Samsung NX30 launched as premium compact system camera

Ahead of a CES 2014 showcase, Samsung has expanded its camera collection, officially unveiling a new premium compact system camera in the form of the Samsung NX30.

Landing alongside a new ‘S’ series lens, the pro-inspired Samsung NX30 sees a 20.3-megapixel sensor make the cut alongside a flip-out AMOLED touchscreen display.

"Our award-winning NX series of cameras continues to evolve with the introduction of the NX30, which will feature a better imaging processor and our advanced Smart Camera offering,” Simon Stanford, VP of the Samsung UK IM division stated.

Samsung NX30 Features

With the Samsung NX30’s 20.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor set to offer high-end imaging capabilities, the camera is set to further benefit from 3D stills and video capture capabilities. Boasting an integrated flash, the NX30 has an ISO range from 100 to 25600 and is capable of capturing RAW image files and 1080p Full HD video content.

Offering a range of SMART Mode shooting options to make the camera more user accessible, the NX30 sports a tiltable 2359-dot view finder alongside a 3-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display.

Playing host to a range of connectivity options, integrated Wi-Fi is added to by NFC capabilities, offering support for both Photo Beam and Mobile Link.

Samsung NX30 Release Date and Price

Despite having unveiled the snapper, Samsung has yet to provide any concrete details on a Samsung NX30 release date.

Although pricing information is also missing, the manufacturer has confirmed the camera will be on show at CES 2014 so stay tuned for our hands-on review of the device next week.

Next, read all the latest Samsung Galaxy S5 news and rumours

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Apple iWatch reportedly hit by production delays

The Apple iWatch may have hit some production snags, according to some supply chain sources.


Wearable devices, including the iWatch, have been severely impacted by some production issues if the information obtained by DigiTimes is correct.

According to “upstream supply chain” sources, the Apple iWatch is seeing less than 50 per cent yield rates due to difficulties applying surface treatments to the metal injection molded (MIM) body.

Manufacturers use a MIM process in products with complicated designs as it allows components to feature specialised shapes without losing any of its rigidity.

MIM was originally used to make the components within electronic products, but now is being used to create components on display. This means the surface treatments are necessary for durability enhancements.

The issues could cause the Apple iWatch to be delayed, along with other smartwatches like the Qualcomm Toq, which also use the MIM process.

Along with the Apple iWatch, other companies like LG, ZTE and Archos should also launch smartwatches in the near future, with the latter two confirmed for a CES 2014 launch.

The iWatch is rumoured to come in several sizes, with Apple reportedly launching slightly different designs for male and female wearers.

Read more: iOS 7 tips and tricks

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GTA Online to “evolve” from user suggestions, says Rockstar

GTA Online will be developed and evolved through user suggestions as well as a “huge amount” of unused GTA 5 material.

The GTA 5 multiplayer experience is no longer a “static” one, according to Rockstar North art director Aaron Garbut.

Speaking to Edge, Garbut explains that GTA Online will continue to evolve as the developer takes user comments into account as well as introducing ideas originally intended to make it into the main GTA 5 game.

“There are always things that come up during development that you want to add. Often we do, but the closer you get to release, the less that happens,” said Garbut. “I don’t feel like the game fell short, but there is undoubtedly a huge volume of plans and ideas that we wanted to do to push it further.”

“What I love about GTA Online plans is that the game is no longer static. We can continue to add these things and evolve. That’s even more exciting these days, where through forums, Reddit, etc, we have a real direct connection to the people playing the game. We can respond to what they are into and what they hate more than ever.”

The latest GTA Online update introduced new multiplayer mode types and the game’s mission creator, but it seems Rockstar has grand plans when it comes to the future of GTA Online.

“With GTA Online planned as such a large part of the experience, and one which we knew we wanted to sustain, we really didn’t have the luxury of focusing solely on the single player journey. We had to ensure that the world as a coherent and of consistent quality.”

When GTA Online was announced in August, Rockstar admitted it was something the developer had been working on since GTA 3.

Next read our GTA 5 Guide: Things to do in Los Santos

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Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 unveiled with 16.3-megapixel sensor

The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has been officially unveiled, with the refreshed, Android powered compact snapper boasting a number of minor improvements.

Having launched its original Galaxy branded camera back in 2012, the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has now been officially unveiled, with the incremental update seeing the second-generation device retain the same 16.3-megapixel sensor and 21x optical zoom.

"Consumers love the Galaxy Camera and this next-generation version is designed to improve on the successful predecessor, with upgraded and new features that will enhance the photography experience,” Simon Stanford, Vice President of the Samsung UK IM division stated.

He added: “The result is a more powerful and portable device, which continues to embrace the public's passion for the social features of smartphones, yet also provides superior image control and quality.”



Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 Features

With only minor improvements over the original, the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 specs sheet sees the same headline features, with a 4.8-inch HD touchscreen display providing ample real estate for image playback and the Android interface.

Featuring the same 16.3-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 adds a 21x optical zoom although software improvements see 28 pre-set modes enhance the camera’s ease of use.

Offering some hardware improvements over its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has jumped to a 1.6GHz quad-core processor from a 1.4GHz offering, while Android 4.3 Jelly Bean now runs the show alongside 2GB of RAM.

Giving the internet-connected snapper some added staying power, the camera’s battery life has jumped with the power supply moving from a 1650mAh Lithium-ion battery to a 2000mAh offering.

Lining up slightly larger than its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 measures in a 19.3mm thick and 132.5mm long. Despite growing in size, the Galaxy Camera 2 has shed a few grams, weighing in at 283g.

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 Release Date and Price

Although Samsung has yet to confirm an official Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 release date for the UK or any pricing details, the company has confirmed the snapper will be on show at CES 2014 next week.

Stay tuned for our hands-on opinion of the smart camera direct from the show.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours

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Samsung Galaxy S5 to launch alongside metal Galaxy F?

The Galaxy S5 will probably have the same plastic body as the S4...

New information has surfaced to suggest Samsung will launch the Samsung Galaxy S5 alongside the metal bodied Samsung Galaxy F.

According to a report, the metallic prototype of the Samsung Galaxy F was developed in Europe and has now been transferred to a new Samsung production plant in Vietnam.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 will be launched first with the Samsung Galaxy F launched soon afterwards.

Previous rumours have suggested that the Samsung Galaxy F will be the first in a new “super-premium” line of smartphones, with the Galaxy F being the highest-end version of the Galaxy S5.

It is unclear whether the Samsung Galaxy F will only be different in material or it will have a better set of specs than the Galaxy S5.

One rumour suggested the Galaxy S5 will have a 1080p Full HD display, while the Galaxy F will ramp the resolution up to QHD 2K 2,560 x 1,600p.

Although the Samsung Galaxy S5 was originally rumoured to offer a full metal body, it seems this will be reserved for the Galaxy F.

However, according to some leaked benchmarks, the Galaxy S5 should have a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor with 3GB of RAM and an Adreno 330 GPU.

It should run Android 4.4 KitKat and feature a 16-megapixel camera in the rear, with a secondary 2-megapixel option in the front.

The specs sheet should also include 32GB of internal storage as standard.

Originally the Galaxy S5 was believed to have a flexible or curved form factor like the Samsung Galaxy Curve, but this has since been disproved by the latest leaked information.

Samsung is heavily rumoured to launch the Galaxy S5 at an event around the same time as MWC 2014, with a release date sometime in March.

Read more: Best smartphones of 2013

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iPhone owners smarter than Samsung or BlackBerry users survey finds

Your phone says a lot about you and now, according to a consumer test, iPhone owners can boast to be the smartest of all smartphone owners.

According to a new survey, iPhone owners have been found to be more intelligent than their Samsung handset, BlackBerry device or Nexus phone owning counterparts.

The study, carried out by betting firm Ladbrokes tested 1,000 UK smartphone owners. Having asked participants to register the manufacturer of their phone first, those quizzed were then tasked with answering a series of brainteasers to test their general knowledge, problem solving skills and pattern recognition.

With participants unable to progress to the next question until they had correctly selected which of the multiple choice answers was correct, total user times were then used to determine which smartphone owners are the brightest.

According to the study, which we must stress is more a light-hearted social experiment that hard science, found that iPhone owners were the brainiest, completing the seven question challenge in an average time of just 94 seconds.

Hot on the heels of iPhone owners were users of Google’s owner-branded Nexus handsets, with an average completion time just five seconds slower at 99 seconds.

Although a Samsung handset owner clocked the quickest overall time with a 47 second test completion, overall Samsung owners could only record the third fastest average at 103 seconds.

With HTC and Nokia handset owners finishing in fourth and fifth respectively with average times of 105 and 109 seconds, BlackBerry owners were found to be the least intelligent, and not just because their phones are still stuck in the past.

Not even close to the rest of the field, BlackBerry owners could only manage an average test time of 118 seconds, almost half a minute slower than iPhone owners.

Let us know what you think your smartphone might say about you?

Read More: iPhone 5S review

Via: DailyMail

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Asus VivoTab Note 8 Windows tablet confirmed by leaked manual

The manual reveals some new details

The official Asus website has confirmed the Asus VivoTab Note 8 after it published a manual for the device.

Although the VivoTab Note 8 has yet to be officially announced, the official website suddenly listed a user manual for the 8-inch tablet.

The 8-inch Windows tablet was originally spotted passing through the FCC, with specs leaked in December, but this is the first official word we’ve had on the device.

According to the manual, the 8-inch version of the Asus VivoTab will support pen input and even comes bundled with its own stylus.

“The bundled stylus pen allows you to input commands on your VivoTab Note 8. With your stylus pen, you can make selections, draw or sketch on the touch screen panel,” reads the manual.

The Windows button for the VivoTab 8 is also situated on the side of the tablet, similar to the Dell Venue Pro 8.

Asus VivoTab Note 8 Rumours

The specs for the Asus VivoTab Note 8 leaked online in December and suggested the tablet will have an 8-inch 1280 x 800p HD resolution and IPS technology.

It will run on an Intel Atom Z3740 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. You’ll also get a free copy of Microsoft Office 2013 Home and Student Edition as standard.

The VivoTab Note 8 will also have an affordable price of around $300 (approx. £180) to help boost its appeal.

A microSD and micro USB port also feature, with the 8-inch tablet also offering GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 LE connectivity.

Asus will also apparently offer a new Bluetooth TransKeyboard accessory separately, which is compatible with the 8-inch VivoTab.

The VivoTab Note 8 will also offer a 5-megapixel rear camera and 1.2-megapixel front-facing snapper and stereo speakers all powered by a 3950mAh battery.

Read more: Best tablets of 2013

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