| Samsung Gear S becomes a proper running watch with Nike+ tie-in Aug 29th 2014, 13:47, by Gareth Beavis 
Samsung and Nike have announced a tie in that will see the newly-announced Gear S imbued with the same powers offered only to dedicated running watches. The new smartwatch from Samsung, which has a larger 2-inch curved screen than its predecessors, is able to offer full integration with the Nike+ app thanks to being one of the first smartwatches to add GPS into the mix. Other dedicated running watches, like the Garmin Forerunner range or Adidas' MiCoach SmartRun, can manage the same thing but at the cost of size. They also don't have the same connection to the smartphone, whereas the Gear S will be able to show calls, emails and texts on the go. The Nike tie-in will allow users to connect to the Nike+ community, allowing them to share runs with friends, and get real-time feedback on their speed during the run thanks to the GPS capability. Curving your runsThis is good news for the more serious runner (or just the newbie that wants more accurate distance measurement) as current Samsung Gear 2 models use the accelerometer to measure distance through steps, and are often wildly inaccurate. Music can be streamed from the watch over a Bluetooth connection if you've chucked MP3 files onto the 4GB internal storage space. The Gear S also allows users to insert a SIM card to have on the go 3G data without a phone connection – which the Nike+ app can leverage with 'cheers' added in through friends noting you're on a run through Facebook. Whether you'd want to be 'that person' and smugly tell people you're on a run is another thing altogether. Nor will many people fork out for a separate 3G contract for their watch, so here's hoping shared contracts become a much more popular thing soon. We still don't have a price for the new Gear S, and we're hoping the GPS addition doesn't make it a chunky beast. That said, it looks like one of the most impressive smartwatches around at the moment, and fingers crossed it will make an appearance at IFA 2014.        |  | Samsung and Nokia gang up against Google to offer Here maps on Android Aug 29th 2014, 13:43, by Marc Chacksfield 
Nokia and Samsung have announced that they are teaming up to bring the Here map app to Android. In an exclusive deal, users of Samsung handsets will soon be able to download and use a beta version of Here, which offers offline navigation functionality without having to cache large chunks of a map on to your phone. According to Nokia's Here blog, its mapping service will be available for a select number of Samsung handsets (the Samsung Galaxy S5 is namechecked) and it will also link up to the recently announced Tizen-toting Samsung Gear S. This means you will be able to sync routes with Samsung's latest smartwatch and flip between your phone screen and your watch screen, if that sort of thing floats your boat. The arrival of Here maps on Samsung devices will be welcomed by those who don't want to be completely tied to Google's services - and even if you use Google Maps, there's a number of features available that Google doesn't offer. Here, there, everywhereOne of these is Glympse, which allows you to instantly tell a friend where you are in the world by sharing your location. That is, as long as you only want them to know where you are for a certain amount of time. The application will also play well with Samsung Car Mode which means only a select number of features will work when you are in the car, so that you can concentrate on the journey rather than fiddle with your handset. The Here app will be available to download as soon as the Samsung Gear S is released. We still don't really know when that is. We'll look into it, promise. - TechRadar will be at IFA 2014, where we will get our hands on Samsung Gear S for you to peruse. If there's on there, that is.
       | | In Depth: What business users should expect from the iPhone 6 Aug 29th 2014, 13:00, by Brittany Farb 
Another year, another iPhone release. With the iPhone 6 release reportedly set for September 9,TechRadar has already said the new smartphone could be one of the most pivotal devices in Apple's history. The iPhones 5S and 5C were arguably simple, superficial updates over the iPhone 5. However, with an entirely new operating system (iOS 8) and rumored design revision, users should expect a major change with the iPhone 6. With business users increasingly adopting the iPhone, there are several changes to expect with the updated device. Bigger is better: The iPhone 6 is expected to be the biggest iPhone manufactured to date. According to several media outlets, there will be two available sizes: 4.7 inches and a 5.5-inch "phablet" style phone. The 4.7-inch model will put it in direct competition with competitors such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8. What this means for business users: More work can be accomplished on the phone, on the go. Perhaps the larger 5.5-inch iPhone will replace business tablets. Custom keyboards: Ask Android-turned-iPhone users about their complaints about their switch and you are almost guaranteed to hear grievances about the keyboard. However, Apple will allow users the ability to use third party keyboards with iOS 8. One of the keyboards Android users are likely most excited about is Swype, which gives users the ability to use simple gestures on the touch screen as opposed to the standard typo-ridden iPhone keyboard. What this means for business users: More accurate typing. The pesky "Sent from an iPhone. Please excuse typos." warning may become a warning of the past. Say (megapixel) cheese: At 8 megapixels, the iPhone camera has generally been regarded as pretty stellar. However, with an increasingly competitive smartphone market, the iPhone 6 is rumored to step up its camera to 13 mexapixels. What this means for business users: More megapixels means higher photo resolution. Expect the iPhone 6 camera to increasingly replace the standard digital camera. More memory: Earlier in August, the Chinese Apple repair firm GeekBar shared documents that claimed it included hardware schematics for the iPhone 6. According to GeekBar, the iPhone 6 may be available in a 128GB internal memory option, in addition to offering 16GB and 64GB memory options. Interestingly, the documents do not indicate a 32GB storage option, despite that usually being a standard Apple plan. What this means for business users: With a significantly large storage plan at 128GB, the iPhone 6 will be especially suitable for businesses that require access to files in and out of the office. Need for speed: The iPhone 6 is also rumored to undergo an upgrade in processor speed. The phone could include a new A8 chip that will boast frequencies of 2.0 GHz or more. Compare that to the iPhone 5S which only has a 1.3 Ghz A7 processor. What this means for business users: If this processor upgrade rumor is true, users should expect a significant improvement in operating speed. For business users especially, this is favorable news and will help Apple against fast processing Android and Windows phones.        | | Xbox One SmartGlass updates enable gameplay recording and more Aug 28th 2014, 18:36, by JR Bookwalter 
Does your preference of gaming console lean toward allegiance to Microsoft? If you also happen to own a smartphone or tablet, the folks in Redmond have just pushed out across the board updates to the SmartGlass app that deliver welcome improvements. Microsoft (via Engadget) today released updates to the free Xbox One SmartGlass app for Windows Phone, iOS and Android which finally allow console owners to remotely record game clips and a whole lot more. Now available on Windows Phone Store, App Store or Google Play marketplaces for each respective platform, the updates deliver the same set of improvements to the vast majority of smartphone and tablet owners. The ability to control recording of gameplay from a mobile device is a particularly welcome addition now that Microsoft is shipping less expensive Xbox One systems without a Kinect to handle the voice and motion-sensing chores. Smart(er)GlassIn addition to recording of game clips, Thursday's Xbox One SmartGlass app updates also enable the ability to share and post activity feed items, as well as post status updates to said activity feed. Neither of those improvements would be worth much without the ability to actually see the activity feed on your profile, and the updates also unlock features for the new markets Xbox One has most recently launched in. Last but certainly not least, SmartGlass now features in-app display of release and feature notes, as well as the ability to see messages in a revamped conversations view, rounding out a nice assembly of cross-platform enhancements. Unfortunately, Microsoft has left owners of Kindle Fire, Amazon Fire Phone and BlackBerry 10 hardware out in the cold with today's updates, but there's no sense crying over spilt milk since those platforms never had these apps to begin with. - Check out the competition in our full Sony PS4 review!
       | | HTC One M8 for Windows comes to T-Mobile this holiday season Aug 28th 2014, 17:05, by klee 
It's official the HTC One M8 for Windows will also be coming to T-Mobile this holiday season. The pink carrier announced the Windows flavored version of the HTC One M8 will arrive at some point this fall. Aside from teasing the phone's future release, the Uncarrier did not include any further details on price or exact availability. Currently the HTC One M8 for Windows is available as a Verizon exclusive handset for $100 on-contract or $600 without. Given that T-Mobile does not subsidize its handsets, the Windows phone should cost about the same as its full price on Verizon. Same specs, better battery lifeAs with the Android version of the HTC One M8 this Windows variant packs a 5-inch 1080p HD display. Similarly the handset is also powered by a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Processor and 2GB of RAM. Despite swapping mobile operating systems, HTC has ported many of the M8's original software features. These include the smartphone's dual depth changing camera tricks as well as motion gestures to wake the handset with two taps on the screen. With Windows Phone 8.1 the Taiwanese made handset also gains all the virtual assistant features from Cortana. Unconfirmed reports have suggested the Windows version also boasts slightly better battery life for two more hours of talk time.   | | iPhone 6 NFC payment platform could hog the spotlight in September Aug 28th 2014, 16:40, by Michael Rougeau 
It's looking more and more like the iPhone 6 will be the first Apple phone to embrace the magic of near field communication. The first evidence came in July, when images of an alleged iPhone 6 logic board surfaced, supposedly showing that the phone will have NFC. Now sources have reportedly confirmed as much with Wired, going as far as claiming that NFC payments will be a flagship feature on the new iPhone. When Apple unveils the iPhone 6 - which is all but confirmed to be taking place on September 9 - a new payment platform will feature heavily in its messaging, these sources said. You'll pay for this! With your iPhone 6If so, Apple will have plenty of competition in the mobile wallet space - from Google Wallet to Square - but chances are it will steamroll them all by making NFC payments an integral part of the new iPhone. Apple will have a massive install base already in place as troves of loyal fans swarm Apple Stores in September to buy the iPhone 6. And most of these users won't even have to enter their credit card information to get started, since it's already stored with their Apple ID accounts. Luckily the new payment platform is rumored to feature a hardware-based "secure element" where sensitive information is stored. And don't forget about the iPhone 5S's fingerprint reader! Between this report, the logic board photo, the several patents Apple has filed, and various other bits of evidence, it won't be surprising at all if Tim Cook uses the iPhone 6 to buy a pocket protector and a pack of gum onstage when he introduces the new iPhone next month.        | | Apple confirms September 9 iPhone 6 launch, hints at iWatch Aug 28th 2014, 16:10, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
Oh hello invitations to a September 9 Apple event. We were wondering when you'd start showing up. The Cupertino firm made the rumored date official as invites have gone out over the wire. The minimalistic invitations feature nothing more than a stylized Apple logo, the date and a shrug of a line, "Wish we could say more." Apple's tongue may be tied, but we have plenty of intel on what to expect on September 9. It's then we'll likely be treated to the iPhone 6 as well as the iWatch. The new iPhone has been the subject of countless rumor and speculation, but what we can almost say for certain is that it will come in 4.7- and 5.5-inch flavors, sizes unseen from Apple before. 
As for the iWatch, we may actually have a clue it's due on the invitation itself. "Wish we could say more" may be a nod to Apple's infamous "One more thing" tease, or it could hint at voice control capabilities. We're just brainstorming here, but all seems possible at this point. The wearable has been rumored for years and with rival Google a few steps ahead with its Android Wear platform, Apple has a lot of catching up to do. Stick with us as we'll be bringing you all the news as it happens on September 9.        | |
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