iPhone 5S release date rumoured as September 6

The eagerly awaited iPhone 5S release date will be held on September 6, with Apple set to launch a budget iPhone on the same day, latest reports have suggested.

Citing an unnamed “very credible and serious source,” German Apple blog iFun has claimed the September 6 iPhone 5S release date, suggesting the date, which is now less than six weeks away, will see Apple introduce “two new types of devices.”

Pointing to the potential of a joint iPhone 5S and budget iPhone Lite release, the latest reports have stressed that the two device types mentioned does not simply reference two colour variations of the same handset, or different storage capacities of the same device, but a pair of individual handsets.

Apple has yet to confirm a date for its widely expected autumn product launch and as such these slightly tenuous claims should be taken with a considerable pinch of salt.

Far from the first time Apple has been predicted to be plotting an early September arrival for its new products, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities earlier this week predicted that a budget iPhone and iPad 5 will land in the near future. He did, however, predict the iPhone 5S would not launch until later in the year due to manufacturing issues.

“We believe iPhone 5S will experience production difficulties among numerous components as well as assembly, as seen with iPhone 5 last year,” he said in a note to investors. “The model will thus be available only in limited amounts following launch. We expect undersupply to improve in October or November.”

Recent iPhone 5S rumours have claimed that the eagerly awaited device will be largely similar to the current iPhone 5, sporting the same, brushed aluminium design with just a few, incremental spec bumps.

Bringing Apple closer in line with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One, it has been suggested the iPhone 5S will sport a faster, quad-core CPU alongside improved camera optics and the new iOS 7 operating system.

Read More: iPhone 6 rumours

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Xbox One release date will be held before PS4 arrival retailer suggests

The Xbox One release date has been pegged as November 29 and will precede the PS4 release date by two weeks, a leading retailer has suggested.

While Sony and Microsoft have to date remained relatively tight-lipped on the launch dates of their respective consoles, retail giant Toys R Us has claimed that the Xbox One will land before the PS4. Listing the Xbox One release date as November 29, the retailer has pegged the PS4 release date as December 13, less than two weeks before Christmas.

Although far from official, the claimed dates suggest not only how close to each other the two consoles will launch, but indeed that the more expensive Xbox One will get the jump on its high-profile rival. At present Microsoft has said the Xbox One will land in ‘November’ while Sony has tipped the PS4 arrival as during the ‘2013 holiday season’.

The November 29 Xbox One release date fits with claims that the console will hit the US in line with Black Friday, one of the State’s biggest annual shopping dates.

Where a number of retailers have listed their Xbox One pre-orders alongside a speculative placeholder date, Toys R Us sounds relatively confident in its Xbox One release date prediction. On its Xbox One page it simple says the console will “be released 29 November 2013.” PS4 pre-orders are also available.

With both consoles having been confirmed earlier this year prior to further details being announced at E3 2013 in Los Angeles last month, it is expected that the two manufacturers will again make major announcements in the coming weeks.

It has been suggested that the finalised PS4 release date will be confirmed during Sony’s Gamescom press conference. Microsoft is also tipped to further narrow down the Xbox One release date during the mid-August German held show.

Read More: Xbox One vs PS4

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Steve Ballmer: We made ‘a few more Surface RT tablets than we could sell’

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has admitted the company overestimated the number of Microsoft Surface RT tablets it could sell after it emerged the company had to right off $900 million of stock.


With just 260,000 Surface RT tablets sold globally to date, Microsoft revealed last week that it was sat on more than $900 million (£591m) worth of unsold stock. Responding to these somewhat troubling figures, Ballmer said the company might have been slightly overzealous in its estimations.

"We built a few more devices than we could sell," Ballmer said during an internal town hall meeting earlier this week. He went on to admit that the near $1 billion loss was a huge blow for the company with its Windows devices facing struggling sales across the board.

"We're not selling as many Windows devices as we want to," Ballmer reportedly stated. While the company’s Surface tablet line has been plagued by weak sales, the Windows Phone platform has failed to push Android and iOS on the smartphone scene.

Earlier this month Microsoft teased the potential launch of a second-generation Surface tablet in the near future. Teased during the company’s Worldwide Partner Conference at the start of July, Microsoft’s COO Kevin Turner revealed a slide which was a roadmap of sorts for the company’s upcoming products.

As well as featuring an array of Bing and Skype updates, the slide showed four new Surface tablet iterations.

Further second-generation Microsoft Surface rumours have hinted that the refreshed models will support 4G connectivity options for the first time alongside a Snapdragon 800 CPU.

Read More: Microsoft Surface Pro review

Via: TechRadar

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 rumours point to multiple screen sizes

With Samsung Galaxy Note 3 rumours hotting up, latest reports have suggested multiple version of the stylus bragging smartphone could land, each with a different screen size.

According to latest reports, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will land in triplicate, with the trio of handset offerings sporting a selection of displays, varying from 5.5-inches to 6-inches in size. Of course this is yet to be confirmed by the South Korean manufacturer and as such should be taken with a considerable pinch of salt.

The latest round of Samsung Galaxy Note 3 rumours, which are based on model numbers surfaced by an Indian imports and exports tracker have suggested that the Galaxy Note 2 model will follow a similar path to the Samsung Galaxy Mega and land in a number of guises.

According to the claimed leaks, a 5.5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and 6-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will bookend a 5.7-inch version of the phone. It is not currently known if this selection of screen sizes will be used to target different markets or simply provide options for customers’ individual preferences.

Spotted by the SM-N900 product code which is believed to have been attributed to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the collection of differing handset sizes have been tagged with a “for R&D purposes” marker, suggesting Samsung could be considering all three phones before choosing which to take to market. The current Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has a 5.5-inch screen.

With a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 release date expected to be confirmed during press day of IFA 2013 on September 4, recent Samsung Galaxy Note 3 rumours have pointed to the Samsung Galaxy S4 sibling sporting a 5.7-inch form factor.

Earlier this month news outlets in Samsung’s native Korea suggested the 5.7-inch design was on the cards, with the phone also set to play host to 3GB of RAM, a 1.9GHz quad-core CPU and the same 13-megapixel rear-mounted snapper as the S4.

Stay tuned to TrustedReviews for all the latest on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. We will be on the floor in Berlin for IFA and the phone’s expected arrival.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Samsung Galaxy S4

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PS4 Pre-orders: Where you can buy it

PS4 pre-orders are now in full swing and with many retailers vying for your cash, you don't even need to fork out the full £349 RRP to secure your own Xbox One rival.

Excitement continues to grow around securing your futuristic gamer ahead of the ‘2013 holiday season’ PS4 release date that is currently being bandied around, with a number of retailers and industry analysts predicting stock shortages at launch. As such, we have pulled together a selection of PS4 pre-order options to ensure you get the best deal.

Making sure you are kept abreast of all the latest offers and PS4 prices, we will continue to update this article as new PS4 pre-order deals are made available and competition for your hard earned cash heightens as the console’s arrival nears.

Where can you buy the PS4? Read on to find out.

Toys R Us

Letting you pinch the pennies, Toys R Us is offering PS4 pre-orders at a discounted price. Although requiring you to plump the full fee up front, the console is £10 cheaper at the toy store giant than its RRP. As such, Sony’s next-gen console will set wannabe owners back just £339.99. Nice.

What’s more, a recently discovered loophole in a Toys R Us coupon deal can see you pick up the PS4 even cheaper. You will have to act fast though.

An offer which expires on July 31, buying a £1 Xia Xia shell through the retailer rewards you with a 10 per cent off voucher for your next purchase. This, if you wish can be used again the already reduced PS4 price. Doing so sees the PS4 pre-order price dropped to a mere £311. You’re welcome.

PS4 Pre-orders: Toys R Us

Amazon

Having previously scared us senseless by placing its PS4 price a penny shy of £600, online retailer giant Amazon is now offering PS4 pre-orders at the console’s E3 confirmed £349 price point.

Although currently offering the console at its RRP, Amazon has promised those looking to secure the console ahead of launch, that it if lowers the price at any point, it will refund the difference.

“Order now and if the Amazon.co.uk price decreases between the time you place your order and the release date, you'll be charged the lowest price,” the company’s price guarantee statement reads.

Unlike some, however, pre-ordering the PS4 from Amazon will see you forced to fork out the full £349 up front, with no nominal reservation fees able to be paid off at a later date ahead of launch.

If looking to buy the PS4 as a present, perhaps a Christmas gift, Amazon offers gift wrapping on its PS4 pre-orders, a potentially handy addition.

PS4 Pre-orders: Amazon

Game

Offering multiple PS4 pre-order options, high street retailer game will let you secure a standalone PS4 console, or the next-gen device bundled with a couple of games.

Although stating the PS4 price at the £349 RRP, Game only requires a £20 deposit for you to reserve your console ahead of launch. With the precise PS4 release date still up in the air, Game has listed the Xbox One rival alongside a “X-mas 2013” launch window.

Again only requiring a £20 deposit with the full balance to be paid ahead of launch, Game’s PS4 games bundle will see the PS3 follow-on hit your doorstep with a copy of Killzone Shadow Fall and Drive Club in tow. A finalised price for this game bundle has yet to be announced.

PS4 Pre-orders: Game

Zavvi

Undercutting its rivals, Zavvi is offering a marginally reduced PS4 price for those pre-ordering the console. And when we say marginal, we really do mean it.

Shaving a full five pence of the console’s price, Zavvi based PS4 pre-orders will see gamers pay ‘just’ £348.95. What’s more, unlike some retailers demanding full, upfront payment, the former high street presence has stated: “Payment will not be taken until dispatch.”

Again offing a price promise that could come in useful as competition between sellers increases and fees potentially tumble, Zavvi has revealed: “Order this product with us today and if we reduce the price between taking your order and the release date, we will charge you the lower price!”

PS4 Pre-orders: Zavvi

Asda

Suggesting that PS4 stock could be limited at launch and that pre-ordering might be the way to go, supermarket chain Asda is allowing customers to pre-order just one of Sony’s devices each.

Letting you secure the gaming and entertainment hub for just £20, the retailer will not pressure you into paying the full price until the console is ready to be shipped.

Offering a variety of pre-order opportunities, Asda has confirmed that eager gamers will be able to secure their PS4 either online or in store.

PS4 Pre-orders: Asda

ShopTo

Currently topping the company’s pre-orders list, ShopTo is another retailer to offer the PS4 with a microscopic discount. This time slashing just two pence for the console’s cost, PS4 pre-orders through this online retailer will set you back £348.98.

Allowing you to change your mind at any time between ordering the next-gen Sony console and the device being shipped to your door, the company has stated: “You will not be charged until the item is dispatched. You may cancel the pre-order any time before dispatch.”

PS4 Pre-orders: ShopTo

Tesco

Another retailer letting you secure your PS4 pre-order with just a £20 deposit is Tesco. With this upfront fee to be deduced from the console’s full price closer to launch, Tesco, like Asda is limited pre-orders to just one per customer.

Suggesting it is expecting demand for the PS4 to outstrip supply, the supermarket behemoth has stated: “We allow 1 pre-order per customer and reserve the right to cancel any duplicate orders.”

The retailer added: “We are expecting demand of the Sony PlayStation 4 Console to be very high and stock availability limited so pre-orders will be prioritised in the order in which they were placed.”

The shorthand of these warnings seems to be this, if you want a PS4 for when the console lands later this year, you better act fast.

PS4 pre-orders: Tesco

Sainsburys

Requiring you to drop all £349 of the PS4 price now to secure your next-gen console, Sainsburys, unlike its supermarket rivals, is not allowing for cheaper deposits to be made on the next-gen console.

On the plus side, those of you with Nectar cards might be keen to take Sainsburys up on its offer of 1,000 bonus points for all PS4 pre-orders. This is on top of the 698 points provided by the console’s full price.

PS4 pre-orders: Sainsburys

More to Follow: We will continue to update this post with all the latest PS4 pre-order deals as they emerge.

Read More: Xbox One pre-orders

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F1 2013 release date confirmed for October 4

The official F1 2013 release date has been confirmed, with developer Codemasters revealing the Formula 1 themed game will hit retailers on October 4.

Making the announcement in the build-up to this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Codemasters has confirmed the latest instalment to the popular F1 franchise will see the game touch down for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC platforms on October 4, days ahead of the Korean GP.

With no Xbox One or PS4 F1 2013 release date planned, earlier this month Steve Hood, Creative Director on the F1 series confirmed the game would not be heading to Nintendo’s Wii U, or the portable PS Vita.

On a potential Wii U release he stated: It’d have to be a very different game just to run.” On Sony’s portable console he added: “It just doesn’t make financial sense.”

F1 2013 was officially confirmed by Codemasters just last week, with the game set to feature a raft of new features and gaming options, including a new F1 Classics Mode which will see gamers take control of iconic racing drivers in classic F1 cars.

Discussing the new gaming mode which will include the likes of Nigel Mansell, David Coulthard and Alain Prost, Hood stated: "It feels like a really different proposition when you’re sitting at the back of the grid in a Classic race.

“The drivers that you’re passing aren’t just drivers one, two, three, four, you know? You’ve got Gerhard Berger in front of you. Mario Andretti is in a Lotus coming alongside. It’s awesome to see stuff like that."

With F1 2013 set to launch in two forms, a standard release and an F1 2013 Classics Edition with bonus content, the game will introduce mid-session saves for the first time.

Celebrating the newly confirmed F1 2013 release date, Codemasters has released a new F1 2013 video, showing off an in-game hot lap of the Hugaroring race track, venue for this weekend’s Hungarian GP.

Read More: Best Games 2013

Read More: Lewis Hamilton: Technology in Formula 1 can distract from racing

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New MacBook Pro line tipped for October reveal with Haswell innards

Apple is set to launch a new MacBook Pro range in October, with the remodelled laptop line to run Haswell chips, latest reports have suggested.

With the iPhone 5S and iPad mini 2 both expected to be officially unveiled around September, it has been claimed Apple could have a bumped autumn product line-up, with unnamed ‘supply chain sources’ being citied in suggesting new MacBook Pro models will be announced in October.

The reports, which have originated out of the China Times, have hinted that an October revision of the MacBook Pro range could see Apple include Haswell chipsets, a move which should help improve battery life on the leading laptop line. A similar move on the MacBook Air range saw the slimline computers almost double their staying power.

As well as giving a welcome battery boost, the move to Haswell internals would also give the new MacBook Pros improved graphics and support for 4K displays. This could prove an important factor if the much mooted Apple TV sets come to fruition.

Reports earlier in the year suggested Apple iTV could feature a 4G display made by LG. At the time supply sources stated the rumoured television set is “likely to support Ultra HD along with voice and motion control functions and internet connectivity.”

They added: “Apple is banking on LG display to be able to mass produce Ultra HD TV panels by the second half of the year. If LG is successful and has ample supply of the technology, Apple may try to release the TV by the end of 2013.”

Apple has yet to announce any plans for a refresh to its MacBook Pro product line. However, an October unveiled would fit with the company’s product cycle which saw the Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display launched last October.

Read More: iPhone 6 rumours

Via: 9to5Mac

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Gran Turismo movie in production Sony confirms

A Gran Turismo movie is official and already in production, Sony has confirmed ahead of this autumn’s eagerly awaited Gran Turismo 6 release date.

Following rumours of a Gran Turismo movie earlier this week, gaming blog Joystiq has reported that an unnamed Sony spokesperson has confirmed the mooted film is “being made.” The company has as yet failed to offer any further statement or official confirmation on the matter.

While Dreamworks is known to be working on a movie adaptation of EA’s popular Need for Speed gaming franchise, it has been suggested that the Gran Turismo movie is being pieced together by the production partnership of Michael de Luca and Dana Brunetti. The pair have previously teamed up on The Social Network and the upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey flick.

One of Sony’s most loved gaming franchises, the Gran Turismo collection is set to be further expanded later this year with the arrival of Gran Turismo 6. Despite the game to be followed just weeks later by the official PS4 release date, GT6 will line up exclusive to the existing PS3 console.

Officially announcing the upcoming Gran Turismo 6 release back in May, series mastermind Kazunori Yamauchi stated: “We are developing Grand Turismo 6 for the holiday season this year on the PlayStation 3. The game engine will be renewed for GT6, we’ll be cleaning it up, making it smoother for the future.”

He added: “The rendering engine will be completely renewed for GT6, there will be a revamped Physics Engine, new suspension, tyre and aerodynamics modelling. It is amazing to think that it is 15 years since we first released Gran Turismo. Things have changed a lot since then and now Gran Turismo 6 is a further evolution of my dream.”

With GT6 set to feature a staggering 1,200 cars at launch, a playable Gran Turismo 6 demo is already available for download via the PlayStation store.

TrustedReviews has contacted Sony for comment on the Gran Turismo movie and will update you on any response we receive.

Read More: Best PS4 Games

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Dyson DC49 Vacuum Cleaners Review

What is the Dyson DC49?

The Dyson DC49 is the company’s latest compact cylinder vacuum cleaner and the first to be powered by the digital motor found within Dyson hand dryers. Originally designed with the 'small scale, big performance' needs of the Japanese market in mind, it has been adapted for UK shores as a vacuuming option for apartment or flat dwellers. Although small in size, it will prove a big hit to your wallet, costing a penny shy of £350.

Can a vacuum cleaner ever justify such a lofty price tag or is the Dyson DC49’s compact size its redeeming feature? We take a look to find out.

Dyson DC49 Design

As is often the case with the company’s premium appliances, the Dyson DC49’s design is rather easy on the eye. It is extremely compact, with soft curves and something of a high-end, futuristic air about it. It will land with metallic purple or gold colour elements. The DC49 weighs just 2.7kg, meaning that it can be easily navigated throughout your home. Carrying the vac between floors will not trouble those with a bad back or particularly weak wrists. The whole unit is 30 per cent smaller than last year’s Dyson DC47.

The Dyson DC49 has something of a design based party piece too - its entire footprint is small enough to fit on a single sheet of A4 paper. This is more useful than its sounds. A small footprint makes the vacuum easy to store. It can be bundled into most cupboards, closets or large drawers.

Although the body is simple to store, its hose proves a little more troublesome. Considerably larger than the body and far more unwieldy, much folding and pushing is required to keep it hidden.

The Ball technology at the heart of the Dyson DC49 is the focal point of the vacuum’s performance and design. Although this central steering system puts much of the device’s weight towards its rear end, this unbalance does not affect its manoeuvrability. Compared with a standard, wheel-based cylinder vac, the Dyson DC49 is streaks ahead. Sadly, the premium Dyson DC49 design does not stay pristine for long. Its plastic turbine head and body show a few nicks and scratches after just a handful of uses throughout the home - not great when you consider the price.

Dyson DC49 Features

The Dyson DC49 comes with all manner of attachments letting you tackle every corner, step and crevice of your home. The turbine head - which features carbon fibre bristles to reduce friction of hardwood floors and improve pickup - is the default vacuuming head, but the also DC49 features separate combination tool, stair tool and stubborn dirt brush heads as well as a new flexi crevice tool. A can of Dyson’s own Dyzolv spot cleaner is also included in the box.

Although some of these accessories are more useful than others, the overall result is that the Dyson DC49 is adept at cleaning all areas of your house, car or anywhere else you might want to give a quick vacuum. The turbine head, which will be used for most of your floor-based cleaning needs, has been improved over past models too.

The whole unit has been reduced in size, and an extra-wide brush improves pick-up at the edges of rooms. A change in size without losing suction ability is a welcome improvement. A separate ball-based steering mechanism on the end of this tool further aids easy cleaning.

The Dyson DC49 is limited by its small dust capacity. With just a 0.5 litre bin clipping into the compact body, frequent emptying will be required. Although this vacuum is aimed at those will small flats, this restrictive size could still prove an issue for some. A five metre power cable is amble for most smaller homes letting you clean comfortably from one side of a room to the other without the need to flit between power sockets.

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Panasonic Lumix GX7 mirrorless camera leaks

Details and images of the Panasonic Lumix GX7 mirrorless camera have leaked onto the internet, revealing a number of exciting new features and a retro-inflected design overhaul.

The Lumic GX7 is the much anticipated follow-up to last year's highly rated Panasonic Lumix GX1. Now, images on Fotomagazine and specs on 4/3 Rumours suggest that we're in for a worthy update.

As you can see from the main picture below, the Lumix GX7 takes a slightly different approach to design when compared to the GX1. Out goes the all-black plastic body and in comes a magnesium construction, with the notable option of a retro-styled silver finish along the top controls section.

The image also reveals a 20mm prime lens, which would suggest that this will come as part of the package.

The Panasonic Lumix GX7 is expected to come with an 18-megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor sensor (possibly only good for 16-megapixel pictures, like the GX1) and on-sensor image stabilisation - the first ever on a Panasonic camera.

Expect shutter speeds of up to 1/8000 and shooting speed of 5fps (or 4fps with continuous autofocus).

Another interesting feature is its new extendable and tiltable viewfinder. Also tiltable is its 3-inch LCD screen. Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity will also be included in the package.

Apparently the Panasonic Lumix GX7 will ship in September at a price of €1,000 (about £863) for the body only, which is quite a leap over the €600 Panasonic Lumix GX1.



Now, read our round-up of the best cameras of 2013.

Via: The Verge

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Compact Dyson DC49 vacuum launched with hand dryer motor

Dyson has launched its latest compact vacuum cleaner, with the Dyson DC49 formally unveiled with the same digital motor as the company’s hand dryers.

With a footprint that can fit on a single sheet of A4 paper, the Dyson DC49 is the company’s smallest vacuum cleaner to date which benefits from its central Ball technology for improved manoeuvrability in tight spaces. Far from your casual purchase, a Dyson DC49 price has been set a penny shy of £350, expensive by anyone’s budget.

“Investing in our core technologies means we can develop leaner, more efficient machines,” Dyson founder and inventor James Dyson said of the new DC49. “Using the new high-speed Dyson digital motor, we have developed a machine that is smaller and quieter, yet even more powerful.”



Dyson DC49 Features

Designed for city based flat and apartment dwellers, the Dyson DC49 is a compact vacuum option which weighs a comfortable 2.7kg. Although benefitting from improved storage possibilities, this compact design restricts the device’s dust capacity, with just 0.5 litres of pickup able to be held within its trigger-released bin. The whole vacuum is 30 per cent smaller than last year's Dyson DC47.

Partnered with turbinehead and motorhead floortools, both of which feature carbon fibre bristles for improved, static-free cleaning, the Dyson DC49 makes use of the digital motor found within the Dyson hand dryers to offer improved suction at lower volumes. Utilising cyclone technology to further minimise noise disruption while improving dirt filtering, it

With the Ball at the heart of the cleaner providing a tight turning circle and protection against for the machine’s inner workings, a 5 metre power cable further aids manoeuvrability.

Dyson DC49 Release Date and Price

With £349.99 price tag, the Dyson DC49 release date has been set as today, July 26, with the latest vacuum cleaner offering available online and through a selection of high street retailers.

Read More: Dyson Hot Cool review

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Sky launches £10 NOW TV Box

Sky has released the NOW TV Box, a new entry-level set top box that will provide access to its movies and sports broadcasts without a subscription.

The tiny square Roku-like device plugs into any modern television set and essentially turns it into a smart TV, hooking it up to the internet and providing a sharp UI.

It costs just £9.99, which provides you with access to a range of online channels. These include BBC iPlayer, Demand Five, Sky News, and NOW TV itself.

Of course, the NOW TV service requires additional investment to use. You can get a day pass to Sky Sports for £9.99, while Sky Sports will be free for the first 30 days, £8.99 a month for the next three months, and £15 per months thereafter.

You also get free access to a number of apps, including BBC News, Spotify, Facebook, and Flickr.

You might notice one major omission from that list - there's no Netflix. That's perhaps understandable given that the movie and TV streaming subscription service provides a direct threat to Sky, but it could be a deal breaker for some users.

NOW TV has already been made available through PS3, Xbox 360, iPhone, iPad and some Android devices. Yesterday we reported on the fact that it had been made available through LG Smart TVs too.

But this affordable plug-in device makes the NOW TV service - not to mention internet access - available to tens of millions of unconnected TV sets.

Sky's NOW TV Box is available now through the NOW TV website.

Next, read our best TVs of 2013 round-up.

Via: Telegraph

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Samsung-made Google Nexus 10 update coming in 'near future,' says Android chief

A new version of the Google Nexus 10 tablet is on deck for a launch in the 'near future,' Android head Sundar Pichai is reported as saying.

According to Wall Street Journal journalist Amir Efrati, who spoke to Pichai during yesterday's Android 4.3 event, the update to the Samsung-made device isn't too far away from joining the new Nexus 7, which was also unveiled on Wednesday.

Efrati tweeted: "Expect to see new 10-inch Nexus 10 Android tablet (made by @Samsung) in the near future, Google's @sundarpichai tells me."

The first iteration of the Samsung-made device was launched alongside the original Nexus 7 (made by ASUS) in July last year.

The larger device didn't quite hit the heights of its multi-award-winning, inexpensive sibling and online chatter about an update has been in short supply in recent months.

As well as the 10-inch, 2560 x 1600 display, the original Nexus 10 arrived packing Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and a powerful Samsung Exynos dual-core 1.7GHz processor.

Any update would likely see a quad-core processor included alongside Android 4.3 out of the box, which is already available for owners of the current device to download.

Would you rather own a new Nexus 10 with the raw Android experience or benefit from the software innovations Samsung has unearthed on its Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab devices?

Let us know in the comments section below.

Via Pocket-Lint

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Sony confirms Android 4.3 update availability for selected Xperia range handsets

Sony Xperia Z and Xperia Tablet Z

Sony has confirmed which of its Xperia devices will be getting the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update in the near future.

The recently unveiled Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is coming to selected Sony Xperia devices soon, according to the Japanese manufacturer.

Although Sony fails to give any specific Android 4.3 upgrade date within the official blog post, it can confirm the new Google mobile OS will be released for the Xperia Z , Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR and Xperia SP.

The newly announced Sony Xperia Z Ultra phablet will also be getting Android 4.3, as will the Xperia Tablet Z.

All of the above handsets will get the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update in the near future, gaining features like the new Restricted Profiles, OpenGL ES 3.0 graphics technology and Bluetooth LE support.

The Sony Xperia devices will join the Google Nexus 7, Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 which can already download the latest version of the Android OS.

Sony also confirms that the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean software rollouts are well underway for the Xperia Z and Xperia ZL already, with the Xperia XR and Xperia Tablet Z to expect the 4.2 update in early August.

This may well mean Sony Xperia owners could be in for a bit of a wait for Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, if some of the devices haven’t received Android 4.2 yet.

However, the Japanese electronics manufacturer does suggest it is looking at “uplifting some of our other devices running 4.1 direct to 4.3”, but isn’t able to give any more information on the matter.

It does suggest that Xperia device owners follow its @SonyMobileNews account on Twitter to get all the latest information on any Jelly Bean updates arriving on its smartphone and tablet range.

Next, read our Sony Xperia Z Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Note 2 comparison.

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Battlefield 4 Battlelog trailer revealed

Battlelog for Battlefield 4

DICE has released an official Battlefield 4 Battlelog trailer, explaining all the new features for the companion app for its upcoming FPS.

Enhancing Battlelog especially for Battlefield 4, DICE has said it wants to make the smartphone, tablet and laptop app “integral” to the BF4 experience.

“Battlelog for BF4, what we’ve done is really try to expand the service to be super integral for the game experience itself,” said Jesper Nielsen, Assistant Producer for Battlelog. “More than something just the PC gamers can enjoy.”

“People have their smartphones, they have their tablets, they have their computers next to them while they’re playing,” said Oskar Gabrielson, Producer for Battlelog. “We want to create a Battlefield where it can incorporate all these devices in the experience.”

When not playing Battlefield 4, gamers can view the BF4 stats from the previous day and create a loadout and chose a server for their games later all on a mobile device. All of these choices will then be reflected in the multiplayer game later.

Users can also utilise Battlelog in-game, using a tablet as a second screen for multiplayer combat. On the tablet will be a mini-map to show what the other squad members are doing and can also be used to set attack points, which are reflected in-game in real time.

Battlefield 4 gamers can also change their weapon loadout or the game server using their laptop, smartphone or tablet, without having to quit the game. They can also see if any of their friends are playing Battlefield 4 online and quickly swap to their server using Battlelog. All changes are instantly made on the console.

DICE is also introducing Missions to Battlefield 4 Battlelog, which are small user-created challenges for the player and their friends. Battlelog will notify the player whenever someone new takes the lead in the mission, giving them the option to try and regain the crown.

Geo-leaderboards are another new addition, which increases the level of these missions countrywide or by continent or even across the whole world.

“There’s no doubt that the new technology with next-generation platforms has allowed us to do a lot more,” added Nielsen.

“With Battlelog you’ll get a deeper, richer Battlefield 4 experience,” promised Gabrielson.

Battlefield 4 will be released on November 1 for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. It will also be available for Xbox One and PS4 at an unspecified date in the future.



Next, read our pick of the best games of 2013 so far.

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Limited Edition GTA 5 Strategy Guide release confirmed

A Limited Edition GTA 5 Strategy Guide has been confirmed, with BradyGames partnering with publisher Rockstar to release the walkthrough guide for the upcoming title.

With a GTA 5 release date set for September 17 having been delayed beyond its originally billed ‘spring 2013’ arrival, BradyGames has now confirmed that it will launch two GTA 5 Strategy Guides alongside the eagerly awaited game. Lining up alongside the standard guide, a limited edition hardback offering will be made available.

Featuring a complete walkthrough of the full GTA 5 single-player storyline, the standard edition of the strategy guide will see the complete array of mini-games and off-mission activities listed. Character bios, detailed maps and an introduction to GTA Online are also included.

Building on this, the limited edition option features a more robust hardback design brimmed with a collection of GTA 5 illustrations. On top of this, an exclusive lithograph of all the official GTA 5 artwork will be included.

With GTA 5 Strategy Guide pre-orders now open, those keen to discover all the ins and outs of the Los Santos based game can secure their copies of the guidebooks from a selection of retailers. While the standard edition will set wannabe owners back £14.99, the limited edition release has been priced at a penny short of £20.

At present a GTA 5 release date has been confirmed for Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles only. Despite being set to hit retailer just weeks ahead of the next-gen console arrivals, Rockstar has failed to confirm whether or not a GTA 5 Xbox One or PS4 launch will be made available.

Read More: Best Games 2013

Via: Ubergizmo

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Microsoft has no plans to sell Xbox One and Kinect separately

Xbox One, Kinect and Wireless Controller

Microsoft has confirmed that it will not be selling an Xbox One without the Kinect, despite rumours that it would be doing so.

The latest rumour was that Microsoft would be selling a Kinect-free Xbox One bundle in November, for a reduced cost, according to sources supposedly “familiar with the matter”.

However, Microsoft has combated those claims, protecting the importance of its motion gaming peripheral for the Xbox One experience.

“We have no plans to introduce an Xbox One without Kinect,” said a Microsoft spokesperson. “We believe in Kinect and the value it brings to both games and entertainment, and believe $499 (£429 in the UK) is a great value for what consumers receive with their Xbox One.”

Microsoft has always maintained that the Kinect will always have to be plugged into the Xbox One for its next-generation console to function.

Of course, Microsoft has already performed a huge 180 turnaround on its Xbox One DRM and online check-in policies, but is holding firm on how essential Kinect is to Xbox One.

“Its unparalleled vision, motion and voice technology let you reach into games and entertainment like never before by dramatically expanding its field of view and fidelity,” said Microsoft of the Xbox One Kinect at E3. “It works in nearly any lighting condition, recognises precise motion control from a slight wrist rotation and distinguishes your voice even in a noisy room using advanced noise isolation.”

The Xbox One Kinect has a new active IR camera that enables it to see in the dark and is capable of automatically signing a user into the Xbox One whenever they enter the room.

Users can wake the Xbox One with a simple command, “Xbox On”, and it will turn on their TV as well.

Several developers have already said they will be integrating Xbox One Kinect commands into their games. Battlefield 4 and Call of Duty: Ghosts will both feature the functionality.

Next, have a gander at the best Xbox One games.

Via: Kotaku

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Budget iPhone gets compared to iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch in new video

Budget iPhone compared...

The budget iPhone case has been compared to the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch in a new video on YouTube.

The video, posted by YouTube user DetroitBORG, showcases the plastic casing for the budget iPhone which contains all of the chassis components, and seems to be the real deal.

“This is an early look at what appears to be the casing of the lower cost Apple iPhone, presumably intended to slot between the iPhone 5 and 5S and replace the 4/4S,” writes DetroitBORG. “This phone and the 5S is expected to debut around September 2013.”

Going on to compare the budget iPhone to the 5th generation iPod Touch and the iPhone 3GS, there is definite similarities.

In comparison, it seems the budget iPhone will have a 4-inch screen and mimic the design of the iPod Touch, especially the speaker grills, lighting connector and headphone socket on the bottom of the device.

The iPod Touch and the iPhone 5 are both a touch thinner than the casing for the budget iPhone. The rumoured cheaper handset is also a little wider than the current Apple flagship.

“It handles very nicely. It’s a comfortable size. It’s a very nice quality plastic. With a pretty simple design, it’s all unibody plastic, not like the old 3G and 3GS where you had the metal frame. A little cleaner overall,” he explains.

Tipped to launch with five colour variations, the budget iPhone could be with us as soon as September, after Tim Cook promised a range of new Apple products this autumn.

“It’s a little more durable [than the previous iPhones]. If you dropped this you’re less likely to shatter the back panel or dent and scratch the metal because plastic is a little more forgiving. So this phone is a little easier to live with at least if you want to go caseless.”

Next, read our iPhone 5 tips and tricks.

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Google Glass camera inclusion ‘masks potential’ of the techy eyewear

Google’s decision to incorporate a camera within its Google Glass eyewear could hold the futuristic technology back and ‘mask its potential’, industry experts have suggested.

With the incorporation of an outward-facing camera seeing Google Glass spark continuing privacy debates, the CEO of a parent company behind a new wearable camera has suggested the snapper inclusion ‘masks the potential’ of the techy eyewear.

“Google Glass would have done much better if Google hadn’t included a camera,” Nick Bolton, Chief Executive of OMG told TrustedReviews during the launch of the company’s wearable Autographer camera. He added: “The camera masks its potential by bringing in the question of privacy.”

Discussing the smart glasses which will launch in the US later this year before making it to UK shores in 2014, Bolton claimed that the privacy concerns raised by the integrated camera have overshadowed the many highlights posed by the device. Taking much of the public attention away from Glass, he suggested the on-going privacy disputes could harm the gadget’s image.

With the Autographer camera, a wearable snapper with intelligent photo capturing capabilities, also facing similar questions of potential privacy invasion, Bolton stated: “There should always be a concern about privacy with cameras.”

Discussing Google Glass and Autographer, he added: “All the same rules still apply to these devices. In fact the burden of responsibility is greater as people don’t necessary know what the device you are wearing is.”

Google Glass has caused privacy questions to be asked from multiple fronts, with everyone from campaign groups to US Congress discussing the potential invasions.

A recent letter from eight members of the US Congress stated. “As members of the Congressional Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus, we are curious whether this new technology could infringe on the privacy of the average American.”

These concerns have been echoed by the UK-based ‘Stop The Cyborgs’ campaign group which, in fighting to impose restrictions on Google Glass stated: “We are not calling for a total ban. Rather we want people to actively set social and physical bounds around the use of technologies and not just fatalistically accept the direction technology is heading in.”

They added: “It’s important for society and democracy that people can chat and live without fear that they might end up being published or prosecuted.

“If the government installed CCTV cameras and microphones everywhere, all feeding information to a central control room you would probably characterise it as a privacy risk. Is it any better if it’s run by a corporation and the devices are attached to people’s heads?

Read More: Google Glass – The privacy problem and how to solve it

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New Nexus 7 UK release date and price leaked

New Nexus 7 coming September 13?

UK consumers can expect to get their hands on the new Nexus 7 tablet this September, with prices starting from a penny shy of £200.

According to the PC World website, the new Nexus 7 will land on UK shores on September 13, leaking the UK release date and pricing for the second-generation slate before any official word from Google.

The next-generation Google Nexus 7 will cost £199.99 for the 16GB version, while the 32GB option will cost £239.99, if the PC World pricing is accurate.

Currently pricing for the 2012 Google Nexus 7 is £159.99 for the 16GB Wi-Fi version, £199.99 for the 32GB Wi-Fi only model and £239.99 Wi-Fi and cellular option.

This makes the new Nexus 7 a little pricier than its 2012 counterpart, but seeing as it just got a Full 1080p HD display upgrade we can understand the minor price increase.

New Nexus 7 Features

Building upon the successes of the 2012 Nexus 7, Google’s new 7-inch slate introduces a Full 1920 x 1200p HD display with a 323ppi image density. This makes it have the highest resolution of any 7-inch tablet, definitely beating its iPad mini Apple rival.

The new Nexus 7 features a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with 2GB of RAM and the usual Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and 4G connectivity options.

A new addition to the Nexus 7 is the rear camera, which packs 5-megapixels to complement the 1.2-megapixel snapper up front.

New dual stereo speakers have also made the cut in the 2013 Nexus 7, further enhanced by Fraunhofer virtual surround sound technology.

Running the new Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS, the new Nexus 7 has even got a battery upgrade too, adding an extra hour of life maxing out at an iPad mini rivalling 10 hours.



Next, read our new Nexus 7 vs Nexus 7 comparison.

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Android 4.3 update now available for Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10

Owners of a Nexus 4, Nexus 7 or Nexus 10 will be able to update their devices to Android 4.3 today, gaining access to all the new features.

Google officially unveiled Android 4.3 Jelly Bean last night along with the Full HD resolution new Nexus 7, with the update arriving for Google smartphones and tablets from today.

Rather than a completely new mobile OS, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean brings incremental updates to the existing Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS.

Adding to the multi-user feature introduced in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the latest Google mobile OS has new restricted profiles available to users.

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean hides the purchasing functionality and access to the Google Store for younger users, showing only the content that has already been bought.

Bluetooth Smart support has also been added with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, also known as Bluetooth LE, which allows connections to low powered Bluetooth devices like heart rate monitors.

The new Google OS brings OpenGL ES 3.0 graphics technology with it, which uses 32bits of data per colour adding what Google calls “a new level of photorealism.”

New DRM APIs for Android 4.3 Jelly Bean allows full 1080p HD streaming, which will be showcased on the new Android 4.3 Netflix app.

Other new features include easier text input and quicker profile switching. Read our Android 4.3 features piece to find out more.

Google also unveiled its new Nexus 7 tablet at its event last night. Packing a 7-inch 1920 x 1200p Full HD resolution and a 323ppi image density, it has the highest resolution of any 7-inch tablet on the market.

The new Nexus 7 has a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, which is 80 per cent faster than the original Nexus 7 and now has 2GB of RAM.

Next, read our New Nexus 7 vs Nexus 7 comparison.

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NOW TV now exclusively available on LG Smart TVs

Now TV arrives exclusively on LG Smart TV

NOW TV by Sky is now exclusively available on LG Smart TVs, offering consumers Sky Movies and Sports without a subscription.

LG has signed an agreement to offer NOW TV from Sky on its Smart TV platform, exclusively for at least 12 months.

Anyone using an LG Smart TV from 2012 or 2013, or the latest Blu-ray players and Home Cinema Systems from LG will be able to enjoy NOW TV content.

“We’re constantly working to offer NOW TV on new platforms to meet the ever-increasing appetite for access to great content across a range of internet-connected devices,” said Gidon Katz, Director of NOW TV. “As a result, we’re delighted to be partnering today with LG to give our customers another way to enjoy great blockbuster movies and the best live sport – including exclusive action from the Barclay’s Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Ashes Test cricket, US Open tennis, the 2013 Formula 1 season – all on their main TVs.”

Customers can enjoy Sky Sports for £9.99 for a 24-hour pass to all six channels, while Sky Movies content can be accessed for £8.99 for the first three months.

Any new customers can trial the Sky Movies service on Now TV for 30 days before they make their decision to subscribe.

“The LG/NOW TV joint multi-million pound investment to develop, launch and market the service demonstrates LG’s continued commitment to bringing the best in home entertainment and is proud to be the first and only TV brand to offer consumers the benefits of the NOW TV service,” said Craig West, Head of Marketing at LG Consumer Electronics UK.

Sky Movies on Now TV offers films like Skyfall and The Dark Knight Rises and will provide four new weekly premières. These movies are Sky exclusives for at least a year.

“This marks a significant step for consumer choice, offering them contract-free Sky content, when they want it and for as long as they want it, and now available to directly stream on an LG Smart TV,” added West.

Next, read our review of the 2013 LG Smart TV platform.

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Apple reportedly set to discontinue iPhone 5 production this autumn

Apple could be planning to stop production of the iPhone 5 this autumn as it turns all of its attention to iPhone 5S and budget iPhone production.

That's the statement made by Korean news outlet ETNews, at least.

It's widely known that Apple is producing an affordable version of the iPhone from scratch, which will likely spell the end of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S as ongoing concerns. It was also presumed that Apple would keep the iPhone 5 as a mid-tier option once its upgraded successor arrived.

This would have been in keeping with the company's previous actions. Whenever a new iPhone comes along, the previous generation simply slips down the rankings, only being truly discontinued after several years on the market.

In the iPhone 5's case, the presence of the Lightning connector would mean Apple could drop its old 30-pin standard altogether in a new-look three-strong smartphone line-up.

However, this fresh report suggests that Apple will cull the iPhone 5 after only a year of production. Apparently the iPhone 5's in-cell screen technology is "not suitable for low-volume production."

In other words, the iPhone 5's fiddly screen design was fine when it was the main deal and Apple was churning out tens of millions of units, but it simply won't be cost effective to keep producing it in smaller numbers.

It's said that the iPhone 5S will employ almost identical screen tech to the iPhone 5, except for a change in the orientation of its flex cable connectors.



Next, read our iPhone 5 tips and tricks.

Via: MacRumours

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Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Power Edition Gadget Review

What is the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Power Edition?

The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Power Edition is an incremental improvement on the stock second-gen model. It introduces a menacing new all-black colour scheme and tripples the quadrocopter’s battery life, jumping from 12 minutes of flight time to 36 minutes. Controlled via smartphone or tablet, the high-end flying machine features an integrated HD camera and is compatible with both iOS and Android. It can even throw a badass barrel-roll.

With a £320 price tag, the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Power Edition is far from cheap. Can these seemingly small improvements live up to this lofty pricing? Let’s take a look.

Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Power Edition - Design

The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Power Edition has been given something of a ninja themed makeover. Gone are the vibrant colours of past models, replaced with a stealthy black finish. It comes with both a streamlined outdoor hull and a bulbous, protective indoor shell with extra foam and plastic padding.

Unlike past models, the Power Edition comes boxed with a range of additional rotor blades in a variety of colours. These black, orange, blue and red accessories not only allow for a level of customisation, but let you bring a bit of vibrancy to the black being. Although it is possible to change the blades on a whim, doing so is anger-inducingly fiddly. It’s a good job it comes with plenty of spares as the small clips used to hold the blades in position ping off never to be seen again.

The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Power Edition weighs just 380g and there's no escaping the fact that this big kid’s toy really does look the part. That said, its expanded polypropylene body (a foam, plastic blend not too dissimilar to polystyrene) doesn't really match the £300, and nor does it feel like it'll survive the inevitable crashes.

Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Power Edition - Features

Battery life is the big feature improvement on the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 over past models. This improved staying power isn’t achieved by any particular wizardry though; it simply comes boxed with two 1,500mAh Lithium-Ion power packs as opposed to one 1,000mAh one. Although the adding staying power is gratefully received, the need to stop and change power supply halfway through a session is hardly ideal. What’s more, the added battery has been built into the Power Edition’s increased price, so it's far from a great deal. Having run down the juice, recharge times are quiet lengthy too, with a couple of hours needed for each battery to return to full power.

The stability of the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Power Edition is second to none on the mass market front. A stocking-filler RC helicopter this is not. Left to hover, the Drone will hold its position with seeming ease, keeping a constant, stable space between itself and the ground. The four rotors are individually powered, with the drone’s clever electronics working to keep things as level as possible.

Controlled via an app, there are a selection of touchscreen based command options available. With joy pad style controls the standard, you can also choose to use your smartphone’s accelerometer to move the drone forward and back, or side to side. An emergency landing button is included on all control setups, and is needed more than we would have hoped.

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September iPhone 5S launch suggested by Apple earnings call

Apple yesterday held an earnings call, but a closer look at some of the details provided gives a very good indication as to when exactly the iPhone 5S will be launched.

As we reported, Apple CEO Tim Cook used this earnings call to promise a range of exciting new products in the autumn. Exciting, yes, but autumn is a pretty vague time span.

Now those clever analysts have been earning their colossal wages by digging into the details provided and coming up with a bold (but logical) prediction - the iPhone 5S will be released in September.

It goes a little something like this: Apple predicted that its fourth quarter earnings would be around $34 billion to $37 billion. These numbers would only be achievable, says BTIG analyst Walt Piecyk, if Apple launched new hardware in September (the quarter ends on September 28).

So what makes this analyst so sure that it'll be the iPhone 5S and not a new iPad? It's due to another snippet of information that Apple let on - it expects healthy margins of 36 to 37 percent for the same quarter.

Apple's phones provide higher margins than its tablets, hence the likelihood of an iPhone 5S launch rather than, say, an iPad 5 or iPad mini 2 in September.

Piecyk isn't a lone voice on this prediction either. Morgan Stanley's Katy Hubert also reckons there'll be some major hardware announcements from Apple in September following this earnings call.

Hubert pointed to the fact that "Apple provided less transparency into gross margin influences for the September quarter, seemingly to avoid pre-announcing new products." Also highlighted was that $3 billion revenue guidance range, which is apparently due to "many moving parts in the September quarter."

Something big and Apple-shaped is clearly set to happen in September.

Next, read our iPhone 5 tips and tricks.

Via: AllThingsD

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Xbox One to allow indie creators to self publish games on Xbox Live?

The Xbox One console will allow for smaller, independent game developers to publish their titles on the Xbox Live Arcade without a Microsoft-certified partner, according to reports.


Perhaps in a bid to rival the Sony PS4 console as a haven for the little guys outside of the major studios, Microsoft will soon announce a drastic overhaul its publishing policies, Game Informer sources claimed on Tuesday.

Within the current Xbox 360 ecosystem, independent developers are unable to push games onto the online portal without the backing of a publishing partner approved by the Redmond, Washington-based company.

News of the potential change comes two months after Microsoft initially confirmed that self-publishing wouldn't be an option for smaller developers, leading to criticisms from developers and gamers alike. Could we be about to see yet another Xbox 180?

Game Informer believes the announcement will open the door for game creators to set their own release dates, prices, at part of a new iTunes-like approval process. The report claims Microsoft is aiming for a turnaround time of around 14-days between submission and the game being made available on Xbox Live.

As well as the proposed relaxed publishing restrictions, today's update also claimed every Xbox One console can be transformed into a debug unit for creating content, opening the door to yet more developers.

In a statement from Xbox VP Marc Witten, Microsoft said it wants everyone to be a creator and that the full announcement will be made at the gamescom expo in Cologne, which kicks off in less than a month.

He said: "Our vision is that every person can be a creator. That every Xbox One can be used for development. That every game and experience can take advantage of all of the features of Xbox One and Xbox LIVE. This means self-publishing. This means Kinect, the cloud, achievements. This means great discoverability on Xbox LIVE. We'll have more details on the program and the timeline at gamescom in August."

Microsoft's more open stance towards the indies would go some way to making up the perceived deficiency compared to the Sony PS4.

The Japanese company spent valuable time during its E3 2013 keynote announcing exclusive independent titles for its console, which will be available to download from the PlayStation Network.



Next, read our Xbox One vs Xbox 360 comparison.

Via Ars Technica

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Google Play Games app launches at Android 4.3 Jelly Bean event

In amongst all the excitement of a new version of Android Jelly Bean, next-gen Nexus 7 tablet and the surprise launch of a TV streaming dongle called Chromecast, Google has also outed a new app for its Android gaming service.

During the 'Breakfast with Sundar Pichai' press gathering on Wednesday, the search and mobile giant unveiled the long-rumoured Google Play Games app.

A direct answer to Apple's Game Center portal, Google Play Games makes it much easier for Android users to challenge their friends to multiplayer battles.

As with the iOS-based solution, Play Games also houses yours and your friends achievements for the games they're playing and the leaderboards for those titles.

The new app is the public facing iteration of the Google Play Games Services API the company announced at Google I/O back in May, which brought cloud-based saves for gamers playing titles across multiple Android devcies.

Among the first games to be compatible with the new app are Asphalt 8 Airborne, Riptide GP2 and Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame.

The app is now available to download from the Google Play Store for devices running Android 2.2 and above. Let us know how you get on in the comments section below.

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Tablets will outsell PCs this year suggests Google

Having launched the new Google Nexus 7, Google has suggested that global tablet sales will exceed those achieved by the PC market for the first time later this year.

Suggesting that tablets will emulate the rapid growth achieved by their smaller, smartphone siblings, Google has hinted that the tablet market could be on the verge of surpassing the long-established PC market in terms of global unit sales for the first time as the industry becomes increasingly portable.

“Smartphones have exploded in growth and tablets are following the same trend,” Sundar Pichai, Google’s Senior Vice President of Chrome and Apps said at the company’s US based launch event. “We at Google are incredible excited by this trend and we are embracing it.”

He added: “By the end of 2013, consumers are going to buy more tablets every year than personal computers. This is a pretty amazing trend in computing.”

Further blowing the company’s own trumpet and brushing off the former dominance of Apple with the iPad, Pichai stated: “At the end of 2012 we were approaching 10 million Android tablet activations. The curve has changed since then and we are now at over 70 million Android tablet activations.”

He went on to add: “By our accounts 1 in 2 tablets sold worldwide in 2013 is based on Android. A year ago we launched Nexus 7. It was one of the things which really pushed Android tablets. The Nexus 7 has accounted for greater than 10 per cent of all Android tablets sold.”

Looking to further capitalise on this tablet success, Google has officially announced its second-generation Google Nexus 7, with the revised edition benefitting from a number of improvements, including Android 4.3.

Running a 7-inch Full HD display, the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS powered new Google Nexus 7 sees a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU feature alongside 2GB of RAM and the option of 16GB and 32GB storage capacities.

With a 5-megapixel rear-mounted snapper paired with a second, 1.9-megapixel camera up front, the new Google Nexus 7 adds NFC, 4G connectivity options, a slimmer, lighter body and dual stereo speakers.

Read More: New Google Nexus 7 launched running Android 4.3

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Google launches Chrome Cast, brings internet content to your TV

Google has launched Chrome Cast, a dongle that plugs into any TV via the HDMI port to allow content streaming from any device.

Running a simplified version of Chrome OS, Chrome Cast is just 2-inches long and plugs directly into the HDMI input on a TV.

Connecting to a Wi-Fi network, Google says it is “fast and easy to set up”, works “across platforms and across devices” and users will have “nothing new to learn.”

Chrome Cast pulls content from the cloud rather than just the device, which allows multiple users to interact with that content.

A new Cast button allows users to send their content to their TV without the TV having to be turned on first. The Chrome Cast can turn on the TV and switch it to the right input without the user having to touch a traditional remote control.

YouTube, for example, already recognises the Chrome Cast to stream content to the TV. The dongle also allows users to change the volume and control the TV with tablets, laptops or smartphones.

Users can create a TV Queue using Chrome Cast that allows a playlist for content streaming to the TV, all based on Google Play Music, YouTube or other music and video apps.

Multiple devices can also add to the TV Queue with any device to create a shared queue that anyone can get involved with. Even if the person streaming content to the Chrome Cast leaves the home with their device, another user can take over control of the TV and the Chrome Cast content without affecting the content on screen.

Not only is Chrome Cast compatible with YouTube, but other apps like Netflix can be streamed directly to any TV with an HDMI port. Chrome Cast plays it in Full 1080p HD and supports 5.1 surround sound as well.

Music apps are also supported with Chrome Cast, and the photo sharing functionality is launching in beta to start off with.

Chrome Cast is compatible with iOS devices as well as Chrome and Android platforms, so there’s no limitations on the device.

Chrome Cast will retail at $35 (£23), available to purchase in the US from today. Other countries will get the Chrome Cast "as soon as possible".

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