems the carrier will also get the higher-end variant. It should be noted that AT&T is also offering the LG G Watch for half-off to users who pick up the LG G3 on-contract. VerizonThose rumors turned out true, and Big Red will ship the LG G3 on July 17 - one day after T-Mobile. But Verizon does have one advantage: it's selling both colors of the G3 for just $99 with a two-year contract, a full $100 cheaper than AT&T's deal. Alternately, Verizon customers can also get the LG G3 for 20 monthly payments of $29.99, or almost exactly $600. And Verizon customers will also have the chance to pick up the 32GB/3GB version of the G3. As an added bonus, the G Watch is up for order at Big Red as well. SprintThe official word on Sprint's LG G3 release is that the handset will arrive in July. Beyond that the carrier hasn't given an exact date or pricing info, though it's expected to be in line with Sprint's competitors. Still, Sprint's release will be worth the wait as it's the only carrier that will offer the LG G3 in gold. US CellularUS Cellular, the fifth-biggest US carrier, has yet to announce anything regarding the LG G3. That combined with the fact that the carrier never offered the LG G2 could indicate that US Cellular won't carry the G3 at all.        | | Exclusive: Village X seeks to revolutionize online deals and charitable giving Jul 10th 2014, 18:00, by Juan Martinez 
We've all spent money on a daily deal site. We see something we like. We see that it's significantly cheaper than it would be in-store. We click purchase. We feel good about ourselves. But what if there was a way to extend these positive vibes beyond just cost-savings? What if daily and online deals could go beyond providing consumers with less expensive products and businesses with inexpensive promotion? Michael Buckler, a former Peace Corps volunteer, engineer and intellectual property and trade attorney, has found a way to make this possible. By 2016, US consumers will spend $5.5 billion (around £3.2 billion, AU$5.9 billion) on online deal sites like Groupon or LivingSocial, according to BIA/Kelsey research. This figure represents $167 (around £97, AU$178) per US citizen, or roughly $1.3 billion (around £760 million, AU$1.38 billion) more than the gross domestic product of Malawi. Putting that money to useAlong with partners Lauren Corke, Ryan Dunn, and David Fields (all former Peace Corp volunteers), Buckler is in the process of creating an app, Village X, that provides consumers with discounts and deals, as well as an opportunity to donate to good causes. Buckler says he was inspired to create Village X after living in Malawi from 2006-2008 as a Peace Corps volunteer. There, he met locals living on less than $2 (around £1.17, AU$2.13) a day, constantly striving to develop their villages, but without the resources and institutional support to make their dreams a reality. He wanted to find a way to help these villagers, and others like them, but he was frustrated by the existing support systems in place. 
City-based international organizations attempt to help underdeveloped villages, Buckler acknowledges, but he says these organizations too often dictate the priorities of their work rather than catering to the needs of the village. The organizations, he contends, irresponsibly spend the money allotted to helping the villages on salaries and per diems given to those brought in to help. Buckler also scoffs at the amount of money wasted flying in volunteers and driving back and forth in gas-guzzling SUVs between tasks. 
How Village X worksVillage X isn't the first online deal site with a charitable arm. Groupon, LivingSocial, DealGooder and SharingSpree are just a few of the organizations engaged in the space. However, Buckler says his team has developed a system that would enable donations made during online deal redemptions to be funneled directly to villages in need. His system matches socially conscious consumers and socially conscious businesses by promoting partner businesses and discounts every day, year-round within the Village X app. Promotions are redeemed by consumers through the app with the click of a button. As shoppers redeem their promotions, the app encourages them to donate to an identified grassroots project that is planned, implemented, documented and partially financed by an underserved community. Once consumers donate to a specific cause Village X's Store to Village System provides the giver with live mobile updates in the form of pictures and texts showing exactly how the money has assisted others. Good 'business karma'The app, Buckler says, benefits partner businesses by providing them with year-round promotion, stimulated business volume, goodwill or "business karma." 
Village X has five partners (mostly in the DC area, where Buckler's team is based). His goal is to have at least ten partners for the six-to-nine-month pilot phase of the app's rollout, which he hopes to begin in November. Village X partners include a wine bar, a home accessories store, a fair trade company, a downtown DC restaurant, and a neighborhood bar. Seed funding"When I returned from Malawi, I scoured international development literature, trying to reconcile my experience on the front lines with the operations of the multi-billion dollar international development industry," Buckler says. "At Village X, we've flipped the concept [of charitable giving] on its head. We use our Peace Corps expertise to handle the development side, and, instead of aggregating and passing money, we assign money to specific projects, putting donors directly in contact with recipients. We call this approach 'people-to-people.'" Buckler hopes a similar people-to-people approach will provide Village X with the resources he needs to get the technology up and running. At time of publication, Village X had raised more than a third of what Buckler hopes to in order to launch the system in November.        | | The iPhone 6 may not have Samsung prints on its processor Jul 10th 2014, 17:59, by Kevin Lee 
It seems the iPhone 6 will not only mark Apple's first truly large handset, but also its first product with a new chip manufacturing partner. The Wall Street Journal reports the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has begun shipping out 20-nanometer processors to Apple. Sources familiar with the situation say the move will allow Apple to negotiate cheaper prices for its parts. Whether this means the price of iDevices will come down as a result remains to be seen. TSMC is also purportedly working with the Cupertino company to produce even more advanced 16-nanometer chip manufacturing technology. Supposedly the chipmaker intends to produce smaller processors in large scale next year. Former BFFsThe deal has been in the works for more than a year and a half but once cemented, this new partnership will oust Samsung as Apple's sole microprocessor supplier. Even before Apple began working with TSMC it's been moving away from working with the Korean electronics firm ever since it won a lawsuit in 2012 accusing Samsung of copying the designs of the iPhone and iPad. Suppliers say Apple no longer sources iPhone screens from Samsung and has begun to reduce orders on iPad screens. The iPhone maker has also reportedly shifted its memory-chip orders from Samsung to other chipmakers including SK Hynix and Toshiba Corp. So far Apple's shift in parts supplier hasn't affect the quality or availability of iDevices, so hopefully everything should still be smooth sailing for the iPhone 6 as well. - Never fear, our iPad Air review is here!
       | | Verizon follows everyone's lead with LG G3, G Watch release next week Jul 10th 2014, 17:15, by JR Bookwalter 
Verizon customers will finally get a chance to pair up with LG's latest dynamic duo next week. In fact, they'll even get to use them on an XLTE-ready network, too. LG announced pricing and availability for the LG G3 on Verizon after making the flagship handset available to AT&T customers earlier this week. Available in black or white for $99.99 with a new, two-year activation, the XLTE-ready LG G3 can be pre-ordered from the Verizon website starting today. It will touch down in retail stores coast-to-coast beginning July 17. For customers hoping to get their hands on a 5.5-inch Quad HD IPS display without committing to a two-year agreement, the Verizon EDGE early upgrade option is also available for $29.99 per month, amounting to just shy of $600 over the 20-month term. Watch thisAlso available for pre-order today is the LG G Watch, which, for now, Verizon is making available strictly as an accessory purchase available at checkout with a "premium Android smartphone" running Android 4.3 KitKat or later. Priced at $229.99, the LG G Watch is one of the first Android Wear devices to market, with a 1.65-inch IPS display capable of displaying weather, fitness, messages and other data. At least for now, Verizon appears to only be offering the LG G Watch in black titan, so fans of the white gold color may want to look elsewhere since the carrier isn't really discounting the price when bundled with the LG G3. Verizon's website promises the LG G3 and LG G Watch will ship by July 17, but those who prefer to shop at a Verizon Wireless Smart Store can saunter into a retailer that day and walk out with one or both devices in hand.        | | Updated: Nokia Lumia 930 release date and price: where can I get it? Jul 10th 2014, 16:24, by John McCann 
The Nokia Lumia 930 is mixing with the big boys of mobile, and if you're yearning for some Windows Phone 8.1 love then the 930 is the best handset around. It sports a meaty 2.2Ghz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 5-inch full HD display, 32GB of internal storage, 1.2MP front camera and 20MP rear snapper. In true Lumia style the 930 comes in a range of colours including the muted black alongside the more eccentric green and orange. The Windows Phone flagship is due to hit stores in mid-July so here's where it'll be landing, and for how much. Carphone WarehouseCarphone Warehouse hasn't been backwards in coming forwards on the Nokia Lumia 930 price, with the handset available on pre-order for free on contracts starting at £30.50 per month. You can only choose between O2 and Vodafone though. If you don't fancy being locked into a two year deal, Carphone also has the Lumia 930 available SIM-free for a relatively reasonable £479.95 - but you can get it cheaper elsewhere. Keep reading to find out where. In terms of a Lumia 930 release date the high street retailer expects deliveries to arrive from July 17. Pre-order the Lumia 930 on selected deals at Carphone and you'll also get £100 cashback and a free Nokia wireless bundle (wireless speaker, wireless charger and £20 app voucher) worth £130. O2O2 has confirmed that it will be stocking the Nokia Lumia 930, although the handset is still listed as "coming soon" on its website with no details on release date or price. The good news is that it will be available on both pay monthly and PAYG deals. EEEE is at the same stage as O2 with its Nokia Lumia 930 promotion, confirming it will be ranging the Windows Phone flagship, but not offering any further information for now. ThreeThree has confirmed that it won't be stocking the Nokia Lumia 930. Sorry, Three fans. Vodafone and Phones 4UThere's no sign of the Nokia Lumia 930 over at Vodafone or Phones 4U which suggests the duo won't be stocking the handset. We have contacted both to confirm their plans and we'll update this article when we receive a response. Online RetailersUnlocked-Mobiles has the Nokia Lumia 930 available for pre-order for just £449.98 SIM-free, undercutting the price over at Carphone. If you order before the July 17 release date it'll throw in the same Nokia wireless bundle worth £130 that Carphone is offering - there's no £100 cashback though. The Lumia 930 is pretty much the same price over at Expansys too, with the SIM-free handset listed at £449.99 on pre-order - but no lovely bundle. If you're looking for the lowest SIM-free price then you'll want to head to Clove, as the Lumia 930 is up for pre-order at just £435 - including that bundle worth £130. Clove expects stock to arrive on July 17, which falls in line with other retailers.   | | Satya Nadella to Microsoft employees: We will focus on IoT, cloud and mobility Jul 10th 2014, 14:42, by Juan Martinez 
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sent a letter to employees detailing the company's future. In the note, Nadella said Microsoft will emphasize the Internet of Things, mobility and cloud in its endeavors. Microsoft will focus on providing "digital work" and "digital life" experiences for its customers, according to the letter. The foundation of these experiences will be centered on connecting "sensors, screens and devices," and generating insights from these experiences. "We will create more natural human-computing interfaces that empower all individuals," Nadella wrote. "We will develop and deploy secure platforms and infrastructure that enable all industries. And we will strike the right balance between using data to create intelligent, personal experiences, while maintaining security and privacy." Collaboration and productivityNadella also emphasized collaboration. He said Microsoft's mission will be to "harmonize the world's devices, apps, docs, data and social networks in digital work and life experiences" in order to empower users to do more with technology. "Productivity for us goes well beyond documents, spreadsheets and slides. We will reinvent productivity for people who are swimming in a growing sea of devices, apps, data and social networks," he wrote. The company's cloud operating system infrastructure, device operating systems and first-party hardware will be built to "enable broad ecosystems" in order to improve collaboration and productivity, Nadella wrote. Microsoft will begin to create apps that will be designed to partition data between work and home use. The apps will also be built so that people can use the apps regardless of which device they're working on. Recent announcementsMost of the information contained in Nadella's letter is evident in Microsoft's recent initiatives. It announced on July 9 the release of three new Office 365 licenses for small and mid-size businesses (SMBs). The new plans will replace Microsoft's existing Office products for SMBs. Changes include price reductions, increased seat caps and more flexibility to upgrade to Office 365 Enterprise. Microsoft also launched the StorSimple 8000 series hybrid storage arrays, which include two new Azure-based capabilities to centralize data management. Both platforms leverage Azure Storage as a hybrid cloud tier for automatic capacity expansion and off-site data protection. In addition to collaboration and cloud, Microsoft has been busy building out a mobile device management and data intelligence footprint.        | | Haptic feedback might be the iPhone 6's killer feature Jul 10th 2014, 11:09, by James Rogerson 
Another day, another iPhone 6 leak, or in this case several. First up there are a handful of new images of the handset, this time supposedly showing the rear shell. The obvious things to take away from them are that it's almost entirely metal as you'd expect and that it looks highly detailed, suggesting that this could be the real deal. Two sets of images were shared with MacRumors. The first shows the iPhone 6 in a silver colour and comes from Feld & Volk, a Russian company which sells modified luxury versions of the iPhone. 
The second set comes from an unnamed source and shows an almost identical shell, except this time it's in a dark grey, verging on black. Space grey is the darkest colour you can get the iPhone 5S in and this certainly seems darker than that, so the iPhone 6 could be available in a new colour, though whether that would be as well as or instead of the space grey option is unclear. Clear signalThe other thing to take away from these images is that the Apple logo is a cut-out. This could enable it to house an embedded NFC antenna or even to light up like on the MacBook Air, but it's more likely just to have an embedded non-metal logo which would give it an additional radio-transparent area to improve reception. Otherwise the images largely fit with previous rumours, complete with rounded edges and longer buttons, though it's worth noting that the part shown here isn't quite a final one, as certain features, such as a camera hole, are missing, while some of the screw holes will likely be removed. If that's not enough Apple rumours for one day, Chinese site Laoyaoba is reporting that the iPhone 6 has a 'secret weapon' in the form of improved haptic feedback technology which can emit a range of different vibrations depending on an application's scenario or which part of the screen you touch.   | | Your mobile phone data and internet activity will now be stored for a year Jul 10th 2014, 10:33, by Hugh Langley 
All of your phone and internet data will soon be held by telecoms companies for a year, as decided by new emergency legislation to be passed in the UK. Back in April the European Court of Justice threw out powers that require communication companies to retain data for 12 months. But that's now being reversed in the name of national security. In an attempt to quell the concerns of NSA-fearers, Prime Minister David Cameron said that the new law would merely overturn this and nothing more. He also promised that there will be various bodies set up to oversee the process (requests to access anyone's data will have to be signed off by the Home Secretary) and protect people's privacy. The new legislation will include a termination clause for 2016, so it's a short term initiative and one that may well change beyond that date. But needless to say this news will be unsettling for a lot of people.   | |
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