Amazon Fire TV vs Roku 3

Amazon has surprised everyone by making the Amazon Fire TV available to pre-order in the UK. This versatile media streaming box will be available to buy on these shores from October 23.

But how does Amazon's effort to take over our living rooms compare to one of the established masters of the art, the Roku 3?

Let's take a look at the two boxes and see which offers the best package.

Amazon Fire TV vs Roku 3: Design

Both of these boxes are extremely compact. We're not talking anything like a Sky or BT box level of bulk here.

The Amazon Fire TV is a slim square device that measure 115 × 115 × 17.5mm. The Roku 3, by contrast, is a far more rounded, tub-shaped device at 89 x 89 x 25mm.

Having said that, the Roku 3 is far lighter than the Amazon Fire TV - just 170 grams versus 281 grams.

They look quite different, and while the Roku 3 is the most striking, the Amazon Fire TV will blend in better with your living room set-up. You could argue that it should also prove easier to find a place for the Fire TV given its flatter shape, but given how small both boxes are, that really shouldn't be an issue.

SEE ALSO: Chromecast review

Amazon Fire TV vs Roku 3: Performance

The Amazon Fire TV essentially has the innards of an upper-mid-range smartphone. It runs on a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 CPU, which is backed by 2GB of RAM. It also has 8GB of storage.

It's far more powerful than the Roku 3, which runs on a dual-core A9 Broadcom BCM11130 Merlyn and 512MB of RAM. While its local storage is a decidedly tiddly 256MB, it can be expanded considerably through a microSD slot.

This performance disparity seems to show in general usage, as the Amazon Fire TV is widely acknowledged to be the most responsive media box of this kind on the market (we look forward to putting this to the test in our own UK model review).

Still, the Roku 3 is an estimated five times faster than the company's previous model, which is plenty fast enough for us. And of course, any difference in performance doesn't matter all that much for the core function of these two boxes - streaming 1080p video quickly and smoothly.

Where the difference really comes in, though, is in the Fire TV's expanded capabilities, which we'll discuss in a bit.

Amazon Fire TV vs Roku 3: User Interface

The Amazon Fire TV uses Amazon's own Fire OS 3.0. Unsurprisingly, it's very much focused on purchasing, renting, and consuming Amazon media content.

It's essentially the same as the Kindle Fire tablet's interface, if you've ever used that. In use it's essentially a bunch of simple scrolling media content grids, with smarty-pants predictive content-pushing based on your viewing habits.

The Roku 3 uses the company's own custom operating system, which adopts a very simple, intuitive vertically scrolling list of categories to the left and a grid of channels to the right. It's pretty much universally liked, largely thanks to its channel agnosticism. You can search for content across the whole lot.

That's probably why it's generally appreciated more than Fire OS and its in-your-face, walled-off Amazon ecosystem - despite the latter featuring some pretty nifty cloud technology that makes everything run smoothly.

SEE ALSO: Roku Streaming Stick review

Amazon Fire TV vs Roku 3: Remote Control

Both boxes come with pleasingly simple, compact remote controls. They're a lesson in button restraint, particularly compared to your bewildering Sky or BT remote.

In addition, both controllers come with their own stand-out features. Both, for example, allow you to plug a set of headphones into the remote for private listening - a truly excellent thing to have at your disposal, particularly in crowded households.

The Amazon Fire TV's big control feature is a voice common button, which lets you search for Amazon content by speaking into your remote - no more clunky d-pad text entry! Except, you will still have to do that for external apps from Netflix and the like. Oops.

The Roku 3, meanwhile, incorporates motion control into its remote. Unfortunately, you can't navigate through the UI this way, but it does allow for some Wii-like games (more on which later).

Amazon Fire TV vs Roku 3: Apps and Channels

According to Roku, it had over 1,500 entertainment channels available for it as of June 6, while Amazon Fire TV had a mere 15 at that time.

That number's growing all the time for Amazon, of course, but it can't be argued that the Roku 3 is much better equipped for video-based entertainment right now - and that's not even taking into consideration the Roku's superior channel integration.

Still, the Amazon Fire TV has a trick up its sleeve. Thanks to being built on the Android platform, it has a growing roster of wider-use applications being converted for use on the streaming box, currently numbering into the hundreds.

This, as we shall now discuss, also includes a whole heap of games.

Amazon Fire TV vs Roku 3: Games

Here's where the Amazon Fire TV mops up. All that power and that Android-based OS means that the Fire TV is a much better gaming device than the Roku 3.

Indeed, Amazon is really positioning the Fire TV as, among other things, and affordable games console. You can even buy a dedicated Xbox One-like games controller for it.

As of June 6, Roku itself admitted, the Roku 3 had a mere 70 games available for it to the Amazon Fire TV's 200. That number has since swelled to 346. What's more, the added power of the Fire TV means that they're off better quality.

It's got blockbuster hits like Minecraft: Pocket Edition, Terraria, The Walking Dead, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, BADLAND, and more.

The Roku 3 has Angry Birds and a bunch of dodgy third rate games you wouldn't look twice at were they on your smartphone.

SEE ALSO: Best TV series on Netflix UK

Price

The Amazon Fire TV will cost £79 here in the UK. The Roku 3, meanwhile, looks a little expensive next to it with a cost of £99.

While we like the Roku 3's simple, intuitive interface and sheer range of channels, we reckon it needs to have a considerable price cut if it's to remain a viable option when the powerful, glitzy, heavily app-endowed Amazon Fire TV arrives.

MORE: Amazon Fire TV vs Apple TV

readmore »»  

iPad mini 3 to launch in the coming weeks

With the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch having been formally unveiled earlier this week, latest reports have suggested an iPad mini 3 will also be announced before the end of the year.

While an iPad Air 2 has been widely tipped for a late 2014 unveiling, it has now been suggested that a third-generation 7.9-inch Apple tablet will also join a busy Q4 for the Cupertino-based company. It had previously been suggested that Apple would stick with the existing iPad mini with Retina display until 2015.

“We previously thought Apple would not release a new version of the iPad mini this year, but we now think Apple will launch an upgraded version with the same form factor,” KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo stated.

Having spoken with claimed insiders, they added: “We think the upgraded iPad Air will be launched earlier in 2014 than the iPad Air was in 2013.”

This could see Apple introduce new tablet offerings as early as next month.

Given that the iPad Air and iPad mini currently dominate tablet sales, it is not expected that new models will introduce any radical improvements.

Past rumours have suggested that the iPhone’s TouchID fingerprint sensor could be added to the tablet line. Further additions would likely see the iPhone 6’s iOS 8 operating system and new A8 processor thrown into the mix.

What features would you like to see added to Apple’s next range of tablets? Let us know via the comments section below.



Read More: iPhone 6 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Via: Ubergizmo

readmore »»  

Apple’s Continuity messaging feature delayed until after iOS 8 launch

The Continuity messaging feature that will allow iPhone owners to send cellular text messages from an iPad or a Mac OS X computer will not arrive with iOS 8 next week .

The feature, which is currently sitting in the iOS 8 and Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite betas, unites the texting experience across Apple devices, regardless of whether the other sender or recipient is using iOS, Android or Windows handsets.

The tool was expected to launch with iOS 8 on September 17, but Apple has confirmed it won’t arrive as soon as initially thought.

In a post on its website Apple says Continuity is now “Coming in October”

That's probably because the firm is holding back until Yosemite exits its own beta and goes public, which is expected to happen next month.

When it does arrive, Continuity will let iPhone owners interact with non-iPhone owners through SMS and MMS from an iPad or Mac. For example, if users get a text from an Android owner it’ll show up on their Mac.

Users will also be able to start a conversion from the Safari, Contacts or Calendar apps for Mac or iPad just by clicking a phone number.

The feature has been heralded as a major step in the ongoing drive to converge the iOS and Mac OS X operating systems. We’re just going to have to wait a little bit longer to get it…

Read more: iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus: Which is best

Via: 9to5Mac

readmore »»  

MLS wants to be first league to trial video reviews

MLS wants to throw the first challenge flag

Major League Soccer has made a play to be the first league in the world to adopt a video review system that would allow coaches to challenge decisions made by the officials.

Earlier this week FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced the intention to trial a replay system , following the success of goal-line technology during the recent World Cup in Brazil.

The idea would give coaches the opportunity to officially remonstrate with a referee’s ruling by issuing a challenge. If the video replay found the coach was correct then the decision would be overturned.

MLS commissioner Don Garber told Sports Illustrated that bringing video technology into play would be “music to my ears.”

He said: “I would love to be able to do that. [MLS deputy commissioner] Mark Abbott was out in Zurich at a meeting last week [at FIFA headquarters] and let folks in Zurich know that we’d be happy to work with them to be that league. I don’t know what their plans are to experiment with that, but I believe the time has come for there to be a mechanism so that games are not determined by [referee calls] that are not right.”

Similar video replay initiatives have been widely adopted in US leagues like the NFL, NBA and MLB, while the National Hockey League also has plans to introduce them.

Although the replays, sometimes prompted by coaches’ challenges and others by pre-mandated reviews of close calls or scoring plays, have slowed the games down somewhat, they’ve become widely officials by fans and teams who can benefit from more reliable officiating.

The wide adoption in the United States may explain why the MLS is at the front of the queue to introduce the technology to the beautiful game.

On a more cynical note the presence of the in-game review would solve the networks' problems of not being able to take commercial breaks for 45 minutes as they can for other stop-start sports with time-outs.

Under Blatter’s plans coaches would be able to challenge a decision once or twice per half, but only when the game is stopped.

So, in theory, a ruling for offside could perhaps be challenged when the whistle blows, while the award of a penalty kick could be challenged if there’s a believe the recipient of the decision took a dive.

Would you like to see video challenges introduced with the aim of eradicating refereeing errors, or do they simply add to the drama? Share your thoughts below.

Read more: Adidas miCoach Smart Ball review

Via: Engadget

readmore »»  

Moto X (2104) Pure Edition to offer raw Android experience

Motorola has firmed up plans to launch a SIM-free Moto X Pure Edition, offering a similar experience to the popular range of 'pure Android' Nexus devices.

The unlocked and unbranded Pure Edition cuts out the manufacturer and network bloatware and promises shoppers a “pure Android experience.”

According to Lenovo-owned Motorola, that means the latest version of Android with Nexus-like fast access to the latest OS updates and no “unnecessary software skins”

While this isn’t a raw Android device like the Google Play Editions sold SIM-free through Google’s online portals, it is apparently pretty close.

Motorola says the device is coming in late September, but is yet to get specific about pricing and release dates.

The Moto X 2014, which launched earlier this month, has surprised many observers with the dramatic improvements over last year’s so-so model.

The handset rocks Android 4.4, a 5.2-inch Full HD 1080p display, a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor and a 13-megapixel camera.

The device will continue the Moto Maker scheme allowing buyers to customise the look of the device through wooden and leather rear casings.

In a ‘first impressions’ hands-on with the device Trusted Reviews’ Michael Sawh said the “Moto X is an improvement in almost every way on last year's Moto X.”

Will you be snapping up this year’s Moto X? Let us know your thoughts below.



Read more: Nexus 5 vs Moto G

Via: The Verge

readmore »»  

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders set overnight record

Apple is touting a record number of overnight sales after the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handset became available to pre-order ahead of the September 19 release date.

While pre-orders for Brits opened at 8am on Friday morning, for customers stateside that equated to midnight on the west coast, 3am on the east coast and somewhere in between for the rest of the country.

The response to the devices, it seems, has been overwhelming with the iPhone 6 Plus already on month-long back orders in various territories.

In a statement to the Recode website an Apple spokesperson said: "Response to iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus has been incredible with a record number of preorders overnight,"

The company did not say how many devices had been sold, but US carrier AT&T said “hundreds of thousands of pre-orders had been made.”

Those still seeking to obtain a device on launch day may still get lucky with a release date delivery depending on the model or the retailer.

However, it now seems likely that a trip down to a local retailer next Friday and a long wait in line could be the only way to get in on the day-one action.

Read more: Apple Watch review: First impressions

Via: AppleInsider

readmore »»  

Should your next TV have Dolby Vision?

Dolby Vision: Bringing High Dynamic Range to TVs

JOHN ARCHER takes a look at a new TV technology that promises to deliver high dynamic range (HDR) to our living rooms.

Famed US audio tech company Dolby is no longer just interested in sound. At this year’s IFA show in Berlin Dolby’s most intriguing story wasn’t its new Atmos multi-channel audio system, but rather something called Dolby Vision.

This startling new video tech takes as its starting point a belief that the picture quality of all today’s TVs are rubbish. Why? Because they don’t have a high enough dynamic range.

What is High Dynamic Range?

Try this. Whip out your smartphone (assuming it’s a fairly modern model) and try taking two photographs of the same subject, preferably one with lots of light contrast. Take one with your phone’s HDR setting active, and then with it deactivated.

You'll be amazed what a phone with a good HDR mode, such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 or iPhone 5S, can produce. A good HDR shot is brighter, more contrast rich and vibrant than a non-HDR shot. You get detailed shadows and bright, searing sunlight in the same picture, whereas a standard photo averages out and looks flatter.

This is, in very broad strokes, what Dolby Vision wants to achieve with TV pictures.

How does Dolby Vision work?

In its fullest expression Dolby Vision is a full end-to-end deal. That means directors must shoot for Dolby Vision, or master their films for Dolby Vision. This requires the P3 digital cinema colour gamut, though Dolby is considering the extreme Rec 2020 format in future.

Next, studios need to encode and package that content correctly. It needs to be delivered the right way, too. That means TVs with decoder chips that can handle 12-bit video and a 20% expansion of the HEVC/H.264 compression codecs. They must be super bright, too, so they can handle the 40x times brightness levels and 1,000 times more contrast of Dolby Vision.

Benefits are evident even if you only satisfy one or two parts of the full end-to-end solution. But for the maximum Dolby Vision impact, source and display need to be in perfect harmony.

SEE ALSO: New TV Buying Guide

Where can I get Dolby Vision?

Right now, you can't. No current, commercially available TVs are compatible with Dolby Vision. Not even the latest ultra-bright models from Philips, Samsung and Toshiba support it.

Moroever, as AV industry veteran Joe Kane pointed out during an IFA presentation on future AV standards, look behind the scenes of a full-spec Dolby Vision demo and you’ll find refrigeration units and industrial power supplies cooling and feeding the screen.

But Dolby says that Dolby Vision-capable TVs will be appearing in the US before Christmas. That's because it believes mainstream sets can still deliver some of the benefits, just scaled down. It even has a chip for doing just this.

One of the brands working with Dolby (though it’s not yet an official licensee) on Dolby Vision is Philips. In fact, the Dutch brand had a Dolby Vision demo running on its stand at IFA. It used a panel which, while ‘next generation’, wasn't all that far beyond what the brand’s top-end TVs are delivering now.

It showed what Dolby Vision will look like if you buy a certified TV later this year, so we settled down to see whether it's something worth considering.

How good is Dolby Vision?

The demo comprised two screens running side-by-side. Both screens had the same next-gen panels at their heart, but they were setup differently. The one on the left is set to deliver 120 Nits of light output – a level intended to represent the typical brightness levels of current LCD TVs – while the one on the right is running at a high-brightness 1,000 Nits to highlight Dolby Vision’s potential. Dolby Vision clips included extended samples from Oblivion and Star Trek: Into Darkness.

There have to be concerns about any demo that features a TV ‘specially calibrated’ to emulate another type of technology. But Philips has a greater track record for honesty in this department than most, so we’re prepared to take the demo at face value.



SEE ALSO: What is 4K TV and Ultra HD?



A close-up shot from Star Trek Into Darkness in the background shows the bright area blown out

Dolby Vision retains the detail in this shot, though it perhaps loses some foreground shadow detail.

And, for the most part, we were seriously impressed by what we saw. The brightness of the Dolby Vision screen is truly intense. It drives images out of the screen with an incredible intensity that left all the other TVs on Philips’ stand looking muted by comparison. It's delivered without causing the lightest parts of the picture to look ‘torn out’ or clipped, too.

This high brightness joins the expanded colour range to deliver a colour palette of phenomenal intensity. Pictures look more visceral, vibrant and, for the most part, life-like. They have almost 3D-like intensity and sense of depth.

Occasionally the vastly expanded colour gamut looked a touch unbalanced, but we were really impressed to see how believably the extra colour range translated into skin tones. People just look more alive and vital, a fact which has a bizarrely strong impact on boosting your sense of connection with what you’re watching.

SEE ALSO: H.265 vs VP9: 4K video codecs explained



Here is a scene without Dolby Vision

And now with Dolby Vision. Note the great detail in both dark and bright areas, such as individual sparks in the intensely bright end of the welder.

We were also impressed by the spectacular amount of detail in the image. This was especially true when it came to dark scenes, where shadow detail in the Dolby Vision image was in a whole different stratosphere. This helps dark scenes look deeper and more natural, as well as ensuring they sit more comfortably alongside bright scenes than they do on lower-brightness screens.

Our big fear was that the massive boost in brightness would lead to the destruction of black level response. But this doesn’t appear to be the case.

Philips was brave enough to include some fairly dark footage from a vintage car repair garage on its show reel, and the darkest parts of these shots look decently black. Not truly inky, perhaps, but believable enough – especially given the outstanding levels of shadow detail they contain.

There are issues with Dolby Vision, for sure. We’ve been burned enough times in the past to be innately suspicious of any picture technology that depends on support from the content creation and shipping side.

The potential for different ‘levels’ of Dolby Vision experience could lead to confusion, too. Considerable work is needed to make TVs power efficient enough to support such high brightnesses while remaining legal, though Dolby believes Quantum Dot technology holds the answer here.

Still, there’s no doubt that Dolby Vision has the potential to have a stunningly positive impact on TV picture quality. So for now let’s put practical concerns to one side and declare ourselves fully behind it.

Next, read Curved TVs: The Pros and Cons

readmore »»  

Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury Review

What is the Logitech G402?

Logitech has a long and enviable history in the gaming mouse market and its latest model looks set to continue that line. While it may not include every possible feature, it packs in a high-speed, high-sensitivity laser sensor, a 32-bit ARM processor and oodles of programmable buttons, so it’s got all the performance you should need.

Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury: Design

One of the areas where the Logitech G402 doesn’t really impress is design. The matte and glossy black plastic combination is certainly not offensive but neither is it all that inviting, plus the offset glowing blue G logo doesn’t really do much for us – it’s all a bit incoherent. Other mice like the Corsair M45 or Steel Series Sensei give off more of a sense of cohesion.

There are no premium materials here either, for what good they do. There’s none of the Aluminium of the Corsair M65 or the snazzy braided cables of many premium models. Here the cable, while perfectly long and relatively kink-free, is plain rubber.

All told there’s a sense that this could just as well be a cheap Chinese knock off so far as design is concerned.

Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury: Ergonomics

While the G402 may not look the part in use it most definitely feels it. The matt finish feels great under your hand and fingers while the contouring is near perfect.

Now clearly there’s always a degree of personal preference when it comes to mouse ergonomics but to this reviewer the G402 absolutely nails it.

The Logitech G402 is longer and slimmer than the Corsair M45

The elongated gently-curved top section supports the hand nicely when in a more relaxed position while the scalloped, rubberised sides provide a really firm grip when moving the mouse with thumb and little finger.

The flared section under the thumb-grip also really helps the thumb to not slide off. In contrast, the Steel Series Sensei’s fairly flat sides can almost cause the thumb to slip under the mouse.

Further subtle tweaks include the chamfered edges round the base of the mouse, which help ensure the mouse doesn’t dig into your mousemat – a particular hindrance when quickly raising and moving the mouse in FPS games. The Corsair M45 doesn’t have this and digs in awkwardly.

Finally, we come to the buttons and again, to this reviewer, they’re almost flawless. For a start all the buttons are excellent in terms of responsiveness. They all click instantly rather than having a stodgy, delayed feedback.

They’re also placed perfectly. Clearly the two main buttons and the scroll wheel fall easily into place – it really would be something to get that wrong – but then there are the Back and Forward buttons that sit just perfectly above the thumb. Here they’re as close as can be yet aren’t prone to accidentally being hit.

Likewise the two buttons that sit just to the left of the Left-Click button. These are for adjusting DPI and again they’re really easy to reach yet don’t get in the way. So good are they that we’ve been forced to change our mind about multiple DPI settings. We’ve long been in agreement with SteelSeries that most of the time you only really need two DPI settings – fast and slow – when gaming and that having a single button to switch between the two is all that’s needed. However, so convenient did we find the G402’s buttons that we ended up regularly switching between multiple settings.

Finally there’s the ‘sniper’ button, which sits just forward of the thumb. This is for momentarily reducing the DPI while it’s pressed, so you don’t need to adjust the DPI up and down manually. We found this a little less convenient because it requires adjusting your grip to move the thumb forward, but it works and this location has become the standard for this feature.

One final word on the overall ergonomics, in case you hadn’t noticed, this is a right-handed mouse only.

Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury: Features

The headline feature of this mouse is its 500inches per second (ips) sensor speed. IPS is usually the top speed at which the optical or laser sensor stops being able to consistently tell how the user has moved the mouse, and it usually tops out around 100-150ips. However, what Logitech has done with the G402 is combine the laser sensor with an accelerometer and gyroscope.

This allows the onboard processor to fill in the blanks so that the mouse still reports a reasonably accurate movement. It’s the same principle as employed by some sat navs to report a more accurate location. Logitech claims this technology allows the G402 to remain accurate at speeds of over 500ips.

Powering all those extra calculations is the other headline feature, the 32-bit ARM processor. There’s not word on exactly what processor this is.

As well as this very high speed, the sensor is also rated to 4,000 dpi and the mouse can report at intervals as low as 1ms. Neither are class leading figures but they’re competitive with other high-end mice.

That’s a pretty impressive set of pure performance features but when it comes to the extras, the G402 isn’t shouting so loudly. For those that see a point to such things, they’ll miss the lack of a weights system - for that you'll have to opt for the G502. There’s also no adjustability of the shape nor inbuilt memory for storing your settings for use on different computers where you can’t install the driver.

Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury: Software

To get the most out of the Logitech G402 you’ll need to download Logitech’s Gaming Software. Here you can change the functions of all the buttons, fine tune the DPI settings, change the polling rate, adjust the lighting for the logo, and there’s even a tool for testing how fast you can move your mouse!

The latter is a rather comical addition as we gave it a go and found that to get anywhere close to 100ips – let alone 500ips – we were having to move the mouse so furiously there’s no way any gamer could come close in the heat of battle. That said, the extra leeway is always welcome.

Overall it’s very clearly laid out and easy to use.

Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury: Performance

While a lot of the numbers mentioned in gaming mouse specs does sound like snake oil the results are clear. Tracking performance of the G402 is flawless. Sure a lot of high-end laser gaming mice are as good these days but it’s always good to be reminded of just how good these mice are.

Comparing to even good optical mice or lower end gaming models there’s a clear distinction.

Should I buy the Logitech G402?

Priced at around £49, the Logitech G402 is competitively priced for such a high-performance mouse. So, combined with its great ergonomics it makes for a great buy if pure performance is your concern.

That said, there are plenty of other very good gaming mice that do have a few more physical features to show for the money and the design here just doesn’t look that premium. If you can look past that, though, it's a great buy.

Verdict

While it may not be the most attractive gaming mouse on the market the Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury absolutely delivers where it matters. It’s really comfortable to use and it performs superbly.

readmore »»  

iPhone 6 Plus sold out for launch day on Apple Store

The iPhone 6 Plus has already sold out on the Apple Store for launch day, along with the 64GB iPhone 6.

It’s pretty much tradition for Apple to sell out of iPhone stock ahead of their release date and it looks like the same has happened with the iPhone 6 duo.

Taking a quick look on the Apple website, the scheduled shipping dates for all three storage options of the iPhone 6 Plus and in all colour varieties has now slipped to 3-4 weeks.

The same can be said for the 64GB iPhone 6 in all three colours. But you can still pick up the 16GB or 128GB iPhone 5 in time for launch, with shipping still falling with the 7-10 day zone.

The iPhone 6 Plus and the iPhone 6 are both due to be released on September 19, but when pre-orders opened today people were quick to secure their devices for launch.

In fact, US customers were so keen to secure their new iPhone that the US Apple online store actually went down for two hours and 25 minutes, leaving customers understandably frustrated.

We’ve also noticed that UK carriers and network providers’ websites were struggling a bit under the pressure today. However, they are still showing stock for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models, so head to your provider if you’re looking to pick one up for launch.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus both run on the new 640bit Apple A8 processor with the M8 motion co-processor. They have 8-megapixel iSight cameras in the rear, with the 6 Plus boasting optical image stabilisation over the iPhone 6’s digital.

The front-facing FaceTime camera has been upgraded to 1.2-megapixels.

As with the iPhone 5S, both models have the Touch ID fingerprint sensor built in and now both handsets come with NFC for mobile payment and Apple Pay compatibility.

Read more: iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus

readmore »»  

Second Samsung Galaxy Alpha series phone specs leaked

The specs for the second phone in the Samsung Galaxy Alpha series have been leaked online.

Although the Samsung Galaxy Alpha hasn’t been long on the market, Samsung is reportedly planning another three devices for its metal-clad Alpha series.

Rumour has it that all three upcoming devices will have a similar design to the Galaxy Alpha, but with slightly varying specs. They will sport the model numbers SM-A300, SM-A500 and SM-A700.

It looks like the specs for the lower-end SM-A300 have now leaked online courtesy of GFXBench benchmarks.

The phone has a 4.8-inch 960 x 540p display and runs on a 1.2GHZ quad-core Qualcomm processor with 1GB of RAM. Strangely, it lists that the phone has 5GB of internal storage, rather than the usual 4GB or 8GB.

In the rear there’s a 7-megapixel camera coupled with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with 1080p full HD recording.

It runs the latest Android 4.4.4 KitKat and will feature an Adreno 306 GPU.

According to reports, the SM-A300 will be released some time in Q3 2014, so you should see it officially unveiled before the end of September.

The Galaxy Alpha features a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1280 x 720p HD resolution. It runs on a 2.5GHz quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM.

It has 32GB of internal storage, but lacks a microSD card slot unlike other Samsung devices like the flagship Samsung Galaxy S5.

The Galaxy Alpha is just 6.7mm thick and has a metal frame. The back panel of the Alpha is still the same plastic as Samsung’s other handsets.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy Alpha vs Galaxy S5 – What’s different?

Via: Sammobile

readmore »»  

How to make a great survival horror

OPINION: Nick Cowen offers a handy guide on how to craft a lasting and lucrative horror game.

In the current big budget blockbuster market, producing a top-selling horror title can be a rather daunting business. Between spiraling development costs, eye-watering marketing budgets and steadily rising purchase prices, Triple-A games have to sell millions of units in order to justify their existences.

This situation has dire implications for gaming genres that traditionally have appealed to alt fringe dwellers. The stealth genre, for example, has been steadily diluted over the last few years and the games currently being tagged as ‘stealth’ are far more action-packed and fast-paced than their last gen predecessors. Pure stealth can’t exist on the new generation. It’s too niche to justify the development costs.

The return of Survival Horror: The Evil Within sees the return of Resident Evil developer Shinji Mikami to the genre he helped popularise

Survival Horror faces the same problem. Like stealth, it appeals to a more patient breed of player. Survival Horror doesn’t reward players who go charging in guns blazing – it kills those fools off quick. Instead, players need to tread carefully, scrounge for supplies – usually in a room with some horrific creature roaming around – and keep their equipment stocked and ready to deploy. Patience and nerves of steel aren’t just virtues in a Survival Horror game, they’re traits necessary for the player’s survival.

So Survival Horror is a niche genre, but what’s interesting is the fact that two titles set for release next month look intent on revitalizing its fortunes – and both of them aren’t diluting the mechanics that make this genre so compelling. First up, Alien: Isolation, which puts players in the boots of Ellen Ripley’s daughter Amanda as she walks the dimly-lit corridors of a space station, trying to discover the fate that befell her mother. Later in October, The Evil Within arrives; the brainchild of Resident Evil developer Shinji Mikami promises to take players right back to Survival Horror’s roots as they track a cop through a haunted asylum.

Both games put a premium on the player stalking their environment for clues, equipment and means of survival. Both present players with unkillable enemies and vulnerable protagonists. And both are absolutely terrifying. However, many pundits have begun to wonder out loud whether, due to their hardcore horror mechanics, either title has a chance of success in a Triple-A market. To that end, I’ve prepared a handy guide for developers navigating these choppy waters.

1. If you can, tie your horror game to a recognizable brand

Alien: Isolation may be a true-blue Survival Horror game, but it’s likely the Alien brand alone will be enough to shift a fair few units. Anyone who doubts this should pop over to Wikipedia and see the plethora of titles containing HR Geiger’s xenomorph that have been produced.

Big monster, big brand: The Alien games have sold successfully even though they've varied wildly in quality

As they say in showbiz, “the last sequel that gets made is the one that failed to make money”. The Alien games make money – hell, Aliens: Colonial Marines was roundly savaged by players and critics alike and it still went on to sell 1.31 million copies in its first month at retail. Brands mean sales, and while that’s no excuse for churning out dreck, they can certainly help when your game goes to market.

2. Make the player vulnerable

There is a tendency in a lot of horror games to kit players out with oodles of weapons, armour and equipment, allowing them to turn whatever environment they’re walking through into a shooting gallery. With that, comes the sense they’re invincible – a one-person killing machine – and this isn’t conducive to putting the fear of God into them.

You are a piece of meat: OutLast made the player vulnerable by giving players no option but to run and hide when faced with its monsters

More recently, games like Deadly Premonition, Outlast and Amnesia: The Dark Descent have made a lot of mileage out of stripping the player of any option except to run and hide if they’re spotted by the creatures in their environment (see also: Alien: Isolation). Here’s a tip: feeling invulnerable and feeling frightened are two mutually exclusive sensations.

3. Avoid Nintendo

Time was in the days of the GameCube titles of pretty much any genre could be successful on a Nintendo platform, so long as they were well crafted. This all changed with the release of the Wii, which not only gave rise to the lucrative market of motion-based casual gaming, but also took Nintendo’s console and stuck it in the playroom, where it has been ever since.

Nintendon't: Horror games for the Wii didn't sell well in spite of the fact that some of them - like Silent Hill: Shattered Memories - were rather good

Developers have tried to create horror titles for the Wii and they’ve died, regardless of how good they were: Dead Space: Extraction, Manhunt 2 and even Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (arguably the most interesting game in that franchise since Silent Hill 4: The Room) all flopped and not because they were bad games – but because the Wii’s audience wasn’t the right target. The only high profile horror title to land on the WiiU thus far is ZombieU, and it didn’t exactly set the world on fire. Mind you, Nintendo’s 3DS has had a little more success, perhaps because you play it using headphones…

4. Don’t dilute the fear/you’re not making a shooter

Once a horror game cracks the big time, the pressure is always on its developers to increase audience numbers. One of the traps they fall into time and time again is to incorporate mechanics from other, more popular genres, such as shooters. Dead Space, Resident Evil and Alone In The Dark are just three examples where shooter mechanics have been bolted to a horror franchise to attract the FPS/TPS crowd and the result has been they’ve ruined what drew players to these franchises in the first place.

You're not making a shooter: Resident Evil: Raccoon City was perhaps this horror franchise's low point.

Not only does this practice get rid of core audience members, it sometimes puts newcomers off exploring a series altogether. To wit, the first Resident Evil game I ever played was Resident Evil: Raccoon City. It’s only after urging from friends I took up with the series again after suffering through Gears Of Rubbish.



5. Take it easy on the Jack-In-The-Box scares

You know the set-up: there you are wandering down a darkened corridor, the music has dropped out of the soundtrack and the only noise you can hear are the footsteps of the character you’re controlling.

Every nerve-ending in your body is poised for the inevitable: any second you’ll turn in a direction or open a door and some hideous creature will leap from the shadows, accompanied by jarring chords and shrieking violins. Jack-In-The-Box scares are part and parcel with the horror genre and when used effectively they can have an impact – the first twenty minutes of OutLast is a masterclass in their use.

But relying on them is cheap. After a while they stop being frightening and become annoying. Anyone can scare someone by yelling ‘boo!’ when they least expect it. Getting into someone’s head and staying there takes a little more craft.

Read more: Xbox One vs PS4

readmore »»  

GTA 5 PS4, Xbox One and PC release dates confirmed

Rockstar Games has confirmed the GTA 5 PS4, Xbox One and PC release dates.

For those of you looking to finally get GTA 5 on PC or on the new-gen PS4 and Xbox One consoles, you’ll be pleased to hear that Rockstar has finally revealed when you can get their hands on them.

GTA 5 for Xbox One and PS4 will be released on November 18, but the PC edition won’t arrive until much later in January 27 2015.

This news will no doubt be quite the disappointment to PC gamers, who are now going to wait over a year between the January release and the original September 2013 launch.

All three revamped, visually enhanced versions of GTA 5 will come with increased draw distances, higher resolution visuals and a host of additions on the original iteration.

These include new weapons, vehicles and activities, more wildlife creatures, denser traffic to weave in and out of and a brand new foliage system to make the flora look more realistic.

There will also be an enhanced damage system to take note of as well as weather effects.

Anyone who pre-orders the game will get $1 million bonus cash for the game, split across GTA Online and the main GTA 5 storyline.

Those who have already been enjoying GTA 5 on the PS3 or Xbox One can also look forward to some exclusive content, including rare versions of classic vehicles and a more manoeuvrable blimp.

To celebrate the release date news, Rockstar released a brand new trailer entitled “A Picket Fence and a Dog Named Skip.”

It showcases GTA 5’s location – Los Angeles – and all its idiosyncrasies.

Read more: GTA 5 Guide – Things to do in Los Santos

readmore »»  

Amazon Fire TV 2 could launch within two years

The Amazon Fire TV streaming set top box has not even launched in the UK yet, but that doesn’t mean a second-gen model isn’t already in the works.

In fact, Amazon Vice President Peter Larsen has hinted that an Amazon Fire TV 2 device could be with us sooner than expected.

Speaking exclusively with TrustedReviews at an Amazon Fire TV briefing, Larsen suggested that some customers could hold onto the streaming set top box for years but hinted updates could become before that.

When asked whether Fire TV will have long life cycle, Larsen made reference to the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 tablet used in the Fire TV demonstration.

He stated: "This thing (Kindle Fire HDX 8.9) is an unbelievably powerful tablet. We update these things at least once every two years. So I think for a lot of people they will have it (Fire TV) for two, three or four years. A lot of customers will want to keep upgrading to the latest and the greatest as well though."

Amazon has updated its tablet range in that one to two year time frame with the first Kindle Fire tablet launching in 2011 before being updated in 2012 and then to the latest Fire HDX version in 2013.

Larsen claims specs make the Fire TV three times more powerful than Apple TV but it has as much to do with future proofing than simply outperforming its rivals.

“The more [Amazon] X-ray and second screen stuff that you start doing – and we’ve only just started to scratch the surface – it takes a lot of processing power,” Larsen stated.

“It takes a lot of Wi-Fi to have Full HD on your tablet and Full HD on your Fire TV at the same time. That’s an example of the kind of things we are trying to do in the future.”

With the Amazon VP also claiming that the company is looking to bring 4K capabilities to its Amazon Fire TV services, a box refresh could keep the retailer ahead of the competition.



Read More: Amazon Instant Video vs Netflix

readmore »»  

Equil Smartpen 2 is a smartpen that uses normal paper

Sadly it can't make you smarter

Smartpens are nothing new, but this one doesn’t need special paper to work. Just write on a normal notepad, and your scribbles will appear on your device like magic.

Instead of needing special paper, it uses ultrasound and infrared to pinpoint the pen’s position on the paper, and sends that information to your device, whether it be an iOS or Android mobile device, PC or Mac.

Just open the app on your device, put the sensor at the top of the page, and start writing. The Smartpen 2 does the rest.

As well as putting your handwritten notes and sketches straight onto your device, the Smartpen 2 can also back them up to the cloud. It’s compatible with Dropbox, Evernote and iCloud, so you can access your notes wherever you are, whenever you want.

It has more than 600 levels of pen sensitivity, and has its own case that charges it on the go. It syncs to your phone or tablet over Bluetooth.

You can tag your notes and sketches so it’s easy to find what you want, and you can enhance them by adding photos, maps and audio files.

It comes with two apps: Note and Sketch. Note lets you write and can translate your handwriting into typed text, so you don’t have to type them up. Sketch lets you import backgrounds, draw and paint with all different kinds of brushes, add layers, and export your creations to apps like Photoshop.

It’s already passed its funding goal on Indiegogo, raising $132,000 of a $50,000 target. If you want to pledge support and get one for yourself when it ships in October, head there now.

Read more: Livescribe Echo Smartpen review

readmore »»  

iPhone 6 sapphire display missed ‘by weeks’

The iPhone 6’s much–rumoured sapphire display was a notable missing feature when the handset was finally given the official nod earlier this week. And now it’s been revealed that the toughened screen missed making the cut by a matter of weeks.

Analyst Matt Margolis says he has spoken with supply chain sources who said that the company making the screens for Apple, GT Advanced Technologies, were suffering from yield rates as low as 25%.

Margolis, however, says that a deal between Apple and GT is likely to remain in place, with the former still paying for the latter to develop screens using the technology. Sapphire’s extreme strength holds huge appeal for Apple, as it looks to create hardier products that don’t shatter when dropped.

GT saw its stock drop as it hinted at the start of August that it wouldn’t be able to match Apple’s demands for iPhone 6 sapphire screens. Apple is expecting to sell around 80 million units of its new iPhone before the end of the year.

The iPhone 6 goes on pre–order today and will hit shelves on 19 September.

Read more: Is the iPhone 6 your next phone?

Via MacRumors

readmore »»  

LG could be 10 years ahead of Samsung on OLED TVs

LG believes that it could be 10 years ahead of its rivals when it comes to developing OLED TV panels.

So far, TV manufacturers have struggled to get yield rates of large OLED panels up to acceptable levels. This has meant that mass-production has been a no-no, and as for producing an affordable OLED TV for the masses - forget about it.

Speaking with CNET, LG's Global Communications Director Ken Hong has revealed that this could be set to change - but only for his company. Hong claims that LG is holding "an advantage that we'll probably feel for ten years," and reckons that "no one will catch us for 2-3 years."

So how has LG been able to establish such a startling lead in the OLED TV set race? Back in 2009, LG bought up the rights to something called white OLED technology from struggling imaging company Kodak, which had led the way in OLED development for many years.

At the time, few people thought that the technology would lead to anything particularly useful, but now LG claims that it has developed the technology to a point where it can attain 80 percent-plus yields of OLED TV panels. That's far better than can be achieved with existing RGB OLED technology.

According to Hong, when LG's rivals speak of customers not being ready for OLED TV sets - which can produce more vibrant colours and far deeper blacks than existing LCD technology - they actually mean that THEY are not ready to provide that technology.

LG has already launched its new 4K OLED TV range in its native South Korea, and will be expanding availability to other regions soon.

Of course, being the only one in the market means that the responsibility of explaining the benefits of 4K OLED TV sets falls exclusively to LG. "We have to educate people because we are the only ones with this product. No one else is going to be helping us," says Hong.

Read More: Best TVs 2014

readmore »»  

Viber brings video calling to iOS and Android

Web calling service Viber has revealed a new update to its iOS and Android apps, adding video calling for the first time.

The move is a direct challenge to Microsoft–owned Skype, with Viber saying you’ll be able to chat face to face on even the ropiest of mobile connections. Don’t expect eyeball–stroking HD calls, but that is at least something.

The company, bought in a multi million dollar deal earlier this year by Rakuten, a Japanese e–commerce firm, has offered video calls on its desktop platform for some time. This should, however, give its messaging service an added boost in its fight with Skype and Apple’s own FaceTime.

Calls can be transferred from smartphone to desktop easily without having to hang up, while another new feature allows users to scan a QR code within the app to get all your contact details. Think of it like a less cumbersome business card and you get the picture.

Viber’s boss, Talmon Marco, told The Next Web that the company is planning three more major upgrades this year, with games set to be included in the app. Quite how that will work remains unclear, although it’s certainly an intriguing prospect.

Read more: Skype finally fixes annoying mull device notifications


Via The Next Web

readmore »»  

FIFA 15: New video shows you how to perform new goal celebrations

FIFA 15 is just a couple of weeks away from hitting shelves here in the UK. And to celebrate EA has released a new video showing you how to perform a string of niche goal celebrations when you finally get your mitts on it.

EA can’t be accused of lacking imagination when it comes to helping gamers laud it over rivals when they stick one in the net. There are a few modern classics, not to mention some that only appeared last season and became cult classics.

Samuel Eto’o’s superb ‘Old Man’, which involves holding your back and staggering to the corner while mocking Jose Mourinho for sly asides about the ageing process, is included. Luis Suarez’s wrist kissing antics are also available and you can even perform Fabio Borini’s ‘hand bite’. You may as well seeing as he won’t be getting the chance while glowering across Anfield on the Liverpool bench.

There are a string of other celebrations you can try, with detailed instructions on how to perform them in the video below.

FIFA 15 is available in the UK on 26 September on PC, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, Vita, 3DS and Wii.

Read more: FIFA 15 demo available to download and play today

readmore »»  

HTC reportedly planning rugged GoPro rival

HTC is apparently set to unveil a rugged GoPro-style camera that will hook up to a smartphone.

The Taiwanese manufacturer recently sent out a mysterious invite to a New York launch event being held on October 8. The title of this invite was "Double Exposure," which many people have linked to the dual-lens camera system in the HTC One M8.

However, the company could well be planning something more ambitious than a new camera phone. According to a tweet from Bloomberg journalist Tim Culpan, HTC is planning a "rugged camera that connects direct to phone."

This tough camera peripheral will apparently feature a 16-megapixel sensor, a wide-angle lens, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Given that Culson mentions both Bluetooth and the fact that the camera will attach to your phone "direct," we wonder if this means that the device will be a rival to the Sony QX range of smartphone lenses.

These stand-alone lenses physically clip on to a smartphone, but hook up using Bluetooth. They then employ the smartphone as viewfinder and shot controller.

But then, mention of a GoPro rival suggests something a little tougher and more self-contained than that. It also suggests that HTC is going more for the action video-recording angle, though a 16-megapixel sensor would hint at a camera that's also a capable of decent stills.

Given that HTC's last few flagship phones have been widely criticised for their substandard photography skills, this would be a novel yet elaborate way for HTC to address such shortcomings.



Read more: Photokina 2014 - What to expect from this year's show

Via: The Verge

readmore »»  

SanDisk launches world's first 512GB SD card

SanDisk has just released the world's largest capacity SD card, the 512GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I.

According to SanDisk, the launch of this 512GB model represents a 1,000-fold increase in capacity over the past ten years. The first SanDisk SD Card, launched in 2003, held just 512MB of storage capacity.

It seems this high-capacity SD card is coming along at just the right time too. High-end cameras are increasingly offering 4K (3840 x 2160p) video recording capabilities, which will eat up those gigabytes something chronic.

Meanwhile, pro photographers will always benefit from additional storage for their high-speed burst images and the sizeable RAW format.

With that much storage space, you'd hope that the 512GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I would offer fast access speeds - and it does. We're talking write speeds of up to 90 MB/s and UHS Speed Class 3 recording for those 4K and Full HD videos. Meanwhile, you get data transfer speeds of up to 95 MB/s for snappy post-production performance.

All of this comes at a price, though. The SanDisk 512GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I costs a whopping $799.99 - that's around £492.

SanDisk appears to be making a concerted effort to expand storage limits this year. Back in February, the company launched a 128GB microSD card, which was also the world's biggest of its kind.

Read More: Best cameras 2014

readmore »»  

Apple launching 12-inch MacBook with iPhone colours in mid-2015?

Rumours claiming Apple will launch an ultra-thin 12-inch MacBook laptop have resurfaced, only this time with a colourful twist.

According to a report from the A Tech website, Apple will release the notebooks in the 'Space Grey' and 'Gold' colour schemes associated with the company’s iPhone smartphones - as well as the current silver colouring.

If the report is true, it would be the first time Apple has departed from silver laptops since its black and white efforts were phased out years ago.

According to A Tech, the company is planning on launching the devices in mid-2015, which is traditionally when the firm refreshes its existing lines of MacBook Pro and MacBook Air devices.

The MacRumors site believes the colour scheme rumour has some legs given its assertion that Apple has considered “special edition” colour options for the long-expected 12-inch MacBook.

The notebook, which could be a member of the MacBook Pro range rather than a MacBook Air would sit between the 11- and 13-inch options currently on the market.

Recent rumours have also suggested it’ll come packing the Retina Display and an Intel Broadwell processor. Other reports have claimed it’ll use the Intel Core M chip and possess a razor-thin, fanless design with great performance and battery life.

With a newly-tipped release date of mid-2015 release date, it looks like we might have to wait a while yet to truly know the score.

Read more: MacBook Pro 15-inch with Retina Display

readmore »»  

BlackBerry to jump on the smartwatch bandwagon?

Could BlackBerry make a wearables splash?

BlackBerry is exploring the possibility of launching a smartwatch - or at least bringing its BBM app to existing wrist-mounted devices.

Speaking to reporters, the Canadian company’s president of enterprise solutions John Sims said the firm was currently researching options surrounding wearables.

Computer World reports Sims as saying: “We're doing internal research on different wearables.”

The executive touted the possibilities for the popular and groundbreaking BlackBerry Messenger app to appear on wearables.

It’s unclear whether a wrist centric BBM experience would be for a BlackBerry-branded smartwatch or a re-purposed version of the app for Android Wear and Apple Watch devices.

Sims added: "I would love to have...BBM on a wearable. It's definitely an area of research for us."

Under the leadership of CEO John Chen, the company has pledged to continue building hardware while there is still demand for it, but a pricey plunge into wearable tech with the market still in its infancy is a risk the Waterloo-based firm may be unable to take.

The company is planning a launch later this month where is it expected to unveil the square-screened Passport smartphone, but we wouldn’t expect a smartwatch to be along for the ride.

It is likely that BlackBerry will monitor the wider adoption of wearables before committing to such a device.

Let the jokes about BlackBerry launching a Casio Databank calculator watch clone with a tiny full QWERTY keyboard begin in earnest.

Read more: BlackBerry Z30 review

readmore »»  

Apple offering day-one pickup for iPhone 6 online pre-orders

iPhone 6 pre-orders begin on Friday

Apple will reportedly offer iPhone 6 pre-order customers the opportunity to pick up their new smartphones from an Apple Store on the September 19 release date.

Online pre-orders commence at 8am on Friday morning ahead of next week's on-sale date.

Rather than have it delivered to their homes or workplaces, 9to5Mac appears to have confirmed the devices can be sent straight to retail outlets.

The Personal Pickup option, which the site has verified with several stores and during an online chat with a customer support representative, could ease the process for many shoppers.

According to the report, there’ll be a separate line for pre-order customers so they won’t have to line up alongside who are yet to hand over cash for the device. The representative says the option will be available at most stores while stocks last.

“In regards to store pickup, there will be options available for that at most stores, which will be indicated at the time of your order. The option will exist while supplies last,” the rep wrote.

Apple has offered Personal Pickup in previous years, but not on the hectic first day of sales. We've reached out to Apple's UK representatives to check whether this facility will be offered in the UK too.

Will you be pre-ordering an iPhone 6 on Friday morning? Will you opting for the 4.7-inch or 5.5-inch model?

Read more: iPhone 6 review: First impressions

readmore »»  

Report: Oculus Rift could land with limited public beta in April 2015

Gamers eager to go head-on with the Oculus Rift could get an opportunity to own a consumer-ready headset as early as next April, according to reports on Thursday.

The Facebook-owned VR firm is planning to launch the consumer-ready finished article in a limited public beta by next summer, TechRadar sources have claimed.

The report claims only a limited number of headsets would be made available, but the beta would open the door for a potential full consumer launch by the holiday season in 2015.

Oculus is currently selling the Rift DK2 headset to developers as it seeks to boost the library of titles available to to play ahead of the public launch.

However, despite display improvements, the addition of head-tracking technology and innovations designed to reduce nausea-enducing latency, the DK2 model isn't ready for Prime Time just yet.

Reports earlier this month the company claimed the retail price could be anything from $200 (around £120) to $400 (around £260), which is the price of a fully-fledged next-fen console like the PS4 or Xbox One.

Would you pay ‘console prices’ for an Oculus Rift? Will you be at the front of the queue when the reported public beta opens next summer? Share your musings below...

Read more: Leap Motion Oculus Rift = VR nirvana

readmore »»  

Vine and Evernote for Android now work on Google Chromebooks

Android apps on Chrome OS

Popular Android apps like the short video-sharing tool Vine and the note-taking platform Evernote are now compatible with Google’s Chrome OS.

Those apps, alongside language app Duolingo and kids’ reading app Sight Words are available to download from the Chrome Web Store today.

That means the apps can be installed on Chromebook laptops and operated via a physical keyboard and mouse/trackpad rather than a touchscreen.

The convergence of Android apps on Chrome has been in the works since Google I/O in June and the company is in discussions with developers in order to bring more big hitters into play.

Eventually the firm hopes it’ll take very little effort for devs to port their software over to the cloud-based computing platform.

"Chromebooks were designed to keep up with you on the go—they’re thin and light, have long battery lives, resume instantly, and are easy to use. Today, we're making Chromebooks even more mobile by bringing the first set of Android apps to Chrome OS," the company wrote on the Chrome blog.

Over the coming months, we’ll be working with a select group of Android developers to add more of your favorite apps so you’ll have a more seamless experience across your Android phone and Chromebook.

“In the meantime, please tell us which of your favourite Android apps you’d like to see on your Chromebook.”

The ramifications of this initiative could be huge for the Chrome OS as Google seeks to gain traction on Windows 8 and Mac OS X.

Both rival platforms cons of which are enjoying more mobile-style apps with greater synchronicity with their smartphone and tablet equivalents.

Imagine a Chrome Web Store packed with the best games and apps from the Google Play Store? The future is definitely looking bright for the Chrome OS.

Read more: HP Chromebook 14 review

readmore »»