Struggling Facebook Home app arrives on Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One

Facebook Home is yet to prove a huge success

Owners of the brand new Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One flagship Android handsets can now get a taste of how their phone feels with a Facebook skin.

The Facebook Home launcher and suite of apps for the Android OS is now available to use on the top Google-based handsets of the moment.

Facebook silently added Home support for the HTC One and Galaxy S4 on Friday by allowing users of the main Facebook app to select a 'Use Home Anyway' option in the settings. The social network has since confirmed the roll-out.

Android Central also reports that while Sony Xperia ZL has also been enabled, as the company seeks to keep the downloads flowing.

The extended availability brings the total to 8 devices, following its initial arrival on the Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung Galaxy Note II, HTC One X, HTC One X plus, and the dedicated HTC First handset.

Just yesterday Facebook announced that the skin, which includes a Cover Feed that constantly updates with statuses and photos from your friends and the Chat Heads messaging platform, had reached a million downloads.

Despite the social network's positive spin, that's a desperately low tally considering the company's gigantic user base. It also doesn't account for those users who may have installed and uninstalled the app after taking it for a test drive.

Facebook Home itself is languishing on just two stars on the Google Play store, while there seems to be little demand from Android users for the suite to be rolled out to their device.

In another blow this week, the HTC First, the first handset to arrive with Facebook Home built in, was dropped from $99 upfront to £0.99 on contract with its exclusive carrier in the United States AT&T.

The HTC First will arrive in the UK this summer on the EE network, but it seems unlikely there'll be a stampede for the mid-range device..

Have you installed and stayed the course with Facebook Home on your Android device? Let us know why in the comments section below.

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No iTunes for Windows 8 any time soon, bemoans Microsoft

iTunes unlikely to see the light of day on Windows 8

Microsoft has warned Windows 8 users that a touch-friendly version of Apple's iTunes software will not be hitting the Windows Store any time soon.

Speaking to CNN Money, Microsoft's CFO for Windows Tami Reller said Microsoft has been keen to welcome Apple into the fold, but a response hasn't been forthcoming.

Of course, Windows 8 users can still access a version of iTunes using the 'desktop mode' but not from the 'Metro' style UI or on Windows RT tablets like the Microsoft Surface.

"You shouldn't expect an iTunes app on Windows 8 any time soon," said Reller.

"iTunes is in high demand. The welcome mat has been laid out. It's not for lack of trying."

Apple would probably see launching iTunes for Windows 8 as simply be aiding and abetting Microsoft's attempts to muscle in on its share of the tablet market where it remains dominant thanks to the iPad.

In PCs its a different story, because Microsoft still has a much larger market share than Mac OS X and it's in Apple's best interests to offer all of that juicy media content to a much larger audience.

Currently, Microsoft has the Xbox Music and Video games to help users buy entertainment content, but there's no doubt that the lack of iTunes does leave a bit of a hole.

In better news for Microsoft, Reller believes that all of the most popular apps that are available for the iPad will be available in the Windows Store.

"That's not just our goal, but it'll be realistic to achieve that," said Reller. "We're almost there."

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Apple iRadio service faces royalty delays

The Apple iRadio service has hit delays due to its negotiations with Sony Music over royalty prices for the tracks it could provide.

Apple’s much-anticipated radio streaming service could be facing delays, stalled by royalty discussions with Sony Music.

A deal has already been struck with Universal Music, the largest of the three major record labels, and according to “people with knowledge of the discussions,” Apple is very close to closing negotiations with Warner Music for Apple iRadio.

However, talks with Sony Music are apparently causing Apple some issues over royalty fees. The Cupertino company supposedly first offered the second largest music label 6 cents (4p) for every 100 tracks streamed on the Apple iRadio service, but Sony Music is asked for 12.5 cents (8p). This fee would be in line with what rival radio streaming service Pandora currently pays.

It is unknown what royalty fee was agreed between Apple and Universal.

Pandora had 70 million “active listeners” recorded in April and the competition from Apple iRadio could cripple the service. Due to this, some music industry executives think it only fitting that wealthy Apple should pay more in royalties to give Pandora a fighting chance.

According to the “people with knowledge of the discussions,” Apple is offering the music labels three different revenue stream options: a share of iRadio advertising revenue, a royalty per track streamed and a guaranteed minimum pay-out if the first two should prove unacceptable.

One of the key appeals of Apple iRadio is its supposed ability to create a radio station full of tracks users will like using their iTunes Store purchase history. Apple also plans to integrate iTunes within the iRadio service, meaning listeners can buy tracks they like on iRadio through the store.

iTunes has been the top music store in the UK since 2008, with over 25 billion songs downloaded as of February this year.

Rumours of the Apple iRadio service surfaced online quite some time ago and it was predicted to launch at the annual WWDC next month, but these music label negotiation issues may cause release delays.



You can expect Apple iRadio to become a big part of the Apple iPod range, including the colourful iPod Touch 5th Generation model.

Via: Financial Times

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Samsung UE46F7000 TV Review

What is the Samsung UE46F7000?

Samsung set the early pace in the remarkably high quality 2013 TV race with first the Samsung UE55F8000 LCD and then the Samsung PS64F8500 plasma TV. But not everyone can stretch to the somewhat dizzy heights of these flagship heroes, so we're sure many of you will be very keen indeed to hear how the step-down Samsung F7000 LCD series, also known as the Samsung Series 7 range, compares.

It still has many of the key features, including Samsung's well-stocked smart TV content, but lacks some of the more advanced features of Samsung's flagship sets. We have the 46-inch Samsung UE46F7000, but it's also available in 40-inch and 55-inch sizes.

Samsung UE46F7000 - Set up

Before going any further with this review, we're going to address right away an issue that our mail box suggests causes quite a bit of trouble for buyers of Samsung TVs: their presets. While many potential Samsung UE46F7000's buyers will be perfectly happy with the four preset picture modes Samsung supplies, anyone with a discerning eye will dislike how none focus deep, grey-free blacks.

We're hoping Samsung will see fit to include an extra preset on its TVs at some point that might reflect the sort of contrast-rich look with an emphasis on deep black level that we firmly believe many serious, 'dark room' viewers would prefer. In the mean time, though, we might as well share a few easy tips that can help you scratch your black level itch.



The main two things you need to do - with 2D footage, at least - are drastically reduce the set’s backlight setting down to around its seven level, and take the contrast down to between 75 and 80. These two steps alone will completely transform the uniformity and depth of the TV’s black level response/handling of dark scenes. But we’re not done yet.

Samsung UE46F7000 - Cinema Black

Also important on the Samsung UE46F7000 is Samsung’s Cinema Black feature. Introduced for the first time on the brand’s 2013 TVs, Cinema Black lets the F7000 series to individually dim the LEDs at the top and bottom of its pictures – the areas where the black bars appear around 2.35/2.4:1-ratio films. This means you can avoid the rather grey and inconsistent look these black bars exhibit with Cinema Black turned off, and thus focus much more enjoyably on the picture between the bars.

Strangely, given that they use the same core panel designs, we found we preferred to use Cinema Black on its Medium setting on the Samsung UE46F7000, whereas the Low setting sufficed on the flagship Samsung UE55F8000 TV.



Other quick tweaks we’d recommend you make to the Samsung UE46F7000 settings to get the best from it are: a) reduce the picture’s sharpness a few notches to stop pictures looking ‘fizzy’; b) turn off all noise reduction circuitry (especially when you’re watching HD) to stop pictures looking soft and/or processed; c) only use the set’s motion processing on its Low setting (or not at all when watching Blu-rays) to avoid flickering artefacts; and d) only use the set’s dynamic contrast feature on its lowest level to avoid potential luminance instability.

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White BlackBerry Q10 hits UK via Carphone Warehouse

White BlackBerry Q10 follows its black hued sibling to retailer's shelves

The white BlackBerry Q10 has gone on sale in the UK for the first time, with the lighter hued QWERTY toting handset landing courtesy of Carphone Warehouse.

Set to be stocked via the smartphone retailer and offered in partnership with a number of networks, the white BlackBerry Q10 plays host to the same collection of innards as its darker toned sibling, with the new white finish the only difference between the two devices.

“The Q10 has been hugely popular since we launched it less than a month ago and we’re expecting that the device will become even more desirable to customers now that a white version is available,” Graham Stapleton, Chief Operating Officer of Carphone Warehouse said.

“BlackBerry has done an admirable job with this new handset, the design is a fantastic mix of traditional – with its QWERTY keyboard – and new – using the BlackBerry 10 operating system and touchscreen. In the eyes of our customers, it seems that BlackBerry’s certainly still got it.”

Having shared a launch with the Samsung Galaxy S4, the black BlackBerry Q10 first hit retailers on April 26. Landing originally as a Selfridges exclusive, the BlackBerry 10 powered device quickly became the retailer’s ‘fastest selling gadget’ of all time.

Available from all the leading UK network providers, including EE, O2, Three and Vodafone, the White BlackBerry Q10 is free on £33 per month contracts. Those not looking for the monthly expense can snap up the device SIM-free for a hefty £579.95.



BlackBerry Q10 Features

Pairing a 3.1-inch Super AMOLED display with a 720 x 720p resolution with the company’s traditional physical QWERTY keyboard, the BlackBerry Q10 sees a 1.5GHz dual-core processor partnered with 2GB of RAM to run the show alongside the recently released BlackBerry 10 operating system.

With an 8-megapixel rear-mounted camera joining forces with a second, 2-megapixel snapper up front, the BlackBerry Q10 features list is further bolstered by 16GB of internal storage, 4G connectivity options and a 2100mAh Lithium-Ion battery.

Measuring in at 10.4mm thick and a reasonable 139g in weight, the BlackBerry Q10 is just the second BB10 handset to make it to market.

If you’re not fussed by a physical QWERTY keyboard, why not take a look at the Q10’s fully touch sibling in our BlackBerry Z10 review or check out the video below.

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Watch Dogs preview reveals new features

Ubisoft has revealed new details surrounding its upcoming open-world game, Watch Dogs, in the first UK preview.

The Watch Dogs preview shows that the hacking-themed open-world adventure will incorporate features such as a Reputation system, character-driven AI, creative combat system and control centres like the Outposts in Far Cry 3 or the Assassin’s Creed series.

Based in a not so distant future version of Chicago, players will have to hack Control Centres in order to access citizen profiles or the Central Operating System (CtOS) of Chicago in that district. Patrolled by sentries, players will have to choose how protagonist Aiden Pearce tackles the posts, either by force, hacking, stealth or a unique combination of the three.

“When you’re doing an open world game, I think one of the best practices is to connect your fantasy, the fantasy of the game to the world itself,” said Jonathan Morin, Ubisoft’s Creative Director. “For example, us, we’re talking about monitoring the entire city of Chicago, it makes no sense whatsoever if you don’t have to do something in the world to eventually get access to the system.”

“It’s how it works in real life, and it also connects the player with the world a bit more with its progression. That’s pretty much where it stops in similarity between Watch Dogs and Far Cry 3 with those things.”

Watch Dogs will also utilise a Reputation system that is based on the media’s perception of Pearce and the way the player completes the missions and side quests, including the amount of civilian casualties.

“Every time you intervene and how you play, your Reputation is going to sway in different ways, and that’s now going to have an impact on the entire city and [how] they will perceive you,” said Morin. “It’s not a judgement call on how you play. There’s a lot more depth in that to our system.”

As for the storyline and the AI, Morin says Watch Dogs is partly being created as “homage to humanity”.

“You’re going to see mundane, funny situations, see very dark secrets, we really want to make sure we pay homage to humanity, and we’re not critiquing them 100 per cent of the time. That would be bad.”

Watch Dogs will be available on Xbox 360, PS3, PC and Wii U on November 22 in the UK. The game will also launch on the PS4 and potentially the Xbox Infinity or Xbox 720 when they come to market too.



Watch Dogs is definitely one to watch this year and certainly features in our roundup of the best games of 2013.

Via: Digital Spy

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Olympus Pen E-P5 Camera Review

Introduction

Olympus has today announced Pen E-P5 – the latest addition to the manufacturer’s Pen series of Compact System Cameras.

The Olympus Pen E-P5 arrives as a straight replacement to the E-P3 in Olympus’s Pen range, offering a host of new features while also inheriting a selection from other Olympus models.

Olympus Pen E-P5 - Specs and Features

At the core of the Olympus Pen E-P5 sits a 16.1MP sensor, TruePic VI processing engine and 5-axis image stabilisation – a trio of features found in Olympus’s flagship OM-D E-M5 model.

As far new features, the Pen E-P5 is the first of Olympus’s CSC range to feature built-in Wi-Fi, wireless transfer of images and remote capture through a dedicated app.

Other new headline claims include the model’s maximum shutter speed. Olympus claims that the E-P5 is the first CSC to offer a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 sec through a mechanical shutter, as opposed to the electronic shutter found on the similarly-swift Nikon V2.

On the rear of the Olympus E-P5 sits a 3-inch, 1.04-million dot capacitive touchscreen. It’s similar to the screen found on the OM-D E-M5, but almost double the resolution.

Alongside from the core specs, the E-P5 sees a design overhaul. Olympus is keen to emphasise that the new model borrows heavily from Pen F film models, with an all-metal finish and selection of control dials around its body.

Olympus Pen E-P5 - Handling and Hardware

We managed to get our hands on one of the first pre-production samples Olympus Pen E-P5 in the UK for a closer look.

The first thing to strike you upon picking up the camera is its large size. Although it’s just a few millimetres thicker that the E-P3 that it replaces on a straight specification comparison, it’s noticeably bulkier in the hand.

This added bulk may be in some small part due to the articulated display, and although it’s by no means a huge camera it might not suit those looking for a smaller CSC.

Despite this chunkiness, the Pen E-P5 generally handles and operates well. The dials found variously around the camera are of a good size and rotate freely, while the dedicated rubberised thumb rest on the rear of the camera is welcome.

The performance of the touchscreen on the rear of the camera is also a plus point. It offers a good level of sensitivity and only the gentlest touch is needed to scroll through the camera’s functions or pick a focus point.

The Olympus E-P5 display also offers a good clarity and contrast, and if you’re familiar with the screen of the OM-D E-M5 you’ll notice they’re in fact very similar in this regard.

Although we weren’t given a great amount of time to fully put the Olympus Pen E-P5 through its paces, we were able to get an early impression of the model’s new FAST AF focusing system. The good news is that it seems to live up to its name, with only a short amount of time needed before focus was acquired.



The Olympus Pen E-P5 looks like an interesting CSC that should provide an alternative to the OM-D E-M5 towards the top end of Olympus’s range. It should start shipping towards the end of June, although a UK RRP is yet to be confirmed.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 gets wrists slapped by BBC Watchdog investigation

Samsung Galaxy S4 to be investigated by BBC Watchdog

The 16GB Samsung Galaxy S4 is under fire, with a BBC Watchdog investigation to address the handset’s lack of available storage.

An issue previously highlighted in our full Samsung Galaxy S4 review, the 16GB storage iteration of the eagerly awaited handset offers roughly 9GB of user available storage, almost half that listed on the box. Although the handset features microSD card based expansion options, the lack of internal storage has caused outrage with some early adopters.

Confirmed via a teaser at the end of this week’s Watchdog broadcast, formidable presenter Anne Robinson revealed the next episode of the show would address the discrepancy between the Samsung Galaxy S4’s listed and actual storage options.

“Samsung: it claims that its brand new Galaxy phone has an extra-large memory, but what did it forget to mention?” the presenter stated in the S4 inquiry teaser.

Released back on April 26, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is the Korean company’s latest flagship handset offering, with the plastic clad device playing host to a 5-inch Super AMOLED display with 1920 x 1080p Full HD resolution and a 441 pixels-per-inch image density.

A rival to the HTC One and iPhone 5, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage options, with the handset’s pre-installed software bloat, which includes all manner of new features including the likes of Air View and Smart Scroll, taking up considerable space on the device.

With a 13-megapixel camera lining up on the handset’s rear, the Samsung Galaxy S4 feature list is rounded off by a 1.9GHz quad-core processor, a 2-megapixel forward-facing snapper and a 2600mAh Lithium-Ion battery.

Lining up at just 7.9mm thick and only 130g in weight, the S4 runs Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS, 2GB of RAM and a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protective coating.

We have contacting Samsung for an official comment on the Samsung Galaxy S4 inquiry and will update this post accordingly once we have heard back.

Does the lack of storage space put you off the S4? If so, see how the handset fares up against its main rival in the Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. HTC One head-to-head.

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Windows 8: 100m licenses sold but actual user base much smaller

Microsoft recently announced that it had sold 100 million Windows 8 licenses in six months, but the actual user base number is much smaller than that say analysts.

The Microsoft statistic suggests that there are 100 million Windows 8 users, but the licence sale figure doesn’t directly correlate to PCs users actually running that version of the Microsoft OS.

“We recently surpassed the 100 million licenses sold mark for Windows 8,” said Microsoft CFO and CMO Tami Reller. “This number includes Windows licenses that ship on a new tablet or PC, as well as upgrades to Windows 8. This is up from the 60 million license number we provided in January.”

The licenses sold figure includes any PC or tablet with Windows 8 installed, but all of those units are not in the hands of customers. It also includes any consumer who bought a Windows 8 license that allows them to download Windows 7.

Seeing as Microsoft has already developed the Windows 8.1 or Windows Blue upgrade for Windows 8 due to consumer complaints, analysts suggest that actual userbase figures for PCs and tablet users actually running Windows 8 are a fraction of the 100 million licenses sold.

Patrick Moorhead, a principal analyst with Moor Insights and Strategy suggested that the real Windows 8 user numbers could be calculated by any company that records web visits.

Net Applications’ NetMarketShare service counts website hits according to platform, while StatCounter measures internet users in a way that adjusts according to the country they originate from.

Taking the number of PCs claimed to be running Windows OS in general worldwide, said to be 1.4 billion by Reller and Windows Divison’s Julie Larson-Green, it is possible to work out the accurate Windows 8 user base numbers.

For the month of April, StatCounter showed Windows 8 users accounted for 4.74 per cent of the share, equating to 66.4 million PCs running the latest Microsoft OS. NetMarketShare though only saw Windows 8 users account for 3.82 per cent, or 53.5 million Windows 8 users.

Whatever way you look at it, and these figures are only estimates, Windows 8 doesn’t quite have the 100 million users that Microsoft claims it does.

Are you relieved Windows Blue might take Windows 8 back to its roots? Read our feature and find out why Microsoft is backtracking with Windows 8.1 Blue.

Via: Guardian

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Samsung is hurting Android

Last week our HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 head-to-head concluded that Samsung no longer makes the best Android phone. But after developments this week, I wonder whether Google wants Samsung to continue making Android phones at all.

What happened?

In an unprecedented move Samsung announced a deal on Thursday to make an established, high profile Android app incompatible with every Android smartphone except its own. The app in question is ITV Player, the catch up service for ITV - the UK’s largest independent terrestrial broadcaster.

Needless to say the news wasn’t phrased like that. Samsung celebrated the agreement, noting the rise in people wanting to use their mobile devices for video and an ITV spokesperson blamed the fragmentation of Android as a key motivation in its decision. It wasn’t, it was money.

If ITV wanted to avoid fragmentation it would have chosen to make its app compatible with only pure versions of Android - something available to any rooted Android handset, and which discourages fragmentation. Meanwhile Samsung may recognise the demand for such an app, but it has just removed this option for millions of non-Samsung handset owning ITV app users. ITV said it plans to (re)launch for app for other Android devices “in the future”, but didn’t put a date on it.

Was this a one-off move that Samsung doesn’t intend to repeat elsewhere? Don’t be silly. Will such moves cause even greater fragmentation of Android? Absolutely. Will it damage Android? Absolutely. Not only has the deal put the platform’s fragmentation again in the headlines, but now it is also headline news that its key apps can be bought up to make this even worse. Everyone hurts except for Samsung, and Google hurts most of all.

Yes rivals could start doing the same thing. But Gartner states Samsung sells more Android smartphones than HTC, Sony, ZTE, Huawei, Motorola and LG combined and Samsung could easily outbid the competition for anything it wants. Big app developers can also cash in on this trend with incentives to make sure their apps are made with compatibility for Galaxy ranges first, and what Google has coded second.

But why would Samsung want to hurt the goose that lays the golden eggs?

Weak Android = strong Samsung

Here is a dirty secret: it is in Samsung’s interest to damage Android.

Each successive generation of Samsung’s Android phones has been more laden down with TouchWiz customisations and non-removable Samsung apps than the last. In the Galaxy S4, for example, 7GB of its internal memory is taken up its custom apps and highly tweaked version of Android. This is 1GB more than the Galaxy S3 and more than twice the size of a clean Android install partition. Samsung has been building an operating system on top of an operating system.

It is a classic Trojan Horse tactic. Android had unstoppable momentum, Samsung fought hard to become the chief beneficiary of it and now it wants an Apple-like control of its destiny. When Samsung adds software to its Android phones it believes it improves them, when Google updates Android with similar features it enables the competition to catch up.

Fragment Android and you stop the competition improving and mainstream customers learn only Samsung’s Android phones are worth buying. Only Samsung has the resources to keep improving a stalled OS - though the tactic only works long term if you have an exit strategy.



Samsung wants to be like Apple

The exit strategy is called Tizen. Tizen is a mobile operating system built by the Linux Foundation, but primarily funded by Intel and Samsung. It is open source by nature, but the two primary investors have scared away rivals.

Conveniently Tizen is covered with TouchWiz so to the casual observer it looks identical to Samsung’s Android phones. It can also easily run Android apps with a code tweak and Samsung would also have big-name natively-coded apps if only it could tie up some deals with… oh wait.

So break down Android to hurt rivals, switch to Tizen with all of Android’s app goodness (plus exclusives) and promise customers the unity Android was never able to deliver. Samsung needs to hurt Android now if it is going to create a big enough crack in it to open up room for another operating system in the market.

Samsung has a track record. It failed to do this once with Bada (which is actually merged into Tizen) and will inevitably follow through more strongly this time. A high profile Tizen phone has already been promised by September.

Of course Tizen is just part of the puzzle. Having its own platform is one thing, but Samsung has also learnt from Apple that the ecosystem around it is equally important. As such Samsung’s market leading televisions, monitors and laptops have all been gaining features that make them exclusively work better with Samsung’s phones. There are audio docks specifically for Samsung phones too. The pieces are all in place.

Do no evil

None of which means we should feel sorry for Google. Samsung may be trying to manipulate Android for its own ends, but Google has attempted to do the same with Windows, Mac and iOS for years.



Visit the Google homepage with a browser other than Chrome and you’ll always be nagged to install it. Use Google’s apps on iOS and they form their own Trojan Horse ecosystem. This month Google tightened the knot even more, making Gmail, Google Search, Google Voice Search and Google Maps all default to one another cutting Apple’s core apps out the loop.

Find you’re using all Google’s apps on your iPhone and before long you’ll wonder why you don’t just switch to Android. It isn’t nice having your own tricks turned on you.

Paranoid Android

Then again hypocrisy isn’t the point, Google is reaping what it sowed. Android was created with the key message that it is open source and that partners are encouraged to develop it. As iOS took off, it was this which was critical to establishing Android as the next viable alternative. Control was freely relinquished, but exploitation was not expected.

Furthermore Samsung is only the start. Where it has headed in relatively subtle steps Amazon has charged like a bull in a china shop. If Amazon can follow up its tablets with a compelling phone, the combination of Samsung and Amazon success could see Android ripped to pieces.

On their own these partner woes may not bring Google to a tipping point, but they are not on their own. Google also faces a rapidly spiralling EU antitrust investigation. It is accused of exploiting its monopoly in search and Android has been thrown under the spotlight too because it has crept over the threshold of 70 per cent market share.

Increasingly the solution looks to be control. Insisting partners use stock Android would immediately create a strong image for customers of unification, it would also make it easier for handsets to be upgraded, which reduces fragmentation. Partners that step away would reduce Android’s market share and end the monopoly-based antitrust investigation.

Of course one of those partners could be Samsung, but arguably that would be a good thing…

Next, read our run-down of the Samsung Galaxy S4's biggest problems...

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Huawei Ascend P2 arriving in June for the UK

Huawei has announced that the Huawei Ascend P2, its most powerful smartphone, will arrive in the UK next month.

Although an exact Huawei Ascend P2 release date has yet to be revealed, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is holding a London-based event on June 18, so it could launch then.

Launching in black and white colours varieties, the Ascend P2 will be available on a number of UK carriers and Three has already confirmed it will stock the handset from June.

“The Ascend P2 offers exceptional design, power and functionality at the higher end of the market,” said Mark Mitchinson, Vice President of UK and Ireland Devices for Huawei. “With it, UK customers can enjoy the maximum network speeds available from their network operators, right now and in the future.”

“The Ascend P2 is built to enable next-generation 4G speeds so users can keep pace with the very latest technologies from their network providers and access and upload mobile content as fast as possible.”

Huawei Ascend P2 Features

Unveiled at MWC 2013, the Huawei Ascend P2 is 4G LTE compatible and uses Huawei’s own 1.5GHz quad-core processor with 1GB of RAM. Packing 16GB of internal storage, the Huawei Ascend P2 has a 4.7-inch “Infinity” HD display powered by a 2,420mAh battery, all within a slim 8.4mm thick body.

Apparently boosted by Huawei Quick Power Control and Automated Discontinuous Reception technology, the Huawei Ascend P2 is said to offer a 30 per cent improved battery life over competitors like the HTC One, Sony Xperia Z or Samsung Galaxy S4.

The Huawei Ascend P2 features a 13.1-megapixel, HDR capable camera in the rear coupled with a 1.3-megapixel snapper up front.

Running Android 4.1 OS, the Huawei Ascend price hasn’t been divulged, but seeing as it’s got to compete with flagship handsets from rival smartphone manufacturers, we’d expect it to be in the £300-£400 range.



Not sure if you want to wait for the Huawei Ascend P2? Check out our Samsung Galaxy S4 vs HTC One comparison.

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Microsoft plotting set-top box launch alongside new Xbox?

A Microsoft set-top box TV streaming device is reportedly in the works, with the manufacturer said to be considering plans to launch the hardware alongside the new Xbox.

While much focus is currently being heaped on the new Xbox unveiling, formally scheduled for May 21, latest reports have claimed Microsoft could also launch its own set-top box, akin to Apple TV, allowing users to stream online content direct to their televisions.

Said to have undergone a number of prototype designs to date, the Wall Street Journal cited “people familiar with the matter” in stating: “Microsoft has been creating designs for a simple set-top device for streaming video and other entertainment options.”

Although Microsoft has yet to formally confirm such plans, it is possible that the Redmond based tech giant could introduce such a device in the coming weeks, with the set-top box a potential tie-in with the upcoming new Xbox.

Despite the strong launch platform that would be provided by the imminent new Xbox unveiling, which will take place at the company’s Seattle headquarters later this month, recent rumours have suggested Microsoft could potentially scrap its set-top box plans altogether.

According to the unnamed insider sources, “it is unclear whether the company will introduce the device.” With such a backtrack hinting that such features could end up slotted within the new Xbox itself, Microsoft has reportedly developed set-top box prototypes “that worked with the company’s Kinect motion-control technology.”

An answer to the recently unveiled Sony PS4, the new Xbox has been the thing of much rumour and speculation for a number of years, with latest reports claiming the next-gen console will feature always-on internet requirements and the title of Xbox Infinity.

Need a little something extra to tempt you into the rise of next-gen consoles, take a look at the best games of 2013.

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3D-printed gun hits 100,000 downloads

Downloads for a 3D-printed gun blueprint have hit 100,000 in just two days, according to reports.

High-tech arms company Defence Distributed demonstrated the Liberator - a gun that can be manufactured in its entirety using a 3D printer - being fired earlier in the week via a YouTube video, leading to a massive surge in online interest.

The company has told Forbes that the Liberator has been 10 times more popular than any of its other gun components. Meanwhile the BBC reports that the files have been downloaded most in the US, followed by Spain, Brazil, Germany, and here in the UK.

Helping to facilitate the rapid uptake of these blueprints, the files have been uploaded to infamous file-sharing site the Pirate Bay, where it has swiftly become the most popular file in its 3D printing section.

This surge in interest, combined with the relative ease of production and the gun's nearly all-plastic construction, has lead to considerable concern in the US. In fact, the US State Department just yesterday ordered Defence Distributed to take down the CAD blueprint files on the grounds of possible export control violation.

Because these files can be (and indeed have been) downloaded in foreign countries, it's claimed that this may be equivalent to illegally exporting firearms.

Here in the UK, downloading the blueprint files is not illegal, but making and owning the Liberator gun itself would be. Manufacturing any kind of firearm here in Great Britain requires a license.

Read about the world's first 3D-printed dress as modelled by Dita Von Teese here.

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Google Nexus 5 nears as Nexus 4 is taken from shelves

The Google Nexus 5 looks set to receive a Google I/O unveiling next week, with insiders claiming UK retailers have stopped selling the current Google Nexus 4.

Long rumoured to be the successor to the hugely popular but frequently supply chain hit Google Nexus 4, the Google Nexus 5 has been widely speculated to be another joint venture between Google and LG, with latest reports suggesting the handset could be unveiled as early as next week.

According to claimed industry sources, both Phones 4u and Carphone Warehouse have halted sales of the Google Nexus 4, a potential indication of a new model on the horizon.

Although the two well-known UK based smartphone retailers are said to have stopped sales of the latest Nexus handset, those keen to get their mitts on the high-end handset with the wallet appeasing price tag can still do so via Google’s official online outlet and direct from networks.



Google Nexus 5 Rumours

While Google has yet to formally acknowledge the existence of a Google Nexus 5 handset, recent leaks have suggested the eagerly awaited handset will touch down with an expansive 5.2-inch display in tow.

A handset to go head-to-head with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, the Google Nexus 5 is expected to be the launch device for the upcoming Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie operating system.

Having previously been spotted on leaked internal documents, the Google Nexus 4 specs sheet looks set to be bolstered by a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM and the option of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB storage options.

With a 3300mAh Lithium Polymer battery reportedly in tow, the Google Nexus 5 screen is said to pair 5.2-inches of OLED real-estate with a 1920 x 1080p Full HD resolution.

Can’t wait for the Google Nexus 4? See which of its main rivals currently comes out on top in our Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. HTC One head-to-head.

Via: TechRadar

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Motorola RAZR i available now on Three

The Motorola RAZR i is now available from Three on all-you-can-eat monthly and PAYG price plans.

Starting from £17 a month with no additional handset cost, the Motorola RAZR i can be purchased on the Essential Internet 100 plan. Anyone wanting the tempting all-you-can-eat data bundle will have to pay £20 per month on the Ultimate Internet 100 plan.

For PAYG customers, the Motorola handset will cost £249.99 plus the price of a top up.

“Whether browsing the web or downloading the latest apps from Google Play, the Motorola RAZR i offers premium features,” said Sylvia Chind, Head of Devices at Three. “Complemented by one of Three’s all-you-can-eat data price plans, you’ll be able to enjoy even more tweeting, blogging, searching and browsing without the worry of out-of-bundle charges.”



Motorola RAZR i Features

Powered by a 2GHz Intel Atom processor with 1GB of RAM, the Motorola RAZR i has a slim bezel 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display with a 540 x 960p resolution.

The Motorola RAZR i features Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and has an 8-megapixel rear camera capable of recording 1080p videos at 30fps coupled with a VGA front-facing for video calling. The rear camera can also take up to 10 shots per second in burst mode to ensure users can get that perfect shot.

Built with a Kevlar rear panel and Gorilla Glass screen, the Motorola RAZR i is tough, but only weighs 126g, which is just a touch more than the iPhone 5. Available in black and white, the Motorola RAZR i offers GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC connectivity.

Featuring a non-removable Lithium-Ion 2000mAh battery, the Motorola RAZR i also has 8GB of internal storage, expandable by microSD cards up to 32GB.



Not a fan of the Motorola RAZR i? Find what best suits you in our roundup of the best mobile phones of 2013.

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Olympus Pen E-P5 retro compact system camera announced

Olympus has unveiled a new mirrorless micro four thirds camera with a stylish retro design, the Olympus Pen E-P5.

The new Pen flagship features a 16-megapixel micro four thirds image sensor and interchangeable lens setup, an astonishingly fast shutter speed, and a design lifted straight from the 1960s (specifically the Olympus Pen F).

It's the first compact system camera to feature a mechanical shutter capable of speeds up to 1/8000th of a second, which should make it the perfect compact camera for fast motion shots.

The Olympus Pen E-P5 also features decent and flexible manual controls, with two thumb wheels - front and back - complementing the model dial. Each dial's purpose can be changed through the function button, too.

The E-P5 also features an advanced 5-axis image stabilisation system, which Olympus claims is "a step up from Olympus OM-D E-M5."

Around back the Olympus Pen E-P5 features a 3-inch, 1.04 million dot touch panel LCD display, which can be tilted upwards 80 degrees or downwards 50 degrees.

Another welcome feature is the Pen E-P5's built-in Wi-Fi (it's the first Olympus camera to do so), which can be easily hooked up to your smartphone via QR code for sharing images whilst out and about.

There's no built-in viewfinder present here, but you can specify the VF-4 as an optional extra.

The Olympus Pen E-P5 will hit shops in June of this year. Expect to pay around £899 for the body only, and £999 with a 14-42mm lens kit. Or you can splash out £1349 on the camera with the VF-4 viewfinder and a 17mm f/1.8 lens.

If you're shopping for a new digital camera, why not check out our frequently updated Best Cameras 2013 round-up.

Via: Ephotozine

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JVC HD Everio GZ-VX815BEK Camcorder Review

What is the JVC HD Everio GZ-VX815BEK?

JVC never quite takes the same strategy as its main competitors. The JVC HD Everio GZ-VX815BEK looks like a modest midrange model, albeit a stylish one, and is externally almost identical to the JVC Everio HD GZ-VX715. But lurking inside is a higher-end core specification than you might expect in a camcorder this size, at this price, although the general features are essentially the same as its lesser stable mate.

JVC HD Everio GZ-VX815BEK - Features

The key difference is that the JVC GZ-VX815BEK is based around an impressively specified 1/2.3-inch back-illuminated CMOS with a generous 12.8Mpixels, compared to the GZ-VX715's 1/4.1-inch unit with just 3.32Mpixels.

Although the GZ-VX715 offers extremely good image quality, the larger, higher-resolution sensor of the GZ-VX815BEK promises even more quality, and much better still images. JVC doesn't state how many pixels are actually used when shooting video, but there's no doubt it will be more than enough for shooting Full HD, as well as the 4,000 x 3,000-pixel still images on offer as well.

On top of the four AVCHD quality modes, the JVC Everio HD GZ-VX815BEK also offers iFrame shooting at 1,280 x 720 and 960 x 540, for Mac compatibility. The top video quality mode runs at 24Mbits/sec, but AVCHD 2.0 is not supported, so there is no option for 50p shooting. Footage is captured to a single SDXC-compatible memory card slot, and at the top data rate a 32GB card would be enough for just shy of three hours of footage.

Despite the JVC Everio GZ-VX815BEK's small chassis and large sensor, it still manages to offer a reasonable 10x optical zoom. But the large sensor means that there's a 21x Dynamic Zoom available as well, although only when image stabilisation is turned on. This is surprising, considering that it is based on an optical system. However, it also incorporates Advanced Image Stabilisation, which provides two extra enhanced settings that further reduce jerkiness.

The first of these drops the Dynamic Zoom to 17x, and the top option disables it entirely. Each of the image stabilisation modes entail a progressively pronounced zooming of the image, because they use the extra sensor pixels to produce their enhanced effect.

Surprisingly, while the built-in lens cover opens automatically, it has to be closed manually. This makes for a quick restart if you close the LCD to power down temporarily, but it's quite easy to forget the lens is uncovered when you pack up at the end of a shooting session.



Apart from a power button and a control for the image stabilisation, everything else is operated via the 3-inch touch screen LCD. In Intelligent Auto mode, the camcorder detects conditions and sets scene modes accordingly. In this mode, you can still enable a few options within the menu, including toggling between the four Touch Priority AE/AF modes. These include pet as well as face tracking, or you can select an area or colour for the system to use as a reference for focus and exposure.

You also have access to the Special Recording modes. These include High Speed Recording, which captures lower resolution footage at a high frame rate for smooth slow motion, and Stop Motion, which grabs a frame each time you press the shutter. There's time-lapse recording with intervals available from 1 to 80 seconds.

JVC's bizarre animation effects are available, too, and you can also decorate people's faces with graphical glasses, stamp your footage with a graphic, add an animated handwriting effect, or superimpose the date and time.

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Amazon reportedly working on two smartphones, one with a 3D screen

Rumours that Amazon is planning to launch a smartphone have been almost been around as long as Alex Ferguson, but a report in the Wall Street Journal suggests the company might actually have two devices on the way.

The business bible claimed that Amazon is working on a pair of handsets, including one that will have a glasses-free 3D display.

According to the report, this high-end device will offer visuals that "seem to float above the screen like a hologram.

The WSJ also suggests that the mythical handset will also feature the retina-tracking technology that most observers expected to appear on the Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone.

The smartphones are part of a host of projects underway at Amazon's hardware lab in Cupertino, California, according to the report.

The so-called "Alphabet Projects are lettered A, B, C and D, the WSJ says.

Along side the the two smartphones and dedicated audio streaming device, the fourth project may be the recently rumoured television set-top box.

It's possible that these prototype devices could never see a public launch, although, we'd be very surprised if the company wasn't looking to compliment its Kindle Fire line up in some way shape or form with further mobile devices.

We would, however, be even more surprised if the Amazon smartphone eventually rocked up packing a 3D screen.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.

Via Engadget

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Apple iPhone now available for just 50p per day, the budget iPhone is here

iPhone price cuts have seen the iconic Apple handset made available for free on sub £20 per month contracts for the first time, a move that sees the handset priced at a little over 50p per day.

Launching on the cut priced 24 month deals later this week, smartphone retailer Carphone Warehouse has confirmed wannabe iPhone owners will be able to snap up the 8GB iPhone 4 for just £17 per month as of tomorrow, Friday 10.

“Launching the cheapest iPhone tariff is an exciting move for Carphone Warehouse,” Graham Stapleton, Chief Operations Officer for the retailer stated. “Many of our customers want the opportunity to own the iconic Apple handset, but at a tariff that works for them.”

He added: “Even though smartphones are mainstream, there are still thousands of customers who are upgrading from a feature phone to a smartphone, and this deal is perfect for them.”

Offering the handset on both O2 and Three tariffs, those looking to pick up the 8GB iPhone 4 on O2 will see their new handset paired with 300 monthly minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB of data. Satisfying other user needs, those plumping for Three’s offering will see the iPhone matched with 500 inclusive minutes, unlimited texts and a 250MB data allowance.

While this is the cheapest the iPhone has been offered to date, a number of cheap iPhone rumours have suggested that an outright budget Apple handset is on the horizon tasked with combatting the rise of affordable Android phones.

Expected to feature the same 4-inch display as the current iPhone 5 alongside a more refined and affordable collection of innards, the budget iPhone is believed to be heading for a late summer, potentially September, arrival alongside the iPhone 6.

Ageing iPhone 4 not for you, see how the latest Apple handset fared in our iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S4 head-to-head.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 more expensive to make than iPhone 5

Despite the Samsung Galaxy S4 still feeling as cheap and plastic as the Samsung Galaxy S3, it actually costs more to make that the aluminium iPhone 5.

According to a teardown analysis of the Samsung Galaxy S4 by market research firm IHS, the Samsung flagship costs much more than its iPhone 5 Apple rival to manufacture.

The American version of the 32GB model of the Samsung Galaxy S4 costs a little more than $237 (£152.49) for the materials and manufacturing. In comparison, the iPhone 5 16GB model costs $205 (£131.90) despite its metal body, according to the IHS analysis conducted last year on the Apple flagship.

However, Samsung has an advantage over Apple in that it is able to supply itself with the parts required for the Samsung Galaxy S4. The South Korean electronics company manufactures a wide variety of components that it even supplies to Apple for the iPhone and iPad range, meaning that the majority of the cost of the Samsung Galaxy S4 is funnelled back into Samsung owned companies.

“Samsung’s strength is this ability to in-source to itself,” said IHS analyst Vincent Leung. “They just keep adding to the list of components that they can supply to themselves.”

The Samsung Galaxy S4 in the UK and other markets does contain a component that Samsung is not able to produce itself and that’s the CPU chip. The UK version of the Samsung flagship packs a 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, which adds $20 (£12.87) to the cost of every handset made.

“Even with all the vertical integration it’s doing, it’s not like Samsung has given up on Qualcomm,” said IHS analyst Andrew Rassweiler.

In the US and selected other markets, like South Korea, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is the first handset to feature an eight-core processor, the Samsung Exynos 5 Octa, priced at $28 (£18.02) a piece.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 packs 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear camera and Full HD Super AMOLED 5-inch screen among its many features.

Can’t decide between the Apple and Samsung smartphone offerings? Read our Samsung Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5 comparison for a bit of help.

Via: All Things D

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Ouya release date delayed but secures $15m in new funding

The Ouya release date has been pushed back by three weeks to accommodate huge demand for the Android gaming console.

Originally scheduled to ship to retailers in the US on June 4, consumers will now have to wait until June 25 to get their hands on the little Android console.

“The demand we’re seeing from gamers and our retailers is beyond expectations, so, to meet all this demand, we are shifting our launch date by three weeks to give us time to make more Ouyas,” said Ouya CEO Julie Uhrman in a blog post. “Our official launch date will be June 25.”

Uhrman did confirm that this delayed release date would not affect any early Ouya backers who are expecting to receive their Ouya by the end of May, as those units shipments are “still on track.”

However, the news of the adjusted release date does come with fantastic news for the console, its fans and Ouya developers. The Android console has just secured an additional $15 million (£9.65 million) in funding, led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB).

“It means we’ve got additional resources to make Ouya everything it can be,” said Uhrman. “It means that we can increase production to meet our demand continue to support game developers who are building innovative and exclusive games for Ouya.”

Ouya has also confirmed it has a new board member in the form of Bing Gordon, who previously held the position of EA Games’ Chief Creative Officer. According to an official press release, Gordon will advise the company as it “scales its development community and executes its retail strategy and product developments plans.”

“What we really liked about Bing is that he doesn’t get constrained by conventional thinking, and that’s a lot about what we do at Ouya,” said Uhrman to Joystiq. “And he also is a really big supporter of game creators, and that’s been one of the key focuses of Ouya. It felt like a perfect match.”

There’s still no word on an Ouya UK release date, but we’ll keep you posted.

If you’re totally into gaming, you might want to take a look at our pick of the best games of 2013.

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ITV Player app for Android now a Samsung exclusive

Samsung Mobile has announced a partnership with ITV to bring the Android ITV Player app exclusively to Samsung devices.

Offering access to the past thirty days of ITV content from channels including ITV, ITV2 and ITV3 for catch-up opportunities, the new Android ITV Player app will be exclusively available to Samsung smart devices.

Compatible with Samsung devices running Android 2.3 Gingerbread or later, the Android ITV Player allows users to browse through recommended programmes or search for their favourites over a 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi connection.

The app is available to download now on Samsung smart devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Note 8.0 and Samsung Galaxy Mega duo, but anyone owning another Android device like the Google Nexus 4 or the HTC One won’t be able to until the exclusivity period ends.

“We are very excited to have launched the new ITV Player app on Samsung devices,” said Online Product Director of ITV, James Micklethwait. “The fragmentation of the Android ecosystem is well known therefore, as a commercial broadcaster, it makes sense of us to partner with the leading manufacturer of Android devices to further increase our technical knowledge of the operating system.”

Blaming fragmentation for the exclusive agreement with Samsung Mobile, ITV has said “we plan to launch the app onto other Android devices in the future.”

Free to download from the Google Play and Samsung Apps stores, the ITV Player Samsung exclusivity is bound to irk other Android handset users, especially as the BBC iPlayer is available to everyone and iPhone or iPad users can still use the ITV Player iOS app.

“At Samsung, we are committed to providing our customers with the latest range of content and apps,” said Simon Stanford, Vice President of IM Division at Samsung UK. “People are increasingly watching programmes on their way to work, between meetings or on holiday, and this partnership means they can now catch up on their favourite ITV programmes on our devices wherever and whenever they choose.”

Lucky enough to gab yourself an S4? Make the most of it with our Samsung Galaxy S4 tips and tricks.

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Free BT Sport channels for all BT Broadband customers, sorry Sky users

BT Sport channels will be free to all existing BT Broadband customers from launch, the telecoms turn service provider has confirmed.

While current BT Broadband users will benefit from complementary access to both the newly confirmed BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 2 channels, as well as the recently acquired ESPN, those who currently fork out for Sky’s TV and internet packages will be forced to splash out an additional £15 per month to gain access to the full collection of Premier League games.

Although offering BT Sport 1 and 2 access at no additional costs, BT Broadband customers looking to make use of BT Sport HD content will need to pay £3 per month, although this fee is set to be overlooked for a year for those who sign up before the service’s launch on August 1.

Set to host all manner of exclusive sporting content not available on terrestrial or Sky Sports services, BT Sport is to offer 38 games of the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League season, including 18 top pick matches, as well as all 69 Aviva Premiership rugby matches live.

"UK Sports fans have had a rough deal for too long,” Ian Livingston, BT’s Chief Executive said. “Many have been priced out of the market but we will change this by giving away BT Sport for free with our broadband. Sports fans are the winners today."

He added: "BT Sport will complement our world class fibre network. Customers don’t have to take BT Infinity to get BT Sport but we are encouraging them to move onto fibre broadband so they can enjoy the best of both worlds."

With a selection of apps to bring the service to all manner of smartphones, tablets and PC devices, users looking to view BT Sport content on their TV will need a BT Vision or YouView box. Sky boxes can also be used in conjunction with BT Broadband.

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Cheap iPhone release nears as manufacturer bolsters staff

Will the long awaited budget iPhone touch down this summer?

Apple’s cheap iPhone could well be on the cards as rumours of a cut-price handset kick into overdrive amid reports manufacturer Pegatron has added 40,000 new staff.

Despite reportedly facing a drop in profits following a slow in iPad mini demand, Apple’s manufacturing partner Pegatron is seemingly set to add 40 per cent to its already 100,000 people strong Chinese workforce, a move that has sparked speculation around an upcoming cheaper budget iPhone launch.

Set to introduce the additional manpower in the second half of the year, Pegatron has hinted that Apple could be prepping the launch a number of new products towards the end of the year with the manufacturer’s CFO Charles Lin stating 60 per cent of the company’s revenue would be generated after June.



Cheap iPhone Rumours

Widely anticipated to touch down later this summer as Apple’s answer to the recent rise of mid-market Android handsets, the cheap iPhone looks set to be tasked with bringing more users to the Apple ecosystem, offering a more wallet friendly entry point to the profitably likes of iTunes and the Apple App Store.

With repeated rumours pointing towards a late summer cheap iPhone release, it has been claimed that the stripped back device could land alongside the iPhone 6 in September, with the handset tipped to feature the same 4-inch screen as the current iPhone 5.

Although hosting the same display panel, it is expected that any cheap iPhone will feature a lower grade camera and slower dual-core processor than its high-end sibling.

Despite being all but guaranteed to be a hit with consumers, recent reports have claimed that a budget iPhone will be in short supply at launch with less than 3 million handset set to be produced in time for release.

Speaking earlier in the year, Apple Senior VP Phil Schiller played down the importance of a cheap iPhone stating: “Despite the popularity of cheap smartphones, this will never be the future of Apple’s products. Every product Apple creates, we consider using only the best technology available.”

Can’t decide whether to hold out for a cheap iPhone or make the most of what’s currently available? Take a look at our iPhone 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S4 head-to-head to see which lead phone we would recommend.

Via: AppleInsider

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Sony returns to profit for first time in five years

Sony has posted its first full-year net profit for the past five years, bolstered by the Japanese company’s asset sales and weakened yen.

Net profit for the year 2012 ending March 31 was 43 billion yen (£280 million) marking the first return to profit in five continuous years. The 457 billion yen (£2.97 billion) loss for the previous year was the worst in Sony’s 66-year existence.

Due to restructuring efforts, the Japanese electronics company predicts its earnings to rise by a further 16 per cent by the end of the 2013 fiscal year.

The company has already axed 10,000 jobs, reduced its television manufacturing business and sold key assets including its New York-based US headquarters valued at $1 billion (£643 million).

Sony had suffered from huge financial losses in recent years, despite once being a market leader in several product categories. Faced by increasing competition from rival television manufacturers, Sony’s television arm has been losing money for nearly a decade.

This year, Sony has reduced television losses significantly and believes it will achieve profitability in this financial year. Losses in the consumer electronics division for 2012 were 84 billion yen (£547 million), reduced by 60 per cent from previous year figures.

Game operating income for Sony decreased from 27.6 billion yen (£179 million) to 1.7 billion year-on-year (£11.1 million), affected largely by a decrease in sales of PSP hardware and software. The PS Vita’s recent Japanese price reduction and a slow in sales were also contributing factors.

According to Sony’s results, despite an increase in PlayStation 3 hardware and software sales, its gaming sales were “essentially flat. Combined sales of PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 for the fiscal year ending March 31 2013 amounted to 16.5 million units, but PSP and PS Vita sales only totalled 7 million altogether.

Although no public sales forecasts have been announced for the PS4, Sony believes its next-generation console will boost its gaming sales significantly before the end of the next fiscal year ending March 31 2014.

If you’re wondering what all the fuss is surrounding 4K TVs, we’ve come up with 10 reasons why you should care about 4K.

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Samsung Series 5 NP540U3C Laptop Review

What is the Samsung Series 5 NP540U3C?

It's a 13.3-inch touchcreen ultrabook that, at 1.69kg, is light enough to carry around comfortably and handles day-to-day tasks with ease. It’s also known as the Samsung Series 5 Ultra Touch and Samsung NP540U3C-A02UK. It has an Intel Core i3 processor, 6GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.

Should I buy the Samsung Series 5 NP540U3C?

The Samsung Series 5 NP5540U3C is a nice laptop, but not an exceptional one. It looks and feels the part, and the keyboard is outstanding. Its weakness is the screen. Viewing angles are poor and it’s very reflective. It’s difficult to make the case for a touchscreen laptop, too. It feels superfluous – we’d happily buy the same laptop without a touchscreen for £50 to £100 less. If a touchscreen laptop is exactly what you want, however, it’s among the best around.

For other options, see our best laptops round-up.

Samsung Series 5 NP540U3C – Design & Build Quality

You won’t be ashamed to be seen with the Series 5 Ultra Touch. Its dark grey, brushed metal exterior looks more expensive than the £650 asking price, while the slim tapered body has curves in all the right places. Build quality isn’t quite as good – the screen wobbles a tad too much when prodded – but for the money it’s a nicely put together laptop. At 1.69kg it's not the lightest laptop in its class, but it's light enough to carry around day-to-day without putting your back out.

Samsung Series 5 NP540U3C – Performance

PC Mark 7: 3,262

TrachMania Nations: 45.9fps at medium settings

Stalker: Call of Pripyat: 24.3fps at medium settings

The Samsung Series 5 NP540U3C doesn’t pull up any trees, but unless you throw taxing video encoding jobs at it, it copes just fine. It has a 1.8GHz Intel Core i3 processor – the low-voltage kind reserved for slim, portable laptops such as this – and a very generous 6GB of RAM, which is more enough to keep plenty of apps and browser tabs running at the same time.

There is no dedicated graphics card, just Intel’s competent but limited integrated kind. But Samsung combines a 500GB standard hard drive with a 24GB SSD – dubbed ExpressCache – to improve boot speeds without sacrificing actual storage space. It works a treat. The Samsung Series 5 NP540U3C starts from cold in between 10 and 15 seconds and from sleep in four or less.

In our PC Mark benchmark it scored a solid, but unspectacular, 3,262. That makes it 25 per cent slower than the recently tested Toshiba Satellite U940 – another 13.3-inch Ultrabook, albeit a cheaper one without a touchscreen. The difference, in this case, is the Toshiba has a faster Core i5 processor. In real world use it’s not a serious issue, but better performance for less is tempting.

Intel’s integrated HD 4000 graphics chip doesn’t totally preclude 3D gaming, but it will limit you severely. In our low intensity test (the fun and free TrackMania Nations racing game) the Samsung Series 5 NP540U3C managed 45.9 frames per second (fps) at medium settings. We recommend a minimum of 30fps, so it does fine here and it’s fast enough for higher settings, too. Our more taxing Stalker: Call of Pripyat benchmark, also run at medium settings, averaged 24.3fps. That sounds playable, but bear in mind it’s an average that includes dips into the low teens, which we’d deem unplayable.

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Vodafone UK iPhone 6 listing appears

A listing for the iPhone 6 has appeared on the Vodafone UK till system, suggesting Apple may skip the iPhone 5S altogether.

The 4G iPhone 6 listing was spotted at a Vodafone UK store within the till’s store inventory list, meaning the store is prepared to receive stock of Apple’s next smartphone.

Such a listing could mean Apple is working on a significant hardware and software jump from the current iPhone 5 for its next smartphone that is worthy of the iPhone 6 name.

Perhaps preparing to sidestep the usual “S” handset update release cycle, Apple could launch the iPhone 6 at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) next month on June 10 – 14.

So far, we know very little about the changes that Apple may make in the next iPhone, as previous rumours suggests the iPhone 5S would be the next handset and offer only incremental changes on the iPhone 5.



iOS 7 Rumours

Sir Jonny Ive is said to be completely overhauling the current iOS 6 mobile operating system, including introducing dramatic changes to iOS features like the email and calendar.

Moving away from realistic images like the bookshelf effect in the Newsstand, iOS 7 could be the first time Apple’s mobile software programs like the calendar have been revamped since the original iPhone was launched in 2007.

Strongly thought to make an appearance at WWDC, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phillip Schiller said “we can’t wait to get the new version of iOS and OS X into [developers’] hands at WWDC.”

If the Vodafone UK listing is accurate, Apple could use surprise us all by using the iPhone 6 to demo iOS 7 in all its redesigned glory.

WWDC could also see the iPad mini with Retina Display or cheaper iPhone handset make an appearance too, if recent rumours are to be believed.

Ahead of the potential iPhone 6 launch, check out what iOS 7 features Apple needs to catch Android.

Via: Stuff

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