Samsung Galaxy Note 4 again tipped to run Snapdragon 805 CPU


The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is being prepped for a September 3 unveiling, with latest reports again tipping the handset to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 805 processor.


Despite the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 rumour mill having hit saturation point, new reports out of Samsung’s native Korea have again claimed the handset will run a Snapdragon 805 chipset, with a deal having reportedly been struck up with Qualcomm.


Although the exact nature of the deal is unclear, it appears Samsung has been offered a discount on the high-end chipset in order to incorporate it within its latest flagship phablet.


It is believed that a Qualcomm powered Note 4 will be available in certain markets alongside an identical device running Samsung’s own octa-core Exynos processor.


With the Samsung Galaxy S5 one of many current flagship phones running a Snapdragon 801 CPU, the Note 4 looks set to become one of the first devices to play host to Qualcomm’s 4K loving 805 chipset.


Set to be announced as part of Samsung’s IFA 2014 mobile unpacked event, the Note 4 is expected to play host to a 5.7-inch QHD display with a stunning 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution.


Further features expected to appear on the Note 4 specs sheet include a 16-megapixel rear-mounted camera, 3GB of RAM and an integrated stylus.


Read More: Samsung Galaxy S6 release date


Via: ZDNet Korea



readmore »»  

Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition coming October 10

Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition

Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition




Square Enix has confirmed Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition will arrive on October 10 for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.


Previously leaked by a prematurely published Amazon listing, Square Enix has officially announced the remastered version will arrive in October.


Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition will be launched for Xbox One, PS4 and PC with the game graphically enhanced to full 1080p HD.


You’ll get the main Sleeping Dogs game with all previously released DLC, including the additional Year of the Snake story episode and horror-themed Nightmare in North Point EP.


“It was an exciting opportunity for the original development team to be able to revisit a game we’re so passionate about,” said Dan Sochan. Senior Producer at United Front Games. “We’re giving old and new fans a lot of reasons to pick up the game, as we’ve gone beyond just increasing resolution and running at 1080p.”


“We listened to the fans: we tuned gameplay, we added to the ambience of Hong Kong, increased audio fidelity and pushed the visuals further than we could on the previous generation of consoles.”


If you haven’t played Sleeping Dogs, the game saw you play as Wei Shen, an undercover cop tasked with taking on the Triads gangs and his own personal problems.


You’ll have to play both sides of the law with both Cop and Triads, with the latter seeing you rise up the ranks of the organised crime gangs.


The game features shootouts, racing, martial art style combat and more, all set within an open world Hong Kong playground.


Read more: Best games 2014



readmore »»  

iPad Pro 12.9 release date, concepts, stylus, specs and rumours


Everything we know about the iPad Pro


What is the iPad Pro? We look at all the rumours surrounding the 12.9-inch iPad, including the potential iPad Pro release date, iPad Pro specs and a look at a few iPad Pro concepts to see what a 12.9-inch iPad might look like.


The possibility of a 12.9-inch iPad Pro has been doing the rounds for quite a few months now. As ever there’s no official word on the product, but there’s evidence that Apple has at least considered it.

The first iPad Pro 12.9 evidence dates from April 2013 and a patent filing detailing a potential iPad and MacBook hybrid. Clearly the product, pictured below, never saw the light of day and probably never will. But it shows that Apple continues to consider ways to extend the iPad range.


There have also been numerous suggestions that Apple has an innovative stylus in development. This would play well to the idea that the iPad Pro will cater to professionals, particularly creative professionals who want an iPad with more creative tools to use.


SEE ALSO: Best Tablet: Which tablet should you buy?

iPad Pro 5

This shows a proposed hybrid design from an Apple patent filing




iPad Pro 12.9 Release Date: When will it come out?


For a long time tipsters were convinced the iPad Pro 12.9 release date would be this year, but that seemed unlikely then and is even more so now.

The busy schedule for 2014, which will likely include launches for the iPhone 6 and the long-rumoured iWatch as well as updated iPads, makes launching another new product difficult. Serial Apple tipster Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities admitted as much in an investors note back in February.


Assuming the iPad Pro 12.9 is a reality, don't expect it this year.


iPad Pro 12.9 Rumours: What do we know so far?


The only consistent thing we know is that the iPad Pro will have a 12-inch screen — possibly 12.2 or 12.9. Sources from Foxconn, the company that makes many of Apple’s products, suggested a 12.9-inch screen with a 4K resolution, but the details are very thin.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5S: What to expect
iPen


More solid info comes in the shape of patent filings for a stylus dubbed the iPen. The ‘iPen’ already has over 20 patents associated with it. One filing from February suggested a battery powered pen with built-in gyroscope, accelerometer and microphone.


Such a stylus would support gestures and voice commands, and could be used as a voice recorder.


SEE ALSO: iPhone 6 release date, news, rumours, specs and price

iPad Pro 7

iPad Pro concept by Ramotion




iPad Pro 12.9 Concepts: What could the iPad Pro look like?


No rumoured Apple product is complete without some ‘concepts’ for people to gawp at and there’s no shortage of iPad Pro concepts. We’re only going to look at one iPad Pro concept, though, mainly because it provides some useful information to help us imagine what the iPad Pro could look like.

SEE ALSO: iPad Air 2 (2014) release date, news, specs and rumours

iPad Pro 3


Obviously it looks like an iPad, but the key point is the dimensions comparison. Assuming Apple retains the same basic design, it provides a decent guide to how large a 12.9-inch iPad Pro would be. In this case, around 6cm taller and just over 3cm wider than the iPad Air and about the same weight as previous iPads before the Air.


Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3, another 12-inch tablet, also provides a useful guide to how large the iPad Pro could be. It measures 292mm tall and 201mm wide, very similar numbers to the speculated figures of the concept.


iPad Pro 12.9 Specs: How fast would it be?


This really is anyone’s guess, but clearly an iPad Pro would use an Apple Ax processor just like all other iPads and iPhones. You could make an argument that it would be the logical choice to be the first quad-core iPad, but that’s all it would be at this stage: an argument.

If you accept the premise of the iPad Pro as a tablet for ‘creative professionals’, however, this would necessitate some reasonable hardware upgrades to power more advanced features. Given Apple’s pretentious to ‘desktop class’ performance from its A-series processors, the iPad Pro could be the perfect platform for a serious upgrade to its mobile processors.




iPad Pro 12.9: Will it ever happen?


We’d be lying if we knew. The likelihood is that Apple is considering or has considered a larger iPad, but that’s no guarantee it will ever come out. Apple, just like most tech companies, will often consider and abandon ideas and perhaps rediscover them again at a later. It’s the nature of developing products.

But the fact the idea of an iPad Pro continues to attract attention suggests it’s an idea some people like the sound of, which might be enough to convince Apple to make one. An iPad Pro is more likely than an Apple TV set, that much we can assure you.


Next, read our Surface Pro 3 review - the next best thing to an iPad Pro.



readmore »»  

Xbox One BBC iPlayer app to launch ‘by the end of the year’


The long overdue Xbox One BBC iPlayer app is edging nearer, as the Beeb confirms the catch-up service will hit Microsoft’s latest console ‘by the end of the year’.


Despite owners of the rival PS4 having long had access to the BBC’s brilliant on-demand catch-up service direct from their consoles, those who plumped for the Xbox One have inexplicably been left waiting.


Now, however, fielding questions from disgruntled gamers, the broadcaster has confirmed the eagerly awaited app will land in the coming months.


I am happy to announce that we’re aiming to launch new BBC iPlayer on Xbox One by the end of this year,” Marcus Parnwell, the BBC’s Executive Product Manager in charge of iPlayer said in an official blog post.


Despite narrowing down the service’s Xbox-bound timeframe, Parnwell failed to explain why Xbox owners have been left waiting so long.


As well as making the jump to the Xbox One, iPlayer could soon feature on a number of other hardware platforms, with YouView boxes set to join the mix.


“We are working with YouView, Virgin Media and BT to bring new BBC iPlayer to these platforms,” Parnwell said.


“Whilst I cannot announce dates, we are targeting this year for these platforms. Similarly, other devices on our legacy version of BBC iPlayer will be migrated to the new version this year as well.”


Read More: Xbox One vs PS4



readmore »»  

Sky to relaunch Score Centre app for new football season

The new look Sky Sports Score Centre app

Sky's most popular app is set for a sizeable refresh




The hugely popular Sky Sports Score Centre app is set for a refresh, with the broadcaster relaunching its score tracking service for the new football season.


A match day essential for many football fans, the new look Sky Sports Score Centre will pair a sleeker design with faster updates and a bevy of new features – including the ability to receive notifications for up to four teams of your choice, up from one.


“We are going to relaunch Score Centre,” David Gibbs, Sky’s Director of Digital Media said addressing TrustedReviews this morning.


He added: “Score Centre is our most popular mobile application. It hits around 5 million unique users per month and is one of the most popular apps in the UK, so it is important that we get this right.


Set to land as part of a broader refresh of the company’s sports coverage, the revised Score Centre app will join Sky Sports 5 and the new Sky Sports News HQ channels in ensuring all our sports monitoring desires are fulfilled.


Looking at how the new Score Centre app will be improved, Gibbs stated: “On Saturday afternoon we will have up to one and a half million people concurrently using this application.


“We have sat down and we have listened to what our users want. A couple of things are that they want it to be faster, they want their scores to be able to get to them quicker. They want to be able to follow more than one team, they want a better UI and they want more video.”


Having addressed all of these points with the upcoming refresh – as well as adding further features such as betting integration – he added: “We hope this will go down very well.”


Sadly, the refreshed app will not be available in time for this weekend’s start to the football season. The broadcaster has told us that the new look Score Centre “will be launching probably at the end of August.”



Read More:
Adidas miCoach Smart Ball review



readmore »»  

Moto X+1 should feature Snapdragon 801 processor


The Motorola Moto X 1 specs have been leaked in some new benchmarks, confirming a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor.


Some new Geekbench benchmarks have been leaked online, revealing the specs for the Moto X 1 ahead of its potential launch later this year.


The benchmarks reveal it will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.6GHz with 2GB of RAM.


Previously it was suggested that the Motorola Moto X successor would come with a Snapdragon 800 processor, so it’s pleasing to see the newer CPU listed.


This processor would see the Moto X 1 match up with other flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8 and Sony Xperia Z2.


It is listed as running Android 4.4.4 KitKat, but knowing Motorola, we expect it will launch with Android L or be updated as soon as possible.


Other rumoured specs for the Moto X 1 include a 5.2-inch 1080p full HD display and decent 2,900mAh battery.


Rumours suggest that the X 1 might be kitted out with an AMOLED panel to improve colour accuracy too.


It is expected to feature a 12-megapixel rear camera, paired with a 5-megapixel front-facing alternative for video calling and the like.


You should get 32GB of internal storage as standard, bolstered by microSD card support.


As for the design, it should be largely in line with the current Moto X body. However, leaked image suggest the successor will feature a pair of front-facing speakers.


Although we’re not sure when the Moto X 1 will launch, some reports suggest it could be released at the same time as the Motorola Moto 360.


The round-faced Android Wear smartwatch is expected to be made available sometime this summer, but Motorola hasn’t yet pinned down an exact release date.


Read more: Best mobile phone 2014


Via: PhoneArena



readmore »»  

Crytek “not happy” with Ryse Xbox One sales


Crytek has admitted it is not happy with the Ryse: Son of Rome Xbox One sales and is waiting to make a decision on a sequel.


In a new interview, Crytek boss Cervat Yerli has confessed the developer isn’t happy with the way Ryse has sold on the Xbox One.


The developer recently announced that the Xbox One launch title is coming to PC later this year, with support for 4K resolution gaming.


Due to the disappointing Xbox One sales, Yerli admits the company is looking to explore a different approach if and when it launches Ryse 2.


“Ryse is our IP. We do what we want to do with the future of Ryse. This is important,” said Yerli to Eurogamer.


“We are not 100 per cent happy with Xbox One sales right now. So we want to wait till the current gen and next gen catches up.”


Not only have Xbox One hardware sales been outweighed by PS4 demand, but multi-platform titles have been selling much better on PS4.


Take Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes for example. The latest sales figures outlined in a financial report, show that the Konami has sold three times as many PS4 copies as it has for Xbox One.


Konami outlined that the PS4 version of Ground Zeroes accounted for 12 per cent of PC/console game sales for the quarter, while Xbox One sales of the game contributed 4 per cent.


Because of this, Crytek is waiting to see how console sales across the board pick up in the future.


“For Ryse 2, we aren’t saying it’s cancelled. It’s our IP. It just has to wait for the right timing. And the right timing means higher installed based across next-gen.”


The revelations come after quite the bad year for Crytek, which has been forced to sell its UK studio and the Homefront IP to Koch Media.


Read more: Xbox One vs PS4



readmore »»  

Best Cameras 2014: 12 great cameras you can buy right now


Trying to find the best camera? Should it be a Panasonic or a Canon? Whether it's a simple compact or a more professional grade DLSR for travel photography or watching sport, we've picked out the best cameras and most popular cameras of every type.


Updated: 07/08/2014


Click one of the links below to jump straight to your perfect camera companion or read on to find out what you need to know about DSLRs, Compact and Bridge cameras before spending and scroll through our list of the top pic-grabbers.


Best Compacts and Bridge Cameras



Best Compact System / Micro Four Thirds Cameras


Best Digital SLRs


Compact, DSLR and Bridge cameras: What's the Difference?

If you are looking for the best cameras for casual use and you don't want to fuss about settings before hitting the shutter button, a compact camera is probably the one for you.

If a pocket-friendly design is crucial but you also want the high-end features, there's also advanced compacts to take a look at. They might be chunkier, but they will give you manual settings for things like ISO settings and aperture. Increasingly, even advanced compacts are very compact, too.


Bridging the gap between compact cameras and DSLRs are the Compact System Cameras (CSC). Expect these types of snappers to offer an excellent balance of convenience and image quality, though at the very top-end we're beginning to see CSCs that match or exceed similar DSLRs. Sony's full-frame A7-series is a good example. There are generally two types of CSC, ones with larger sensor based on DSLRs technology such as those from Sony, Fujifilm and Samsung, or Micro Four Thirds (MFT) cameras from Panasonic and Olympus.


But the big daddies of the camera world remain the DSLRs. The most popular cameras among enthusiasts and professionals, DSLRs offer the greatest detail, the least noise and the fastest focusing. They’re evidence that size does matter sometimes. Larger sensors and larger, higher-quality lens glass is what the DSLR is all about.


Last up are the Bridge Cameras. These cameras are something between a compact camera and a lens system camera. They have permanent, generally very long zoom, lenses and have similar feel to an DSLR. But Bridge Cameras have sensors that are similar size to compact cameras, so produce photos similar in quality.


So now you know the types that are out there, we've rounded up our regularly updated list of the best cameras you can buy right now.



readmore »»  

Google Nexus 8 certified in South Korea?


The Google Nexus 8 may have just been certified in South Korea, suggesting it is getting closer to launch.


There’s been quite a lot of rumours about the Google Nexus 8 of late, but so far there’s been no word on when the device will actually launch.


However, GforGames has spotted the tablet passing through the Radio Research Agency (RRA) or the South Korean version of the FCC, suggesting it is getting close to launch.


The Nexus 8 is codenamed the HTC Volantis, as the tablet is allegedly being made by HTC rather than Asus or Samsung as previous Nexus tablets have been.


The only thing that gives away the Nexus 8 in the RRA listing is the model number. A previous leak from @evleaks stated that the HTC-made Nexus 8 sports the model number 0P9210000, which is mirrored in the RRA filing.


Sadly, the listing doesn’t offer any other information on the Nexus 8, but at least it’s an indication that Google is getting ready to launch the 8-inch slate.


According to rumours, the Nexus 8 will come with an 8.9-inch display with a 2048 x 1440p QHD resolution.


It is expected to run on a 64-bit Nvidia Tegra K1 processor, matching that offered in the newly announced Nvidia Shield Tablet.


This impressive processor is tipped to be backed by 2GB of RAM and come with 16GB or 32GB of non-expandable internal storage.


Other rumours suggest the HTC made Nexus 8 could feature the stunning zero-gap aluminium design body as the HTC One M8 and could be just 7.9mm thick and weigh 418g.


We think Google will announce the Nexus 8 in line with the Android L release in the autumn, to showcase its new Material Design mobile operating system.



Read more: Google Nexus 7 vs iPad mini 2 Retina



readmore »»  

Samsung Gear Solo tipped for launch with Galaxy Note 4


The Samsung Gear Solo could arrive alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on September 3.


According to a new report, Samsung is gearing up to launch yet another smartwatch at IFA 2014 next month, as a joint launch with the Galaxy Note 4.


The Gear Solo will stand out a little from its siblings like the Samsung Gear 2 and Samsung Gear 2 Neo though. It will feature its own cellular connectivity, meaning it doesn’t have to be tethered to your smartphone.


Basically, the Gear Solo will be able to make and receive calls, texts and other communications independent of your smartphone.


Current watches, including the latest Android Wear devices like the Samsung Gear Live, have to be tethered to a smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0 LE to relay notifications and messages to the smartwatch.


The Gear Solo could potential spark the idea of ditching your smartphone altogether, by having all your content on your wrist.


Okay, well maybe not that far. But perhaps it could come in useful in certain occasions where you don’t want to have your smartphone on your – whether that be when you’re out for a run or other occasions.


Originally, the Gear Solo was tipped to be a South Korea exclusive, but this report suggests it will arrive for all markets just like the Note 4.


The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will be officially unveiled on September 3 at the Samsung Unpacked 2014 Episode 2 event at IFA.


It is expected to feature a 5.7-inch QHD 2560 x 1440p display and a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor with 3GB of RAM.


Reports suggest it will offer a 16-megapixel rear camera too.


TrustedReviews will be reporting live from the Samsung IFA event, so stay tuned to see if the Gear Solo will really make an appearance.



Read more: Best fitness trackers



readmore »»  

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook to launch August 20

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook




Samsung and Barnes & Noble have confirmed the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook will launch on August 20.


The two companies have revealed plans for an August 20 launch event to celebrate their first co-branded tablet reading experience.


The Samsung and Barnes & Noble invite reads: “Join us as the best of both worlds come together”.


Samsung already confirmed that the device to be launched is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook, which is some kind of tablet with a strong eReader focus.


The Tab 4 Nook will have a 7-inch display, but apart from that the specs for the device are in the wind.


We expect it will mimic that offered by the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 itself though, which offers a 7-inch 1280 x 800p HD display running the latest Android 4.4 KitKat.


It is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor with 1.5GB of RAM. There’s a 3-megapixel rear and 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera too.


When Samsung and Barnes & Noble revealed the Tab 4 Nook, the two companies said it would hit US stores in August, most likely immediately or soon after the launch event.


There’s no word on whether it will be available outside the US at this stage, so we’ll have to wait until August 20 to find out more details.


The tablet comes just after Sony’s announcement that it was backing away from the eReader market in terms of hardware, having shut down its eBook online market place earlier this year.


This joint event comes just before a big month for Samsung. The South Korean electronics giant is set to launch the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on September 3 at the Berlin-based IFA conference.


The Note 4 is expected to run on a Snapdragon 805 processor with 3GB of RAM and come with a 5.7-inch 1440 x 2560p QHD display.


Read more: Best tablets 2014


Via: CNET



readmore »»  

Nokia Lumia 730 images leak


The first images of the Nokia Lumia 730 have leaked online.


Rumours that a follow-up to the Nokia Lumia 720 was in production have been swirling for some time now, with the latest report suggesting a launch some time towards the end of August.


Now we appear to have the first pictorial evidence of the Nokia Lumia 730's existence. WPCentral published the above image of a prototype device (it literally has prototype written all over it) in a fetching shade of green.


The Nokia Lumia 730 is rumoured to be Microsoft's "selfie phone," as it could well come with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.


Elsewhere, the Nokia Lumia 730 should live up to its mid-range billing with a 4.7-inch 720p display and a quad-core Snapdragon 400 CPU. It's claimed that there will be an 8-megapixel camera around back, which could prove to be a bit of a low-light specialist.


As you can see, reports that the Nokia Lumia 730 will keep the basic design of the Nokia Lumia 720 appear to be fairly accurate. Of course the 720 was a much smaller phone, with a relatively diddy 4.3-inch display.


As well as a picture of the device itself, the report also yields a snapshot of the Lumia 730 prototype's software, which is a new firmware version called Lumia Debian Red. This will likely be built on the framework of Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, or even Update 2, which is said to be headed for a November release.


L730



Read more: Nokia Lumia 930 review



readmore »»  

Apple gives Beats its own section in online store


Apple has created a new section in its online store dedicated to Beats by Dr. Dre gear.


Now that Apple has officially acquired Beats in a huge $3 billion deal, we're starting to see changes being made. One of the first comes via Apple's online store, where there's a whole new Beats-flavoured category.


Head on over to the Accessories section of Apple's online store, and you'll see a new Beats by Dr. Dre header right alongside Apple's own accessories. Click on that and you'll be taken to a familiar Apple-style rundown of its new department.


It's slightly unusual seeing this urban brand explained in neat-and-tidy Apple language, but then there's much about this deal that has confused people in recent months.


As you scroll down the blurb, you'll get links to buy Beats headphones, earphones, speakers, and accessories through the Apple Store.


There's also a Beats section available from the opening screen of the Apple Store app for iPhone and iPad, under the title "Beats of all kinds."


This is an understandable first move on Apple's part, as Beats's own online store was closed down as part of the takeover deal.


Apple has always sold Beats hardware on its online store, of course, but the brand has never held such prominence alongside Apple's own accessories.


It'll be interesting to see if there'll be any Beats-related announcements over the coming months as Apple launches the iPhone 6 and iPad Air 2, as well as the updated iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite software.



Read More: Best headphones 2014


Via: 9to5mac



readmore »»  

Windows 9 may kill Windows 8 Charms bar


Microsoft could be planning on ditching the contentious Windows 8 Charms sidebar from the next version of Windows.


The Charms bar currently sits on the right hand side of the Windows 8 OS, popping into view when you swipe from the right (or, more commonly, when you send your mouse pointer to the corner of the display). It offers quick access to search, share, settings menu, device management, and the Start screen.


But it's set to be scrapped in Windows 9, if recent reports are to be believed. According to WinBeta, Microsoft is looking into alternatives to the Charms system, and will almost certainly omit it from Windows 9.


The Verge confirms that current iterations of Windows Threshold, which is essentially the alpha version of Windows 9, does not include the Charms UI element.


Meanwhile, ZDNet also confirms that the Charms bar is for the chop, while reporting that some Metro-style apps will incorporate certain Charms features within their title bars. This is part of Microsoft's intention to have apps running as independent floating entities on the desktop, and not so reliant on Windows OS functions like the Charms bar.


Another new feature to appear in Windows 9, according to these report, will apparently be virtual desktops. This will allow serious users to switch between separate desktops at the touch of a button.


Expect to see a preview version of Windows 9 released later in the year ahead of a spring 2015 launch.



Read More: Surface Pro 3 vs Surface Pro 2



readmore »»  

Huawei Ascend P7 variant coming with sapphire display?


A Huawei Ascend P7 variant may be inbound, arriving with a sapphire display.


Huawei Device Chairman and Consumer Business Group CEO, Yu Chengdong claims Huawei has some “shocking products” to release in the near future.


According to the Chinese reporter who was interviewing Yu, he then pulled a variant of the Ascend P7 out of his pocket, which featured a sapphire display.


Yu could therefore be teasing that this is a product Huawei is planning to launch in the coming months, or at least that the company is already experimenting with the material.


The current Ascend P7 comes with a 5-inch full HD IPS LCD display coated with Corning Gorilla Glass, rather than anything like sapphire glass.


Such a display is rumoured to be featured with the iPhone 6 in September, so it would be interesting to see what Huawei does with the material.


Huawei reportedly has a few announcements up its sleeves for IFA 2014 next month, which runs in the first week of September.


Rumour has it that Huawei will pull an all-metal Huawei Ascend D3 out of the bag. It is reported to feature a 6-inch 1080 x 1920p full HD display running on the self-made octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 920 processor with 2GB of RAM.


In the rear, we should find a 13-megapixel camera, paired with a 5-megapixel front-facing alternative.


Its main appeal will be its premium metal design though, which looks like will feature an integrated fingerprint scanner in the back panel.


Read more: Best mobile phone 2014


Via: PhoneArena



readmore »»  

Xbox One digital TV tuner coming to UK in October

Xbox One digital TV Tuner

Xbox One digital TV tuner




Microsoft has announced the European availability of its Xbox One digital TV Tuner.


Although you can already feed your Virgin Media or Sky TV content services through your Xbox One with OneGuide, the console has never been compatible with Freeview or other free-to-air platforms.


Now, Microsoft has plans to change that. From October, you’ll be able to buy the Xbox One digital TV tuner for £24.99 in the UK or €29.99 in select EU countries.


This adaptor will open up access to DVB-T, DVB-T2 and DVB-C channels on your Xbox One, which means all Freeview and Freeview HD channels for those in the UK.


“Since launch, it’s been our vision to bring more entertainment features and enable live TV through Xbox One to more markets around the world,” explained Microsoft. “We know our fans in Europe have been asking for this functionality on Xbox Feedback and today, we’re pleased to announced that Xbox One users in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain will be able to experience premium live TV features on Xbox One, such as the ability to access your favourite shows and channels with the sound of your voice through the OneGuide, with the new Xbox One Digital TV tuner.”


The digital TV tuner connects to your Xbox One via USB, and then you need to attach a coaxial cable to the aerial in your home.


After you’ve done that, you’ll be able to use the Xbox One OneGuide as others could with Sky and Virgin Media services: accessing the console’s EPG via your console. You can then change channels, get programme information and other data without having to switch inputs on your TV.


You can even view TV in Snap Mode, with other apps siding up against live TV content. Plus, TV content can be paused, even though recording won’t be available initially.


For those of you with the Xbox One Kinect, you can use voice commands to change TV channel too, or even just check what’s on another channel.


“From anywhere, say ‘Xbox show guide, what’s on BBC One?’ to quickly navigate directly to that channel’s listings.”


OneGuide listings will also show you where that content can be watched on video on demand apps like Netflix, and you can also use the Xbox SmartGlass app as an additional controller.


Read more: Xbox One tips and tricks



readmore »»  

Siri for Mac features outlined in new patent


Apple has outlined how Siri for Mac features could work in an extensive patent application published by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).


A recently unearthed patent filed with USPTO details Apple’s ideas for an “Intelligent digital assistant in a desktop environment”, which is very much a Siri for Mac functionality.


Using the microphone built into Mac desktop and laptops, Siri for Mac could take the current voice dictation feature to an all new, more functional level.


The patent outlines that the Mac version of Siri would be able to process actions like data input and retrieval, carry out computer searches and other basic tasks from voice commands.


As with the iOS edition, the desktop Siri can be integrated into apps and activated by a special mouse or keyboard gesture. It can also work in the background, constantly listening for a command.


You’ll be able to say “Hey, Siri” to alert the voice assistant you need her help with iOS 8, and it looks like Apple has its eyes on this functionality for Macs too.


In some versions of Siri for Mac, the microphone-style icon sits in the dock, while at other times it is just hidden in the backend of your desktop or laptop, allowing you to start dictations at any time.


One of the more advanced features of Siri for Mac would let you drop documents or folders full of images for example onto the Siri dock icon. You could then ask it to sort by date or location or other criteria.


Apparently you could then go on to ask another action be carried out, which Siri would then do or list all the alternative options in voice or text form according to your preferences.


Siri for Mac could also act as an additional mouse cursor, helping you apply context to voice commands. For example, you could say “Sort these by date and merge into a new document”, which Siri would then apply to a specific set of images.


Apple patent then goes on to describe a function which it calls “Using Digital Assistant as a Third Hand”. Currently, multitasking on graphic UIs are usually mainly restricted to one window or asset at a time.


The idea outlined by the patent is that Siri could do anything that you couldn’t, whether that’s creating folders while you’re holding a selection of files, asking Siri to resize pictures or other functions.


Currently Apple’s personal voice assistant is limited to its iOS devices and there’s no indication this could be a feature coming to OS X 10.10 Yosemite either.



Read more: Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite: What’s new?






Via:
AppleInsider



readmore »»  

Samsung Galaxy Alpha gets FFC approval, inches closer to launch


The Samsung Galaxy Alpha has just been approved by the FCC, suggesting it is very close to launch.


We’ve seen and heard a lot about the metallic Samsung Galaxy Alpha in recent weeks, but now the phone has been officially certified in Europe by the FCC.


The Federal Commission listing states the phone is 133 x 67mm, which reaffirms the rumours it will pack a 4.8-inch 720p HD display. The Samsung Galaxy S5 measures up at 142 x 72.5mm and offers a 5.1-inch full 1080p HD display, so those dimensions for the Alpha sound about right for a 4.8-inch screen.


While the listing doesn’t mention the side profile width of the Alpha, photos leaked earlier this week show that the metal clad Alpha is slimmer than the 7.6mm iPhone 5S. Previously rumours pegged it to be just 6mm thick.


The European model is listed as having Bluetooth 4.0 LE, NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi and 4G LTE connectivity.


We’re particularly pleased to see the FCC listing, as at one point the reports suggested the Alpha could be another Korean exclusive from Samsung – similar to what was done with the curved Samsung Galaxy Round.


However, its certain that the Alpha will arrive on British shores after all, with mid-range specs in tow.


Rumoured specs include an octa-core Samsung Exynos 5433 processor with 2GB of RAM. It is also expected to feature a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing option.


You should also get 32GB of internal storage as standard, plus the fingerprint sensor and IP67 dust and water resistant certification introduced with the Galaxy S5.


Of course, the main appeal of the Galaxy Alpha is its premium metal aluminium frame.


Previous leaks suggest it will have a “stunning metallic design”, but what we’ve seen so far is that it will have an aluminium construction but with the same plastic back panels found in previous Galaxy smartphones.


The Galaxy Alpha is expected to be launched on August 13, with the FCC filing suggesting it will arrive in stores before the end of the month and the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on September 3.


Read more: Best mobile phone 2014


Via: PhoneArena



readmore »»  

No Halo 5: Guardians details at GamesCom, confirms Microsoft


Microsoft has outlined what Halo details it will outline at GamesCom 2014 and there’s no mention of Halo 5: Guardians whatsoever.


Now we’re just days away from GamesCom 2014, the Cologne-based gaming conference, Microsoft and the other gaming giants have offered details on what exactly will be on show.


Microsoft latest Xbox Wire post outlines all the Halo news you’ll find at GamesCom this year, and sadly we won’t get any fresh details on Halo 5: Guardians.


Although the Halo 5: Guardians release date isn’t scheduled to occur until 2015, we were hoping to get a few more details about the game to keep us going.


At E3 2014, 343 Industries revealed that the Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta would be available in December to those purchasing Halo: The Master Chief Collection.


“This December we will launch the new Halo 5: Guardians beta,” said 343 Industries’ Bonnie Ross during the LA gaming conference.


Ross also teased that Halo 5: Guardians is “not just about creating a game, it’s about telling Chief’s full tale.”


Well from the looks of Microsoft’s GamesCom outline, we’ll have to wait a little longer to get any more details on Master Chief’s story.


During the Microsoft GamesCom press conference on August 12, the company said it will “share some new announcements” on the Master Chief Collection.


Plus, the Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer hands-on will be available to those attending the show.


“There will be 4v4 multiplayer games on Ascension and a yet-to-be-announced map, with multiple game types available for your enjoyment.”


There’s also a 4v4 tournament for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, open to all GamesCom attendees and the winning team will get a $5,000 prize fund. The tournament will end on Sunday August 17 and will be streamed via Twitch.tv/Halo.


Read more: Xbox One vs PS4



readmore »»  

Pinterest adds direct messaging


Pinterest has finally added the ability to send direct messages through its mobile app and web service.


Last year the company added the ability to send pins to other people. Now, with this direct messaging capability, those people will be able to respond.


In a blog post entitled "Start a conversation about a Pin," Pinterest product designer Tom Watson explains the thinking behind this new addition.


"Every day, people send more than two million Pins," Watson reveals. "Sending a Pin is a great way to let someone know you found something they’d love. We wanted to make it easier for you to have a good old fashioned conversation about those Pins."


This seems to be bucking the current trend for so-called 'ephemeral apps' like Snapchat and Slingshot, which favour quick and disposable comments. By contrasts, Pinterest's new messaging feature is based around extended conversations on clearly defined topics and shared interests.


It's also now possible to send pins and messages to multiple people, making group trip-planning a doodle. Group chat is supported for up to 10 people, with received direct messages accessed through your notification menu.


The latest version of Pinterest, complete with direct messaging and group chat, is available to download now on iOS and Android. You can also log in through your desktop web browser and access the same function.



Read More: Best Android Apps



readmore »»  

Twitch now muting videos containing unlicensed music


Twitch has launched a sweeping new measure to clamp down on the use of unlicensed music in videos.


The video streaming service, which is particularly popular with gamers, is partnering with Audible Magic to scan its library of recorded material. When a piece of licensed music is detected, the audio for an entire 30 minute block surrounding the hot snippet is forcibly muted.


Interestingly, it seems as if that music can come from any source within the video. It can be part of the game that's being recorded, in the background of the broadcast itself, or even sung by the broadcaster.


Of course, Twitch is best known for its live video broadcasts, and these will remain unaffected by the clampdown.


As for recorders put out by this new measure, Twitch recommends that you source your music from the Creative Commons, Jamendo, or SongFreedom if you don't want your footage to be censored.


There's also an appeals process whereby copyright owners and those who feel they have been unjustly muted can file a "counter-notification" with Twitch.


All in all, this appears to be an attempt on Twitch's part to pre-empt any potential legal challenges from copyright owners. With a $1 billion acquisition by YouTube said to have been agreed, it can also be seen as Twitch cleaning house before its new masters arrive.


In a separate announcement, Twitch also revealed that it was dropping the ability to select "save forever" on old broadcasts. This is in order to channel that capacity towards increasing the amount of time broadcasts are stored by default from three to 14 days.



Read More: Best games 2014



readmore »»  

Multiple user accounts headed to Android phones


It will soon be possible to create multiple user accounts on a single Android smartphone, it's been confirmed.


Adding more than one account is feature that has been available on Android tablets for some time now. It allows users to lock out certain apps and functions for each account.


It's perfect for parents who like to hand their tablets over to their kids on a long journey, but don't want to give them access to the internet or violent games (to name two examples).


Android phone users, however, have always had to go without this feature. Google reckoned that it hadn't figured out how to handle incoming calls with multiple users attributed to a single phone.


According to an Android project member - a Google employee, no less - the company has evidently come to a solution for this issue. The next public version of the Android OS will add multiple user account capabilities for phone users.


"The development team has implemented this feature and it will be available as a part of the next public build," wrote the team member in reply to a recent Android issue tracker post.


Of course, this statement is open to a certain amount of interpretation. We now know that this feature is coming, but when exactly? Does this Google employee mean the next update to Android 4.4 KitKat - the current version - or the next major version, Android 5.0 L, which will launch later this year?


Impatient parents will have to wait a little longer for an answer, it seems.



Read More: Why Android L wants to make your headphones obsolete


Via: Engadget



readmore »»  

Wikipedia founder vows to fight Right to be Forgotten “censorship”


Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has vowed to fight the EU’s Right to be Forgotten ruling, which he classes as “censorship”.


More than 50 links to individual Wikipedia pages will be removed from the site thanks to the EU’s Right to be Forgotten legislation.


Speaking during the annual Wikipedia Wikimania conference, Wales described the legislation as “censorship”, adding that the ruling is “tyrannical”.


“History is a human right and one of the worst things that a person can do is attempt to use force to silence another,” said Wales. “I’ve been in the public eye for quite some time. Some people say good things, some people say bad things… that’s history, and I would never use any kind of legal process like to try to suppress it.”


The European Union legislation enables people to request the removal of links to “inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant information”. Although the links will be removed from the search engine, the actual page will still exist.


Wikipedia is operated by the Wikimedia Foundation and the company has received multiple notices of content removal from Google.


“Accurate search results are vanishing in Europe with no public explanation, no real proof, no judicial review and no appeals process,” said Wikimedia Foundation’s Executive Director, Lila Tretikov.


“We find this type of veiled censorship unacceptable. But we find the lack of disclosure unforgiveable. This is not a tenable future. We cannot build the sum of all human knowledge without the world’s true source, based on pre-edited histories.”


Out of the 50 notifications Wikipedia has received so far, two of them relate to the UK edition of the site.


These include a page on Gerry Hutch, a convicted criminal who was supposedly one of Ireland’s most prolific bank robbers and an image of musician Tom Carstairs in concert.


The Dutch and Italian versions of Wikipedia have also been affected by the ruling, with references to crime gang La Banda della Comasina and Italian mobster Renato Vallanzasca removed from search engines.


Read more: Best tablets 2014



readmore »»  

Apple patents enhanced wireless charging tech

Fatboy Wireless Charging Pillows

Wireless chargers like these require direct contact




Apple has been granted a patent for some enhanced wireless charging technology that could feature in future iPhones and iPads.


Originally filed back in April 2012, the newly granted patent outlines a way of using wireless near-field magnetic resonance (NFMR) to transmit power to multiple devices.


By integrating the NFMR technology into a power supply, something like a laptop could provide charge for a number of compatible devices, even from a distance of around a metre.


“In this way, a charging region can be formed around the computer in which the peripheral device (or any other appropriately configured device) can wirelessly receive useful amounts of power from the power supply,” reads the patent.


The majority of the patent explains how wireless keyboards, mice or other peripherals could be kept remotely charged using the NFMR power supply within the computer itself.


However, the technology could extend to smartphones and tablets, so it would automatically charge when in the general area of your compatible desktop or laptop.


Apparently, the peripherals would have to have a “small form factor wireless power unit… sized along the lines of a standard AAA battery” to pack the NFMR tech.


“It should be noted however, that since small form factor wireless power units… can be of any size and shape, it is contemplated that any battery of any size or configuration can be replaced by small form factor power units”.


That means that current devices could be retrofitted with the technology, especially those with removable batteries. Or, Apple notes that the technology could be in-built into something like a USB dongle that could be fitted to a desktop.


From the sounds of the patent, Apple has been experimenting with this NFMR technology for quite some time. Hopefully, it could be something that is in built into future iPhone and iPad devices, if not the imminent generation of new products like the iPhone 6 or iPad Air 2.


Read more: iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5S – What to expect


Via: ZDNet



readmore »»  

FIFA 15 set to feature all 20 Premier League stadiums


With the start of the new football season just around the corner, EA Sports has confirmed all 20 Premium League stadiums are to be recreated in FIFA 15.


Giving a new level of detail and accuracy to the much loved football franchise, FIFA 15 will see not only the official stands and pitches of the 20 Premium League clubs transported to the digital world, but real crowd noises and audio from all the ground also thrown into the mix.


Making the announcement through an official blog post, the develop revealed: “The FIFA team’s exclusive access to Premier League clubs allowed detailed photography of all 20 stadiums so they could be authentically recreated in FIFA 15.


They added: “The cheers, chants and sounds of more than 20 Premier League matches were also recorded. FIFA 15 will have realistic audio to goal reactions, misses, whistles and over two hours of crowd-specific songs.”


From Loftus Road and Selhurst Park, the compact homes of Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace to the Emirates Stadium and Old Trafford, the behemoth venues belonging to Arsenal and Manchester United, FIFA 15 will create each ground in minute detail.


One of many small changes which are set to result in big improvements to the new FIFA, the official stadiums will be joined by new ball physics, evolving pitches and more natural running styles in the FIFA 14 follow-on.


The first time a FIFA title has featured all 20 Premium League stadia, last year’s PES rival played host to just eight official top-flight grounds.


Read More: Best Games 2014



readmore »»  

Sledgehammer talks Kevin Spacey in CoD: Advanced Warfare


Kevin Spacey’s involvement with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare has grabbed headlines, and now Sledgehammer Games has spoken out on his role within the game.


Speaking with TrustedReviews, the developer of the upcoming CoD release has revealed how the role of Jonathan Irons, the villainous head of the private army Atlas, was written with the House of Cards and American Beauty star in mind.


Despite Call of Duty – Activision’s annual cash cow – seemingly boasting the budget to attract any A-list start the development team desires, Sledgehammers’ Director of Product Development, Aaron Halon, has claimed the team were surprise when Spacey, their primary target, agreed to come on board.


Usually on games we are used to getting our B or C character, but to be able to get Kevin Spacey who has been in mind since the beginning has been an awesome experience and really helpful to the whole narrative of the game,” Halon said speaking exclusively with TrustedReviews recently.


He added: “We were really fortunate. It was something early on that Glenn [Schofield, Sledgehammer GM] and the creative guys on the team wanted Kevin Spacey to be Jonathan Irons.”


With Spacey having been the team’s first choice to play Irons, Halon has suggested that Sledgehammer now hopes the high-profile actor can help the game pair action with an impactful storyline.


“We’re really excited to be working for Kevin Spacey and one of the cornerstones of the game for us has been that narrative and that emotional impact,” he told us.


“Being able to have someone that has the calibre of talent as Kevin Spacey be a part of our project really fits into what our goals are.


“We set a high bar for ourselves and he helps elevate the rest of the actors and the staff on the project.”


He added: “Kevin is someone we felt was really right for the character and we really respect the work that he has done. He has the right weight and he is the person who we wrote this character with him in mind.”


Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is set for release on November 4, with the title to hit both current and past-gen consoles.



Read More:
Best Games 2014



readmore »»  

Dualit Stand Mixer Review


Dualit Stand Mixer: At a Glance


The Dualit 88013 Stand Mixer is the British brand’s entry into a market dominated by rivals KitchenAid and Kenwood. It’s a high-quality mixer that handles all of your whipping, whisking, kneading and, of course, mixing needs.

At £300, the Dualit Stand Mixer isn’t cheap, but it is competitively priced compared to popular rivals. But this accessible price doesn’t come at the cost of performance and it’s a great tool for taking the elbow grease out of making cakes, bread, pastries, puddings and much more.


Dualit Stand Mixer


Dualit Stand Mixer: Design and Features


This isn’t a style icon. The Dualit Stand Mixer’s gloss white metal body looks utilitarian — not in an unattractive way, just an unassuming way. It looks like a tool rather than ‘feature’ that will draw the eye in your kitchen. This neutral colour should fit in with any kitchen décor, but a choice of colours and finishes would add some verve.

Build quality cannot be faulted, though. The Dualit Stand Mixer feels like a solid, hardwearing mixer that will happily grace your kitchen for years. As with any stand mixer though, it is very big. It’s too large to fit comfortably in most kitchen cupboards and takes up a considerable area of open counter space. It’s heavy, too — 8.8kg in total — so it’s just as well it has carry handles in the base.


The mixer’s size and weight does have some benefits, however. It remains stable and steady even when cranked up to high speeds when kneading dough. It’s a damn powerful machine, too. Its 1000W motor handles heavy dough and thick cake batter ease and the 12 speed settings ranging from a careful, elegant whip to a knee-trembling beating, provide plenty of fine control.


SEE ALSO: Best Handblenders Round-up

Dualit Stand Mixer


The Dualit Stand Mixer comes boxed with four interchangeable heads. With a whisk (ideal for macaroons) partnering the traditional beater (cake mixes) and dough hook (bread). A plastic spatula beater with a rubber edge makes it easier to reach to the edges and depths of the mixing bowl, though this is the weakest, least robust of the tools provided.


The mixing heads use a planetary movement. Rather than simply mixing in a circle, this planetary movement repeatedly cuts back through the mixture or dough, mixing the ingredients more thoroughly.


With a 4.8 litre bowl capacity, Dualit’s mixer is more than enough for even the largest of baking sessions. One addition we would have liked to have seen, however, is measurement markings within the mixing bowl.


SEE ALSO: Best Toasters Round-up

Dualit Stand Mixer


Dualit Stand Mixer: What is it like to use?


Very easy — it’s one of the Dualit’s most endearing qualities. Unlike some of its leading rivals, it is not cluttered by an array of manual knobs, dials and sliders. Instead it has simple, modern controls – a single digital dial and an integrated LED display.

This display shows the power setting, timings and removes much of the guesswork from following recipes. It also saves you having to set timing reminders on your oven or smartphone. We’d love to see more stand mixers use one.


The mixer’s instant pause feature is super useful, too. It’s ideal for quickly checking the consistency of a mix. Simply hitting the large pause button quickly cuts the power and lets you dive into the bowl. The mixer head can even be released and lifted with a single hand, which is useful when you have your hands full.


Power and ease of use, however, are slightly redundant if the mixing isn’t up to scratch. Fortunately – for the most part – the Dualit mixer clears this hurdle. Using the stainless steel whisk attachment to make macaroons, we quickly had a smooth, fluffy mixture with the desired stiff peaks. Making both a large white loaf, and a focaccia with the dough hook we found the mixer perfectly kneaded and folded the dough to desired levels.


SEE ALSO: Best Washing Machine Round-up

Dualit Stand Mixer


Cake mixes and buttercreams, however, were not without minor issues. The die-cast beater attachment didn’t reach the contents at the base of the bowl on more than one occasion. This left a small patch of unmixed ingredients beneath the otherwise perfectly mixed and whipped batter. Switching to the spatula beater helped solve this minor gripe, but this plastic attachment is less adept at cutting through thicker mixes.


Another design failing that troubles the Dualit Stand Mixer is its spring loaded, mixing head mount. Although faultless in its use during our time with the device, the spring quickly becomes marred with cake mix and dough. Given the small spaces it is nearly impossible to clean.


This is the only part of the mixer troubled by cleaning woes, though. The metal body benefits from a easy, wipe clean surface and the mixer’s bowl and bevy of attachments are all dishwasher safe. A plastic splatter guard comes in handy, but still struggles with the addition of icing sugar.


Dualit Stand Mixer


Stability is key to thorough, splatter-free mixing, and here the Dualit offering has no troubles. It does, however, leave you worried. The mixing bowl’s locking mechanism, although secure, features no audible or physical click when locked. The result was much checking and double checking the bowl was safe.


Despite a few locking irritations, the Dualit’s mixing bowl has an added benefit over its rivals: two handles. This helps spread the weight of mixtures — a small but important addition if you struggle with heavier mixtures.


Although the one-metre power cord can be stored neatly with in the mixer’s body, this is not a seamless or elegant process. Unlike on most vacuum cleaners, which feature an auto recoil button for cable storage, the Dualit Stand Mixer requires you to physically push the cable back into the frame.


Dualit Stand Mixer


Should I buy the Dualit Stand Mixer?


If you’re a regular baker with a broad repertoire of cakes, breads and baked goods, you could do much worse than the Dualit Stand Mixer. It doesn’t do anything you can’t do by hand, but it removes much of the effort and cuts down the time. It’s also easier to use than some stand mixers, making it a good choice if you’re intimidated by all the options on some models.

This isn’t the last word in stand mixers, though. It looks a little dull and we did encounter small problems mixing some recipes. Also. size and cost mean the casual baker would likely be better off with a good quality hand mixer such as the Kenwood kMix HM808.


For more serious bakers, though, it’s a very good value option that’s easy to use. Its over £100 cheaper than the KitchenAid alternative. What’s more, with a five-year warranty on the motor and a two-year guarantee on all other parts, the mixer will offer piece of mind for years to come.


Verdict


An effective, easy to use and good value stand mixer, though we wish it looked it looked a little more exciting.



Next, head to our Home Appliances section for all the latest reviews of kitchen gadgets, large appliances and smart home gadgets

readmore »»  

LG G Watch charging cradle now available as separate purchase


LG has started selling the LG G Watch charging cradle as a separate accessory in the Google Play Store.


Both the LG G Watch and its Android Wear rival the Samsung Gear Live are charged with a proprietary charging cradle, which can be annoying when your watch runs out of charge and you’ve forgotten the charger.


LG has attempted to help with that problem by allowing you to buy additional charging cradles from the Google Play Store.


Priced at £14.90 a piece and offered with a microUSB cable for connecting to power supplies, the charging cradle isn’t a ridiculously out of reach additional purchase.


Although when you consider the LG G Watch is already £159.99 on its own, looking to add another £15 on to that does put the price close to that £200 mark.


We wouldn’t have minded having an extra charger for the LG G Watch when reviewing it though, as you’ll get a maximum 36 hours usage from its 400mAh battery.


As it doesn’t have a standard micro USB port for charging, if you forget to charge it for your day ahead, you’ll be lugging round a useless bit of kit.


We’ll be pleased when smartwatch makers will let you charge a smartwatch once a week with a generic microUSB charger, but we can’t see that happening anytime soon.


The LG G Watch comes with a 1.65-inch 280 x 280p IPS LCD display running Android Wear. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.2GHz and 512MB of RAM.


It comes with 4GB of internal storage as standard and comes with Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.


Like the Galaxy Gear, the G Watch is also IP67 dust and water resistant.


Read more: What is Android Wear? A guide to Google’s smartwatch OS



readmore »»  

Great British Bake Off set to boost sales of kitchen gadgets


The Great British Bake Off 2014 kicks off tonight, with retailer John Lewis suggesting the show has become a major driving force in the sales of kitchen gadgets.


With the baking show having transformed from cult hit to mainstream giant of the TV schedule in recent years, the retailer has suggested it is now the programme most likely to influence consumers’ buying habits.


The Great British Bake Off has a massive impact on sales of kitchen gadgets,” Johnathan Marsh, Head of Buying for Electrics and Home Technology at John Lewis said speaking with TrustedReviews recently.


He added: “The Bake Off has the biggest influence [on consumers]. It is so easily monitored as the baking industry is so linear.”


Although John Lewis is now prepared for the sales boost associated with the return of the Bake Off, the seller has admitted this wasn’t ways the case.


“What’s happening now – and we didn’t appreciate this a couple of years ago – is that when that programme goes on, everyone talks about it,” Marsh said.


“The whole media talks about it. All the retailers talk about it. Suddenly there is nothing you can do without being confronted by a particular recipe or cook or chef.”


According to the high street retailer, this chatter quickly transforms into sales, with kitchen gadgets such as stand mixers, food processors and blenders benefitting from much of the attention.


“There is a real halo effect on the whole industry from the show,” Marsh told us. “Like supermarkets sell out of certain ingredients from things people have seen on the TV the night before, we see a similar thing with KitchenAid stand mixers, Kenwood stand mixers and things like that.”


What’s the cause of the Bake Off’s retail impact? According to Marsh, the show’s nature makes the prospect of baking accessible to the masses.


He stated: “I think this is one of those emotional categories that people relate to very quickly and therefore decide that they want something to recreate it at home.”


Read More: Best hand blenders



readmore »»  

Halo Master Chief Collection Mjolnir Edition sells out in 2 hours


GAME announced two special editions of the Halo Master Chief Collection earlier today and the Mjolnir Edition sold out in just two hours.


The first of the two GAME exclusive Halo: Master Chief Collection Special Editions was the £169.99 Mjolnir Edition.


It featured the following contents:



  • Collector’s Limited Edition Steel Book Case, which GAME said you won’t be able to get anywhere else

  • A physical map book featuring all maps available in the game

  • Grunt Funeral Digital Skull DLC – Celebrate every headset with the Grunt Funeral Digital Skull, which causes each of your precision kills to trigger a confetti filled explosion

  • 12-inch Artfx Master Chief statue – Standing nearly 12-inches tall, this statue displays Master Chief in his iconic Mjolnir Powered Assault Armour. Complete with his trusty Battle Rifle and interchangeable arms, you can position Master Chief in any number of poses.




The £170 special edition of the game sold out in just 2 hours, according to the GAME UK Twitter feed:

“That was quick. The Halo: Master Chief Collection Mjolnir Edition has now sold out. Limited Edition still available”, came the official tweet.


The Limited Edition is a lot cheaper at £52.99, but doesn’t come with quite as much Halo swag.


The Halo Master Chief Limited Edition comes with:



  • Halo Master Chief Collection Steel Tin

  • Physical Map book features all the maps available in the game

  • Grunt Funeral Skull DLC




Coming exclusively for the Xbox One, Microsoft has scheduled the Master Chief Collection release date for November 11.

It offers gamers a chance to play all the Halo titles on one console and includes access to the Halo 5: Guardians beta when it is made available.


Read more: Best Xbox One games


Halo Master Chief Collection Mjolnir Edition



readmore »»  

GTA 5 tops 34 million units shipped


GTA 5 is a true powerhouse of the gaming scene, with publisher Take-Two confirming some 34 million copies of the game have now been shipped.


Having grossed more than $1 billion during its opening three days on sale last September, GTA 5 has now shipped 34 million units, with 1 million units being shifted during the last financial quarter.


Although there is a big difference between units shipped and actual units sold on to gamers, this figure still shows the massive scale of the latest Grand Theft Auto offerings – a game still currently available only on PS3 and Xbox 360.


Despite its past-gen roots, developer Rockstar recently confirmed that GTA 5 will be launched for PC, PS4 and Xbox One gamers this autumn – a move sure to bolster the title’s already impressive sales figures.


Although offering the same narrative, the next-gen and PC GTA 5 release will offer gamers “across-the-board graphical and technical improvements to deliver a stunning new level of detail.”


While Rockstar and Take-Two have yet to announce an official release date for the next-gen GTA 5 efforts, recent leaks have seen retailers peg the game for a November 7 arrival.


Read More: Best Games 2014


Via: CVG



readmore »»  

Best SSD Group Test: Six of the best tested


Best SSD Group Test: Why should you buy an SSD?


SSDs are arguably the single best upgrade you can make to any PC or laptop. And now they're cheap enough that anyone can consider buying one.

There are numerous advantages to installing an SSD into your PC or laptop. A Windows installation on an SSD will boot in mere seconds rather than the minute or two it can take for an older, neglected hard disk to get ready for use, and applications installed to the SSD exhibit similarly rapid loading times – handy for both work and play.


SSDs can also be smaller than hard disks, which means they’re often able to fit where platter-based drives can’t reach. This makes them ideal for ultra-compact desktop PCs or of course the ever-slimming world of laptops. SSDs also have no moving parts, which makes them tougher and more reliable than traditional hard disks.




Best SSD Group Test: How We Tested


The six drives in this test have been subjected to a rigorous benchmark routine to weed out what’s worth buying and which can be left on the shelf.

Benchmark applications AS SSD and CrystalDiskMark run each drive through a variety of tests. Their sequential read and write routines test the raw file-copying pace of each drive, while a variety of random read and write tests demonstrate how responsive the drive is to the more random use a drive is put through during day to day use – the ‘snappy’ feel of an SSD is all about its random read access performance. ATTO’s benchmark also tests the read and write pace of each drive, but it uses an even larger variety of file sizes, which adds further detail to the picture of how each SSD will perform.


We’ve also run PCMark 7’s storage test, which uses simulations of typical file access patterns of real-world programs to give an indication of how each drive will handle real-world applications. We’ve also taken the temperature of each SSD – if any overheats it’ll be worth knowing, especially if it’ll be used in a confined space.


To help us decide which drive is this month’s best, we’ve lined up their prices and warranties – and taken a look at what extras you get in the box, too.




Best SSD Group Test: Under The Hood


The drives in this group cover a broad remit. The Samsung 850 Pro and SanDisk Extreme Pro are designed for high-end work machines and gaming systems, and the Samsung 845DC products are intended for data centres and other intensive business applications. The Crucial MX100 and Intel 740 are mainstream drives intended for a broad range of PCs and laptops.



Samsung's latest SSDs


Samsung has moved into a dominant position in the SSD market, and its 850 Pro follows on from the 840 Evo — the SSD that took home the top prize in our last test.

This flagship product has one big innovation: 3D V-NAND. This jazzy name describes a big change in the memory chips used inside this drive: as well as lining transistors up in a horizontal arrangement, the new 3D model layers them vertically, too.


This structure eases the squeeze on transistor size that’s caused electricity leaks, inefficiencies and higher costs in the quest for better performance. Now, Samsung can use larger, cheaper and more effective manufacturing processes without the squeeze on space – and it also means that more capacity can be fit into each chip.


The 850 Pro is the first consumer SSD to arrange NAND in this way, which clearly marks this drive out. However, that isn't the only big innovation in this drive — the triple-core MEX controller uses the same architecture as last year's model, but it’s clocked 100MHz faster, and the exterior looks identical, including the 7mm form factor.


The 850 Pro is available in capacities ranging from 128GB to 1TB, and we’ve tested the 512GB model that comes with 1GB of RAM. This drive will set you back £283, or 55p per gigabyte – only a penny more than its rivals.


SEE ALSO: GeForce GTX 750 Ti vs Radeon R7 265



The 850 Pro isn't the only Samsung drive in this group. The 845DC Evo is designed for more intensive business use, and it doesn't benefit from 3D V-NAND — instead, it’s built with 3-bit Toggle Mode TLC chips.


The choice of NAND is designed to improve the 845DC Evo's performance in two key areas: endurance and read-intensive workloads. It's available in 240GB, 480GB and 960GB capacities, adheres to the 7mm form factor, and follows the familiar Samsung aesthetic blueprint.


The 845DC Evo is partnered in the market by the 845DC Pro. It's another drive designed for hard work, but this time it's been built for write-heavy workloads, which means it's kitted out with the far longer lasting 2-bit MLC memory. We’ve tested the 480GB version of the Evo, and the 400GB Pro model.


Samsung hasn’t yet released pricing, as the 845DC drives won’t appear in the UK until next month, but US prices have begun to appear: the 480GB Evo will cost $490, which translates to £286.


Samsung has said that the Pro drive will cost between $1.50 and $2 per gigabyte: for our 400GB model that means prices between $600 and $800, which converts to a price between £350 and £467. That’s a large window, but there’s no doubt that it’ll be an expensive SSD.


Strong rivals from SanDisk, Crucial and Intel

Competition comes from the SanDisk Extreme Pro, which is designed for intensive workloads — whether they're in the office or in a gaming PC.


It's built using 19nm MLC NAND that's the same type of memory used inside Toshiba's fast drives, and it's been picked to provide a good mix of performance and consistency. That silicon is paired with a Marvell 88SS9187 controller. It's an old part – launched back in 2012 — but it's got a proven track record, and SanDisk has upped its game with custom firmware.


It's available in 240GB, 480GB and 960GB capacities, with 1GB of RAM available in the two larger SSDs and 512MB soldered into the 240GB version. We've tested the 480GB model that costs £257, or 54p per gigabyte – just one penny less than the Samsung 850 Pro.


SEE ALSO: Best Cheap Graphics Card Group Test



Intel’s entry in this group straddles the corporate and consumer worlds: the Intel 730 Series is an enterprise drive that’s now been unleashed for mainstream buyers. It’s controlled using the same chip that’s used inside Intel’s enterprise drives, but it’s been improved from 400MHz to 600MHz for the 730 Series.


The NAND chips are 20nm MLC, and the chips are clocked a bit higher than Intel’s older memory – 100MHz instead of 83MHz – and they’re bolstered with 1GB of RAM. You’ll pay £130 for this drive, which works out to 54p per gigabyte: the same as the SanDisk, and a little less than the Samsung.


All of those prices pale in comparison to the Crucial MX100. Our 256GB sample costs just £80, which works out at 31p per gigabyte – a stunningly low price that undercuts every other drive here.


The bargain-basement price means there's no room for Samsung-style sea-changes, but the MX100 still manages to innovate. It was the first mainstream drive to use 16nm NAND, which is the smallest process used since Toshiba and SanDisk introduced 19nm memory back in 2012.


It's a move that means more chips can be squeezed onto each slice of silicon, which means costs can be cut — and it also helps that the NAND inside this drive is manufactured by Micron, which owns Crucial.


Elsewhere, little has changed between this drive and the M550 that we tested in our last group, as the MX100 still uses the Marvell 88SS9189 controller — a step ahead of the SanDisk's chip on paper, but not far enough ahead to provide significant performance boosts. On the outside, it's business as usual: a slick silver 7mm chassis with a prominent blue sticker.


How long will they last?

It’s also worth looking at the rated endurance of all of these drives, especially if you’re going to be running lots of games or heavy workloads. The MX100 suffers here, as it’s only rated for 72TB – the smallest amount here, and less than half of the Samsung 850 Pro’s 150TB rating.


The SanDisk and Intel drives sit in the middle ground with endurance ratings of 80TB and 91TB, and the Samsung 845DC Evo displays its workstation credentials with a stunning 300TB rating. The 845DC Pro drive is classified in a different way – it’s designed for heavy write operations, and Samsung says it’s good for 10 full drive writes per day, which by our calculations works out as 7,300TB over the 5-year warranty the drive includes.


We’ve also mentioned two of the best drives from our last group test – the Crucial M550 256GB and the Samsung 840 Evo 250GB – as they’re still available. They’ve become tempting mid-range options, with the M550 costing £102 and the 840 Evo now retailing at £107.


Best SSD Group Test: AS SSD


































































































AS SSD
READ Crucial 256
845DC Pro 400
845DC EVO 480
SanDisk 480
Samsung 840 PRO
Intel 730
Sequential519.52518.83510.72519.22522.29518.4
4K38.4331.7433.54
33.133.5835.39
4K-64383.71335.36346.45331.81378.27344.59
Access time0.0370.0320.0370.040.040.029
WRITE





Sequential497.87330.9435.17438.78486.49473.12
4K121.38
123.76
109.59
105.86
120.32
107.6
4K-64308.01282.97260.11278.38302.64242.1
Access time0.026
0.0430.030.0370.0440.028

In our last test five of the six drives returned sequential read scores of more than 500MB/s, but this time around performance has improved — all six new` drives hit at least 511MB/s. It's impressive, consistent pace that further illustrates the near-saturation of the SATA standard across the SSD market.


Top of our latest table was the SanDisk Extreme Pro, which hit 522MB/s. That's only two megabytes more than the Samsung 850 Pro and three ahead of the Samsung 845DC Evo, which has been produced with read performance in mind.


The Samsung 850 Pro took the lead in the sequential write test with a score of 498MB/s, with the SanDisk second best — albeit with a much slower time of 486MB/s – and the Intel drive in third. The two other Samsung drives returned middling pace around 50MB/s behind the two leaders, and the MX100 brought up the rear with a poor 331MB/s result.


The last generation’s two best drives weren’t far behind in this test, either. The Crucial M550’s sequential read and write scores of 517MB/s and 482MB/s (results not in table) are good enough to keep up with the faster drives here, and the latter score outpaces Crucial’s budget MX100 drive. The Samsung 840 Evo, meanwhile, fell behind most of the competition when reading but hit a respectable 483MB/s when writing sequential files.


The 850 Pro performed well when performing random reads of 4K and 4K-64 files with table-topping scores of 38MB/s and 384MB/s — in those tests, the SanDisk was 5MB/s and 6MB/s behind, with other drives further back.


The situation wasn't as clear-cut when writing these small files. The 850 Pro and SanDisk both fell to the surprising Crucial in the 4K test: the MX100's 124MB/s score was 3MB/s and 4MB/s ahead of its rivals. The 850 Pro regained its lead in the 4K-64 test, but its 308MB/s result was only 5MB/s beyond the SanDisk. Bottom of the table, surprisingly, was Intel: its 4K-64 write pace of 242MB/s was 18MB/s behind the next-best product.


The two older drives showed their age when handling small files. Crucial’s M550 was fantastic in our last test, but its results would have only been good enough for last place in three out of our four small file tests in the new group. The Samsung 840 Evo suffered similarly – even the £80 Crucial MX100 was faster in three of the four tests.


When it comes to AS SSD, the 850 Pro is the victor. It's the fastest drive in the majority of our tests and, when it's not in first place, it's never far behind — as close as 2MB/s in one test. The SanDisk is an impressive runner-up, and the other two Samsung drives did little to impress: they may specialise in reads and writes, but neither could match faster competitors in these areas.


Crucial’s drive impressed, considering its price – not far behind in some benchmarks, and also demonstrating a significant speed boost over the last generation of high-end drives in some tests.


Best SSD Group Test: CrystalDiskMark




































































































CrystalDiskMark
READ Crucial 256
845DC Pro 400
845DC EVO 480
SanDisk 480
Samsung 840 PRO
Intel 730
Sequential545.4509.3487.6536.5536.3472
512K433.1464.1405.6447.9336.8413.6
4K42.3434.6538.0536.0836.439.71
4K-32404351.5376.7354.1403.9365.1
WRITE





Sequential512.8345.7463.4449.1495.3482.1
512K508.2345.8450.9451.2467.4463.8
4K150.8149.0124.5125.098.15150.5
4K-32355.8325.7337.7329.1351.9347.9

The Samsung 850 Pro was strong in AS SSD's sequential tests, so it's no surprise it's done well here. It's the only drive in this group to go beyond 500MB/s in both read and write benchmarks, and its results of 545MB/s and 513MB/s easily outpace the SanDisk, which hit 536MB/s in the read test but 496MB/s when writing.


Samsung's 845DC Evo hit a decent 537MB/s in the read test but was let down by its write speed of 449MB/s, and the 845DC Pro reversed that pattern with better write performance. The budget MX100's read score of 509MB/s was fourth out of the five drives, but its write pace of 346MB/s is the worst here by a long way.


No drive took a convincing lead in the mid-sized 512KB benchmarks. The MX100's 464MB/s pace was the best when reading, but its 346MB/s write score propped up the results table. The 850 Pro topped the table with 508MB/s in the write test, but its 433MB/s read score was third-best - a rare mis-step for this drive. The SanDisk was the worst SSD here for 512KB reads, and the two Samsung 845DC drives were consistently mid-table.


CrystalDiskMark has two sets of 4K tests, and the 850 Pro dominated all four read and write tests. The closest challenger here was the SanDisk, with the MX100 proving the slowest across the quartet of read and write runs.


It's another great performance for the Samsung 850 Pro in CrystalDiskMark, and the margin of victory is greater: there are eight benchmarks in this portion of our test, and the 3D V-NAND inside the 850 Pro helped Samsung win seven of them.


The two older drives exhibited familiar performance patterns in CrystalDiskMark. Both the Crucial M550 and Samsung 840 Evo were able to keep up with new SSDs in some of the sequential read and write tests, but both drives showed their age when working with random transfers – most of the current crop were significantly quicker.


The SanDisk was frustratingly inconsistent, with great performances in some tests hampered by awful results in others, and the Intel 730 was similarly irritating: it showed consistently good speeds in the writing benchmarks, but it was let down by sluggish performance in the read tests. The Crucial MX100 was largely poor, with group-leading pace in one test unable to banish bottom of the table results in five other benchmarks.


Best SSD Group Test: Atto Disk Benchmark
























































































































































Atto Disk Benchmark
READ Crucial 256
845DC Pro 400
845DC EVO 480
SanDisk 480
Samsung 840 PRO
Intel 730
8438,421186,533414,941325,779462,045328,134
32533,963361,977509,448482,527535,298426,951
64551,875427,932489,080512,507550,502482,233
256559,078548,890537,863551,402534,285544,127
1024563,151551,579559,240554,109544,125546,432
4096563,151551,579560,538556,663522,502547,827
8192595,789551,579560,538556,663526,344546,588
WRITE





8412,876335,544357,179389,865429,179401,479
32502,530345,875444,034446,227501,938472,344
64520,971345,875465,859441,863517,619483,647
256531,313345,015373,967442,732511,024501,247
1024532,874346,368484,759440,058519,971503,994
4096536,870345,625483,667440,058523,776503,994
8192534,495346,368481,498442,128473,014503,994



This testing application delves deep into different file sizes to provide a more granular view of read and write performance.

For once, the 850 Pro didn't start in the lead - in the 8KB portion of this test, the SanDisk's 462MB/s reads and 429MB/s writes were the best here. The Extreme Pro stayed ahead of the Samsung when working with 32KB files, and there was little to choose between the two SSDs when reading and writing 64KB workloads, too.


By the time file sizes had increased to 256KB, though, the 850 Pro proved the better drive. In the larger file read tests it was the best drive here, and it maintained its lead in the larger file write tests. The Extreme Pro's inconsistency was its downfall; while it remained a close second in every large file writing test, its results hit rock bottom in the read benchmarks.


The 845DC Evo may be designed for read-heavy workloads, but it proved consistently mid-table in both read and write tests. We couldn't say the same for the write-intensive 845DC Pro, which hit second place in a couple of read tests but faltered in several read and write benchmarks.


The cheap Crucial MX100 was really exposed in this set of benchmarks. Our ATTO run comprises of fourteen tests, and it was bottom of the pile in ten of them - and only the SanDisk's inconsistent, poor large file read performance prevented that figure from being even worse. It’s also slower than the older but pricier Crucial M550.


The Intel drive followed on from CrystalDiskMark by solidifying a place in the top three SSDs when it came to writing files, but falling into the bottom half of the table when reading data. Samsung’s older 840 Evo, meanwhile, held up well: it matched more expensive products in some of the write tests, and wasn’t far behind in read benchmarks.


There’s no mistaking the winner here, though – the Samsung 850 Pro took the lead in twelve out of the fourteen tests.


Best SSD Group Test: IOMeter

































































































































































IOMeter
Crucial 256
845DC Pro 400
845DC EVO 480
SanDisk 480
Samsung 840 PRO
Intel 730
AIO
Total I/Os p/sec
7826.312425.725974.7754502631.932934.20
MB/s
299.56
92.90
228.77208.60100.54108.40
Average Response
0.12740.41180.16690.18310.37540.3324
Max Response
11.173212.6197.189613.40735.914.27
READ






Total I/Os p/sec39,56135,838.8633,27326,70528,64733,414
MB/s
162.04146.80136.29109.39117.34136.86
Average Response
0.025
0.0277
0.0298
0.0372
0.0347
0.0297
Max Response
1.5004
0.1722
1.3734
1.052
0.0972
2.7041
WRITE






Total I/Os p/sec
35,25336,74530,63729,96923,61234,740
MB/s144.4150.51125.49122.7596.72
142.3
Average Response0.02810.02690.03240.03310.04210.0265
Max Response
15.3749.17233.81561.11030.054815.308

This is an important benchmark that's designed to evaluate how drives can handle intensive workloads over longer periods of time – all of our benchmarks were run over periods of thirty minutes, rather than the near-instant tests we’ve used elsewhere.


The all-in-one test is designed to provide a general overview of SSD performance, and the Samsung's innovative memory modules helped it to a best-in-class result of 7,826UOPS at 299MB/s. The 850 Pro's average response time of 0.1274ms was the best here, too, and its maximum response result was the second-best on test.


The best maximum response in the all-in-one benchmark went to the 845DC Pro, which topped out at 7.1896ms. Samsung's write-heavy drive was the surprising runner-up in all of the all-in-one benchmarks, with a score of 5975 IOPS a few hundred points ahead of the 845DC Evo's 5,450 IOPS. Both of these Samsung drives also hit speeds of more than 200MB/s.


We can't be so positive about the SanDisk and Crucial drives. The MX100's overall score of 2,426 IOPS is the worst on test, and the Extreme Pro's 2,632 IOPS isn't much better.


In the 4K reading test the 850 Pro led the way, again, with an overall score of 39,561 IOPS and a 162MB/s speed. Surprisingly, the Crucial MX100 upped its game to come second with a score of 35,839 IOPS and a 147MB/s pace - and a max response time of 0.1722ms that's twice as fast as the Samsung drive.


The SanDisk climbed out of last place with an overall score of 28,647 IOPS, but it's still not impressive - far closer to the poor 26,705 IOPS of the 845DC Evo than the 850 Pro. The 845DC Evo's score is especially disappointing when its file-reading functionality is considered.


The Crucial MX100 didn't stop the shocks there. In the 4K random file benchmark its overall score of 36,745 IOPS snuck ahead of the 850 Pro's 35,253 IOPS to capture first place - and it was the fastest drive when it comes to MB/s speed and average response time, too.


In the random test, the 845DC Pro and Evo drives sat in mid-table, and the SanDisk's 23,612 IOPS result saw it adrift at the bottom of the five drives here, more than 6,000 IOPS behind the fourth-placed part.


Best SSD Group Test: Other Benchmarks and Features


The PCMark 7 storage benchmark simulates a host of real-world tasks that will be impacted by SSD performance, including importing pictures, editing video, playing music, booting applications, playing games and even basic Windows navigation.

It's no surprise that Samsung topped this particular table with a score of 5,602. That's a little better than its previous-generation drives, and it's a long way ahead of the SanDisk Extreme Pro, which scored 5,407 — only good enough for fourth place in this test. Intel’s drive returned a disappointing 5,367 points.


The Samsung 845DC Pro came second, with 5,546, and the 845DC Evo wasn't far behind with 5,435 points. The MX100 was the big disappointment, with a score of 5,270 being significantly slower than every rival.


























PCMark 7

Crucial 256
845DC Pro 400
845DC EVO 480
SanDisk 480
Samsung 840 PRO
Intel 730
Secondary

Storage Test

5,6025,2705,5465,4355,4075,367

The average temperature of the SSDs in this group has gone up since our last test, but we didn't have any concerns about the thermal performance of these drives: with temperatures that ranged from 33°C to 37°C, they're all cool.


SSDs used to be packaged with external caddies, screws and more extras, but that’s not the case these days – the declining price of drives leaves less room in the budget for helpful extras. In this group, only the SanDisk and Crucial drives come with anything in the box and, even then, they’re just bundled with adapters that can be used to fit their 7mm frames into spaces designed for older 9.5mm drives.


Some of this test’s drives make up for their lack of extras with generous warranties. The Samsung 850 Pro and SanDisk drives lead the way with ten-year deals – the first time we’ve seen such lengthy packages included with an SSD. Samsung’s other two SSDs include conventional five-year warranties, and the budget Crucial MX100 brings up the rear with three years of coverage.




Best SSD Group Test: Conclusion


The Samsung 850 Pro is a perfect illustration of why it's important to control every aspect of a product, from research and development to manufacturing — and it's clear that it's the top dog when it comes to performance.

It topped the table in key tests across every bit of benchmarking software and, more often than not, it wasn’t far behind when it didn’t take the top spot. In our new IOmeter test it performed well, and it dominated in the Atto tests – a key indicator of good performance across the board.


The ten-year warranty is generous, too. If you’re searching for a high-end SSD, this is what you should be buying.


The SanDisk Extreme Pro has the same ten-year warranty and a near-identical cost-per-gigabyte figure, but its performance is too inconsistent – if you’re spending this much on an SSD, the Samsung is a better bet. That’s also true of the Intel 730, which didn’t impress in many of our benchmarks. If you’re looking for a budget drive then the Crucial MX100 is significantly cheaper, and if you’re after performance then the 256GB version of the 850 Pro is priced similarly to the £130, 54p-per-Gigabyte Intel.


Samsung’s two other drives are designed for reads and writes, and while both performed adequately in their respective tasks, their older hardware didn’t blow us away. They’re expensive, so they’re only worth considering if you need the reliability provided by their high endurance ratings.


The Crucial MX100 is an interesting case. It’s significantly slower than this test’s top drives in all but a handful of tests, but it’s also much cheaper – at £80 for 256GB and just 31p per gigabyte, it’s one of the best SSD deals we’ve seen.


It’s also a better bet than the older Crucial M550, which is still available. The M550’s £102 price is tempting, but its older technology is hampered in key areas – it’s able to keep up in sequential benchmarks, but in many small file tests it’s unable to match the speed of even the cheaper MX100 – and it’s even further behind some of the more expensive modern drives. It’s the same story with the Samsung 840 Evo – a once-great SSD that’s now suffering with poor small file speeds.


Bottom Line: If you want to get speeds that can outpace any hard disk without breaking the bank, the Crucial MX100 is a great budget option, but the Samsung 850 Pro remains our solid-state drive of choice.



Next, read our best Windows 8 laptops and tablet round-up



readmore »»