Dell: We can do things with Android we can’t with Windows

The mobile OS race is usually a case of iOS vs Android, but with some manufacturers still backing Microsoft there is a third challenger to the tablet crown, at least for now.

Despite the likes of the Surface Pro 3 and Nokia Lumia 2520, Windows is on the wane in the tablet space.

Dell, a former giant of the PC market, has a couple tablets running Microsoft’s finest OS, but says Android offers a broader range of options.

The company has claimed there are things it can do with Android which just aren’t possible with Windows.

“We can do things with Android at the moment that we can’t do with Windows,” Adam Griffin, Dell’s Global Senior Tablet Product Manager said speaking with TrustedReviews.

Although singing the praises of the Google OS, Griffin has revealed Dell has no plans on turning its back on Windows just yet.

“We work with partners that our customers want,” he told us.

“Whether it’s working with Windows or Android, we will offer both solutions.

“It’s all about choice, and again Dell offer you choice.”

With Windows currently the enterprise tool of choice, Griffin also hinted at the possibility of targeting businesses with future Android tablets.

Dell has three tablets on offer right now. There’s the 8-inch Dell Venue 8 Pro, and the 10.8-inch Dell Venue 11 Pro, both of which run on Windows.

Dell also sells an 8-inch Android tablet dubbed the Dell Venue 8.

The electronics manufacturer just announced the results of a survey that says 9/10 businesses now make use of tablets.

The survey also revealed that UK businesses manage to squeeze out a bonus 20 per cent productivity from their employees if they’re using tablets.

Read More: iPad Air 2 review

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Android Wear Update: What's New?

Sony SmartWatch 3 with Android Wear

Google’s smartwatch OS gets its first major update

Google has launched the first major update for its Android Wear smartwatch OS, and it brings a couple of interesting new features for those with the hardware to exploit them.

It hasn’t been plain sailing for Android Wear since its launch in March of this year. None of the hardware that runs Google's bold smartwatch OS has been received terribly well - even the platform's biggest hope, the Motorola Moto 360, is a little disappointing - and the software itself seems to be a work in progress.

Google will hope that its new Android Wear update will be able to do something about the latter issue, at least. Here’s what you can expect from the new version of Android Wear.

Go for a jog without your phone

Up to now, if you wanted to go for run using your Android Wear smartwatch to track your performance, you had to take your phone along for the ride. When most modern Android phones are… how can we put this delicately… rather on the large side, this situation was far from ideal.

Thank goodness, then, for the new Android Wear update. It allows your smartwatch to track your route, distance, and speed - provided it’s equipped with a GPS sensor, of course. Which, um, only the new Sony SmartWatch 3 seems to have.

Still, we assume (and hope) that all second-wave Android Wear devices will have such a feature on board.

Locally stored music

Elsewhere, Google is also allowing you to store music on your Android Wear watch rather than requiring you to stream it from your phone.

Naturally, internal storage is rather limited on any Android Wear watch, but for loading up a couple of albums for your next run it should be a more than welcome option.

And yes, this also means that the update allows you to hook up your Bluetooth headphones to your watch.

Which devices will receive it, and when?

The new Android Wear update has been announced alongside intitial pre-order details for the new Sony SmartWatch 3, and thanks to that device's GPS sensor, it’s the only device that can make the most out of each one of Android Wear’s new features.

Still, the rest of the range will also be getting the update, which should see them benefit from the inevitable performance enhancements and that offline music feature. Google has confirmed that the LG G Watch, the Samsung Gear Live, and the Moto 360 will all be getting the new version of Android Wear over the next few days.

New app categories

Google’s new Android Wear update has been accompanied by some new additions to the Google Play Store, which should make it more useful for smartwatch owners.

Google has added eight new Android Wear-specific app collections to its app store. These are: Featured, Health & Fitness, Travel & Local, Social, Tools, Communication, Productivity, and More Apps.

With a reported tens of thousands of Android apps now enhanced for Android Wear usage, such a curation effort is most welcome.



Read More: Android Wear vs Apple Watch

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What is Apple SIM? A guide to the new iPad's killer feature

Apple's quiet assault on the humble SIM

When Apple announced the iPad Air 2 last week, the focus was firmly on its super-skinny body, its potent A8X CPU, its Touch ID sensor, and its improved 8-megapixel camera. It was easy to overlook what could be the most important innovation of the lot.

We’re talking about Apple SIM, an unexpected stride towards a totally SIM-less future that launches on both the Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 this week.

So what exactly is Apple SIM?

It’s Apple’s SIM

It might sound obvious, but Apple SIM is Apple’s own SIM standard – and it's been threatening to instigate it for years. Traditional SIM cards are physical chips that act as network keys for a single account attached to a single network operator, but Apple SIM isn't tied to any network and is software-based.

But what are the benefits?

Freedom to swap

Apple SIM means that you’ll be able to switch seamlessly to any cooperating operator through a simple change in your settings menu.

There'll be a physical benefit to this, of course. Changing to a new operator or a second mobile account won't require messing around with fiddly SIMs, wiry SIM tools and easy-to-loose SIM trays. Assuming this technology eventually trickles down to non-Apple devices, there will also be no more removing the rear cover and battery.

Speaking of which, there won’t be any of the issues that often accompany swapping between an iOS device and another, such as an Android phone. Ever tried moving a nano-SIM into a micro-SIM slot? Finding an adaptor, assembling said hybrid, and inserting it into a slender modern phone can be frustrating to say the least.

Then there are the network issues that can accompany reliance on a basic, physical chip for access to your local creaky mobile network. All (potentially) gone with Apple SIM.

Freedom to wander

This freedom has the potential to go beyond the freedom from using physical bits of plastic. It also means you’ll be free to wander between operators, choosing the precise plan that suits you best. This could include shorter-term call plans that don’t keep you locked in place for two years.

That freedom to wander has a more literal application, too. Just think of those occasions where you travel abroad, and find yourself deliberating over whether to buy a local SIM or swallow your operator’s roaming charges.

The former is invariably cheaper, but can you ever be bothered to go into a local phone shop and negotiate the switch in an unfamiliar language? Probably not.

With Apple SIM, such changes will be possible from your iOS device’s settings menu.

Thinner devices

No SIM cards means that Apple will be able to make even thinner phones and tablets. Think that’s an exaggeration given the tiny nature of nano-SIM cards?

In the past, that would be true. But consider this: Apple just released a tablet that’s 6.1mm thick. Just over half a centimetre. That’s tiny. Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus phones aren’t much thicker.

What we’re saying is that a millimetre here and there for the nano-SIM and its housing represents a much larger proportion of a device’s thickness than it did, say, three years ago. Getting rid of that will make quite a difference – and will create space for more important things like bigger batteries to boot.

SEE ALSO: iPad Air 2 vs iPad mini 3

It’s not the end of the SIM yet

Of course, replacing the physical SIM card in a tablet is very different from replacing it in a phone. With no voice calls or text allowances to worry about, it’s a far simpler data-only setup.

That’s also probably how Apple was able to get the operator support that it has. It’s likely to be a very different matter persuading those same networks – not to mention the majority that haven’t yet committed to Apple SIM – to give up their control and their lucrative 24-month contracts.

And as powerful as Apple is, it can’t yet distribute its iPhone range alone. It still needs that operator support to sell its devices to the masses, and we can't see the operators caving in to Apple's latest attempt to kill the SIM without a struggle.

Availability

Apple SIM will launch with the LTE versions of the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 this week.

At present, only a small handful of US and UK operators are onboard. In fact, in the UK there’s only the one: EE.

Read more: iPad Air 2 vs iPad Air: Should you upgrade?

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Nest buys up Revolv to boost Google’s smart home drive

Revolv home automation hub

Google-owned connected home pioneer Nest has announced it has acquired Revolv, the maker of a home automation hub.

The Revolv unit allows owners to control all of the connected tech in their house via a Wi-Fi connection, but will be removed from sale as a result of the acquisition.

Those folks who’ve already purchased a Revolv unit and enjoy using the app will still be able to enjoy their existing service, and have been assured that Google will not gobble up all of their data. That will remain separate.

It’s currently unclear what Google plans to do with the Revolv platform. It could fold the technology into a Nest hub, or launch a future version of the home thermostat complete with Revolv’s nous.

The Revolv team will join Google’s ‘Works with Nest’ stable, which now takes centre stage in the developing battle to power the connected home. Also within that alliance is the Dropcam home security start up, which Nest purchased earlier this year.

“We have been inspired by Nest since our foundation, and are thrilled to be part of the Nest family,” read a statement on the Revolv website.

“Together, we’re going to create some amazing products and continue to unify the connected home as part of the Works with Nest program.”

Alongside the Revolv acquisition, Nest has also announced five new technologies that will work with the platform.

Pebble smartwatch users will be able to control their Nest thermostat with the watch, while Rachio turns on the sprinklers if Nest tells them there’s a lot of smoke in the room. The Life360 service will tell Nest when everyone is out of the house and the ivee voice control platform is also on board while SNUPI integration can tell Nest to check in with temperature in another room.

Read more: Nest vs the rest in smart thermostat showdown

Via: CNET

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iTunes Music sales down 14 per cent as Apple prepares to ‘fold in’ Beats Music

Beats Music is likely to fold into iTunes next year

Digital music sales from Apple’s iTunes Store have dropped by a whopping 13 to 14 per cent since the start of 2014 according to The Wall Street Journal .

Sources ‘familiar with the situation’ claim there's been a much greater drop-off in sales compared to 2013, when the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry cited revenue from overall downloads had fallen 2.1 per cent.

Sales have continued to plummet as more and more people turn to streaming rather than purchasing music. Services like Spotify offer limited free music on web and mobile, while a £10 a month subscription gives users unlimited access and offline playlists.

{pullquote}In order to stem the bleeding, Apple reportedly plans to fold the Beats Music platform into iTunes next year{/pullqoute}, giving users a paid streaming option and replace some of that lost revenue.

“Apple is rebuilding Beats Music and plans to relaunch it next year as part of iTunes, according to a person familiar with the matter,” the Wall Street Journal wrote.

Today’s news comes following reports from TechCrunch, which originally brought word of Apple’s rumoured plans last month. Following those reports, there was a denial, via tech reporters favoured by Apple, claiming the firm may modify the brand rather than ditch Beats Music altogether.

Bringing Beats Music into the fold would allow Apple to launch a streaming platform with more name recognition and a whopping, built-in customer base of 400 million people.

The company also had the iTunes Radio platform, which allows users to create custom stations, and folding in Beats Music would allow Apple to have downloads, online radio and paid streaming under the same banner.

Earlier this week, reports claimed Apple would slice Beats subscription costs in half in order to compete with the big guns.

Can streaming rescue Apple’s music business? Or is it already too far behind Spotify and the rest of the streaming in crowd? Let us know your thoughts below.



Read more: iTunes Radio vs Spotify

Via: Gizmodo

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Amazon’s Android app has built in access to rival Appstore

The Amazon App Store is built into the Kindle Fire

The newest version of the Amazon app for Android devices actually allows users to download applications from Amazon’s Appstore, the rival platform which competes with Google’s own Play Store.

TechCrunch has unearthed a working version of the Amazon Appstore, which has been available since the firm’s last update in early September and has apparently gone unnoticed since.

The Amazon Appstore app is, naturally, unavailable from the Google Play store and requires users to side-load it on to the device in order to use it on their Android devices.

However, now users can simply browse to the Apps & Games section of the regular app, browse and purchase everything Amazon has to offer. All users have to do is enable downloads from “unknown sources” in the Android settings and away the go.

{pullquote}The company is even using the main Amazon app to recommend apps based on physical items the users has previously purchased online?pullquote}.

Effectively this gives Amazon an advantage over even Google as it is able to more easily target users based on what it knows they may be into.

For example, if you’ve bought Minecraft from Amazon, the store may recommend the mobile version of the game too.



Read more: Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 review



Via: The Verge

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Note 4 sales lower than early Note 3 interest

Early Galaxy Note 4 sales have slumped below expectations, latest reports have suggested.

With Samsung’s fourth-generation phablet having been formally unveiled at IFA 2014 early last month, reports from Korean media have claimed the 5.7-inch device has shifted 4.5 million units during its opening month on sale.

While this is a far from insignificant figure, it marks a drop of 500,000 units on the first month of Note 3 sales last year.

Although the Galaxy S5’s big brother has been on sale in Samsung’s native Korea for a month now, the phone only hit UK retailers in the past week. We would expect Note 4 sales to jump in the coming month as the handset continues its global rollout.

Samsung has yet to formally comment on precise Note 4 sales figures.

If accurate, this drop in sales will do nothing to aid the manufacturer’s slumping profits. In a difficult year for the Apple rival after years of growth, 2014 has been filled with slowing handset sales and a reduction in revenues.

Despite reduced interest in the Note 3 over the Note 3, Samsung’s latest phablet is arguably the best device the company has ever created.

The phone pairs its 5.7-inch, 2560 x 1440 pixel QHD display with a 2.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor and 3GB of RAM.

With a 16-megapixel, OIS enhanced camera also thrown into the mix, the Note 4’s specs sheet is rounded off by Android 4.4 KitKat and the company’s beloved S-Pen stylus.

Read More: Everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S6

Via: News1

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Synology DiskStation DS415+ Review

What is the Synology DS415+?

This is the small business focused four-bay follow up to the DS414 (a 'DS415' is due soon). The critical difference here is the DS415+ is optimised for encryption while it still delivers the same multimedia expertise as its consumer-focused stable mate. To coincide with this comes a change of chipset and a higher asking price, so is it worth it?

Synology DS415+: Design

More than a year has passed since the DS414 range was launched, but nothing has changed with the exterior and - quite frankly - nothing needed to. The DS415+ therefore still has a plastic chassis, but it is rock solid with a matt, textured finish that resists dust and fingerprints and a glossy front fascia which pops on and off to access the drives.

At 233 x 203 x 165mm and 2.05Kg is it also exactly the same size as the DS414 (we’re sure it’s the same chassis) and just 30g heavier. NAS aren’t designed to win beauty contests, but the DS415+ is nicely minimalist and will blend into almost any environment which is all we ask.

SEE ALSO: Best Routers Roundup

Synology DS415+: Features

With its encryption focus, Synology has switched from the Marvell Armada XP (MV78230) chipset inside the DS414 to an Intel Atom-based quad core chip running at 2.4GHz and doubled the RAM to 2GB. There is also a dedicated AES-NI hardware encryption engine which does the heavy lifting on encrypted file transfers.

Meanwhile it retains the DS414’s four 3.5in HDD bays, support for up to 24TB of storage (thanks to 6TB drive support) and matching connectivity: dual Gigabit Ethernet (both for failsafe and Link Aggregation), 1x eSATA, 1x USB 2.0 and a pair of USB 3.0 ports. One gripe is that USB 2.0 should remain at all, especially as it is used on the front port, but most rivals still do the same.

A more pleasant continuation is the fitting of two large 92mm fans. Only one runs at a time to keep the NAS quiet, but the second acts as a backup should one break. This remains a differential feature and Synology does well to cram them into such compact dimensions.

Elsewhere the full array of Synology plus points come into view: Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) - which enables hot swapping of drives and dynamic enlarging of the volume, the glorious DiskStation Manager (DSM) software and compatibility with DLNA, iTunes Server, Plex and Synology’s host of Android and iOS apps for remote access. The DS415 may have a business focus, but it remembers its party clothes.

SEE ALSO: Best Powerline Adapters

Synology DS415+: Setup

We have long praised Synology NAS for their class leading setup process and, while nothing has changed, the DS415 has no new unpleasant surprises either. The bay’s themselves remain tool-less allowing drives to be fitted in seconds and, once booted, the NAS can be detected simply by typing ‘find.synology.com’ into a web browser or running the company’s DiskStation Assistant software.

This prompts a setup wizard where you can name the NAS, decide on the RAID type, setup remote access and choose passwords. Synology sets up drives incredibly quickly so you’ll be up and running in less than 10 minutes.

All of which brings us to the DSM interface. Unlike rivals, which take a menu based approach, Synology has created a virtual desktop (with a number of OS X style references). This works a treat as it has natural language search, windows, the Synology app store and live widgets which display on the health of the NAS in real time. Even technophobes will be filled with confidence.

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Google wants Android Wear smartwatches to be iOS compatible

Google is looking into making Android Wear smartwatches iOS compatible, the company’s product manager has revealed.

In a move that would allow the likes of the Moto 360 to be synced with your new iPhone 6, Google has suggested it hopes to bring further platform support to its new wearable OS.

“We always want as many users as possible to enjoy our experience, so in terms of enabling more people to use Android Wear we’re very interested in making that happen,” Android Wear PM Jeff Chang said in fielding questions on potential Android Wear support for iOS.

Despite these hopes and goals for cross-platform support, Chang has been realistic in the barriers standing in the way of such a move.

Speaking with the Huffington Post he added: “It’s not always completely up to us right? There are technical constraints, API constraints so we are trying really hard.

“We would love to have Android Wear reach as many people as possible but I’ll just say that it’s not 100 per cent under our control.”

With Apple having recently unveiled its first wearable effort, the iOS utilising Apple Watch, and with Microsoft widely believed to be working on a device of its own, we would be extremely surprised if rival platforms opened themselves up to Android Wear.

At present, devices such as the Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch are compatible only with smartphone running Google’s Android platform.

In contrast, certain smartwatches such as the Pebble Steel, or the upcoming Withings Activite will work with both iOS and Android handset.



Read More: Samsung Galaxy S6 release date

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Samsung Galaxy S5 to get Android 5.0 Lollipop in December

Owners of the Samsung Galaxy S5 should expect to see an update to Android 5.0 Lollipop in December.

Previous reports suggested that the OS upgrade could land in late November, but the latest rumours suggest December is more likely.

The news comes courtesy of SamMobile, which attributes the new information to its sources.

The site also notes that although the release date for Android 5.0 might be in December, it could take up to a month for the new software to rollout onto devices across all regions.

Google announced Android 5.0 Lollipop at its I/O conference earlier this year, and officially launched it earlier this month.

The software brings with it a host of new features, as well as an aesthetic overhaul dubbed ‘material design’ that sees the OS sport a flatter, more paper-like design.

Google’s own Nexus devices are the first to get Lollipop, but Samsung’s wares typically take longer to receive the update.

This is because Samsung skins Android with its own TouchWiz UX, which the firm now needs to update to make sure it’s in keeping with Google’s ‘material design’ approach.

Some of the new features include 64-bit processor support, lockscreen notifications, multi-user support for phones, and improved battery life.

While the Samsung Galaxy S5 is assured to receive the update soon, there’s no word on when the Korean tech firm’s other devices will see an update.

We’ll keep you posted as we find out more.

Read More: HTC One M8 to get Android 5.0 Lollipop this year

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UK job centres set for digital revamp

The UK government is going to pour cash into job centres in hopes of bringing them into the 21st century.

The move comes courtesy of the Department for Work and Pensions, which claims the digital upgrades will create savings to the tune of £2m each year.

Job centres nationwide will soon be equipped with electronic pads that use biometric technology to register and recognise job-hunter signatures.

These pads are designed to be secure, with the DWP promising safe data storage for job seekers.

Other new additions to the centres include PC workstations and free Wi-Fi.

Baljeet Mahal, customer services manager at the London Bridge Jobcentre where the tech was first tested, said it’s a very different system than two years ago.

“We’ve moved away from customers coming in and standing in a queue waiting to be directed,” explained Mahal.

“We don’t have podiums, we don’t have public-access phones. We had boards with paper cards with vacancies on them. We don’t have those anymore.”

The new computers will allow job seekers to track down suitable jobs, update their CVs with the help of Jobcentre staff, and work out their benefits, all using government-approved software.

Mahal explained that while computer use won’t be strictly monitored, using the systems for purposes other than for finding employment would not be allowed if noticed.

There’s been no word on how quickly the digital upgrades will rollout across the nation thus far.

Read More: iPad Air 2 review



Via: BBC

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Queen opens Science Museum gallery, sends her first tweet

Her Majesty the Queen has sent her first personal tweet.

She appeared at The Science Museum to open an exhibition entitled The Information Age. She used a tablet to send the tweet from her official twitter account @BritishMonarchy.

It reads: "It is a pleasure to open the Information Age exhibition today at the @ScienceMuseum and I hope people will enjoy visiting. Elizabeth R."

She had just toured the £15.6 million exhibition before sending the tweet.

The exhibition has been three years in the planning and charts the history of modern communications from the telegraph to the smartphone. Exhibits include the first transatlantic telegraph cable which connected Europe and North America, the broadcast equipment used by the BBC for its first radio program in 1922, and inventor of the world wide web Sir Tim Berners-Lee's NeXt computer.

Of course, this being The Science Museum, there's plenty of interaction too. Visitors are invited to make a 1980s mobile phone network, find out exactly what happens when you click a link, and listen in on what goes on in a 1950s telephone exchange.

"We really want [visitors] to see that our predecessors lived through similar periods of change," the gallery's chief curator Tilly Blyth said. "Ours isn't the only revolution – just the latest in a series of transformations since the electric telegraph in the 1830s."

Baroness Martha Lane Fox described the gallery as "an amazing opportunity for people young and old to come and see the extraordinary developments in technology over the last hundred years or so."

Read more: Twitter adds tweets to your timeline from people you don't follow

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Google sends out second wave of invites for Inbox

Google has sent out a fresh round of invites for its new Inbox by Gmail service.

The new e-mail platform is being rolled out on an exclusive, invite-only basis.

Google only announced the app two days ago, but it’s already pushing out a second wave of invitations.

The search engine giant tweeted this last night: “The second round of invites have left the building. Check your Gmail. Didn’t get one? Hang tight, more on the way.”

Some people have reported that the invites are showing up under Gmail’s ‘Promotions’ mail-sorting tab, so it’s worth checking in there to make sure you don’t disregard it as worthless spam.

If you want an invite, you’ll need to send Google an e-mail at inbox@google.com requesting one.

There’s no guarantee an invite will turn up in your inbox, but if one does, you’ll then be free to download the app and enjoy the new service.

Google’s Inbox by Gmail is its latest take on cleaning up your e-mail inbox.

It sets out to filter and sort your e-mails into a raft of sensibly named categories, hopefully making it much easier to get to grips with your inbox.

Categories include travel, purchases, finance, and social, making tracking down flight info or an old receipt a relative breeze.

Read More: Google Nexus 6 officially unveiled

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LG G3 rumoured to get Android Lollipop before the end of the year

Not long before it gets the Kojak treatment

Android Lollipop is so close we can almost taste it. Previously, LG has said it has no news on when its flagship – the G3 – will get the update. But now it seems that's changed.

According to Dutch site TechTastic, LG has confirmed the update will hit the G3 before the end of the year. The report doesn't name a specific spokesperson, or say how the information was communicated. It's in Dutch too, so it's not easy to make sense from the translated version.

In English, the relevant section reads: "Today LG did to Dutch and Belgian owners of the LG G3 promised that the Android 5.0 update Lollipop before the end of 2014 will be released."

I've contacted LG UK for clarification, and will update this if I hear back.

The HTC One M8 will get Android Lollipop this year. Google is expected to rollout the new OS to its Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets on November 3, which is the same day the Lollipop-toting Nexus 9 goes on sale.

Unfortunately, the Nexus 4 and 5 won't get the update until later, rumours say, though they shouldn't have to wait too long. Google hasn't yet announced a specific release date for the Nexus 6 (all it'll say is November), but it's a fair bet that Lollipop will hit its other Nexus handsets around this time.

Lollipop has a whole new look that's more flat and fluid. It should also increase your device's battery life, support 64-bit architecture, and improve cross-device communication.

Read more: Android 5.0 Lollipop Update: When will my phone get it?

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Etsy launches free credit card reader for your smartphone

Etsy has made available its very own card reader, giving its loyal sellers the opportunity to make real-world sales.

The reader is very much the same as Square’s card reader, and will work Android and iOS.

You don’t have to pay to get one of Etsy’s new readers, but there is a processing fee of 2.75 cents per swipe. If a buyer needs to enter a PIN number, this fee switches to 3 per cent plus $0.25.

The reader is good to chew through cash from Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

Despite supporting global card chains, only US sellers will be able to snag themselves a card reader from Etsy.

To use the card reader, you’ll need to make sure you have the Sell on Etsy app installed, which will allow you to collect money from real-world purchases.

The funds you acquire will be beamed direct into your Etsy Shop payment account, just like your usual online sales.

It’s worth noting that you don’t need to have a product listed on the site to sell it through the reader – anything is good to go, so long as you’re logged in to the service.

Fortunately for those not grounded on US soil, Etsy says it will be rolling out the reader further afield soon, although we don’t have a time-frame for a UK release just yet.

Read More: What is Apple Pay?

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Sky announces limited edition Now TV designs for Christmas

Sky has has announced a range of new themed Now TV boxes aimed at capturing the Christmas spirit.

These five new Now TV boxes are functionally identical to the default white Now TV box, but sport bright new limited edition designs.

Sky calls them "the ideal stocking filler" for this festive period. Better put those marble maze games and tiny packets of Haribo back under the bed before you embarrass yourself.

As for the new designs themselves, one features The Lego Movie, while the rest are a little more generic. They're no less bright though - one has a glittery gold finish all over (including the remote control) one has a large penguin on it (no idea), one looks a bit like a smartphone wallpaper (all geometric shapes), and the final one has lots of colourful lightning bolt motifs spread across it.

As mentioned, all of these designs extend to the remote control as well as the box itself.

These new limited edition Now TV box design go on sale from November 24 for £9.99 each, and can be bought direct from the Now TV website.

The Now TV box is Sky's effort to get its programming into homes that don't have a Sky subscription. Beyond that, though, it's essentially a cheap way to turn any TV into a smart TV, providing catch-up channels like the BBC iPlayer and 4OD alongside online services such as YouTube, Spotify, and Facebook.



Read More: Best TVs 2014

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Hailo lets you pay for a hailed cab without cash

Jump in and pay through the app

In a hurry but you're short of cash? Not to worry. Now if you hail a Hailo cab in the street, you can still pay for it without needing notes and coins.

Before, you could only pay through the app if you'd hailed the cab through it. But no longer, thanks to Pay with Hailo.

It's not all good news, however. The cab must be a Hailo one, and you will incur a 50p charge.

Just like when you book through the app, you'll receive an electronic receipt.

Hailo has also launched another new feature called Hailo Hub. This lets hotels, bars and other venues book multiple rides for guests with different pick-up and drop-off points. The passenger will get a text when the cab is pulling up. Again, you won't need cash as you can pay through the app.

Hailo has been locked in a battle for the roads with arch rival Uber. When it launched in 2011, Hailo only offered licensed taxis, but, in a bid to claw back some ground, has since started working with private hire cars too. Uber has gone the other way, and recently added licensed taxis to its fleet alongside the private hire vehicles.

Both companies have had a bit of a bumpy ride. Hailo pulled out of North America this month, while Uber was banned in Germany recently, though that ruling was since overturned. Uber also launched a mid-range service this month, that sits between its standard service and the high-end UberBlack.

Read more: What is Uber and why has it caused black cab protests?

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Apple and GT Advanced settle over sapphire glass controversy

Apple Watch - set to be covered by sapphire glass

Apple and GT have reached a settlement over the recent controversy surrounding sapphire glass production.

The recent issues between Apple and its sapphire glass production partner saw Apple without the vast quantities of sapphire glass it had invested heavily in, and manufacturer GT Advanced declaring bankruptcy.

GT Advanced has confirmed that it will exit the sapphire glass production market and wind down its Arizona and Massachusetts factories. However, it will continue its research into sapphire glass production methods.

Under the agreement with Apple, GT Advanced will be released from its exclusivity agreement with Apple, and it gets to keep control of its IP. So, the company can sell its fabrication technology to whomever it wishes. GT also gets to keep ownership of all of the equipment in its Arizona facilities.

So what's in it for Apple? It seems the company now just wants its money back. As it turns out, Apple lent GT Advanced $439 million to kickstart the massive sapphire glass production process that would have seen the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus given super-tough screens.

GT Advanced has to pay that back, and it will do so (at least in part) by selling the advanced sapphire furnaces (ASFs) that Apple's cash helped to buy. Apple will be entitled to a portion of whatever is made back.

Interestingly, GT also notes that "GT and Apple will continue their technical exchange involving the development of processes for growing next generation sapphire boules."

Business is business, it seems.

Read More: iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6

Via: Recode

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Meet Carvey, the easy-to-use 3D carving machine

They might be cheaper than ever and small enough to fit on a desktop, but 3D printers still haven't really captured the public's imagination. This device is looking to change that.

It's a 3D carving machine, so it works a little differently to a 3D printer. But the end result is the same: a product that you design and build yourself.

Here's how it works. First, design your object. Carvey comes with Easel, which is a piece of design software that runs in your browser. You can either design your own object, import a design, or pick one from the library of projects that other users have uploaded.

Next, pick a material. You can preview your object in dozens of materials, then pick the one that suits it best. Examples include hardwoods like walnut, maple and mahogany, softwoods like pine and balsa, cork, plywoods and MDF, soft metals, circuit boards, and plastics. You won't have to worry about all the technical knowhow, as the machine takes care of all that.

Then just connect Carvey to your computer via and USB and click Carve. And that's it.

At the moment, the Easel software doesn't support true 3D objects. So while you can make objects like sunglasses, jewellery, amplifiers and speakers, some will require you to use a different piece of software.

Nevertheless, it's a great idea, and could be a real boon to home manufacturing. It costs $1,999 (£1,247) for an early order, and should ship in Autumn next year. It's completely destroyed its funding goal of $50,000, raising $448,462 on Kickstarter. And there are still 27 days to go.

Read more: Sculptify David makes 3D printing more affordable

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iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6

Battle of the super-sized flagship phones

With the launch of the Nexus 6, Google no longer seems content to offer high-value Android hardware. It’s gunning for the premium crown.

Add in its ample proportions and 6-inch display, and it becomes clear that the Nexus 6 is contending directly with the iPhone 6 Plus, Apple’s huge new phablet.

So which is shaping up to be the best bet?

iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6: Design

iPhone 6 Plus: Curved aluminium, gold or light/dark silver, 7.1mm thick, 172g

Nexus 6: Aluminium frame, polycarbonate body, 10.06mm thick, 184g

Both phone makers – that’s Apple and Motorola, in case you didn’t know – have opted for a solid metal framework to support their huge phones, and the surface area of both is roughly the same.

But that’s about where the similarities end. Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus has a flat all-metal rear and a curved glass front, whereas the Nexus 6 has a curved plastic back and a flat glass front.

The Nexus 6 is a lot thicker than the iPhone 6 Plus, and a fair bit heavier to boot, but we reckon they both look great in their own way.

Also, the Nexus 6's external camera design is way better, with its fully integrated form and neat ring flash. Apple's looks surprisingly sticky-outy and, well, ugly by comparison.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 6 Plus vs iPhone 6

iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6: Screen

iPhone 6 Plus: 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080, IPS LCD

Nexus 6: 5.9-inch 2560 x 1440, QHD AMOLED

The Nexus 6 display is a good half an inch bigger than the iPhone 6 Plus’s, but when you’re talking about phones this big, half an inch doesn’t count for as much as you might expect.

Far more important is colour accuracy and sharpness. Both displays are extremely sharp, but the Nexus 6 wins with a 2560 x 1440 QHD resolution. Of course, the iPhone 6 Plus’s 1920 x 1080 display happens to be the sharpest of any iOS device.

In terms of pixel density, that translates to 493ppi for the Nexus 6 and 401ppi for the iPhone 6 Plus – a clear, if not devastatingly conclusive, win for the Google phone.

As for the display type, the iPhone 6 Plus display is widely held to be the best LCD screen around. Of course, the Nexus 6 uses AMOLED panel technology, which means that it’s more vibrant and produces superior blacks. It remains to be seen if the colour accuracy is right – often the downfall of AMOLED – but it may well pip the iPhone 6 Plus here.

iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6: Camera

iPhone 6 Plus: 8-megapixel camera, OIS, 1/3.06-inch sensor, true-tone flash, f/2.2 aperture, dual-LED flash, phase-detection autofocus

Nexus 6: 13-megapixel, OIS, f/2.0 aperture, dual-LED ring flash

Apple seems to have found a sweet spot with its cameras, sticking at the 8-megapixel mark and concentrating on boosting the size and quality of its lens arrays and image sensors, not to mention its peerless image-processing software.

Sure enough, what the iPhone 6 Plus’s camera lacks (relatively speaking) in megapixels, it more than makes up for with sheer image quality. Pictures taken with this phone look fantastic.

Apple has added super-fast phase-detection autofocus, which it shares with the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 Plus, however, boasts optical image stabilisation for steadier shots and videos in low light.

The Nexus 6 also has OIS on its 13-megapixel camera. We don’t know how good the Nexus 6 camera is, but Motorola phones haven’t typically been particularly strong in this department in the past. We wouldn’t discount it, but the Nexus 6 has quite a task on its hands to match the iPhone 6 Plus camera.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 6 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy Note 4

iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6: Performance

iPhone 6 Plus: 1.4GHz Apple A8 64-bit dual-core processor with M8 co-processor, 1GB RAM

Nexus 6: 2.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM

1.4GHz doesn’t sound particularly fast for a modern smartphone processor, but you see Apple’s A8 can run at that speed for a relatively sustained period. Meanwhile the Nexus 6’s Snapdragon 805 can only sustain 2.7GHz for a very short spell. In real terms, they’ll be clocked at a similar rate for much of the time.

Elsewhere, the Nexus 6 appears to have the edge with double the number of cores and triple the RAM, but that, too, fails to tell the whole story.

Apple’s A8 chip is blazingly fast, with an advanced 64-bit architecture and one of the fastest GPUs in the business. Benchmarks show that, in terms of raw performance, the iPhone 6 Plus definitely has the edge here.

iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6: Software

iPhone 6 Plus: iOS 8.1

Nexus 6: Android 5.0 Lollipop

For Apple iOS vs Google Android read apples vs oranges. We’ve given up pondering which mobile operating system is best (well, we don’t do it as much as we used to), as both are so accomplished in general usage that it’s very much a matter of preference.

What’s more, both have taken steps to cover their weaknesses by borrowing a leaf from the other’s book. The latest Android, version 5.0, looks more stylish and behaves in a more unified way than any previous version, adopting an attention to detail that’s almost Apple-like.

Meanwhile Apple’s iOS 8 has adopted the kind of open stance on personalisation and third party inclusiveness that used to be Android’s exclusive calling card.

Whichever OS you opt for here, you won’t be disappointed.

SEE ALSO: iOS 8 tips, tricks and secrets

iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6: Storage

iPhone 6 Plus: 16GB, 64GB, 128GB; no microSD slot

Nexus 6: 32GB, 64GB; no microSD slot

The iPhone 6 Plus comes with a greater range of storage options, and the top tier offers a huge 128GB. There’s no equivalent Nexus 6 model.

However, at the opposite end of the scale, the entry-level iPhone 6 Plus comes with 16GB of storage, and we dare say that’s not much use to anyone. The Nexus 6, in contrast, starts at a much more reasonable 32GB.

Early Verdict

We can’t offer a definitive judgement until we’ve reviewed the Nexus 6, but we do know that it’ll have to go some to topple the iPhone 6 Plus as king of super-sized smartphones.

However, early signs suggest that the Nexus is in with a good chance of matching or even surpassing Apple’s latest effort. It’s got an even bigger, sharper, and brighter display, and there aren’t many phones around that can claim that outside of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

The Nexus 6 also has its own distinctive premium design that comes courtesy of Motorola – and Moto's turned out some of the finest Android phones of recent times. That’s another big tick in the plus column.

Finally there’s Android 5.0 Lollipop, of which the Nexus 6 will be the champion. This OS is looking genuinely exciting, and could well topple iOS 8 as the freshest, most forward-thinking mobile OS out there.

But there’s one simple fact that could well sway your decision towards the iPhone 6 Plus: it’s out now. With reports of severe Nexus 6 delays outside of the US, if you want a super-sized superphone before Christmas, there’s only one choice. Or two, if you count the Galaxy Note 4. But that’s a different article.

Next, read our guide to the best iPhone 6 deals

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LG confirms NUCLUN CPU and first phone to be powered by it

NUCLUN chip with LG G3 Screen

LG has officially announced its first mobile CPU, called NUCLUN, as well as the first smartphone to be powered by it, the LG G3 Screen.

There have been rumours of LG's efforts to produce its own mobile CPU for some time now, with the most recent coming earlier in the week.

Sure enough, LG has announced the NUCLUN - the company's very own System on Chip (SoC) - as well as the LG G3 Screen

The NUCLUN comes with an octa-core set-up, utilising ARM's big.LITTLE technology like rival Samsung's own Exynos chip. This allows the chip to switch between four 1.2GHz cores for regular, low-intensity tasks, and four 1.5GHz cores for advanced tasks.

LG also boasts of the NUCLUN chip's LTE-A Cat.6 network support, which is the next generation of super-fast 4G connectivity bringing download speeds of up to 225Mbps.

"NUCLUN opens up a new chapter in LG’s history of innovation in the mobile industry," said LG's Dr. Jong-seok Park. "With this in-house solution, we will be able to achieve better vertical integration and further [diversify] our product strategy against stronger competition. NUCLUN will give us greater flexibility in our mobile strategy going forward."

The LG G3 Screen will be the first device to run on the NUCLUN chip, and if it appears to be rather low key in all of this, that's because it appears to be a bit of a test run. The Screen will only be launched in the Korean market.

Aside from LG's CPU with its LTE-A support, the LG G3 Screen sports a 5.9-inch Full HD IPS LCD display, a 13-megapixel camera, and 32GB of storage with a microSD slot for backup. According to LG, the LG G3 Screen "inherits the design language, camera and UX features of the popular LG G3."

Whether LG will be able to use the NUCLUN series to power a true flagship model in the wider market next year is unknown at this point.



Read More: Best Mobile Phone 2014

Via: NDTV

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Microsoft reports 127 per cent rise in Surface sales

Microsoft's own computing line rises to the Surface

Microsoft’s Surface tablets finally appear to be resonating with consumers in a big way, with the tech giant reporting a revenue increase of 127 per cent for the range.

The launch of the highly-rated Surface Pro 3 earlier this year helped to significantly boost the Windows 8 hybrid devices to the tune of $908m (£566m) in sales.

In an encouraging Q1 2015 fiscal quarterly report, Microsoft announced it had made $4.5 billion (£2.8bn) in profit on revenues of $23.20 billion (£14.5bn), beating Wall Street expectations by around $800m (£500m).

The company is also celebrating 2.4m Xbox sales in the last three months, which is up 102 per cent on the same period last year, which is to be expected given the Xbox One hadn’t yet launched.

The company did not reveal how many of those were Xbox One and Xbox 360 sales, as it seeks to reel in Sony’s lead.

Overall, the Devices and Consumer division reported a 47 per cent increase in revenue, thanks largely to a 25 per cent quarter-to-quarter growth in Office 365 subscriptions which now total over 7 million.

It wasn’t all good news for Microsoft as profits are down 13 per cent year-on-year with the firm attributing the drop off to the costs of bringing Nokia into the fold.

Satya Nadella, chief executive officer of Microsoft, reflected: “We are innovating faster, engaging more deeply across the industry, and putting our customers at the center of everything we do, all of which positions Microsoft for future growth.

“Our teams are delivering on our core focus of reinventing productivity and creating platforms that empower every individual and organization.”



Read more: Xbox One vs PS4

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Amazon takes $170m hit on failed Fire Phone

Amazon has announced it is taking a massive loss on its first smartphones, the Amazon Fire Phone, which failed to resonate with consumers upon its launch this summer.

Following a disappointing quarterly earnings reports, the online retailer turned gadget peddler admitted it would write-off $170m (around £106m) on the device.

The company began selling the phone for $199 (around £120m) with the AT&T network in the United States, but dropped it down to just 99c, following reports it had only sold 35,000 in the first month on sale.

Today, the firm admitted the write down was “primarily related to Fire Phone inventory and supplier commitment costs.”

The device launched in the UK at the end of September, but there are no indications the 4.7-inch Android-based device has fared any better.

Elsewhere, there was little more for Amazon to shout about in its third-quarter financial report with the firm posting $544m (£339m) operating loss despite sales rising by 20 per cent.

The firm doesn’t get into specifics on sales, but did say the new Fire TV box, which launches in the UK soon, was the best selling streaming box on the store. Given that its plastered all over the homepage that should be a given.

Read more: Amazon Fire TV review

Via: Recode

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What is Google Inbox? A guide to Google's new email app

The minds behind Gmail create a potential Gmail killer

Google has announced Google Inbox, an intriguing new email app for Chrome, Android, and iOS.

But wait - hasn’t Google already got an email app? Yep, and the Gmail app is one of the best at what it does.

Here’s the thing, though: what Gmail does - what EVERY traditional email service does - isn’t as useful as it used to be. In an age where we’re bombarded with emails from all quarters, email has stopped being a tool and has started to become a chore - something to slog through in a bid to sniff out what you actually want and need to know.

Apps like Mailbox have proposed an answer to this problem. Google Inbox is another solution.

So what is Google Inbox, exactly?

It’s Google Now meets Gmail with a hint of Mailbox

That’s a bit of an oversimplification, but essentially Google Inbox combines the functionality of two of the company’s biggest pieces of software plus one of the Gmail app’s big rivals.

It takes the raw email materials from Gmail and sorts them all out in a spookily helpful, proactive Google Now kind of way.

Inbox also allows you to ‘snooze’ your mails, instructing them to make themselves known at a later, more convenient or appropriate time. That bit’s pure Mailbox.

Bundles

Last year, Google added a feature to Gmail that sorted your inbox (with a small ‘i’) into category tabs in an attempt to manage the sprawl.

This was a nice thought, but it felt a bit like a half-measure. Inbox looks to see this concept through to something like completion with Bundles.

All of your purchase receipts, promotional emails, and travel itineraries are grouped together in their own ‘bundle,’ and can be expanded or dismissed accordingly. You can even create your own bundles to have certain emails placed into their own dedicated sections.



SEE ALSO: Google Now Tips and Tricks

Highlights

One of the biggest time sappers with traditional email is going through each individual email. Even when you’re flicking through rapidly in some kind of preview mode, you’re still having to assimilate the whole email to a certain degree.

Inbox addresses that issue by smartly creating a highlight for each email. This means placing image thumbnails and attached documents as part of the initial entry, as well as things like reservation details, dates, and other updates.

Combined with bundles, it’s all about providing, useful, glanceable information with all the flab trimmed away (or at least hidden from view). Yep, just like Google Now.

Assists

Also reflecting Google Now, Inbox will decipher the key information in your emails and provide relevant information and command shortcuts to help you act on them.

For example, when a restaurant reservation confirmation comes through, Inbox will add a map to it. Similarly, fight confirmations will see a check-in shortcut added.

SEE ALSO: Google Chrome Tips and Tricks

It’s also a reminder app

One of the more unusual twists to Google Inbox is that it also serves as a reminder app. You can literally type in your own reminders, just like the Google Now system. What's more, Inbox will provide Assists for those too.

Set a reminder to make a restaurant booking, for example, and Inbox will tell you if it’s open and will also dig out the phone number for you.

Availability

If you’re interested in Google Inbox, you may have to wait to get a taste. It’s accessible on an invitational basis only.

If you want to secure an invite, just email the Inbox team at inbox@google.com to ask for one, and you’ll be added to the waiting list. Otherwise, if you know someone who’s already enrolled, they can invite you directly.

Inbox will work on a Chrome web browser on any computer, as well as on Android and iOS.

Read more: Android 5.0 Lollipop Update: When can I get it?

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PS4 update 2.0 release date confirmed

Sony has finally confirmed the PS4 update 2.0 release date, with only days to wait until some great new features.

Over two months after it was officially announced at GamesCom, Sony has revealed the PS4 update 2.0 download will be available on Tuesday, October 28.

"PS4's next software update, Masamune, will be available on 10/28," came the PlayStation US tweet. "Includes Share Play, USB Music Player and more."

The update will go live at at unknown time, but of course is free to download for anyone with a PS4.

As the biggest update to the PS4 since launch, update 2.0 brings with it a host of brand new features - the biggest being SharePlay.

SharePlay is a service Sony is calling the "virtual couch" experience. It lets you do one of three things via an Internet connection:

• Let your friends watch what you're playing


• Let's you pass control of your game to a friend


• Let's you play local co-op multiplayer with a friend

The major selling point of SharePlay though is the fact your friend doesn't need to own the same game as you in order for the service to work: giving your friend preview access to a game they might want to buy in the future.

SharePlay might be update 2.0's hero feature but there are a host of other PS4 improvements to take advantage of too.

These include custom themes and colours for your PS4's UI, YouTube support, other smaller UI tweaks and the ability to play music files from USB sources.

Sadly there's no further information about other fan-requested features like Suspend Play, DNLA or external hard drive support.



Read more: PS4 Share Play - How Sony is changing multiplayer in a big way

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Bluesmart suitcase has a GPS tracker, Bluetooth proximity sensor and built-in scale

Bluesmart connected suitcase

There are countless tablets, readers, media players and noise cancelling headphones aimed at aiding our journeys, but until now the humble suitcase has largely escaped the high-tech travel revolution.

One start-up aims to change all that with the high tech Bluesmart carry-on case, which is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones.

The Bluesmart features a Bluetooth proximity sensor, which will send an alert to the smartphone if the case disappears from range, while there’s also a GPS tracker which allows owners to find their errant luggage on a map if it drifts further afield.

The connected case also features a digital lock, which can be controlled via the smartphone app, and will lock itself if it becomes separated from the owner.

Should the user’s battery die or the phone is lost en route, users will get a physical key too If those helpful chaps at the TSA want to raid the contents of your case and sniff your undies they can also get in using the digital lock.

Bluesmart will also come in handy when packing too. There’s a built-in scale that’ll inform users if the contents of their case is over or under weight. Users can just pull up the handle to check the weight.

The accompanying application will also log the times spent in different countries and airports, while there’s also a front-loaded zipper making it easy for users to unload their tech for security checks.

So where can you buy this new-fangled, high-tech item of luggage? Well you can’t right now, but you can help make it a reality by contributing to the Indigogo funding campaign.

The firm has already smashed its $50,000 goal, racking up more than six times that amount with 33 days still left to run. If it reaches production it’ll ship for $265, which is around £165.

Read more: Best noise cancelling headphones 2014

Via: CNET

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