Google Now beats Siri and Cortana in voice search tests

Google Now vs Siri vs Cortana

Google Now edged out rivals like Apple’s Siri and Microsoft’s Cortana in a recent comparison test.

A digital marketing firm claims Google Now returned more search results ‘enhanced with custom content’ than Siri and Cortana combined.

Consultants Stone Temple made 3086 queries in total to all three voice assistances. Google Now yielded a score of 1795 results with enhanced content, while Siri scored 908 and Cortana returned 630 ‘knowledge panels’

The queries were designed to answer specific questions rather than offer web results, according to Android Central, reporting on the comparison tests.

Google Now also scored highest for accuracy with 88 percent of questions properly addressed, while Siri and Cortana were correct 53 per cent and 40 per cent of the time respectively.

The study did not take into account how the respective assistants performed when it comes to making appointments via the app, or dictating words, only bringing the answers to specific questions.

Given Google’s status as global search overlord, we’d expect Google Now to come out on top in this department. While the tests are far from definitive, it still offers an interesting look at slice of a much larger pie.

Elsewhere today, Google Now got an update that’ll inform users when their bills are overdue. Thanks for nothing Google Now!



Read more: Android 5.0 L features: What's new

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Google Play may offer trials of Android apps

Google is reportedly planning to offer portions of paid applications for free in order to encourage Android users to part with cash on the Google Play Store.

The company is considering a trial program, which would offer ‘micro apps,’ for free, so users can see what they’re getting for their cash before committing to buying the full app.

The scheme, reported by The Information website, would be akin to a console game demo, or the limited amount of articles often offered by a website before the paywall kicks in.

Wednesday’s report comes as Google continues its attempts to replicate the success of iTunes and the App Store on its Android platform.

Although Google has surpassed Apple in terms of operating system market share, that dominance hasn’t been replicated in sales of apps, movies, music and more.

Apple leads the way in what it pays out to developers (and thus leads the way in the cut it pockets) and also does a roaring trade in in-app purchases. Android users tend to prefer their free apps.

The goal of the try-before-you-buy scheme would be to give users enough of a taste they’ll then commit to buying.

The trial would also users to save their data allowance by only downloading a portion of an app rather than the full fat version.

Would such a trial, that enabled you to fall in love with a slice of an app, convince you to open up your wallet more often on the Google Play Store? Let us know below.

Read more: Best Android camera apps 2014

Via: Engadget

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iPad Air 2 Features: What we want to see

An Apple event has been set for October 16th and it won't surprise anyone if the iPad Air 2 along with a host of other new Apple goodies is unveiled. It's going to happen, and it's about that time when we like to speculate about what we want to see in the new full-sized tablet.

While iPad shipments appear to have faltered in recent times, it's still easily the best and most popular tablet range around.

There may be Android smartphones that can take the fight to Apple's iPhone, but nothing really comes close to challenging the iPad - and certainly not the iPad Air in the 10-inch category.

That leaves us in a curious position when considering the iPad Air 2. The Air is still pretty close to a perfect tablet, so what can we reasonably demand of the follow-up?

Let's take a look. Not all of these wishes are likely to come true, but that doesn't stop us wishing them.

A8X processor

Both the iPad 3 and the iPad 4 had 'X' processors - that is, souped-up versions of the contemporary iPhone models' CPUs. It made sense, given the increased number of pixels that each was being asked to push around, and the desire to keep more intensive tasks flowing smoothly on the larger form factor.

That mini-trend ended with the iPad Air, so capable was the 64-bit A7 chip that made its way over from the iPhone 5S.

Now, does that mean that the iPad Air 2 will simply come with the same A8 as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus? It seems that way.

However, it's worth noting that even the super-sharp 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus display is pushing around far fewer pixels than the iPad Air. We're talking 1334 x 750 versus 2048 x 1536.

All of which is a round-about way of saying that we'd quite like some extra power on tap for the new tablet. We want an A8X for the iPad Air 2. Are we being greedy?

Touch ID

This is kind of where 'what we want' briefly crosses over with 'what we're going to get.' We'd be very surprised indeed if the iPad Air 2 didn't ship with Touch ID.

After a limited start with the iPhone 5S, and a complete no-show with the subsequent iPad Air, Apple's fingerprint recognition system is finally ready to take the training wheels off. Apple Pay and online payments will soon be making full use of this clever piece of technology.

That means that Apple's next flagship tablet simply has to have Touch ID. We want it, and we're probably going to get it.

4K display

From what we're almost certain to get, to what we're probably not going to get. We'd really like to see the iPad Air 2 to come with a sharper, 4K-equivalent display, though we're not holding out much hope.

There are already rival smartphones around with similar resolutions to Apple's largest iOS device. The LG G3 has a QHD or 2K (2560 x 1440) resolution, as does the imminent Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

While it could be argued whether the benefits at this sub-6-inch size outweigh the drawbacks to battery life, the fact remains that such a resolution bump is attainable, and the difference to Full HD is noticeable even at this size.

Imagine how much of an improvement, then, a 4K (or 4K-equivalent, given Apple's unique approach to resolution standards) screen would have on a 9.7-inch display.

Haptic touch display

Rumours of an iPad with a haptic touch display have been going around for years, but something's changed in recent months to make us really start considering it anew. The Apple Watch.

Apple hasn't supplied anything like all of the details for its new smartwatch, but we do know that it incorporates sophisticated haptic feedback to provide discrete and highly nuanced notifications.

On a much larger tablet format, such finely controlled vibrations could attribute varying textures to different screen elements, making for a more immersive, tactile, and instinctive experience.

It could also represent a notable step forward for the iPad range as a productivity tool, as proper physical feedback (or the impression of such) would improve things like typing and drawing

on the iPad considerably.

Improved front-facing camera

Stuff the iPad's rear camera. As we all know, taking pictures with a tablet, especially in a public environment, is wrong.

We'd like to see Apple halting work on the iPad Air 2's main camera - it's already in a more-than-good-enough state - and really address the front-facing camera.

After all, the iPad range is great for video conferencing, thanks to that large and sharp display. With an improved processor and (as is rumoured) 2GB of RAM, the iPad Air 2 should be even better suited to feeding through multiple video sources.

So, we'd like to see a vastly improved front-facing camera with a much larger image sensor to let more light in.

Next, read our round-up of the best tablets to buy

What do you want to see from the new iPad? Let us know in the comments below.

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iPad launch 2014 confirmed for October 16

Apple has confirmed it will hold a special event on October 16 in Berlin, most likely to be for the iPad mini 3 and iPad Air 2.

The Cupertino company has issued press invites for a Berlin-based event on October 16, reinforcing previous rumours Apple will launch its new iPad models on that date.

Although the rather pain invite doesn't actually mention iPads at all - baring on the tagline "It's been way too long" - the event follows the launch pattern for an iPad refresh.

It may well be that there is something to read into that tagline though. Apple hasn't launched an Apple TV set top box for a number of years, so is now the time Apple lifts the lid on its Amazon Fire TV rival?

Apple may also be preparing to launch a 6th generation iPod Touch, as we haven't had a new one of those for a while either. Plus, we're still mourning the loss of the iPod Classic.

TrustedReviews will be on hand to bring you all the latest from the Apple event next week, so stay tuned.

Read more: Best tablets 2014

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Samsung Galaxy A5 release date rumoured to sit in November

The Samsung Galaxy A5, the next ‘premium design’ Android phone after the Galaxy Alpha, could be released as soon as November.

Next month we’ll see the blueprint for Samsung’s 2015 phones, in the shape of the Samsung Galaxy A5, which will be released in November according to SamMobile.

The site cited unspecified sources for the rumour, alongside suggestions that its big brother, the Galaxy A7, will use a 1080p resolution screen instead of the reported 720p one.

These A-series phone mark a move away from the design style used in phones like the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4. They use aluminium where previously we’d have seen chrome-effect plastic.

The Samsung Galaxy A5 is here to class-up Samsung’s design reputation, in other words.

News of the Galaxy A5’s November release date and the A7’s Full HD screen only refer to what’s expected in China, though. It’s no guarantee we’ll see the Galaxy A5 this year in the UK, or that the European version of the Alpha A7 won’t use a 720p display.



The turnaround

Both are mid-range phones that act as a test run of Samsung’s new design style before it brings out the big guns with the Galaxy S6 next year.

Despite being the biggest name in Android phones, there’s a perception that Samsung needs to ‘turn things around’ after recent financial results.

Yesterday, 7 October, Samsung announced that its Q3 profits are expected to be disappointing, the company planning for a 60 per cent year-on-year drop.

The blame has been laid at the feet of the Samsung Galaxy S5’s sales figures, and that the Galaxy Note 4 was not released in time to make up the difference.



Read more: Best mobile phones

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Plex app launches on Xbox One

The Plex app is now available on Xbox One, allowing you to stream media from your computer to your console.

Available now as a free download for Xbox One, there’s also an Xbox 360 version in the works. However, currently the Plex service on Xbox One is only available to those with a Plex Pass subscription.

Plex Pass is $4.99 (£3.10) a month or $39.99 (£24.88) a year and offers you myriad advantages aside from Xbox One support for the streaming service, most notably offline viewing on mobile devices.

Apparently a one-time payment version of the app that will run without a subscription will also be made available at a later date for Xbox One and Xbox 360. However, there’s no word on how much that will be or when it will arrive.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Plex, it’s a media server service that comes with a range of software and apps for mobile devices.

You download the free server on your Windows, Mac or Linux PC and then install the app on your Xbox One, iOS, Android, Windows Phone 8, Windows 8.1, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV or even smart TV devices.

There’s even a few NAS drives supported by Plex too.

After that, Plex keeps all of your PC’s media organised, including video, photo and music content (but nothing from the likes of Google Play, iTunes or Netflix).

For Xbox One users, a Plex account means you can play videos of various file formats streamed from your PC, including MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV and DIVX.

There’s also an Xbox One update coming later this month that will allow Media Player DLNA and MKV support.



Read more: Best Xbox One games

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Finlux 55F9076-T TV Review

What is the Finlux 55F9076-T?

The 55P9076-T is a fairly ambitious TV by Finlux’s usually price-centric standards. For its large 55-inch screen is joined by smart features, 3D playback and, at the time of writing, a free Finlux 7-inch tablet thrown in for free!

Mind you, its price tag of £850 actually puts it up in the same price territory as mid-range big-brand models like the Samsung UE55H6400, so there’s much more pressure on the 55F9076-T to perform than there would be on some of the brand’s more overtly ‘budget’ models.

Need advice on buying a new TV? Read our TV Buyer's Guide

Finlux 55F9076-T: Design and Features

The 55F9076-T doesn’t look or feel like just another of Finlux’s cheap and cheerful TVs. Lifting it into place on our test-bench reveals it to be unusually heavy and sturdy by modern TV standards, while its fascia is given unexpected pizzazz by the application of a shining metallic finish to both the bottom edge and the side trim that runs around the slim, glossy black bezel.

SEE ALSO: Best TVs Roundup



It’s well connected for the most part, too. Its four HDMIs are the equal of any rival set, and its pair of video, photo and music-friendly USBs give it credible multimedia credentials. Though in reality you’ll likely only have one USB to play with, since the other one is needed to add Wi-Fi via a provided USB dongle.

Not having Wi-Fi built into the TV’s main chassis does make us worry about the potential age of the panel at the 55F9076-T’s heart. But the USB dongle works well enough, providing wireless access to multimedia content stored on networked DLNA devices and the apps available on Finlux’s Smart TV online platform.

The content levels on this platform aren’t up there with those you get with most ‘big name’ TVs these days, but neither are they a complete washout. Highlights comprise the BBC iPlayer, Netflix, YouTube, Viewster, Deezer, YouTube, iConcerts, Twitter, Facebook, flickr, and myalbum. Plus there’s a browser for surfing the wider Web.

Obviously a few more services would be nice, but Finlux does seem to be moving slowly in the right direction in this respect.

The screen is a full HD affair illuminated by an edge LED array, and it has a Freeview HD tuner built in. You an record from this tuner to a USB HDD if you so desire, and the set’s passive 3D system is supported by no less than eight pairs of free glasses included with the TV.

SEE ALSO: Best Value TVs

Finlux 55F9076-T: Set Up

The 55F9076-T isn’t as comprehensive with its picture adjustments as many big-brand TVs, but there’s still enough going to satisfy most mainstream users.

Among the most useful tools is the small but effective selection of picture presets, the multi-setting noise reduction system, a dynamic contrast system, a surprisingly effective skin tone tweaker, a rather unsubtle red-to-green colour tone slider, and more useful 0-15 sliders for the gain of the red, green and blue colour elements.

The one pity from a set up point of view is that there isn’t any adjustment for the set’s backlight beyond low, medium, high and Auto settings. We’ve often found getting the best out of LCD TVs dependent on having far more control over the backlight than the 55F9076-T provides.

In terms of the key settings the TV does provide, we started with the Natural preset, and then reduced the contrast to around its 48 value, set the backlight to Auto, and turned off noise reduction for all viewing – even standard definition.

We also nudged the Skin Tone slider up a position or two for film viewing, as this provided a handy shortcut to the sort of warmer colour palettes that look most natural with most movie content.

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