Opinion: Smartwatch makers must figure out our needs and fast

There’s an old Native American proverb that goes something like this: “Chief who hurl many mound buffalo dung at stone, does not build strong wall.”

It lives true in the modern English vernacular too. It’s called “throwing s*** against the wall and seeing what sticks.”

The reason I raise this ancient pearl of wisdom is because it perfectly describes how I feel about smartwatches right now.

Tech manufacturers seem to be so desperate to snag us they’re trying everything in the hope that something will resonate with consumers.

Samsung, Sony, LG and others have already released a couple of generations of dull, square-faced smartwatches that have failed miserably. Now they seem to be hanging their hats on wooing us with round-faced watches like the Moto 360.

Newsflash. The reason people aren’t buying smartwatches isn’t because of the shape of the face, the curve of the screen or the ergonomic design, it’s because we’ve been unable to see any tangible benefits to slapping them on our wrists.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Gear Neo 2 review

Right now the chief advantage of wearing a smartwatch appears to be easy access to the information we already have almost instant access to thanks to smartphones, right? It’s a glance at our wrist versus a glance at the phone.

For me, that slight boost in convenience is no reason to drop up to £200 (an entire Nexus 7, or more than half of a PlayStation 4 for context) Especially when it’s likely to bug me more often than it benefits my life.


We live in an information-soaked world, where IMs, tweets, emails, calendar notifications, Facebook updates and breaking news bulletins are flooding in at all times. Sometimes it feels like you’re drowning in them.

Personally speaking, as someone who sometimes has trouble disconnecting, the absolute last thing I need is that same experience on my wrist. Yet that’s exactly the proposition being offered by smartwatch manufacturers shoving their wares down our throats.

It seems these companies, who also believe we need powerful OLED displays that necessitate a battery charge every day, have absolutely no idea what we want from a smartwatch right now.

SEE ALSO: LG G Watch vs LG G Watch R

Maybe… just maybe, that’s because we’re not even sure what we want from smartwatches right now? Or whether we want one. Ever.

I often buy tech I want rather than need. We all do, don’t we? However, I can’t think of a single reason to want a Samsung Gear Live right now, let alone convince myself of an artificial reason to need one.

Perhaps the reason dedicated fitness trackers like the Jawbone UP24 are leading the way for wearables is because they provide the quantifiable benefits for users that smartwatches do not? Be that through inspiration to get a better night’s sleep, to make better food choices, to walk to the shops instead of driving, or to drink more water.

These devices collect valuable information on the QT without bothering you with the mundane stuff many of us feel overwhelmed with anyway. You can check your progress when you want to. The Jawbone doesn’t have a display, and is an unobtrusive a gadget as you could ask for. For me, that’s the essence of what a wearable should be.

The sad thing is, the crop of smartwatches coming at IFA 2014 next week from the likes of Samsung, Sony and ASUS seem to have learned nothing from this. It’s going to be more of the same with a few more bells and whistles and guess what? We’re still not going to buy them.

Perhaps this generation will have heart rate monitors and additional sensors, which is something, I suppose. Samsung’s latest has a SIM card all of its own, essentially making it a watch phone, but it doesn’t run Android Wear. Whoop-dee-do! LG’s G Watch R does, but looks like it’ll be £100 more expensive than the no-more-than decent predecessor. No ta.

SEE MORE: iWatch shipping won't happen until 2014?

Sadly, it’s looking like the responsibility to set the tone for what a smartwatch should represent will fall on Apple. Cupertino has an excellent track record of taking a concept and adapting it – either through tech innovation or great marketing - to convince everyone they need it. Remember at first everyone called the iPad “a big iPod touch?”

But that was then and this is now. Steve Jobs, the man credited with identifying our tech needs before we did, is no longer with us. Without him, Apple seems like just another company, devoid of that Midas touch. Does it have another trick up its sleeve on September 9 to rescue this already floundering sector? Perhaps.

By all accounts, the iWatch (or whatever it ends up being called) will be a super-charged fitness tracker packed with biometric sensors that offer chance to monitor your overall health through HealthKit for iOS 8 and control your connected living environment through HomeKit. This seems more like it.

If it proves a hit, the likes of Samsung will follow Apple’s lead (yet again) and the result will probably be a thriving smartwatch industry. If Apple fails to convince us to slap a powerful computer onto our wrists then the muck will continue sliding down the walls it is haphazardly being flung at.

Read more: HTC One M8 is the last chance saloon for Windows Phone

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Forget 3D printing, this robot printer could be the future

Whoever said printers are boring clearly hasn’t laid their eyes on this, a new robotic printer from the folks at Fuji Xerox.

The joint venture between the two tech giants is a sign of the future. The machine is not only capable of printing your all important documents, but delivering them direct to your desk.

Designed for use in public places – think airline business lounges – the robot printer is being tipped as a means of keeping your sensitive documents secure.

In a further bid to aid data security, the printer – having travelled to the user – will require a unique smart card to be scanned before documents are released.

Like existing robot vacuum cleaners, the two-wheeled robot printer plays host to a range of sensors to prevent it from bumping into people or all manner of potentially hazardous obstacles.

Despite its Jetson’s-style futuristic appeal, the Fuji Xerox robot printer has already been branded outdated by industry analysts.

“The majority of these business lounges would have higher printing demand, especially from business travellers who always need to print urgently using a secured method,” IDC analyst Maggie Tan told the BBC.

She added: “There are several mobile printing solutions available today that users can submit the print job online through their mobile devices or laptops and they are given a secured password to collect their printouts.”

Tan’s comments were echoed by fellow IDC analyst Bryan Ma who stated: “It sounds like something very unique to Japan.

“One might even argue that it seems more like technology for technology's sake.”

With 3D printing a more likely future of the industry, there is currently no word on planned rollout dates or costs for this robot printer.



Read More: LG HomBot Square review

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HTC Desire 820 specs leak ahead of IFA unveiling

The HTC Desire 820 specs sheet has been prematurely teased, with the handset tipped to run a 64-bit Snapdragon processor.

With the device widely expected to be unveiled during the IFA 2014 conference in Berlin next week, the currently unconfirmed handset’s full array of innards have been outed by serial Twitter-based tipster @upleaks.

According to anonymous sources, the phone will pair the 64-bit Qualcomm MSM-8916 processor – better known as the quad-core Snapdragon 410 – with 1.5GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage.

Keeping the company’s mid-market smartphone line in fine fettle, the Desire 820 has also be mooted to be heading to market with a 5.5-inch, 1280 x 720p HD display in tow.

Imaging will be handled by a 13-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a selfie-loving 8-megapixel snapper up front.

Google’s Android 4.4 KitKat OS and a 2600mAh Lithium-Ion battery are expected to keep things running.

If the leaked Desire 820 specs are correct, the handset will line up as a marginal improvement over the existing Desire 816, a handset unveiled earlier this year.

The new HTC handset is expected to be formally unveiled during the latter part of the coming week. The device will likely land just days after the high-end Sony Xperia Z3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 4 are introduced and shortly before the long awaited iPhone 6 enters the realms of reality.

Read More: Galaxy S6 release date

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iPhone 6 set to boast only 1GB of RAM?

iPhone 6 vs iPhone S5 mockup

The 4.7-inch iteration Apple iPhone 6 may maintain the 1GB of RAM stuffed within the iPhone 5S, a leaked component may have revealed.

Earlier on Friday we brought word that a leaked iPhone 6 logic board had unveiled the rumoured NFC chip set to sit within the device.

According to one eagle-eyed Apple fan, that same logic board contains information suggesting the 4-7-inch device will pack only 1GB of Random Access Memory.

The MacRumors forumite clicked the zoom button on the leaked photos and took a closer look at the A8 chip sitting within the component.

The lettering printed onto the chip shows a figure ‘8,’ which according to the reader is Apple’s internal code for 1GB of RAM. Had the iPhone 6 possessed 2GB of RAM, that lettering would have apparently shown a ‘B’.

Not being totally familiar with the tiny hieroglyphs Apple uses on its components to represent tech specs, it’s difficult to confirm this report.

However, the prospect of another 1GB iPhone is interesting to say the least. Most observers were expecting a boost this year in order to make full use of the 64-bit processing architecture within the iPhone 6.

Many felt the A7 chip could not reach its potential due to the lack of RAM on board the iPhone.

Whether this will be the case for the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 remains unclear.

Would the perceived shortcoming on the new device make you think twice before buying an iPhone 6? Let us know your thoughts.



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



Via: MacRumors

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Snapchat’s ‘Our Story’ photo stream feature goes public

Ephemeral photo-sharing service Snapchat has rolled out a new feature, which brings a stream of photos from big events to users.

The ‘Our Story’ feature delivers crowd-sourced images from big events around the world, in order to provide Snapchat loyalists with a running stream.

The company has recently been testing the feature on a limited segment of member during the Electric Daisy Carnival, the World Cup in Brazil and the Lollapalooza music festival.

Now the feature is available to all users complete with a Live section allowing users to view images as they’re submitted, if they’re following the big event.

Previously, users were only able to see the stream if they were live at the event, but now anyone from around the world can feel like they’re at the festival.

On its blog the company wrote: We were absolutely blown away when Snapchatters contributed over 350 hours of Snaps to Our Story during EDC, Rio, Outside Lands, and Lollapalooza. It was so much fun experiencing our favorite events with all of you!

“You’ll notice today that there’s a new “Live” section beneath your Recent Updates. That’s where you’ll be able to experience Stories contributed by the Snapchat community at all sorts of events. It’s a great way to check out what’s happening around the world.”

Snapchat is yet to clarify which events will be showcased by Our Story.

Read more: Best Android Camera apps 2014

Via: TechCrunch

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The MSN Messenger era will officially end in October with China shutdown

Microsoft has announced its iconic MSN Messenger will be shut down in China, the last territory where it is still operating.

The shutdown in the far east will take place at the end of October when users will be forced over to Microsoft’s own Skype platform.

Just like users around the rest of the world, Chinese MSN loyalists can port their accounts and contacts over to Skype. For their troubles Microsoft is giving users compensation in the form of a Skype coupon worth about £1.20.

Microsoft brought the curtain down on its 14-year-old instant messaging service in April of 2013, but kept the service running in mainland China.

The success of a Chinese client named QQ seems to have convinced Microsoft to finally pull the plug now, according to a ZDNet report.

To all of our Chinese readers now enduring the same grief felt by MSN users across the world until they realised Skype was actually way better, we offer our condolences in a language we can all understand - ({)

Read more: Windows 8.1 review

Via: VentureBeat

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NFC for iPhone 6 now ‘confirmed’ in logic board leak

NFC in iPhone 6 'confirmed'

Following months of speculation, it now seems certain the iPhone 6 will be the first Apple device to include NFC technology when it is unveiled on September 9.

An alleged complete logic board for the next-generation smartphone has appeared in the wild, with reports claiming it contains a Near Field Communications clip.

The pictures, courtesy of iPhone modifiers Feld & Polk, appear to show an NXP-made NFC chip sitting alongside the A8 processor and other iPhone 6 components.

The leak comes after a week of rumours regarding Apple’s adoption of mobile technology tech and the pending launch of an app that’ll allow users to use iPhone handsets to make mobile transactions at vendors.

On Friday the well-connected Apple blogger Jon Gruber of Daring Fireball sought to explain (in a roundabout way) how the technology will operate.

He wrote: “I’ve been working on a new joke — about NFC and a new secure enclave where you can store your credit cards, so you can pay for things at brick and mortar retail stores just by taking out your iPhone, but only if it’s one of the new iPhones - but no one seems to get my sense of humour”

“Follow-up joke: It would be cool, and would make a lot of sense, if the new wearable thing had the same magic payment apparatus.”

The launch of an NFC-enabled iPhone would finally see Apple embrace the technology it has eschewed for years. Android devices with NFC chips have become common place in recent years, but Apple’s refusal to jump on board has held back the proliferation of mobile payments somewhat.

Will Apple jumping on board with NFC prove a catalyst for greater contactless payments adoption? Let us know below.

Read more: iPad Air 2 release date

Via: MacRumors

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iWatch might launch next month, but won’t ship until 2015

The iWatch might launch alongside the iPhone 6 next month, but don’t expect it to be available to purchase until 2015.

That’s what the latest report is suggesting anyway, with Apple in danger of missing the Christmas shopping season for its first wearable.

According to “sources in position to know”, the iWatch won’t actually be released for some time after the official unveiling on September 9.

“It’s not shipping anytime soon”, said one source to Re/code.

Apparently, you should expect to see the iWatch go on sale in early 2015, which could potentially be up to five months after its launch.

This isn’t a strange occurrence for Apple products. Between the launch of the original iPhone and its eventual release there was a five month waiting period. Then, when the iPad was launched in 2010, there was a slightly longer than expected two month delay between launch and release.

Hopefully, we won’t actually have to wait for five months for the iWatch to actually hit shelves, but we’ll have to wait and see.

The iPhone 6 launch has been scheduled for September 9, at which point the company should also unveil the iWatch.

It is widely expected that the iPhone 6 will come in two guises, a 4.7-inch main model and larger 5.5-inch model currently dubbed the iPhone 6 Air.

As for the iWatch, we have seen very few leaks surrounding the actual specs of the device including the display size and shape.

We assume it’ll feature some kind of touchscreen and run a modified version of iOS 8. It will no doubt take advantage of the new HealthKit API and Health app.

Read more: Best fitness trackers 2014

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Samsung Gear S adds Nike+ Running and Here Maps support

Samsung Gear S with Nike+ Running

The Samsung Gear S will have Nike Plus Running and Nokia Here Maps support when it launches later this year.

Due to be released in October, the Gear S is a smartwatch that has can support a SIM card for 3G connectivity.

What’s also another new feature for the Gear range is that the Gear S comes with GPS connectivity.

This feature has ushered in a new wave of wearable apps that are currently only compatible with the Gear S.

These include the Nike Plus Running app, which lets you check your running routes, tack your progress and view your fitness metrics, even if you leave your phone at home. The GPS lets you see how fan you’ve run and how fast you were moving.

The app is also kitted out with a music player, allowing you to add music to a playlist with a tap and play it while you run.

“We are very excited to welcome the Nike Plus Running App to Samsung’s Gear portfolio,” said Chan Woo Park, VP of Product Strategy Team in Mobile Division at Samsung. “With its ergonomically fit design, empowered by multi-sensors, GPS and IP67, the Samsung Gear S is a perfect health and fitness companion.”

“With the Nike Plus Running app it will be even more attractive and fun for people to enjoy running, while tracking runs, reaching goals and sharing with friends, all on their wrist.”

The Samsung Gear S is also getting a special Nokia Here Maps powered app called Navigator. It offers turn-by-turn walking navigation and public transport information.

Due to the Gear S’s 3G compatibility, the app can function as a standalone experience for the Gear S. This includes storing map data on the device and downloading them for offline navigations and local searches.

“Here aims to deliver fresh maps, platform services and location cloud experiences to as many people and businesses as possible, independent of the device and operating system they are using,” said Sean Fernback, Senior VP of Everyday Mobility at Here. “Partnering with Samsung for the Tizen OS, and providing maps and locations services for the first time with the new Samsung Gear is another huge step for us in that direction.”



Read more: Best Android Wear apps

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iPhone 6 to use M7 chip maker for NFC hardware?

The iPhone 6 could use NFC technology made by NXP, the same company behind the iPhone 5S M7 co-processor.

Apple is reportedly partnering with Dutch chipmaker NXP to supply an NFC chip for the iPhone 6, bringing mobile payment functionality to iOS for the first time.

According to Financial Times sources, who claim to be familiar with Apple’s plans, the two companies have been working together on a new contactless payment system utilising NFC technology.

Supposedly this new e-wallet system will be directly linked to users’ iTunes accounts, and therefore existing stored credit card details.

NXP already has a significant stake in Apple’s iOS line-up thanks it providing the M7 co-processor found in the iPhone 5S.

The NFC chip will also provide uses beyond an e-wallet system of course. It could be used to increase the iPhone 6’s compatibility with the internet of things devices like fitness trackers or smart home appliances.

The new iPhone 6 operating system, iOS 8, introduces a new API for smart home products called HomeKit. Software and hardware tied to HomeKit could use NFC technology to connect with smart home devices in the future.

Apple already has a number of NFC related patents to its name and this is far from the first time the technology has been rumoured for the iPhone 6.

It could well be that Apple’s new mobile payments system isn’t based on NFC alone. It already has its iBeacon technology, which works using a combination of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for short range wireless functions.

The iPhone 6 is due to be officially launched on September 9. The iWatch should be unveiled alongside it, potentially offering NFC connectivity too.



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

Via: AppleInsider

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Why open world games need a psychotic anti-hero

OPINION: Nick Cowen explores why open world games won’t be able to tell a decent story until they embrace the necessity of a psychotic anti-hero

One of the most underrated games on the last generation of consoles is Prototype. It wasn’t particularly ground breaking in terms of its mechanics or setting. When it was released it was the second game in about a month in which players controlled a super-powered individual let loose in a dystopian open world (the other being Infamous). But what it dared to do with its protagonist went largely overlooked.

The anti-hero at the centre of Prototype was Alex Mercer, a shady individual who wakes up in a morgue with parts of his memory missing and the new-found ability to shape shift. As he scours the city in search of the people responsible for his condition, he develops new powers that allow him to transform his limbs into weapons, run up the sides of buildings and shoot spines from his body, impaling any enemy in his vicinity. He also unlocks the ability to assume the shape of anyone he kills and consumes.

How to like a murderer: the Assassin's Creed games star killers that it's easy to root for.

That last aspect of Protoype pretty much dictated that the game’s character was a merciless thug. Alex Mercer was a psychopath and whether or his mental state was because of the virus infecting him or whether he’d always been a nasty piece of work was never addressed. According to Alex’s world-view, everyone in his environment was either an asset to be used or an obstacle to be crushed.

In short, Alex viewed the world in exactly the same way as a gamer.

Open world games offer players a Bacchanalian level of freedom and this can often jar horribly with the story developers are trying to tell with them. In games like L.A. Noire or Sleeping Dogs, heroic protagonists can usually be seen doing horrendous things, simply because the player feels like it. They may be a force for good in terms of the narrative, but that doesn’t stop the player using them from mowing down pedestrians with machine gun fire.

See also: Xbox One vs PS4



Niko Bellic's fresh start in Liberty City was hampered a little by his chosen occupation.

Prototype differs in this regard. Since Mercer is an unrepentant killer, any activity the player takes part in dovetails succinctly with the character’s moral compass. In a way it makes Mercer one of the best protagonists in an open world game. The game’s story may be a little hokey, but any action the player takes won’t break the narrative as there’s never any instance in the plot in which Mercer appears as anything other than unsympathetic or deranged.

Mercer isn’t the first anti-hero to star in an open world game. The groundwork for characters as unlikeable as him was laid down in Grand Theft Auto 3 in which the protagonist, Claude Speed, silently took on any job, no matter how bloodthirsty, in order to take revenge on his former partner in crime. The most successful stories told in open world video games are those that revolve around characters who are given a license by the narrative to maim and kill at will: Crackdown, Prototype, GTA 3 and Watch Dogs all fall into this category.

See also: Best games 2014



Not even pretending: All three characters in GTA V were sociopaths, and the game was better for it.

Interestingly, one open world franchise that has been able to navigate this morally murky terrain is Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series, but then, the protagonists in those games are all trained killers.

Narrative concerns in an open world fall flat the moment developers try to make their protagonists sympathetic. In Red Dead Redemption, John Marsden was presented as a man who respected his loving wife so much, he’d turn down offers from prostitutes in every town he rode into. However, players received an achievement in the game for tying a woman to some tracks and allowing a train to run over her. In light of that activity, Marsden came across as rather uneven, to say the least.

In Grand Theft Auto 4, players were supposed to be on the side of Niko Bellic, an Eastern European who came to the USA and attempted to leave his bloody past behind. But Niko’s plans for a fresh start became impossible to invest in once he started taking work as a contract killer.

See also: Red Dead Redemption 2 news and rumours



Sleeping Dogs: You play as an undercover cop who could mash enemy's faces into fans. Seriously.

Niko’s moral see-sawing may have been the reason that Rockstar wisely chose to make the protagonists in Grand Theft Auto 5 three of the most loathsome individuals to ever grace a video game. Franklyn is a thug on the make, Michael is Anthony Soprano stuck in a never-ending episode of the Osbournes and Trevor… well, Trevor is essentially a nihilistic psychopath motivated by the basest of instincts. All of them are impossible to like.

I don’t point out the fact that GTA 5’s characters are so horrendous as a criticism, by the way. In fact, they’re key to why GTA 5 is a better game and Rockstar is able to tell a better story with it than its predecessor.

It’s a lesson other developers should take note of – a lesson, incidentally, that Radical Games, the developer behind Prototype didn’t learn as it tried to make the character at the centre of its sequel somewhat heroic. In the video game medium, power trips without consequences are a key draw. Heroics in this environment just get in the way.



Read our previous entry in the TrustedReviews weekly gaming column: Have fans and funds created a Ubisoft game template?

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Saints Row 5 announcement teased for PAX

Is that the Saints logo we spy?

Deep Silver has released a teaser image on Twitter, suggesting Saints Row 5 will be announced at PAX.

A new tweet from Saints Row series owner Deep Silver has teased that we should hear about Saints Row 5 for the first time at PAX later today.

The Dead Island 2 publisher previously confirmed that is was holding a special PAX panel at the Seattle event. Voice actor Natalie Lander is hosting a “quiz show hour”, where she will afterwards reveal “exclusive gameplay, art and details of an upcoming project from Volition”.

Volition is the developer behind all previous Saints Row titles, so it would make sense for the PAX reveal to be related to the series.

Deep Silver then pretty much confirmed that with the above teaser picture. As you can see, the Saints Row logo is clearly visible on the Ouija board piece.

If that isn’t the biggest hint to a PAX reveal, we don’t know what is.

The caption for the image was also “something wicked this way comes”, which certainly is a reminder of the cheeky element found in previous Saints Row titles.

We pretty much don’t know anything about Saints Row 5 as yet, but it looks like we won’t have to wait that long until we do.

The Volition PAX panel starts at 10am PDT or 6pm BST, so keep your eyes peeled for some Saints Row flavoured news.

Saints Row 4 was released back in August 2013 for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. It was met with mixed reviews from critics, some of whom thought the series had reached its end.

Read more: Best games 2014

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iOS 8 privacy settings updated to protect HealthKit data

Apple has updated its privacy settings for iOS 8, protecting your sensitive HealthKit data from advertisers and other prying eyes.

Ahead of the expected iOS 8 launch in September, Apple has made some modifications to ensure your sensitive data contained in the Health app and HealthKit enabled services cannot be sold.

Any health data gathered by the HealthKit API will now definitely remain private as Apple has restricted developers from selling or distributing your information.

The terms are buried within the latest iOS 8 beta’s licensing agreement, but the Financial Times managed to dig them out.

According to the license, developers may “not sell an end-user’s health information collected through the HealthKit API to advertising platforms, data brokers or information resellers” and are forbidden from using any collected data “for any purpose other than providing health and/or fitness services”.

Any apps using the HealthKit API must also ensure that they are delivering the privacy policies to end users.

The HealthKit API is an application framework that makes third-party app and hardware compatible with iOS 8 devices and the new Health App coming with Apple’s next mobile OS.

Health lets you access all the fitness data gathered by third-party hardware and software via a centralised hub. It lets you view and share your health metrics, such as your heart rate, calories burnt, blood sugar, cholesterol levels and steps taken.

Of course, all this is primed to work with the heavily rumoured iWatch – Apple’s first wearable device.

The iWatch is supposed to be a wrist worn device that carries a host of health related sesnors, not dissimilar to other fitness trackers already on the markets like the Samsung Gear Live or Nike FuelBand SE.

iOS 8 is expected to be made publicly available on September 9, when the iPhone 6 and potentially the iWatch is unveiled.

Read more: iOS 8 vs iOS 7 - What's new?

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 teaser video released

Samsung has released a new teaser video for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, ahead of its launch next week.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is scheduled to launch at a special Samsung Unpacked 2014 Episode 2 event on September 3.

The latest teaser trailer from Samsung Mobile (via YouTube) states that the company’s new sell for its stylus wielding handset is its versatility.

“Ready, Set, Go is the new magic for the Next Note. Are you ready to Note?” asks Samsung in the YouTube trailer blurb.

Although the trailer doesn’t give us a look at the handset itself, it does suggest it will keep a very similar form factor to the previous Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

Rattling through the video, Samsung does suggest that the Note 4, like all other smartphones, will be quite the multitasker. Apparently it’ll be ready to “share”, “win”, “write” and “create” with come its release.

What’s interesting is that Samsung particularly highlights the phase “Go Big”. The Note 4 is expected to feature a huge 5.7-inch QHD 2560 x 1440p display, which no doubt will be one of its biggest selling points.

The other aspect stressed in the video is its ability to capture your smiles. This may well be related to rumours the Note 4 will come with an enhanced 3.7-megapixel front-facing camera for those who love taking selfies. It will allegedly be able to record QHD 2560 x 1440p resolution video too

Rumour has it that the Galaxy Note 4 will come with a 16-megapixel primary camera with optical image stabilisation.

Apparently it will be able to take pictures at a maximum 5312 x 2988p resolution and shoot 4K (3840 x 2160p) video at 30fps just like the Samsung Galaxy S5.

TrustedReviews will be on hand to bring you all the latest from the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 launch on September 3, so make sure to stay tuned.

You can also watch the live stream via the Samsung Mobile YouTube page.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Note 3 – What to expect

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LG killing off plasma TV business

LG plasma TVs: on their way out

LG is set to bring an end to production of its plasma TV range, making it the last of the globe’s major tech giants to give up on the highly rated tech.

Yonhap News and The Korea Times have both reported the news. They’ve got word directly from Ha Hyun-hwoi, LG’s home entertainment chief, that the game is up for plasma. An official announcement is due imminently, most likely at IFA next week.

LG’s move is not surprising, even though it said in January it was committed to plasma production. Panasonic blamed the advent of 4K ultra HD for the death of its plasma business last October, while just last month Samsung said 2014 would be the last year it would produce the critically acclaimed panels.

Changhong Electric, from China, are the last big firm left making plasma tellies, so there is still hope for those who prefer the tech to the more prevalent LCD and OLED models doing the rounds right now.

LG is expected to reveal a raft of new TVs at IFA next week, with curved models and 4K expected to be the major focus.

Read more: LG Infinia 50PK790 Plasma TV review


Via Engadget

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iPhone 6 release date, news, rumours, specs and price

The iPhone 6 release date could be just a matter of weeks away, with latest iPhone 6 rumours suggesting the eagerly awaited handset will be unveiled on September 9 with NFC connectivity in tow.

Despite the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C remaining two of the most popular handsets on the market, consistently outselling the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8, the iPhone 6 has been the subject of tipsters' attentions for a number of months.

With the iPhone 6 wildely expected to feature a completely refreshed, larger design and screen to better rival its main Android rivals, it has also been suggested that the phone could benefit from a super slim profile similar to the iPod touch.

What's more, having shaken things up last year with the colourful, plastic bodied iPhone 5C, recent iPhone 6 rumours have claimed the next Apple handset could share the limelight with the company's first phablet offering, a handset which would look to rival the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

With a September 9 launch event being widely teased for the handset, an iPhone 6 release date is being tipped for the following Friday, September 19. This launch date would fit with the 'fall' timeframe handed to the iOS 8 launch.

Last Update: 11/08/14: We will continue to update this page leading up to the iPhone 6 launch and the confirmation of the precise iPhone 6 release date.

iPhone 6 Release Date: When will the iPhone 6 go on sale?

Although some had claimed that the iPhone 6 release date would be announced during WWDC 2014, we now know this to be pure nonsense, with June's conference keynote focussing on iOS 8, OS X Yosemite and a raft of new developer features.

Now, what is looking far more likely is that the iPhone 6 release date will be held in mid September - a launch which will follow an unveiling less than two weeks earlier.

Despite multiple reports claiming the iPhone 6 release date will be held on September 26 (and this is where we are placing our bets), claimed supply chain sources have now also hinted at a potential September 9 unveiling. This scenarios would likely see the eagerly awaited phone hit retailers on September 19.

"Apple has scheduled a big media event for Tuesday, Sept. 9," the tipsters claimed with little indication as to where this information has originated from.

With the iPhone 4S having marked the company’s first move to a late summer unveiling, the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S have all made their first appearances around the same time of year.

Adding further backing to an autumn release, analysts and claimed insiders have reported that the iPhone 6 will touch down with a new 4.7-inch screen during the very latter period of Q3 - so late September. It has been suggested that the iPhone 6 will land as a busy second half of the year for the Cupertino-based giant, a period which will also see new iPads, MacBooks and the much mooted Apple iWatch land.

Separate reports out of Japan and Taiwan have both suggested that the iPhone 6 will enter full production in July in order to meet launch demands. One thing you can bet on is that the iPhone 6 will not be hit by the same level of stock shortages as the iPhone 5S, a device which faced 6-8 week shipping delays on day one.

Could a second 5.5-inch iPhone launch in 2015?

What might happen however, at least according to one analyst, is that the oft-rumoured 5.5-inch iPhone 6 could be delayed until 2015. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has stated that the larger iPhone 6 could be edged back into 2015 due to construction issues.

“We are conservative about 5.5-inch iPhone launching by end-2014. Even if the product is launched in 2014, it is likely to take place after mid-4Q14, which is later than the September-October of consensus, with shipments being lower than consensus of 15- 20mn units,” Ming-Chi Kuo told investors.

On the potential delay he added: “We think the 5.5-inch model will also have issues with the yield rate of in-cell touch panel and color unevenness of metal casing. Indeed, these problems will likely be even more complicated with a larger size.

"In addition, from a technical perspective, we don’t expect sapphire cover, used for the first time on the 5.5-inch model, will easily pass the drop test near term.”

A clear sign that the iPhone 6 release date is growing near, joining the mass of handset leaks, the phone's retail packaging has recently been caught on camera for the first time. With box art showing off the phone's refined design, the phone has also been spotted doing the rounds in the wild.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Samsung Galaxy S6 Release Date, News, Rumours, Specs and Price

iPhone 6 News: What do we know so far?

While it can be hard to separate the fact from the fiction in the outpouring of the iPhone 6 rumour mill, a number of reports have pointed to the device making the switch to toughened Sapphire glass to protect the phone's display. With Apple long been known to be working with this material, we think this might be closer to the 'fact' end of the spectrum.

The Sapphire screen

With Sapphire glass featuring toughened properties that make it seriously difficult to scratch, it seems like the ideal fit for a smartphone screen.

The Sapphire coated iPhone has even popped up on video (allegedly) coutesy of tech YouTube personality Marques Brownlee.

With Sapphire glass already used in watch faces and even the iPhone 5S's TouchID fingerprint sensor, Brownlee has claimed that the iPhone 6 prototype he got his hands on was “straight off the assembly line iPhone 6 part from Apple” and featured a full Sapphire glass front.

“I couldn’t get the surface to even scratch a little bit at all. The worst blemish on the surface was actually my fingerprint marks and the dust from handling it so much,” Brownlee said of the device.

The iPhone 6 will be even thinner than ever

With iPhone 6 rumours having long focussed on the size of the handset's screen, attention has now turned to the phone's thickness with latest iPhone 6 leaks all pointing to a super slim device skinnier than even the 6.18mm thick Huawei Ascend P6.

While we in the TrustedReviews offices aren't sold on the idea of excessively skinny handsets, alleged iPhone 6 renders reportedly sent to case manufacturers have claimed the iPhone 6 will be just 6mm thick, 1.6mm slimmer than the 5S.

Bringing this remodelled form factor to life, an iPhone 6 mock-up has been created based on the leaked renders, offering a video-based insight into exactly how the next-gen Apple handset might look.

According to separate reports the S5 rival will be not only super slim but the proud host of a curved display and body.

As unlikely as we find it, reports out of Japan have cited "reliable information" in claiming that a curved display with rounded edges is on the cards.

We do, however, believe the claims of a super slim form could come to fruition as the skinny iPhone leaks continue to flow. Joining the renders and schematics, a claimed iPhone 6 case has leaked online, again suggesting the next-gen handset will be considerably thinner than its predecessor. The teased peripheral itself is slimmer than an iPhone 5S meaning the 6 will be heavily cut down in size. What's more, it has shown off the much mooted increase in screen size.

A 4.7-inch screen is likely and possibly more than one option

Another of the most common iPhone 6 rumours to do the rounds in recent weeks is that the handset will feature a larger screen than past Apple handsets. With the likes of the LG G2 having already pushed flagship Android phone displays to 5.2-inches, Apple is likely to make another jump in size, having moved from 3.5-inches to 4-inches with the iPhone 5. At present, it is believed the iPhone 6 will host a 4.7-inch display, similar to the original HTC One, with an Apple phablet to follow with a 5.5-inch panel.

“The electronics giant has begun evaluating a plan to offer iPhones with screens ranging from 4.7-inches to as high as 6-inches,” mooted “people familiar with the matter” have been quoted as stating in recent reports.

With dozens of leaks all pointing towards the iPhone 6 featuring a larger screen, notorious Apple tipster Brian White has added that an iPhone 6 screen size “could approach 5-inches.”

Topeka Capital analyst White added: “The next iPhone will offer customers more choice in terms of screen size. The Company has never offered multiple screen sizes for a single model, we believe this is about to change with the next iPhone offering different screen sizes that we believe will allow Apple to better bifurcate the market and expand its reach.”

Seeing a larger iPhone 6 screen all but confirmed, even component suppliers have been getting in on the premature unveiling act, teasing an increase in smartphone size. Speaking with Asian media, an unnamed Foxconn executive reportedly revealed that “Apple has been particularly interested in recent tests for a 4.8-inch screen.”

With latest reports suggesting the iPhone 6 will line up with a 4.7-inch display, it is believed that the handset will still be smaller than many of its leading Android-based competitors, instead lining up similar in size to the Motorola Moto X.

Although it has been suggested that the iPhone 6 will gain its larger display as part of a total redesign, leaked images of the phone's front panel have hinted that Apple will retain a similar aesthetic for its next flagship phone.

Surfacing courtesy of iPhone.fr, the teased image (above) has hinted that Apple will retain iPhone look, simply expanding the screen area on the phone's body.

GUIDE: Five Big-Screen iPhone 6 Problems Apple Needs to Solve

iPhone 6 Rumours: Will the iPhone 6 use Quantum Dots?

Size isn't the only change expected for the iPhone 6's screen. Building on the manufacturer's past Retina offerings, it has been suggested that the iPhone 6 will make use of new, Quantum Dot display technologies.

Quantum Dots improve colour reproductionby emitting the light through a thin film of quantum dots, particles that have properties that improve the range of colours the display can produce.

Despite grabbing headlines, the technology isn't new. Quantum Dot displays have already featured on the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX tablet line.

Earlier this year, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased the company's plans to introduce improved displays to its mobile products, a remit sure to include the iPhone 6.

“We want to give our customers what’s right in all respects – not just the size but in the resolution, in the clarity, in the contrast, in the reliability”, Cook said during an interview earlier this year. “There are many different parameters to measure a display and we care about all [of] those, because we know that’s the window to the software.”

Could the iPhone 6 include improve haptic feedback?

Improved haptic feedback is also rumoured to be on the iPhone 6's incoming features list.

Now don't go getting too excited, this isn't going to be futuristic haptic feedback that lets you feel the texture of a clothing or the prickles of a thorn bush through the glass, more an improved vibration motor which will also allow for more intricate, and potentially more powerful, gaming feedback.

The power button could move

As part of the handset's refresh, a number of small design changes are expected, with those claiming insider knowledge suggesting Apple could relocate the phone's power button for the first time since the original iPhone was introduced.

“Our understanding is that [the] iPhone 6’s power button might be moved from the top to the side,” analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated. “We think this change is meant to facilitate one-hand operation and might indicate new application that require more frequent use of the power button.”

The iPhone and the iWatch as one

Despite the iPhone 6 being set to be one of Apple's biggest launches of 2014, the next-gen smartphone might have to share the stage. With Apple having repeatedly teased and hinted a wearable gadget potentially being in the works at its Cupertino HQ, it has been suggested that the iPhone 6 release date could be held in conjunction with an Apple iWatch launch.

Tipped to boast a 1.3-inch touchscreen, the Apple iWatch will reportedly feature a curved screen manufactured by LG and launch as a companion to the iPhone 6.

Although iWatch reports have circled for some time, the iPhone 6 rumour that continues to generate the most talking points is the potential move to a larger display. With insiders and component suppliers chattering about a bigger display, analysts have got in on the act too, with Topeka Capital analyst Brian White also pointing at a 4.8-inch form factor.

One iPhone 6 rumour which seems to be stretching the realms of possibility, is collection of iPhone 6 concept images which have shown the phone with a curved, wraparound display. While these images have grabbed the attentions of many, even the concept’s designer has questioned its likelihood.

“Such a design may appear on the iPhone 6 or 7, or maybe never,” designer Nikolay Lamm said. “It’s a cool design, but one which is unlikely to give Apple a sustainable competitive advantage.”

GUIDE: Quantum Dots Explained: What they are and why they're awesome

iPhone 6 Specs: What features will be included?

The iPhone 6 specs sheet is set to have a few surprises in store following the incremental updates from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 5S.

With the Touch ID fingerprint sensor having made an appearance aboard the iPhone 5S, it is expected that the biometric security measure will become something of a standard on flagship models, and make another stop within the iPhone 6’s home button. On this front, with the Samsung Galaxy S5's own fingerprint sensor being made compatible with Paypal payments, you can guarantee Apple will be working on further partnerships and tie ins of its own.

Further iPhone 6 specs will likely see the increased screen and completely overhauled design partnered with an even speedier 64-bit processor and revised camera. Although the recently confirmed Qualcomm Snapdragon 805, Snapdragon 808 and Snapdragon 810 chipsets are to power the next wave of Android powerhouses, Apple is likely to continue to shun the leading mobile CPU provider in favour of its own chipsets.

Although the iPhone 6 camera looks set to retain the same 8-megapixel sensor as its predecessor, recent reports have suggested that integrated snapper will be improved by a move to improved glass optics to boost image quality and clarity.

Further and more precise iPhone 6 specs are still unclear.

What is clear, however, is that the iPhone 6 will become one of, if not the, first device to run iOS 8 direct from the box. An evolution more than a revolution of its mobile operating system, iOS 8 is set to have a strong, fitness based focus. Leading this new direction will be the HealthKit hub, an aggregator of a variety of dedicated fitness and wellbeing applications and services that can be tied in to a selection of third party peripherals.

Further features set to be introduced to the iPhone 6 through iOS 8 include HomeKit, new Messages feautres, the iCloud Drive storage service, a new QuickType keyboard and Notification bar widgets.

As has become customary, the iPhone 6 is expected to be made available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage forms, although a new 128GB handset is also believed to be on the cards.

On a connectivity front, Apple is expected to finally give a nod to NFC as the Cupertino-based company looks to adopt wireless payment systems.

Having been rumoured to feature on past Apple handsets, NFC looks set to finally join the fray. Although uses for NFC have been slow to appear, a number of retailers and transport systems are now accepting tap-to-pay NFC payments direct from phones.


NEWS ROUND-UP: iOS 8 Release Date, Features, Apps, News, Rumours

iPhone 6 Price: How much will it cost?

Although Apple isn’t short of a few bob, the iPhone 6 price, like that of its predecessor is sure to hit you where it hurts, the wallet.

The iPhone 5S price was increased over its predecessor, and with the iPhone 6 expected to get a bump in screen size and an all new design, you can expect and even lofty rise in costs next time around. We will bring you further details on the iPhone 6 price as and when we get them.

Read More: iPad mini 2 rumours

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iPhone 6 NFC rumours get further backing

Mobile payments could be key iPhone 6 feature

Apple’s plans to include NFC in its forthcoming iPhone 6 are starting to take shape, after yet another rumour appeared to confirm the inclusion of the touch–to–transfer tech.

Following on from reports in Wired about Apple’s plans, Daring Fireball’s John Gruber, a man known to be well connected with key staffers in Cupertino, has explained just how he thinks the iPhone 6’s NFC tech will work.

Referring to a tweet in which he suggested Apple’s iWatch September launch plans were a joke, Gruber wrote, “I’ve been working on a new joke — about NFC and a new secure enclave where you can store your credit cards, so you can pay for things at brick and mortar retail stores just by taking out your iPhone, but only if it’s one of the new iPhones — but no one seems to get my sense of humor [sic].”

That description tallies neatly with other chat about the iPhone 6’s NFC capabilities. It’s also believed that Apple will launch its own mobile wallet app, similar to Google Wallet, with security for mobile payments backed up by its Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

Every new iPhone launch comes with talk of NFC being included. However, these are the clearest indicators yet that Apple is ready to utilise tech that has been found in rival smartphones for years.

Why now? Well, contactless and mobile payments are finally taking off in a big way. EE has its own wallet service and London Underground is set to roll out contactless payments on its Tube network starting next month.



Read more: iPhone 6 release date, rumours, launch date and price

Via Daring Fireball

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Sony teases three new devices ahead of IFA

Sony has teased plans for three new devices, set to be revealed at IFA in Berlin next week. The company is due to hold a press conference on 3 September, when it’s expected to launch new kit aimed at taking on a raft of new devices from rivals including Samsung and Apple.

In a clip posted to its official YouTube channel, Sony counts through three different devices, with a brief glimpse of a silhouette of each new gadget. The largest is expected to be the heavily tipped Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, while the mid–sized effort is believed to be the much–hyped Xperia Z3 smartphone.

That leaves only the smallest model open to speculation. It’s highly likely that this will turn out to be the follow up to the superb Xperia Z1 Compact, which was first revealed at January’s CES event in Las Vegas.

The video also points to all three devices having waterproof smarts and hefty battery life, something which should;d help to give it an edge over its main competitors.

As well as Sony, Samsung is expected to detail a string of new phones and tablets at IFA, with its Galaxy Note 4 taking centre stage. LG is also set to show off new handsets, while Apple is set to hold its own event on 9 September to show off its new iPhone 6 models. In short, September looks as if it’s going to be a busy month in the world of mobile.

Read more: Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review

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Huawei Ascend Mate 7 images leak

Full uncovered photos of the Huawei Ascend Mate 7 have leaked online ahead of the phablet's expected IFA unveiling.

Just a few weeks ago we saw alleged images of the Huawei Ascend mate 7 appear online, but the device was covered by an ugly plastic case.

Now the phone has appeared on China's Weibo social network once again, minus the obtrusive case. It gives us a proper look at what the Chinese manufacturer is cooking up for its forthcoming phablet update.

As you can see, this is shaping up to be a truly huge device. According to previously rumoured specs, the Ascend Mate 7 will sport a whopping 6.1-inch display, with a suitably sharp 1080p resolution to match.

Once again, we get a view of the rumoured fingerprint sensor situated on the rear of the device, just below the 13-megapixel camera. It's claimed that Huawei's own octa-core Kirin 920 processor will power the Ascend Mate 7.

All in all, the design of the Huawei Ascend Mate 7 appears to be heavily reminiscent of the HTC One M8 - which is no bad thing, of course.

Expect to see the Huawei Ascend Mate 7 making an official appearance at IFA 2014, which takes place in Berlin from September 5 to 10.

Huawei recently revealed that it was going to launch a special edition of its latest flagship smartphone. The Huawei Ascend P7 Sapphire Edition will come with an iPhone 6-pipping sapphire display, making it considerably tougher and more scratch-proof than existing glass screens.

However, we also know that this sapphire version won't be coming to Europe. So, all eyes on the Huawei Ascend Mate 7, then.



Read More: Huawei Ascend G6 review

Via: Pocket-lint

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Pixlr free desktop photo editing app launches

Autodesk has taken the step of launching a dedicated desktop app version of its hitherto web browser-based photo editing tool, Pixlr.

The tool has always been notable for offering a powerful, funkily designed image editing experience in a web browser window. Now it really is turning up the heat on Photoshop Elements by offering a dedicated desktop app for Windows and Mac.

Of course, as Autodesk points out in a blog post on the subject, the advantage of having a desktop version here is that you can use more of the native platform's processing power. So it proves here, with support for high resolution images and no compression.

You also get to use your own fonts when adding text overlays onto your images - something that wasn't possible in the web version.

There are multiple stages of the Pixlr set-up. Upon initial download, you'll get the free starter edition. This gives you many of the core features of the Pixlr Express service.

Sign up and you'll get Pixlr Express, also free, which adds new effects, overlays, and tools like double exposure.

Finally, if you subscribe to a Pro account, which is $1.99 a month or $14.99 a year, you get advanced masking tools. Pro members get the Influence Panel, which allows you to isolate areas or objects and apply effects very specifically.

Naturally, advanced photo editors won't want to give up their Photoshop (or equivalent tool) in a hurry, but for many users Pixlr will offer precisely the quick and intuitive editing options they need - and all ranging from free to inexpensive.

Pixlr is available to download for Windows and Mac now.



Read More: Best Android Apps

Via: Gizmodo

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Xbox One update rolling out early

Microsoft has released the much-anticipated Xbox One update early, adding a media player and more to the company's games console.

The next major software update for the Xbox One was expected to arrive in September, but Microsoft has managed to squeeze it out in the dying days of August.

Xbox community chief Major Nelson posted a blog entry announcing the availability of the update, as well as highlighting some of its big new features.

Undoubtedly the headline feature here is a brand new Media Player app, which will finally enable Xbox One users to play media from a variety of external sources - including over USB and DNLA. It will also support a vast range of media formats.

There's also a new and improved Party App, which gives one party leader the ability to apply an invite system and to eject unwanted members.

We've touched on the new SmartGlass features in an earlier story - you can now use the app to record Xbox One game footage, which makes it easier for those who don't have the Kinect system installed for voice commands. You can also post and share status messages.

Elsewhere there are a couple of regional additions, bringing "Xbox On" and OneGuide functionality to a bunch of new territories, and all Xbox One users will be able to set their console to boot direct to TV from standby.

Bandwidth Usage is a pretty self-explanatory tool aimed at those on limited internet usage packages, while users can also now delete multiple GameDVR clips and save their Avatar Gamerpic to OneDrive.

All in all, a pretty significant improvement to the core Xbox One experience - and it's rolling out ahead of time right now. Well done Microsoft.



Read More: Best Xbox One games 2014

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Apple building massive structure for iPhone 6 launch

Apple is building a mysterious three story structure ahead of its announced September 9 event, which is expected to see the launch of the iPhone 6 and the iWatch.

The company recently sent out invites to a September 9 event, along with the teasing words "Wish we could say more."

But far more intriguing are snaps that have emerged, via a MacRumours reader, of a mysteriously huge white box that's under construction at the Flint Centre for the Performing Arts at De Anza College in Cupertino. It's tight under wraps, as you'd imagine, with a large barricade and plenty of tight-lipped security staff keeping prying eyes away.

When pushed as to what exactly is contained within this three-story white box, Flint Centre administrators would only say "We are not at liberty to discuss that due to client wishes."

Apple hasn't used the Flint Centre for one of its launch events for many years. In fact, one of the most notable occasions on which it did so was 30 years ago for the launch of the first Macintosh computer. Is that significant of an impending momentous Apple release? The iWatch, perhaps?

On a more practical level, the Flint Centre has a much higher seating capacity than Apple's usual venues - around 2,000 seats. This is clearly going to be a big one, and Apple wants a full crowd to observe the moment(s).

One thing's for sure - this unique venue, along with Apple's grand modifications, have made us even more interested to see what the company has to offer on September 9. And who thought that was possible?



Read More: iPad Air 2 release date

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Panasonic SC-BTT505 Audio Review

What is the Panasonic SC-BTT505?

Ostensibly the SC-BTT505 is just another 5.1 system in a box, but take a closer look at the spec sheet and you get the impression that Panasonic has attempted to create something a little more ‘grown up’ than its previous systems.

With its aluminium-enhanced speaker design, hi-fi driver array and £600 price tag, the SC-BTT505 is looking to win the audiophile vote while retaining all the cutting-edge features and user-friendly operation you normally get from a Panasonic system.

SEE ALSO: More Panasonic Surround Sound Systems

Panasonic SC-BTT505 – Design and Connections

In the box are a Blu-ray receiver unit, four satellite speakers, a slender centre speaker and a chunky passive subwoofer. The design is more daring than anything we’ve seen before from Panasonic, particularly the front and rear speakers which sport classy brushed black aluminium front panels with removable cloth grilles.

The speaker body juts forward on an angled base, while the sloping top surface cascades seamlessly into the front baffle. The aluminium front panels aren’t just decorative – their job is to reduce cabinet vibration.

It’s a good look, giving them the air of speakers from a dedicated hi-fi brand. The only thing that betrays that is the build quality – each part has an unmistakably light and plasticky feel that’s unfortunately all too common among one-box systems – but at least it’s an improvement on previous systems.

At 537mm high they’re not compact but nowhere near as imposing as Panasonic’s tallboy systems – you could get away with placing them on furniture or shelves. The rear speakers can be converted to wireless with Panasonic’s optional SH-FX82 kit. Panasonic sells a version of this system (SC-BTT885) with tallboy speakers if you prefer.

The Blu-ray receiver is also a break from the norm, dolled up in a fetching light silver finish with a black front flap. It’s chunkier than we’ve come to expect from Panasonic, but offers welcome respite in a market obsessed by slimness. A row of basic touch-sensitive controls is found on top alongside an NFC touch panel.

The receiver also boasts a generous array of sockets, allowing it to be used as a hub for all your devices. There are two HDMI inputs and one ARC-compatible output, which will receive audio back from a compatible TV. There’s on-board 4K upscaling too.

The HDMIs are joined by optical digital and analogue stereo inputs, USB and Ethernet ports and a socket for the FM radio antenna. There’s another USB port behind the front flap designated for iPod/iPhone use, although it also allows media playback from USB pen drives, external HDDs (NTFS/FAT32) and iPod/iPhone.

Great stuff, but the biggest surprise on the rear panel is the inclusion of binding posts for the speaker cables, the sort you normally find on AV receivers. Panasonic usually opts for springclips or plugs, so this is another indication of the system’s intentions.

The hefty subwoofer’s measurements (424mm high by 334mm deep) could make it a little tricky to accommodate, but the black finish with silver side panels is weirdly attractive. It also sports binding posts on the back.

Panasonic SC-BTT505 – Features

On the home cinema front, the SC-BTT505 boasts a comprehensive spec. There’s Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio decoding, 3D Blu-ray playback, DVD upscaling to 1080p, 4K upscaling and the second generation of the distortion-busting LincsD digital amplifier that musters 200W per channel (according to Panasonic).

SEE ALSO: Best Soundbars

The speakers use two 8cm woofer cones and a 2cm dome tweeter in a two-way bass reflex design, which again is a step-up from the single full-range drivers used by many one-box systems. The centre speaker uses a pair of 6.5cm cones, while the sub is endowed with a 20cm woofer.

The system’s built-in Wi-Fi connection and DLNA support allows you to stream media files from PCs, NAS drives and other networked devices. It supports MKV, XviD, AVCHD, MP4, PS, TS, MP3, AAC, FLAC, WMA, WAV and JPEG files, but not DivX (even from USB). Using the Network Drive feature you can also access content on non-DLNA servers.

There’s also Miracast support and built-in Bluetooth with apt-X support for CD quality music streaming and NFC one-touch pairing.

Panasonic’s online portal lets you access a range of internet content, including BBC iPlayer, BBC News, BBC Sport, Netflix, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, AUPEO! and iConcerts. These are the highlights, but there’s more to download in the Market menu.

It’s a useful selection but still lags behind Samsung and LG’s systems, which offer a wider choice of free catch-up TV (ITV Player, 4oD) and apps like Now TV and Spotify.

On the audio side you’ll find the latest incarnation of Panasonic’s 3D Cinema Surround, which adds 31 virtual speakers to the real 5.1 array (a jump up from last year’s 25) to increase the perceived height and width of the soundstage.

Panasonic also throws in all the sound modes from last year’s systems, including H.Bass, Whisper Mode Surround, four subwoofer settings and four EQ settings (Flat, Heavy, Clear and Soft). On the visual side you’ll find Normal, Soft and Fine presets, the latter offering contrast, brightness, sharpness and colour adjustments.

Panasonic SC-BTT505 – Operation

Despite the lack of tallboy speakers – the bane of an AV reviewer’s life – the SC-BTT505’s satellites take just as long to put together. They come in three parts (base, stand and speaker) which need to be screwed together. But if you want to hide the cables away you have to thread them through the holes while you’re doing it, which requires patience and dexterity.

Then comes the arduous task of threading and clamping the cables into the binding posts, but it’s a small price to pay for a secure, high-quality connection. These aren’t criticisms as such, but worth bearing in mind if you’re expecting a quick plug-and-play experience.

Once it’s done, Panasonic rewards your patience with an easy to follow installation wizard that runs through all the important settings, including speaker layout and sound modes. Wi-Fi configuration is found elsewhere in the setup menu but is equally easy to carry out thanks to Panasonic’s clear and friendly onscreen presentation.

The SC-BTT505 uses the same one-press Home menu as its Blu-ray players, which is an improvement over last year’s systems. The tiles are arranged in a cross to replicate the remote’s direction pad – press the relevant arrow key and it takes you to that submenu. It makes navigation a breeze, and it can even be customised for different users.

The other menus are styled with similar simplicity, using a bold colour scheme and crisp text. It’s more basic than rival menu systems but does the job. We didn’t have any trouble finding DLNA content on our laptop, but there were some delays when loading files and some HD videos would only stream in SD.

The Internet Apps menu could do with a rethink though. It looks attractive enough with its large, eye-catching tiles, but splitting them across a number of pages is a tad cumbersome – at least all the best apps are presented on the first page.

During playback the useful Option menu lets you access all the disc, picture, sound and 3D settings without having to stop the film and go back to the Setup menu.

For the remote, Panasonic hasn’t reinvented the wheel, wisely sticking with the same handset from previous systems. It’s as user-friendly as ever, covered in solid rubber buttons and foolproof labelling, with the playback buttons helpfully coloured blue to make them stand out.

Two small foibles though – the volume keys aren’t prominent enough and we wish the dedicated Netflix button wasn’t so near the direction pad, but otherwise it’s a terrific handset. Alternatively the SC-BTT505 can also be operated by an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet using Panasonic’s free control app.

Panasonic SC-BTT505 – Performance

The SC-BTT505 achieves the best sound quality we’ve heard from a Panasonic system since the flagship SC-BTT590 system it launched in 2012. It delivers an unusually clean and composed sound that doesn’t distort when you crank the volume up, but does so without compromising on scale, dynamics or attack.

The frantic action scenes of Thor: The Dark World on Blu-ray sound terrific through the BTT505’s two-way speakers. The battle at Vanaheim that kicks off chapter 2 sounds massive, with weighty explosions and lasers zipping around the spacious 5.1 soundstage.

And when Thor starts smashing up the marauders, every thump of his hammer is accompanied by a heavy yet well-controlled ‘whomp’. Clashing swords sound clean, voices easily cut through the chaos and the deftly-handled score gives the scene real urgency. It all adds up to an entertaining and immersive performance.

The sound easily fills the room but steers clear of booming and midrange harshness, flaws that have blighted past Panasonic systems. A good example is when the stone warrior strides forward and lets out a huge roar – his footsteps are punchy and accurate, plus the roar doesn’t make your ears hurt as it might on an inferior system. You do have to reduce the subwoofer level to 2 though, anything higher is too overpowering and compromises the sense of cohesion.

The use of two-way speakers results in a more confident and organised presentation than Panasonic’s compact systems. It’s not just a wave of sound coming at you from a bunch of full-range drivers – the use of separate tweeters and woofers offers a sense of separation and openness.

Crisp, attacking mids and highs are responsible for the system’s dynamic character and ensure a pleasing level of detail. The puff of dirt that falls after each explosion is pin-sharp.

We’re also impressed by the system’s surround performance, with swift steering and accurate placement. As for 3D Cinema Surround, we often take such processing with a pinch of salt but here it lends extra fullness and height to the soundstage. When Jane first sees Thor outside the abandoned warehouse, for example, hissing rain fills the room.

The SC-BTT505 backs up its superb sonic performance with jaw-dropping pictures. From the gloomy landscapes of Svartalfheim to the pristine palaces of Asgard, the system ensures every setting is packed with detail and natural-looking colours. Smooth movement and a complete absence of noise keep things looking clean and immersive, particularly when you switch to a 3D disc.

Should I buy the Panasonic SC-BTT505?

The sound quality of most all-in-one systems is nothing to write home about, so it’s worth celebrating when we find one that delivers the goods – and the SC-BTT505 certainly does that. We won’t pretend it’s any sort of competition for a separate speaker system like the Q Acoustics 2000i or KEF E305, but by one-box standards it’s a belter.

Its sound is detailed, dynamic and powerful, but most importantly it sidesteps all-too-common flaws like brashness and boomy bass. That’s all thanks to its new subwoofer and speakers, which take a more serious approach with their two-way design, removable grilles and binding posts.

Throw in a plethora of features like Bluetooth, NFC, DLNA, Miracast and 4K upscaling and this system represents great value. Its only major faux pas is the lack of compelling internet content – if that’s important, you might want to check out Samsung and LG’s latest systems before making your decision.

Verdict

The SC-BTT505 brings a rare sense of sonic refinement to the all-in-one system market, and backs it up with plentiful features and eye-catching design. Only limited internet content lets the side down.

Next, read our pick of the Best Surround Sound Systems

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