Best iPad Air 2 case 2015: Latest cases tried and tested


If you've just bought an iPad Air 2 or you're thinking about upgrading to one, here are some of the best new iPad Air 2 case and covers to keep your slate looking box-fresh.


The iPad Air 2 is the best tablet we’ve reviewed to date. It’s beautiful, light, quick and blows all other competitors out of the water, and is fully-deserving of the full marks it scored in our review.


It’s perhaps not worth upgrading to from the still-excellent original iPad Air, but if you’ve got the cash, we’re not going to advise against it. Before it came out, we thought the Nexus 9 would give it a run for its money, but Android's pride and joy fell well short of expectations.


The only downside of owning the iPad Air 2 is that you’ll live in constant fear of damaging it. Fortunately, there’s loads of protective cases out there from a range of manufacturers, which should keep it looking tip-top.


Whether you’re looking for something cheap, stylish or rugged, we’ve played around with some of the most popular iPad Air 2 cases around, and here’s what we think of them.


Pick a model from the list below, or click the 'Next' arrow to browse through the round-up.


iPad Air 2 cases tested

Piel Frama FramaSlim

Barbour iPad Air 2 case

Proporta Slimline Protective Case

NueVue Cotton Twill

Krusell Malmö FlipCover

Griffin Survivor All-Terrain Tough Case

Encase Smart Cover

Encase FlexiShield Gel Case


Thanks to Mobile Fun for providing us with review samples for Encase, Griffin and Krusell Malmo iPad Air 2 cases



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Spotify Touch is a great way to discover new artists, tracks and playlists


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Spotify Touch



Music streaming giant Spotify has unveiled a new music discovery tool, which enables users to easily preview any song, album, artist or playlist.


The new Spotify Touch feature, which is rolling out to iOS users in preview form right now, enables users to tap and hold an item in order to hear a 30 second preview of a song.


From an album listing, listeners will be able to swipe up and down the list of tracks in order to sample a different song.


Also, when previewing a playlist, the list forms a grid of squares representing album art, allowing users to easily swipe between the squares and get a quick sense of what the playlist is all about.


If users are already listening to something when selecting the preview, they’ll be transported back to their original selection once they’re done previewing.


Spotify has long sought to solve the issue of music discovery using streaming services. This latest effort, built by developers during a recent hackathon event might be its best efforts yet.


Read more: Why do musicians hate Spotify


Within the new app Spotify has added the ability to swipe a track left to save it to ’Your Music’ or swipe right to add to the Play Queue.


Touch Preview is available to iOS users right now and will be coming soon to Android and other platforms. Check it out in the video below for a sneak peak.




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Latest Windows 10 preview build available to download now


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Just days after its blockbusting Windows 10 event in Redmond, Microsoft has made the latest preview build of the operating system available to download.


Windows Insider members can now jump on board with Build 9926, featuring a host of the new features outlined by Microsoft at Wednesday’s event.


For example, Windows fans will be able to try out Cortana on the desktop for the very first time. The personal assistant borrowed from Windows Phone now sits in the task bar, proactively bringing users information, helping them search Windows 10, apps and the web.


The new build brings voice access, which can be activated by clicking the microphone icon or by turning on “Hey Cortana” voice activation i the settings.


Preview users will also be able to test drive the brand new Xbox App, which enables gaming action to be streamed from the console to PC in the same way that Sony RemotePlay enables PS4 games to be streamed to other devices.


Read more: Opinion - Windows 10 will make the Xbox an even better console


The company says there are “big changes” to the Start Menu in build 9926, including the ability to expand to full screen and customise the colour. Microsoft says there’s plenty more to come from future builds with users able to drag and drop items and reside the Start Menu.


Also in the latest preview build there’s a new Settings app, which will remain consistent across all all Windows 10 devices, while the update also brings the new Photos and Maps apps previewed on Wednesday.


There are new options for connecting to wireless audio and video sources (through Bluetooth and Miracast), while there’s also a new beta version of the Windows Store.


Microsoft says those Windows Insiders already receiving updates should get this latest build automatically, but for newcomers intrigued by this week’s announcements, the software giant has provided instructions for how to jump on board and download Windows 10 here .


Meanwhile here's the very videogenic Joe Belifore giving us a rundown of what we can expect from some of the new Windows 10 features




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WhatsApp Web: How does it work?


Good news, WhatsApp is available to use on the web. Here's how it all works and why iPhone users are missing out.


The instant messaging service is finally joining the likes of Viber, Skype and Google Hangouts by adding web support alongside its existing smartphone apps.

Officially announced via Facebook post by the app's founder Jan Koum, WhatsApp for web is available to use right now if you have the free phone app or pay a WhatsApp subscription.


Before you go rushing off to resume your group chats though, we run through the key things you need to know to get it up and running.


What do I need to run WhatsApp Web?


The first thing you need to run the WhatsApp client is to have the Google Chrome web browser running on your desktop or laptop. In most cases, laptops and Chromebooks will have this pre-loaded but it's easy enough to get installed if not. Simply head to the Google Chrome browser page and go through the pretty straightforward setup to get it added to your PC.

Next, you need to go to the WhatsApp phone app, and go to the settings where you should now see a tab for WhatsApp Web. Click on that option and you will then be prompted to launch web.whatsapp.com on your Google Chrome browser on your computer.


Next you will need to scan the QR code on the screen using the camera on your phone, by lining it up inside the box. Once, that's done, the client should boot up pulling in existing conversations and will pull through all of your contacts.



SEE ALSO: WhatsApp Alternatives to Try




What can WhatsApp Web do?


You will be able to send and receive messages within the Google Chrome browser in a similar fashion as you can from the phone app. Additionally, messages including texts and images will sync across devices so will appear on your phone as well.

WhatsApp has added some specific desktop notification settings, letting you receive alerts with or without sounds. You can also turn off those alerts for specific periods whether it's one hour, a day or even a week, if you don't want to be disturbed during work.


Can everyone use it?


At the moment, no. If you are using WhatsApp on an Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone handset and bizarrely, the Symbian-running Nokia S60 then you are good to go.

For WhatsApp iPhone users, it's a slightly different story. Currently, the web client is off limits and according to the app's founder, Jan Koum, that is down to 'platform limitations' yet to be resolved.


A WhatsApp spokesperson told website Gigaom that the iOS experience is not up to scratch because of the lack of background multi-tasking and suitable push technology available on iPhones.


An iOS version will be available at some point, but there's no concrete news on a specific timeframe.


whatsapp support


Are there any limitations?


Unfortunately, there's a few things that don't make it into the web app like the ability to block users, create new groups and broadcast messages, all of which still need to be done from the phone app.

Additionally, for the WhatsApp web client to remain online, the app needs to be running on your phone with a stable internet connection. So if you think this is a total replacement for your phone app, then you are going to be disappointed.


Have you had a play with the WhatsApp web client? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.



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Best Kitchen Gadgets Round-up


The kitchen is the central hub of most households, but it’s not always filled with the most useful or reliable gadgets. Buy any of our pick of the best kitchen gadgets and you won't have that problem.


Unlike most, we've individually tested and reviewed every product in this round-up – we'll never recommend a product without trying it first. And we test a huge range of products, including coffee machines, blenders, kettles, toasters, washing machines and plenty more.


We regularly update our pick of best kitchen appliances and we've added three new products in our latest update. We have a new soup maker that costs just £100 and also works as a blender, and we've recommended two larger appliances that will add style and quality to any kitchen.


One is a 60cm Haier fridge freezer, which looks stunning and performs brilliantly. The other is one of our favourite washing machines, an 8kg LG washing machine with a handy TrueSteam system.


Click the ‘Next’ arrow above to start browsing, or simply choose the products you fancy from the list below.


Best Soup Maker – Cuisinart SSB1U Soup Maker NEW ENTRY

Best Fridge Freezer – Haier A2FE635CFJ NEW ENTRY
Best Washing Machine – LG F14U1TBS2
NEW ENTRY

Best Grill – Tefal OptiGrill

Best Rice Cooker – Sage Risotto Plus

Best Slow Cooker – Tefal RK302E15 8-in-1 Multi-Cooker

Best Smoothie Maker – NutriBullet

Best Blender – KitchenAid Diamond Blender

Best Sauce Blender – Tefal SlimForce

Best Kettle – Kenwood Turin SJM550

Best Hot Drinks Machine – Krups Dolce Gusto Oblo

Best Nespresso Coffee Machine – Nespresso Lattissima EN520 by DeLonghi

Best Chef Gadget – SousVide Supreme

Best Wine Cellar – Haier WS50GDBI


Last Update: 23/01/15


Whether you consider yourself a culinary master or simply want to eat better food without the fuss usually associated with preparing great meals, this round-up will definitely tickle your tastebuds. On a tight budget? No worries. Amongst some of the more, ahem, premium items on our list, we've got a number of really great appliances that cost far less than you might have expected.


So if you still haven't got round to doing your Christmas shopping or you simply want to spruce up your kitchen, have a browse of our best kitchen gadgets round-up and get inspired.



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First 20th Anniversary Edition PS4 put up for auction


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20th Anniversary Edition PS4



The gaming community went mad for the PS One styled 20th Anniversary Edition PS4 when it launched before Christmas, and now there is an even more in-demand offering up for grabs.


The very first anniversary machine has been put up for auction in Japan, with the coveted console expected to fetch a high price.


While the entire run of 20th Anniversary Edition PS4s is limited to just 12,300 units, the model in question is extra special.


With each console individually numbered, this one-off offering boasts the unique ‘00001/12300’ plaque adorning its front.


With the rest of the limited fleet having already found new homes, the first anniversary console is also the last to be made publically available.


As you might expect given the console’s elite standing in the world of gaming memorabilia, the first 20th Anniversary Edition PS4 has already sparked something of a bidding war.


At the time of writing, bidding - made through PlayStation Japan - has already exceeded 16,778,216 YEN, that’s close to £95,000.


Pleasingly, Sony isn’t being greedy and pocketing this excessive amount of cash. All proceeds generated by the consoles sale are being donated to the Save the Children Japan charity.


Related: Xbox One vs PS4


Vintage styling aside, the 20th Anniversary Edition PS4 is identical to its standard Xbox One rivalling sibling.


Packing a 500GB hard drive and offering a mass of gaming and home entertainment features, the console also comes equipped with a special, PS One-esque controller.


Is this the greatest bit of gaming memorabilia around? Share your thoughts via the comments section below.




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Complete this technology survey to be in with a chance of winning £100


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Time Inc. UK is conducting a survey to help us understand your attitudes to everyday technologies, with five participants set to win a £100 cash prize.


The purpose of the study is to understand your opinions on the various types of technology you might use at home.


Whether that's home entertainment, like TVs, music systems and games consoles, large and small appliances, including fridges, washing machines and vacuum cleaners, or mobile communications devices, such as mobile phones and tablet computers.


We'd also love to hear about recent purchases, your views on technology and attitudes to different brands.


This is for research purposes only and is not connected to the sale of any product or service. The survey should take about 20-25 minutes to complete.


Your responses are very important to us and please remember that there are no right or wrong answers – it is your opinion that counts. All of your answers will be kept confidential.


To thank you for your time and taking part in our survey, we're giving you the opportunity to win one of five £100 cash prizes. To begin the survey, please click here.




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Withings: ‘We are looking at Android Wear’


Despite the Withings Activité having transformed the wearable market with its simple elegance, the French manufacturer has confirmed it is looking at producing more mainstream smartwatches.


According to Withings CEO Cédtic Hutchings, the company is even pursuing the option of following the likes of Samsung, LG and Motorola in creating an Android Wear powered wearable.


However, despite Hutchings’ Google-themed admission, don’t expect to see an Android Wear Withings watch anytime soon.


According to the exec, Google’s wearable OS is currently too restricted, with its power-hungry nature and lack of customisation options deterring Withings from immediate adoption.


We are looking at Android Wear as an OS and its footprint,” the Withings CEO said speaking exclusively with TrustedReviews recently.


He added: “Definitely we are looking at it but we are trying to build in some differentiators and be very careful on the battery life and make a different proposal on the UI.”


Although the Withings Activit̩ and the subsequent Рcut priced РWithings Activit̩ Pop have refreshed the wearable space with classic watch designs and simple activity tracking features, Hutchings has said Android Wear could help the company bring further features to its wearable offerings.


Referencing features such as call handling and social interactions, he claimed Withings is looking at all possibilities for future devices.


“Today we are not doing something where you will get your Facebook notification on to your wrist, this is a different product,” he told us.


Related: LG G Watch R review


Despite Withings looking at Android Wear for future products, Hutchings hasn’t been shy in slamming the current breed of smartwatches on the market.


Speaking at CES 2015 earlier this month, he stated: “Smartwatches today, they are giving wearables a bad name.


Highlighting the need for daily recharges and a fleet of clunky interfaces as the primary drawbacks, he added: “Samsung and other phone companies are subsiding their equipment and we are seeing a lot of products drop.


“I think we have quite a unique approach, to make a genuine, true watch that has all these sensors but appeals to people who are looking for a watch.”



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HTC One M9 camera samples tease 20MP snapper


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HTC One M9 camera leak



A number of claimed HTC One M9 camera samples have popped up online, indicating the handset will be bestowed with an impressive 20-megapixel snapper.


With last year’s HTC One M8 having gone off piste with the introduction of a dual-lens, 4-Ultrapixel primary camera, latest leaks have suggested that the eagerly awaited follow-on will revert to a more traditional camera offering.


The sample images (below), which have surfaced courtesy of Phandroid, back up previously claims that the One M9 – also known as the HTC Hima – will be bestowed with a square 20-megapixel camera.


Reportedly taken by a HTC employee on two HTC One M9 sample devices – model numbers 0PJA10 and 0PJA13 – the images aren’t the most exciting but do offer an early insight into what we can expect from the upcoming handset.


All shot in an artificially lit indoor environment, the close up images of pens, packaging and a stray hand, highlight improvements to the HTC flagship’s camera collection, but don’t push the device’s imaging capabilities to their limits.


Although there is no guarantee these images we taken on the future Samsung Galaxy S6 rival, the device’s 0PJA prefix leaked late last year attributed to the HTC One M9.


Related: LG G4 release date


According to past M9 leaks and rumours, the handset will launch alongside a new HTC wearable in March in the weeks surrounding MWC 2015.


Expected to make the jump to a larger, 5.2-inch QHD display, the HTC One M9 specs sheet has been tipped to see the mooted 20-megapixel line up alongside a 13-megapixel selfie snapper, Snapdragon 810 processor and 3GB of RAM.


Stay tuned to TrustedReviews for all the latest on the upcoming flagship smartphone announcements.


HTC One M9 camera leakHTC One M9 camera leakHTC One M9 camera leak




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Vax Steam Fresh Combi S86-SF-C Steam Cleaners Review


What is the Vax Steam Fresh Combi?


The Vax Steam Fresh Combi (S86-SF-C) is an upright steam cleaner with a middle that pops out to transform into a handheld cleaner. It has separate water and detergent tanks (for the upright only – the handheld just cleans using steam).

As an upright, it has a well-designed triangular head that's great at getting into corners. And the handheld tools are conveniently stored on the back of the upright cleaner. It's pricey but a good all-rounder.


Related: Best Kitchen Gadgets Round-up



Vax Steam Fresh Combi – Design and Features


The Vax looks modern, clean, almost clinical. It's easy in the hand and just light enough to be manoeuvrable.

Its mop head is triangular and works in three ways. At its smallest, there's a hard plastic head with stiff brushes, ideal for tight corners and scrubbing patches of ingrained dirt. Onto this clips a larger plastic head and a well-made blue cloth, for steam-mopping hard floors. And finally, there's a carpet glider that clips over the top for steam-cleaning carpets and rugs.


On the back of the upright you'll find room to store six tools (it comes with everything from a grout brush to a window squeegee) plus there's room on the back of the handle to store the concentrator nozzle you need to use the tools, but there doesn't seem to be anywhere to store the hose itself.


Related: Our pick of the Best Vacuum Cleaners



Vax Steam Fresh Combi – What's it like to use?


Filling the Vax is straightforward. The tank in the middle pops out and is filled from the tap. The detergent tank on the back again detaches and is filled with a mix of detergent and water. Once you switch it on, the cleaner heats up in less than half a minute. Two lights on the front indicate power and steam.

As an upright, it's manoeuvrable and the mop head design impresses. The triangular shape is great for getting into corners and the smallest head's brushes let you scrub away at stains where other steam cleaners would see you on your hands and knees with a handheld tool. Floor cleaning is very effective and yet floors aren't left too wet – they're dry again within a minute.


Related: 5 Best Slow Cookers You Can Buy


The only annoyance as an upright is that the concentrator nozzle, which clips into the back of the handle for storage, falls out all the time. Plus, we couldn't find anywhere to store the hose onboard.


As a handheld, you can attach tools directly to use it with one hand or, more likely, add the hose and clean two-handed. The range of tools is impressive: the small brush was good for removing ingrained stains from a rug, the squeegee cleaned and dried windows quickly, the grout brush was good for removing mildew.


Related: The Best Leaf Blowers and Garden Vacs


The concentrator nozzle put out a good head of steam that didn't feel scaldingly hot. But the steam from it alone wasn't enough to lift greasy stains, for example taps needed a good wipe after steaming.


Whether as an upright or handheld, you need to push a trigger constantly to get steam. This is a bit of an effort, but leaves you in full control.


Both tanks can be popped out for a refill or to be emptied. The cloth washes well and dries quickly. And the whole cleaner stores well considering it has so many onboard tools.


Related: Our pick of the Best Espresso Machines



Should I buy the Vax Steam Fresh Combi?


Maybe. If you're looking for an upright steam cleaner with pop-out handheld then the Vax is impressive. But it’s also rather pricey and has a few issues that are hard to accept considering the price.

That’s why it's worth considering the far more affordable Polti Vaporetto GO cylinder steam cleaner as well. Or, if you don't need handheld tools, consider the Bissell Vac & Steam – an impressive upright steam cleaner that vacuums too.


Verdict


A well-designed upright steam cleaner with pop-out handheld and plenty of tools stored onboard.

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Dolfi cleans your clothes using ultrasonic technology


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dolfi

The futuristic way to clean




A new device promises to be tough on dirt while gentle on your clothes, cleaning them using ultrasonic technology.


It's called Dolfi, and claims to use 80 times less energy than a standard washing machine. This should make it more environmentally friendly, and cheaper to use.


It's designed for travelling, and is small enough to chuck in a bag. Here's how it works. Put your clothes in a bowl of water, add laundry detergent, drop Dolfi in and switch it on. Its multi-frequency transducer creates sound waves which form microscopic high-pressure bubbles. These implode, making millions of micro-jet liquid streams which wash away dirt from your fabrics.


It will glow blue while it cleans, and is safe to leave, so you can nip out if you need. After 30 to 40 minutes, your clothes will be clean. Hang them up to dry, and they'll be ready to wear again.


The makers claim ultrasonic tech is highly effective at cleaning, but apart from some pretty pricey toothbrushes, it has been restricted to industry use, like cleaning surgical instruments and jewellery.


The company behind it has 25 years' experience in ultrasonic tech.


Read more: Best washing machines round-up


Also available are a hanger for your clothes, a plug for the sink, and a travel kit that combines the two.


It's gained plenty of interest, raising over $116,000 in just two days. That's smashed its funding goal of $100,000, and there are still 28 days to go. It's expected to ship in August.




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Misfit CEO slams the mass of poorly designed wearables


As the wearables market continues to rise in prominence, one of the industry’s leading players has slammed the mass of poorly designed devices clogging the market.


According to Misfit CEO Sonny Vu, the wearables space is filled with ‘not very well designed’ products and a flurry of wearables that have been ‘designed by geeks, for geeks’.


Having risen to prominence over the last 18 months with the launch of the simple – and stylish – Misfit Shine and more affordable Misfit Flash, the company has prioritised good looks over superfluous features – something many of its rivals have failed to do.


“I think our bet on design and fashion has paid off,” Vu said speaking exclusively with TrustedReviews recently.


He added: “A lot of the stuff that is out there is not very well designed and is not very interesting from a fashion perspective so there was a hole in the market, especially for women.


“A lot of the products out there, they look like they were designed by geeks, for geeks. Honestly there aren’t that many geeks.


“If you look at the nearly 8 billion people in the world, there are a lot more women than geeks.”


While the wearables market has grown to account for everything from smartwatches to fitness trackers – and everything in-between – features such as heart rate monitors, touchscreen displays and integrated cameras have been crowbared in at the cost of designs pleasing to the fashion conscious.


Although companies such as Misfit, Apple – with the Apple Watch – and Withings – with the stunning Withings Activité – are now leading the wearables space down a more design-led route, Vu has predicted the fleet of ugly wearables won’t disappear anytime soon.


“I’m not too surprised that we are still seeing so many geek for geek wearable designs,” he told us. “That’s just how people think. It’s a hot space and it’s still very early in this space.”


Related: LG G Watch R review


Outlining Misfit’s philosophy for approaching the wearables market, he added: “Design really was the focus at the start.


“We wanted to get a few things to work really well such as a long, long battery life, waterproof, wearable anywhere and then just great design that you wouldn’t feel silly wearing.


“I wanted to make something that my mum would wear.”



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Eric Schmidt: "The internet will disappear"


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eric schmidt

Gazing into his crystal ball




The internet will soon be such a part of our daily lives that we won't even notice it, Google's chairman Eric Schmidt reckons.


Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the great and good have gathered to discuss the state of the world, Schmidt was asked for his pronouncements on the future of the internet.


"I will answer very simply that the internet will disappear," Schmidt said, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.


"There will be so many IP addresses... so many devices, sensors, things you are wearing, things that you are interacting with that you won't even sense it. It will be part of your presence all the time.


"Imagine you walk into a room, and the room is dynamic. And with your permission and all of that, you are interacting with the things going on in the room."


This will make for a "highly personalised, highly interactive and very, very interesting world", he reckons.


Read more: Google's mobile network plans emerge


Wearable devices are definitely in vogue at the moment, and they're expected to keep on growing. In the UK alone, the market is predicted to double this year to an estimated 13.1 million users.


Schmidt praised the internet as "the greatest empowerment of citizens in many years". He added: "Suddenly citizens have a voice, they can be heard."


Schmidt was talking on a panel called The Future of the Digital Economy. It also featured Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.




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Amazon makes Transparent available to all for one day only


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transparent

Free this Saturday




Amazon has been pushing its Prime Instant Video streaming service quite heavily of late. Now it's making Transparent – one of its homegrown shows – available to all, so you don't have to sign up to the service to watch.


On Saturday, anyone can watch the show for free through the Amazon Instant Video app for smart TVs, connected devices, on mobiles and tablets, or through your browser at http://ift.tt/1xG1NbQ.


The show recently won two Golden Globes – Best Musical or Comedy Series, and its star Jeffrey Tambor picked up Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Series. To celebrate, Amazon is offering Prime to US customers for $72 – it was the 72nd Golden Globes – which is 25 per cent less than usual. There's no word if the offer applies to UK customers.


Transparent is a dramatic comedy that centres on a Los Angeles family after their father Mort (Tambor) reveals he is transgender. It also stars Gaby Hoffmann, Amy Landecker, Jay Duplass and Melora Hardin. Amazon has commissioned a second series, which will air later this year.


"We're incredibly proud of everyone involved in the making of Transparent – the team took a risk and it paid off," Jeff Bezos, Amazon's CEO and founder, said in a statement. "Big kudos to Jill, Jeffrey, and all the cast and crew."


Read more: Amazon Fire TV review


Amazon is playing catch up to Netflix, whose original series include Breaking Bad, House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. Both firms rely on their original programming to set them apart from rival streaming services. Both are also moving into films, with Amazon announcing it will release 12 a year, and air them on Prime Instant Video a month or two later.


Netflix is working on a sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.




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Twitter prompts top users to ditch Instagram


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Twitter prompt



Twitter has started sending out prompts to its most influential users, encouraging them to ditch Instagram as a means of sharing photos.


On Thursday, the social network began sending out prompts to its high profile users encouraging them to "Post your photos directly on Twitter to make sure your fans always see them."


This is a reference to the way in which Instagram only permits its images to be shared on Twitter as links to the source.


According to Mashable, these prompts (pictured) were sent out to "a group of notable users in media, entertainment, sports and other categories."


The two social network services have been in particularly hot competition just recently, with Instagram boasting of having overtaken Twitter in terms of user numbers just last month.


Instagram's monthly userbase now numbers over 300 million, while Twitter sits at 284 million.


This prompted Twitter co-founder Ev Williams to hit back somewhat aggressively, claiming that user numbers were not the most important thing.


Read More: iPhone 6 review


"If you think about the impact Twitter has on the world versus Instagram, it’s pretty significant," he told Fortune. "Twitter is what we wanted it to be. It’s this realtime information network where everything in the world that happens on Twitter—important stuff breaks on Twitter and world leaders have conversations on Twitter.


"If that’s happening, I frankly don’t give a shit if Instagram has more people looking at pretty pictures."


Of course, this latest move to steer people towards sharing images on Twitter suggests that the company as whole DOES care where people are getting their pretty picture fix.




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App charges £17 a month to pretend to be your partner


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invisible girlfriend

Sheesh




Apps like Tinder might help bring people together, but what if you want the pretence of a relationship without actually being in one? Seriously, there's an app for that.


Two in fact. They're called Invisible Boyfriend and Invisible Girlfriend, and they take the role of your make believe partner. For $25 (£17) a month, you can get 100 text messages, 10 voicemails and a postcard from your fictional better half.


It sounds like a joke, but it's real.


What's even sadder is you can design your own partner, picking a photo, name, age, and create his or her personality. You can make up how you met as well.


After divorcing, co-founder Matt Homann was fed up of feeling pressured to start another relationship. He thought others would feel the same, and so the idea was born.


"Society puts so much pressure on your relationship status," the website reads. "From grandma to coworkers to romantic comedies, everyone seems to expect us to pursue a relationship. But sometimes you don't want to be in one. We think that's totally normal."


Fair enough. So why not just do what you want and not listen to anyone who puts pressure on you?


Read more: Tinder brings 'undo' button as part of paid upgrade


The app claims it can help with relationships too. "The service creates a safe space for you to practice texting with a real human if you're out of practice. Sometime it even inspires just enough jealousy to jolt that special person into committing."


If you're that worried about what people think, maybe it's the app for you. But tricking someone into going out with you because they're jealous of a fictional person? Doesn't sound healthy.


The apps are in beta at the moment, with no word on when they'll launch.




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12-inch MacBook Air display reportedly leaks


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Alleged 12-inch MacBook Air component

Alleged 12-inch MacBook Air component




Images of the forthcoming 12-inch MacBook Air have apparently emerged online.


Production of Apple's radically revamped compact laptop is said to be well underway, and we may just have seen some of the first stealthily taken component snaps.


These pictures were published by the ifanr website. They appear to show a small MacBook Air display section, as well as various comparison shots with existing Apple devices (an iPad and a MacBook Pro 13-inch) for scale.


Naturally this is no good for ascertaining specs, but it does suggest that Apple won't be straying too far from the current trusty MacBook Air design. That being said, the Apple logo on the rear appears to be more like the shiny one on the iPad than the light-up one found on the existing MacBook range, and the bezels may be black rather than grey.


It's claimed that the biggest new feature of the 12-inch MacBook Air will be its Retina display - a component that has been requested for some time for Apple's immensely popular ultraportable range.


Indeed, the current MacBook Air range is the only Apple device category that doesn't contain a Retina display option.


Related: Apple Watch release date, price, features, and battery life


It's also been claimed that the new MacBook will be extremely slim, and will only sport a single connection port. It will also reportedly run on an Intel Broadwell Core M processor, and will be completely fanless.


It'll be the closest thing to an iPad-MacBook hybrid yet, in other words - though don't expect any touchscreen or iOS shenanigans. Apple seems intent on keeping its two platforms separate for now.


Expect to see the 12-inch MacBook Air unveiled some time in the first quarter of 2015.


Mac 2




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Microsoft: Windows 10 to come with two web browsers


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Project Spartan



Microsoft has expanded upon its new Spartan web browser, as well as the fate of Internet Explorer in Windows 10.


On Wednesday, Microsoft showed off its vision for Windows 10 for the first time. Part of that vision involves a brand new start on the web browser front.


In comes Project Spartan, with a brand new rendering engine and a focus on interoperability, web annotation, and Cortana integration; and out goes IE. Or at least, that's what we assumed. Microsoft didn't really mention its old web browser brand at all.


Now the company has commented on the fate of IE through an official IEBlog post. The conclusion: it's not done yet.


Spartan is designed to work with the websites of today, but IE will stick around for the websites of yesterday. This IE support will come in two flavours.


For one thing, Spartan will be able to load the IE11 engine instead of its brand new one for the purposes of supporting "legacy enterprise web sites when needed."


Also, Microsoft accpets that "some enterprises have legacy web sites that use older technologies designed only for Internet Explorer, such as custom ActiveX controls and Browser Helper Objects." For such users, Internet Explorer "will also be available on Windows 10."



Related: What is HoloLens? Microsoft's holographic headset explained


Confusingly, Microsoft claims that the next version of IE will use the same two rendering engines as Spartan.


It's also not entirely clear how IE will be implemented into Windows 10. Perhaps it will be an optional install at set-up, or hidden away in some other way. Either way, two web browsers sounds like bad old Microsoft rather than the fresh new one we've started to like.




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Huawei Ascend Y550 Phone Review


What is the Huawei Ascend Y550?


The Huawei Ascend Y550 is one of the cheapest 4G phone in the world right now. For £70 on a pay-as-you-go deal, you get a 4G handset complete with the latest generation of 64-bit chipset, while undercutting the competition from the bigger names.

As with other cheap 4G phones, the question is whether the sacrifices elsewhere are justified by the inclusion of faster mobile Internet. The answer? Not quite, but this is one of the better ultra-affordable 4G phones, offering a less compromised experience than the Alcatel OneTouch S3.


However, we’d advise sacrificing 4G and opting for the Moto E, or considering the more capable EE Kestrel (also manufactured by Huawei) if you can jump ship over to the EE network.


SEE ALSO: Mobile Phone Buyer's Guide



Huawei Ascend Y550 – Design

The Huawei Ascend Y550 is a pretty anonymous-looking phone. It’s a slightly dumpy, fairly heavy block of curved, lightly metallic plastic. However, it does look and feel more streamlined than last year’s Huawei G-series phones.


Rather than having a pull-off plastic backplate that just covers the battery, here the back part winds around to the screen surround, giving something approaching the style of a unibody phone. It won’t impress onlookers with its style, but it feels a little more solid than, say, the Sony Xperia E1.



A relatively seam-fee design gives the Huawei Ascend Y550 fairly good ergonomics too, for a slightly chubby, slightly heavy phone. Want the specifics? It’s 9.5 mm thick and weighs 153g. That's as heavy as some of 2014's flagship phones.


The Huawei Ascend Y550 uses physical soft keys, rather than building them into the software and taking up part of the screen. They don’t light up for easier use in the dark, but this is common among cheaper phones.


A hardware cut that's more an issue, albeit a predictable one, is the 4GB of internal storage. While we’ve happily used an 8GB phone like the Moto G for months without complaint, 4GB is far more restrictive. It leaves you with insufficient space to install some data-hungry games as soon as you bite into the storage left after the preinstalled apps and system software has nibbled away at the 4GB you’ll see on the Huawei Ascend Y550’s spec list. In this case that storage is 1.1GB.


Ascend Y550 3


Underneath the plastic back cover, which you can simply prise off with a fingernail, is a microSD card that’ll do the trick for music or video files. However, it won’t erase the issues keen mobile gamers will have installing some titles.


Getting a bit more internal storage is one of the most convincing reasons to consider upgrading to a slightly more expensive phone, like the Moto G for example.




Huawei Y550: not a work of art


Huawei Ascend Y550 – Screen


The other big reason to upgrade is screen quality. Not every cheap phone has a remedial screen, but the Huawei Ascend Y550 is definitely in the class with the lower-performing kids.

It has a 4.5-inch screen with an 800 x 480-pixel display. It’s not pixel-rich enough to avoid looking obviously pixellated.


The Huawei Ascend Y550’s limited resolution is fairly obvious whatever you’re doing, but is particularly clear when you’re browsing the web, with any small text becoming quite scrappy-looking.


Ascend Y550

We will say that among the display dunces, it is far from the worst. The Huawei Ascend Y550 has an IPS display with reasonable colour reproduction and passable contrast. It is better either than the Sony Xperia E1 or Nokia Lumia 530 screens – a couple of bigger-name alternatives.


If it wasn’t for the resolution, it’d be fairly good. Its tone is perfectly pleasant and aside from some loss of brightness viewing angles are good. Compromise? Yes. Catastrophe? No.



The Huawei Ascend Y550 also has an auto brightness setting, which uses a light sensor on the front to judge exactly how intense the backlight needs to be. This is occasionally left out of cheaper phones, and not having an Auto mode gets annoying – it means you have to manually ramp up the brightness when you do outdoors in the day time.


Top brightness isn’t stellar, but enough to keep the display visible on a bright, sunny day. The screen is pretty reflective, though.



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Watch the trailer for Game of Thrones Episode 2: The Lost Lords


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GoT



The next episode of the Game of Thrones video game series arrives in early February and developer Telltale Games has today served up a new trailer.


Episode 2: The Lost Lords lands first on PS3, PS4, PC and Mac on February 3, on Xbox 360 and Xbox One platforms a day later and for iOS on February 5.


The series of games allows players to take on the role of a member of House Forrester, who first appear in the George R.R. Martin book A Dance of Dragons.


Players control one of five members of the House as they travel across Westeros interacting with come of the show’s most famous characters.


Voices for the game are provided by Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Natalie Dormer (who plays Margaery Tyrell) and Iwan Rheon (who stars as the rather unsavoury Ramsay Snow in the TV series).


Read more: Game of Thrones coming to IMAX theatres


The second episode is eagerly awaited given the largely positive critical acclaim afforded to the first outing.


Here on Trusted Reviews the game earned a 7/10 score, earning praise for its clever use of familiar characters, multiple protagonists, interesting choices and its faithfulness to the TV show.


It was marked down due to its underwhelming graphics, stilted animation and reliance on quick-time-event action sequences.


Excited? You can check out the trailer in the video below.




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