Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 07-05-2014

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Android L's heads up notifications feature arrives early through third-party app Jul 5th 2014, 15:57, by Chris Smith When Google's Android L operating system arrives later this year, it'll bring a new heads up notification tool that will alert users to incoming calls and alerts without disrupting their current activity. Unfortunately, Android L won't be available until this autumn, but users will have the chance to download a version of the functionality, thanks to a third-party app available on the Google Play store now. The Heads Up! application from developer Alexander Breen works on devices running Android 4.3 and above brings those floating, overlaid notifications. All users have to do is enable third party apps in the Android settings and choose which applications they would like to receive heads-up notifications from. Enabler The process is a little complicated, but Lifehacker has a useful guide on how to enable the app as your chief means of receiving notifications. You can also check it out in the video below. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtrtGduvxms Apple patent hints at by-passing iOS passcode when you're in a 'safe' place Jul 5th 2014, 15:24, by Chris Smith A recently filed Apple patent suggests the firm is preparing a new iOS tool that would allow users to by-pass the security locks when they're in an assigned location. The smart lock would allow users to access their phones without using Touch ID and pass code settings when they're in familiar environments, such as home, work or in the car. The Wi-Fi or GPS-based tech would adjust the security settings depending on where the user is. According to the patent filing, different levels of security would be required in different environments. For a regularly visited place like the supermarket, a passcode or fingerprint verification. In an unfamiliar location or a crowded place, heightened security settings could be enacted. Just like Android L "Because some locations may be inherently more secure, such as a user's home or office, these locations may be considered 'safe' and require less stringent security," Apple explained in its patent application. "It can be desirable to have decreased security requirements when the mobile device is at a secure location. Conversely, some locations may be considered higher risk or 'unsecure.' In these locations, it can be desirable to implement stronger security protections." The feature, should it make its way into iOS in forthcoming iterations, it would rival Google's recently-unveiled 'Personal Unlocking' feature for Android L. That will also allow users to skip pattern unlock or passcodes when in trusted environments or when the device detects an Android Wear smartwatch. In Depth: Best of TechRadar: this week's best features and hottest reviews Jul 5th 2014, 07:00, by James Rivington Sony Walkman at 35 Looking back at the most iconic music player of all time Last week, the Sony Walkman turned 35 years old. The Walkman is, therefore just a year younger than I am, and I certainly feel like we've grown up together. Since the original Sony TPS-L2 was introduced in 1979, Sony has sold somewhere in the region of 220 million Walkmans, and it's still selling them today. I am not exaggerating when I say that the Walkman was the product that made Sony into a global name. If you weren't there, it's hard to explain just how much those of us who were lusted after the Walkman. From Sony's first models, through to that yellow one you could take in the shower, the Walkman range was THE gadget of the 80s and 90s, and we all wanted one like the kids want smartphones today. More, even. Happy birthday Sony Walkman: 35 today Close encounters of the 3D kind The resurgence of post-converted 3D The process of converting 2D film to 3D movies has a reputation for turning out an inferior product - mainly because the first filmmakers to use this process made such a bad job of it. Clash of the Titans has been widely regarded as such a botch job (due to a studio's insistence on 3D and a director having no time to make the post production process work ) it was felt that true 3D was the only way forward for the technology. That was until James Gunn spoke out. Android L vs iOS 8: what's different? New OS versions go head to head The battle for mobile's soul is raging and there are only two heavyweight platform contenders. Google's Android and Apple's iOS are getting better (and more similar) with every passing year. The latest incarnations, Android L and iOS 8, made their entrances at developer conferences, WWDC and Google I/O. Let's take a look at how they compare and work out whether Apple and Google are treading their own paths or starting to converge. Read all about it Best TV 2014: what TV should you buy? Helping you buy the perfect TV for you since 2008 There has never been a better time to buy a new TV. Gone are the days when 32-inch TVs weighed 16 tonnes and cost £1,500. These days you can pick up a 50-inch LCD TV for closer to £300. LCD panel technology has well and truly matured, and while brands like Sony and Panasonic push the boundaries of performance, you'll also find names like Toshiba doing very exciting things in the budget TV sector. The practical upshot of this is that no matter what you're after, how big you want to go or how large your budget is, there's a perfect TV out there for you. So which one is right for you, your family and your living space? In this buying guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about being a new TV. Best TV 2014 4K TV and Ultra HD: Everything you need to know 4K is the hottest buzz word in the tech world right now, and it's rewriting the rulebook when it comes to image quality. It affects not just the world of 4K TV and cinema, but also cameras and image capture, smartphones and tablets, computer monitors and PC games - practically anything that displays images or records video. 4K TV sets are now available from most of the major TV manufacturers, but they're merely the tip of a very cool technology iceberg. So what, we hear you ask, is 4K really all about? Continue reading... Best 32-inch TVs Let us help you choose the best 32-inch TV Still going strong as we plunge headlong into the summer of 2014, the 32-inch TV is one of the most popular consumer electronics products in the UK. It was always the most popular TV size by far, mainly because many British living rooms can't physically take a TV much bigger than 32-inches in size. But in recent years as living rooms graduate to bigger sizes, 32-inches has become the de facto size option for a 'big' bedroom or secondary TV. Best 32-inch TVs Facebook toying with your feelings What does the experiment mean for you? Facebook has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons: last week it emerged that nearly a quarter of a million users' news feeds were deliberately manipulated to see if such manipulation could change their moods. Critics say that's unethical at best and downright evil at worst, and the UK Information Commissioner's Office has announced that it will investigate whether Facebook has breached data protection legislation. What does it all mean? Stick or twist Will the tech industry thrive in an independent Scotland? Should Scotland be an independent country? That's the question 8 million Scottish people will be asked in the independence referendum come September 18. It seems like, with such a highly emotional issue, the thoughts and needs of Scotland's tech industry don't really matter when considering the future of the country's sovereignty. But as technology and innovation are increasingly driving economies around the world, a future union or independent Scotland will have to embrace technology to keep up. Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini vs Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Out with the old, in with the new Samsung's Galaxy S4 Mini was a popular little smartphone and one we were rather fond of too, but it's had its time to shine and soon it will be taking a back seat to the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini (although we all know it'll be on the shop shelves for the next 7,000 years still). The question is, just what has changed in the new handset? And is it really much better than its predecessor? Well strap in, and prepare your brain for answers to both of those questions... plus, there will also be some pictures too. Keep your hands and arms inside the carriage. Read the battle of the Minis 10 best Spotify Connect systems Get connected to Spotify with these great speaker systems Spotify is gradually supplanting digital downloads as the dominant way that we listen to music, with 10 million subscribers and 40 million active users across 56 countries listening to its 30 million tracks. With Spotify adding more than 20,000 new songs daily, it's definitely time for Spotify Connect, a new badge for hi-fi gear that enables effortless control of music across a phone, tablet and speakers. Allowing music to be sent direct from the Spotify app to any of these systems, Spotify Connect is a streamer's dream. Best Spotify Connect systems Why you don't need a camera with more than 6MP The six million pixel man I guess that many of us have programed ourselves to want more of a good thing, and perhaps also to not know when we have enough. There's security in having more than we need, in the stored hoard, in the squirrel's stash, for when the expected unexpected comes to pass: we crave reassurance that we'll get by and be equipped to take any situation in our stride. There's a glut of reality TV shows at the moment that deal with those who fill their house with collections of junk and precious belongings. Do we act in a similarly illogical, paranoid and pathological manner when deciding how many pixels we need in a camera? Read all about it LG G2 Mini review 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 The next generation of Nokia Lumia handsets may boast Canon camera tech Jul 4th 2014, 18:10, by Chris Smith Microsoft and Canon have announced a broad cross-licensing agreement which, potentially, could see Canon's optics, lens and image processing technology find a way into future Nokia Lumia smartphones. The pact, announced earlier this week, allows the companies free access to each other's patent portfolios, including "certain digital imaging and mobile consumer products." Nokia mobile phones and then smartphones have long been renowned for their advanced imaging technology, such as the 41-megapixel Pureview devices like the Nokia Lumia 1020. The addition of Canon tech could give Microsoft an imaging advantage over Apple and Android manufacturers like Samsung and HTC moving forward. Possibilities Traditionally Nokia had deployed Carl Zeiss lenses on its high-end smartphones, while pioneering its own market-leading sensors, such as the DSLR-sized one within the Pureview range. Nokia has also pushed out some fine imaging software in recent years, with its ever improving Nokia Camera app leading the way. Meanwhile, Microsoft may be envisioning the Canon partnership as a means of enhancing the Kinect sensor while, for Canon, could a Windows-powered digital camera be in the way? Canon rumors: What you need to know Apple reportedly poaches TAG sales guy in order to claim iWatch is 'Swiss made' Jul 4th 2014, 16:42, by Chris Smith Apple has reportedly hired the sales director of luxury watch maker TAG Heuer in the hopes of marketing its iWatch under the prestigious 'Swiss made' label. Jean-Claude Biver, the CEO of the LVMH company that owns TAG, Zenith and Hublot told CNBC his number one sales executive departed last week "to take a contract with Apple" to launch the iWatch. CNBC reports the appointment represents a breakthrough for Apple in its until now fruitless attempts to poach employees from Swiss watch makers to work on the iWatch, expected to launch in October. Having 'Swiss made' featured on the iWatch would allow Apple to accentuate the perceived value of the device, according to the report. Diluting "For sure they are trying to approach the Swiss manufacturers, but the Swiss have got no great interest in working with Apple – if you are a luxury producer and you cooperate with Apple, you have got a dilution," luxury goods analyst Mario Ortelli said. "They don't want to dilute the value of the Swiss name," he added. How having a Swiss salesman on the team allows Apple to use 'Swiss Made' on a device that was conceived in California and assembled in China remains to be seen. Knowing Apple it'll probably find a way. Health focused iWatch could sense your sweat Own an iPhone or Galaxy phone? Airport security is set to get even more stressful Jul 4th 2014, 13:46, by Hugh Langley So you thought the airport security gate couldn't be any more of a pain? BZZZT. Wrong. Security is getting even tighter if you're a) carrying an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone on you, and b) heading onto a US-bound flight from Europe, the Middle East or Africa. In a response to increased threats, US officials have told airlines to tighten screening of mobile phones and shoes, singling out iPhones and Galaxy handsets for extra security checks. Other electronic devices are also likely to get more intense scrutinisation, so don't think that your special edition Pikachu 3DS XL will save you any time at the security gate. The usual suspects So why the step-up, exactly? Sky News reports that US officials fear members of the Yemen-based al Qaeda have created smartphone bombs that can evade detection from regular airport scanners. While iPhones and Samsung handsets have been highlighted, it wouldn't surprise us if most other smartphones become subjected to added scrutiny. On the subject of air travel... how does airplane Wi-Fi work? And will it get any better? TechRadar Phone Awards: two weeks to go! Jul 3rd 2014, 15:50, by TechRadar There's just a fortnight to go until we finally find out which phone and tablet has been voted top dog over the last twelve months. It's a tricky business, reviewing phones and tablets. Everyone likes something a little different, from big screens to top apps. Here at TechRadar, you'll hopefully know that we love to tell you about the latest in smartphones and slates, pushing each one to its limits and exploring all the nooks and crannies that can delight (and disappoint). But just giving everything a star rating isn't enough – we want to properly celebrate the pocket technology that has really wowed us over the last year, which is why we're hosting the first TechRadar Phone awards… in just two weeks! The best of the best In association with Ticketmaster, we'll bring you the best of the last year in the world of smartphones and tablets. There will be six categories for the inaugural awards, with budget phones and tablets, apps and innovation all getting the recognition they deserve. We've got an elite panel of judges sitting in as well, giving their expert opinion on the phones and tablets that they think worthy of praise, so you know whichever name is drawn out of the envelope in a fortnight's time will be truly worthy of the title. Stay tuned for the shortlist next week – and we'd love to hear from you too about the technology that's impressed you most in the last 12 months too, so let us know in the comments below!

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